Book 1 Chapter 654
654.
Sreung-!
Leo drew his sword.
Pababat-!
At that moment, Chen Shia vanished from sight.
Chaeng-!
Leo narrowed his eyes, looking at Chen Shia, who had appeared right next to him.
'Was Chen Shia this fast?'
Before Leo's sword was even fully drawn, Chen Shia was swinging a dagger at Leo's neck.
Leo, who had blocked Chen Shia's attack with his sheath, saw Chen Shia's eyes glinting with killing intent and put strength into his sword.
Kwak-!
With their swords locked, he pressured Chen Shia with brute force.
Kigigigigik-!
Chen Shia crossed her daggers to block Leo's attack.
However, despite that, she couldn't block Leo's sword.
Her stance, which had aimed for Leo's neck, instead turned into one where she was being crushed by Leo.
Jjeojeok-!
The ground Chen Shia stood on began to crack.
Whooang! Kwagagagagang!
In an instant, Leo's sword struck the ground.
“Oh!”
“Chen Shia?!”
Screams erupted among the third-year students, who thought Chen Shia had been defeated, unable to withstand Leo's strength.
Leo narrowed his eyes, looking into the thick dust that had risen.
Chen Shia, having deflected Leo's strength, was pressed close to the ground.
Leo's diagonally swung sword had narrowly grazed Chen Shia's head.
Shwiik-!
Chen Shia, who had been looking up at Leo from the ground, bounced up, closing the distance between them.
Seugak-!
She threw the dagger in her hand towards Leo.
Hwiririk-!
The dagger spun, aiming for Leo's vital points.
Leo dodged the dagger with minimal movement.
Chen Shia instantly darted into Leo's embrace and placed her hand on his chest.
Peoeong-!
Water aura exploded at close range.
Terrifying water pressure engulfed Leo.
However, Leo seemed unaffected and extended his hand towards Chen Shia.
“Did he endure it!? Senior Shia's attack?”
As Habiden shouted with wide eyes, Duran narrowed his eyes.
“No. He nullified it with the same water aura.”
Leo had also exploded water aura in response to Chen Shia's attack.
As Leo tried to grab her neck, Chen Shia kicked off the ground, creating distance.
At the same time, the water flowing around Chen Shia transformed into blades, aiming for Leo's vital points.
Chwaak-!
Leo grabbed the water aura as if snatching a curtain.
The water aura, sharp enough to tear through rock, was caught in Leo's hand.
Bogleboglebogle-
However, the water blades were nullified by the water aura Leo created.
Chen Shia, with light movements, tried to increase the distance from Leo.
And at the moment she tried to release the water aura caught in Leo's hand.
Hook-!
“……?!”
As Leo pulled the water aura, Chen Shia was dragged towards Leo.
Of course, it didn't stop there.
Chen Shia's water aura was eroded by Leo's aura.
'The control of the water has been taken over.'
The aura that followed her will now resisted her.
The water aura grabbed Chen Shia like a rope.
Chen Shia was in a state as if bound by ropes.
Leo, who had subdued Chen Shia using her own aura, pulled and swung the water aura, then slammed Chen Shia into the ground.
Kwaang-!
Watching Chen Shia being slammed into the training ground, the first and second-year students involuntarily shut their eyes.
“Even so, if you came at me with the intent to kill, I suppose I should respond in kind, shouldn't I?”
Leo said with an expressionless face.
It meant he would show no mercy.
Chen Shia must have been prepared for this when she challenged him to a spar.
'No, this isn't a spar anymore.'
Leo pulled Chen Shia again, slamming her into the opposite side of the ground, and muttered to himself.
'This is already a death match.'
Since Chen Shia was already fighting him with sincerity, Leo also had to be sincere.
Only then could Chen Shia show others what she wanted to show.
'That is the courtesy due to an opponent who clashes with me with all their sincerity.'
The moment Leo pulled Chen Shia once more.
Paat-!
Chen Shia immediately broke free from the water ropes that bound her.
The water fragments that had spread in all directions instantly turned into needles and rained down on Leo.
Pabababababak-!
Leo flung himself away, dodging the attack.
Hwiik-!
In an instant, something was thrown from Chen Shia's hand.
Leo tilted his head back, dodging it.
Tak-!
Chen Shia landed on the ground.
Leo also raised his head, which he had tilted back.
Jureuk-
A thin streak of blood appeared on Leo's cheek.
“Hmm.”
Leo tapped his cheek.
“A hidden weapon. This is getting serious?”
Leo's red eyes glowed dangerously.
Chen Shia smiled and pulled her right shoulder upwards with her left hand.
Woodeudeuk-
With an eerie sound, her dislocated left shoulder was reset.
Then she grabbed her left forearm with her right hand.
Wadeuk-!
The sound of bones setting was heard.
She had stimulated the muscles around her broken left forearm bone with aura to fix it.
Of course, immense pain surged through her, but she didn't care.
