Book 1 Chapter 329
“To surpass limits and achieve the impossible….”
Leo said, looking at Chelsea, who was staring straight at him.
“You know it’s not as easy as it sounds, right? Chelsea.”
Leo burst into laughter.
It was different from his usual gentle smile.
A sharp, biting laugh.
An absolute aura that overwhelmed everything.
Just facing it sent shivers down one's spine.
But.
‘I can’t just indulge myself!’
She resolved not to give up, to be recognized as a comrade.
As if trying to push him away.
She decided to chase after Leo, who was already far ahead.
Whooooooosh-!
Wind swirled around Chelsea.
Leo, watching Chelsea clad in wind, tightened his grip on the reins.
Crack-!
Arti let out a massive thunderclap and charged towards Chelsea.
Sowing white flashes across the sky, Leo instantly closed the distance between himself and Chelsea.
Chelsea aimed her staff at Leo.
“Wind Sickle!”
As Chelsea unleashed the spell, countless sickles of wind descended upon Leo.
Ka-ga-ga-ga-!
Leo easily dodged the hundreds of wind sickles by controlling Arti.
Leo’s evasion maneuvers, honed by years of controlling a Pegasus, were near divine.
Seeing this, Chelsea gripped her staff tightly.
‘I already anticipated this.’
No matter how much magic Chelsea unleashed, it would be difficult to subdue Leo.
Her opponent was Leo Phlov.
A possessor of overwhelming power.
Chelsea chanted a spell.
Shak-shak-shak-!
Chelsea’s body multiplied into several copies.
‘Wind Clone.’
A magic that creates clones using one’s primary attribute.
Among the second-year students, Chloe was the best at clone magic, followed by Chelsea.
Ten Chelsis simultaneously charged at Leo.
Leo’s eyes narrowed.
‘The level of clone magic has increased.’
Leo was also aware of Chelsea’s signature magic.
Using clones to disorient opponents in close combat was Chelsea’s specialty.
‘I won’t be able to distinguish the real one from the fakes by the flow of magic.’
The magic had become more sophisticated.
Leo glanced at the Chelsis.
“Wind Boom!”
As Chelsea’s spell completed, ten blasts of magic flew towards Leo.
Leo’s red eyes flashed momentarily.
Whoooosh-!
Just before reaching Leo, Chelsea’s magic turned into a gentle breeze.
It wasn’t blocked, nor was it dodged.
The magic itself had been nullified.
Chelsea’s specialty was high-speed incantation.
The advantage of high-speed incantation, which completes magic at an incredible speed, is naturally the rapid completion of spells.
However, its disadvantage was equally clear.
The spell formations used were simple.
Of course, even so, they weren’t simple enough to be analyzed and nullified in an instant.
Especially for a mage of Chelsea’s caliber, the formations used in high-speed incantation were complex.
‘But my opponent is Leo-oppa.’
Chelsea gritted her teeth.
In combat, their ‘capability’ as mages was fundamentally different.
She knew that.
Flash-! Ka-ga-ga-ga-!
Leo, emitting a white flash, charged towards Chelsea.
Chelsea took a deep breath, opened her eyes wide, and scattered her clones.
“Wind Chain.”
Kii-gii-gii-gii-gii-!
Chains of wind extending from Chelsea’s staff wrapped around Leo’s body.
Bound, Leo looked at Chelsea.
Chelsea’s role wasn’t to defeat Leo.
It was simply to hold him off until Waruden’s attack preparations were complete.
She just needed to stall Leo a little.
Therefore, prolonging the fight wasn’t a bad choice.
“In normal circumstances, that is.”
Kii-gii-gii-gii-! Kkwa-jik-!
Leo forcefully broke free from the Wind Chain that bound his left arm.
Then, gripping the Wind Chain, he pulled one of Chelsea’s clones towards him.
Whooosh-!
Pulled by Leo’s brute strength, Chelsea’s clone struggled in mid-air.
Poof-!
With a wave of Leo’s hand, the clone exploded like a popped balloon and vanished without a trace.
Leo’s emotionless eyes settled on one specific individual among the nine Chelsis.
‘I’ve been found out!’
Chelsea’s expression changed.
“Even the most perfect clone can surprisingly be easy to find the real one.”
Grind! Whooosh-!
Leo grabbed Chelsea’s Wind Chain and pulled it straight.
Pulled by the terrifying force, Chelsea was instantly dragged along.
Thwack-!
