Arena of Heavenly Punishment
No one in the arena of heavenly punishment dared to speak easily. The size difference between NoName and the middle school students was enough to make even David and Goliath take a step back. At least David was a sturdy young man who hunted lions and bears whenever they appeared, but to those watching, NoName was nothing more than a frail child.
"Ah... no... how...?"
Even Professor Cheon Kyujin, who accepted anything about NoName with stoic calm, trembled faintly.
"Cheon Byeong-ho! What the hell did you teach NoName?!"
"I don't know! That's her unique magic."
"What? That thing is unique magic? NoName's?!"
Principal Gu On-yu covered her mouth with her hand, staring at NoName with a grave expression. The two Alteer students collapsed without mounting any real resistance. In just three short minutes, an unbelievable scene had unfolded. NoName wasn't just manifesting aura outside her body—she wielded it at an expert level. The speed of her instantaneous double casting was something even a frontline combat mage couldn't replicate.
"This is..."
Extremely dangerous. The emotion Principal Gu felt when she first encountered Ham Chorong forty years ago resurfaced. It carried dual meanings. One was that the child wielding such absurd power posed a danger to her surroundings. The other was concern that such a child might be exposed to dangerous situations.
"NoName won...?"
"What kind of magic was that...?"
"They really went down? Those kids were so strong earlier...?"
"What the hell was that horn...?"
Her eyes darted left and right busily. Waves of lost exclamations rippled from the spectators here and there. It was a result that would shock anyone, whether they understood magic or not.
The commentary booth was in chaos too. They leaped from their chairs, desperate to get a closer look at NoName. To make matters worse, streaming apps like Twishi crashed, driving viewers to terrestrial broadcasts. Excluding China, Russia, and the Middle East, over 10 million global viewers tuned in. In the center of the world's attention, she pushed herself up with both hands.
"Casting: Forging"
⟨ Danjo ⟩
What emerged from the ochre earth was a crudely shaped greatsword, its size rivaling her own height. The two Alteer students watched the scene with blank expressions.
"Can she even swing something that heavy?"
Jo Su-yeon, niece of Cardinal Joeyhwan Benedict, didn't show fear—instead, her red lips curled in a mocking tone.
"Sure."
The Demon King's hand aided her frail frame in wielding the greatsword she couldn't possibly swing alone. A long shadow stretched across the arena, falling at their feet.
"Why not advertise to the whole world that you're Satan's child?"
"Don't seniors love this stuff? Did you graduate from middle school syndrome already?"
"NoName, sis is saying this 'cause I'm really worried about you. Pull pranks like that and God'll smite you with heavenly punishment."
"Heavenly punishment? I've been getting it since birth, and I didn't do anything wrong."
Boom!
NoName slammed the greatsword mercilessly into the cold ground, suddenly furrowing her brow.
"You trying to say me getting trapped in that capsule was God's will too?"
There was no reply. The end of words signaled the start of clash. Their gazes met midway and diverged. Holy light emanated from Lee Jae-hwan and Jo Su-yeon's bodies, splitting into two paths.
Thud thud thud—
The vibrations of them charging, trampling the earth, pounded against the outer walls. The massive hand swung the greatsword horizontally at the arcing beams of light.
Whoosh—
Slow, but its weight was anything but light. Fierce winds whipped at the students, tousling their neat hair. Lee Jae-hwan slipped through the gap in the greatsword, overlapping index and middle fingers to concentrate aura into a single point and thrust.
Kagagak!
A gap pierced the greatsword and hand like a giant needle. Jo Su-yeon exploited the exquisite opening Lee Jae-hwan created. She extended her pale palm, injecting mana into the pre-engraved magic circle.
"Casting: Longinus's Spear"
⟨ Longinus's Spear ⟩
Kugugugung!
The holy spear of light that pierced Jesus Christ shot unimpeded toward NoName, piercing the greatsword and Demon King's hand. The hand regenerated belatedly, barely catching the spear's tip. A tense balance of power formed in the dire moment. Even facing the razor-sharp blade right before her eyes, NoName didn't blink.
No time to catch her breath.
"Don't get cocky."
In that split second, NoName severed the hand gripping the greatsword and manifested new aura. Aura bubbled up from her back, soon forming a single wing that enveloped her body. The bullet-like curving Longinus's Spear slammed into the aura wing with a crunch.
Jo Su-yeon released the spear's handle smoothly and retreated with Lee Jae-hwan, stepping back from NoName. In their renewed gaze, Jo Su-yeon wore a slyer sneer.
"And then blood and water flowed out. Boom."
"Chain Casting: Longinus's Spear – Explosion"
⟨ Longinus's Spear – Burst ⟩
Kwaaaaaang!
Overwhelming light burst from the spear tip, a massive explosion shaking the earth and tormenting the spectators' eyes and ears.
"Those who serve Satan shall receive heavenly punishment! Take God's wrath! Kyahahahaha!"
Jo Su-yeon raised both arms, letting out a manic laugh. Pop! Bang bang! Wine-colored water jets followed, igniting chain explosions upon contact with the air. Lee Jae-hwan twitched an eyebrow at the explosions unfolding all too calmly.
"Still reacting?"
"...Yeah."
"Tough little shit. Alright, leave the rest to me."
"Show-off."
Lee Jae-hwan immediately knelt on one knee, burying five fingers into the sandy ground.
