Chapter 101
Chapter Title: A United Front
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*Fwoosh-! Sizzzle-!*
The aura flames burning on Leo's arm extinguished, sending smoke billowing up.
“Kiruan.”
At Leo's call, a small summoning circle opened, and Kiruan appeared.
[Agh! What kind of reckless stunt was that!]
Kiruan looked at Leo's left arm with a disgusted expression before chanting a healing spell.
A gentle, silvery light of healing treated the burns on Leo's arm.
[Leo! Fairy magic isn't omnipotent! If your stamina reaches its limit, it won't work!]
“I know.”
His arm now healed, Leo casually rotated his wrist.
[Anyway, is that a Gigantes? Ugh! It's disgustingly hideous!]
Kiruan stuck out his tongue, making a face of open revulsion.
To a fairy, a top-tier summoned beast, a Gigantes was a Demonic beast that was its polar opposite.
The flames embedded in the Gigantes's back went out.
*Thud-!*
The Gigantes pushed itself up.
*Grrrrr-!*
Its murderous gaze fixed on Leo.
The Gigantes opened its maw wide.
*Grooooooaaaaar!*
A purple light shimmered.
*Screeeeeech-! Flash!*
The breath, erupting like a beam of light, scraped across the ground as it flew toward him at incredible speed.
Leo threw himself aside without hesitation.
*Whoosh-!* The purple breath grazed past Leo by a hair's breadth.
*Kra-ka-ka-ka-boom-!*
The spot directly hit by the breath erupted in a chain of explosions.
*Ruuuumble-!*
The outer castle wall collapsed.
‘If even a single hit grazes me, it's over.’
Despite the terrifying situation, Leo calmly summoned his aura.
Emitting his aura in thin, thread-like strands, Leo attached them to the surrounding buildings.
Then, he pulled back with all his might.
Like an arrow nocked on a bow, Leo backed up as far as he could. The moment the repulsive force reached its peak, he released the tension in his legs.
*Fwoosh-!*
Leo shot toward the Gigantes like an arrow.
*Groooaaar!*
The enraged Gigantes raised its clenched fist.
Seeing this, Leo spun his body.
It was Kyle's aura skill, Vortex.
Adding the Jerdinger aura to it, a whirlwind of flames raged.
*Shred-!*
*Gwoooooooaaaaah!*
Having brutally severed the Gigantes's right arm with slashes and flames, Leo flew straight toward the inner wall.
*Crunch-!*
As he landed on the inner wall, his feet dug into the stone.
Pushing himself up, Leo looked at Chloe, who was standing confidently facing the Gigantes, and spoke.
“You're looking quite impressive, Chloe.”
“What?”
“The way you look right now. Like a hero.”
“...!”
At his words, Chloe grew slightly flustered, her cheeks flushing.
“I-I was just trying to imitate someone.”
“And who might that someone be?”
At Leo's teasing remark, Chloe lightly tapped his head with her staff.
“Hey! Where have you been all this time!”
“I had some personal business to attend to.”
*Gwooooooaaaaah!*
Just then, the Gigantes, having regenerated the arm Leo had destroyed, let out a roar.
The students flinched, but Leo remained unfazed.
“Let it be. That monster isn't a fool. It knows it'll be in danger if it attacks recklessly right now.”
“What?”
“It's going to try to recover its stamina.”
“How is it going to recover its stamina?”
Leo gestured with his chin in response to Chloe's question.
*Chomp!*
*Kieeeeek!*
*Kraw!*
The Gigantes opened its mouth and began devouring the fleeing monsters indiscriminately.
The students watched, their faces filled with disgust.
“Leo!”
“Leo!”
Chelsea, Karl, and the other Class 5 students ran over.
“Chloe! Leo! Here, mana potions.”
Karl hurriedly handed them mana potions, which Leo and Chloe drank.
“What's the situation?”
Leo asked, and Karl replied with a grim expression.
“No one's been seriously injured since we entered the inner castle. It's just...”
Karl looked at the Gigantes, his face pale with terror.
“Everyone is terrified because of that monster.”
“Then the solution is simple. We kill it.”
