Book 1 Chapter 184
184
“Th-that’s impossible!”
“Is that even possible?”
Voices of astonishment erupted among the third and fourth-year students.
As for the first and second-year students, even just watching the offense and defense between Leo and Rhys, which occurred in an instant, was overwhelming, and they couldn’t comprehend how amazing the two’s movements were.
However, the first-year Knight Department's top students clenched their fists.
Meanwhile, in the fifth-year spectator stands, Zamua muttered while eating popcorn.
“Was he that good? That’s not just amazing, it’s grotesque.”
At Zamua’s amazed reaction, Torua, who had been writing something next to him, glanced at the dueling arena and said,
“That’s why Rhys recommended him for student council president.”
“That’s true. By the way, Torua. What have you been writing for the past few days?”
“Graduation postponement application.”
“…”
At Torua’s words, Zamua made an expression of disbelief.
“It’s already been rejected ten times.”
When Torua, who had already completed his graduation thesis, submitted an unprecedented application, the professors of the Magic Department were dumbfounded.
The reason was none other than magic research.
“Let me see.”
At Zamua’s request, Torua obediently handed over the graduation postponement application.
“Graduation postponement application. I want to study in Lumern for one more year. Reason: Magic Research. Specific research plan: Analysis of Leo Flove’s ‘Bible’ magic spell formula and intensive observation of Leo Flove?”
Zamua, who was looking at the graduation postponement application, said,
“Do you think this will pass?”
“Hmm… intensive observation might be an invasion of privacy, so maybe it’s better to remove it?”
Zamua sighed, looking at the serious Torua.
He was famous for being the smartest friend in school, but when it came to magic, he turned into an idiot.
Zamua, having lost interest in his friend, turned his gaze back to the dueling arena.
‘Alright, what are you going to do, Leo?’
In the skill showdown, Leo surprisingly took the lead.
However, combat power is not solely determined by skill.
Especially, the opponent Leo was challenging was Rhys Zerdinger, the strongest student.
‘That alone won’t be enough to hold out against the current Rhys.’
***
Leo gripped his sword, watching the whirlwind of flames flying towards him.
‘That’s not Zerdinger’s flame.’
Zerdinger’s flame was the Phoenix’s flame.
Therefore, its power and feel were different from ordinary flames.
‘It’s a technique using a hero skill.’
Leo quickly identified the attack and chuckled.
‘Is he testing me?’
Thinking so, Leo awakened the flame sleeping within his body.
Goooooooo! Hwa-reureureureuk-!
The blazing crimson flame reflected on the spear Leo was holding.
Chuk-!
Leo, gripping the spear firmly, took a throwing stance.
Kwagagagak-!
The flame Leo possessed was sucked into the spear.
As all the flames were absorbed, Leo gritted his teeth.
“Hup-!”
Hwang-!
Leo threw the spear towards the whirlwind of flames Rhys had created.
Hwaak-!
The spear flew towards the whirlwind of flames at incredible speed.
Kwaang-!
In an instant, Leo’s spear and Rhys’s whirlwind of flames collided.
Goooooooo-!
In an instant, as if exploding, the Phoenix’s flame burst from Leo’s spear and engulfed Rhys’s flame.
Even if they were the same flame, their class was different.
The Phoenix’s flame, known as the strongest flame, devoured everything.
It wasn't for nothing that Zerdinger and Runda were called the strongest among the noble hero families who used flames.
‘Even so, to block it so easily.’
Rhys marveled.
The flame Rhys had used a moment ago was the flame of the great fire spirit Itaruan, which had vanished 1000 years ago.
It was a reward obtained through the Hero’s World, and although it wasn't the complete flame of a great spirit, it was certainly not a weak flame.
‘To devour that flame.’
Rhys smiled, watching Leo’s spear flying straight at him.
‘His ability to control flames is also incredible.’
Tup-!
Kwaang! Hwa-reureureureuk-!
As soon as Rhys snatched the spear Leo had thrown, a massive fiery blaze swept through the dueling arena.
Everyone in the spectator stands looked surprised.
A protective magic was cast in the dueling arena to prevent harm to the audience.
Leo’s flame was so powerful that intense heat, hot enough to feel like burning flesh, penetrated through that protective magic.
But Leo’s attack wasn't over.
He unleashed the magic he had prepared all at once.
Flash! Kwagagagagang-!
Like an outpouring bombardment.
