Chapter 116
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: How About Calling It a Draw?
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Meanwhile, around that time.
Ullan also noticed the anomaly.
'Laurea has vanished.'
The woman who had been kneeling on the ground until just moments ago had disappeared in an instant.
He had a hunch.
She had probably used the 'Bridge of Light.'
The moment he realized this.
Ullan took in every patch of light in his field of vision. Soon after, he pictured the most likely destination for Laurea.
'She headed for the base?'
The cabin on the hilltop.
There were no shadows on the path to Arsen's base. That meant there was a risk of the flag being stolen if he wasn't careful.
Still, he wasn't particularly worried.
'Noa is at the base right now.'
The strongest shaman that Ullan knew of.
Noa would be more than a match for Laurea.
He wasn't sure if she could win, but buying time would be a piece of cake.
'So I'll get there first...'
He just needed to head to Eloden's base.
In fact, this was actually fortunate for Ullan. He hadn't been eager to fight Laurea anyway.
With all his thoughts settled.
Ullan looked straight ahead once more.
'First, take down Ian.'
Having set a clear goal.
The moment he started moving toward him.
Something suddenly blocked his path.
"...Protect us."
As soon as the cadets' prayer ended.
Whoosh!
A silver veil unfurled around them.
This faintly glowing barrier enveloped the cadets and Ian tightly. Seeing this, Ullan muttered as if it were familiar.
"Holy Shield?"
"Impressive. You even know about this."
Teron said, sounding somewhat admiring.
Of course he knew.
It was a holy spell that Ian and Laurea had used countless times in his past life. But Teron, unaware of that, grinned and said,
"That's right. This is Eloden's pride and joy, the invincible Holy Shield. No matter how hard you try, you won't break through it!"
Teron shouted triumphantly.
At that moment, Ullan shook his head.
As if correcting him.
"No, that's wrong."
"...What?"
"It's not an invincible barrier."
This was a fact.
In his past life, when facing the Frost Dragon after seven molts, even a 9th-grade Holy Shield couldn't block its breath.
To be precise, it was due to the dragon's unique ability to freeze surrounding mana.
'Of course, the Frost Dragon isn't around anymore.'
As he thought that and moved on.
Suddenly, something crossed his mind.
'Wait a second.'
Doesn't that make it invincible?
Because among the lords of the Abyss, the Frost Dragon was the only one that had pierced a 9th-grade Holy Shield.
As he pondered seriously.
A shout broke his reverie.
"How dare you insult Eloden!"
"Then prove your words!"
Some cadets, offended by the claim that the Holy Shield wasn't invincible, yelled in outrage.
Ullan nodded.
"Got it."
Ullan approached the silver veil.
The moment they saw this, Teron and the Eloden cadets smirked confidently.
Provoking him to charge in.
This was part of their plan.
Because the prayer they had chanted wasn't just for the Holy Shield.
'The moment he approaches the shield...'
The pre-prepared prayer would activate.
A holy spell that sealed movement. Even an expert would show a momentary opening against it.
As they gauged the distance.
Finally, Ullan touched the shield.
The instant they confirmed it.
Scraaaape!
With the sound of iron chains scraping the ground, another holy spell activated.
『Chains of Judgment』
Pure white chains extended from the sunlit area.
These chains of light bound Ullan's arms and legs in the blink of an eye.
"Now!"
"Everyone, attack!"
Led by Teron drawing his sword, the Eloden cadets charged at Ullan all at once.
All except one: Ian.
A short while later.
The reason he didn't move became clear.
Crunch! Graaunch!
Even with the Holy Shield blocking his path and the Chains of Judgment binding his limbs, Ullan's footsteps showed no sign of stopping.
"Wha-what?!"
"What is this?! The shield...!"
The shield was distorting.
Unable to halt Ullan's advance, it stretched further and eventually began to crack.
And before long—
Kraaack! Shatter!
The Holy Shield broke apart.
The cadets charging alongside froze like statues.
"H-how did the Holy Shield...?"
