The Academy Geniuses I Raised and Dressed-Chapter 183 : First Gathering (2)

“Everyone, fall back!”
Jin Cheongryong shouted from the front.
All the melee DPS immediately retreated, and the mages behind them also took several steps back. Every gaze was fixed forward.
A horse, its body riddled with holes that exposed bone, wreathed in an eerie blue aura.
And atop it—a skeleton in armor, gripping a banner.
The sheer size—four times that of a normal horse and rider—crushed the air around us. Even knowing its identity and strategy, the pressure was suffocating.
Black smoke swirled around the boss like a storm.
“What the hell was that just now?”
George, Dao’s fire-wielding DPS, muttered as he raised his red-tinted spear.
But no one answered him.
Then—
A shrill whinny split the air.
The Death Rider began to move.
Of course, this wasn’t some turn-based game. Just because we froze up didn’t mean the boss would politely wait.
“It’s reflection!” I shouted before more victims could fall.
“Iris went down because of a reflection curse! All melee DPS, back out—tanks, grab aggro!”
At the word
reflection
, the melee DPS scrambled back.
In Latessai, reflection counted as a curse.
But it only applied to physical damage.
Which meant the way to bring down the Fortress’s fourth-floor boss—the Death Rider—was clear: rely on the mages.
Magic damage couldn’t be reflected.
But this was a Phase 2 dungeon. It wasn’t going to be that easy.
“Ah!”
Zen shouted, pointing forward.
The Death Rider swept its banner in a wide arc, and glowing blue lumps burst into existence all around it.
“Ghosts!” Ao cried.
The lumps morphed into translucent phantoms and began circling the Death Rider.
Then the boss swung the banner again, this time in a cross pattern.
The scattered bones littering the floor trembled—then assembled into skeletons.
Clack-clack!
Snap!
Dozens of skeletons clattered toward us as the ghosts swooped above.
Kaang!
Seo Yui charged first, her shield slamming into the skeletons.
Boom!
She stomped down, and her shockwave skill staggered every skeleton nearby.
The other five tanks followed, raising shields and unleashing their own abilities to lock down the mobs.
Then—
“Ahhh! So cold!”
Maria screamed.
Her breath puffed out white. Frost spread across her armor and skin, locking up her movements. The chill seeped into her bones, making her entire body shiver. Even her thoughts seemed to slow.
‘Cold damage over time.’
Ice damage inflicted frostbite—lowering attack speed and movement speed. Not only a DPS loss, but dodging became nearly impossible.
The source was obvious: the ghosts swirling overhead.
Which meant the priority was clear.
“Mages, focus the ghosts first! Then attack the boss! Melee DPS, clear out the skeletons!”
Ghosts were immune to physical attacks. Only magic could take them down.
“Bella.”
“Y-y-yeees???” Her trembling voice shook.
“Did you bring any Firebreather’s Draught?”
“Y-yes! I’ve got… three bottles…!”
‘Only three?’
I pulled a bundle of potions from my inventory.
“Wh-what the!? Why’d you bring so many? That’s more than twenty!”
“You never know what’ll happen in a dungeon. Use these to boost everyone’s ice resistance.”
“O-okay!”
Bella uncorked a crimson potion with shaking hands and gulped it down.
“Pwahhh! Ugh, disgusting!”
Red light flared across her body—the mark of her ability.
The
Potion Evangelist
.
While active, any ally within range who drank the same potion type would see its effects doubled.
That ability turned Bella from an ordinary supporter into the strongest buff totem in the entire game. At higher levels, the multiplier could reach fivefold. With top-grade resistance potions, that meant literal immunity to an element.
‘Alright, let’s get started.’
I loaded potions into my sling.
“Bella, take half and hand them out to the backline.”
“Got it!”
With resistance buffed, she no longer shivered. Despite her lazy drawl, her steps were light as she carried the potions to the mages.
The casters, busy blasting ghosts, gratefully received her potions.
