Chapter 251: The Never-Ending Fight
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 251: The Never-Ending Fight
How did it even come to this?
Why is Akito so hell-bent on tearing me apart?
Did someone give him grief for throwing the match last time?
Akito is human, after all; he’s allowed to have a change of heart. Back then, he let me win for Akane’s sake, but maybe his pride took a hit because people kept whispering behind his back. Now, he probably wants to reclaim his honor by showing everyone what he’s truly capable of.
Honestly, it’s always the followers who are the problem.
They spend all day simping for him, calling him the greatest, but the moment something goes slightly wrong, they start subtly bruising his ego. People lose, people make mistakes—why can’t they just let it go?
I’d honestly prefer it if they were like Justina and just insulted me to my face. Getting cursed out directly is one thing, but having someone constantly needle you from the sidelines is way more annoying.
You know how it is. It’s like when you have a sibling, and your parents say, "Your younger brother is doing this and that, he’s so successful, while you… no, it’s fine. As long as you grow up healthy and strong, that’s all that matters."
And then they top it off with a long sigh. That’s the kicker.
No matter how I look at it, it’s definitely the followers’ fawning that’s made Akito target me.
Sigh… What’s the point in complaining?
Looking around, it seems more than half the students of Yggdrasil have gathered. It’s not just my classmates; seniors and even the third-years, who should be busy worrying about job hunting, have shown up.
The area housing the illusion space capsules is cramped, but if you count the people waiting in other areas to watch the broadcast in real-time, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say almost the entire school is watching.
“Go, Akito!”
“Crush Seo Yeon-woo!”
“Die, Seo Yeon-woo!”
…Wait, why is no one rooting for me?
I thought I’d shed my "unlikable" image and was becoming popular?
Well… now that I think about it, I did cause a mess during every single exam. It’s true that while I’ve done a lot for the world, I haven’t exactly done much for Yggdrasil itself.
Donning my specialized suit, I approached the capsule. On the other side, Akito was staring at me.
…?
Was that a flash of murderous intent just now?
Did I do something wrong again?
I haven’t really crossed paths with Akito lately, so I don’t remember doing anything to him.
It must be my imagination. The only reason I dislike Akito is because of the "force of destiny" surrounding him. Someone who is the literal embodiment of destiny wouldn’t hold a grudge against an innocent person for no reason.
I entered the capsule and transitioned into the illusion space. Before me lay a vast, empty plain. They had removed all environmental factors like buildings or forests that could influence the battle, intending to test pure combat skill.
Akito drew a sword that looked far too cumbersome to carry around. Seeing that, I transformed my stick into the Etiquette Infuser.
“You’re going to do it for real today, right?”
“…Today?”
Come on, it’s already over. Akane has secured Shibarata, so there’s no need to hide it anymore, yet Akito was still playing dumb.
I hate the force of destiny, but I have to admit, his commitment to the act is almost cool.
“There’s nothing holding you back this time, so you can show your true strength.”
“Are you talking about… our last duel?”
“Yeah. Thanks for holding back for Akane’s sake.”
“…”
Akito remained silent, but a massive surge of mana erupted from his body.
Why? I just gave him the thank-you I couldn’t give last time. Why is he so angry?
Before I could process it, Akito lunged at me, sword in hand, moving like a blur.
*
“Wow… I knew he was strong, but I didn't realize he was that strong…”
Rio muttered to himself while watching the screen broadcasting the illusion space. His comment wasn't directed at just one person, but at both of them as they traded blows.
He had gone on missions with Seo Yeon-woo and watched him from the sidelines, so he had a vague idea of his strength. However, most of the magic he’d seen Yeon-woo use was against monsters—and even then, it was mostly Counter Magic using his mana barrier. Rio was seeing a version of Seo Yeon-woo that didn't involve the ridiculous "masochistic tank" fighting style for the first time.
Yeon-woo was unleashing magic so flashy and sophisticated that it made Rio wonder why he ever bothered with Counter Magic that required him to get hit first.
Since he was watching through a screen, he couldn't measure the mana levels, but just by looking, he could tell that the spells Yeon-woo was weaving were high-level, complex combinations.
In terms of raw power, Yeon-woo was somewhat recognized by the students. Even if they were fed up with the havoc he wreaked during exams, every student at Yggdrasil was a top-tier talent in their own right; they knew how to recognize skill.
However, while they acknowledged his strength, they had all looked down on his technique. Because he had always fought with a "powerful one-shot" using Counter Magic, they’d never had the chance to see his repertoire of spells.
“Yeon-woo can handle… that many different types of magic?”
“It’s not just the variety. Every spell he uses is high-level.”
“More than that, his combat sense is insane. Wasn't that move just now a total reversal? I thought for sure he’d dodge backward, but he countered from there.”
Rio wasn't the only one in awe. Classmates and seniors alike were noisily analyzing the duel among themselves. And a common thought crossed everyone’s mind:
‘Then why the hell has he been fighting like that until now?’
Seo Yeon-woo’s fighting style was unconventional. To put it bluntly, it was a mess that no one in their right mind would want to imitate. Just because a mana barrier is strong doesn't mean it blocks all impact; if you don't dodge, you have to endure the pain.
There was a reason he was called a masochist. A hit or two might be bearable through the barrier, but taking constant hits was a recipe for chronic injury. Yet, Yeon-woo’s entire style was predicated on getting hit.