"What trick did you use?!"
As the flustered cadets asked.
Ullan answered calmly.
"I just walked."
To be precise, he pushed through with sheer force.
A Holy Shield below 7th grade, which fell short of top-tier holy spells, could simply be torn or smashed with strength.
As silence hung in the air.
One cadet noticed something.
"The Chains of Judgment are still holding!"
"Julia! Create an opening!"
With the shout realizing the chains still bound Ullan firmly, Teron ordered the girl closest to him.
And Julia moved immediately.
"Holy Saint!"
Leading with Julia's attack.
Teron and three other cadets followed, swinging their swords fiercely.
But once again, Ian didn't move.
For the same reason as before.
Paang!
The chains shattered futilely.
Julia's eyes widened.
"...Huh?"
Why didn't it hold?
As she thought that inwardly.
Grip!
A massive hand seized her face.
And her world flipped upside down.
"What..."
With that one word of doubt.
Boooom!
A massive roar and tremor shook the ground.
The sound made by the blonde girl who had been attacking Ullan until a moment ago slamming headfirst into the earth.
[Julia Medica: Death]
[Eloden Remaining Forces: 7]
Was it the shock strong enough to cause unconsciousness?
Julia was knocked out of the battle in one hit.
Meanwhile, the cadets following her hesitated for a moment upon seeing her fall.
"Wh-what do we do?!"
"Holy Saint! To your servant..."
The silver-haired girl shouted in panic.
On the other hand, the brown-haired boy calmly began chanting a prayer. Unfortunately, the boy's prayer didn't continue.
Splat! Booom!
The fate of the two was the same as Julia's.
[Cecilia Rolben: Death]
[Bailon Tarmel: Death]
[Eloden Remaining Forces: 5]
Three eliminated in an instant.
Teron swallowed hard.
He couldn't believe it even seeing it with his own eyes.
Especially Bailon Tarmel, who had just fallen—he was at the peak of mid-tier knight level. A powerhouse on the verge of reaching high-tier knight within months.
And he was subdued in one breath?
'Am I really...'
...fighting an expert?'
Ullan's performance was so overwhelming that such thoughts crossed his mind. Then, he suddenly recalled what Ian had said before coming here.
「Everyone, pray quickly. Pray that monster doesn't get freed from us before the mock battle ends.」
Monster. The word fit perfectly.
Sensing there was no chance of victory.
"Hoooh."
Teron exhaled all the air from his lungs. The moment he realized and accepted that this wasn't his opponent, his mind suddenly felt at ease.
A moment later, he casually spoke to Ullan, who had closed in right before him.
"I have one question."
"What?"
"About the cadets you took down."
The three men and women embedded upside down like totems.
He asked curiously.
"Why did you do that to them?"
"Because chanting prayers is a hassle."
"..."
Just for that reason?
Teron was speechless for a moment.
On the other hand, for Ullan, this was a tactic he'd wracked his brain to come up with.
To prevent the enemy from chanting, he had to seal their mouths—but slamming their heads into the ground was simpler.
With the question resolved.
Teron put on a serious expression.
"...I promise you this."
"What?"
"I won't chant any prayers."
No matter what.
He said with a resolute face.
"You get what that means, right?"
Ullan nodded silently.
Teron sighed in relief.
Looking utterly relieved, as if thinking he wouldn't get slammed into the ground.
A short while later.
Boooom!
Teron was slammed upside down.
Just like the other cadets.
[Teron Schlagen: Death]
[Eloden Remaining Forces: 4]
After brushing the dirt from his palm.
Ullan muttered softly.
"I don't trust the enemy's words."
Was it because his head was buried in the ground?
No reply came.
Having taken down all the cadets, Ullan turned to the last opponent remaining.
One of his comrades from his past life.
Holy Knight, Ian Marcus.
The moment their eyes met.
"W-wait a second! Just a moment!"
Ian suddenly thrust out his hand.
As if he had something to say.
"Can I make one proposal?"
"Proposal?"
