Chapter 184
Chapter Title: Phoenix?
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“N-No way!”
“Is that even possible?”
Cries of astonishment erupted from the third and fourth-year students.
The first and second-years, on the other hand, had struggled just to follow the momentary exchange between Leo and Lis, unable to comprehend the sheer wonder of their movements.
However, the top students of the first-year Knight Department clenched their fists.
Meanwhile, in the fifth-year stands, Jamua mumbled while eating popcorn.
“Was he always that good? That’s beyond incredible; it’s grotesque.”
At Jamua's stunned reaction, Torua, who had been writing something beside him, glanced at the dueling grounds and spoke.
“Lis must have recommended him for student council president because he’s that good.”
“I suppose so. By the way, Torua. What have you been writing for the past few days?”
“An application to defer graduation.”
“…”
Jamua stared at Torua, dumbfounded.
“It’s already been rejected ten times.”
When Torua, who had already completed her graduation thesis, submitted the unprecedented application, the professors of the Magic Department had nearly fainted from shock.
The reason was none other than magical research.
“Let me see.”
At Jamua’s words, Torua obediently handed over the application.
“Application for Graduation Deferral. I wish to study at Lumerne for one more year. Reason: Magical Research. Specific Research Plan: Research and Analysis of Leo Flove's 'Bible' Magic Formula and Focused Observation of Leo Flove?”
Jamua stared at the application and said.
“You really think this will get approved?”
“Hmm… I suppose the 'focused observation' part could be an invasion of privacy. Maybe I should remove it?”
Jamua sighed, looking at the serious Torua.
His friend, renowned as the smartest in the school, turned into an idiot whenever magic was involved.
Losing interest in his friend, Jamua turned his gaze back to the dueling grounds.
*Alright, what’s your next move, Leo?*
In the contest of skill, Leo had surprisingly gained the upper hand.
But combat prowess wasn't determined by skill alone.
Especially when the opponent Leo was challenging was the strongest student of all, Lis Jerdinger.
*That won’t be enough to last against the current Lis.*
***
Leo tightened his grip on his sword as he watched the vortex of flames hurtling toward him.
*Those aren't the Jerdinger flames.*
The flames of the Jerdinger family were the flames of the Phoenix.
As such, their power and feel were different from ordinary fire.
*A technique using a Hero Skill.*
Quickly analyzing the attack, Leo let out a smirk.
*Is he testing me?*
With that thought, Leo awakened the flames dormant within him.
*Whoooosh! Fwoooosh-!*
Blazing crimson flames enveloped the spear in his hand.
*Shk-*
Leo readjusted his grip, taking a throwing stance.
*Krrrrrack-!*
The flames he possessed were sucked into the spear.
Once all the fire had been absorbed, Leo gritted his teeth.
“Hup—!”
*Whoosh-!*
Leo hurled the spear toward the vortex of fire Lis had created.
*Fwoosh-!*
The spear flew toward the fiery vortex at an incredible speed.
*BOOM-!*
For a moment, Leo’s spear and Lis’s vortex of flames collided.
*Whoooooosh-!*
Phoenix flames erupted from Leo’s spear, engulfing Lis’s fire in an instant.
Even among flames, there were different tiers.
The Phoenix flames, known as the strongest of all, consumed everything.
There was a reason why, among the great hero families that wielded fire, the Jerdinger and Lundua families were called the strongest.
*Even so, to think he could block it so easily.*
Lis was impressed.
The flames he had just used were those of Itaruan, the great fire spirit that had vanished 1,000 years ago.
It was a reward he had obtained from the World of Heroes. Although it wasn't the complete power of the great spirit, it was by no means weak.
*And he devoured those flames.*
Lis smiled as he watched Leo’s spear flying straight toward him.
*His ability to control fire is incredible as well.*
*Thwump-!*
*BOOM! Fwoooosh-!*
The moment Lis snatched the spear from the air, a massive conflagration swept across the dueling grounds.
Everyone in the stands wore expressions of shock.
A protective magic barrier was cast over the dueling grounds to prevent any harm to the spectators.
Yet, the intense heat, strong enough to feel like it could cook their skin, penetrated the barrier, a testament to the might of Leo’s flames.
But Leo’s assault didn't end there.
He unleashed all the spells he had prepared.
*Flash! K-K-K-K-BOOM-!*
Like a downpour of bombs.