Chen Shia was neither weak nor had she lived an easy life to the point where her movements would be dulled by pain.
“I don't like it rough.”
“But you made it rough, didn't you?”
Leo curled up the corners of his mouth.
Watching Leo, Chen Shia adjusted her grip on the dagger.
She had no intention of stopping.
Celia's face hardened as she saw that.
'Leo is serious.'
Celia tightened her clenched fist.
Watching their fight, she knew.
What the two of them were engaged in was an extremely dangerous and brutal death match.
A battle at the very limits, experienced only by those who had faced death countless times.
A perilous battle where a small mistake led directly to death.
'Could I, against Leo fighting with such sincerity, endure like Shia?'
She wasn't confident.
She instantly understood what Chen Shia was trying to tell them.
'This is a real fight.'
Whether it was Chen Shia or Leo.
The enemies they would have to fight in the future would undoubtedly stand in that realm.
On the surface, it seemed like a difference of a single sheet of paper, but that single sheet of paper made a huge difference.
Duran also wore a grim expression because he felt it.
It wasn't just Duran.
Chloe, Chelsea, Avad, as well as Wareden and Eliza.
While others were focused on Leo, they were looking at Chen Shia.
'In the past two years, I had never once seen Chen Shia truly fight.'
Even Chen Shia, whom they considered a rival, had been hiding her true abilities in actual combat.
The one they thought was by their side was, in fact, one step ahead.
'This isn't just a lesson.'
Celia bit her lip tightly.
'I will stand behind Young Master Leo before anyone else.'
This fight was a provocation thrown at their rivals.
They were jolted awake by the declaration of war from someone they had thought was on the same level for the past two years.
While Chen Shia's fight shocked the third-year students.
Chen Shia, holding her sword, took a step forward.
Watching her, Leo narrowed his eyes.
'It's about time to end this, isn't it?'
The reason Chen Shia could genuinely exude killing intent towards him was because of the vast difference in their skills.
Even standing at the brink of death, Chen Shia's best was to inflict a small scratch on Leo's cheek.
That was Chen Shia's utmost.
If the fight continued any longer, Chen Shia would truly be in danger.
'I should finish it with the next strike.'
Chen Shia's movements were already within Leo's predicted range.
The fight was as good as over.
The moment he thought that.
Hwaak-!
Chen Shia's body vanished like a mirage.
What caught Leo's eye was a black haze.
It was as if she had vanished from this world.
'This is…!'
It far exceeded Leo's expectations.
He had completely lost track of Chen Shia's presence.
To the extent that if this skill was unknown to Leo, he might have been unable to react.
Leo swung his palm behind him.
Normally, he would have thrown a punch.
But if he had, Chen Shia's life would have truly been in danger.
Leo had always handled Chen Shia with a certain degree of composure, but at this moment, he reacted to Chen Shia's movements with genuine seriousness.
Peoeong-!
Leo's palm struck Chen Shia's chest.
Chen Shia was sent flying out of the training ground, just before she hit the stadium wall.
Hwaak-!
Ein's associate professor, Claria, gently cradled Chen Shia in her arms and landed on the ground.
Sappun-!
“According to the Knight Academy's rules, fights to the death are forbidden.”
Ein appeared in the middle of the training ground.
“Being the student council president doesn't mean everything is forgiven. And just now. You were really serious, weren't you?”
“I apologize.”
“Hoo… For now, you and Chen Shia will clean the restrooms for a week as punishment. Of course, demerit points will also be given.”
“Yes.”
Ein said, watching Leo calmly nod his head.
“First, take Chen Shia to the infirmary.”
Claria, who approached Leo, handed Chen Shia over.
Leo, holding the unconscious Chen Shia in his arms, headed to the infirmary.
“Isn't that a bit lenient?”
Ein chuckled at Claria's words.
“Neither Leo nor Shia are fools who would cause trouble purely out of youthful exuberance.”
If they had caused trouble merely due to personal grudge or a competitive spirit, it wouldn't have ended with restroom cleaning; they would have been taken to the reflection room.
However, their fight served as a stimulus to others.
“I think it was a necessary fight.”
Ein glanced at Leo while looking at the thoughtful top third-year students.
“For Leo too.”
“For student Leo as well?”
“Yes.”
Claria wore a puzzled expression.
“Because his burden will have lightened a little.”
***
Upon arriving at the infirmary, Leo laid Chen Shia on a bed.
Chen Shia, having regained consciousness, opened her eyes.
“How was it, Young Master Leo?”
“…How did you use that?”
“My ancestor possessed my body once before, you know. I remembered his movements from then and kept practicing.”
The footwork Chen Shia had just shown was Vihar's footwork.
Vihar's aura skill, moving without color or scent.
Vihar's secret technique, which even Kyle couldn't use.
“…I can't treat you like a child anymore.”
“Of course, I'm 19 this year. I'm a proper adult now, aren't I? Please treat me as an adult from now on.”
“Still, wasn't that a bit much? Actually stabbing me was too much.”
