The Academy’s Time Stop Player

It’s about time to wrap this up.

Honestly, Hajoon wanted to rest more than having to keep 'educating' the children by defeating them.

Hajoon stretched his arms leisurely, looking at the children.

Out of the eight children who charged at Hajoon, only three remained. Anna and Haruna seemed exhausted, having used too much magic and Rune Language.

'Only the important ones are left.'

Children who needed to grow for the future.

Of course, they also had to grow for his own convenience.

However, he didn't see any noticeable growth during the 2 hours and 30 minutes of 'education'.

'Should I push them a bit harder?'

Hajoon eyed the children who needed to be trained.

These were kids who, since ancient times, were known as unparalleled geniuses.

The Golden Generation.

Yet, during those 2 hours and 30 minutes, it was evident that they hadn't given their all.

It seemed like they weren’t taking this seriously, perhaps thinking it was just another training session.

To start training them, Hajoon felt he first had to break their pride.

His gaze first landed on Han Siyoung.

Staring straight at Han Siyoung, he spoke.

“That's the sword you received from the Sword King, isn’t it?”

“...?”

“Then why can't you cut with it? Is the swordsman flawed, or is the sword?”

Upon hearing this, Han Siyoung's eyebrows began to narrow.

At the same time, Han Siyoung's aura began to change.

The magic power flowing slowly from Han Siyoung’s body started to threaten Hajoon intensely.

“...Kim Hajoon.”

“Or is it that the swordsmanship is flawed?”

“!?”

Unable to hold back, Han Siyoung dashed swiftly towards Hajoon.

The speed was incomparably faster than before.

This must be Han Siyoung's full strength at the moment.

Hajoon watched Han Siyoung, who was rushing towards him.

Immediately after, Han Siyoung’s sword traced a natural curve aiming at Ha-joon’s abdomen.

The movement was fluid and smooth.

It must be the swordsmanship of the Sword King... However, it seemed like an unsuitable style for Han Siyoung.

Hajoon immediately activated Time Stop (SSS).

Soon after.

Whoosh! Ping––––––––––!

The sword, which was aimed at Hajoon’s abdomen, was repelled by an unseen force.

A sincere strike was effortlessly blocked and deflected.

At the same time, Han Siyoung felt pain in his abdomen and stumbled back, falling to his knees.

“Kuh!”

“...”

Han Siyoung then glared fiercely at Hajoon.

Hajoon looked back at him with a calm expression.

To be honest, Han Siyoung’s sincere strike was impeccable.

With that, he could easily cut down and defeat most villains.

Naturally, it's the swordsmanship of none other than the Sword King.

However, Hajoon knew.

The Sword King’s technique wasn’t suitable for Han Siyoung.

That technique suits only the Sword King.

In fact, the Sword King's swordsmanship seemed to stifle Han Siyoung's strengths.

That's why Hajoon deliberately blocked Han Siyoung's sincere strike with ease.

He acted this way to make Han Siyoung realize on his own that the Sword King's technique didn't suit him.

Looking sternly at Hajoon, Han Siyoung's glare was intense. Hajoon threw a question at him.

"Doesn't your technique not feel right?"

"..."

"It doesn't seem weak, but it doesn't feel particularly strong either. It's somewhere in the middle, don't you think?"

Han Siyoung's face contorted at that remark.

Hajoon, ignoring Han Siyoung's reaction, turned his attention to Liam and Lee Jooah.

Well, Liam was growing up well on his own, and Lee Jooah was irrelevant.

There wasn't much to teach these two anyway. Lee Jooah would be learning well from Riella Harnis.

'Hmm...'

Hajoon's gaze landed on Anna.

Frankly, among the children, Anna seemed to be the most concerning at the moment.

He looked at Anna, who was standing far back, defending herself with protective magic and just providing support.

His expression was of utmost disappointment.

Anna was momentarily startled by Hajoon's expression.

Of course, Hajoon didn't care about Anna's reaction and spoke.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Are you going to keep staying back and attacking timidly?"

Anna slightly frowned at his words, quickly realizing his provocation.

'I shouldn't fall for it...'

Hadn't Hajoon just provoked Han Siyoung in the same way?

Anna wasn't one to fall for such a petty taunt.

And she tried to think of it positively.

If Hajoon was provoking her like this, it meant he found her support magic from behind bothersome.