As a result, in most of his fights, he spent the majority of the time being a punching bag. While the sight of him building up stacks and turning the tables with a single powerful blow was cathartic, watching him get pummeled made students lose any desire to copy him.
Of course, it wasn't a style just anyone could pull off even if they wanted to. Most mages were disqualified by the basic prerequisite of needing an incredibly strong mana barrier.
Regardless, because of that brutish style, many acknowledged his strength but rated his technique poorly. Since he was always getting hit without even trying to defend, it was only natural to assume his combat sense was low.
But look at the screen now.
Akito was known for mastering and skillfully using countless spells since childhood, yet Yeon-woo was pouring out magic so diverse and high-level that it made Akito’s look plain by comparison.
It wasn't just flashy; his spells were used in the perfect places at the perfect times, controlling the space and restricting Akito’s movements. While many mages specialized in one area, it was rare to find one who could use such a wide variety of magic without being bound to a specific field.
The duel had started on a vast, empty plain, but now Akito didn't even have a moment to breathe due to the tentacles and thick tree roots Yeon-woo had summoned.
Yeon-woo was generating tentacles and roots faster than Akito could clear them with his magic. Looking at the overhead broadcast, the area was so densely packed it looked like a forest.
He controlled the terrain with tentacles and roots, occupied the space with Phantom Swords, and pushed Akito back with brilliant magic no one had ever seen before. People were left speechless by the true skill of a mage who had always done nothing but get hit, even when he won.
Could they handle Seo Yeon-woo if they were in that arena?
They tried to analyze and come up with a counter-strategy, but as long as he was pouring out high-level magic from every field, it was impossible to find a weakness or create a favorable situation.
Mages confident in close-quarters combat couldn't catch him, and those confident in long-range combat couldn't get away from him. A mage who had mastered various fields to deal with any situation was just that difficult to handle.
Seo Yeon-woo was a one-man team, a whole squad of mages with different specialties.
However, the admiration wasn't reserved for Yeon-woo alone. While many were shocked by Yeon-woo’s unexpected depth, Akito was holding his own.
The son of the strongest mage, Daihara Yukio; a talent that even the 12 Zodiacs marveled at; the genius of the century.
Akito was proving that those titles weren't for show as he stood his ground against Yeon-woo. While not as varied as Yeon-woo, Akito also utilized a wide range of magic to lead the duel, and above all, he dominated whenever the fight moved into close quarters.
“Heh… I guess getting beaten back then really hurt his feelings.”
Park Yu-jeong smirked as she watched Akito’s performance. She had been directly involved in the Akane incident and had watched the duel between Yeon-woo and Akito right before her eyes.
Back then, Akito had been helpless. Now, they were on equal footing.
‘I really hate geniuses. How can his skill jump that much in such a short time?’
To those who didn't know about that previous duel, it might seem like Akito had always been this strong, but he had actually closed an insurmountable gap in a very short period. To reach a stalemate with an opponent who had once crushed him in just a few months—one couldn't help but praise Akito’s talent.
Akito had grown at a startling rate, and they were fighting so fiercely that it was impossible to tell who would win, but Park Yu-jeong was certain of Yeon-woo’s victory.
Because Yeon-woo’s true fighting style hadn't even come out yet.
It was a fact unknown to the public, but Yeon-woo had already defeated a 13th Zodiac, Roman Fraser. An active combat mage—especially a 12 Zodiac-class mage aiming for a seat among the 12—was on a completely different level.
Given his overwhelming growth rate, it seemed possible for Akito to reach that level before graduation, but he wasn't there yet. Right now, they were equal, but the moment Yeon-woo added his powerful Counter Magic using his mana barrier, the tide would turn instantly.
Just having that "powerful one-shot" in his arsenal, even without using it, allowed him to pressure his opponent and lead the battle favorably.
Predicting Yeon-woo’s victory, Park Yu-jeong stood up to leave. However, what she didn't know was that Yeon-woo currently couldn't use Counter Magic.
Without Counter Magic, there was no "powerful one-shot" she spoke of.
Yeon-woo had ingrained the perception in everyone that the "Magnum" he used was only possible through Counter Magic. He had kept the fact that he could use the Magnum independently as a hidden trump card for an enemy who might try to exploit that perceived weakness one day.
Since he had worked so hard to hide it, Yeon-woo had no intention of using it in a mere school exam duel. And so, with both sides at a stalemate, time continued to tick away.
30 minutes… 1 hour… 2 hours…
“Are they still fighting?”
Rio, who had gone to attend a class because the fight was taking so long, shouted in disbelief when he returned to see the two still locked in a bloody struggle.
But it couldn't be helped.
Aside from his mana barrier, Yeon-woo’s stats were pathetic. Even if the magic he used was high-level and flashy, it didn't have its full power behind those meager stats. He had the utility to deal with various situations, but he lacked raw offensive power.
On the other hand, Akito couldn't deal any meaningful damage to Yeon-woo’s monstrous mana barrier in the heat of such a fierce exchange. The battle was destined to be a long one.
Rio, who had checked in during a break to see them still at it, finished another class and looked at the screen again.
They were still fighting.
Other students needed to use the illusion space for their own exams, but the duel was dragging on so long that they couldn't start. Of course, there were plenty of other capsules available, but since opportunities to watch such a high-level battle were rare, most students were just standing there, captivated.
“Someone just end it already, whoever it is.”
The surrounding students agreed with Rio’s mutterings, yet they couldn't tear their eyes away from the screen, dying to know who would eventually emerge victorious.