Leo pointed to his back.
In the fleeting moment Leo missed Chen Shia's movement.
Vihar's dagger, held by Chen Shia, had very lightly stabbed Leo's back.
It wasn't a big wound, but a little blood was unavoidable.
“Please leave that scar forever.”
“Why? I'm not at an age where I need to engrave new scars on my body to grow.”
“It's a mark.”
“A mark?”
“Yes, a mark that I will stand behind Young Master Leo for my entire life. Proof that I have claimed that position.”
Chen Shia wore a joyful expression.
“From now on, only I can stand behind Young Master Leo. I won't yield that spot to anyone.”
Leo let out a wry laugh, watching Chen Shia speak as if she had branded her name on her own possession.
“Since I was the first to leave a knife mark on Young Master Leo's back, I have enough qualification for that, don't I?”
“Alright, do as you please.”
At Leo's words, Chen Shia smiled brightly.
Leo chuckled, looking at Chen Shia.
“Then I should give you a prize, shouldn't I?”
“A prize?”
“Yes. Want to close your eyes?”
Chen Shia closed her eyes.
As she felt a strange thumping in her heart.
Something stamped her forehead.
“What?”
Chen Shia rubbed her forehead with a bewildered expression, then created a water mirror using her water aura.
And she frowned, looking at the [Well Done.] stamp on her forehead.
“Is this childish stamp supposed to be the prize?”
“Then what were you hoping for? A 'well done' stamp is enough for a child.”
“I just said I'm an adult now, didn't I?”
“The very act of calling yourself an adult is proof that you're still a child.”
Leo patted Chen Shia's forehead and shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, get well. I'm going to class.”
Chen Shia sighed deeply, watching Leo's back as he calmly left the infirmary.
'If my appearance becomes a bit more adult-like, maybe he won't treat me like a child anymore?'
***
Deep night.
At the far northeastern edge of the continent.
It was the dwarves' homeland, taken long ago at the end of an invasion by Tartaros.
“Everyone run! Quickly!”
Gwoooooooh-!
The roar of a beast echoed.
The face of the dwarf hero leading the investigation team turned pale.
Recently, signs of a Hero Dungeon appearing in this area had been detected, so despite it being Tartaros's territory, the dwarves dispatched an investigation team.
This was because if it was a rampaging Hero Dungeon, it had to be conquered before it eroded the world.
Even if it was Tartaros's territory.
And the investigation team faced the brink of annihilation.
This was because they had encountered large-scale Gigantes units that hadn't existed in this vicinity.
Just seeing that made it clear that a rampaging Hero Dungeon had appeared here.
His mission was to risk his life to convey this fact to the outside world.
“Soon there will be a fortress our ancestors used! We will make our stand there!”
The dwarf hero encouraged his party members.
However, despair was etched on the dwarf hero's face.
That fortress had long since become ruins.
Its functionality as a fortress had also been lost for a long time.
'I must buy some time! Somehow, I must convey this fact to Demian!'
The dwarf hero and his party members, clenching their teeth, knew they were already dead men.
If so, they had to at least convey the situation here.
However, the Gigantes units wouldn't even allow that.
As they approached the fortress, the number of Gigantes increased exponentially.
The rampaging Gigantes in the darkness mercilessly ravaged the dwarves.
“Captain! At least you, quickly!”
“Pelorne!”
At the death of his subordinate, the dwarf hero Noren screamed.
It was a scene of slaughter.
“Oh, exalted Demian! Oh, great Dweno! Please grant us aid so that we may complete our mission!”
Noren prayed to the great ancestral heroes.
The sun will rise soon.
When the sun rises, the strength of the beastly Gigantes will weaken, and they will be able to reach the fortress.
'If so, I can at least fulfill my mission…'
Checking the time, Noren anxiously awaited dawn.
And the moment dawn broke.
“……”
Teolseok-
Noren involuntarily collapsed onto the ground.
A crimson sun was driving away the brilliantly shining starry night sky.
A gray morning was approaching.
Noren knew all too well what it was.
Long before he became a hero.
The sky from the hero tales he had read since he was a very, very young child.
“The age of… calamity?”
He couldn't even grasp the situation.
What was important was that sun was a symbol of despair.
Thus, at the appearance of the crimson sun, the dwarves lost their will to fight and despaired.
At that moment, they even forgot that they had barely reached the vicinity of the fortress.
Kwagagagagang-!
The sound of shelling echoed.
Peobeobeobeok! Gwoooooooh! Kaaaargh!
The Gigantes, bombarded by magic cannons, let out screams of pain.
The startled dwarves' gazes turned towards where the shelling had come from.
And they saw.
A massive fortress, standing firm rather than in ruins.
Noren's mouth fell open at the sight.
“What in the world… is happening?”
In Noren's astonished gaze, he saw a single dwarf standing on the fortress wall.
At the magnificent sight of that dwarf, enveloped in golden flames, Noren's eyes widened.
“The Divine… Blacksmith?”