Book 1 Chapter 328

328

"What? What?"

"Tidal wave?"

"Oh, my god…!"

Gasps of shock erupted from the stands.

Responding to this, the commentator Runeba shouted excitedly.

"Aaaaaah! Tidal wave! Leo Flove! He created a tidal wave using spirit magic! Is he completely insane?!"

"What did you just say? Runeba Tes."

"Cough! P-Professor Hallind… So, what you just said was… *click-*!"

Runeba's broadcast was cut off as he let out an expletive-filled exclamation without realizing it.

Runeba was lying face down on the ground at the commentary booth, his head buried, while Hallind was admonishing him with a cold expression.

Hark, who had heard Runeba's commentary, let out a hollow laugh.

"Did he somehow make a contract with the Great Spirit of Water?"

"He did not make a contract with the Great Spirit of Water. If he had made a contract with the Great Spirit of Water, he wouldn't have gone to the trouble of creating a tidal wave with the water from Lake Rumelia. He could have created the water for a tidal wave with just the power of the Great Spirit of Water."

Lily explained.

"Really? That's not as impressive as I thought."

"It's incredibly impressive! In a way, it's more difficult than making a contract with the Great Spirit of Water!"

Lily clenched her fists and explained, waving her hands wildly.

"He made a temporary contract with the countless water spirits living in Lake Rumelia and created a tidal wave! It's incredible spirit magic! Ah! I want to have an in-depth conversation with Leo about spirit magic right now!"

"Our cute Lily is excited."

Elena smiled faintly.

"He changed the battlefield… What's his plan for changing the battlefield in such a convoluted way?"

Hark answered nonchalantly to Aina's question, who hadn't taken her eyes off the screen.

"He's probably trying to summon a beast that wields great power on a flooded battlefield."

"A beast that wields great power on a flooded battlefield! Perhaps he's trying to summon a Pegasus?!"

Lily exclaimed with an excited face.

"Who's family dog is the 'Three Great Beasts'?"

Just as Hark shook his head.

Flash-! Roar-!

Pure white lightning struck down.

Hark's jaw dropped as he saw the beast, known as the pure white phantom, appear with the lightning.

Elena tilted her head and said.

"At this point… Leo must be a nightmare for the second-years, wouldn't he?"

***

Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle-!

The sword that had fallen into the water thrashed about.

In front of Kal, Eliza's beast, Delphinus, Ruri, appeared.

Beep-

Kal, seeing Delphinus, flailed his arms and legs wildly.

Beep-!

Delphinus grabbed the hem of Kal's clothes and dragged him above the water.

"Phew! Th-Thank you."

In response to Kal's greeting, Delphinus let out a beep-beep-! cry and submerged.

Kal, who had barely made it to the surface, frantically used magic to lift himself up and looked at the sky.

And there, he saw Leo riding a pure white horse and let out a hollow laugh.

'…He actually summoned a Pegasus.'

When he heard that Leo had summoned a fairy.

Kal had thought that maybe Leo had made contracts with all three of the Great Beasts.

It was an almost impossible feat by common sense.

'But Leo has always surpassed common sense.'

He had planned his strategy by assuming the worst-case scenario.

'He changed the battlefield to his advantage.'

In fact, Kal knew very well that Leo was not affected by the terrain.

Leo could exert his combat abilities to their fullest on land, in water, and in the sky.

It was Chloe and Chen Xia who were affected by the terrain.

And the other students from other dorms who were attacking Glory's stronghold.

Kal turned his head to look at Glory's stronghold.

'Attacking the stronghold is now impossible.'

The moment the surrounding area became flooded.

The students of Harmony and Noble had lost the battlefield.

Of course, there might be students who wield greater power in underwater combat, and there might be students who are not greatly affected by water.

But at least students specialized in land combat would face difficulties.

Unlike the combination of Harmony and Noble, Glory still had the significant advantage of its barrier.

In addition, …

'Celía and Duran.'

The elemental advantage that had given them an edge over Chloe and Chen Xia.

That elemental advantage would clearly tip the scales in favor of Chloe and Chen Xia the moment the battle turned to underwater combat.

Chloe, who wields ice magic, and Chen Xia, who possesses water-attribute aura.

Celía's power would be halved in underwater combat.

In addition, Chloe gained 'water' as an attack medium, which she could freeze at will.

Furthermore, Chen Xia was one of the strongest students in underwater combat among the second-years.

'He planned and executed everything on his own.'

It could only be described as miraculous.

'Amazing, Leo.'

As if there were no limits.

He had always accomplished amazing things as if it were natural.

Because he knew that fact so well.

He had anticipated this desperate situation, just in case.

Kal's eyes sparkled.

'So… I prepared!'

***

Celía let out a hollow laugh at the sight of the flooded battlefield.

She could guess whose work it was.

"Really… even though he's my cousin, he's gone too far."