Powerful flame magic poured down on the spot where Rhys stood.
Literally, Leo unleashed the maximum possible attack he could muster with aura and magic, showering it upon Rhys.
The older students wore looks of horror.
Of course, Rhys had allowed Leo to prepare everything.
But even so, this level was beyond imagination.
Even if one was born with Zerdinger's flames, specialized in attack, Leo's current attacking power was astonishing.
Surprisingly, the first-year students were unfazed.
As everyone focused on where Rhys had stood,
Rhys emerged through the flames, eliciting gasps of admiration.
Rhys came through the flames completely unscathed, despite Leo's fierce attack.
“As expected of Senior Rhys.”
“To block an attack of that magnitude without any difficulty!”
Exclamations of admiration erupted among the students.
Meanwhile, the professors were looking at Rhys as if it were obvious.
“Even so, not even a single edge of his clothes is singed. That’s amazing.”
Anna, Ren’s associate professor, clicked her tongue, and Ren folded his arms.
“Indeed, Leo’s offensive power using magic and aura is astonishing. But his opponent is Rhys Zerdinger.”
Ren narrowed his eyes.
“He’s the strongest student, known as the Phoenix Knight. Not only in Lumern, but among the current hero candidates including Seirun, Azonia, and Damian, he’s the top-tier combatant. And when it comes to the proficiency of a flame user, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone better than Rhys Zerdinger in the entire world.”
Rhys was the heir of the heroic noble family Zerdinger and a knight whose flame abilities had reached a world-class level.
“At Leo’s current level, fighting Rhys with flames is tantamount to suicide.”
“Did Leo not know that?”
“He wouldn’t not know.”
Ren curled the corner of his mouth.
“It’s just a challenge, I suppose.”
“A challenge?”
“Yes. He’s challenging to see how effective his flame is against Rhys.”
“Even so, isn’t that too reckless?”
“Hahahaha! Associate Professor Anna! That’s why Leo is amazing!”
Ren’s lips stretched to his ears.
“Leo is ‘testing’ how amazing Rhys is! What a bold student! That guts to test the strongest fifth-year student! This is proof that he’s a student worthy of the Magic Department!”
“Ah, yes.”
Anna responded half-heartedly.
Lately, Ren seemed to connect anything related to Leo to the Magic Department.
When she heard the story of his successful 'Bible' implementation, Anna had even nearly knocked out the rampaging Ren by hitting him on the back of the head with a thick grimoire to calm him down.
‘Should I really quit?’
Anna let out a deep sigh at her boss's increasingly severe outbursts.
‘Indeed.’
Leo exclaimed in admiration as he watched Rhys block his attack without significant damage.
‘Even in the Age of Calamity, there weren't any knights of that age who had accumulated such skill.’
Even with technologies refined and developed over 5000 years and the means of the Hero's World, it remained an astonishing level.
‘His ability to wield flames is the best throughout all my past and present lives.’
Leo gripped his sword.
Of course, Leo could now unleash flames of a level equal to Rhys.
But that was a flame Leo could only achieve by being prepared to endure burns himself.
Moreover, even if he produced flames of equal power, if the power was the same, it clearly wouldn't reach Rhys.
“At your current level, you won’t be able to injure me, Leo.”
“You’re right.”
Leo nodded at Rhys’s words.
“I can’t counter Brother Rhys’s flames with aura and magic.”
Rhys smiled, watching Leo readily admit it.
“Then what will you do?”
“It’s simple.”
Leo smiled.
“Isn’t countering power with power the most effective method?”
“Power?”
Rhys looked puzzled.
Just a moment ago, Leo admitted that he couldn't contend with Rhys's flames.
‘Even if he uses power of a different attribute, it would be the same. But he says he has a way?’
Another aura Leo uses.
Even using Kyle’s grey aura wouldn't be enough to counter Rhys.
It was literally a reckless fight between different weight classes.
But he said he would face it with power.
‘What is he thinking?’
Rhys’s eyes narrowed.
Leo curled the corners of his mouth, looking at Rhys.
***
“It’s over.”
Among the older students, reactions like “I knew it” flowed out.
At first, it was surprising when Leo landed an effective hit on Rhys, but that was the end of it.
Rhys fought Leo without holding back.
It was clear the sparring would end in an instant now.
“Still, for a first-year, isn’t that amazing?”