Powerful fire magic rained down on the spot where Lis had been standing.
He had literally poured everything he could muster with his current aura and magic into that attack on Lis.
The upperclassmen stared in utter shock.
Of course, Lis had allowed Leo all the time he needed to prepare.
But even so, this was beyond excessive.
Even for someone born with the Jerdinger family’s flames, which specialized in offense, Leo’s current attack power was astounding.
Surprisingly, it was the first-years who remained calm.
As everyone’s attention was fixed on where Lis had been standing.
A gasp of admiration swept through the crowd as Lis emerged from the flames.
Despite Leo's ferocious assault, Lis walked out of the fire, completely unharmed.
“That’s our Senior Lis.”
“To block an attack like that without any trouble!”
Exclamations of awe erupted from the students.
The professors, meanwhile, watched Lis as if it were only natural.
“Still, not even a single scorch mark on his clothes. That’s incredible.”
As Ren’s assistant professor, Anna, clicked her tongue in amazement, Ren crossed his arms.
“Certainly, Student Leo’s attack power using magic and aura is astonishing. But his opponent is Lis Jerdinger.”
Ren’s eyes narrowed.
“The strongest student, known as the Phoenix Knight. He’s the most skilled not just in Lumerne, but among all hero candidates across Seirun, Azonia, and Demian. And when it comes to wielding fire, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the world more skilled than Lis Jerdinger.”
Heir to the great hero family, Jerdinger, and a knight whose skill with fire had reached a world-class level—that was Lis.
“At Student Leo’s current level, fighting Student Lis with fire is nothing short of suicide.”
“Do you think Student Leo didn’t know that?”
“He must have known.”
A smile curled on Ren’s lips.
“This is a challenge, however.”
“A challenge?”
“Yes. He’s challenging Lis to see how effective his own flames are.”
“Isn’t that a bit too reckless?”
“Hahaha! Assistant Professor Anna! That’s what makes Student Leo so amazing!”
Ren’s grin stretched from ear to ear.
“Student Leo is ‘testing’ just how incredible Student Lis is! What an audacious student! The nerve to test the strongest fifth-year! This is proof that he belongs in the Magic Department!”
“Ah, yes.”
Anna responded noncommittally.
Lately, Ren seemed to find a way to connect anything and everything related to Leo with the Magic Department.
When she had heard the story of him successfully manifesting the Bible, Anna had been forced to knock a rampaging Ren unconscious by smacking him in the back of the head with a thick grimoire.
*Should I really just quit?*
Anna let out a deep sigh as her superior’s fits grew worse by the day.
*As I thought.*
Leo let out a sound of admiration as he watched Lis emerge from his attack without significant damage.
*Even during the Age of Calamity, there were no knights who had reached that level of skill at his age.*
Even considering the techniques refined and developed over 5,000 years and the existence of the World of Heroes, it was still a phenomenal level of skill.
*His ability to control fire is the best I've seen in both my past and present lives.*
Leo tightened his grip on his sword.
Of course, Leo could unleash flames of a level equal to Lis’s right now.
But that was a fire he could only achieve by being willing to burn himself.
Besides, even if he produced flames of equal power, it was clear they wouldn't reach Lis.
“As you are now, you won’t be able to injure me, Leo.”
“I suppose not.”
Leo nodded at Lis’s words.
“My aura and magic can’t stand against your flames, Senior Lis.”
Lis smiled at Leo’s ready admission.
“Then what will you do?”
“It’s simple.”
Leo grinned.
“The most effective way to fight power is with power, isn’t it?”
“Power?”
Lis looked puzzled.
Just a moment ago, Leo had admitted he couldn’t face Lis’s flames.
*It would be the same even if he used a different attribute. But he says he has a way?*
Even if Leo used his other aura, Kyle’s gray aura, he couldn't match Lis.
It was, quite literally, a reckless fight between different weight classes.
And yet, he was going to fight power with power.
*What is he thinking?*
Lis’s eyes narrowed.
As he watched Lis, a smirk played on Leo’s lips.
***
“It’s over.”
A sentiment of ‘of course’ rippled through the upperclassmen.
They had been surprised when Leo initially landed a valid hit on Lis, but that was the end of it.
Lis was now fighting Leo without holding back.
It was clear the duel would be over in an instant.
“Still, isn’t that pretty amazing for a first-year?”
