Chapter 63: The Archspirit of Light, Ouriel
Shania, who had manifested the Archspirit of Light, Ouriel, declared arrogantly, and Yeonhui was utterly shocked upon witnessing it.
'The headmaster with a spirit...!'
Yeonhui instinctively realized just how little intention Shania had of letting her go, and she was horrified deep down.
'She has no plans to let me off easily... as expected.'
But at least outwardly, she didn't utter a word of weakness. After all, Yeonhui trusted Seong Hyun-jin far more deeply than she could have imagined.
As if rewarding her mindset, Seong Hyun-jin didn't retreat a single step, fixing his gaze on the opponent he had to break through. And he spoke.
"Whoa, an angel."
"H-Hyun-jin?"
Yeonhui shot him a look as if to ask whether now was the time for admiration, but Seong Hyun-jin replied simply.
"It's amazing, isn't it?"
"Well..."
"And don't worry."
Seong Hyun-jin stepped forward even more. It wasn't to close the distance. He was simply adopting a sword stance, placing his right foot ahead.
"The matchup isn't great, but when it comes to facing the power of a 'spirit', I have plenty to say about it."
"...Ah."
Yeonhui murmured to herself as if realization had dawned.
She had already seen it at the sparring festival. What kind of power Seong Hyun-jin's spirit possessed.
'Chaos...'
Shania watched Seong Hyun-jin boldly take his stance. Still wearing her signature arrogant smile, she said,
"I'll yield the first move to you."
"Whoa, really?"
Seong Hyun-jin grinned with pure delight and nodded eagerly.
"Then I won't hold back."
"Go ahead. Try it."
"Eden"
⟨ Shania's Domain ⟩
Shania's Eden. It was the technique symbolizing Shania, the supreme authority in spirit arts. Not the most powerful spirit art, but the golden domain that unfurled around her was the first thing that came to mind when anyone thought of the Divine Star, Shania.
A spirit art that incinerated all external interference directed at Shania, while amplifying the might of her own spirit arts in reverse. It was the culprit behind making her already superior spirit arts even more ferocious.
Even Seong Hyun-jin, seeing Shania's power for the first time, could clearly sense that dragging things out wouldn't be wise. But committing full power from the opening move could lead to trouble, so he didn't pour everything into the first clash. He simply launched the best attack he could manage right now.
"Soul Severing Sword, Fourth Form."
A dark power coiled around Seong Hyun-jin's sheathed sword as he took his stance. The moment Shania felt a flicker of doubt at the sight, his blade was drawn in an instant.
"Soul Killing Flash"
⟨ Soul Severing Sword: Fourth Form ⟩
The instant Seong Hyun-jin's drawn blade glinted in the sunlight—
Craaaaaaaaack!!!
The sword strike slammed into Shania's domain. From the draw to the strike, there wasn't a single gap.
Shania was startled too, but Yeonhui, standing right beside the one who unleashed it, was so shocked she covered her mouth with both hands.
"Y-You cut it...!"
"...As expected of Lady Karin's disciple."
Shania frankly expressed her admiration and examined the path of Seong Hyun-jin's strike. It had reformed quickly, but astonishingly, the slash had cleanly rent Shania's domain and nearly reached her.
It wasn't just due to his excellent swordsmanship. Whether it was Karin's superb teachings or Seong Hyun-jin's exceptional talent—or both—his swordsmanship itself was flawless. With a touch of exaggeration, it was like watching Hakodate Karin as a slightly shorter man swinging the blade.
But the power behind it was definitely lacking. Compared to Karin, that is.
Yet he had managed to cleave Shania's domain...
"Your spirit... is quite unique."
It had to be the effect of the peculiar spirit power clinging to Seong Hyun-jin. Impressed inwardly by Shania's sharp insight, he resumed his stance. He'd gauged her in the opening strike. Confidence welled up that he could cut her properly next time.
"A chaos-attribute spirit, it seems..."
