Book 1 Chapter 178

"Resisted with strength?"

The gravity magic Torua used manipulated gravity around the user.

It was a high-level spell that affected the surrounding area.

The incantation was very complex and, as such, quite difficult to use.

However, if successful, it was a very powerful spell.

Of course, this spell also had its weaknesses.

Ultimately, since it was magic, one could simply dispel the incantation or increase their magic resistance to resist it.

Torua had thought that there would be first-years who could counter this magic.

"But I never expected them to counter it like this."

"Forcing yourself to endure with brute strength. That's not very befitting of a mage."

"I'm an All-Class, after all."

At Leo's words, Torua crossed his arms.

As a fifth-year student of the Magic Department.

And as the top student of the Magic Department, Torua had always lamented Leo's potential.

He didn't intend to overlook Leo's talent as a knight or a summoner.

However, Torua believed that Leo's strongest talent was 'magic.'

At first, it was mere curiosity.

But as he got to know Leo, he became convinced that there was no one more suited to be a mage than Leo.

'That fact hasn't changed even now.'

The reason Sedgen arranged this event wasn't solely for the first-years.

It was also meant to allow the fifth-years, who were leaving the school, to impart teachings and advice to the first-years so they would have no regrets.

Of course, leaving the school didn't mean cutting ties with Lumen.

But even so, from a fifth-year's perspective, regrets were unavoidable.

'It must be the professor's consideration to let us do at least one more thing before we leave.'

Glancing at Sedgen, Torua looked at Leo.

Torua also had a strong desire to impart teachings and encourage the juniors who would lead Lumen in the future.

However…

'What kind of advice should I give this kid?'

Torua couldn't figure out what advice to give Leo.

While tilting his head, Torua casually waved his hand.

*RUMBLE!*

"Kek!"

"Cuurgh?"

The other students who teamed up with Leo screamed.

The pressure intensified.

Leo's knees buckled.

Cold sweat poured from his entire body, and his limbs trembled.

The gravity, beyond imagination, crushed his entire body.

But Leo's knees did not break.

Torua smiled faintly.

"How long can you hold on?"

*WHOOSH!*

'It keeps getting stronger.'

Leo, who had been forcibly resisting the magic, smiled thinly and looked at Torua.

At that moment.

*WHOOSH!*

Chloe and Abad shot up from their seats.

Seeing that, Torua's eyes widened.

'Dispel?'

Until now, no one had been able to dispel Torua's gravity magic.

However, Chloe and Abad were the top two skilled students among the first-year Magic Department students.

They succeeded in dispelling Torua's magic in a short time.

*WHOOSH!*

Leo also quickly succeeded in dispelling it, breaking free from Torua's magical influence.

Following them, Chelsea also dispelled the magic.

"Hup!"

Chelsea instantly closed the distance to Torua.

*WHOOSH!*

Torua dodged Chelsea and moved away.

Then, the gravity magic cast on the other students was released.

"As expected! Since it's a spell that controls the surrounding area, it's released when the caster moves away!"

"To see through that. You're quite capable. You are indeed third in the Magic Department."

Torua smiled faintly and flicked his fingers.

*SPLASH- SPLASH-*

Then, a magic circle opened in the air, and eight slimy, blue, viscous objects fell to the ground.

The students looked puzzled.

"What is it?"

"Looks like slime."

"Did Senior Torua use summon magic too?"

Summon magic.

It was a technique that fused summoning with magic.

It was typically used by mages to summon familiars.

Familiars were usually creatures enhanced by magic, not mythical beasts or spirits.

The eight slimes wriggled and then began to take on human forms.

Chelsea looked flustered.

"Me?"

"Ding-dong-ding. Correct."

Torua smiled faintly.

"These slimes are chimeras I created. They have the ability to copy the appearance and abilities of their opponents. Their name is Ditto."

"They copy appearance and abilities? No matter how great Senior Torua is, he's not specialized in bio-magic engineering, so is it possible to create such an amazing chimera?"

As Chloe said this, shaking her head, Torua blinked.

Then he approached the slime that had taken on Chloe's appearance, crouched down, and slightly lifted its skirt.

"What are you doing!"

Chloe protested, her face turning crimson.

She felt embarrassed by the slime, which looked exactly like her, being molested.

Torua stood up and blinked.

"Junior, you are indeed at a tender age of fifteen, but aren't your tastes a bit too girlish? Rabbits…"

"Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Chloe screamed as if having a fit, cutting off Torua's words.

Because she momentarily amplified her voice using magic, Torua's voice was drowned out.

Abad and Chelsea, who were particularly sensitive to sound, had to cover their ears.

Torua, with his characteristic blank expression, blinked and said to Leo,

"This way, I won't be able to seduce Leo-kun…"

"Aaaaaaaagh!"

This time, Chloe screamed so loudly that the entire training ground seemed to shake.

Everyone in the training ground was startled, covered their ears, and looked at Chloe.

They all glanced at Chloe, who was trembling with her shoulders up and her face red, and then looked at Torua, the cause of the trouble.

"Hey, Torua. Don't bully your juniors too much."

At Jamua's chiding, Torua chuckled.

