Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Midterm Evaluation (5)
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"Sorry, Adeshan. Not bad though, right?"
With Ronan's whisper, her vision went dark. Adeshan clutched her throat and collapsed to the ground.
'It... it cut me...!'
She had definitely felt it. Something sharp and hot slicing across her windpipe. Trembling, she pulled her hand away and tilted her head.
"Huh...?"
Contrary to her expectation of blood-soaked hands, there was nothing there. She hurriedly felt her neck—no wound at all. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from beside her.
"You're back."
"I-Instructor Naviroje?!"
Adeshan jolted upright in surprise. Looking around, she finally realized this was the First Arena where Naviroje's class was held.
Eliminated students were gathered in small groups, chatting. On one side, medical staff were treating injured students. Naviroje spoke.
"Bow your head."
"Pardon?"
It was an inexplicable order, but Adeshan complied. Suddenly, Naviroje began gently stroking her hair. Adeshan asked in a flustered voice.
"I-Instructor...?"
"Congratulations. Third place."
Adeshan's body stiffened. Just as Ronan had said. Her face, which had brightened for a moment, darkened again. A gloomy voice leaked from beneath her drooping bangs.
"...I didn't do anything."
"Surviving this long qualifies you for respect."
"All I did was trail after my junior."
"No. That strike you landed on Eyun wasn't bad at all. Even in my eyes."
"Pardon? How did you...?"
"Look over there."
Adeshan raised her head. Only then did she notice all the students staring in one direction.
An image was projected on the south wall of the arena. Like a bird's-eye view from the air, it showed the familiar island.
"Th-that's where we took the test!"
"Yes. It's been broadcasting since the exam started. There were more angles originally, but that's the only one left."
The footage showed Ronan and Schlieffen's battle in full swing. Students were going about their tasks but couldn't tear their eyes from the screen.
"Honestly, shouldn't we exclude those two from now on...?"
"It's like a duel between mages, not swordsmen."
Two whirlwinds thrashed, shredding the forest. Ronan and Schlieffen's forms flickered in and out of visibility.
Claaang! Each clash sent metallic rings echoing loud enough to shake the arena. Naviroje said.
"Don't try imitating those two. They're freaks in every way."
"...Yes. I know."
Adeshan instinctively tugged her collar closed. She wanted to analyze it, but her eyes couldn't keep up. Both Schlieffen wielding aura beyond norms and Ronan matching him were far outside the realm of normal.
Naviroje, who had been watching her, shrugged.
"By the way, that coat doesn't look like yours. It's that guy's, right?"
"P-Pardon? This... well..."
Adeshan stammered, unable to respond. Naviroje snorted, looking at the flustered assistant's reddened face.
"Whatever. He's a decent guy even if he's rough around the edges. Make it work."
"It's not like that!"
Adeshan shouted. She desperately denied the hasty rumor, but didn't take off the coat. The battle on screen was building to a climax. Clang! Cheers erupted from students with each metallic clash.
Thirty minutes since the battle began. Ronan and Schlieffen, having descended the hill, turned the forest into their battlefield. Shuuuuaak! Each swing of Schlieffen's sword unleashed sword beams that chopped trees to pieces. Ronan ducked the beam barely and charged, yelling.
"Die!"
Ronan leaped off a fallen tree, spinning vertically like a swallow to slash down. It was Naviroje's spinning sword, accelerated by mana flow.
"Urk...!"
Not an attack to block or parry. Schlieffen fired a sword beam forward for recoil, pulling back. Kwaaaang! The ground where he stood split neatly, sending fallen leaves flying upward. As Ronan pulled Lamancha from the earth, Schlieffen's slash flew at him.
"Damn it...!"
Ronan hastily raised his sword. Kagagang! Sparks flew in the air with three metallic clashes. Kicking leaves to obscure vision, Ronan retreated.
"You cheeky bastard. When did you copy that?"
"Good technique."
"That's why I hate geniuses."
Ronan chuckled dryly. A triple slash compressed into one stroke—the technique he'd used in their first encounter. Not to be outdone, Ronan lunged again. Their blades clashed repeatedly before locking.
Over the trembling blades, they could scan each other. Seeing Schlieffen's pale face, Ronan snickered.
"You look like hell. Getting dizzy yet?"
His usually neat indigo hair was a mess long ago. Deep wounds marred his right side and left shoulder blade. Blood flowing down his thigh showed no sign of stopping—he'd collapse from blood loss if dragged out. Schlieffen replied flatly.
"Not something you should say."
"Fair."
But Ronan's condition was far from better. If anything, worse. Blood droplets from his bangs fell steadily.
The Storm Sword's aftermath had carved dozens of deep and shallow cuts across his body. His shredded shirt clung blood-soaked to his skin. Feeling his legs grow heavy, Ronan grimaced.
'Damn. Gotta end this.'
Schlieffen was adapting to his speed. As expected of the continent's top genius. He needed to settle it in this forest full of variables. Suddenly, Schlieffen's lip curled faintly.