Shania, still speculating, seemed to grasp the relationship between the spirit and Seong Hyun-jin in an instant.
"Regardless of attribute, the spirit itself is no ordinary one, is it?"
"...Not coming? All talk, then."
Seong Hyun-jin took his stance once more.
"If you're planning to stay that relaxed, I'll come at you again."
If Shania intended to keep up her leisure, Seong Hyun-jin planned to press relentlessly. He'd confirmed with that probing first strike that his sword could breach her domain—no reason to hesitate.
"Hm? Seems you're misunderstanding something."
But Shania chuckled and delivered a mildly surprising revelation.
"The fight already started."
"...?"
As Seong Hyun-jin opened his mouth to question her—
"Heavenly Karmic Flames"
⟨ High Spirit Art ⟩
A high-level spirit art—one that Shania could invoke only through spirit manifestation, akin to a miracle—activated. Her apparent inaction had been a feint; in truth, her spirit Ouriel was the one activating the art.
Holy flames erupted above Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui's heads. Seong Hyun-jin immediately drew on his spirit power, but Yeonhui stopped him.
"N-No, Hyun-jin, leave it to me!"
"N-?"
Seong Hyun-jin caught her slip, but she pretended to be busy blocking the attack and glossed over it naturally.
"Curtain of the Sun"
⟨ Divine Protection ⟩
Kwaaaaaaaaang!!
Fight fire with fire. A blazing curtain of solar flames unfurled, perfectly blocking the descending holy inferno.
"Whoa..."
As Seong Hyun-jin let out a murmur of admiration at the spectacle, Shania recaptured his attention.
"Got time to look away?"
She lightly snapped her fingers, and radiant particles gathered to form something.
"Sword of Light"
⟨ Spirit Art ⟩
A single sword imbued with light. It plunged straight down.
Kuooooooong!!
This time, they couldn't block it. Shania's spirit arts activated too swiftly. But both Yeonhui and Seong Hyun-jin nimbly dodged, leaving the holy sword to crater the innocent training ground.
"...Your coordination is impressive."
Shania's tone seemed dissatisfied at a glance, but her lips curved slightly upward. Too focused on the fight, Seong Hyun-jin and Yeonhui missed it, but Eleonora—who had spent ages with Shania—noticed immediately.
"Lady Karin, Shania... she's..."
"She seems to be enjoying this situation."
Karin tilted her head, puzzled as to why, but Eleonora had a fair inkling of Shania's intentions.
'She suddenly insists on a test and borrows the training ground...'
Eleonora knew Shania well. If she wanted, she could have trampled Yeonhui's wishes and proceeded without issue. She had the drive for it anyway.
Yet she went through this hassle because...
"...Good grief."
Having figured it out, Eleonora looked at Shania and said,
"Always bragging about being the saintess's guardian... Guess you live up to it."
# Shania's spirit arts were threatening. As befitting a Palstar Hero, her power and her exquisite sense in deploying them where it mattered were top-tier.
"Yeonhui sunbae."
"Yes?"
"We can't keep dodging forever. You know that, right?"
"Of course I do...!"
Yeonhui pointed out how Shania hadn't given them a breather since moments ago.
"But what do we do?"
"As you saw earlier, I can break through that."
"I know. But now the headmaster isn't giving us time... Kyaa!"
A spear of light rained down over Yeonhui's head. Seong Hyun-jin spotted it first and yanked her arm, pulling her to safety.
"You okay?"
"Y-Yes, Hyun-jin. Thank you for saving me."
Yeonhui, nearly slipping again, blushed faintly, shook it off, and stood properly. Sensing she was composed, Seong Hyun-jin continued from before.
"So, can you hold it off a few more times while I prepare?"
"...Yes. I'll do it."
Yeonhui positioned herself beside Seong Hyun-jin. He sheathed his sword, preparing for a single, decisive strike. Shania smiled faintly at the sight.