“Frontline! Potions coming in!”
I fired potions from my sling toward the tanks. Some caught them by hand and downed them; others let the bottles smash against their armor, the liquid soaking straight into their skin.
‘Shouldn’t have caught them by hand… that weakens the effect.’
I frowned. In the game, that situation never existed. A detail I’d overlooked.
Still, I quickly distributed to the frontline, midline DPS, and finally the rest—including Iris, now patched up by Toby.
All twenty-four members were free of the cold’s grip.
‘Even if the Death Rider summons more ghosts, it won’t be a problem now.’
I scanned the battlefield.
The mages were already tearing through the phantoms, and the tanks and melee DPS were reducing skeletons to piles of bones.
‘And my team… they’re doing exactly as told.’
Meiling was sticking to mana bolts, Lumina fought with just a single dagger without using stealth, and Seo Yui held her ground defensively.
Before we gathered at the base, I had given the three of them a warning:
Don’t go all out today.
If my team showed their true strength, the others would just coast along behind us. And if that happened, my real objective for this dungeon run would be lost.
That was when I noticed the black smoke swirling around the Death Rider start to thicken.
“Mages!” I raised my voice.
“The boss is charging something! Ignore the ghosts—focus fire on the boss!”
At my order, the six mages immediately leveled their wands and staves.
Meiling’s mana bolt fired first.
Then Rune’s lightning spear, Zen’s ice blossom, Muimi’s twin venom orbs, and finally Yoon Horim’s corrupted flames.
Six different spells rained down on the Death Rider at once.
“Hiiiihhhhhh!”
The skeletal horse shrieked, convulsing violently. The Rider itself had no voice, but its bones rattled and clacked as if in pain.
The black smoke dispersed.
I grinned.
“Now! While the reflection curse is gone! Melee DPS—attack the boss!”
I shouted the command, but no one moved.
“How the hell do you know that!?” Jin Yuyeon, Martial God’s DPS, shouted.
There was no time to explain. If we hesitated, the Death Rider would regain its reflection curse.
Then—
Someone shot forward like a streak of light, slashing hard.
Slash!
With a loud crack, one of the boss’s arms was severed.
“Oooh…”
Rio gasped.
“Kyaa!”
Maria cupped her hands around her mouth like a trumpet.
“Lumina! You’re amazing!”
There she was, standing beside the boss, dagger in hand, eyes sharp and focused.
“Let’s go!”
Jin Cheongryong roared.
Jin Yuyeon and the other melee DPS charged in after him. The tanks surged forward as well.
The Death Rider tried to swing its banner to summon reinforcements—but it was already too late.
Six tanks locked it down one after another, chaining endless staggers. The melee DPS hacked away in the openings.
The mages didn’t stay idle either. They poured out targeted spells, striking the boss cleanly without risking allies.
Watching it, I couldn’t help but recall that old saying:
Numbers overwhelm all.
Just seven seconds after the all-out assault began, the level 40 boss shattered into particles, dissolving into the air.
A return portal and a deeper-dungeon portal appeared simultaneously.
We had cleared the fourth floor.
“Oooh…”
A hushed gasp echoed.
Dozens of materials and demonic relics clattered to the ground where the boss had fallen.
“Incredible. There are several rare-grade relics here.”
“I can’t wait to bring them to appraisal.”
Rio and Maria’s eyes gleamed as they spoke.
“Tch.”
I clicked my tongue softly, staring at the loot pile.
Not here either.
The item I’d been hoping for hadn’t dropped.
So it won’t come that easily after all.
Just then, Jin Cheongryong strode up and stopped in front of me.
“Nam Yein.”
“Yes?”
His lips pressed into a line, his eyes intense. Then suddenly, he thrust out his hand.
“That was excellent leadership.”
Ah. His face had been so stern I thought he was about to complain.
“Noticing the reflection curse, countering the ghosts’ frost attack immediately, and giving clear orders by role. You commanded perfectly.”
