Book 1 Chapter 328

328

"What? What?"

"Tsunami?"

"Oh my god…!"

Sounds of shock erupted from the stands.

In response, Runba, who was in charge of the commentary, shouted excitedly.

"Aaaah! Tsunami! Leo Flobe! He created a tsunami using spirit magic! Is he really crazy?!"

"What did you just say? Runba Tess."

"Cough! P-Professor Halinde… So that just now… *click*!"

Runba's broadcast, which had spontaneously uttered an exclamation mixed with profanity, was cut off.

At the commentary desk, Runba was prostrated with his head on the ground, and Halinde was scolding Runba with a cold face.

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

"Surely he hasn't made a contract with the Great Water Spirit, has he?"

"He hasn't made a contract with the Great Water Spirit. If he had, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of causing a tsunami with the water from Lake Rumeria. Because with the Great Water Spirit's power alone, it would be possible to create water to cause a tsunami."

Lil explained.

"Oh? It's not as amazing as I thought then."

"It is amazing! In a way, he did something more difficult than making a contract with the Great Water Spirit!"

Lil, clenching both hands tightly, vigorously waved her hands and continued her explanation.

"He made temporary contracts with countless water spirits living in Lake Rumeria in an instant to cause a tsunami! It's incredible spirit magic! Ahh! I want to have an in-depth conversation with Leo right now about spirit magic."

"Our cute Lil is excited."

Elena smiled faintly.

"He changed the battlefield… What kind of scheme made him go through so much trouble to change the battlefield like that?"

Hark answered Aina's question indifferently, without taking his eyes off the screen.

"He's probably trying to summon a phantom beast that can exert powerful force in a waterlogged battlefield."

"A phantom beast that can exert powerful force in a waterlogged battlefield! Maybe he's trying to summon Pegasus?!"

Lil shouted with an excited face.

"Are the three great phantom beasts just anyone's dog's name?"

It was then that Hark shook his head.

Flash-! Kaa-gaga-gang-!

A pure white lightning bolt struck.

Hark made a dumbfounded expression when he saw the phantom beast, called the pure white illusion, that appeared with it.

Elena braided her hair and said.

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

***

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle-!

Kal, who had fallen into the water, struggled.

In front of Kal, Eliza's phantom beasts, Delphinus and Ruri, appeared.

Beep-

Kal thrashed his arms and legs wildly, looking at Delphinus.

Beep-!

Delphinus bit Kal's clothes and dragged him to the surface of the water.

"Phew! Th-thanks."

In response to Kal's greeting, Delphinus cried "Beep- beep!" and dived underwater.

Kal, who had barely surfaced, hurriedly used magic to float his body, then looked up at the sky.

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

'…He really summoned Pegasus too?'

When he heard that Leo had summoned a fairy.

Kal had thought, 'Perhaps Leo has contracted with all three great phantom beasts?'

A story that was logically close to impossible.

'But Leo has always defied common sense.'

He devised a strategy by assuming the worst of the worst.

'He changed the battlefield to his advantage.'

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

Leo was on land. On water, in the sky.

He could exert 100% of his combat ability anywhere.

The ones affected by the terrain were Chloe and Chen Sia.

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

Kal turned his head and looked at Glory's stronghold.

'Attacking the stronghold has become impossible.'

The moment the surrounding area became a sea of water.

The students of Harmony and Noble lost their battlefield.

Of course, there would be students who could exert greater power in underwater combat, and students who would not be greatly affected by water.

But at the very least, students specialized in land combat faced difficulties in battle.

Unlike the combination of Harmony and Noble, Glory still held the great advantage of a barrier.

In addition….

'Celia and Duran.'

The compatibility advantage they had over Chloe and Chen Sia.

That compatibility advantage would clearly shift in favor of Chloe and Chen Sia the moment it became an underwater battle.

Chloe, who handles ice magic, and Chen Sia, who possesses a water-attribute aura.

Celia's power is halved in underwater combat.

In addition, Chloe gained 'water' as an offensive means that she could freeze freely.

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

'He intended and created every situation by himself.'

It could only be described as truly astonishing.

'Amazing, Leo.'

As if there were never any limits.

He had accomplished amazing things as if it were natural.

Knowing that fact all too well.

He had, just in case, anticipated this situation where they would be most desperate.

Kal's eyes sparkled.

'So… I prepared!'

***

Seeing the waterlogged battlefield, Celia let out a hollow laugh.

She could guess whose work it was.

"Really… he's my cousin, but he's just too much."

Just when she gathered her resolve, stood up, and tried to catch up, he would widen the gap again.

