Chapter 327
Chapter Title: Phase Two
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Whoosh-!
Flames erupted from Celia's sword.
Watching Celia, Chloe swung her staff.
Whir-!
The blue orb at the end of her staff emitted a sharp light.
"Ice Storm."
A blizzard raged.
The icy wind blasting from the staff neutralized Celia's flames.
Kaboom-!
At the same time, the magical cannons on the barrier opened fire.
Celia quickly executed an Aura Step.
Fwoosh-!
Flames flickered at her feet.
Each step she took through the air left behind a fiery afterimage, like the flapping wings of a phoenix.
Phoenix Step.
It was one of the Jerdinger Family's signature Aura Steps.
An immense barrage of magical artillery struck the spot Celia had just vacated.
Currently, Harmony and Noble were attacking Glory's base, with Celia and Duran at the forefront.
Glory was suffering from a numerical disadvantage.
Even though Glory was pouring all its strength into defending the base, Harmony and Noble were also dedicating their full might to the assault.
"Mana cannons, ready to fire!"
"Ready!"
"Fire!"
Whoosh-! Boom!
The magic department students of Harmony and Noble had even crafted siege magic weapons in an attempt to breach Glory's barrier.
Though they were students, they were all cadets of a hero academy.
If this were anywhere but Lumerne, their combined power would be enough to easily demolish the walls of a decent fortress.
Had their opponents not been fellow Lumerne students, a barrier like this would have crumbled in an instant.
"If we just break the barrier, we win!"
"Right! If we can just get inside and fight..."
Flash-!
Just then, a blue light flashed in the sky.
"Chloe's Ice Breath! Everyone, get back! Retreat!"
Kra-ka-ka-ka-ka-koom-!
A cold, frosty mist poured from a magic circle that had formed in the air.
A male student from Noble's magic department, who was directing the cannons, had shouted urgently.
Crackle-!
"You told everyone else to dodge, but you didn't dodge yourself! What are we supposed to do?!"
"Healer! Healeeeeer!"
The other students shouted, looking at the frozen magic department student.
Just then, Nella approached and unleashed her aura.
Whoom-!
Nella's healing aura enveloped the male student, but he was soon declared "dead" and returned to his base.
"He's dead."
"Ugh!"
"That vicious ice witch!"
"Ugh... I won't let your death be in vain!"
The magic department students of Harmony and Noble started role-playing as if their comrade had actually died.
Watching them, Nella wore an expression of fascination.
"The magic department students sure know how to have fun."
Despite her words, she looked up at Chloe on the barrier with a serious face.
"As long as Chloe is holding out, I don't think we can get over the wall."
After saying so, Nella turned her gaze to Celia.
It wasn't just Nella.
Celia was the only student here who could face Chloe.
As for Duran, he had already entered a one-on-one battle with Chen Xia.
The fighting spirit and aura emanating from the two were so intense that other students couldn't rashly approach.
As the students' gazes gathered on her, Celia tightened her grip.
"I'll handle it somehow."
Cheers erupted from all around at her words.
"That's our Knight Department's top student for you!"
"Celia's flames can overwhelm Chloe's ice magic! She has the strongest flames among our peers, right?"
In fact, the reason Karl had deployed Celia in the assault on Glory's base was because she had a clear elemental advantage.
But at the students' shouts, Celia gave a self-deprecating smile.
*...The strongest flames.*
Celia had already been bested once by Leo's flames.
*Will my flames... even work on Chloe?*
Gritting her teeth, Celia approached the fortress wall.
*Right now... I have no choice but to charge in.*
Fwoosh-!
Celia kicked off the ground and charged toward the wall.
"It's Celia!"
"Celia's coming!"
The Glory students spotted Celia charging forward, cloaked in the flames of her aura, and shouted urgently.
"Focus on Celia!"
"One wrong move and the barrier could be breached in an instant."
A barrage of fire from the magic cannons and spells from the magic department students rained down on Celia.
Summoned beasts and spirits also focused their attacks on her.
Fwoosh-!
Krrack-!
Celia executed an Aura Step, stomping hard on the ground.
Flash! Fwooooosh-!
Leaving a tail of flames behind her, Celia charged toward the wall like a flash of light.
Kra-ka-ka-ka-boom-!
Celia dodged every single attack that tried to block her path.
"S-So fast!"
"Can the top of the Knight Department really move like that?"
Her movements were almost divine.
Any attacks she couldn't dodge, she parried with her sword.
Watching her, Chloe began to chant.
Whoom-!
Pellets of ice formed in the sky.
Soon, the ice pellets sharpened into awls and rained down on Celia all at once.
Celia's red eyes flashed.
"Crimson Wing."
An aura in the shape of crimson wings formed at the tip of Celia's sword.
As she swung her sword, a massive wave of fire evaporated the ice awls.
Fwoosh-!
Thud-!
