Dragon Princess (2)
The broadcast had briefly halted due to Ciela Teraport and Seong Hyun-jin's sudden intrusion, but Monica quickly switched her mic back on and resumed, returning everything to normal. In the meantime, Yeonhui had stepped out with Seong Hyun-jin.
They entered a quiet hallway where no one passed by, and Seong Hyun-jin spoke to her.
"It wasn't me, it was Senior Ciela..."
"I know, so you don't need to explain to me."
Yeonhui gave a light laugh at Seong Hyun-jin's aggrieved expression.
"I'll explain to Junior Monica. She's just overwhelmed right now, but she'll understand later."
"...Okay."
"More importantly, you said something hurts? Did you get injured during the match earlier?"
"Ah, no, it's not that."
Seong Hyun-jin briefly explained what had happened to Yeonhui. Since she had been the one who helped resolve the incident in the first place, it wasn't hard to recount.
Having heard the explanation, Yeonhui said with a surprised look.
"...You drank that?"
"Yeah, it was urgent."
"Couldn't you have just knocked the cup away and spilled it on the floor?"
"...Ah."
Seong Hyun-jin scratched his head as if realizing it too late. Yeonhui let out a sigh at the sight.
"They say men always show off in front of women, and it's not wrong."
"I just didn't think of it... Serena looked like she was about to drink it, so in my panic..."
"You need to take care of your own body too, Junior. How can you keep thinking only of others while competing in the Martial Exhibition yourself?"
"I'm sorry..."
Yeonhui let out a small sigh as she looked at Seong Hyun-jin's apologetic face. She placed her hand lightly on his body and said no more scolding.
"Still, you did well."
"Huh?"
"I watched your match just now."
A warm light bloomed from Yeonhui's fingertips.
"It was cool. It's been a long time since I saw someone get that angry for another person."
"...Was I that angry?"
"You were terrifying. That's why I... Ah, never mind. Anyway, we should heal you quickly."
"...Stop."
Stasis (στάση)
The healing power of the divine blessing flowed into Seong Hyun-jin's entire body. Vitality returned to his listless form, and the cough rising from deep within finally subsided. He had seen it before, but it was still an incredibly mystical power.
She really looks like a saint from somewhere.
Seong Hyun-jin grew a bit curious about what other powerhouses Celestial Academy might have, with talents like her.
The light extending from Yeonhui's fingertips gradually faded. The healing was complete, and his body had returned to normal.
"Thank you, Senior."
"Now that your body's better, show us some more great performances in the remaining matches."
"Yeah, I will."
He had already planned to demonstrate his skills decisively and gain fame. Since Yeonhui had made it possible, there was no reason not to grant her request.
Seong Hyun-jin asked Yeonhui.
"By the way, what happened with Serena? I got dragged away by Senior Ciela, so I couldn't watch the match..."
"Mm, it was practically an instant kill. But the match hasn't ended yet..."
"Did Ryugrien hold out?"
"It's more like Junior Serena is deliberately holding back to let her opponent endure."
"... ."
Seong Hyun-jin looked at Yeonhui in surprise, then chuckled.
"I see."
It seemed Serena was giving her a proper scolding in her own way. He had worried she might take on unnecessary burdens from this incident, but relieved that she wasn't, Seong Hyun-jin smiled pleasantly.
"Sounds brutal just hearing about it. Guess I need to work hard so I don't lose."
"Can you beat Dragon Princess?"
"It's tough, but..."
Seong Hyun-jin said.
"Now that my body's fully recovered, no reason I can't."
"...Is that so?"
Yeonhui smiled brightly. Calling him by his name in a friendly way, she cheered him on.
"I'll look forward to it, Junior Hyun-jin. Win for sure."
#
At Starlei Stadium, where the Martial Exhibition was in full swing, none of the students who had come to watch today regretted sparing the time.
Seeing second-year Ciela Teraport's overwhelming prowess was great, but the real stars were among the first-years.
Seong Hyun-jin's match, where he displayed tremendous spirit against Aiel Northwood, overwhelming him without taking a single hit and even drawing blood, was impressive too...
"S-Stop... ugh...!"
But the biggest buzz was around Dragon Princess Serena Eldark.
Not only had she crushed her first opponent, Ryugrien Graywood, with flames that seemed to engulf the arena, but...
Kwaaaaaaaa──────!!
"Th-This is cheating..."
...in the round of 16, she had instantly vaporized Ervin Glenn, the runner-up of the swordsmanship department and 7th in the entrance exam, with the overwhelming firepower of her heat rays. It shocked many students.
"Is that really the daughter of the Dragon Star...?"
"...She didn't even use Dragon Words in the last match or this one."
"Is that spirit arts? Why learn magic then?"
"An elf with high spirit affinity and dragon blood that can use Dragon Words... It's absurd."
Serena was firmly etching her name into the minds of everyone at Terastial Academy.
Before long, the semifinals. Only the four strongest first-years remained.
"We're already at the semifinals! Some players shone so brightly that the matches ended quicker than expected."