“What?”
Everyone stared in shock at Leo's calm words.
Seeing their reactions, Leo tilted his head.
“Why are you all so surprised? It's the obvious thing to do.”
“I-I know! We know, but...!”
Celia replied, clenching her teeth.
The usually confident Celia's hands were trembling.
It wasn't just Celia.
The faces of most students were filled with fear.
‘Can't be helped. They might be hero candidates, but in the end, they're all just teenagers.’
Uncut gems.
And yet, they still shone.
“There is another option.”
Everyone focused on Leo's words.
“Run. No matter how powerful that monster is, if over a hundred of us flee at once, it won't be able to catch everyone.”
“Th-that's right!”
“Fighting it head-on just doesn't make sense...”
“Of course, most of you here will die.”
The students gasped at Leo's statement.
“The moment we scatter, we'll be slaughtered one-sidedly. Anyone who wants that can go. I won't stop you.”
No one moved from their spot.
As the heavy atmosphere pressed down, Leo spoke.
“So, that's why I'm asking.”
Leo crossed his arms.
“How about you let me take command?”
“What?”
“Because I'm going to take that monster down.”
Everyone stared at Leo, utterly dumbfounded.
Looking at him, Chen Xia spoke.
“I'll follow Young Master Leo's lead.”
“M-me too!”
Chelsea also came to Leo's side.
Chloe, it went without saying.
“Hmph! Showing off all by yourself again, Leo Flove.”
Eliza scoffed.
“Well, running away isn't my style anyway. But! The person with command authority after you will be m—!”
“Stop talking and join us, Eliza Hergin.”
“W-wait! Woreden! What is this insolence!”
Woreden pushed Eliza toward Leo with an expressionless face.
Everyone stared at Woreden in surprise.
It was certainly surprising to see Woreden, famous for being a lone wolf, unhesitatingly bet his life on Leo's words.
Amidst the astonishment of their classmates, Eliza's lips curled into a smirk.
“What's with an arrogant person like you suddenly following someone else's orders?”
“Everyone knows that monster must be defeated. But no one had the confidence to do it, so they all kept quiet. Myself included.”
Woreden looked at Leo.
“In that case, it's only right to follow the command of someone who is confident they can win. Isn't that why you also bet your life on him?”
“Hmph. As a member of the Hergin family, it's unthinkable to run away from that detestable Demonic beast.”
Eliza glared at the Gigantes with venomous eyes.
Duran also approached Leo's group and said.
“I'll be looking forward to your leadership skills, Leo Flove.”
“You won't be disappointed.”
Leo looked last at Celia and Abad.
“It's just like the entrance exam.”
Abad smiled bitterly.
“Back then, too, you faced an impossible fight without a moment's hesitation.”
Although Celia and Abad were the ones who defeated the Talatunia, it was Leo who had led them to victory in that battle.
“I thought I'd caught up to you a little.”
Abad clenched and unclenched his fists, muttering.
“Not yet. I'm still far behind. Celia. You're the same as back then, aren't you?”
“Shut up, Butter.”
Celia swept her hair back.
“As if I'd refuse when Leo's the one asking.”
All the key members of the first year had united their strength.
Seeing this, Karl let out a dry laugh.
“With this lineup, I actually think we might be able to defeat it.”
When the strongest first-years, who had always growled at each other like rivals, joined forces, it felt like a path had opened where none was visible before.
“Wh-what about us?”
A student asked cautiously, and Celia swept her hair back as she spoke.
“Only the nine of us can land a significant blow on that monster. Prepare for any contingencies.”
At her words, the students swallowed nervously.
“What's the formation?”
In response to Abad's question, Leo laid out the formation and explained the plan.
After the strategy meeting, the nine students checked their gear and stood atop the castle wall.
Leo placed a foot on the parapet.
*Step—*
“Alright, then.”
The ones who would block the Gigantes from the front were Leo, Chen Xia, Duran, and Woreden.
The central position, responsible for dealing continuous damage, was assigned to Celia and Abad, who possessed both high attack speed and powerful destructive force.
Chelsea and Eliza took on the support roles, ensuring the front and center lines could work together seamlessly.
