Provocation Crushed
Ludenberg Lavante stared at Leb Heinz in front of him and said, “What did you just say?”
“What, does it sting? Because it’s true. You don’t even treat the kids ranked below you like people. Is it that hard to overlook it? Or do you have to tell them to fuck off?”
Leb exaggerated his words on purpose. Even as he spoke, his voice trembled noticeably, making it obvious to anyone that it was all bravado.
Witnessing the scene, Ludenberg felt his briefly scattered wits snap back into place. The guy was deliberately picking a fight with him. Why? What for?
Only then did Ludenberg take in the reactions of the students surrounding him. Knife-sharp hostility. For the Ador and Frigus students, it was more simple inferiority than outright malice, but the Abyss ranks were different. A murky enmity mingled with their resentment lingered on them. Thanks to his amplified senses, he couldn’t help but know it, even if he didn’t want to. As the collective malice turned toward him, he even felt a prickling illusion on his skin.
“Ah.”
Distracted by the enigmatic voice, Ludenberg realized he’d fallen for a ridiculously petty provocation. And in that instant, he also figured out who was behind it all. Marvin Ashus, Leb Heinz, and Gawin Greta—they were Eden Asta and Mion Altis’s dogs.
Just then, as Ludenberg’s eyes met theirs, the two wore strange smiles on their lips. As if everything was going according to plan.
Ludenberg swallowed a laugh that threatened to burst out. To think this is the best they could come up with. Or is it my fault for falling for it? Stirring up petty resentment to put me in a tough spot…
As if.
He sneered inwardly at their pathetic scheme. Others’ enmity and inferiority complexes couldn’t hinder him in the slightest. They’d wasted their time. Popularity, trust—those were worthless to him anyway. What he needed most right now wasn’t such trivial things, but the power to crush these idiots flat. And for the current Ludenberg, that power was more than abundant.
That was why he didn’t simply brush off the situation. Leaving someone who harbored malice toward him alone was unacceptable.
“Fine. You must feel pretty confident to pick a fight with me. So what do you want from me?”
Ludenberg turned to the three and said, “Let’s have a go. If Innocence is so great, prove it. Getting ranked Abyss or Innocence off just three evaluations? The criteria are bullshit anyway. And how are you Innocence without divine power? You’ve got zero potential for growth.”
The remark about lacking divine power was something he’d heard so often it barely registered, but the bit about having no future potential grated on him just a little.
“If that’s your gripe, I’ll give you what you want. Nah, just you alone would be too boring—come at me all three of you.”
His body off-kilter from amplified senses? That was no issue against trash like this. If anything, it might be too easy. What a waste of time.
Leb, Marvin, and Gawin tensed up at his words.
“Perfect.”
They all thought the same. We did it. Somehow, we succeeded. Now we just go all out.
Ludenberg drew his sword. The three facing him opposite poured divine power through their bodies with full force. They began whispering among themselves.
“He’s worn out right now. Stall, and we might land a hit on that smug face.”
“You think?”
“Focus. We take first strike.”
But their whispers reached Ludenberg’s amplified senses word-for-word, crystal clear.
I can hear everything, you morons.
He’d definitely need some rest after this, no matter what. Today had been a blur of mental haze—what a humiliating string of events.
Ludenberg decided to strike first, before they could. No point yielding the initiative when he knew their plans.
He locked eyes on Gawin at the front. Since that first skill verification day when he’d overwhelmed him, several days had passed, and Ludenberg had grown even more. Even in his abnormal state, he’d advanced another step, refining the flaws in his swordsmanship.
So, taking down these three punks would be a breeze.
Ludenberg kicked off the ground and charged. His amplified senses captured their movements vividly—their positions, stances. Once pinpointed, the rest was simple.
Usually a shitty sense, but… handy in moments like this.
Before Gawin, Marvin, or Leb could react, he was upon them. He swung at Gawin.
Gawin freaked at Ludenberg’s sudden appearance and slashed wildly—but
Serack—
Instead of the clash of metal, it sounded like chopping wood. Gawin’s sword snapped in half.
The sight shattered the basic truth that a sword without divine power couldn’t harm one clad in it.
“What the hell?!”
Gawin reeled in shock. It hadn’t even been long since skill verification—how was this bastard’s skill possible? He’d thought Ludenberg went all-out back then. But no. He’d been toying with him. Otherwise, this insane growth in days made no sense.
In truth, Ludenberg had grown abnormally, but Gawin couldn’t think otherwise.
Gawin gritted his teeth and glared. Ludenberg just curled his lip in mockery and kicked him square.
Gawin wrapped divine power around himself for protection, but it was useless.
Kwaaang!
A boom unfit for a human kick echoed as Gawin flew far off, lost to indescribable pain.
All this happened before Marvin or Leb could react.
“……?”
“Why’s he way over there?”
They couldn’t believe their eyes. In a blink, Gawin was out cold. How could someone without divine power move like that? And how do you cut a divine-power-clad sword with a plain training blade? It wasn’t some legendary relic—just standard issue.
Unlike the stunned pair, Ludenberg was already moving. Moments later—
Kwaang!
“Urk!”
“Kuak!”
They too tumbled away with thunderous crashes, just like Gawin.
The students couldn’t comprehend what they’d seen. Marvin, Leb, and Gawin were all Ador—right below Innocence. Rumor had it their recent training put them on par with Innocence despite the rank. Yet Ludenberg silenced them in one exchange. What was this overwhelming gap?
Even Eden and Mion wiped the faint smiles from their faces, staring in disbelief.
“Haha. No way.”
“Ha… haha.”
Mion’s hollow laugh mixed with dazed emptiness; Eden let out his own incredulous chuckle.
Overwhelming.
Eden couldn’t help thinking it. How do you even counter cleaving a divine-clad sword head-on with a bare one? Even absorbing relic power to boost divine strength—could they beat Ludenberg? Doubt began blooming in Eden and Mion’s minds.
After sending the three flying, Ludenberg scanned the surroundings. His expanded vision took in every student in the training grounds.
“Anyone else got something to say?”
He laced his words with venomous malice. The pressure slammed into them like a wave; most averted their eyes, terrified. Some collapsed, legs giving out.
They’d always felt vague fear of him before. Now it was crystal clear.
Soon, as Ludenberg approached, the students backed away furtively and fled the grounds like cowards. All but a few.
As he passed Eden and Mion, Ludenberg said, “Next time you pull shit, make it more convincing.”
“……Yeah.”
Eden forced the words out, refusing to yield despite the intimidation, eyes fixed on Ludenberg’s retreating back.
Mion, less accomplished than Eden, wobbled as her legs buckled the moment he vanished from view.
“Mion, you okay?”
“Fine. Damn, we just wanted to gauge his skill a bit…”
Catching her breath, she continued, “Might’ve picked the wrong fight.”
“It’s fine.”
Eden tried reassuring her. “We can win.”
“……Really?”
“Like I said before… we can. God’s grace is with me.”
“I’ll believe you.”
That’s all they could say. Anything less, and they might give up.
Meanwhile, Ludenberg carelessly tossed aside his training armor and headed to the dorms for rest. His mind was reaching its limit. The onslaught on his senses was shredding his sanity.
He felt like collapsing any second, but his lofty pride wouldn’t allow it in public. It dragged his feet onward.
Finally reaching the dorm, Ludenberg blacked out.