Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Storm (5)
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BOOM—!
CRASH!
KABOOM!
Booms echoed across the dueling grounds as an exchange unfolded, incomparable to the bout that had come before.
The fight was far more ferocious, no longer a one-sided affair of offense versus defense.
They clashed, trading blows with fierce intensity, only to be thrown back and apart, again and again. It was as if two entirely different people were now fighting.
The longer the fierce duel continued,
the larger the crowd of onlookers grew.
Even though it was the weekend, enough A-Class cadets had gathered to completely surround the dueling grounds.
“How on earth…”
“Trait… Level 5?”
“Unbelievable.”
“He’s really a C-Class cadet, right?”
“I heard the rumor that he drew with Leonhardt, but still, this is…”
Murmurs of disbelieving admiration rippled through the spectating cadets.
This was the A-Class training grounds, so most of the cadets understood the fundamentals of what was happening. They could vaguely follow the exchange of blows and track the two fighters’ movements.
By now, a fair number of A-Class cadets had reached Trait Level 3.
But that was precisely why they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
Having experienced Trait evolution themselves, they knew just how difficult it was to reach the next level.
Glacia had shown the light of blessing a few times in the training grounds before. So, some cadets had suspected that she would soon reach Level 4.
But for Han Cheon-seong to evolve his Trait *again* was something else entirely—it was almost impossible to accept.
“…A miracle.”
To some of the cadets, it was a reality no different from a miracle.
The rumors about his duel with Leonhardt had first put the name Han Cheon-seong on many cadets’ radar. Reaching Trait Level 4 on the day of the entrance ceremony was, after all, an incredible achievement.
Still, since they didn't share classes or see him often, they’d had no real opportunity to witness or experience his strength firsthand.
That was why some had expressed their doubts about him.
—Trait Level 4 was amazing, yes, but the rumors had to be exaggerated.
But now, as if to prove them all wrong, Han Cheon-seong had reached Trait Level 5, displaying his power for all to see.
As the A-Class cadets watched the duel with expressions of disbelief, the supervising instructor, Avalanche, narrowed his eyes.
“…Could it be?”
He let out a deep sigh, still unable to comprehend it.
Just as I’d expected, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had broken through the wind to close the distance with Cadet Glacia.
Geniuses always had a way of creating such anomalies. I could vaguely understand how he’d overcome the wind.
But then, just when I thought the match would soon be decided, Cadet Han Cheon-seong began to move in a peculiar way.
To the other cadets, it might have looked like Cadet Glacia was resisting fiercely, resulting in an evenly matched battle, but that’s not what I saw.
‘Cadet Han Cheon-seong must have had opportunities to end this duel.’
One might argue that Cadet Glacia's assault was so fierce it left no room for a counterattack, but with Cadet Han Cheon-seong's talent, I was certain he'd had at least one clear opportunity to land a decisive blow.
But he didn't.
On the contrary, his strange provocations and deliberately different movements were puzzling. And in the end, it was Cadet Glacia who evolved her Trait.
'Was it intentional?'
…Normally, the duel should have ended right there.
I couldn't believe it, but I started to think that perhaps Cadet Han Cheon-seong was engaging in the duel to help his opponent evolve.
‘To help another's growth over his own…’
And another cadet, at that?
It was a completely unexpected thought, but otherwise, I couldn't resolve the suspicions I felt.
Holding back against an opponent wasn't something you could do if you were only one level higher. You needed a gap of at least two or three levels for such a duel to even be possible.
Cadet Han Cheon-seong didn't seem to have that much of an advantage. He was ahead by half a step, or perhaps a single level at most.
I had assumed the matchup advantage was playing a significant role.
But with just that small of a difference, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had tried to help another cadet grow.
“…”
The more I thought about it, the more speechless I felt.
When Cadet Glacia evolved her Trait and was about to finish off the airborne Cadet Han Cheon-seong, I was momentarily about to intervene.
I had a rough idea of his condition. But when he righted himself in mid-air and extended his spear, I decided to watch.
And this was the result.
The cadet who had hesitated in his assault to help another grow…
was now evolving to the next level himself, displaying overwhelming progress.
BOOM—!
POW!
WHOOOOSH!!
Even now, a fierce battle raged before my eyes.
The wind raged even more fiercely, engulfing the dueling grounds like a tempest. Yet within the gales, Cadet Han Cheon-seong moved unhindered, thrusting his spear and darting through the storm as if he were flying.
Even his movements were completely different from before.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he shot forward with such explosive acceleration that he left afterimages in his wake.
He was matching the speed of a wind Trait user, one of the elemental types.
And it was working.
SHIIING!
Every time Cadet Glacia swung her sword, a massive current of air rushed toward Cadet Han Cheon-seong. Each and every one of those blows had the same destructive power as the storm she had to manifest with both hands just a moment ago.
And yet, Han Cheon-seong’s movements remained completely unaffected.
He was competing in speed against a wind Trait user, yet he moved about the dueling grounds with an air of ease.
The faint smile on his lips suggested he was savoring the moment, and it was fascinating to watch the spiraling aura around his body erupt in an even more brilliant blue light.
Reaching Trait Level 5 was certainly surprising and incredible, but to me, his mindset was even more incomprehensible.
‘I really don't understand.’
The countless geniuses I had observed over the years were inherently selfish.
They were endlessly self-centered, prioritizing and asserting their own thoughts rather than listening to others.