It felt as if the rekindled spark was about to die out again.

Woooosh-

Celia re-gripped her Flame Storm.

Strong heat shimmered from the Flame Storm, which had somehow regained the form of a straight blade.

'Even so… don't give up.'

Whoosh-

Her wet body quickly dried.

'It's always been like this, hasn't it?'

Celia's eyes shone brightly.

'I've walked my own path.'

Not lacking before her great ancestors.

She had vowed to become a great knight who surpassed them.

'I just need to keep doing that.'

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

Chloe, floating her body with flight magic, stood on the water's surface with a smile.

Clack-!

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!"

Plop-

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

"Ice World."

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-!

The water instantly froze around Chloe.

The students who were frantically trying to escape the water froze and were all ruled out.

Clack-!

Chloe looked at Celia with her blue eyes and said.

"You're next, Celia."

"…I've wanted to fight you with full power since before."

Clang-!

Celia re-gripped her sword.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-!

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-!

Hiss-!

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

Zzzzzzt-!

"Ugh-aaah-aaah-aaah!"

"Hey! Duran, if you attack now, it's a teamkill!"

"It's none of my business. Avoid it yourself."

Duran, speaking coldly, released his lightning aura.

Flash! Kaaa-gaga-ga-gang! Zzzzzzzzzzt-!

"Hiiik!"

"Everyone fall back!"

Golden sparks surged wildly in the surrounding water.

"I-I almost got electrocuted."

A male student, barely escaping Duran's attack range, broke out in a cold sweat and stood on the water using aura steps.

"I know, right. I thought he wouldn't attack if his comrades were around, but Duran is just as ruthless as ever, isn't he?"

"Cough? Ch-Chen Sia!"

"Is that it?"

The knight academy student was startled, seeing Chen Sia crouching on the water and muttering as if she couldn't be stopped.

Duran's sword aura flew towards Chen Sia.

The knight academy student was startled and tried to avoid it, but Chen Sia tripped him first.

"Oops."

"Wh-what are you doing!"

"To use as a shield."

"You cruel woman!"

The male student screamed.

Chen Sia lightly waved her hand.

Then, like a light ball, the male student took Duran's lightning instead.

Zzzzt-!

At that moment-

Duran's sword aura moved like a snake, changing its trajectory to bypass the male student and fly towards Chen Sia.

Seeing that, Chen Sia easily dodged the attack.

Grab-!

Duran, who had approached unnoticed, gripped Chen Sia's neck.

"You've escaped well until now."

Duran's golden eyes flashed.

"This is the end."

RUMBLE! Kaaa-gaga-gaga-gak!

"Ugh-g-g-g-g-g-k?!"

The electrocuted Chen Sia screamed.

Crackle-! Hiss-!

Chen Sia's body went limp.

Her head also slumped down.

As if unconscious, the bracelet indicating her life was blinking red.

"H-He's ruthless."

"Wow… that must hurt."

As murmurs of exasperation came from everywhere, Duran snorted.

"Who do you think this person is? Chen Sia is strong. If I let my guard down, I'll be the one to suffer."

"Got you."

"……!"

Grab-!

"And do you know something, Duran?"

Chen Sia gave a sharp smile, unlike her usual self.

"Shadows develop resistance to their weak attributes. I've been semi-forcibly subjected to something like electrical torture since I was young. So, my resistance to lightning aura is quite strong."

Splash! Plop-!

Contrary to her small appearance and cute, gentle face, Chen Sia's combat style was incredibly tough and desperate.

A literal mud fight where she wouldn't care for her own injuries to defeat her opponent.

Being caught by Duran was also a means to drag Duran into the 'water', a battlefield advantageous to her.

'Ugh!'

Duran gritted his teeth, gripped his sword, and tried to raise his aura.

Whoosh! Bang-!

But Chen Sia's fist landed on Duran's solar plexus faster than that.

Kaaa-gaga-gaga-gang! Thud-!

Duran was driven straight to the bottom of the water.

Duran held his breath, wide-eyed, and looked at Chen Sia blocking his path.

Vwoom-!

Chen Sia used her water aura.

Squeeze-!

Then, an immense water pressure engulfed Duran.

This was underwater.

It was, literally, Chen Sia's home turf, a place where she handled water aura.

Stagger-!

Duran's knees buckled.

The green light of the bracelet indicating life instantly turned orange.

'Right.'

Duran's eyes flashed.

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

Zzzzzzt-!

Sparks flew from Duran's body.

***

"Haah!"

As Leo gripped the reins, Arti let out a scream.

"Why?"