Having blown away even Chloe's attack, Celia set foot on the wall.
She began to sprint straight up the wall.
"Aaaaaah!"
"Isn't that just cheating at this point?!"
At Celia's movement, the Glory students defending the wall grabbed their heads and screamed.
Fwoosh-!
After running up the wall, Celia reached the top of the barrier, right in front of Chloe.
"Brace yourself, Chloe."
Celia shouted sharply and swung her sword.
Just before the flame-wreathed sword could strike Chloe.
Flash-! Clang!
A flash of white light accompanied a longsword that blocked Celia's blade.
"Heeheehee, I can't let you touch our Ice Queen so easily."
Iliana, who had blocked Celia's sword, grinned.
"The Magic Swordswoman of Light, protector of the Queen! The great Iliana has arrived! Everyone, worship me!"
The Glory Knight Department students stationed to protect Chloe let out a cheer.
"Ooooh!"
"Iliana!"
"She's simple and reckless, but reliable at times like this!"
"Who just called me simple and reckless?!"
Iliana, who had been shouting, looked at Celia and laughed.
"As long as I'm here, you won't touch a single hair on Chloe's... Hiiieeeek!"
Celia put more force into her sword, pushing Iliana back.
Fwoosh-!
As the flames erupting from Celia's body blazed menacingly, Iliana shouted urgently.
"Guys! Help me!"
"Agh! I was a fool to trust her!"
"Form up! Protect Chloe!"
The Glory Knight Department students attacked Celia.
Taking advantage of the opening, Iliana slipped away and began chanting a spell.
The true value of a magic swordswoman was the harmony of aura and magic.
If Iliana came at her with her full strength, she was a formidable opponent that even Celia couldn't easily handle, but if she only used swordsmanship, it was a different story.
"I'll show you my trump card."
Iliana grinned and summoned a shield from a subspace pocket.
For the Knight Department's midterm exam, 'Sub Weapon,' Iliana had chosen none other than a shield.
"A shield is your trump card?"
Celia asked with a puzzled look, and Iliana gave her a meaningful expression.
"Of course not!"
As Celia narrowed her eyes, Iliana puffed out her chest.
"This shield is an 'Ego Weapon' I created based on my own personality. In other words, a familiar."
Iliana grinned.
"I added a function to assist my spellcasting! With this, I can chant spells even faster!"
At Iliana's words, the Knight Department students looked shocked.
"She can make a familiar that looks that complicated?"
"No way!"
"Hmph! Be as amazed as you want!"
Iliana said proudly.
"She wasn't an idiot!"
"Do you guys think an idiot could use magic?"
"She was a smart idiot!"
"What the heck is a smart idiot?!"
Iliana's eyes widened as she yelled.
Fwoosh-!
Just then, flames flickered from Celia's body.
"You're in the way."
Celia narrowed her eyes.
"Move."
Kra-ka-ka-ka-boom-!
A pillar of fire erupted on the wall.
Having turned the surroundings into a sea of fire, Celia's red eyes searched for her prey.
The surrounding students were all declared "dead."
Iliana, who had barely survived, stood in front of Chloe.
Thwip-!
As Celia charged at Chloe, Iliana raised her shield and charged back at Celia.
Clang-! Krrrrk-!
"Kuh!"
Iliana's body staggered as she blocked Celia's attack.
*I'm at too much of a disadvantage in close combat!*
As a magic swordswoman, it was advantageous for Iliana to create distance from Celia.
But since she had to protect Chloe, she couldn't do that.
"Hah!"
Iliana swung her sword urgently.
Fwoosh-!
The moment she thought she'd cut Celia.
The fiery afterimage scattered.
Just as Iliana gritted her teeth and tried to swing her shield behind her.
Slice-!
Celia's sword slashed across Iliana's back.
"Guaaaargh!"
Iliana rolled on the ground.
Just then.
Crackle-!
Chloe, having completed her spell, unleashed her magic.
"Ugh?!"
Celia hurriedly created distance.
Having frozen the entire area, Chloe smiled sweetly at Celia.
Looking at Chloe, Celia readjusted her grip on her sword.
"Hahp!"
Fwoosh-!
A sword aura of fire surrounded Chloe.
Seeing this, Chloe struck the ground with her staff.
Fwoom-!
A wall of frost then blew away Celia's flames.
*There was no sign of her chanting?*
Celia's eyes twitched.
"Is that your familiar?"
"Yeah. It's a slime specialized in defense to protect me."
As Chloe extended her hand, chunks of ice formed at her fingertips.
Watching her, Celia gritted her teeth, then readjusted her grip on her sword and began to emit a fiery aura.
Fwoosh-!
Chloe chanted a spell.
Fwoosh-!
Celia quickly closed the distance to Chloe.
Krr-crunch-!
"It's useless!"
An ice spike shot up from the ground to block Celia's path, but it melted away in a single blow.
