Book 1 Chapter 326
Seeing Leo's expressionless face, Karl's expression tensed.
'Leo.'
For Karl, Leo was the first friend he made after enrolling in Rumern.
'Meeting you was an incredible stroke of luck for me.'
Karl, who barely scraped into Rumern.
However, he never thought he could last long at Rumern.
He knew his limits all too well.
In fact, Karl's school life was a constant series of pushing his limits.
Outwardly, he pretended to be calm.
He acted slick and cunning, but
he always keenly felt the difference between himself and the other students.
In such circumstances, Leo was always by his side.
The class representative, an unprecedented all-class achiever.
And also the youngest student council president in Rumern's history.
Karl, who always watched Leo, who was always in the spotlight, from nearby, knew better than anyone.
He knew how Leo, who acted as if he had no limits, pushed himself beyond his limits, more than anyone else.
Leo's relentless effort and drive had a great impact on Karl.
Having watched Leo like that, Karl knew.
'It's not impossible for you to defeat Leo.'
Positioned in the rear, Karl took a deep breath and looked at Leo.
He recalled the memory of fighting against the Erebus fragment that had replicated the appearance of Kyle, the hero of the beginning, in the world of Dwenon.
"Are you prepared to feel the difference?"
Abad said, raising his staff with his characteristic gentle smile.
"Leo, I'm sorry, but that difference… I've already felt it keenly."
Rumble-rumble-rumble-!
As Abad swung his staff, the surrounding ground began to shake.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-!
Rocks from underground rose up.
It wasn't telekinesis.
He had lifted the stones by controlling the wind.
Whirr-!
A magic circle appeared in the air.
Abad's unique magic, Tempest, was activated.
ROAR-!
Giant rocks gathered into a massive pillar.
The pillar of rock, accompanied by a fierce gale, descended upon Leo.
CRASH-!
A massive shockwave, centered on the point of impact with the rock, engulfed the surroundings.
Rumble-rumble! Whoosh-!
The pillar of rock, which had directly hit Leo, began to crack.
Crack-crack-crack! Snap! Whoosh-!
The shattered rocks, now the size of fists, circled around Leo.
Leo looked at Abad, smiled, and said,
"I don't need this, so I'll give it back."
Whoosh-! CRASH-!
A barrage of stones, now ignited, rained down on Abad.
WHOOSH-!
At that moment, Eliza, who had summoned a Wind Wyvern, quickly whisked Abad away into the sky.
Seeing that, Leo narrowed his eyes.
'As expected, as a rear attacker, he's only focused on offense.'
The greatest advantage of an all-rounder is their ability to position themselves anywhere.
They can be active on the front lines like Chelsea, or function as a powerful artillery piece on the back lines like Chloe, unleashing potent magic.
Or they can move between both sides to support the position that needs it.
While they are close to being all-rounders, they still have a leaning towards certain styles.
'Abad leans towards the traditional type, like Chloe.'
The advantage of the traditional type is overwhelming magical power.
However, the disadvantage is mobility.
Eliza is assisting Abad to compensate for that drawback.
'Well, Eliza isn't just assisting Abad.'
Leo looked at Chelsea and Warden, who stood before him.
Around them were two people blessed by the guardians.
Just moments ago.
The situation was different from when they faced Leo with a hastily assembled team.
They had definitively concluded that Leo was an enemy to be defeated together, and had made thorough preparations accordingly.
There's a difference between being prepared and not being prepared.
Spiritual energy wrapped around Leo's arm.
"What are you doing?"
Karl muttered, his face bewildered, and Warden replied,
"Spirit magic."
"Everyone, be careful! If it's spirit magic with that much spiritual energy, something immense is bound to happen!"
At Karl's shout, everyone's expression tensed.
Leo, gathering spiritual energy tinged with blue light at his fingertips, slammed it onto the ground.
Whoosh-!
The spiritual energy that seeped into the ground quickly disappeared.
"……"
"……"
Chelsea, who had been tense, then looked at Karl with a deflated expression.
"Nothing's happening?"
"…He summoned something."
Warden narrowed his eyes.
"What did he summon?"
"I don't know about that. But it would be best to defeat Leo Flove quickly."
Warden armed himself with Spirit Armor.
Whoosh-!