But Anna's expression hardened in surprise at Hajoon's following words.

"Will you act like this in front of Karthon?"

Karthon... her sworn enemy and a target she needed to defeat.

For a moment, Anna began to tremble.

And Hajoon's words echoed in her head.

'Will you act like this in front of Karthon?'

The words resonated, ringing in her ears.

Aaaah!!

Anna's hand clenched tightly.

Yes, that was a provocation.

But with just that taunt, Anna felt an uncontrollable rage.

She fell for the provocation.

"Even if you're Hajoon..."

Anna's eyes shimmered blue.

The Sage's Eye.

One of the most impeccable talents in the world.

The moment her eyes shimmered blue, countless mana floating around in the atmosphere began to be absorbed into her body.

One of the abilities she could use with the Sage's Eye.

Endless mana.

Following that, Anna launched a series of explosive spells.

Countless fireballs formed above Anna's head.

After conjuring the numerous fireballs, Anna uttered the following words,

“Don't speak carelessly with that mouth of yours.”

At her words, Hajoon merely smiled satisfactorily without any reply.

The instructor was settling the students on the third floor when he began ascending to the top floor.

And once he got behind the top floor's door, he started observing the situation.

For a moment, he looked slightly taken aback by what was transpiring on the top floor. But then, his lips curled up in a satisfied smirk.

"They said he wasn't good at teaching..."

The instructor gazed at Hajoon, a pleased smile forming on his face.

At first glance, it seemed like he was provoking them, but he was perfectly pointing out the students' shortcomings.

"I was initially worried, but it seems like a decent approach."

These kids, hailed as geniuses from the past, were now coming face-to-face with a real monster among their peers, realizing their own inadequacies one by one.

"There's no need to interfere right now."

Deciding this, he chose to stay hidden behind the stairway door, continuing to watch the situation unfold.

Given the circumstances, it didn't seem necessary for him to step in.

"It can't go on like this..."

Anna deeply felt that things couldn't continue this way.

All spells were blocked and absorbed by Hajoon's mysterious ability, disappearing without a trace.

Simple magic wouldn't suffice.

Realizing this, Anna took a moment to think.

"I need more power..."

Not just magic, but raw force. Something much stronger to surpass Hajoon.

She then recalled what Hajoon had told her in the past.

"Act wisely, as a sage would..."

Remembering those words, Anna gently closed her eyes, imagining not just a shield to defend herself, but something created for raw power.

She started crafting a new spell, aiming for an unprecedented phenomenon. Soon, the spherical barrier around her began to waver and pulsate.

It started to grow and shift, transitioning from a mere defensive sphere to the form of a giant, designed to wield immense power.

A transformation.

"Ah..."

Anna realized.

Before being a magician, she was a sage, one of the most potent amongst magicians. She didn't need to walk the same path as other magicians before her.

BOOM!

The giant slowly rose, shattering the low ceiling to reveal its true form.

Made from the pure power of a sage and an unbreakable barrier, the giant moved in sync with Anna, swinging its massive arm.

WHOOSH!

The arm, cutting through the air with a deafening sound, aimed straight for Hajoon. But seeing this, Hajoon responded with a pleased smirk.

"Not bad."

He had been frustrated watching Anna, with all her sage-like power, sticking to conventional magic.

But now, she seemed to have gained some insight.

She wouldn't stand a chance against the villain Karthon if she continued with her old ways.

WHOOSH!

For now, Hajoon decided to evade the swinging arm of Anna's giant. While in his Time Stop state, he simply stepped aside. Soon after, a gust of wind brushed past him, caused by the giant's massive swing.

Then, Hajoon's gaze landed on Haruna.

"Is Haruna Ruel all that's left?"

He observed her closely, and she flinched slightly. Haruna had clearly seen the events that just transpired. She swallowed nervously, awaiting Hajoon's words, bracing herself against any potential provocation.

However, what Hajoon said wasn't a provocation. It was just simple advice.

"Just let your imagination run free. You can do anything, right?"

Haruna, taken aback by his words, tilted her head in confusion.

Soon after, with an exclamation as if she had realized something, Haruna acted.

"∎∎∎∎∎∎∎∎!"

A language only she could understand: Rune Language.

The Rune Language promptly caused a phenomenon.