"Ice Bolt."
Chloe instantly created hundreds of ice bolts and aimed them at Celia.
Celia's eyes flashed.
Kra-ka-ka-boom-!
Flames erupted.
Having blown away all of Chloe's magic, Celia thrust her sword toward her.
*Got her...*
Squish-!
Celia's sword pierced through Chloe's chest.
At that moment.
Chloe, smiling sweetly, grabbed Celia's hand.
*Damn it! An ice clone!*
The ice clone, one of Chloe's specialties, exploded, instantly freezing Celia's body.
*I fell for it...*
Celia hung her head low.
Watching her, Chloe spoke.
"You're not going to draw Flame Storm?"
The sword Celia was currently holding was not Flame Storm, but an ordinary rapier.
Of course, it was still a masterpiece crafted by an artisan, but it couldn't compare to her beloved sword, Flame Storm.
Celia gritted her teeth.
"This isn't like the Celia I know."
"What?"
"The Celia I know was always confident and never yielded to any trial."
Chloe smiled gently.
"You were mature, reliable, and a friend I respected. As class president, I worked hard not to be a disappointment to you."
Celia bit her lip.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Was losing to Leo that much of a shock?"
Celia hung her head low.
It would be easy to defeat Celia while she was mentally shaken.
But Chloe didn't want to do that.
Back in their first year, whenever she struggled as class president, Celia had been a dependable friend.
Even though they were in different dorms and were rivals.
That fact hadn't changed.
*Now, I want to be the one to help you up.*
A year ago, after the first semester midterms, Chloe might have broken down if it hadn't been for Celia.
They were supposed to be rivals who had to defeat each other.
*But we're still just students.*
As a close friend, she didn't want to leave Celia in despair.
Having felt deep despair because of Leo herself, she understood Celia's feelings all too well.
"Celia. You have your own..."
"Aha! What's this? I thought you seemed different than usual. Were you scared stiff by the class president?"
Just then, Iliana, who had narrowly avoided a "death" verdict, shot up to her feet.
And as if she understood, she nodded. "Mm-hm!"
"I'm not intimidated by the class president at all! But Celia is!"
Iliana placed her hands firmly on her hips and burst out laughing. "Mwahahaha!"
"I guess it can't be helped! Even the great Celia is just another student in front of the class president! Still, to be scared... Pfft! So the perfect top student has a cute side, huh?"
Iliana was being as flippant as ever.
"Well! If you're in that state, it'll be a perfect victory for our Glory!"
Heh! As Iliana snorted, Celia hung her head low.
"Who... are you calling a coward?"
"Huh?"
From under her shadowed face, her red eyes flashed dangerously.
Fwoosh-!
"I've never... been scared of anything!"
An immense heat poured from the provoked Celia's body.
"Hiiik?"
Iliana was horrified.
With a flushed face, Celia drew Flame Storm from its sheath.
Fwoooooosh!
Seeing Flame Storm ignite once more, Iliana hid behind Chloe.
"W-What's with her all of a sudden?!"
"...Good job. It wasn't my intention, but it looks like she's snapped out of it."
Chloe let out a dry laugh as she watched Iliana, who had successfully provoked Celia.
"Prominence!"
Celia unleashed her aura with all her might.
Seeing that, Chloe's expression turned a little serious.
"The problem is, she might have snapped out of it a little too much."
Knowing that Celia, who was usually a calm and level-headed top student, would stop at nothing once her lid was blown, Chloe wore a troubled expression and pushed Iliana, who was behind her, forward.
"Huh? Huh?"
"I'm counting on you, Iliana?"
"For what?"
"Friend shield."
Just as Iliana was about to cry at Chloe's witch-like smile.
Kra-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-!
"What's that now?!"
Iliana was shocked as a tidal wave crashed over them.
The Glory students defending the base were also shocked.
The other students who had been fiercely attacking also wore expressions of astonishment.
"Kuh? The only person who would do something like this is..."
Celia gritted her teeth, and Chloe sighed.
"Is there anyone else?"
Tu-kra-ka-ka-ka-ka-kak-!
A massive tidal wave swept over the battlefield in an instant.
***
Looking at the battlefield, which had been turned into a sea by the tidal wave, Eliza frowned.
*He's truly a monster.*
As a summoner herself, she could tell just how absurdly powerful the spirit art Leo had used was.
Just as Eliza was wary of Leo, he raised his hand.
The four of them tensed up at the gesture.
Crackle-!
A pure white spark flew from Leo's fingertips.
A pure white spark.
Realizing what it was, Eliza let out a dry laugh.
"If this is a nightmare... please, let me wake up."
Flash! Kra-ka-ka-boom-!
A bolt of lightning struck down upon Leo's hand.
The pure white flash faded.
And a pure white horse appeared.
Leo, now mounted on Ati, spoke.
"Shall we begin Phase Two?"