Book 1 Chapter 553

553.

"Then, we'll begin the 2nd-year Combat Studies class, the Bastera match."

Professor Ripen, in charge of Combat Studies, placed the Bastera-exclusive ball in the center of the field.

To gain the first move, one had to secure that ball.

"One, two. One, two."

Chelsea stretched, bending and straightening her knees, warming up.

The fastest person on Chelsea's team was none other than Chelsea herself.

'Over there is Duran. And Illiana will be the one assisting such a Duran.'

Chelsea watched the fastest players on the opposing team with wary eyes.

Duran Moira.

As a user of lightning aura, excluding Leo, he competes for first place in speed among his classmates with Chelsea and Eliza.

In Eliza's case, using summons made her an easy target, so she was excluded from the first-move scramble.

'Anyway, I have to get the ball faster than Duran. Get it quickly, and then…'

Chelsea's eyes darted around before fixing on Illiana.

'I'm going to throw it right at Illiana's face.'

Chelsea, with an expression like a fierce beast, recalled what she had just said.

'But surely, the class president isn't staying out overnight today, right?'

Ever since she heard that Leo had skipped class for a date with Elena, it had been bothering her.

'Of course, I heard it was a condition for Elena Jerion to accept the Vice Student Council President position.'

Still, what bothered her, bothered her.

It was like how the noble young ladies of the Rodren Empire used to look at the love letters that flew to Avard almost every day when she was little.

'No, it bothers me even more than back then!'

That Leo was popular wasn't new, as he had been since his first year.

But this time, for some reason, it bothered her too much.

So she tried her best not to care.

In such a situation, Illiana brilliantly succeeded in provoking Chelsea.

'She's annoying, so just one hit, exactly! Just one hit!'

Chelsea gnashed her teeth.

Meanwhile, Professor Ripen put a whistle to his lips.

Seeing that, Chelsea tensed every muscle in her body.

_Beep-!_

_Whoosh-!_

Creating an enormous gust of wind, Chelsea sprinted towards the ball.

_Crackle-!_

Duran also spewed lightning as he ran towards the ball.

The moment both of them were about to reach for the ball with equal speed.

_Flash-!_

With a bright flash, someone snatched the ball.

Both Chelsea and Duran stared wide-eyed at the one who had snatched the ball.

Even Illiana, the one who first got the ball, looked at the two of them and the ball alternately with a "Huh?" expression.

"Why are you two so slow?"

_Crack-!_

Illiana, without any malice, succeeded once again in provoking not only Chelsea but also her ally, Duran.

"What? Illiana just got the ball before Chelsea and Duran?"

"Even if Illiana is fast, she couldn't match Chelsea and Duran, could she?"

Chelsea and Duran's speed was renowned not only among the second-years but throughout all of Lumerne.

When Illiana overwhelmed those two with her speed, the entire second-year class couldn't help but fall into confusion.

"Did Chelsea and Duran perhaps run half-heartedly?"

"Those embodiments of competitive spirit? No way?"

"They've been competing for the highest speed in our grade since first year."

"Right, they're rivals who've been gnashing their teeth not to lose to each other, so why would they go easy?"

The murmuring second-years soon began to reach a conclusion.

"Hey, when was the full-grade speed test?"

"Mid-first semester."

"Hasn't Illiana been practicing acceleration magic or something recently?

"If so…"

Everyone looked at Illiana with surprised eyes.

"Are you saying Illiana got faster than those two during that time?"

***

"That's it then!"

Illiana grinned.

"The results of the new magic I learned recently are showing now!"

Illiana, wearing a very smug expression, looked triumphant.

"It must be because of Lady Luna's magic. I've become incredibly fast."

"Hmph. Indeed. So you've become a little bit useful, have you?"

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Illiana, who heard their conversation, covered her mouth and burst out laughing.

"The era of the Light-Speed Blade, Lady Illiana, has begun!"

