I Became the Academy's Disabled Student-Chapter 373: Capture

The spirits are a race far removed from death.

As spiritual beings, spirits do not experience the aging of the body.

Unlike other creatures, they are a long-lived species that is relatively free from the constraints of lifespan.

The same applies to killing.

Even if harmed, spirits merely dissipate. With time, they naturally recover and become solid again.

Boom─! Boom! Kwoaa─!

...

Relatively speaking, moderately.

They are relatively free, but there are spiritual limitations to their lifespan, and if they suffer damage beyond a certain point, their soul is harmed.

Spirits are far from death.

They are not entirely disconnected from it.

Kwooo─! Boom! Kwoong─!

The alpha of this dungeon, the earth spirit, was feeling the approaching terror of death.

It was not a mere instinct. It had recognized the being closing in with tremendous speed.

A massive figure wrapped in earth, with three pairs of dark brown wings spread out behind it.

With a single step, the earth behind it was overturned, and the ground in front obediently parted, creating a path.

Soldiers?

They were sent from the beginning, and they continue to be sent. However, the soldiers under the dungeon's command did not obediently open the path.

Kwaaaa─!

Another explosion made the spirit’s shoulders tremble.

The soldiers who did not obediently step aside were simply demolished.

Most were destroyed by a single punch. Soldiers struck directly by the mass of power were obliterated, and if swept away, their bodies were torn apart to the point of being unrecognizable.

The remaining soldiers were insufficient. Despite investing considerable effort to urgently summon more soldiers, it still could not buy enough time.

The spirit casually glanced at the floor. Even with its control, cracks formed from the shock were visible.

Ugh...

The terror of death.

A feeling that all living beings inevitably experience. Even a spirit, far from death, fears its own demise.

What is the purpose of that monster?

It was probably trying to destroy the dungeon it had entered directly. In fact, it was currently charging directly towards the core of the spirit.

Ugh, guh...

It must be stopped.

...Should I stop it?

The spirit grabbed its head and shuddered.

An external entity. One that was born in the dungeon but was not one of its subordinates.

Therefore, the duty assigned to it was inherently loose. The fear of death was rising, and its faint reasoning began to stir, causing its ambivalence toward duty to falter.

Boom!

The explosion that grew nearer triggered a sense of urgency. The fear of death approached. It pushed for a decision.

“I... don’t want to die...”

It did not want to devote its life to such half-hearted duty.

The spirit trembled and turned its body.

Swoosh! The earth behind it cracked open, creating a passage. Wide enough to fly through leisurely. If it moved away from the core, it would be safe for now.

Despite opening the passage, hesitation held its body in place, but a sudden explosion nearby startled it into flying into the tunnel.

‘If I create distance like this...’

It quickly sealed the path it had passed, fearing it might draw unnecessary attention. Even if the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ monster sensed it, there was no reason to chase the spirit with the core ahead.

...?

The monster arrived at the area near the core where the spirit had been. Now, the monster would destroy the core, and the dungeon would collapse.

Huh?

But it did not collapse. The core remained intact. The monster did not destroy the core, but passed by it.

The entrance opened. It was the direction the spirit had fled.

Huh? Huh...?

The monster leapt. A presence rapidly closing in. The earth that the spirit was rapidly filling in trembled.

Huh? No, no! Why—!?

Why is it coming here, leaving the core behind? Before the question could fully escape its lips, the spirit’s control was lifted, and the ground behind it cracked open.

Light shone through the dark tunnel. The spirit saw the monster for the first time with its own eyes.

...

The enormous figure of the terrifying rock-like monster... did not enter. The spirit’s gaze was drawn to the three pairs of wings visible behind it.

[Hello?]

Hah!

The spirit jumped in surprise at the sudden sound, sticking to the wall. Then, it tilted its head as it processed the voice.

The voice... no, it was different. The voice carried emotion and intention. It was similar to the spirit’s own consciousness.

There was no malice. Its tension eased slightly.

[Hey, could you─]

Don’t come closer.

The spirit quickly tightened its tension, sealing its mouth and raising its hand. Thrusting from the wall behind it, spikes emerged.

You... I don’t want to talk to you.

[No─]

No. I refuse. I won’t talk. I won’t listen to any requests or conditions.

There was no chance of relaxing now. After recognizing the path of destruction clearly, the spirit opened its eyes sharply, swallowing its breath.

Especially those wings.

They kept fluttering like a puppy’s tail, emitting waves, and if it let its guard down, it felt like its mental and physical state would collapse...

Creeeek! The spikes twisted. The clear sign of a trigger was apparent as Ihayul’s hand twitched.

‘The resistance is strong...’

The spirit’s body was made of high-quality pottery.

Its long hair fell, and the eyes, once soft, now sharpened.

Though filled with a dull air, it still bore the stature of a superior being in human form.

As an Alpha, its resistance to intruders was naturally strong.

Even considering the power difference, it was rather polite compared to what it could do.

Perhaps it could be resolved with conversation, but seeing the spirit’s stubborn attitude, it seemed impossible.

‘But I can’t just go back here either.’

Ihayul furrowed his brow.

The duties tied to the spirit. The dungeon’s forces that constrained its actions and cognition. It was a structure similar to what he knew.

The constraints the Tower imposes on its master.

Indeed, this spirit was the same, and it was impossible to return barehanded. Having concluded this, Ihayul took a step forward.

The spikes on the wall shot out. The ground quaked and wrapped around his ankles.

‘The control is strong. It’s different at close range.’