“Hmph! ‘For a first-year,’ yes! Student Council President is out of the question!”
Boos and complaints erupted from here and there.
The first-year students had similar reactions.
“It was interesting. But this is the end.”
Eliza grumbled, tidying her fingertips.
“Seriously, why fight the Student Council President when you could fight me?”
“Eliza. Do you know that sometimes you act as if you have a crush on the Class 5 president?”
“Is that so?”
“Cough! Cough!”
“Is this the mouth that speaks such impertinent words?”
“Th-this mouth! Cough! My mouth was wrong! Kehek! It-it-hurrgh-hit my mouth-cough why is my neck being strangled… Kehek!”
Eliza, who always carried a whip, expertly wrapped it around her classmate’s neck and smiled brightly.
The female student, who barely escaped and clutched her neck, coughing and sputtering, grumbled,
“Anyway, the sparring is over. A first-year student council president? That’s absurd, isn’t it?”
“You’re right. A first-year student council president is absurd.”
It was then that Eliza made a nonchalant expression.
Swoosh-
Leo raised his hand.
Wooong-!
“Summoning magic?”
Eliza wore an intrigued expression.
‘Now that I think about it, Leo Flove has never used summoning magic in an important battle until now, has he? He’s said to be an All-Class, but his summoning ability was definitely inferior to his aura and magic.’
Of course, Leo’s summoning magic wasn't absolutely lacking.
He simply lacked powerful summoned beasts. Leo's skill in handling illusory beasts and spirits made even Eliza speechless.
‘But he can’t change the situation with summoning magic now.’
Eliza rested her chin on her hand.
‘What you absolutely lack right now is power. You must know that with such a difference in power, skill is useless, right?’
Others also had similar thoughts.
On the other hand, curiosity arose about what kind of summoned beast Leo would summon in this situation.
Hwaruk-!
Flames flared up in Leo’s palm.
Pong-!
Bbyak-!
And seeing the small red chick that appeared, everyone instantly made a bewildered expression.
The suddenly summoned red chick instantly made a very flustered expression at the fact that so many people were staring at it.
But soon, it gracefully flapped its wings, spread them on Leo’s palm, and puffed out its chest.
And it raised its head as if it were a magnificent illusory beast.
“Cu-cute!”
“What is that! I want one!”
Exclamations of cuteness, inappropriate for the situation, erupted from all directions.
Meanwhile, the first-year Summoning Department students wore dumbfounded expressions.
“Hey, isn’t that the chick Leo contracted during the first class?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Why did he bring that out in this situation?”
As the Summoning Department students whispered, Eliza’s face turned slightly red.
‘Th-even then, I felt it, but what a truly adorable illusory beast! But what on earth is he going to do with that child?’
The fifth-year spectators also reacted with disbelief.
“What on earth is he going to do with that illusory beast?”
“Maybe he’s trying to weaken Rhys’s heart with cuteness?”
It was when Zamua and Torua were reacting with disbelief.
“It’s best to watch closely.”
Ulta, who had been quietly observing the match, curled the corner of his mouth.
Zamua and Torua looked at Ulta with puzzled faces.
“Because the true evaluation of this spar begins now.”
***
Bbyak-
Rhys scratched his cheek, looking at Piora, who was aggressively chirping and flapping her wings at him.
“Hey, Leo. Even so, if you bring out such a cute illusory beast, I’m a little reluctant to lay a hand on it.”
“Don’t worry.”
Leo smiled and stirred his spiritual power.
“……?”
Hwaruk-
Piora’s feathers began to burn, one by one.
“In a little while, you won’t find it cute at all.”
Hwaruk-!
An ominous flame began to flicker around Leo.
Rhys’s face stiffened upon seeing it.
Goooooo-!
The flame began to coalesce around Piora.
Piora’s body, transformed into a single flame, began to burn furiously.
Wham-!
Suddenly, the blazing flame ceased.
And then…
Bbyaaaak-!
Kwagagagak-!
Along with Piora’s roar, heat spread in all directions.
“Kuk!”
For a moment, Rhys felt his head ringing and staggered.
‘Fear?’
Rhys, astonished that he was overwhelmed by mere fear, steadied himself.
And then he gaped, seeing the beautiful firebird now perched on Leo’s forearm.
Rhys instantly recognized the identity of that firebird.
A being that instilled awe in those who beheld it.
The origin of the flame he used.
“Phoenix?”