"Lame nickname."

As Chelsea furrowed her brow, an excited Illiana pointed a finger, _snap!_ at Chelsea and Duran.

"You two are 'slowpokes' compared to me now, aren't you? Hahahaha!"

"……"

Chelsea and Duran stared at Illiana with terrifying eyes.

Karl, watching them, clicked his tongue.

'She's so excited, not even realizing she might die like that.'

"Eliza is also slower than me, then!"

_Snap!_

"I understand your words. I feel like going over there and hitting her right now."

Eliza, with veins throbbing on her forehead, pulled her whip taut.

She looked as if she would lunge at Illiana at any moment.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down. Hold your position."

Karl broke out in a cold sweat.

Just then, Chelsea lunged at Illiana.

"Give me the ball!"

"No way! With such slow movements, you can't catch m…"

_Crackle-!_

"Hand over the ball! Illiana Raden!"

"W-wait! We're on the same team… Aaaah?!"

Illiana, terrified by Duran charging at her with a formidable momentum, screamed and ran away.

"Why are you running away! Hand over the ball!"

"You're charging at me like you're going to beat me to a pulp!"

It was then that Illiana screamed.

"What are those idiots doing now?"

Celia frowned and moved towards Illiana using an aura step.

"Illiana! Pass!"

"Oh, alright! Pass!"

"That won't do, will it?"

"Huh?!"

Chen Xia, who had already approached right in front of Illiana's nose, smiled faintly.

A distance where their breaths would meet.

"Xia, how did you!"

"No matter how fast you are, if I read your movements, I can predict your path. Hoi-!"

Smiling brightly, Chen Xia swung her foot.

_Bang-!_

"Ack! The ball?"

Chen Xia placed her hand on Illiana's crown, climbed up as if performing acrobatics, and stood on her hands.

And with a flexible movement, she kicked the ball out of Illiana's hand.

The ball didn't leave Chen Xia's foot, as if glued to it.

_Crackle! Whoosh-!_

"Eek!"

As Chelsea and Duran closed the distance, just as Illiana reached out to snatch the ball from Chen Xia.

Chen Xia pressed down on Illiana's head as if pushing with force, and with that recoil, created distance between herself and Illiana.

_Bang-!_

And before it could reach Duran's hand, she kicked the ball with all her might into the air.

_Thud-!_

At that moment, Ayran caught the ball in the air.

Avard, seeing that, shouted towards the goal.

"Woredan!"

The goalkeeper was none other than Woredan.

Woredan activated his spiritual power.

Along with that, Ayran threw the ball with immense power.

"Oh my?!"

The ball plunged straight towards Illiana, who screamed and lunged out of the way.

_Crash! Kaba-ba-ba-bang!_

The ball dug into the ground, creating a massive crater.

Illiana, who barely avoided the ball, gaped.

"Why did you do that! You should have aimed for the goal!"

Tade cried out urgently.

"S-sorry! I just… I thought I should get rid of Miss Illiana…!"

"G-get rid of?!"

"It's a good strategy. Young Woredan is firmly guarding the goal."

Chen Xia, after intercepting the ball stuck in the crater, smiled broadly and said.

"Since it's difficult to break through Young Woredan and score, I think it's better to go with a strategy of reducing the opponent's strength first."

"Yes, yes! That's right! It was that kind of strategy! It absolutely wasn't because Miss Illiana was annoying or anything!"

Ayran clenched her fist tightly and then smiled brightly.

"So, Miss Illiana. Be prepared."

Her face was smiling, but for some reason, one could feel goosebumps rising.

Watching that sight, the students in the stands shivered.

"S-scary."

"I thought only Lunia El Runda was scary, but Ayran is terrifying too, isn't she?"

***

Afterward, it was Chelsea's team that continuously held the initiative in attack.

And Chelsea, Chen Xia, and Ayran targeted Illiana specifically.