“Gasp!”
Leo’s hand grabbed Chelsea by the neck.
“I can tell by your movements.”
Kkwaak-!
“Ugh!”
Leo tightened his grip on Chelsea’s neck.
Chelsea, her neck being choked, contorted in pain.
“It’s over.”
As Leo spoke indifferently, Chelsea curled her lips upward.
“Hmph! Did you think I’d… give up so easily?”
Wuuuuung-!
Magic formations appeared all over Chelsea’s body.
Seeing this, Leo’s eyes twitched.
Powerful magic surged.
‘Self-destruct?’
“You’ll be the only one to get a kill count and end it.”
“Isn’t it natural to take such a gamble against Leo-oppa?”
Chelsea grinned.
He thought her smile vaguely resembled his own.
Looking at Chelsea, Leo said,
“Magnificent.”
Flash-! Ka-ga-ga-ga-!
Leo was engulfed in the flash that erupted from Chelsea’s body.
An explosion that burned all her magic in an instant.
The powerful explosion at close range made Leo feel dizzy.
The bracelet representing his life glowed orange.
Leo watched Chelsea fall to the ground.
‘She managed to avoid a kill count, barely.’
A magic that burns all of one’s magic to create a magical explosion.
It was a risky spell, but it was the surest way for Chelsea to land a blow on Leo.
Leo raised his head.
Kugugugugu-!
The massive earth summoned by Waruden instantly buried Leo.
Whooosh-!
Abad, who had released his wind magic, descended in a hurry to save Chelsea.
Chaaaaaak-!
Eliza’s Delphinus unfurled a water barrier, blocking Leo’s escape.
The ‘one decisive blow’ they had prepared by struggling somehow struck Leo.
“Why do children grow so fast.”
Leo burst into laughter.
Just a year ago, they were inexperienced rookies.
‘Well, they’re still rookies now, no change there… but.’
In just one year, they had grown enough to face trials with confidence.
Today must have been the worst for them.
Leo’s comrades were different from Leo.
He, who had barely conquered Erebus after enduring endless trials and countless despair, losing everything.
And these still-undeveloped teenagers, boys and girls in their late teens.
‘The starting line is different from the beginning.’
For Leo’s comrades, Leo was an insurmountable wall.
That’s why he had been considerate until now.
But…
‘There are things that can only be learned by falling or bowing one’s head.’
People call that a trial.
‘Because you can only learn how to stand up and lift your head by falling and bowing your head.’
Leo thought it would take them longer to get back up.
The difference Leo had shown was despairingly large.
But they overcame it in the blink of an eye.
Was it the recklessness unique to teenagers, or simply childish defiance?
He couldn’t tell.
But more than Leo had imagined.
His comrades were strong and knew well how to fight against trials.
Facing the earth that had reached right before him, Leo muttered,
“…I have no intention of falling gracefully, but.”
Ka-ga-ga-ga-!
The earth struck Leo.
***
“B-Ban-jang…”
Iliana collapsed onto the ground.
So did the other Glory students.
The Harmony and Noble students, who had been swept up by the tidal wave and were instead in a position to be attacked, clenched their fists and cheered.
“I-It’s over!”
“Glory is finished with this, right? It is, isn’t it!”
“Uwoooooo!”
Celia and Duran also stopped fighting.
Chloe sighed, and Chen Sia smiled faintly.
Shwaaaaaaaa-!
The water of Lake Rumelia, which Leo had controlled, receded smoothly.
It wasn’t a landslide.
It was an attack as if a mountain had fallen.
“Not even a Mountain Attack, what is this.”
Kal, who had devised the plan, looked weary.
“It was a good plan.”
Abad, supporting the unconscious Chelsea, approached Kal with his usual smile.
“Ahem! If we make Chelsea get a kill count at this opportunity, does our dormitory win?”
“That’s true… but Duran or Eliza won’t forgive you, will they?”
“I’m joking. Chelsea and Celia would try to kill me too. What’s the point of winning the exam if I die?”
Kal slumped onto the ground.
“My legs are all weak.”
Waruden and Eliza also approached Kal.
“Seriously… we barely won, almost half by luck. It’s a good thing Leo insisted on an all-out war to crush us with sheer force.”
At Kal’s words, Waruden looked at the spot where Leo was buried.
“…This won’t happen next time. Whether I win or lose, I’ll face him alone.”
“Hmph, I agree.”
“Hey, it was great teamwork, don’t be so harsh!”