"Haha, yes. About this battle."
Letting out an awkward laugh.
Ian sidled up and spoke.
"How about we call it a draw?"
"What are you talking about?"
A draw?
We haven't even fought yet?
As Ullan asked dubiously, Ian suddenly curled the corner of his mouth. Then, covering his mouth with his hand, he whispered,
"I know your secret."
"What? Secret?"
"Yes. If you back off here, I won't reveal your secret."
Did I have a secret?
Ullan tilted his head.
The only thing that came to mind was the story of his past life he'd recently told Laurea.
'But...'
Laurea had clearly said back then.
Let's keep the story of the past life a secret between just the two of us for the time being. So Ullan ruled that out and pondered further.
But nothing came up.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb."
As he frowned.
Ian stepped closer.
About three steps.
Not close enough to feel each other's breath, but near enough to whisper so only the opponent could hear.
And at that moment.
Ian's lips moved.
"You're not actually an expert, are you?"
A tone different from usual.
Ian continued in a small voice only Ullan could hear.
"You might fool others, but not my eyes."
"..."
"I don't know why a master-level powerhouse is pretending to be a mere student, but it must be a secret you'd be in trouble if exposed."
His green eyes sparkled like stars.
As if he'd uncovered a great secret.
"So give up and back off nicely, and I swear on the Holy Saint I won't tell a soul. Never. Sound good? Not a bad deal, right?"
Ian smiled brightly.
As if certain of the outcome.
On the other hand, Ullan chuckled.
"You're mistaken."
"Still denying..."
"I've never hidden my strength."
"...What?"
"My comrades already know."
Ullan replied calmly.
Because it was true.
The fact that he was a master was known to Ivela and Dilia, and even Noa.
Meanwhile, perhaps because the result was unexpected.
Ian couldn't hide his fluster.
"B-but the other students think you're an expert..."
"That's their assumption. I've never once claimed to be an expert."
After finishing his bold response.
Ullan drove in a powerful wedge that invalidated the proposal itself.
"Above all, I don't mind if it's known I'm a master. It's not making up some fiction—it's just revealing the truth."
"..."
Ian clamped his mouth shut.
Because he realized two facts.
First, everything Ullan said was true. Second, the proposal itself had become meaningless.
"If your doubts are cleared, let's fight."
At those words, Ian made a miserable face.
As if pleading for mercy.
"...Do we really have to fight?"
"Of course."
"What if I surrender...?"
"Then you'll end up the same."
Ullan pointed to the four human totems.
There was no way to avoid battle.
Letting out a heavy sigh, he clasped his hands politely, looked up at the sky, and muttered,
"Holy Saint. Why are you doing this to me?"
No answer came.
Ian sighed repeatedly as he put distance between him and Ullan. Then, shield forward, he drew out his holy power to the limit.
And the result.
Flash!
Dazzling silver radiance enveloped Ian's body. The shield turned pure white, and pure holy power gathered on his wooden sword.
The mark of a master-level holy knight.
Holy Aura.
At the same time, a temporary domain unfolded.
Just one step, but unmistakably a master's domain. With all preparations complete, Ian pointed his sword at Ullan and spoke.
"Disciple of Paladin Master Shankthus, Holy Knight of Eloden, Ian Marcus."
"Ullan Bator. Just a barbarian."
Ullan grinned.
After his extremely simple introduction.
He too activated Spirit throughout his body. Soon, as if proving he'd never hidden his power, crimson mana wrapped around his club.
The symbol of a master, aura.
Soon, Ullan's domain unfolded.
Shaaa!
The three Spirits completed after subjugating the Frost Dragon, Glescia, infused with experiences from his past life—his domain expanded explosively.
'Thirty-nine steps.'
Nearly double the width.
He didn't even need to take a step.
Ullan's domain swallowed Ian's domain whole, and the battle ended the instant it began.
A true moment of combat.
Only Ullan and Ian, who were in the domain together, remembered what happened.
A short while later.
Boooom!
Ian was slammed upside down.