Chapter 097
Chapter Title: The Victor's Command
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Leo clicked his tongue as he arrived at the lake south of Neigrang.
“This isn't it. Is this the second dead end?”
Leo took out a map and marked the lake with an X.
‘One to the east, one to the north. And the last one is…’
Leo turned his head to look at the ruined castle.
‘One at the castle ruins.’
Since it overlapped with his final destination, he could check the lake at the castle ruins last.
‘By the way.’
Tucking the map away, Leo looked behind him.
“So, why have you been following me?”
At his question, the person who had been hiding between the buildings appeared before Leo.
“Did you know I was following you, Young Master Leo?”
“Yeah.”
“As expected of you.”
“So. The castle ruins are in the opposite direction, right? Why did you follow me all the way here?”
“Why did you come here, Young Master Leo?”
“I have some personal business.”
“I also came for personal business.”
“What is it?”
*Fwoosh-!*
“A match.”
As Chen Xia unleashed her aura, a silk-like ripple formed around her.
Wrapping it around her body like a celestial robe, Chen Xia extended her right hand toward Leo and placed her left hand behind her back, lowering her stance.
“Why all of a sudden?”
“I wanted to know. The gap between you and me, Young Master Leo. And…”
Chen Xia’s expression turned serious.
“Just what kind of person you are.”
Leo drew his sword.
“Is that all?”
“I also covet the position of year representative.”
At those words, Leo burst out laughing.
“Why are you laughing?”
“No reason. It’s just that this seems to be the first time you’ve so openly revealed your ambition.”
Chen Xia was one of the top students in the first year.
And all the top-tier students, without exception, were aiming for Leo’s position as year representative.
Having lived their entire lives as the best, they couldn’t be satisfied with anything less.
But among them, there was one student who had conspicuously held back.
That was Chen Xia.
‘She definitely had the ambition, though.’
“I'm curious why you're suddenly showing it.”
“This is a battle royale. A stage where we can determine our true skills. And…”
Her eyes grew somber.
“I came to see.”
“What?”
*Fwip-!*
Kicking off the ground, Chen Xia rushed toward Leo.
‘Attacking first?’
Fundamentally, Chen Xia was a martial artist with a strong defensive tendency.
This was because the nature of her water attribute was more advantageous for defense and evasion than for offense.
Among the Knight Department students, there had even been long debates about who could possibly break through her fluid defense.
‘The ones considered to have a chance were Celia and Duran.’
But it was only ever a possibility.
Even the Knight Department students weren't confident that the two, considered to have the strongest offensive power in their year, could break Chen Xia's defense.
That's how overwhelming Chen Xia's defensive power was.
And now she had abandoned that advantage to attack first.
‘Well, it’s not like her offense is weak, either.’
*Fwoosh-!*
Leo ignited his flame aura.
Chen Xia’s small hands moved gracefully.
But the attack that followed that grace was nothing short of vicious.
Chen Xia’s water aura scattered in all directions as tiny droplets.
The droplets all became sharp needles.
“......!”
Leo hastily wrapped his body in his flame aura.
*Patter-patter-patter-!*
Hundreds of needles assailed him from all sides.
*Sizzzle!*
The water needles collided with the wall of flames, creating steam.
Despite the incredible number of needles, they couldn't penetrate the barrier of flames.
“It seems I'll need an awl, not a needle.”
A palm-sized droplet of water formed in Chen Xia's hand, then quickly transformed into a sharp awl.
*Fwip-!*
The awl-shaped water aura pierced through the flame aura and aimed for Leo.
*Whoosh!*
Leo leaned back, dodging the attack.
As he straightened up, the instep of Chen Xia’s foot entered his vision.
Chen Xia’s specialty was martial arts.
The biggest disadvantage of martial arts was the difficulty in closing the distance against an armed opponent.
But conversely, that disadvantage meant that if she could close the distance, she could render her opponent helpless.
Leo raised his unarmed hand to block Chen Xia’s attack.
*CRACK-! Thud-!*
A bone-shattering impact struck his right forearm, and his feet sank deep into the dirt ground.
But he had no time to worry about that.
Because after retracting her foot, Chen Xia’s fist was aiming for his right side.
Faced with the aura-infused attack, Leo dropped his sword and hurriedly blocked with his left hand.
*Thwack-!*
As if struck by a giant club, Leo’s body was sent flying.