Kal said with his usual easygoing smile.
However, Waruden used the wind spirit to snatch Chelsea from Abad.
Abad and Eliza protected Kal.
“Now that Leo Phlov is dealt with, next are you.”
“Hmph. Now that Leo Phlov is dealt with, we have no reason to cooperate with you.”
Waruden and Eliza said in unison.
At their words, Kal muttered,
“…I wasn’t going to say that on purpose.”
“Say what?”
Abad asked with a puzzled expression, and Kal said,
“You know, in novels, there’s that thing? When you say you’ve defeated them, the enemy never really dies…”
Kugugugugu-
“…and then they reappear…”
Kugugugung! Kwaaaaaaaang-!
The earth that had buried Leo surged upwards.
And above it, Leo revealed himself.
Kal’s face turned pale at the sight of Leo emerging from the rubble with a chilling smile.
Waruden, Abad, and Eliza instinctively took combat stances.
But they couldn’t help but wear weary expressions at Leo’s menacing appearance.
“Good, huh? So, is there anything else?”
Leo said with a smile and raised his hand.
Fwoooooosh-!
He unleashed an immense flame.
But that was the limit.
Waruden, Abad, and Eliza. All three had poured all their strength into the previous attack.
Leo’s life bracelet was also glowing red.
However, the three of them didn’t have the strength left to protect the unconscious Chelsea and the low-combat-ability Kal from Leo’s flames.
Leo glanced at his friends and said coldly,
“If there’s nothing else, shall we finish this?”
At his terrifying demeanor, Kal muttered in despair,
“…At that level… he’s almost a demon king.”
Ka-ga-ga-ga-ga-!
Leo’s flames engulfed everything.
***
Chelsea opened her eyes.
‘The infirmary…?’
Blinking, Chelsea gasped and sat bolt upright.
“The competition! Aggghhh?!”
As she cried out in haste, Chelsea screamed in pain that enveloped her entire body.
“You’re awake now?”
Celia, whose eyes were slightly red, asked.
Chelsea hurriedly asked,
“What happened to the competition?”
“……”
Celia let out a small sigh and turned on the magical communication device installed in the infirmary.
Wuuuuung-!
-Now, we will proceed with the MVP award ceremony for this dormitory competition. The award will be presented by Professor Sedgen, the overall professor for the second-year students, who will personally present the plaque and trophy. For the MVP, Leo Phlov student.
Along with Runbar’s words, Leo was seen ascending the stage.
-Congratulations on your victory in the competition.
-Thank you.
“……We lost.”
Chelsea smiled bitterly.
Seeing her, Celia got up from her seat.
“Now that I’ve confirmed you’re awake, I’m going back.”
“Yeah.”
Chelsea replied, not taking her eyes off the screen.
After Celia left the room, Chelsea clenched her fist.
She had always rejoiced at Leo’s achievements as if they were her own.
But today…
She couldn’t win despite doing her best.
She knew the gap between herself and Leo.
But still…
‘Frustrating.’
Chelsea suppressed her tears, lowering her head and gritting her teeth.
In the hallway, Celia slapped her own cheek.
‘Let’s not cry, crying won’t change anything.’
Taking a deep breath, Celia straightened her back.
Now was the time to congratulate her cousin Leo, as a direct descendant of Zerdinger.
Noble Dormitory.
“D-Duran, I told you not to overdo it, why are you doing this?”
“Shut up.”
In the training room, Duran was training his strength.
To the student from the same dormitory who was trying to dissuade him, he replied coldly.
“Abad~ It’s a party today, aren’t you preparing? You’ve been looking at grimoires since earlier. Even if we lost, it’s… the exam is over, so we should have fun.”
The Noble girls whined at Abad, who was reading a grimoire in the Noble library, but Abad only offered his usual smile.
Eliza was at the top of the Noble dormitory, meditating with her spirit.
In the center of Rumern.
Mel, standing on the roof of the Hero’s Tower, looked down at the scenery of Rumern, now bathed in twilight as the sun had set.
“You wanted an indomitable hero who could… stand up again even when frustrated… falling… and hitting their limits?”
The great hero who had blamed herself for not being able to stand up.
She wanted students to walk a different path than hers.
That’s why she left the words ‘surpass your limits’ for future generations.
“Your wish is still being well passed down to future generations. So please endure a little longer.”
Mel clenched her fist, looking at Rumern bathed in twilight.
“The person you admired… will save you.”