“It wasn’t anything that great.”
“No. Jin Cheongryong is right. You did well.”
The voice came from an unexpected source.
“Senior Rune?”
Rune had stepped up beside me.
“Facing a dungeon we’d never entered, against monsters we’d never seen—you responded flawlessly. As if you knew everything from the start. Impressive.”
Of course I knew.
“But how did you figure that out earlier?” Rune pressed.
“The curse, you mean?”
“Yeah. Right after Iris fell, you immediately called it reflection. How?”
“Iris’s attack left no mark on the boss. Reflection curse was the only explanation.”
“Then how did you know when melee could attack safely?” Zen asked, stepping closer.
“The black smoke wrapped around the boss vanished under your magic barrage. Just before Iris went down, I also saw that same smoke brush against her. That’s when I realized the smoke was tied to the curse.”
“Hmm. We all saw the same thing, yet only you pieced it together. Makes me feel ashamed.”
Jin Cheongryong shook his head.
Meanwhile, Iris stood apart from the group, lips sealed tight.
No wonder—she’d charged in, been dropped instantly, and contributed nothing else. For someone like her, it was a bitter humiliation.
“For today, let’s stop here and head back.”
“Huh? Can’t we keep going?” Rio asked, disappointed.
“From the fifth floor onward, the monsters’ levels will spike even higher. And from what I’ve observed, their numbers here already exceed normal dungeons. Even with our numbers, pushing deeper against unknown monsters carries too much risk.”
“I agree with Yein.”
Ao raised her hand.
“If not for his commands during the boss fight, things could’ve gone badly.”
“Mm… fair point.” Rio nodded.
“So how are we splitting the loot?” Jin Yuyeon asked.
“By default, we’ll sell all materials and relics gained here. The profit will be split evenly among the twenty-four of us. But if someone wants to keep a material or relic, they can buy it. If more than one person wants it, we’ll hold an auction.”
“And the auction money gets split among the rest?” Rune asked.
“Exactly. Appraisal fees will also be paid by the winner.”
No one objected.
With that, we gathered up the Death Rider’s drops and left the dungeon.
The Demons Class’s first dungeon expedition had ended.
On the way to the Hunter Market for appraisal, I sidled up to Lumina.
“Lumina.”
“Mm? What’s up, Yein?”
“Thanks.”
“Huh? W-wait, what for?”
Her face went blank with surprise.
“Back during the boss fight, everyone froze. But you followed my call instantly. Because of that, the others trusted it was safe and charged in. I owe you.”
“T-that’s only because… I knew if you said it was fine, then it couldn’t possibly be dangerous…”
“And that’s exactly why I’m grateful. You trusted me.”
“Ah…”
Lumina ducked her head, cheeks pink with embarrassment.
At the appraisal shop, we were told the process would take two days. With so many new materials and relics pouring in from the freshly opened dungeon, they needed time.
“Then let’s call it a day here.”
I gathered everyone outside the shop.
“Our next meeting will be after all the academies formally recognize this group. Until then, rest well.”
“Good work, everyone.”
“That was fun!”
“See you next time.”
One by one, the students said their goodbyes and dispersed with their academy groups.
Once they were gone from sight, I turned to Seo Yui.
“Senior, could you take the others back to the hotel first?”
She looked puzzled.
“Huh?”
“Why aren’t you coming with us?” Lumina and Meiling shot me the same questioning look.
“I need to talk to Eleanor about business.”
“We’ll come too,” Meiling said immediately.
“That’s not necessary. There’s no reason to—”
“Yein. After you’re done with Eleanor, let’s have dinner nearby before heading back. It’s almost evening.”
“I-I agree with Senior.” Lumina added quickly.
What the hell. The three of them were ganging up on me.
Realizing they wouldn’t let me go alone, I gave up and brought them along as we headed for Eleanor’s workshop.
(End of Chapter)