"Transmutation: Barrier Setup"
⟨ Barrier Setup ⟩
"Wide-Area Cast: Redwood Barrier"
⟨ Redwood's Barrier ⟩
A hemispherical dome enveloped the explosion center. Mana threads mimicking sequoia roots surged from the ground.
Shwaaak!
A massive whip lashed mercilessly at NoName through the thick blood mist. As the dome shrank, the interior filled densely with root whips.
"NoName!"
"NoName!"
Unlike outside, voices from the audience echoed clearly inside. NoName's name rang out repeatedly from the stands. They were genuinely worried for the child getting thrashed by third-year middle schoolers.
"Fuck, why won't she just give up. How's this kid tougher than Eom In-young."
Jo Su-yeon scratched her itchy nape irritably. Indeed, Redwood's Barrier and Longinus's Spear were excessively harsh for a child. But since they'd decided to unveil their hidden spells, they had to show overwhelming dominance. That was the way to save face for the Green Party floor leader and the cardinal. Even if it was against an 8-year-old.
No trace of worry or guilt showed on Lee Jae-hwan or Jo Su-yeon's faces.
"Too bad. Was gonna play more, but maybe her body's frailer than it looks?"
"Haven't run in ages, I'm beat. Referee, open the veil quick. What a mess my hair is."
The two students turned to head to the waiting room but froze. Murderous intent gripped their ankles.
"Casting: Arabesque Knot – Water"
⟨ Arabesque's Knot – Water ⟩
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Jo Su-yeon?"
"Kek!"
Kudangtang!
Jo Su-yeon fell on her butt and was dragged like a magnet to the arena center. She clutched her tightening throat, gasping, her face turning beet red. Her blood-engorged head seemed ready to burst.
"Earth grants rest to the dead, metal gives respite to the fleeing, and water bestows awareness on the deceivers."
"Guh... you psycho...!"
"Think fooling the masses with an explosion from ethylene oxide and propylene counts as heavenly punishment? Will it work or not?"
"Cough! Hack hack! You damned brat, let go right now!"
Jo Su-yeon thrashed wildly on the ground to loosen the thread. Each time, NoName yanked the thread around her neck tighter, gradually stilling her resistance.
"On second thought, two at once is too much. Let's do one at a time."
"Casting: Forging"
⟨ Danjo ⟩
Estasha Style Form 1 – Adella
She drew another club-like sword. This time, one matching her height. Bending her knees into stance, NoName embedded a magic circle at the sword tip, aiming at Lee Jae-hwan's head. A solemn silence fell over the chaotic arena.
One short step forward with her tiny legs, then two back. The sword followed like a dance, fluid as swordplay. All eyes were drawn to the graceful motions. But each start and end was sharply defined.
Kang!
A clear ring like striking an anvil.
Kang!
Not fast, but nimble.
Kang!
Not strong, but precise. NoName's strikes landed perfectly—flawless if you ignored raw power.
'Where did she learn swordsmanship... wait, sword...?'
Lee Jae-hwan belatedly realized this was Adella's setup. He gritted his teeth, hastily drawing a barrier ritual. His nails scraped the ground raw. But when Adella's magic circle ticked a full rotation, waves of mana he'd circled repeatedly crashed in like fury.
Estasha Style Form 1
Adella – 20 Consecutive
Breaks
Shwajajak!
"Why...!"
The roots birthing his creation were sliced cleanly by the straight sword strike. The honed edge slipped through the flimsy wall. Lee Jae-hwan's eyes shook wildly.
'I can't accept this. How could she invent such magic alone...!'
Genius abound in this world, and Lee Jae-hwan was one. He always ranked top in the academy's volatile standings. For what...? NoName had achieved the dream of mages—creating her own unique magic—at just eight.
'Then what the hell have I been doing all this time?'
Jealousy clouded his mind.
[She's not human like us. Bet if she loses today, she'll never win again.]
"Grrrr! I can't lose like this! Never!"
Shwaaaak!
Lee Jae-hwan expelled even the aura he rarely used, his body coincidentally flung beyond the strike range.
"...!"
While NoName blinked, Jo Su-yeon grabbed her leg, locking her movement. NoName staggered but regained balance.
"Lee Jae-hwan! Now!"
No time for deep thought. He charged at the girl embodying talent itself.
"Aaaaaah!"
Screaming desperately, he flailed his arms wildly. In this direst moment, the spell wasn't the academy's strongest or the party's most complex—it was the one he'd googled as a kid with tiny hands, most familiar.
"Casting: Ignition"
⟨ Ignition ⟩
Roar—
Fireballs enveloped his body. His mana particle barrier chipped away in real time. At this rate, it'd break before reaching NoName, disqualifying him. But if he could just make her lose!
Their eyes met, his unwavering. Countering a reckless suicide attack in confined space was near impossible—especially at her short height.
"Cool. A real man fights like that."
The final question bloomed in Lee Jae-hwan's mind. With hands and legs sealed, where did her composure come from?
The answer was atop her head—in the horn.
"No, look higher."
A 2nd-circle magic circle formed automatically above NoName's head. Cation collision heated the cathode, raising temperature. Thermo electrons from both horns sparked brilliant light, and the intensely condensed mana burst free.
Demon King's Horn
"Casting: Arc Discharge"
⟨ Arc Discharge ⟩
Pajijijijik!
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Lee Jae-hwan let out an unbearable scream. NoName suddenly kicked his ankle, slamming him face-first into the ground. The noise vanished as if by magic. NoName could only pray inwardly that the tournament-provided mana particle barrier did its job.