A fire spirit clad his body like armor.
Seeing that, Chelsea also adjusted her grip on her staff, lowered her stance, and unleashed the magic she had been preparing.
"Scorching Wind."
Whoooosh-!
A strong wind began to swirl around Chelsea.
Seeing that, Leo narrowed his eyes.
'Chelsea's unique magic.'
It's a field magic, like Chloe's unique magic, the World of Ice.
The difference is that Chloe's unique magic is an area-of-effect spell that freezes everything in the surrounding area.
It attacks enemies with powerful cold, and can also slow down enemy movements, creating an advantageous battlefield for allies to pressure the opponent.
But Chelsea's Scorching Wind is different.
By itself, it doesn't have much attack power.
However, the troublesome part is…
Whoosh-!
Chelsea rapidly charged towards Leo.
Leo summoned Lancea and swung it.
His aim was to keep Chelsea at bay using the spear's long reach.
Whoosh-!
At that moment.
Chelsea's body moved erratically.
As if a fish swimming freely in water.
She dodged Leo's attack with unusual movements.
"Wind Sword."
A blade of wind formed at the tip of Chelsea's staff.
Clang-!
The sword of wind and the fire-clad spear crossed.
Leo reached out his hand to grab Chelsea.
WHOOSH-!
But Chelsea, as expected, avoided it with surprising movement.
WHOOSH-!
As Leo tried to pursue Chelsea, the wind blew and interfered.
Scorching Wind was a magic that dramatically increased Chelsea's combat ability in close-quarters combat.
Not only that.
The control of the wind in the surrounding area was held by…
Leo raised his head.
Eliza was controlling the wind using her Wind Wyvern and spirit magic.
A battlefield perfectly in their favor.
"Even Leo-oppa won't have an easy time winning this combo!"
Chelsea shouted triumphantly.
Whoosh-!
Warden, who had approached Leo's face, threw a punch.
CRASH-!
Leo blocked Warden's punch with his hand.
Thwack-!
Leo's feet dug deep into the ground.
Leo kicked Warden's abdomen and counterattacked.
Whoooosh! CRASH-!
Warden, sent flying, crashed into the ground.
Rumble-rumble-
Warden brushed off the dirt and got up, cracking his neck a few times.
Pop- pop-
A light bone-cracking sound was heard.
"Are you okay?"
Karl asked with a weary expression, and Warden glanced at Karl.
"Don't worry about me and focus on commanding. Your predictions are proving accurate."
"Understood."
Karl looked at Leo.
'The front line is definitely the biggest weakness.'
Chelsea is a Battle Mage with overwhelming front-line combat ability.
Warden's close-range attacks using Spirit Armor are also at a terrifying level.
However, compared to Celia or Duran, who are specialized in taking the front line, they are clearly at a disadvantage.
Even now, they are barely holding Leo back.
If they make even the slightest mistake and one of them falls, the front line will be annihilated.
And Eliza and Abad will immediately become Leo's targets.
'Or I will become the target. No, even Chelsea alone would be finished if Leo got to her.'
Chelsea, the King of Harmony.
It was extremely dangerous for such a Chelsea to face Leo on the front lines.
Karl urgently touched his ear.
Whoosh-! Communication magic was activated.
"Chelsea! Warden! Leo is going to use magic! Create distance!"
CRASH-!
Along with those words, an explosion occurred around Leo.
"Abad! Now!"
Abad, riding the Wind Wyvern, raised his staff.
Whoooooosh-!
"Cutter Storm."
As the magic was unleashed, a massive whirlwind flew towards Leo.
KIIAAAAAAAH-!
A chilling sound echoed from the wind.
Sharp wind blades spun on each layer of the wind.
It was literally wind that was like a giant blade itself.
WHOOSH!
Abad's Cutter Storm engulfed Leo.
"That's impressive."
"As long as the wind is on our side, Eliza and I can become even stronger."
Abad grinned and winked at Eliza.
As Eliza scoffed.
BOOM-!
"…!"
With a giant sonic boom, the Cutter Storm vanished.
"…It's shocking that there's not a single scratch."
Abad offered a bitter smile.
"Still, you're doing great! Leo's weakness is his unavoidable mana capacity! If you endure, you can win!"
