Chapter 208: Alice Subjugation (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 208: Alice Subjugation (4)
“Worrying about whether I’m a student or an adult in the middle of a fight…?”
Isaac’s voice was as cold and biting as a winter frost.
“I don’t need your condescension.”
Zenon spat a glob of blood, forcing himself upright to glare at the silver-blue-haired boy. Though part of his leg was frozen, hindering his movement, he still believed himself to be the superior combatant.
However…
“Or did you want to show some sympathy before killing me because I’m a student?”
Whether it was the exceptionally talented Isaac, or Zenon, whose years of training far exceeded the boy’s...
“Here, it’s only about who wins and who loses. Nothing else matters.”
In the end, this fight would result in the destruction of one of their futures.
“Does the process even matter?”
…That’s right.
Zenon’s expression softened. Those few words from Isaac had cleared the turmoil in his mind. Had he really been pitying the boy until just now? Yet, he couldn't shake the lingering guilt.
“…You’re right, Isaac.”
Zenon removed his military cap and let it fall to the floor, discarding his ludicrous hypocrisy along with it.
That’s right… I shouldn’t feel any guilt about trampling this boy’s future.
Neither needed to speak again until the fight reached its conclusion. Zenon gripped the hilt of his Tachi with both hands, centering his weight.
“…”
Isaac watched Zenon’s every micro-movement, adjusting his grip on Zhonya’s Staff. His body felt heavy; the amplified cold radiating from Zenon’s Tachi was slowly beginning to freeze his joints. Dragging this out would only put him at a disadvantage, especially when time was a luxury he didn't have.
He had to end this swiftly.
Isaac steeled his resolve and lunged, his boots kicking off the ground with explosive force.
Clang!
Boom!
The two clashed, a whirlwind of elemental magic and steel. A flurry of cold strikes carved jagged lines through the air. Zenon retreated suddenly, thrusting his Tachi upward. Heavy ice and lightning wreathed his blade.
Having already foreseen the move through [Psychological Insight], Isaac immediately conjured [Fossilized Ice]—a wall of frost reinforced with stone.
Zenon brought his Tachi down in a devastating arc.
Kwagagagang!!
A frozen slash wrapped in lightning tore through the earth. Countless bolts of electricity whipped out like chains, mercilessly striking the floor.
“…!”
The [Fossilized Ice] shielded Isaac’s body before shattering into fragments as the ground beneath him crumbled. With his footing gone, Isaac hovered in mid-air for a split second. As he fell toward the vast first-floor hall amidst the rubble, his gaze remained fixed on Zenon.
Boom!
Zenon launched himself off a piece of floating debris, leaping toward Isaac.
This was the decisive moment.
Isaac roared, “Eden!!”
[Kyuuu!]
Koooooo!
Just as Zenon was about to unleash a trail of frost and lightning from his long blade, a massive pillar of rock erupted from the first floor. It surged toward Zenon with fierce momentum—the 4-star spell, [Rock Avalanche].
In a flash, Zenon spotted a small golem casting magic from below. It was Eden, the rock golem familiar Isaac had summoned and kept on standby.
“Tsk!”
Zenon skillfully altered the trajectory of his sword mid-air. The lightning-charged slash collided with the [Rock Avalanche].
Boooooom!!
The dense pillar of rock exploded, scattering debris in every direction. However, Isaac’s goal wasn't to kill him with the [Rock Avalanche]; it was to divert Zenon’s attention for a single heartbeat.
“…!”
Zenon’s eyes went wide.
He was a master of countering magic. His mind was constantly processing mana formulas, ready to neutralize any spell Isaac threw at him. But what Isaac intended to use wasn’t magic.
Zhonya’s Staff slipped from Isaac’s grasp, plummeting toward the hall below. From the moment Eden had activated the distraction, Isaac had been gripping something else with both hands.
Topaz mana coalesced into a sharp, jagged edge. Relying on pure instinct, Zenon twisted his body and swung his sword toward Isaac.
Kwaaak!!
“Kugh!!”
Before he could complete the motion, a rock greatsword slammed into Zenon’s abdomen. The sickening crunch of shattering bone and rupturing organs echoed through the hall as the topaz mana burst forth upon impact.
A direct hit. It was a critical strike that fully utilized Isaac’s superior physical stats.
