Book 1 Chapter 725

725.

Chen Xia was running swiftly through the forest.

*Swish— Thwack—*

Chen Xia drew a throwing knife from her sleeve, catching it naturally in her hand.

The sharply honed blade glinted.

Chen Xia's specialty was unarmed combat.

Her extremely trained body was a formidable weapon in itself.

However, it wasn't as if she couldn't handle weapons.

In fact, she was skilled with a wide variety of them.

Of course, in pure swordsmanship, she was no match for Celia or Duran.

Her skill with other weapons also didn't compare to students who focused on just one.

To wield every weapon like a master was literally the realm of dreams.

In this world, Leo was the only one.

Therefore, her most powerful strength was still unarmed combat.

However, her ability to use a variety of weapons on the fly while fighting unarmed was intimidating.

This was because, with weapons, she could freely control the distance, which was crucial in close combat.

Among them, her throwing skills, in which she was most confident, were on a level that even Celia and Duran had to be wary of.

Chen Xia glanced back.

When her eyes met Chloe's, her instincts told her.

That wasn't Chloe.

*It felt like it was targeting me.*

That was why she had deliberately separated from the magic students.

She thought it would surely chase after her.

And as expected, Lysina was chasing Chen Xia.

Chen Xia, aware that Lysina was pursuing her, moved even more stealthily.

This place, with its many hiding spots, was her battlefield.

*How should I deal with it? The body was Chloe's.*

Chen Xia felt a sense of urgency.

Surely, she hadn't felt anything strange from Chloe until yesterday.

In just one night, someone could invade Lumen and possess the body of Chloe, who was evaluated as the top hero candidate.

*Tartarus.*

Concluding this, Chen Xia requested a suspension of the mock battle while moving.

The request could be made at any time if a critical situation occurred.

However, her communication item with the professors was unresponsive.

Chen Xia clenched her fist tightly.

"I have to take it down."

"How commendable. To think of taking it down without being afraid."

At the voice that came from her side, Chen Xia unhesitatingly slashed with her dagger.

*Scriiitch—!*

A sharp sound echoed.

But Chen Xia's dagger cut through the air futilely.

Lysina, who had dodged Chen Xia's attack by crouching, spread her palm and struck Chen Xia's chest.

*Crack—!*

Chen Xia was sent flying.

Along with it, her body began to freeze at an incredible speed.

*…Incredible. It reacted to this?*

Lysina looked down at her palm with surprised eyes.

She thought she could land a decisive blow, but for a moment, her attack was blocked by Chen Xia's water aura.

Due to the elemental advantage between water and ice, Chloe, who used ice powers, had an overwhelming advantage.

And Lysina, who had pushed Chloe's current power to its extreme.

Under normal circumstances, she could have been defeated in the blink of an eye.

But Chen Xia overcame it with experience.

In reality, only the water aura froze.

It did not cause any damage to Chen Xia's body.

*A descendant of Bihari, for sure.*

Lysina lowered her hand, her eyes darkening.

*The Shadow, was it called?*

Like the Black Dragons of the Age of Gods.

Like Kai and Bihari of the Age of Calamity.

Those who protected the world's order from the darkness.

Someone had to do it.

A mission someone had to bear.

The most noble of beings.

However, just as the Black Dragons were perceived as fearsome and unsettling beings.

The Shadows would also have been treated as such in this era.

This made her mouth feel bitter.

*That child must have lived in darkness even after the world regained its light.*

Even without seeing or hearing, Lysina could easily infer the kind of life Bihari had lived.

And with the brief exchange just moments ago, she knew it instantly.

The girl before her eyes was also living in darkness.

Living fiercely with experiences unbefitting her age in that darkness.

*Commendable and amazing.*

But she couldn't watch with joy like the other hero candidates.

Being a descendant of Bihari, she could tell not only from her aura but also from the aura she used, excluding the atmosphere.

She had continued her ancestor's will for 5,000 years.

*The task I should have done.*

5,000 years ago, Kai took on that task.

And after Kai, Bihari… and after that, Bihari's descendants.

*They must have lived in solitude in the darkness, generation after generation.*

Lysina knew that darkness.

"You…"

As Lysina was about to speak.

*Fwsh-fwsh-fwsh—!*

*Crack—*

As Chen Xia swung her hands, sharp throwing knives scattered.

*Whoosh—!*

Chen Xia concealed herself in the darkness.

*Shadow Step.*

Although the form was different, it was a technique based on the principles she had taught Bihari.

A sharp killing intent could be felt.

But in an instant, the killing intent vanished without a trace into the darkness.

*Fwoosh—!*

The sounds of Chen Xia moving rapidly could be heard from all directions.