When she tried to pull herself together and chase after him, he would widen the gap again.

The rekindled embers felt like they were about to be extinguished again.

Grrr-

Celía gripped Flame Storm anew.

A strong heat emanated from Flame Storm, which had regained its sharp blade form.

'Still… let's not break.'

*Whoosh-*

Her soaked body quickly dried.

'It's always been like this, right?'

Celía's eyes shone brightly.

'I've walked my path.'

She had vowed to become a great knight, not lacking in front of her great ancestors, but surpassing them.

'That's how it should be from now on.'

"You've returned to the Celía I know."

Chloe, who had lifted herself with flight magic, stood on the surface of the water with a smile.

*Click-*!

The water Chloe stepped on froze, creating a place for her to stand.

The Harmony and Noble students struggling in the water flinched.

"Hey! Get out of the water quickly!"

"Chloe's magic is coming!"

*Pong-*

Chloe dipped the tip of her staff into the water and cast a spell.

"Ice World."

*Crack- crack- crack- crack- crack-!*

The water instantly froze around Chloe.

The students who were desperately trying to escape the water froze and were all declared defeated.

*Tap-*!

Chloe looked at Celía with blue eyes and said.

"Next is you, Celía."

"…I've wanted to fight you seriously for a while now."

*Snap-*!

Celía adjusted her grip on her sword.

*Roar-*!

*Crack- crack- crack-*!

*Sizzle-*!

Ice and fire clashed, and thick steam enveloped the battlefield.

*Crack- crackle-*!

"Aaaargh!"

"Hey! Duran, if you attack now, it'll be friendly fire!"

"I don't care. Dodge it yourself."

Duran, speaking coldly, unleashed his lightning aura.

Flash! Roar-! Crackle-!

"Hiiiik!"

"Everyone, retreat!"

Golden sparks went wild in the surrounding water.

"Phew, I almost got electrocuted."

A male student, who narrowly escaped Duran's attack range, stood on the water using aura steps, sweating profusely.

"That's true. I thought he wouldn't attack if there were allies, but as expected, Duran is ruthless, isn't he?"

"Cough? Ch-Chen Xia!"

"Are you there?"

The knight academy male student was horrified to see Chen Xia, who was crouched on the water and muttering in an exasperated tone.

Duran's sword intent flew towards Chen Xia.

The knight academy male student, horrified, tried to dodge, but Chen Xia tripped him first.

"Oof."

"Wh-What are you doing!"

"I'm using him as a shield."

"You cruel woman!"

The male student screamed.

Chen Xia lightly swung her hand.

Then, as if a light ball, the male student took Duran's lightning attack instead.

*Sizzle-*!

At that moment—

Duran's sword intent moved like a snake, changing its trajectory to avoid the male student and flew towards Chen Xia.

Seeing that, Chen Xia easily dodged the attack.

*Thump-*!

Duran, who had approached unnoticed, grabbed Chen Xia by the neck.

"You've run away well so far, but."

Duran's golden eyes flashed.

"This is the end."

*Roar-! Roar-!*

"Ugh-?!?"

Chen Xia, who had been electrocuted, screamed.

*Spark-*! *Sizzle-*!

Chen Xia's body went limp.

Her head also drooped.

The bracelet indicating her life, as if she had fainted, blinked red.

"H-He's ruthless."

"Wow… that must hurt."

Murmurs of disgust could be heard from various places as Duran scoffed.

"Who do you guys think this person is? Chen Xia is strong. If you let your guard down, I'll be defeated."

"Caught you."

"…!"

*Grab-*!

"And you know something, Duran?"

Chen Xia smiled a sharp smile, unlike her usual self.

"Shadows develop resistance to their weak attributes. I've been forcibly subjected to something like electric torture since I was young, so I have strong resistance to lightning aura."

*Swish! Splash-*!

Despite her small stature and cute, gentle face, Chen Xia's fighting style was tough and desperate.

It was literally a mud-wrestling match where she didn't care about her own injuries to take down her opponent.

She had been caught by Duran to drag him into the 'water,' which was her advantageous battlefield.

'Grrr!'

Duran gritted his teeth, gripped his sword, and activated his aura.

*Flash! Bang-*!

But Chen Xia's fist hit Duran's solar plexus faster.

*Roar-! Thump-*!

Duran was driven straight to the bottom of the water.

Holding his breath, Duran glared at Chen Xia, who stood in front of him.

*Hum-*!

Chen Xia used her water aura.

*Snap-*!

Then, immense water pressure engulfed Duran.

This was underwater.

It was literally Chen Xia's home ground, where she wielded water aura.

*Wobble-*!

Duran's knees buckled.

The green light of his life bracelet instantly turned orange.

'Right.'

Duran's eyes flashed.

'I'll defeat you… and then go fight Leo Flove.'

*Sparkle-*!

