Midterms (2)
No one in the Acacia family had handled their summons as masterfully as Sheera Acacia since the family's founder first summoned his own. And Sheera Acacia's hobby? Hunting flying beasts with her summons.
—Peep peep, squeee!
True to its nature, the Violet Mamba's fangs—far more lethal to humans and fellow summons than to monsters—sank straight into the Gale Hawk's nape amid a whirlwind gust. The deadly venom, fatal even to its own rank, coursed through the one-star-lower Gale Hawk's body. As the poison, potent enough to drop an African elephant in seconds, spread, the Gale Hawk foamed at the mouth and collapsed. But the arena's magic kept it from dying outright. It writhed in agony, twitching endlessly.
—Squeee! Pweeek, squeeee!
Sheera grinned wickedly at the suffering summon. The summoner on Stella's team shrieked.
"What the—! That's cheating, straight-up cheating!"
"Cheating how?"
"Your summon's only one-star! Who uses a family heirloom summon like that!?"
"You're using your family's summon too, aren't you?"
"—T-that's... that's different!"
Caught off-guard, she scrambled for excuses, but Sheera's sneaky play and her summon's agonized screams had rattled her. Distracted, she couldn't think straight. In the end, teary-eyed, she looked to the teacher—begging for intervention.
The judge and teacher, Pleina, eyed Sheera. "...You sure about this? If you go that route..."
The next match: Stella Iritz would summon her family's heirloom too. A four-star fire grand spirit on par with the principal's—Ifrit.
"I'm good."
Sheera nodded with a smile, fully aware. She could've conceded here, ending it as Stella's team's win. But Pleina, her own student and the Iritz lady, deserved a bigger spotlight. She chose otherwise.
Idiot.
After losing all this time, was pride kicking in now? Winning ugly like this wouldn't help against Stella later anyway.
"Victory to—Sheera Acacia."
The announcement echoed through the arena.
"Wait, is that even allowed...?"
"Teacher okayed it, so yeah?"
"Doesn't matter—if she pulls that next time..."
Ignoring the kids' murmurs, Sheera descended. She headed straight to Ian Clark, watching from below.
"How'd I do?"
"Nailed it."
"Right? Told ya!"
Grinning ear-to-ear, she eyed him. She'd used her family summon, so Stella would too. But Ian's face showed no real worry at facing a four-star head-on.
What're you gonna pull next?
Beating three-star with two-star was easier than four-star with three-star, sure. Still, a star's gap was a wall. And unlike Sheera's favorable matchup, Ian's summons weren't even advantaged against Stella.
If... you win this.
Unthinkable upset. If he pulled it off, She'd give him everything.
"You gotta win, yeah?"
"Obviously."
Bet was on. Ian thought that as he climbed the arena.
Woooo! Coward! Chicken! Die!
Shut up.
Blind hate rained down. Predictable, but no one threw stuff—sacred Canopus Academy. That'd tarnish family honor, maybe even get you expelled.
Stella's fans cheered her wildly. Amid the roar, she strode up, eyes blazing.
She locked on Ian. "Your doing, right?"
"Huh?"
"Making the other go first. Letting Sheera use her family summon. All of it."
"And if it was?"
Stella's head dipped, fists shaking with rage. Her eyes burned icy-hot.
"...Spineless coward with no honor."
Scorching yet frigid.
"Stupid me, thinking you had skill even for a second."
Surely cheated at the summoning ritual. Everything fake. She'd trashed him like that.
Ian nodded calmly, stepping forward. The holy knight crest on his hand gleamed.
"Yeah, spot on."
All thanks to the system. Possible 'cause this world was a game, and he was the possessor.
So?
World chose him. He was chosen. Duty to prove worthy.
"To you, it all looks like tricks."
"...What?"
"You wouldn't believe this either."
Ian tapped his hand lightly. System window popped up, Anna's status floating.
She saved a kingdom.
She rescued hundreds of thousands.
Her prayers reached the heavens.
Hunted academy-invading monsters with Noah; EXP maxed then, but no soul stone. Now, Dinua's gift in hand.
Thanks, senpai. I'll use it well.
Ian crushed the soul stone, hit the button.
System shook violently.
The crest's wings on his hand shimmered, growing huge. Ian reached out.
"Anna."
Shwaaak—!
Wings unfurled as always; new ones sprouted on her back. Half-angel in human form, now angelic traits emerged.
"...Master, this?"
"Ifrit."
Before Anna could question, Stella summoned too.
Roooar!
Blazing entrance heated the world; mere presence evoked disaster. The grand spirit appeared.
—Kyahaha! Thought I wouldn't get to play today!
Ifrit eyed Ian and Anna eagerly, ready to torch them.
Ref confirmed summons. "Fair and square—begin!"
Pillar of fire erupted under Anna instantly.
Stella recalled Sheera's cheap family summon trick, crushing her teammate's two-star.
Cowardly.
Teachers approved Ian's team for staying within rules. But young cadets like Stella, straight out of noble tales, saw different.
Break rules for win?
Untrained in real war, her childish innocence clung tight.
To a guy like that...
She hated her brief crush. Shameful. She'd cut ties fully. Win this, clear the debt.
No debt, and you're nothing.
Flames died; Ian and Anna emerged unscathed.
Stella panicked, glaring at Ifrit. "What!?"
—Uh, wha? Why didn't it burn...?
Ifrit was stunned too. Another impossibility. He always shattered norms.
Stella gritted teeth, activating Original Arts. "Ifrit! Flame Buster!"
—...Nah, better wait.
"Defying summoner orders!?"
—...Fine.
Ifrit suppressed unease, firing at the pair.
Ian and Anna smiled at the incoming blast.
"Anna, you got this?"
"Yes! Master, before... impossible. Now..."
Anna flapped her new tiny wings. Pre-summon, Ifrit outclassed her. Now? Not.
Dunno what Master did, but she's stronger.
Unlike before, she'd tank one Original Arts hit.
National salvation holy knight. Blocked armies sacrificing herself. A little burn? Routine.
Fwoooosh—!
Focused flames shot like a beam. Anna raised shield, blocking fully. Inch by inch, she pushed forward.
Ifrit gaped. —Impossible!
No three-star tanks that firepower. Even top defender Rock Turtle would've melted.
"Sorry, but...!"
Huff, Anna exhaled hot breath. Heat scorched her, but not enough to stop.
"I'm a holy knight! Unbroken by any trial!"
Unyielding will. Her other Original Arts. Tanks any attack once.
She'd taken plenty.
"Take this."
Sword thrust at airborne Ifrit. Judgment Blade. Returns all damage in one counter.
Flap! Tiny wings beat. She soared into unreachable skies.
Ifrit instinctively shielded face. Dumb. No death here. Should've counterattacked or dodged.
Puuk—!
—Kyaaaaak!
All her attacks stabbed back in one blow. Pain indescribable.
But she screamed it out.
Fwoosh, flames scattered wildly. Impaled, Ifrit plummeted with Anna—David slaying Goliath.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Huff! Pant! Surrender! Now!"
Anna bashed Ifrit with shield, two-handing it. The giant reeled.
"...I-impossible."
"Where's the impossibility?"
Ian approached stunned Stella. To ref: "Match decided. Continue?"
Thud! Thud!
"...Yes, it is."
Watching Anna smash Ifrit's jaw, ref declared.
Winner—