Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Chapter 67
Queen of the Psychics (3)
Matheus Kepler looked at Gray with the expression of someone watching a madman.
Gray Bellatrix.
Although his exact level was shrouded in secrecy even within the Tower of Fire, there were still limits to what a fifteen-year-old could achieve.
Three people?
Without even needing three people to step forward, none of the elders present here fell short of Gray in skill.
Even if the one making that statement was Sonya Bluephil, the head of the Bellatrix family, Matheus was confident he could defeat her if he stepped forward.
'But I can't step forward.'
Gray was, after all, the heir of Bellatrix.
From the perspective of the psychics who sought to rise to the level of magicians or beyond, Matheus stepping forward would be tantamount to declaring defeat regardless of the outcome.
'I suppose they've roughly caught on...'
In the same vein, not a single elder was willing to step forward either.
In that case, what was needed was a rising star of similar age.
And it had to be a psychic capable of crushing Gray in the first confrontation.
'Since I can't send Maria out, I suppose Elvin will have to step forward after all?'
Lately, his son had been obsessed with sword training, neglecting his main duties—a disappointing development. Still, his talent was among the finest in the family's entire history.
Elvin would be more than capable of humbling that arrogant brat.
Having roughly decided on his choice, Matheus nodded and smiled at Gray.
"Very well. If you're going to look down on us psychics like that, then as the leader of the psychics, I suppose I have an obligation to show you new horizons."
"How refreshing, elder."
Gray smiled back at him.
Thus, an unofficial confrontation between Gray Bellatrix and the psychics of Psychic Luminous was arranged.
With all the aggro focused on Gray, hardly anyone paid attention to Rudian, who had initially stepped forward first.
'Does that man really have nothing to do with this situation?'
A few perceptive elders cast suspicious glances at Rudian, who had remained quiet ever since passing the baton to Gray, but...
"......"
Rudian maintained his gentle smile without showing any particular movement.
***
The confrontation between Gray and Psychic Luminous took place within the spacetime artifact owned by Matheus—the Sands of Time.
"...You had something like this hidden away?"
Gray seemed quite shocked upon witnessing the power of the Sands of Time.
The quality of spacetime artifacts was beyond question, with even the Bellatrix family possessing only two such items.
Before the confrontation began, Rudian asked Gray:
"Are you really sure about this? Wouldn't it be safer to set me and Yev as the next in order?"
The original plan had been for Gray, Rudian, and Yev to fight Psychic Luminous in that sequence.
However, due to Gray's forceful intervention, Rudian and Yev were removed from the roster.
"Hmph! No matter how much I'm going along with brother's plan, I can't stand being looked down upon by psychics! I alone am enough!"
'Something feels uneasy...'
It wasn't that Rudian doubted Gray's combat abilities.
Though Gray was still 6th Class, with the Bellatrix family's wealth providing him with all manner of artifacts and magic tools, gear-powered Gray's combat strength surpassed that of Elvin in normal circumstances.
What made Rudian uneasy was Gray's attitude, as if he was hiding something.
'It should be fine, right?'
Rudian watched Gray's retreating figure disappear quickly.
While Gray's cooperation was a significant part of the plan, frankly speaking, whether Gray won or lost, Rudian was confident he could tie things up with the ending he had anticipated.
'The first opponent will definitely be Elvin, right? Having him face three opponents would essentially be the same as defeat.'
However, something happened here that exceeded Rudian's expectations.
"I am Dyson Wigle."
"...Huh?"
When Elvin was expected to appear, suddenly a young man named Dyson, whom Rudian had never seen before, jumped out—something he hadn't anticipated.
"What's this?"
When Rudian glanced sideways, he saw that Matheus was also sighing with a troubled expression.
"Dyson! You must win to uphold the honor of the Wigle family!"
"Yes, grandfather, and Miss Maria! Please watch my performance!"
It seemed that this young man named Dyson was a junior member of Psychic Luminous who had feelings for Maria.
'The Wigle family. The second most powerful family in Psychic Luminous, following the Kepler family, right?'
Even Matheus Kepler would have no grounds to refuse if the Wigle family made a strong case.
The young man named Dyson's combat ability certainly lived up to the reputation of being second-in-command.
He was a skilled fighter who didn't fall far short compared to Elvin.
'A total combat power of 3,400—Psychic Luminous certainly has many talented individuals.'
Combat power in the 3,000s was strength that would be greatly valued even in the Morian Empire.
However, unless one could quantify combat power like Rudian, there was a high possibility of being undervalued simply for being a psychic.
"Hmm, quite impressive spirit, isn't it?"
But even after experiencing Dyson's momentum, Gray's fighting spirit didn't diminish in the slightest.
"Come at me."
"You arrogant little brat, take this!"
Instantly, crystals of fire and ice began forming in Dyson's hands.
"...An elemental psychic? And dual-attribute at that!"
Rudian exclaimed with apparent appreciation.
In truth, acquiring two or more powers from the green world was essentially a form of cheating.
Unless one was an irregular like Maria, the vast majority of psychics would only awaken to one type of psychic ability.