*Splash-!*
Leo’s body crashed into the lakeside, sending a pillar of water high into the air.
“Impressive, Young Master Leo... To counterattack in the midst of all that.”
Chen Xia frowned, tearing off the burnt and tattered left sleeve of her blouse.
Even as he was sent flying, Leo’s flame aura had succeeded in breaching Chen Xia’s defense.
*Splash.*
Climbing out of the water, Leo shook his tingling right hand and looked at Chen Xia.
Seeing him, Chen Xia smiled.
“You really are amazing, Young Master Leo. I attacked with all my strength, yet you're perfectly fine.”
“Fine? Do I look fine to you? It hurts like hell.”
Watching Leo grumble, Chen Xia gave a wry smile.
‘Isn’t the fact that he still has the energy to joke around proof that he’s fine?’
Thinking this, Chen Xia prepared for Leo’s attack.
‘I’ve already used a surprise attack once. Young Master Leo isn’t one to fall for the same trick twice.’
She had other methods, but now was not the time to attack Leo rashly.
‘Young Master Leo’s attack back then.’
Chen Xia recalled the first day she learned the Brave Hero’s Breath.
‘That must be the maximum firepower Young Master Leo can produce.’
*Wooooom-!*
Chen Xia released her aura.
Her black hair fluttered in response.
Her obsidian-black eyes turned a sapphire blue.
‘If I can just deflect that sword strike!’
“This isn't like you, Chen Xia.”
“Pardon?”
“Water is a power that always changes with the flow.”
Leo tilted his head.
“But right now, you’re too rigid.”
“......!”
“Did something happen?”
Staring at Leo with a stiff face, Chen Xia suddenly broke into a smile.
“Nothing happened.”
Leo extended his hand.
*Voom-!*
Responding to his aura, the sword flew into Leo’s hand.
*Fwoosh-!*
‘If I can just block that sword strike!’
Watching Chen Xia focus her mind, Leo readied his sword.
*Wooooom-!*
A powerful heat washed over Chen Xia’s skin.
Chen Xia tensed her entire body.
‘It’s coming!’
*Rumble!*
Seeing Leo’s flame aura rushing toward her, Chen Xia took a deep breath.
The Brave Hero’s Breath activated, and a powerful current of water formed around her.
The water aura swallowed Leo’s sword strike, changing its flow.
In that moment, Chen Xia felt that something was wrong.
‘It can’t be just this much.’
“I told you.”
Chen Xia flinched at the voice coming from behind her.
“You're too rigid.”
*Thump-!*
She felt Leo’s palm touch her back.
Focusing his aura into his palm, Leo pushed it into Chen Xia’s back.
*BOOM-!*
“Keuk?”
The compressed aura exploded, sending Chen Xia flying.
After tumbling wretchedly across the ground, Chen Xia gasped as she saw the sword at her throat.
“You lost.”
Chen Xia gave a hollow smile.
“Young Master Leo. Are you really fifteen?”
“Of course. How old do I look?”
“Like a battle-hardened old man who’s been through countless wars.”
Leo playfully bonked Chen Xia on the head as she spoke with a smile, then stepped back.
“What’s this? You're not going to eliminate me?”
In an instant, Chen Xia’s face turned cold.
Her voice was so chilly it was hard to believe it was her.
“Even from you, Young Master Leo, I cannot accept this. I don't need this kind of mercy...”
“You seem to be mistaken.”
Leo chuckled.
“This is a battle royale. How I use the defeated is up to me.”
“What did you say?”
“If you're the loser, you should listen to the winner, right? Some annoying kids are chasing me. You take care of them.”
Leaving those words behind, Leo leaped away.
“What the…”
With a bewildered expression, Chen Xia saw a flash of light from beyond the buildings.
“He's my target. Don't interfere, Eliza Hergin.”
“Don't be ridiculous! Leo Flove is my prey!”
Familiar voices could be heard.
A moment later, Duran and Eliza arrived at the lakeside, halting when they spotted Chen Xia.
“Duran, Eliza. The castle ruins are that way. Why did you come here?”
“What about you? Why are you here? Were you after Leo Flove, too?”
Watching Duran approach with a frown, Chen Xia gave a wry smile.
“Saying 'too' implies you’re the same, Duran.”
‘So this is what he meant.’
Understanding what he meant by taking care of the 'annoying ones,' Chen Xia laughed hollowly.
