A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 127

In the Soul World, there are occasionally monsters or demons with ‘Berserk.’

Having blood-red eyes like mine is a given, and it activates when their stamina drops below a certain threshold.

Those with Berserk are particularly difficult to subjugate, mainly because of their ‘stiffness immunity.’

No matter how seasoned a warrior may be, they still feel pain. Thus, when they take a hit, they inevitably leave a slight opening.

But monsters or demons in Berserk mode don’t even have that. They charge forward as if they feel nothing, not even flinching.

Because of this trait, they attack with a ‘you die, I die’ mindset, requiring extreme caution. A single mistake could lead to a fatal injury.

Furthermore, they are categorized by size. Small types are fast but have low stamina, while large types are slower but much tougher.

Although the strategies to deal with them differ, there’s one common rule: avoid direct trades of hits and focus on evasion.

That’s the case even in games, so imagine how much worse it is in reality. It’s no wonder Hector nearly died when I went Berserk.

[Berserk is deactivated!]

It was when I realized my theory was correct and paused for a moment.

Whether it was suppressed by reason or simply timed out, Berserk deactivated on its own.

As Berserk deactivated, my senses gradually returned, and my face, which had taken a direct hit from Rize’s fist, began to sting.

It seems that my senses dull only when Berserk is active. I felt my once-burning chest gradually cool down.

“Hmph.”

I blew my nose hard, expelling the clotted blood that had built up inside.

Thanks to my exceptional regenerative power, the nosebleed stopped quickly. Since Rize’s punch had landed, my nasal bone was likely broken.

But thanks to Berserk, the injuries healed before I even had time to feel the pain. A bit of lingering stinging is something I can easily endure.

‘Is the controllable duration too short?’

Or perhaps it’s because I stopped attacking.

In the Soul World, when you distance yourself from a monster in Berserk mode, its Berserk state deactivates.

It takes a bit of time, but there’s even a trick to exploit this. Even when Berserk deactivates, their stamina only recovers slightly, not fully.

In other words, to maintain Berserk, you have to keep attacking—until all your stamina is drained.

“I was a bit surprised. Even after taking my punch, you kept charging forward.”

Lost in thought, I heard Rize speak to me. Judging by her tone, she genuinely seemed surprised.

Well, it’s not every day you see someone charging forward without flinching, as if they were on drugs.

Even if she’s faced plenty of demons or monsters in Berserk mode, I’m probably the first human she’s encountered like this.

‘This isn’t enough.’

Wiping under my nose roughly, I gripped my axe tightly. There were still aspects I needed to confirm.

Does Berserk persist only if I continue attacking, as in the Soul World? And can I claim Berserk as my own ability?

If I could freely control Berserk, it would be an incredible advantage. Even the strongest beings flinch when they feel pain.

If I could exploit that fleeting moment, I might turn the tide in one decisive strike. Besides, I have exceptional regenerative power, don’t I?

“Let’s go again.”

“Understood. But I have a condition.”

“A condition?”

I tilted my head at Rize’s mention of a condition. Can’t we just do this casually?

While I was thinking that to myself, Rize began explaining her condition.

“I’ll spar with you, but I’ll respond with counterattacks. From what I can see, you haven’t even properly established your combat style yet.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Moreover, getting accustomed to facing death crises is beneficial. When humans face the threat of death, their bodies tend to freeze up.”

It’s true. When humans directly confront death, their bodies stiffen. I’ve experienced it myself.

Imagine a massive truck charging straight at you. Nine times out of ten, you wouldn’t even move and would get hit.

That’s why seasoned warriors are so indifferent to death—they’ve faced it so often that they’ve become desensitized.

‘That’s more of a mental issue, but let’s move on.’

I’ve survived in the wilderness and become accustomed to death. At least my wild instincts have helped me cope consistently.

But I still couldn’t dodge Rize’s earnest punches. That part puzzles me a bit.

My wild instincts clearly scream that it’s dangerous, yet before I know it, her fist is right in front of my face.