"To think that I, who have been contracted with the Rodren Imperial Family for generations, am obeying my master's command in front of so many people…"

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

Even now, Arti was enveloped in pure white lightning.

It was, literally, Pegasus in battle stance.

Because her detailed appearance couldn't be seen due to the lightning, probably only Sasha, who knew their contract, would recognize Arti.

"That's why it's good, hee hee hee!"

Leo irritably pulled the reins of Arti, who was trembling with perverse laughter.

"Awwng~! I don't like rough treatment~"

Arti muttered in a coquettish voice.

Ignoring such Arti, Leo charged towards the four people with an expressionless face.

Whoosh-!

Warreden and Chelsea blocked the path of the two.

Zzzzzzzzzzt-!

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

Leo's eyes flashed, and he shot lightning towards Chelsea.

Flash-! Kaaa-gaga-gang!

Warreden blocked Chelsea's path.

Chelsea unleashed her magic and shouted.

"Wind Break!"

Kaaa-gaga-gaga-gak-!

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

In addition, Chelsea began chanting at high speed with tremendous velocity.

Accordingly, the Wind Break began to split at an incredible speed, and soon hundreds of Wind Breaks were generated.

Leo tracked the trajectory of the wind with his eyes and pulled Arti's reins.

Swish! Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-swish!

Chelsea gritted her teeth, watching Leo charge through, avoiding every dense wind barrier as if it were a net.

Whoosh-!

Then a Wind Wyvern blocked Leo's path.

"It's an honor! To be able to have an aerial battle with Pegasus!"

Eliza shouted sharply and cracked her whip.

Whiz-! Thwack-!

Leo caught the whip.

"Keuk!"

Eliza gritted her teeth, seeing Leo easily catch the whip, which was not a simple whip but one imbued with the power of a phantom beast.

"I wanted to be hit by the whip!"

Ignoring Arti's sigh, Leo pulled hard.

"Kya?!"

"You're always so haughty, but you can also let out cute screams, huh?"

"Are you mocking me now?!"

Sparks flew from Eliza's bright red face.

Eliza, letting go of the whip, used her Wind Wyvern to attempt a body tackle directly at Leo.

CRASH! Zzzzzzzzt!

"Oh my, being treated roughly. That's my type."

Arti laughed amusedly and snorted.

Leo chuckled and charged at Eliza using Arti.

CRASH-!

Eliza, bounced off the Wind Wyvern, fell straight to the ground.

Chelsea swiftly flew to Eliza and carried her in a princess carry.

"Why do I have to carry you like this?!"

"Ugh! I also hate being in such a humiliating position for someone as tiny as you!"

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

Leo raised his hand, watching the two bickering and shouting, "WAAK! WAAK!"

"They get along well."

Zzzzzzt-!

It was when Leo raised his hand to shoot Pegasus's lightning at the two.

Whoooooosh! Kaaaa-aaaaaa!

Wind surged around Leo.

'…Abbad?'

Leo's eyes twitched.

The magic Abbad cast was Wind Prison.

It was a spell that trapped the target inside a prison.

It was, literally, a powerful spell that completely severed the external and internal.

Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-!

Leo raised his head.

A massive boulder began to form in mid-air.

'Great Earth Spirit.'

It was none other than Warreden, who had just been attacked by Leo.

He was summoning Titaum outside the Wind Prison.

Kaaaa-aaaaaa-!

Leo looked down.

Eliza, who had summoned Delphinus in the water, was looking up at Leo.

Finally, Leo's gaze turned to Kal.

"So you anticipated this far."

Leo curled the corner of his mouth and looked at Chelsea.

Chelsea, standing before Leo, gripped her staff tightly with a tense face.

"Are you thinking of summoning the Great Earth Spirit to create a pile of maximum weight and crush me?"

"…That's right, Leo oppa."

"And it seems Eliza's role is to use water to hold me, so I can't escape the moment the Wind Prison is released."

Leo glanced at Abbad.

"The problem is that while the Wind Prison has powerful binding force, the caster must be inside the prison. The caster can do nothing while casting the magic. And it has the disadvantage of not being able to receive external support."

Leo smiled faintly.

"You're going to block me by yourself?"

"…Yes."

Leo nodded, watching Chelsea answer with a cold sweat.

"You know it's impossible, right?"

"The person I admire is…"

Chelsea looked straight at Leo.

"…someone who accomplishes the impossible."

Whoooosh-!

Chelsea's wind blew.

"Admiration alone isn't enough."

"……"

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

Chelsea smiled.

"I'm going to overcome my limits and achieve the impossible."