Lysina's eyes quickly followed Chen Xia.

*Hooosh! Thwack—! Crack! Thump!*

Chen Xia's barrage of attacks began, circling Lysina stealthily and rapidly.

Ice magic blocked Chen Xia's punches, kicks, and daggers.

*Crack—*

Lysina's surroundings began to freeze.

*Water is flow.*

Normally, it flows gently.

But the more it flows.

Water becomes rougher and faster.

If the flow is not stopped, it will flow even more roughly and faster.

So, if Chen Xia were left unchecked, her attacks would become even more ferocious.

Chloe possessed the power to efficiently stop Chen Xia's flow.

*Freeze.*

*Thwack—!*

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Everything stopped.

In an instant, Lysina had pushed Chloe's magic to its extreme and frozen the surroundings.

"Excellent."

Lysina looked at Chen Xia, whose feet were frozen and trapped, and said.

Chen Xia's body was frozen.

"But the game of tag is over."

***

*CRASH—!*

"…Chloe could use summoning magic too?"

"No."

"Then what is that ice dragon?"

"It's probably made with magic."

"No, does that even make sense?!"

The magic students were busy avoiding the ice dragon that was flying in the sky and breathing fire at them.

"Is it like golem magic?!"

"Kyaaaah—!"

Screams echoed from all sides.

Seeing this, Chelsea said.

"That's not summoning magic or golem magic! It's Chloe herself!"

"What kind of nonsensical remark is that!"

"It's magic that Luna-nim created for Chloe the other day!"

[Absolute Freeze].

It was Chloe's unique magic, created by Luna when she descended, observing Chloe's magic traits, and gifted to her.

Although Luna was the magic creator, it was magic solely for Chloe, and only for Chloe.

Chelsea also received [Song of the Wind].

"It's magic that intervenes with the spirit world and temporarily transforms into a spirit! That's Chloe's body becoming a spirit and turning into an ice dragon!"

"No! What kind of overpowered magic is that!"

"Because Luna-nim created it!"

While everyone was once again awestruck by the terror of the progenitor of the constellations, Avad was lost in deep thought.

"Is that truly an evil being?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Looking at it, it's Chloe herself."

He looked at the ice dragon.

"Although it took over Chloe's body… I don't feel any dark magic. Moreover, the power it wields is purely Chloe's strength."

"So what! The important thing is that this unknown entity is attacking us as if to kill us!"

"Just, that's all."

Avad smiled faintly.

Seeing that, a magic student gave an incredulous look.

"You're so calm even in this serious situation?"

"Magnanimity to maintain composure anytime, anywhere! That's big brother's strong point!"

"Why are you bragging about it."

The magic students looked dumbfounded.

At that moment.

Avad opened his mouth.

"Chelsea."

"Yes, big brother."

"Can you stop that alone?"

"……"

Chelsea, after pondering Avad's question, nodded.

"Yes."

"What! That's too reckless!"

"We'll help too!"

"No, you guys protect me."

"What? Why?"

"Because from now on, I won't be able to move."

Avad smiled bitterly and closed his eyes.

Seeing that, Chelsea said.

"Chloe wasn't the only one who received magic from Luna-nim."

"Ah…"

Chelsea received [Song of the Wind].

Avad received [Incantationless Magic].

However, neither of them had reached completion.

Both of them had failed to overcome the weakness of being unable to move while using magic.

This was their current limit.

However…

"Even if it's a limit, I can't just stand still."

Even if they shatter against the wall of their limits.

If they don't hit the wall, they can't overcome or destroy it.

Chelsea flew into the sky alone.

The magic students swallowed dryly and provided cover around Avad.

Watching them, the ice clone wore an amused expression.

*It seems it's thought of a plan.*

The ice clone looked at Chelsea flying towards it.

"Isn't that too reckless?"

"Hmph. You must not know our school's motto."

"Motto?"

"Exceed your limits. It's something I've heard endlessly since my first year."

"……"

The ice clone's eyes widened.

Then it smiled faintly.

"That's a good motto. Then, shall we see if you can exceed your limits?"

With those words, great wind magic began to pour down without pause.

The ice clone intended to subdue Chelsea and then attack Avad, but Chelsea was not easily subdued and instead blocked the ice clone.

Long-range attacks were blocked by the magic students.

*Thwack—!*

Eventually, a wind spear pierced the ice clone's chest.

*Crack—*

Ice shards fell to the ground.

The ice clone, revealing its true form, brushed its pierced chest and smiled faintly.

"Excellent."

With those words, the ice clone melted and disappeared.

"We need to pursue the main body! Let's rendezvous with the knight students before then!"

Avad quickly issued instructions and led the magic students into the forest.

