Chapter 115

Chapter 115. Final Evaluation (5)

Pale smoke rising faintly.

In the dark interior, a red light flickered like a firefly.

“Phew.”

Professor Elisha extinguished her cigarette and slowly rose from her seat.

“I wondered who could destroy the golem so easily… It was Candidate Dale’s party after all.”

Professor Elisha smiled faintly as she looked in my direction.

I narrowed my eyes, gazing at the diamond emblem attached to Professor Elisha’s left chest like a badge.

‘In my past life, I heard Professor Lucas was in a secret room with a diamond emblem.’

It seems the future has changed since Professor Elisha came to the school due to the ‘Sealing Festival’ incident.

“I didn’t expect Professor Elisha to be here.”

“Originally, Lucas was supposed to come, but since I was free, I asked to switch.”

“…You did, Professor Elisha?”

“Yes.”

Professor Elisha smiled faintly as she looked at me.

“I thought I might get to meet Candidate Dale if I came here.”

“……”

Did you really ask to switch for that reason?

As I looked at Professor Elisha with a dumbfounded expression, she shrugged nonchalantly.

“Well… then, let me announce the test.”

Professor Elisha spread her five fingers and continued.

“Five minutes.”

Her sinister purple eyes gleamed.

“Fight me and last five minutes, and I’ll give you this emblem.”

“…Five minutes.”

It was a rule simple enough for a five-year-old to understand.

However, just because the rule was simple didn’t mean the test would be easy.

“W-what?! W-we have to fight Professor Elisha?!”

Once again, Albert showed an excellent reaction, stepping back like an audience member on a variety show.

“Calm down, Albert.”

“C-calm down?! Dale, you know who Professor Elisha is, right?!”

Albert continued with a pale, frightened face.

“Ranked 9th in the Three Kingdoms Hero Rankings! The Spider of the Crimson Eye, Elisha Baldwin! Even in our school, no one can match her except the principal!”

“Wow.”

This guy’s reactions are really something.

Now I understand why Professor Lucas always picks Albert.

“This is making my face heat up for no reason.”

Professor Elisha, with an expression devoid of any warmth, put a cigarette in her mouth.

Click.

She lit the cigarette and looked at me.

“So, will you take the test?”

“Of course.”

“Good answer.”

Professor Elisha smirked and took a deep drag from her cigarette.

“Well, then.”

Tap.

The spark from the cigarette served as a signal.

“Let’s begin.”

Whoosh!

Dozens of silver threads enveloped the surroundings.

“I’ll start with a blessing!”

A pure white light flowed from Iris and seeped into my body.

Feeling my body light as a feather, I slowly surveyed the area.

Rocks filled the interior.

Silver threads spread like spiderwebs between the rocks.

‘It feels like I’ve entered a spider’s nest.’

Frowning, I first created some distance.

‘Let’s start with reconnaissance.’

“Yuren, Camila. Draw the professor’s attention.”

“Got it!”

“Understood.”

Yuren and Camila charged forward, kicking off the ground.

Yuren reached Professor Elisha first.

“Hah!”

A brilliant golden aura flowed along his blade.

The dark interior brightened as if the sun had risen.

“The Sun of the Helios family…”

Professor Elisha smiled faintly as she looked at the radiant golden aura.

“Indeed, your skills are beyond that of a mere candidate.”

Tap.

Professor Elisha flicked her finger lightly.

Silver threads extended from her fingertips and instantly wrapped around Yuren’s sword.

“Wha…?!”

“But.”

Professor Elisha pulled the sword and delivered a swift spinning kick.

“You’re still inexperienced.”

“Ugh!”

Thud!

Yuren, hit squarely in the abdomen, was sent flying backward.

“Haaah!”

Camila, seizing the opportunity, charged forward and raised her sword high.

Her claymore, brimming with destructive power, aimed for Professor Elisha’s head.

“Impressive.”

Professor Elisha lightly twisted her body, dodging the heavy claymore.

“But too straightforward.”

In an instant, she twisted her body and closed in on Camila, striking her solar plexus with her elbow.

“Guh!”

Camila, gasping for breath, was pushed back.

“Now… is it my turn?”

Professor Elisha flicked her hand lightly.

Boom! Crack!

The silver threads spread between the rocks contracted rapidly, shattering the surrounding rocks.

Sharp rock fragments rained down like arrows from all directions.

The rock fragments were aimed at Iris.

“Ugh! S-Saintess!”

Camila, clutching her solar plexus, desperately kicked off toward Iris, but she couldn’t match the speed of the rock fragments.

“Ugh…!”

As Iris tightly closed her eyes at the terrifying rock fragments raining down.

Whoosh!

A fierce gray flame deflected the falling rock fragments.

“Oh.”

Professor Elisha’s gaze turned toward me.

She smirked as she watched the rock fragments turn to dust and fall to the ground.