“However, Brother Sivar, transitioning into Berserk takes you quite a bit of time. If your stamina is gradually drained, that’s one thing, but a single powerful blow could be fatal.”

“Ah.”

I nodded at Rize’s feedback. So that’s why I couldn’t dodge it.

Up until now, I’ve overcome countless crises thanks to my wild instincts, but they’re not perfect.

Whenever danger looms, unease washes over my entire body, making it mentally exhausting.

“Therefore, you need to significantly raise the threshold for Berserk to activate. Or, you must gain full control over it.”

“Got it. I’ll work on it.”

“That’s a good attitude. Then, let’s…”

Tap-tap!

Rize trailed off and suddenly closed the distance between us in an instant. Her speed was almost like teleportation.

“Go again.”

With that, Rize finished her sentence and threw a punch aimed at my face.

My eyes widened, and I quickly tilted my head. Her fist narrowly grazed past me.

It was just a simple punch, yet my hair scattered with a soft crackling sound. If that had landed properly, it would’ve been a disaster.

Crack!

As soon as I dodged her punch, I swung Ragnarok at her side.

I swung it with considerable force, but it barely lodged in before stopping. Her durability is terrifying, as always.

How am I supposed to break through that? Should I abandon Ragnarok and rely solely on the Usk Axe?

That thought was fleeting as Rize’s low kick came flying toward my leg. Even her legs are as thick as logs.

‘How can I possibly break through?’

Dodging the low kick by a hair’s breadth, I glared at Rize. My goal was to land even a single effective hit.

But even that was easier said than done. Narrowing my eyes, I pondered deeply before noticing something strange.

‘Wait a second. Didn’t the axe lodge in earlier?’

Last time, I had to use all my strength to barely lodge the axe in, but just now, it went in unusually easily.

Of course, by Rize’s standards, it’s still tough compared to other living beings.

It’s probably safe to say it’s harder than an Usk exoskeleton. But even so, something felt off.

‘Does it only harden when she focuses?’

That might be the case. Last time, I attacked her outright.

This time, I struck in a counter-like manner, so she likely didn’t have time to react.

“You look like you’re deep in thought.”

“…”

As soon as she said that, I threw Ragnarok without hesitation. It was meant as a distraction, but it flew quite fast.

Rize didn’t dodge Ragnarok but lightly deflected it with her hand. I immediately grabbed the Usk Axe and charged at her.

‘I need to create an opening somehow.’

The spot where the axe had lodged earlier was now completely healed. She likely used divine power rather than natural regenerative power like mine.

There was only one way to land an effective hit on Rize.

‘I have to dodge everything and force damage through.’

I could finally understand how the people who fought me must have felt. No matter how much they hit, I wouldn’t tire, and my destructive power was overwhelming.

Now that I’m in their shoes, I realize how terrifying that must have been. Still, I’m determined to give it my all.

Crack!

Dodging Rize’s attack, I swung the Usk Axe at her side. Its blade dug deeper than Ragnarok’s ever had.

As expected of an axe crafted from Usk Blade Fangs, its cutting power was exceptional. Rize probably didn’t see this coming.

“That’s a dangerous weapon.”

Look at that. She spoke calmly, but her reaction showed she was caught off guard. She’ll probably be more cautious next time.

Before Rize could counterattack, I retrieved the axe. Then, I silently summoned Ragnarok.

The moment I summoned Ragnarok, she seemed to instinctively realize it. Without even turning around, she swung her arm loosely.

Thud!

Ragnarok, which had been flying toward her from behind, was deflected. She must have noticed when I extended my hand.

After retrieving Ragnarok, I charged at her again like a berserker.

“Hup!”

Ting!

I timed my counterattack well, but it didn’t work this time. She must have tensed her muscles because the moment I struck, it bounced off.

It felt as solid as hitting a chunk of metal. It seems her muscles only harden like that when she focuses.