“Hmph! ‘For a first-year,’ maybe! He’s got no shot at being student council president!”
Jeers and murmurs of discontent spread through the crowd.
The first-years had a similar reaction.
“It was interesting, but this is the end.”
Eliza muttered as she tidied her fingertips.
“He should have fought me instead. Why go up against the student council president?”
“Eliza, you know you sometimes say things that make it sound like you have a crush on the Class 5 president, right?”
“Do I?”
“Gack! Gack!”
“Is this the mouth that spouts such insolent nonsense?”
“M-My mouth! Gack! It was wrong! *Kehek!* I’ll hit my—*gack*—why are you choking my ne—*kehek!*”
Eliza, whipping out the whip she always carried, swiftly wrapped it around her classmate's neck and smiled brightly.
The female student, who barely managed to escape, clutched her throat, coughing and grumbling.
“Anyway, the duel is over. A first-year student council president? That’s just ridiculous, isn’t it?”
“You’re right. A first-year president is absurd.”
Eliza wore a bored expression. Just then.
*Shk-*
Leo raised his hand.
*Woooong-!*
“Summoning?”
Eliza’s expression turned amused.
*Come to think of it, Leo Flove has never used summoning in an important battle before, has he? He’s called an All-Class, but his summoning ability was definitely weaker than his aura and magic.*
Of course, Leo’s summoning skill was by no means lacking.
He just didn’t have any powerful summons. Even Eliza had been left speechless by his skill in handling familiars and spirits.
*But summoning can’t change the situation now.*
Eliza rested her chin on her hand.
*What you’re absolutely lacking right now is power. Surely you know that technique is useless when the power gap is this large?*
Others had similar thoughts.
At the same time, a sense of curiosity arose as to what kind of summon Leo would bring out in this situation.
*Fwoosh-!*
A flame ignited in Leo’s palm.
*Pop-!*
*Peep-!*
And at the sight of the small, red chick that appeared, everyone stared for a moment, utterly dumbfounded.
The suddenly summoned red chick looked momentarily bewildered by the attention of the massive crowd.
But it soon flapped its wings elegantly, spreading them wide on Leo’s palm and puffing out its chest.
It then lifted its head as if it were a magnificent familiar.
“S-So cute!”
“What is that! I want one!”
Shouts of adoration, unfitting for the situation, burst out here and there.
Meanwhile, the first-year summoning students looked on in disbelief.
“Hey, isn’t that the chick Leo contracted with during our first class?”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Why would he bring that out in this situation?”
As the summoning students whispered among themselves, Eliza’s face flushed slightly.
*I thought so back then, too, but what a lovely familiar! But what does he plan to do with that child?*
The fifth-year stands also reacted with disbelief.
“What does he plan to do with that familiar?”
“Maybe he’s trying to weaken Lis’s resolve with cuteness?”
Jamua and Torua were expressing their bewilderment when a voice cut in.
“You should watch closely.”
Ulta, who had been observing the match in silence, curled her lips into a smile.
Jamua and Torua looked at Ulta with puzzled expressions.
“The real evaluation of this duel is about to begin.”
***
*Peep-*
Lis scratched his cheek as he looked at Piora, who was chirping and flapping her wings belligerently at him.
“Uh, Leo. If you bring out a familiar that cute, it makes it a little hard for me to lay a hand on it.”
“Don’t worry.”
Leo smiled and stirred his spiritual power.
“……?”
*Fwoosh-*
Piora’s feathers began to burn, one by one.
“In a moment, you won’t find it cute at all.”
*FWOOOOSH-!*
An ominous flame began to flicker around Leo.
Seeing it, Lis’s expression hardened.
*Whoooooosh-!*
The flames began to coalesce around Piora.
Piora’s body, now a single mass of fire, began to burn fiercely.
*Whoom-!*
For a moment, the raging flames stopped.
And then…
*SKREEEEEEEEEE-!*
*KRRRRRACK-!*
Along with Piora’s roar, heat exploded in all directions.
“Kgh!”
For a second, Lis felt his head ring, and he staggered.
*Peer pressure?*
Stunned by the fact that he had been overwhelmed by mere peer pressure, Lis quickly regained his footing.
And then, his jaw dropped as he saw a beautiful firebird now perched on Leo’s arm.
Lis recognized the firebird instantly.
A being that inspired awe in all who beheld it.
The very source of the flames he wielded.
“A Phoenix?”