Too Strong
Abel frowned. His Physical Enhancement hadn't kicked in at all since moments ago. There was no way he could've made a mistake. He'd never experienced anything like this since his Ability Awakening.
That left only one conclusion. And it was the absolute worst.
Are you kidding me? Sending some absurd Ability user with Ability Seal right from the start?
As far as he knew, this was the first major incident since enrollment at the Continental Academy. Yet the enemy that appeared at the outset was at the highest difficulty level. It was beyond what they could handle right now. The uncontrolled expressions on Flam and Portus's faces right beside him were proof enough.
"I've heard you're quite talented. As expected, you're quick on the uptake."
The man who had introduced himself as Jureung continued speaking with leisurely steps.
"This is my one and only offer, young Ability users. Even now, wouldn't you consider using your Abilities solely for fellow Ability users, not those barbaric non-users?"
They were the bloodlines of those who would never cooperate. Removing them outright would surely avoid future interference with their grand undertaking, rather than wasting time on persuasion.
Even so, Jureung decided on a whim to extend an invitation to the Ability users before him. It was regrettable that their ideals didn't align, but they were Ability users all the same. He and his group, who had risen for the sake of Ability users, couldn't just slaughter fellow Ability users like non-users. At the very least, one attempt at persuasion. One invitation. That was the right thing to do.
"Why on earth should you all be brainwashed in this prison for four years? Continental Academy? Abilities should be used for the right purposes? Ability users must learn to use their powers for non-users? It's all nonsense."
"The truth of the world is simple. The stronger being—the more evolved being—dominates and devours the weak, the regressed. Just as strong nations survive and weak ones crumble."
This should be enough, right? Jureung extended his hand toward the five young men and women before him.
"Open your eyes now. No matter what you do here, you'll end up as slaves to non-users. Weapons conscripted for war. Pawns to flaunt your own strength. Stop doing something you'll regret and come with me."
These were words meant to dig into the hearts of Ability users harboring inner discontent. Yeah. Why, with such immense power, did they have to tiptoe around the world, society, and others' opinions? They had to attend the Continental Academy. They had to use their Abilities for the nation and others. Only then were they "true" Ability users. It was contradictory from the start.
"…."
At that moment, the silent Flam suddenly stepped forward toward Jureung. Portus, Kalligo, and Seria panicked at the abrupt action. In contrast, Jureung smiled in satisfaction.
"As expected, the young ones catch on quick. Once people age, their heads stiffen—or maybe they get scared just clinging to some position."
Jureung waited for Flam to say he'd join them. But the words from the Phoenix heir standing before him were nothing like what he'd expected.
"Shut your yapping and drop dead. You murder spree psycho."
"…What did you say?"
"Don't prattle on like you're spouting some profound philosophy, you criminal. The reason we came to this academy is to hone our Abilities so we can smash scum like you."
He boldly flipped off Jureung right in front of his outstretched hand. Then, with confident strides, he returned to his spot.
"How was that?"
"What do you mean, 'how was that'?"
"Everyone looked like they wanted to say it but were holding back. I did it for you guys."
This was what came out of the mouth of the guy who'd gone off without even hearing their opinions first. And in this situation, Portus was never one to hold back his words.
"You idiot."
"What?"
"There might be people who think differently. We didn't even agree, and you go out there riling up the enemy, then act all smug like you did something great, you arsonist. Did you burn your own brain 'cause you ran out of stuff to torch?"
Tsk tsk. Portus clicked his tongue, sinking Flam with one blow. But he didn't outright deny what Flam had said to Jureung. He thought the same. Whatever that guy in front of them spouted was worthless.
"From what I see, that Ability Seal of his isn't something you can just spam anywhere."
"Agreed. It only applies within a certain radius centered on him."
"And Abilities aren't invincible. There has to be an opening."
That was Flam and Portus's plan. The enemy was human, after all. If they attacked from multiple angles, his focus would scatter. One enemy, five on their side. No, four excluding the lady. Anyway, numerical superiority—they had to exploit it.
"Sir Kalligo, you use darkness-based Abilities, right?"