Now that I’ve learned something new, the only thing left is to take her down slowly. Even if it takes a long time, there’s no other choice.

‘One hit and I’m done for.’

The only option is to dodge all of Rize’s attacks no matter what. Rize and I are quite similar.

We both rely on regenerative power and durability, focusing entirely on offense. To be exact, Rize is my superior alternative.

While I have no technique to speak of, Rize is a Fist Saint. The technical gap between us is clear.

“Normally, dual wielding weapons is inefficient. This is because each hand has a different level of proficiency. But Brother Sivar, you handle both hands surprisingly well.”

“Ambidextrous.”

I used to be left-handed, but I was forced to change. The moment I fell into the forest, a wolf bit my left hand, rendering it useless.

After living solely with my right hand, I naturally became ambidextrous. A blessing in disguise, if you will.

“I see. But still······”

Rize nodded and then took a single step forward. It was just one step, but as if she used the Shukuchi Technique, she was suddenly right in front of me.

Coincidentally, I was already charging at her, so I was momentarily flustered. Still, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, so I hastily tried to stop myself.

Thud!

“Ugh!?”

Just as I was trying to stop, Rize’s fist slammed into my face. I turned my head, but it was too late.

Fortunately, it was a light jab without much weight behind it, so I wasn’t sent flying. But it was still just as shocking.

As I staggered backward, Rize grinned and offered me some pointed advice.

“You have a critical weakness. While being ambidextrous is great, you always use your left foot as your pivot.”

“Ah······”

That was advice that could make or break me. It was something I hadn’t even realized myself, yet Rize kindly pointed it out.

The pivot foot is practically an omen of movement. Isn’t it said that the basics of martial techniques lie in footwork?

Since Rize has honed her martial techniques to the extreme, she can predict the next move just by observing footwork.

“Come. Try again.”

After receiving her advice, I made an effort to use not just my hands but also my feet more evenly.

Perhaps Rize noticed my effort, as she overlooked a few of my stumbles. Choosing her as my sparring partner was the right decision.

But as everyone knows, the goal of sparring with her is singular. It’s to train myself to calm my Berserk Mode on my own.

“I’ll start using stronger attacks soon. Do your best.”

With those words, Rize raised the difficulty compared to before. It meant her overall speed and power had increased.

Up until now, I could barely keep up, but it was gradually becoming overwhelming. I had to use mana just to follow her movements with my eyes.

Thankfully, it wasn’t to the point where I couldn’t counterattack at all, so I managed to hold my ground. Even if I took a few punches, I still managed to strike back with my axe.

“Tsk.”

I spat out the blood pooling in my mouth and glared at Rize. Unlike my stinging face, she remained composed and confident.

Is there anyone who can defeat her? Even if I go all out, I’d never win.

“Here I come.”

She’s coming. A punch that could very well send me to my death.

The moment Rize assumed her stance, I dropped mine. It was time to become a character known for their sharp tongue.

‘Should I ditch dual wielding and just use one weapon?’

Was it because I got distracted for a moment? Or was it because I was slowly adapting to the danger?

Boom!!

In an instant, Rize’s fist filled my vision. At the same time, the concept of ‘death’ was vividly engraved in my mind.

Normally, I would’ve frozen in place, unable to do anything, but my body reacted on its own. Perhaps it was due to my wild instinct.

However, there was no time to dwell on such thoughts. Instinctively, I raised both hands. The axes I held in each hand blocked my face.

‘Huh? Wait······’

Clang!!

By the time I instinctively realized I was screwed, it was too late. Rize’s fist struck the overlapping axes with incredible force.

Her straight punch was so powerful that the impact traveled through the axes. My ears rang, and I felt a deafening pressure.

But there was an even bigger problem—the state of the axes.

Crack!

Both of them shattered into clean pieces. The newly crafted Usk Axe and even Ragnarok.

You might wonder how a single punch could destroy weapons, but I didn’t have time to channel mana in my desperate block.