The floor shook, and the button fixed to it was slowly pulled towards Haruna. She must have said something like 'Pull the floor and bring me the button.'

Rune Language.

Perhaps Haruna didn't fully understand the essence of the Rune Language, thinking that what's impossible in reality would also be impossible in Rune Language.

If she only realized that, she might unleash her abilities freely with her imagination.

Hajoon activated Time Stop (SSS).

He then struck the floor, prying the button that was fixed to it, lifting it with one hand.

"Well, then."

He looked around at the children.

To nurture them further, it might be better to spar a few more times.

With Maharazu, the hammer, resting on his shoulder, Hajoon waited for the kids to approach.

Han Siyoung was the first to rush towards Hajoon.

Whoooosh!!!

And unlike before, his momentum was staggering.

It was clear he was going all out, but it felt as if he was charging with an intent to genuinely slice his opponent.

Anna felt the same way.

"Haahaaaaaaap!!!"

The blue giant, with clenched fists, exuded an overwhelming aura, attempting to slam down on Hajoon.

Hajoon, seemingly transfixed by the giant's fist, activated Time Stop (SSS).

He swiftly dodged the giant's hand and landed a blow on Han Siyoung, similar to the one before.

However, the outcome was something entirely unexpected.

Kukukukukung!!!

Due to the impact of Anna's giant swing, cracks began to form on the floor, and Han Siyoung's sword transformed into a blade of energy, cleanly slicing part of the top floor's wall.

Adding to that, the already massive giant began to grow even larger.

Anna, now glaring fiercely at Hajoon, swung her enlarged giant's fist, while Han Siyoung once again rushed towards him.

"Haahaap!!!"

Boom――――――!!!

Whoooosh――――――!!!!

In the face of the giant's hand swinging straight at him, Hajoon thought to himself,

'This isn't going to work.'

It was an attack he couldn't possibly evade within the circle.

Without much choice, Hajoon stepped outside of the circle to dodge the giant's attack.

Upon exiting the circle and releasing the Time Stop (SSS), the children looked at the now outside Hajoon with startled expressions.

But their surprise was short-lived as the aftermath of the attacks from Han Siyoung and Anna exceeded their expectations.

"Oh no..."

"Huh?"

"Ah..."

A tremor, resembling an earthquake, began shaking the entire building.

The impact from the giant's fist started to crack the entire top floor's wall, and the force from Han Siyoung's sword eventually caused the already weakened top floor to begin collapsing.

Boom!

In an instant, everyone began to plummet towards the third floor due to the collapsed ground.

Within this chaos, Hajoon surveyed his surroundings.

Anna and Haruna used their flying magic to soar through the air, rescuing the fallen students and safely landing on the third floor.

Han Siyoung and Lee Jooah firmly stepped on the falling rocks, stabilizing themselves as they descended to the same floor.

Meanwhile, Liam was seen carrying Yoo Seolah, ensuring a smooth landing for both of them on the third floor.

In the midst of all this, Hajoon decisively tapped on his clothes, remaining suspended in mid-air.

He then activated Time Stop (SSS) to steady himself atop the falling debris, making his way to the third floor.

However, there was a pressing issue at hand.

Massive rocks, which once formed the ceiling and floor of the topmost level, were now raining down onto the third floor.

Anna, realizing her oversight, transformed into a giant form, shielding the students from the cascading debris.

Han Siyoung, on the other hand, prepared to swing his sword at the incoming rocks. Still, their efforts seemed inadequate against the flood of rocks

'This is... a bit dangerous.'

It was undoubtedly a perilous situation. The sheer weight of the plummeting rocks threatened to collapse the third floor itself.

Yet, Hajoon's mind remained unruffled.

Well, with his skill Indomitable Will, it was near impossible for him to panic in such scenarios.

Hajoon gazed intently at the falling rocks and uttered a command, "Designate."

Immediately after,

Whoosh-

"?!"

"What just..."

Every student on the third floor stared in disbelief at the unfolding scene.

The rocks that were menacingly hurtling towards the third floor were now frozen mid-air, as if time itself had paused.

And what followed left the students utterly speechless.

Whooosh!

The enormous rocks vanished. It was as if they had never existed in the first place.

The students then turned their gaze to the young man responsible for this phenomenon.

Hajoon, feeling the weight of their stares, let out a weary sigh.

"Whew... That was exhausting."