"That means this 35th class has many exceptional talents. Junior Monica, how did the remaining players' bracket turn out?"
"Yes, let me announce it again here! First, the Martial Exhibition tournament isn't a standard format where you keep facing from the same pool. The remaining players are randomly reshuffled for new brackets!"
In a normal tournament, Serena and Seong Hyun-jin might have met in the quarterfinals as they advanced, but since the survivors were randomly paired each time, Serena faced Ervin Glenn. That's why Seong Hyun-jin met Anton Theodore, the top representative of the physical arts department, in the quarterfinals instead.
It was a clean victory for Seong Hyun-jin. He drew some attention for taking down two department tops, but that was it. Anton was the physical arts top, but his entrance exam ranking was lower than Ervin Glenn's swordsmanship runner-up, so Serena, who dominated Ervin, got more spotlight.
"...Yeah, unless I beat Serena, it'll be hard to get famous."
As Seong Hyun-jin pondered that, the bracket was announced.
"Semifinal first match! The star is the Combat Department top killer who took down two department heads, Seong Hyun-jin! And his opponent is...!"
Top killer? Thinking what kind of weird title that was, Seong Hyun-jin was a bit surprised by what followed.
"Unbelievable! The Combat Department top representative who advanced with overwhelming performances in every match, Serena Eldark!"
His semifinal opponent was Serena.
Seong Hyun-jin looked at Serena, who was sitting in the waiting room seats. She hadn't spoken to him since the matches started, but now she turned her gaze to him upon hearing the pairing.
"......"
Seong Hyun-jin could easily sense the guilt mixed in that look.
She's worrying needlessly.
Thinking she was a high-maintenance girl, he had no choice but to approach her quietly.
"Serena."
"...?"
"Don't worry about weird stuff and focus on your match. If you half-ass it and forfeit because of that..."
Speaking in a light tone at first, Seong Hyun-jin suddenly turned icy and snapped.
"I'll shatter both your arms."
"...!"
Though he projected a cold exterior, Seong Hyun-jin actually thought differently inside.
Was that too much?
As he slightly regretted the harsh words, Serena spoke.
"...Don't worry."
Serena stood up. For some reason, she brushed her right arm with her left hand and replied simply, making his concern feel embarrassing.
"I'll do it properly."
"...Good."
Seong Hyun-jin headed to the arena first. Serena watched his back quietly before standing and going to the opposite side to take her position.
As the two most talked-about first-years of the day faced off in the semifinals, the crowd began to buzz.
"I thought they'd meet in the finals."
"Yeah."
"Earlier is better for us. Who'll win?"
"Whoever wins..."
Someone in the stands commented.
"The guy coming from the other bracket to the finals is pitiful."
"Now, the first semifinal match begins! Combat Department top Serena Eldark versus Combat Department runner-up Seong Hyun-jin!"
With Monica's announcement, the referee raised his hand.
"Both players, prepare!"
Seong Hyun-jin drew his sword, and Serena quietly brushed her right arm with her hand.
"Match, start!!"
At that moment, both unleashed their spirit power without needing to test each other—they already knew from the class placement exam. No need to gauge strengths.
Full power from the start.
Seong Hyun-jin, cloaking his sword in chaotic power, charged first. He closed the distance in an instant, his sword moving. Most students in the stands couldn't follow it fully.
But Serena, who tracked his rushing blade to the end, opened her mouth.
Stasis.
Whoosh!!
Seong Hyun-jin's sword swung, but the blade didn't reach her. His arm stopped just before contact.
The crowd fell silent in shock at the sight, until one person broke the tension.
"D-Dragon Word...!"
"That's a real Dragon Word..."
Dragon Word. A special incantation magic usable only by dragons in this world. Most couldn't break free of it on their own.
However, the Dragon Word didn't bind Seong Hyun-jin's body for long. They already knew from the placement exam that his mental strength could escape it.
So...
Roarrrrr!!
End it in one go. Flames surged around Serena, engulfing Seong Hyun-jin, whose sword swing had halted. She planned to overwhelm him with fire.
Serena, who ignited the blaze, gauged its intensity and brushed her right arm. She watched Seong Hyun-jin get swallowed by the magnificent flames.
"...!"
Serena was startled. Seong Hyun-jin, vanishing into the inferno, had smirked, lifting the corner of his mouth.
"King of Chaos."
The chaotic power wrapping Seong Hyun-jin's sword rippled.
And behind him, a spirit in black armor appeared.
"Spirit Manifestation...!?"
"A first-year can do that...?"
The crowd was shocked, and Serena looked surprised too.
"Devour it."
At Seong Hyun-jin's command, the manifested King of Chaos spread its hands wide, then clenched, and the flames covering the area vanished entirely.
Seong Hyun-jin's body bore scorch marks, but it hadn't fully brought him down.
"Serena Eldark."
The man who hadn't fallen amid Dragon Princess's flames that blanketed the arena.
"If you thought I'd go down to this lukewarm fire, you've made a big mistake."
The fight was just beginning, he said cruelly.