***

While the magic students were fighting against the ice clone, which had pushed Chloe's potential to its limit.

The knight students were facing Lysina, who wielded light and dark magic cast by Chloe's mana.

*Flash—!*

A flash of light appeared in the sky.

Along with it, fragments of light rained down towards the knight students.

*Flash! Sizzle!*

Duran, sparks flying from his eyes, bent down and charged towards the fragments of light.

*Sizzle—! Vrooooom!*

As Duran swung his sword at incredible speed, the light fragments exploded.

"Kugh!"

Duran's eyes twitched.

The impact of the explosion covered his body entirely.

At that moment.

*Vrooom—!*

A bright light burst from Duran's body.

It was Nella's healing aura.

Meanwhile, on the ground, blades of darkness surged, aiming for the knight students.

However, those blades of darkness were severed by the flame aura emanating from Celia.

"Hmm?"

The ice clone, standing with its arms crossed in the distance, smiled faintly.

"Good coordination."

"Opening!"

Iliana, at incredible speed, aimed for the ice clone's neck.

*Thwack—!*

The ice clone blocked Iliana's spear.

"Isn't that too simple an attack?"

"I have a sword too!"

Annoyed, Iliana drew her sword with her free hand and swung it towards the ice clone's neck.

But that sword was also blocked by its hand.

"Ugh!"

Iliana flinched.

But then she put on a triumphant expression.

"Even the vice-captain version of Chloe is weaker than the vice-captain!"

"Vice-captain?"

"Leo Flove! He's our captain!"

*Fwoosh—!*

*Sizzle!*

Celia and Duran, breaking through the light and dark magic, swung their swords in mid-air, aiming for the ice clone.

The knight students had sacrificed themselves to clear the path for the two.

Iliana, using her speed, took on the role of binding the ice clone's feet by getting close.

"No matter how great you are, you can't block this attack unless lasers shoot from your eyes!"

As Iliana smiled meaningfully, the ice clone smiled faintly.

Seeing that smile, Iliana felt an inexplicable sense of unease.

"No, right?"

*Zzzzing—*

The ice clone's eyes began to glow, and Iliana grimaced.

"H-handsome…! No! This is cheating!"

While Iliana was panicking.

A beam of light shot from its eyes, aiming for Celia and Duran.

"Kugh!"

"What is this!"

Celia and Duran, narrowly blocking the attack, were sent flying.

"Well then."

"Hiiik!"

Iliana, meeting the ice clone's gaze, let out a yelp.

But she didn't back down.

Instead, she took out her secondary weapon, a dagger, from her pouch and charged at the ice clone.

Seeing that, the ice clone laughed.

"Brave, but reckless."

As the ice clone was about to deploy magic.

"Haaah—!"

"Oh?"

At the sudden yell from behind, the ice clone's eyes widened, and it looked back.

There, Nella was swinging her morning star with all her might.

Her body was riddled with holes and cuts from the light and dark magic, bleeding profusely.

Nella, with a fierce expression, swung her morning star at the ice clone.

*Crackle—*

The ice clone, which collapsed, glanced at Iliana.

"Excellent. You believed in your comrade and held my attention until the end?"

The ice clone smiled faintly, then shattered and melted away.

*Thump—!*

Nella collapsed.

"Nella! Are you okay?"

Celia rushed over.

"I'm fine. I've been healing my dangerous wounds with my healing aura…"

She meant she had run through those brutal spells by taking them on her body.

The ice clone, which had never imagined such a thing would happen, was also caught off guard.

"That was too reckless!"

"…We couldn't defeat the enemy without confronting our limits."

Nella smiled bitterly.

Her aura was depleted, so she was still bleeding.

"Iliana's plan was good. Even though it failed, she didn't back down and held its gaze. It seems she saw me coming."

At Nella's words, Iliana scratched her head and smiled shyly.

"We've been working together for years."

"I see. I see you in a new light. I thought you were just charging in without thinking."

As Celia exclaimed in admiration, Iliana whistled and looked at the distant mountains.

Seeing that, Nella smiled.

*She wasn't thinking at all.*

The knight students began to clean up the damage.

Nella was the only one with near-incapacitated injuries, but everyone had sustained injuries of varying degrees.

A moment later.

The magic students joined them.

As expected, Chelsea from the magic department was incapacitated due to severe frostbite.

With the two key combatants incapacitated, the students became serious.

"Where's Xia? Wasn't she with your magic department?"

"…I thought she had joined your side… Since she's not here, she must be facing the main body alone."

In response to Celia's question, Avad replied with a grave expression.

"Then there's no time to waste! For now, let's have the combat-ready personnel go help Xia!"

At Celia's words, the students began to move.