"I'm glad, Ronan."
"What bullshit is this?"
"The truth. I can only thank the heavens for sending me a worthy opponent like you."
"What a clown. Hey, you think you're the strongest in the world?"
Ronan laughed incredulously. Of course, in a few years, he would be. Schlieffen past thirty was the undisputed top swordsman.
But not yet. He'd freeze like a rat before a snake against Naviroje's aura alone, and Jaipa, the current Sword Saint, would behead him before three exchanges. As Ronan moved to chide his arrogance.
"Of course, there are many stronger than me. For now. But I'm certain I'll surpass them all."
"Jaipa and Instructor Naviroje too?"
"Yes."
"You're even more of an ass than I thought."
Ronan spat on the ground. Schlieffen continued.
"But Ronan, you're the one exception. I can't sense that certainty in you. You'll grow stronger. Maybe even stronger than me."
"I know."
"I'll show everything in this fight. So you..."
Suddenly, surrounding mana swirled into Schlieffen's body. Ronan gripped his hilt. Lamancha, soaked in blood, shimmered with edge. Pushing the sword away, Schlieffen bellowed.
"Show me everything!"
Their bodies separated. Reading mana currents, Ronan prepared another heavy strike. Storm aura coiled up Schlieffen's blade.
"More of this crap...!"
Ronan spat curses and halted abruptly. Schlieffen's blade swept in a wide diagonal arc. Whoooong! A massive crescent sword beam hurtled at him.
'Can't cut it.'
The Storm Sword differed from normal beams. Cutting rashly might get him caught in the vortex at impact.
Most of his wounds came from early in the fight. He'd slashed blindly, only for it to split into twin whirlwinds shredding his body.
"Huuuup!"
Staring until it nearly touched, Ronan twisted his shoulder. Squeeeak! The beam grazed his nostril by a paper's width and passed behind.
As relieved Ronan pushed off the ground—Shik! Another beam struck at his feet from an angle. His eyes widened.
"You sneaky bastard...!"
Hidden behind the first, invisible. Ronan tried to evade, but Schlieffen fired another, stalling him. Kwaaaaa! The mana storm exploded, engulfing him.
"Gaaaargh!"
Blood sprayed. Deep gashes appeared instantly across his body. Ronan swung like casting a net with his sword. The situation seemed to improve briefly, but once ignited, the wind raged without end.
Soon, the formless storm morphed into a 10-meter-radius vortex of slashing winds. Leaves, rocks, and uprooted trees flew, disintegrating.
"...Hoo."
Ronan's form vanished from sight. No more screams. Thud. Schlieffen dropped to one knee. Blood from his side and shoulder pooled at his feet.
"Sneaky, huh..."
Schlieffen smiled wryly. He'd hidden an aura-charged beam behind a normal one. Unthinkable for the old him.
But without such a gambit, victory seemed impossible. The two slashes Ronan landed were severe wounds.
'Truly... a beast.'
Only after mana-boosting his body could he fight evenly. Schlieffen spat blood from his mouth. His wristband caught his eye.
'Come to think of it... how does the winner return...?'
His vision blurred. Blood loss impaired thought.
The wind was dying down. Objects high in the sky fell. Most disintegrated, but a few thick trees remained intact.
A tree's shadow loomed over him. Reaching for his sword to cut it away casually. An indescribable chill raced through Schlieffen.
"No way."
He looked up. A shadow leaped from the tree. Meeting Ronan's eyes, his face hardened.
"You weren't eliminated...!"
Ronan dripped blood like he'd been pulled from hell's cauldron. Clinging to the massive trunk, he'd desperately slashed the oncoming winds. Elimination avoided, but injuries inevitable.
'End it now.'
Ronan gripped his hilt. Any lapse, and consciousness would fade. Sword forward, he plummeted at Schlieffen.
Schlieffen sprang up, firing a intercepting beam. Sek! The unstable beam bisected by Ronan's slash, vanishing into the sky. Schlieffen gritted his teeth.
"Ronan...!"
Ronan and Lamancha were already upon him. Too close to dodge or block. Pouring all strength into raising his sword, Schlieffen stamped the ground. Kwaang! A 1-meter vortex surged at Ronan.
'Crazy bastard!'
Blade winds engulfed him. Each defensive swing twisted his fall.
Barely lifting his head, Ronan glared at Schlieffen. Precarious as a bird hit by droppings. But just out of sword range.
'Just once somehow...!'
Ronan abandoned defense, assuming stance. Winds laced with edge tore across him. Composed Schlieffen unleashed a slash. Lightning-like shock jolted Ronan's body.
"Fuck!"
Unexplained pain furrowed his brow. No time for questions. He swung to at least parry. In that instant, Ronan glimpsed a thin wave-like ripple riding his blade path.
"Huh?"
Sek! A red line appeared on Schlieffen's chest, blood spraying. Simultaneously, the deflected slash struck Ronan's neck. Their forms distorted and vanished.