Naturally, the effect of control weakens as the distance between the user and the controlled entity increases.

Earlier, the control was weak due to the distance, but now, in a place where the spirit’s control was fully exerted, it was difficult to block it completely.

‘The control is weakening...’

The spirit thought differently. Crack! As Ihayul took a step, the hold on his ankles shattered effortlessly.

The spike, which had been cutting through the air, stopped mid-flight. The spirit, its face twisted, clenched its fist.

Bang! In an instant, the exploding spike scattered fragments. But even those fragments were held in mid-air, trembling violently.

‘This...’

Ultimately, the trembling fragments fell to the ground with a thud.

The spirit was losing control. Buying time through a brief contest of strength was all it could manage. Even the attribute it created couldn’t be properly utilized.

It’s the same for any ability, but especially for attribute abilities, where the hierarchy is extremely pronounced.

Clenching its teeth, the spirit violently shook its hands.

It used every method within the reach of its control. It created weapons to stab, slash, and strike, sealing paths and crushing them.

‘Why is this so...’

None of its attacks were landing.

Even at this close distance. Every attack was nullified by Ihayul, who walked closer with heavy steps.

The spirit, both terrified and questioning, thought.

Its memories were faint. Though faint, it retained the memories and sensations of controlling the earth.

In the past, it was not this helpless. The abilities of the spirit, which had reached a high level, were not just this much.

So why was it so powerless now? Even with the dungeon’s enhancement, why...?

‘The dungeon... wait, why was I here? I don’t know. How did I end up here? Why am I even in this underground place?’

What is this fight? Why is it so reckless? Where did the attribute use go? Shouldn’t it have hidden in the earth, extending its control directly?

These were questions the spirit had not considered before, now emerging as it regained a sliver of clarity in the face of death.

[I’ve got you.]

...Ack...!?

The spirit failed to notice the hand approaching its face.

Crack! A massive rock hand grabbed its body. The spirit twisted its body, its eyes widening.

Let go...!

Crack! For an instant, the spirit’s power surged. The earth was the symbol of strength. It had drawn up strength that the weak reasoning couldn’t comprehend.

Guh, ugh...!

Yet, it couldn’t escape. The spirit’s eyes trembled as the hand tightened without any twitching.

Now it realized, it wasn’t simply being grabbed. The hand was tightly... gently? Holding it, binding its actions with earth manipulation.

It was completely caught. Neutralized. At that moment, another rock hand moved toward the spirit’s head.

The hand was enormous. It could cover the spirit’s head like an apple and crush it. A spiritual body? Would its nature protect it from that grip?

Ah, aaah...!

The spirit shuddered, imagining death. It resisted desperately but couldn’t break free from the grasp.

No...!

It wasn’t the life it had fought to keep. It wasn’t the life it had struggled to survive.

Thud.

A hand rested on its head. The rising fear made the spirit tightly shut its eyes, but soon, it blinked.

The hand was small. Not hard, but soft. Slowly, it opened its eyes.

The rock hand had split into two. From it, a small white hand emerged and gently rested on its head.

[Just wait a moment.]

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

Fwoosh...

A small orange flame bloomed. Though it was a symbol of destruction, the warmth it conveyed was not destruction, but comfort.

Wooooah...!?

The duty that had remained in the spirit’s head flared up.

The earth around it shook as though an earthquake had occurred.

Thud! Finally, the duty was severed. Before it could be completely consumed, the tail had been severed.

...Huh?

The spirit, stunned by the sudden turn of events, opened its mouth.

The strength drained away, but its mind cleared. The narrowed vision widened, and suddenly, its gaze fell on the wings fluttering behind Ihayul.

There were so many spirits of the same attribute. All of them sent a feeling of joy, as if waving their hands.

The spirit blinked.

Those wings, they were originally supposed to shine beautifully in five colors.

The five elemental spirits would pass through as if it were their home, resting peacefully, and the wings would embrace spirits of other elements.

The wings the spirit knew, the three pairs, were like that.

‘...Do I know them? What do I know...’

[Hmm... I’ll just try with magic...]

Ihayul, who had been observing the dungeon’s atmosphere with a dissatisfied expression, lowered his hand from the spirit’s head.

The hand brushed down its face. From its tips, pure white magic flowed and seeped into the spirit.

...Hik?

The spirit’s toes trembled as it felt its growing clarity.

The spirit’s eyes widened.

The pure magic absorbed into its body. Though a spirit, it was closer to nature, carrying high purity, but this was on another level.

It wasn’t just close, it was pure in itself.

To the spirit, this purity was a greater treasure than the finest elixir to humans.

Uh, ugh, uh? Wait, this feels strange...

For a spirit tainted and damaged like this, it felt even more intense.

Its body trembled as though electrocuted, and the dark taint scattered.

It was certainly a good sign.

Hah, hik, hihik!? Ugh, hek...

[...?]

But the change was too dramatic and sudden.

A few drops of magic that touched its face scattered the accumulated taint.

Accompanied by an indescribable sensation.

The toes sticking out from the grip twitched spasmodically.

[Oh, oh?]

[It’s purifying so slowly...?]

Ihayul blinked, surprised by the intense reaction.

"Pfft, little one? Are you feeling that good?"

Riana, tilting her head with a strange expression, burst into laughter.

Ihayul, wrapped tightly in her embrace, felt the wings behind him fluttering energetically.

"...The spirit that came in this time is moving. It wasn’t what I intended."

"Ah, no? You shouldn’t pass the blame on to others."

"I’m serious though..."