And finally, the main dealer in the rearguard was Chloe.
Leo watched the Gigantes, which was still ravaging the other monsters, and shouted.
“Let's go!”
At his command, the four in the front line charged forward in unison.
*Gwooo?*
The red glow in the eyes of the Gigantes, which had been chewing on monsters, turned toward the four of them.
“Chelsea Llewellyn. Launch me as high as you can.”
“What?”
Chelsea was taken aback by Woreden's sudden request, but she quickly used her magic to lift him high into the sky.
Suspended high in the air, a powerful spiritual energy erupted from Woreden's body.
*Rumble-!*
Rocks surged up, encasing Woreden's body like armor.
*Fwoosh-!*
As if he had become a meteor, Woreden's body plummeted toward the Gigantes at immense speed due to gravity.
*Kwang!*
*Gwoooooooaaaaah!*
As Woreden's body slammed into the Gigantes's head, the monster shrieked and staggered.
“How can a spirit user be so reckless?! No! Before that, how did he even do that?!”
Eliza was horrified.
‘Spirit Armored?’
Leo watched Woreden, impressed.
Spirit Armored.
It was a high-level spirit art that literally allowed one to channel a spirit into their body, imbuing their physical form with the spirit's power.
Seeing this, Leo also summoned his spiritual power.
‘Kiruan.’
[Yeah.]
‘Grant your blessing to the four in the vanguard.’
[Got it.]
Kiruan closed his eyes and spread his arms.
With that, the Fairy's Blessing enveloped Leo, Chen Xia, Duran, and Woreden.
Fairies were summoned beasts possessing the power of life.
And a fairy's blessing granted its recipient tireless stamina.
As the blessing settled upon them, the other three flinched slightly and looked at Leo.
They all felt their bodies become lighter.
[Haha! How's that, you brats! Consider it an honor to receive the blessing of the Fairy Prince and take care of that disgusting lump of...]
Leo grabbed Kiruan, who was shouting triumphantly from his shoulder.
[Why?]
“You're distracting. Stay back for a bit.”
Setting Kiruan aside, Leo watched the Gigantes get back up and summoned his mana.
*Thwump-!*
Kicking off the ground, Leo shot toward the Gigantes.
Seeing him, the Gigantes raised its hand.
*Gwoooooooaaaaah!*
The veins on its massive forearm bulged.
The Gigantes swung its arm with vicious force.
*Fwoom-!*
Its brutish palm cut through the air, descending upon Leo.
Just before the Gigantes's attack reached Leo.
*Woooong-!*
Leo's body split into dozens of copies.
Mirage.
The Gigantes flinched at the sight of Leo's illusions, created with star magic.
As Leo raised his sword, dozens of aura flames materialized.
Seeing the dozens of aura flames, the Gigantes began swinging its arms wildly at Leo's illusions.
“Where are you looking, you lump?”
Duran's sword, wreathed in golden lightning aura, sliced through the distracted Gigantes's left knee.
*Thud-!*
The Gigantes fell to one knee.
As its massive frame buckled, its face drew close to the ground.
In that moment.
Celia, who was standing on a nearby rooftop, made eye contact with the Gigantes.
*Fwoosh!*
Crimson flames gathered at the tip of Celia's sword.
Pushing the Jerdinger flames to their absolute limit, wing-shaped flames formed on Celia's back.
*Swish—*
As Celia took a thrusting stance, the flames were sucked into the tip of her sword.
‘Prominence!’
*Flash-! Skewer-!*
The crimson flames pierced through the Gigantes's head.
With half its head blown off, the Gigantes's body twitched and trembled.
Celia scoffed and swept her hair back.
*Crrrack! Crrr-crack!*
But her expression soured as she watched its head begin to regenerate.
The Gigantes's fearsome life force was still intact, even with half its head gone.
Celia quickly used an aura step to move out of the Gigantes's attack range.
*Kra-ka-ka-kak-!*
The Gigantes swung its arm wildly, obliterating the spot where Celia had been standing.
Seeing this, the first-years thought.
‘We can defeat it!’