“Did you lose?”
“Yes.”
“Where did he go?”
To that question, Chen Xia replied.
“He headed that way.”
As Duran was about to chase after Leo, Chen Xia spoke.
“Duran. I’m injured. Could you go with me to Nella?”
“Why should I do that?”
“We're in the middle of the departmental competition, and we're in the same department, Duran. Surely you're not going to abandon a department peer for a personal match?”
Duran’s face twisted as he looked at Chen Xia, who spoke with a gentle smile.
“You fox!”
Now that she had brought up the Knight Department, Duran couldn't just ignore her.
“Have fun. I'm going to finish off Leo Flove.”
Eliza sneered, and Duran’s face crumpled miserably.
“Eliza. I'm having trouble walking. Could you give me a ride?”
“Xia. If you were in the Summoning Department, I would've helped, but you know we're enemies right now, don't you?”
“Oh my! After all the times I helped you study! Are you saying you're just going to abandon me now that I'm no longer useful? Is that it?”
“Wh-what?”
“You said you'd definitely repay the favor when you borrowed my lecture notes every day!”
“I-I will repay it! But there's no need to repay it right now...!”
Eliza scowled.
Eliza wasn't the type of student who diligently attended classes other than her major courses.
The ever-kind Chen Xia had helped Eliza study for the midterm exams.
And now she was bringing it up.
“You act all high and mighty, but you're no different from the other lowly scum.”
Duran said with a smirk, and Eliza’s eyes shot wide open.
A smile played on Duran’s lips.
‘If I can't fight Leo Flove, then neither can you.’
Seeing Duran’s smile, which seemed to say ‘let’s go together,’ Eliza shouted.
“Ah! Fine, we'll go together! Together! Xia! We're only going as far as the central castle ruins! After that, we're enemies!”
“Thank you, Eliza.”
Having manipulated the two students, Chen Xia sighed as she looked in the direction Leo had disappeared.
‘I don't know why you're not going to the central castle ruins... but finish up quickly and come back, Young Master Leo.’
***
The central castle ruins.
“Don't even think about it!”
*Fwoooosh! BOOM!*
“Gah! It's Celia Jerdinger!”
“Damn it! We were so close!”
Naturally, students were flocking to the central castle ruins, the only safe zone in this city.
To enter the central castle ruins, one had to pass through the gates located to the east, west, south, and north.
It was possible to climb the walls, but doing so would make one a perfect target for the concentrated fire of students positioned nearby, so no one dared to attempt it.
However, that didn't mean crossing the gates was easy either.
This was because of the students from other departments guarding each gate.
“Damn it! That way is impossible! Let's go somewhere else!”
Jureden’s party left the wall Celia was guarding and arrived at the west gate.
And seeing the student guarding the west gate, he wanted to tear his hair out.
“Chloe Müller!”
At the west gate stood Chloe, holding a staff as tall as she was.
‘All that’s left are the south and east gates. It'll be a headache if top-tier students from other departments are guarding those, too!’
Eliza, the second-ranked in the Summoning Department, was currently chasing Leo.
‘Please, Woreden! Just hold one of the gates for us!’
If they remained outside the ruins and the curse activated, weakening them, they would become targets for the students inside.
Depending on the curse, there was a high chance they could be wiped out without even putting up a proper fight.
Feeling his mouth go dry, Jureden was about to move toward the south gate.
*Keeaaaaak!*
“Huh?”
Hearing the strange cry from above, Jureden looked up at the sky with a bewildered face.
Chloe also turned her gaze to the sky with a puzzled expression.
A vicious-looking black wyvern was flying there.
“A black wyvern?”
“No way! A top-tier summoned beast can't just appear!”
While Jureden’s party was in shock.
*Creaak-!*
The black wyvern opened its mouth and began to spew its breath toward Jureden’s party.
“Aaargh! Wh-what is this!”
The breath, possessing a powerful acidic effect, melted the ground.
Jureden looked up at the sky, his face stiff.
‘That's not a summoned beast! Could it be a monster? Is there a monster that looks like that?’
Jureden tried to identify the unknown wyvern using the information in his head.
But there was no way he could identify a Fafnir, a Demonic beast driven to extinction by the Great Heroes during the Age of Calamity.
Opening its maw wide, The Fafnir aimed its breath at Jureden’s party.
*KYAAAAAK!*
“Damn it! Dodge, for now!”