Karl's voice came through the communication magic.
"Hmph, Karl. That's your problem."
Eliza scoffed.
"We joined forces, even enduring humiliation."
Eliza tugged on the reins of the Wind Wyvern.
"You think you can win by dragging it out? I don't need such a distasteful victory. Even if we lose, unless we directly confront Leo Flove's power… I won't be satisfied."
To Eliza's growling words, Karl said,
"You probably don't need to worry about that."
Rumble-rumble-rumble-!
A pillar of fire erupted from Leo's body.
WHOOSH-!
Karl broke out in a cold sweat.
"He's coming."
WHOOSH-!
A blazing aura swept through the area.
Chelsea recoiled in horror, and Warden shielded her.
Along with that.
"-!"
A giant roar escaped Leo's lips.
"Hmph?"
"Yikes?"
Hearing Leo's voice, Warden flinched and stepped back, and Chelsea trembled for a moment.
"Howling?"
Abad muttered in disbelief.
"What can't this guy do!"
"More than you think."
"…!"
In response to Eliza's cry, an answer came from above.
WHOOSH-
"I can't do everything either."
In the instant his body was stiffened by the howling, Leo, who had approached with incredible speed, unleashed a kick.
The fire aura shimmering around Leo's leg caught the attention of Abad and Eliza.
CRASH-!
At that moment, Warden, who had flown in quickly, blocked Leo's kick with his arm.
WHOOOOOOOOSH! CRASH-!
Unable to withstand the impact, Warden plummeted to the ground.
WHOOSH-!
Leo re-gripped Lancea.
"Speaking of which, you both died by Lancea, didn't you?"
"Yes, that spear… I hate the sight of it!"
KIIIIIAAAAK!
The Wind Wyvern let out a sharp cry and opened its mouth wide.
Wind Breath washed over Leo.
The moment the two people quickly distanced themselves.
Rustle-rustle-!
With the sound of flapping wings, dozens of small birds descended upon Leo.
CRASH-!
Their beaks, sharp as awls, seemed poised to pierce Leo.
"Reflection."
Leo deployed a shield magic.
POW-POW-POW-POW-!
In an instant, the beaks of the flying birds plunged into Leo's magic.
"…Wind Sparrows?"
Familiars created by magic from sparrows.
However, Wind Sparrows have almost no attack power.
Leo turned his head.
There stood Chelsea.
"They're my familiars."
Chelsea grinned.
"The Scorching Wind magic gives them power."
The Wind Sparrows gathered around Chelsea.
"Don't worry, Leo Flove. I'm not going to drag out the fight."
Warden ignited his spiritual energy.
"We will defeat you using our full strength."
Abad said, chanting numerous spells.
'Excellent.'
Despite feeling the wall, they charge forward without hesitation.
Despite knowing the difference, they throw themselves into the fight to secure a sure victory.
They are never afraid to move forward.
They push themselves to their limits and thrust their blades.
"It doesn't matter if we drag it out."
Leo grinned and raised his palm.
"Because before that, I will win."
Leo's hand swung from top to bottom.
***
'Even for Leo, it's difficult to wield the power of the Phoenix and the fairy simultaneously. While overwhelming combat is possible momentarily, it won't last long. Knowing of the fairy's existence, we have plenty of ways to counter.'
Karl fell into thought.
Predicting Leo's attack patterns, he issued commands.
The perfect synchronization of the four people was possible because Karl, watching Leo's movements from a distance, was giving commands.
Thanks to that, they were fighting Leo on equal footing.
But then…
'Why… isn't he using summoning magic?'
Leo possesses powerful familiars like the Phoenix and the fairy.
Perhaps they are Leo's strongest cards.
However, Leo has not used summoning magic even once since the battle began.
'No, he used it once.'
For a fleeting moment.
He used spirit magic once.
'What on earth is that…'
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE-!
The moment Karl felt bewildered,
the ground shook.
ROAR-!
Along with that, a strange sound was heard.
'…A sound of waves?'
Realizing the nature of the sound, Karl quickly turned his head.
And his mouth fell open.
"Hey… no matter how you look at it, this is…"
Karl uttered in a sigh, then let out a scream.
"This is too much!"
ROAR!
A giant tidal wave engulfed the battlefield.