"Sorry. You were too cute."

"No matter how cute, bullying them to this extent is a nuisance…"

"Hah!"

*FLAME!*

With Celia's battle cry, a Vastera ball flew at incredible speed and hit Jamua's forehead directly.

*BOOM!*

A tremendous explosion echoed.

An attack imbued with Celia's powerful flame aura, the top of the first-year Knight Department.

It was an attack especially good for Vastera, with fire aura.

This attack would have left even second and third-years severely injured if they were hit.

*THUD- TING- TING- TING-*

However, the ball fell to the ground and bounced off.

"Hmm."

Jamua, whose head had been tilted by Celia's ball, rubbed his neck and grinned.

"This one was a bit stiff."

"Kch."

It was already the third attack.

After Duran and Chen Sia, Celia's attack.

But Jamua had taken all of them head-on.

Yet, he hadn't moved an inch from his original position.

Before the match began.

Jamua had declared,

"I'll yield the first ten attacks."

"Huh?"

Celia was taken aback.

"Here, I won't move an inch while you throw the ball ten times. If I move even a single step, you win."

Jamua said with a smile.

"You can strategically act even with the penalty I've set. You can score one goal and run down the clock. Professor Sedgen will give good points to me, a fifth-year, if I win, regardless of the content. I can guarantee that."

At Jamua's words, Chen Sia tilted her head.

"Why are you being so accommodating?"

"Because you are the ones who will lead the Knight Department. I like outstanding juniors."

Jamua grinned.

"As a fifth-year senior, I'm giving you a chance to earn good points."

"We appreciate that."

*CRACKLE-!*

Duran snatched the ball from Celia's hand.

Veins bulged on his forehead.

"However, we refuse such favors."

*ROAR!*

A sharp, even destructive lightning aura surged.

Everyone was surprised to see it.

'When did he get that strong?'

Lightning is a property with powerful offensive capabilities like fire.

However, as it is also specialized in 'speed,' Duran had pursued both power and speed.

As a result, there was a perception that his attacks were less powerful than Celia's flame aura.

But as if to deny that, the lightning aura currently surrounding Duran's hand contained unimaginable power.

*WHOOSH!*

Duran raised the ball.

*FLASH-!*

With a golden flash, sparks flew, and the ball struck Duran directly.

*SPARKLE-!*

Sparks flew in all directions.

*THUD-*

However, the ball rolled uselessly on the ground.

"That makes it one."

Jamua's lips curled up as he said.

Haul brought the ball.

And looked at Jamua with a weary expression.

'This is the impenetrable Jamua senior.'

Reese, Ulta, Torua, and Jamua were called the strongest fifth-years.

However, unlike Reese, Ulta, and Torua, Jamua's image was relatively less flashy.

He didn't have overwhelming offensive power like Reese, nor did he use a variety of magic like Torua.

Nor was he as flashy as Ulta.

However, in one-on-one combat, Jamua was a more difficult opponent than anyone else.

Jamua's fearsomeness lay in his 'defense.'

He was nicknamed 'Iron Wall' due to his monstrous stamina and defense that never faltered.

The man who endured until the end in times of crisis, protecting his party members' lives.

'No matter how strong the top three first-year knights are, will it really be possible to make Senior Jamua move with Vastera?'

Even though Vastera is dangerous and close to real combat, it is a sport with limitations unlike actual combat.

Those who teamed up with the three of them couldn't think of a way to defeat Jamua.

"Haul."

"Yeah?"

"Can you give me the ball?"

Haul handed the ball to Celia, who approached him.

Celia smiled faintly after receiving it.

"Thank you."

Haul, slightly blushing, coughed.

"Shia, Duran, gather 'round."

Celia glanced at Leo, who was playing nearby, and said,

"I have a plan."

***

"How are my slimes? Aren't they amazing?"

Torua said proudly, crossing his arms.

"They're identical in appearance and abilities!"

"They are indeed impressive."

Abad spread his palm.

"Wind Storm."

*ROAR!*

A massive whirlwind raged.

"Let's see if they can respond to an attack like this."

"Hmm. That might be impossible?"

*ROAR!*

The moment Torua spoke, the eight slimes were shredded and scattered in all directions.

But soon, they began to ooze and re-coalesce.

"But even if they can't respond, their durability is high, so they'll return to their original form quickly. And…"

Torua threw the ball he was holding towards the juniors' goal.

"This is Vastera. Aren't you too focused on the slimes?"

Despite the casual gesture, the ball, accelerated by magic, was about to be blocked by Abad when he desperately tried to stop it.

"Fimbulvetr."

*CRACKLE-!*

With a small spell, immense cold surged.

The cold not only created an ice wall that captured the ball but also froze the slimes that were returning to their original form.

Chloe, who cast the spell, retracted her staff with a sigh.

A tremendous cold raged around her.

"Oh? A new unique magic?"

Torua's eyes gleamed.

*FLAME!*

Torua reached out his hand into the air.

*FLASH-!*

Along with it, a staff appeared in the air.

Seeing that, the first-years looked tense.

When a mage grasps a staff, it signifies only one thing.

'They're getting serious!'