Boom!
Zenon’s body was sent hurtling at tremendous speed, slamming into the far wall. The wall held firm only because of its reinforced protective barriers.
Isaac slid down a self-created ice ramp, landing gracefully on the floor. He slung the Obsidian Blade over his shoulder. Under normal circumstances, wielding the Obsidian Blade wrapped in rock mana would have petrified his hands instantly. However, thanks to the stat boost from [vs. Human Combat Power], only his fingertips had turned to stone; the rest of his body remained unharmed.
“Uhugh…!”
Zenon coughed up a spray of blood. He had been careless. He had expected Isaac to have a hidden weapon and had even accounted for the range of a longsword, but he never imagined a rock greatsword.
Or perhaps… was it really carelessness?
Deep down, Zenon knew the truth. Isaac’s ability to make split-second tactical decisions had already surpassed Zenon’s own years of combat experience. Specifically, [Psychological Insight] had stripped Zenon of any advantage.
Unaware of the skill, Zenon slumped against the wall, silently marveling at the boy's talent. He tried to stand, but his body felt like lead. Looking down, he saw the petrified remains of his midsection. A sudden wave of exhaustion hit him; his consciousness flickered on the edge of darkness.
Isaac’s eyes, glowing a sharp yellow, turned toward him. Behind the boy, a mysterious ring of rocks floated in the air. In his right hand was the rock greatsword—the defensive form of the Obsidian Blade, [Eclipse].
Isaac approached. Zenon didn't give up, unleashing a desperate barrage of ice and lightning, but Isaac dodged or countered them with ease. With Zenon critically wounded, his attacks lacked the precision and power to pose a threat.
“Uck…!”
Zenon vomited more blood. The onset of drowsiness made his vision blur. Isaac stood before him, staring down without a trace of emotion.
Zenon had held the upper hand in raw power. Yet now, he was the one bleeding out on the floor.
Remarkable…
Strangely, Zenon felt no bitterness or anger—only admiration. He saw a reflection of his younger self in Isaac, the boy who used to live for the sword. But this boy… he was going to become something far greater.
Suddenly, he found himself wanting to see what kind of future Isaac would carve out. But he knew that was a wish that would never be granted.
“…It’s my loss.”
A mixture of guilt for his failed mission, regret for his shortened life, and an odd sense of relief washed over him. The bitter taste of copper filled his mouth, and he let out a hollow, bittersweet laugh.
Finally, his voice choked with emotion, Zenon spoke.
“I’m glad you were my last opponent… It’s not a bad feeling…”
Thwack!
“Puhuk!”
Without warning, Isaac delivered a sharp spinning kick to Zenon’s temple. Zenon’s head snapped to the side, and he slumped over, unconscious.
“Shut up.”
Isaac had no interest in hearing the final words of a loser. The man seemed lost in some sentimental trance, but Isaac’s only thought was, So what?
The rock-infused form of the Obsidian Blade receded. Isaac’s eyes reverted to their dull red hue, and the ring of stone behind him vanished.
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 125!]
[You have gained 4 stat points!]
“Good.”
Isaac exhaled a long, shaky breath of relief.
“Good job, Eden.”
[Kyuuu!]
Isaac gave a thumbs up to the little golem. Eden responded by proudly raising his right arm before Isaac reverse-summoned him.
“…Ah, right.”
Before moving on, Isaac remembered something. In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, there was always an item drop after defeating Zenon. He quickly stripped the uniform off the unconscious man and rummaged through the pockets.
“Oh.”
Just like in the game, he found ten small vials of healing potions. These were high-quality tonics sourced from the Heart Kingdom. While they couldn't match the potency of high-tier healing magic, they were invaluable for emergencies.
He downed one immediately. It was bland and watery at first, followed by a sharp, medicinal bitterness that burned the back of his throat. Isaac grimaced.
“I’ll take the loot.”
He stowed the remaining potions and retrieved Zhonya’s Staff and the Sheath of Disaster. His petrified fingertips were already beginning to soften. The pain and the frostbite from Zenon’s chill were fading faster than he had anticipated.
Isaac turned and ran up the stairs. He needed to reach Alice as quickly as possible.
“…”
Behind him, the first floor of Bartos Hall lay in ruins, littered with debris and the half-naked, unconscious form of a defeated elite.