The only silver lining was that they didn’t shatter like glass but broke into fragments. At least no shards flew into my face.

“Well, this is unexpected.”

Even Rize seemed surprised, as if she hadn’t anticipated this outcome. Before the image of death engraved in my mind could fade, I looked down.

Below me lay the shattered remains of the Usk Axe and Ragnarok, scattered beautifully.

In my hands, only the desolate axe handles remained.

“Huh······?”

I stared blankly, then slowly fell to my knees. Forget the Usk Axe—Ragnarok was the real issue.

It’s practically a sacred relic. In the original story, Hector was supposed to pass it on to Kara.

But now, that weapon was destroyed right in front of me. It wasn’t like I recklessly tried to block out of bravado.

My damn instincts acted on their own. I was so frustrated I couldn’t even speak.

“Sivar, are you okay?”

Kara approached me, seemingly having witnessed the axes shatter. She asked about my condition before the weapons.

The moment I saw her face, my mind grew even more chaotic. I wanted to fix it, but I had no idea how.

In the Soul World, it’s common for weapons to break, but I’ve never experienced Ragnarok being destroyed.

“Kara, this······ I, I’m sorry······”

Still overwhelmed by the engraved death and confusion, I stammered while looking back and forth between Kara and the axes.

I didn’t blame Rize. This happened entirely because of my own mistakes.

My pounding heart refused to calm down. I couldn’t speak or act properly.

Swoosh!

“It’s okay. It’s okay. Don’t cry, calm down. We can ask Lord Gulak to fix it later.”

Sensing my turmoil, Kara hugged me tightly. She patted my back, trying to reassure me.

Thanks to her, my heart, which had been racing as if it would burst, gradually steadied. But the guilt in my heart didn’t go away.

If anything, that emotion seemed to intensify, perhaps because of the death crisis I’d just faced. The frustration was a bonus.

“Brother Sivar, in times like this, it’s okay to get angry or cry. Or even both.”

“How can you say that? Can’t you see how shocked he is?”

“I’m saying he needs to learn to express his emotions. It’s a crucial element in mastering Berserk Mode.”

Even as Rize fanned the flames from behind, it didn’t matter. I clenched my lips tightly, enduring and enduring.

I cried often while living in the wilderness. Back then, it felt like the frustration would drive me insane.

But at some point, I stopped showing my emotions. Everything became indifferent.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

“Damn······”

My heart pounded, telling me to release the pent-up emotions in my chest.

I barely resisted the temptation, but I was reaching my limit. Kara hugging me only made it harder.

It felt similar yet different from when I leaned on Ellie. Being held like this brought comfort but also made me feel like my defenses were crumbling.

‘If I cry now, they’ll treat me like a kid again······’

That’s the one thing I can’t let happen. Absolutely not······

[Faith Increases!]

Absolutely not······

[Faith Increases!]

[Faith Increases!]

[Faith Increases!]

Damn it. Stop urging me to cry. I really might.

Just as I clenched my lips as tightly as I could, moisture began to gather in my eyes.

Even though Berserk Mode hadn’t activated, it felt like my emotions were exploding. Chaos teasing me didn’t help either.

“Oh, oh? Sivar, don’t cry. I’m fine, really. We can fix it again.”

Kara, looking at my face, seemed startled and began patting my back. She was clearly trying to calm me down.

But I wonder if she knows. Her kindness is like poison to me right now.

Drip-

In the end, the moisture that had gathered in my eyes overflowed. The first time is always the hardest; after that, it’s easy.

“Ugh······”

I sobbed quietly, my lips pressed tightly together. At the same time, Kara patted my back even harder.

“It’s okay, it’s nothing, really,” she said, offering me words of comfort. Her kindness felt so precious.

[Trait: Berserk is removed!]

[Trait: Rampage acquired······]

The System didn’t even register in my mind.

“Don’t cry. If you stop, I’ll give you some candy. Okay?”

I simply······ leaned into Kara without doing anything else.