“How did you know I’d target Candidate Iris?”

“When dealing with a party, it’s basic to neutralize the support first.”

“Excellent.”

Professor Elisha nodded in satisfaction.

“Then…”

Whoosh!

Dozens of silver threads spread out, targeting me.

“You must also know that after the support, the party leader is next.”

A barrage of silver threads.

As the tangled threads, like spiderwebs, closed in to engulf me.

‘Ash Fire Sword 1st Form.’

Ash Severance.

I didn’t dodge the incoming threads but slashed through them head-on.

Cutting through the threads, I kicked off toward Professor Elisha.

Boom!

The distance closed in an instant.

I unleashed a fierce sword strike toward Professor Elisha.

“Good.”

Clang!

New silver threads wrapped around my sword.

Like a fly caught in a spiderweb, my fierce sword strike came to an abrupt halt.

I simply ‘let go’ of the sword in my hand.

“……!”

Professor Elisha’s eyes widened, clearly not expecting me to release the sword so quickly.

I lowered my body and threw a punch toward her.

‘Berald Martial Arts.’

Mountain Breaker.

Boom!

A fist imbued with ash fire struck her.

Well, more accurately.

“…Impressive.”

It struck the spiderweb she had created in the blink of an eye.

I clicked my tongue as I looked at my fist blocked by the web.

‘As expected, a clumsy feint doesn’t work.’

But it didn’t matter if it didn’t work.

Because right now, Professor Elisha and I weren’t in a one-on-one duel.

“Well done, Dale!”

The small gap created when Professor Elisha blocked my attack.

Yuren didn’t miss the opportunity and quickly closed in.

“Haaah!!!”

Yuren’s Holy Mark shone, and his golden aura turned silver.

Moonlight’s Blessing.

The blessing, which grants greater magic power the more one thinks of their ‘precious one,’ shone brightly, amplifying Yuren’s already immense magic power beyond limits.

“White Light—Wave!!!”

Boom!

The interior of the ruins shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.

A tidal wave of silver aura surged toward Professor Elisha.

“Ugh!”

Professor Elisha hastily spread her arms.

Dozens of silver threads wrapped around her body and pulled her back quickly.

The silver tidal wave narrowly missed her.

“This is…”

Professor Elisha’s expression hardened as she looked at her torn suit.

The power was enough to send a shiver down her spine.

‘It’s hard to believe he’s just a candidate.’

Yuren’s power was so immense that even she was astonished.

‘If he’s this strong now…’

Another hero who would leave a significant mark in the long history of heroes was being born.

“Hoho. I look forward to the next ten years.”

Professor Elisha’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Yuren.

I clicked my tongue lightly as I looked at her.

“Are you eyeing Yuren now too?”

“Why? Jealous?”

“What jealousy…”

“Don’t worry about that, Candidate Dale.”

Professor Elisha smiled at me.

“You’re the only one I have my eyes on now.”

“……”

“Well, enough chit-chat.”

Professor Elisha raised her Hero Watch and continued.

“There’s still about 3 minutes left… It’s not over yet, is it?”

“Of course not.”

I smirked and raised my sword.

Signaling Yuren and Camila, I kicked off toward Professor Elisha again.

Clang! Whoosh! Boom! Crack!

Swords and threads crossed.

Amid the flying dust, a fierce exchange continued.

“Ugh…!”

In the ongoing exchange, it was Professor Elisha who was pushed back first.

Professor Elisha, pushed back, frowned and swallowed a pained groan.

“That’s it!”

Yuren cheered as he saw Professor Elisha being pushed back.

“Dale, how much time is left?”

“Just about 1 more minute.”

“Really?”

Whether it was the thrill of pushing back a hero ranked 9th or the joy of fighting alongside me, Yuren shouted with a more excited voice than usual.

“Then if we push for the last minute, it’s over, right?”

“…Wait.”

I grabbed Yuren’s shoulder as he tried to charge ahead.

A foreboding feeling spread through my entire body.

“As expected, Candidate Dale is quick to notice.”

Professor Elisha, who had been pushed back, smiled faintly.

“Tie them up.”

Whoosh!

With a light flick of her hand, hundreds of silver threads scattered across the floor tightened.

Almost invisible to the naked eye, the thin threads wrapped around me, Yuren, Camila, and Iris.

It felt like we had become flies caught in a spiderweb.

‘This is…’

She set this trap during that fierce exchange.

“Ugh…! When did she…?!”

“M-my body won’t move!”

“Mr. Dale!”

The urgent voices of Yuren, Camila, and Iris reached my ears.

Professor Elisha’s purple eyes gleamed fiercely as she smirked.

“1 minute left.”

Whoosh!

“Try struggling all you want, kids.”

Ranked 9th in the Hero Rankings.

The Spider of the Crimson Eye bared her sharp fangs.