Illiana's movements, narrowly dodging attacks using acceleration, were almost miraculous.

And for some reason, Illiana's movements continued to provoke the three of them.

"She really dodges well."

Karl let out a hollow laugh.

Tade approached Karl.

"Karl! Is this okay? Attack isn't our specialty, is it? If we get caught up in Illiana's strategy like this and lose the ball, it'll be big trouble!"

"Doesn't look like a strategy, does it?"

"That's true."

Karl and Tade shook their heads, watching Illiana busy running away and shouting 'Save me!'

"Well, it's certainly advantageous for our team to play defense."

"Right? If we concede the first point like this, we'll be in trouble!"

"True. But it won't be easy for them either, you know?"

"What?"

"Why, hitting with a shield really hurts, doesn't it?"

Karl grinned.

"If those three run wild like that, the other side will be too preoccupied with defense to switch to offense. And we have the best goalkeeper, don't we?"

Karl gave a thumbs-up towards the back.

Chloe smiled faintly at Karl.

"Karl, I'll go to the front lines too."

"Hold back at times like this! Please!"

It was then.

"Stop chattering."

_Whoosh-!_

Eliza, who had been providing aerial support on a Wind Wyvern, approached.

"Because the right to attack has passed."

Celia, who had somehow succeeded in snatching the ball, was swinging the hand holding the ball, creating a flame aura.

Chloe, seeing that, activated her magic.

_Crackle-!_

An ice world was activated around the goal.

At that moment.

_Crunch!_

'A dispel using spirit magic.'

"……!"

Earth spirits covered the ice.

Chloe looked at Woredan with a cool expression.

"Chloe, will you be alright?"

"No problem."

"Tade! Help Chloe! Eliza, keep Avard in check from the air!"

"Got it!"

"Hmph! Don't order me around."

Tade headed to the very back, and Eliza flew into the air, pursuing Avard.

'Celia's offensive power is fatal enough to break through Chloe's defense in one go.'

As she specializes in offense, Celia's attacks are capable of turning the tide of the match in a single strike.

'We must not let the opposing team get the ball as much as possible.'

Being specialized in defense also means that our side is excellent at keeping possession of the ball.

In fact, it's not easy to take the ball from Chelsea, Chen Xia, and Ayran, who are the pillars of offense.

'And if possible, we should score the first point!'

'Just as our allies being specialized in defense doesn't mean they can't attack, if the opponent truly commits to defense, it will be hard for us to break through. And if we get counter-attacked, it'll be even more troublesome. Anyway, for now, stopping their attack is the priority.'

Karl narrowed his eyes.

'Putting Illiana forward as a provocation, no matter how I look at it, isn't Celia, Avard, or Duran's idea.'

All three are from prestigious families among the prestigious.

Thus, even if they were smart, they were weak at such unexpected tactics.

There was no need for unexpected tactics either.

Because the three of them had the ability to break through everything head-on.

'…Is it Woredan?'

Karl's gaze turned to Woredan, who was positioned at the rear.

Woredan boasted the largest physique among the second-years.

Along with that, he could bring opponents to their knees with overwhelming strength, so most students considered Woredan a taciturn martial artist.

However…

'He's a sly one too, completely.'

Karl clicked his tongue.

'If Leo wasn't around, that guy would've been the strongest in our grade.'

Not only his strength but also his intellect shouldn't be underestimated.

'First, I need to read the flow of battle. Read it and find an opening…'

It was when Karl was observing the movements of allies and enemies.

"Karl!"

"Huh?"

Tade's urgent voice was heard.

Instantly, Karl realized that the ball Celia had thrown was right in front of him.

'What? She's sacrificing an attack chance to attack me first?'

Karl wore a bewildered expression.

'Why?'

_Kaba-ba-ba-bang-!_

***

Woredan muttered, looking at the opposing team's formation engulfed in flames.

"Checkmate, Karl Thomas."