As geniuses, they believed their own ideas were superior.
Yet here was a cadet with an altruistic heart, one who sought to help another grow, now displaying his own genius as he strove for the next level.
He seemed like a profound… contradiction.
He could manifest a desire for improvement without prioritizing himself above all else.
I couldn't even comprehend possessing such a mindset, yet he was proving it possible right before my eyes. I had no choice but to believe what I saw.
“…”
“…”
Before I knew it, the crowd of cadets had fallen silent, their eyes gleaming as they watched the duel. My heart filled with satisfaction.
‘This will be a good catalyst.’
This duel would not end with just the growth of Cadet Glacia and Cadet Han Cheon-seong. It would be a great stimulus for the many cadets watching, a driving force that would push them forward.
A small gap breeds jealousy, but an insurmountable one inspires feelings beyond it.
Awe and admiration.
Negative feelings would surely transform into positive ones.
As I took in the faces of the cadets one by one, my gaze suddenly fixed on one spot.
‘Is that Leonhardt, and Cadet Yumia?’
They were the cadets considered to have the most outstanding talent in A-Class. And among them, Cadet Leonhardt's genius was undeniably in a class of its own.
“…”
The fighting spirit in his eyes was now clearly visible. They were filled with a burning intensity—a deep longing or perhaps desire—and my own anticipation began to build.
He was meant to be the genius who stood out most among this year's new cadets.
But now, by reaching Trait Level 5, Cadet Han Cheon-seong had opened a gap that seemed impossible to close.
I wondered if a cadet who could catch up to Han Cheon-seong would even appear this year, but I thought it was entirely possible for Cadet Leonhardt.
Just by watching this duel, he would surely…
“Ha…”
The thought made a hollow laugh escape my lips.
The light of blessing was beginning to form around Cadet Leonhardt's entire body.
To show such a light just from watching a duel… it was enough to make me laugh in disbelief.
***
Swoosh!
A dazzling spiral of blue energy cut through the wind, filling my vision.
As I swung and slashed with my spear, my mind was free of hesitation and doubt. It was as clear and placid as the surface of a calm lake.
“…”
A small smile never left my lips.
The same was true for Glacia, who was unleashing torrents of wind. The smile on her lips repeatedly drew my gaze.
An unadorned, bright smile.
As her pure spirit shone on her face, she seemed to be showing off just how captivating she could be.
As if trying to bewitch me with her beauty.
But the exchange continued endlessly.
———!
——————!!
Each time I cut through the wind and closed in, an explosive blast of air would erupt and push me back, yet I still found openings to thrust my spear.
And I didn't hesitate to take them. Now, there was not a single thought of defeat.
POW!
My swiftly thrown spear was repelled, bursting a pocket of condensed air.
It wasn't that the spear was pushed back by the wind; my body was thrown back, and the spear naturally followed.
Even after exchanging blows several times, Glacia had no noticeable gaps in either offense or defense. So I could feel it again.
'The difference in Traits.'
Or perhaps, the difference in rank. I could clearly feel it now.
Even though I had reached the incredibly high level of 5, the gap wasn't large enough to overwhelm Glacia. Still, I didn't think for a moment that Spearmanship was weak.
This power can go further.
Considering the concept I had accepted, I was certain of it.
—Spearmanship is not weak at all.
As I righted myself while suspended in mid-air, I felt completely at ease.
Just as I had grown stronger by reaching Trait Level 5, it was strangely satisfying to feel how much stronger Glacia had become.
‘No matter who wins this duel.’
It has already served its purpose.
A duel where both sides gain great strength—it was truly ideal.
Clack!
Then, as Glacia gripped her sword again with both hands, I once more stirred the spiral current.
Shhhhhhhk—!
As I landed safely on the ground, cushioned by the spiral aura, I felt as though a wall inside me had crumbled.
Glacia suddenly raised the two-handed sword high into the sky, and I instinctively felt a powerful force gathering at its tip.
“She’s really planning to go all out.”
I muttered blankly, glancing over at the supervising instructor, Avalanche.
Glacia was serious now. She intended to pour every last ounce of her strength into her next attack.
And to receive it, I couldn't afford to hold back either.
As Avalanche met my gaze calmly, I, too, resolved myself.
If she was coming at me with such sincerity, I had no choice but to receive it with my own.
I didn't have that much leeway, after all.
Shhk.
I slowly extended the spear in my right hand forward.
My gaze rested on the shaft and blade pointed toward Glacia as I steadily calmed my mind.
‘I can do it.’
Power approaching the level of a skill.
As I rose to Trait Level 5, I could clearly feel that the skill was nearing completion. My physical abilities had risen dramatically, and it felt as if all the restrictions that had been forcibly placed on me had vanished.
It wasn't the kind of skill that would incinerate my body like when I faced Leteia, but I could still manifest it.
—————!
At that thought, a blue light gathered on the spearhead, dazzling my vision.
The blue energy, now even more brilliant and radiant, shone with a far greater purity and beauty. Soon, the blue current spiraled as if circulating, finally beginning to form a storm of its own.
As I manifested my power and stared forward, a smirk unknowingly formed on my lips.
Ch-ch-chik!!
What I had thought of as Glacia's storm until now was no storm at all. A *true* storm was now forming, captivating my entire field of vision.
I swallowed hard, a flicker of anticipation rising within me as I watched the storm.