"For now, yes. Flam."
"Use your darkness to cover me and the water boy—er, Portus. Keep them from seeing what we're prepping. You there—Abel, was it? You can't do ranged attacks like us, so protect Miss Seria."
In the meantime, Jureung started closing in, saying something about weak birds. After the brief strategy huddle, the three men launched their planned assault.
Flam's flames and Portus's waves surged from opposite directions. Right up until then, Kalligo's darkness had perfectly concealed their movements.
Not a bad strategy. It might have put a normal Ability user in a tough spot. But they'd drawn the wrong opponent this time. Just as Abel had said, they'd encountered an overwhelmingly powerful foe from the very start.
"Damn it!"
Perfect trajectory. Clean, no-frills strike. But everything nullified upon entering the vicinity. The flames extinguished in an instant, the waves collapsed into puddles. Switching positions changed nothing. No matter the method or angle of attack, Jureung's Ability perfectly neutralized it all.
Can't be helped, then.
Abel, who had been observing, drew his sword and charged at Jureung. His own Physical Enhancement or Swordsmanship would become unusable inside the man's domain. But the sword itself wouldn't vanish. Nor would the hundreds of thousands of slashes and thrusts he'd practiced vanish.
The guy blocked all Abilities—that was it, ultimately. Strictly speaking, neither side could use Abilities.
"Flam! Portus! Whether it works or not, just unload everything!"
Kalligo caught on to what Abel intended. He immediately ordered the two to launch attacks meant to distract Jureung.
Flam and Portus realized the plan too and began pouring out every ounce of their power. The moment they exceeded Jureung's set domain, the Physical Enhancement vanished. Speed dropped. He could clearly feel the strength draining from his body.
But Abel didn't care. He could cover this much with his training so far.
Got him.
The instant Abel swung his sword, thinking he'd connected—
"Did you really think I'd strut around with just this one Ability?"
Jureung dodged the sword by a paper's thickness. Not luck. Not a near miss.
Damn it all.
He'd deliberately evaded by exactly that margin. With minimal effort. Ability Seal wasn't all he had. The man wasn't overwhelmingly strong, but he clearly knew Physical Enhancement too.
Boom!
"Abel!"
Blood sprayed as Abel seemed to float in the air before slamming into the wall. The blow was so powerful his body punched through the wall and kept going. The wall he'd hit collapsed entirely.
"Sir Abel!"
"Miss Seria!"
Kalligo stopped Seria as she tried to rush to Abel. He'd seen it land clean. Even a normal man would've taken massive damage, let alone from someone with Physical Enhancement delivering a solid hit. Nine times out of ten, it was a severe injury. Worst case, instant death.
No movement emerged from the dust cloud. Whether Abel, flung through the wall, was unconscious or dead—they couldn't even tell.
"Let me go! Let go, Sir Kalligo!"
"Calm down! Miss Seria, you should go seek help."
"But Sir Abel!"
"Even to save that Abel—hurry!"
At the mention of Abel, Seria finally nodded and ran in the opposite direction.
"Well done."
Portus approached and praised Kalligo. With no path to victory in sight, he'd caught on to Kalligo sending at least Seria away. Jureung was after Ability users worth eliminating—like himself, Flam, and Kalligo. Seria was outside that scope. Better to send her off with any excuse than risk her life sticking around. That was the right choice for a man protecting a lady.
"Should we surrender now?"
Flam sidled up with a grin, opening his mouth. Obviously a joke.
"You first, and I'll follow."
"You're the type who'd nag me first if I did."
"Then don't."
Fools drunk on rotten ideology, babbling like they were gods. Seeing morons who would've just spouted nonsense without their Abilities made him want to puke.
"Looks like it'll come down to whose stamina runs out first and loses their Ability."
"Sir Kalligo, time to show some real skill."
"I just want to live quietly, but no one lets me."
Kalligo sighed and attuned his Ability. Soon, pitch-black darkness rose from beneath his feet like branches, like whips.
"Until one of us collapses from exhaustion."
Flames. Waves. And now darkness. Every technique assaulted the leisurely approaching wraith.