Sparks flew from Duran's body.

***

"Haaah!"

Ate let out a scream as Leo gripped the reins.

"Why?"

"I'm a contracted beast to the Royal Family of Rodren for generations, and the thought of obeying my master's command in front of so many people…"

"No one will probably recognize you as Rodren's Pegasus?"

Even now, Ate was enveloped in pure white lightning.

It was a Pegasus that had literally entered combat readiness.

Since the lightning obscured its detailed appearance, only Sasha, who knew of their contract, would likely recognize Ate.

"That's why it's good. Hehehehe!"

Leo impatiently pulled on the reins of Ate, who shivered with a perverted laugh.

"Ooooh~! I don't like rough things~"

Ate muttered in a coquettish voice.

Ignoring Ate, Leo, with a blank expression, charged towards the four people.

*Whoosh-*!

Woreden and Chelsea blocked the way of the two.

*Sizzle- sizzle- sizzle-*!

Leo raised his hand, and the Pegasus's lightning gathered at his fingertips.

Leo's eyes flashed as he fired lightning at Chelsea.

Flash-! Roar-!

Woreden blocked Chelsea's path.

Chelsea deployed her magic and shouted.

"Wind Break!"

*Roar-!*

The activation of Wind Break, one of Chelsea's signature spells.

In addition, Chelsea began to chant at high speed.

As a result, Wind Break began to split at high speed, and soon hundreds of Wind Breaks were generated.

Leo, chasing the trajectory of the wind with his eyes, pulled on Ate's reins.

*Whoosh! Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!*

Seeing Leo charge through the dense barrier of wind, which was like a net, Chelsea gritted her teeth.

*Whoosh-*!

At that moment, a Wind Wyvern blocked Leo's path.

"It's an honor! To be able to engage in aerial combat with a Pegasus!"

Eliza shouted sharply and swung her whip.

*Whirrr-! Snap-*!

Leo grabbed the whip.

"Kuh!"

Seeing Leo easily grab the whip, which was imbued with the power of a beast and not just a simple whip, Eliza gritted her teeth.

'-I wanted to be hit by the whip!'

Ignoring Ate's lament, Leo pulled with all his might.

"Kyaa?!"

"You're always so arrogant, but you can let out a cute scream too?"

"Are you making fun of me right now!"

Eliza's eyes turned fiery red, and sparks flew from them.

Letting go of the whip, Eliza used Wind Wyvern to ram Leo directly.

*CRASH! Sizzle-!*

'-Oh my, treating me so roughly. That's my type.'

Ate laughed as if amused and whinnied.

Leo grinned and used Ate to charge at Eliza.

*CRASH-!*

Eliza, thrown off Wind Wyvern, plummeted to the ground.

Chelsea quickly flew to Eliza and caught her in a princess carry.

"Why do I have to be carried like this by you!"

"Kuh! I hate having to take this humiliating pose with a tiny you!"

"Who are you calling tiny! I'll throw you away!"

*Wack-! Wack-*! As the two argued, Leo raised his hand.

"You two are on good terms."

*Sizzle- sizzle-*!

As Leo raised his hand to shoot the Pegasus's lightning at the two, a wind swept around Leo.

"Whoooosh! Roar-!"

'…Abad?'

Leo's eyes twitched.

The magic Abad cast was a prison of wind.

It was magic that trapped the target within a prison.

It was a powerful magic that literally cut off the outside and inside.

*Rumble- rumble- rumble-*!

Leo looked up.

A huge rock began to form in the air.

'Great Spirit of Earth.'

It was Woreden, who had been attacked by Leo earlier.

He was summoning Titham from outside the wind prison.

*Roar-!*

Leo looked down.

Eliza, who had summoned Delphinus underwater, looked up at Leo.

Finally, Leo's gaze fell on Kal.

"You had anticipated this far."

Leo curled his lips and looked at Chelsea.

Chelsea, standing in front of Leo, gripped her staff tightly with a tense expression.

"You're thinking of summoning the Great Spirit of Earth to create two massive piles of rock and crush me, aren't you?"

"…That's right, Leo-oppa."

"When the wind prison is released, so I can't escape, Eliza's role is to hold me with water, I assume."

Leo glanced at Abad.

"The problem is that while the wind prison has strong binding power, the caster must be inside the prison. The caster can't do anything while casting the spell. And it has the disadvantage of not being able to receive external support."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Are you going to stop me alone?"

"…That's right."

Leo nodded as he looked at Chelsea, who was answering while sweating profusely.

"You know it's impossible, right?"

"The person I admire."

Chelsea looked directly at Leo.

"Is someone who accomplishes the impossible."

"Whoooosh-!"

Chelsea's wind blew.

"Just admiring isn't enough."

"……"

"I want to walk the same path now, so."

Chelsea smiled.

"I will overcome my limits and accomplish the impossible."