"Yeonhui, planning to block instead of dodge now?"
Shania raised her hand, and Ouriel flapped its massive wings, lifting its sword hand in kind.
"Sword of Judgment"
⟨ Spirit Art ⟩
As the art activated, Ouriel swung its sword down at Yeonhui and Seong Hyun-jin. Yeonhui raised both hands skyward, unleashing a mighty divine blessing.
"Curtain of the Moon"
⟨ Divine Protection ⟩
Kwaaaaaaaaang!!
A sturdy barrier expanded, clashing with Ouriel's sword. Unlike before, it darkened, obscuring the view from outside.
"Hyun-jin!"
"Spirit manifestation."
Black spirit power gathered behind Seong Hyun-jin.
"King of Chaos"
⟨ Spirit Manifestation ⟩
A spirit clad in black armor materialized. Far greater power than the first strike now dwelled in Seong Hyun-jin's sheathed sword.
Normally, his physical limits would have caused him to collapse from siphoning that much vitality from the King of Chaos, but bolstered by Yeonhui's blessing, Seong Hyun-jin endured.
'This should do it...'
Though cold sweat beaded from the real-time vitality drain, Seong Hyun-jin smiled contentedly.
"...Sunbae, clear the way."
Yeonhui withdrew the barrier at his words. As if she'd been waiting, Shania invoked a spirit art through Ouriel.
"Flames of Paradise"
⟨ Spirit Art ⟩
Holy flames surged in the instant the barrier lifted. But Seong Hyun-jin stayed calm, commanding the King of Chaos.
"Devour it."
The King of Chaos reached out, grasping Ouriel's flames. Astonishingly, they withered away entirely.
With his preparation complete, Seong Hyun-jin drew his sword.
"...!"
A ferocious chaos power gathered on the blade. Karin—his master—was the most shocked by the sight.
"That reckless fool..."
She knew the side effects of wielding a spirit. Yet he went beyond manifestation to wield such force?
"......"
Karin glanced at Yeonhui. Her blessing seemed to be enabling Seong Hyun-jin's overexertion.
Even so, how long had it been since she'd warned him not to get hurt? And here he was, making such a foolish choice. Whatever the outcome, Karin resolved to scold him properly.
"...You're in for it later."
But she didn't halt the test.
'...At least I'll get to see it.'
She had a good idea of what her disciple intended.
'...You slicing the second heaven.'
Immense chaos power loaded Seong Hyun-jin's drawn sword. Gripping it two-handed like a salute, he held it vertically before his face.
"Defy the heavens."
He intoned the activation phrase. A hint of bewilderment crossed Shania's face.
"That is..."
As a Palstar Hero, Shania naturally knew. What Seong Hyun-jin's stance signified.
Hakodate Karin's greatest sword art—the pinnacle of perfected swordsmanship, one form thereof.
"Heaven Destroying Sword, Second Form."
Seong Hyun-jin spun the vertically held sword. Simultaneously, he reversed his grip on the hilt.
"Reverse Heaven"
⟨ Heaven Destroying Sword: Second Form ⟩
He slashed upward.
Craaaaaaaaack─────────────────!!
In the direction Seong Hyun-jin swung, a vast line of chaos power surged, cleaving everything ahead. Even the training ground's defense system—unbroken since Terastial Academy's founding—shut down.
"Th-The training ground system...!!"
Eleonora cried out in shock, while Karin smirked in satisfaction. Shania, stunned by Seong Hyun-jin flawlessly executing Karin's sword, saw her domain shatter; the hem of her sleeve and ends of her hair were sliced clean.
Shania stared blankly at her severed locks. Such a powerful strike, yet it hadn't harmed her elsewhere—precisely trimming only sleeve and hair ends. That fact filled her mind with awe.
"...You felt it too, right Headmaster?"
Breathing heavily, Seong Hyun-jin pointed at Shania's hair and sleeve with a finger.
"It touched you."