WHOOSH! CRACK!
Fire and ice flew in different trajectories.
"Not bad?"
Gray seemed slightly surprised by his opponent's stronger-than-expected firepower, but he skillfully cast defensive magic while simultaneously charging toward his opponent.
Dyson sneered as the tiny brat closed the distance.
"Close combat? With that puny frame!"
In close combat between magicians and psychics, psychics fundamentally held a much more advantageous position.
Psychics had the advantage of being able to enhance their physical abilities regardless of their power type due to the nature of their abilities, and above all, there was a gap between the still-developing Gray and the fully-grown adult Dyson that couldn't easily be bridged by ordinary techniques.
"Hmph! Haste! Stone Skin! Mighty Hand!"
However, Gray broke through while ignoring all such conditions.
"Gravity Bind!"
Dyson's expression hardened slightly at Gray's skill in casting four spells instantaneously.
"You fool!"
Though he felt as if a boulder was pressing down on his shoulders with tremendous pressure that might bring him to his knees, Dyson wrapped his entire body in flames to prepare for Gray's attack.
"I won't lose in close combat either!"
As Dyson charged forward with spirit, other psychics belonging to Psychic Luminous sent enthusiastic cheers like wildfire.
"Dyson! Fight on!"
"Show them the strength that crushed those scoundrels from the dark families!"
"Finish off that little brat in one strike!"
With the full advantage of home ground, Dyson approached to within 1 meter of Gray.
"Hmph!"
At that moment, Gray, who everyone expected would charge straight in, gracefully dodged Dyson's fist and moved behind his opponent.
"Huh?"
Gray's chilling voice pierced Dyson's ear as he found himself outmaneuvered in an instant.
"Do you know what the advantage of magic is? It's a hundred times more versatile than psychics who are uselessly strong!"
Blizzard Impact!
A 4th Class ice-type spell erupted without incantation, striking Dyson's entire body.
Dyson's entire body froze instantly.
However, Gray didn't stop there and began channeling electricity into both hands.
Then, without hesitation, he fired the concentrated electricity at Dyson.
Chain Lightning!
"Gyaaaaaah!"
Dyson's entire body was electrocuted, and the match was over.
'His combat sense is quite good.'
While Rudian had noticed that the multiple casting was solved to some degree through gear advantages, subduing Dyson in one strike without killing him before he could demonstrate his proper capabilities was worthy of praise.
Moreover, winning without even using the unique magic learned from the Tower of Fire was an even more outstanding display of Gray's talent and skill.
"T-This can't be!"
As Dyson was taken down in one strike, the venue became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.
Particularly, the hardliner elder from the Wigle family who had strongly recommended Dyson was trembling his lips, desperately trying to control his anger.
"Next."
Gray didn't even glance at the unconscious Dyson as he looked at Matheus Kepler with a relaxed expression.
"......"
***
Gray ignited Psychic Luminous's anger with just one word.
Especially when this was accompanied by a hand-waving performance, even Rudian felt the urge to smack the back of Gray's head.
"Family head! We can't end it like this! Please give us one more chance to restore our honor!"
"If Elvin steps forward, this will end easily. Must you really take such a gamble?"
Even when Matheus tried to calm them down politely, the elders' momentum remained unmoved.
After a round of heated arguments, the elders finally quieted down only when someone named Serza, who was five years older than Dyson, stepped forward.
However...
"Arghhhh!"
After about five minutes of fierce combat, the telekinetic named Serza ended up screaming as he was struck by a 7th Class spell that Gray unleashed using his gear advantages.
In truth, if they had competed purely on their own abilities, Serza would have been at a level where he could sufficiently achieve victory, but unfortunately, he couldn't overcome Gray's gear advantages.
"Hmm, he was a decent fellow... But still quite lacking."
Despite barely winning through gear advantages, Gray's expression remained completely relaxed.
"Hey, family head! I'd like you to send out someone with decent skills for the last person, if you would?"
"Grrrrr!"
The elders of Psychic Luminous trembled with rage, not knowing what to do about Gray's area-of-effect provocation.
In essence, the card named Serza had been their last bastion.
Any stronger fighters, except for one person, were all over thirty years old, and having such individuals step forward would itself be nothing short of humiliation for Psychic Luminous.
"Haah..."
Matheus Kepler let out a quiet sigh.
With two people already defeated, the humiliation was sufficient.
He had indulged the elders' stubbornness more than enough.
Honestly, even Matheus hadn't expected Serza to lose.
"Elvin."
"Yes, family head."
"Prepare to go out."
Matheus said this without even turning around.
"I trust you won't disappoint me."
"Of course. I will certainly meet your expectations."
Just as Elvin was about to step forward majestically to face Gray...
"Wait a moment."
A gentle voice stopped Elvin.
Step, step.
Matheus widened his eyes as he looked at the person who had blocked Elvin's advance.
"Maria, you?"
Maria Kepler.
The de facto strongest member and secret weapon of Psychic Luminous stepped forward.
"I'll take the final position."