“Impossible!”
“How is that even possible?”
gasps of shock erupted from the third and fourth-year students. As for the first and second-year students, they could barely comprehend the rapid exchange between Leo and Ris, let alone understand the extraordinary movements the two had just executed.
The first-year knight course students clenched their fists. On the other hand, over at the fifth-year spectators’ area, Jamua was munching on popcorn as she muttered to herself,
“Is that all? That’s not just remarkable; it’s downright terrifying.”
Responding to Jamua’s astonished reaction, Toluah, who was sitting beside her and writing something, gave a quick glance at the duel arena and said,
“That’s why Ris recommended him to be the student council president.”
“True. But, Toluah, what exactly have you been writing for the past few days?”
“An application for postponing graduation.”
“…”
Upon hearing Toluah’s response, Jamua gave her a look of disbelief.
“I’ve already been rejected ten times.”
Even after completing her graduation thesis, when Toluah submitted an unprecedented application, the professors of the Department of Magic almost had heart attacks.
The reason? Magical research.
“Hmm, let me see.”
At Jamua’s words, Toluah obediently handed over her application for postponing graduation.
“Application for postponing graduation. I wish to study for one more year in Lumeran. Reason: Magical research. Specific research plan: analysis of the magical symbols of Leo Flove’s ‘Bible’ as well as intensive observation of Leo Flove.”
Jamua asked, examining the document,
“Do you actually think this will be approved?”
“Hmm… maybe removing ‘intensive observation’ would be wise, as it could be seen as an invasion of privacy?”
Jamua sighed, looking at the serious Toluah.
No matter how intelligent she was, as soon as it came to magic, her friend turned into an idiot.
Shifting her focus from her friend, Jamua turned her gaze back to the duel arena.
‘Alright, what are you going to do now, Leo?’
Surprisingly, in the technical duel, Leo was gaining the upper hand.
However, fighting strength isn’t determined solely by technique.
Especially since his opponent was Ris Zerdinger, reputed as the strongest student.
‘That’s not enough to hold your ground against Ris now.’
Leo gripped his sword tightly as he saw the spiraling flames flying towards him.
‘These aren’t Zerdinger’s flames.’
Zerdinger’s flames are the flames of the Phoenix, and thus differ in power and sensation from ordinary flames.
‘This must be a technique using Hero Skill.’
Having quickly analyzed the attack, Leo smirked.
‘Are you testing me?’
Thinking this, Leo awakened the slumbering flames within his body.
Gooouuuuu! Roarr!
Leo’s spear illuminated with the blazing red flames.
Ching!
Having adjusted his grip on the spear, Leo entered the throwing stance.
Kwaaaaaack!
All the flames were sucked into Leo’s spear.
After all the flames were absorbed, Leo gritted his teeth.
“s*ck!”
Whoosh!
Leo hurled the spear towards the whirlwind of flames raised by Ris.
Hwaak!
The spear flew at an incredible speed towards the flames.
Kwaang!
In an instant, the spear Leo threw collided with the whirlwind of flames from Ris.
Gooouuuuu!
In the next moment, Phoenix flames erupted from Leo’s spear, swallowing Ris’ flames.
Even though they were flames of the same element, their rank differed.
The flames of the Phoenix, hailed as the strongest, swallowed everything.
It wasn’t without reason that the two famous flame-wielding families, Zerdinger and Lundah, known as the strongest, existed.
‘Even so, it’s amazing how easily his flames were neutralized.’
Ris was amazed.
A while ago, Ris had used the flames of Itaran, the Great Fire Spirit who disappeared a thousand years ago.
These flames, obtained as rewards through a Hero’s World, although not the fully complete flames of the Great Spirit, were still undeniably strong.
‘To devour those flames…’
Seeing the spear heading straight for him, Ris smiled.
‘The ability to handle flames is indeed remarkable.’
Twiing!
Kwaang! Roaaaaar!
The moment Ris caught the spear thrown by Leo, a giant wall of flames swept across the dueling arena.
Everyone at the spectator stands showed expressions of shock.
A protective magic had been cast on the dueling arena to protect the spectators.
Even so, the intense heat from Leo’s flames could be felt, penetrating the protective magic.
However, Leo’s attack didn’t stop there.
He simultaneously unleashed the prepared magic.
Flash! Kwaaaaag!
Explosions rained down like a storm.
Powerful flames descended onto the spot where Ris had been.
In truth, this was Leo unleashing all his maximum capabilities using both his aura and magic towards Ris.
High-class students showed expressions of astonishment.
Of course, Ris had given Leo all the preparation time he needed.
And yet, this went far beyond their expectations.
No matter how much Leo inherited the Zerdinger’s flame prowess, his current attack strength was astonishing.
Contrarily, the first years remained calm.
Amidst everyone focusing on the spot where Ris once stood,
Ris revealed himself, piercing through the flames, drawing gasps of awe.
Despite Leo’s fierce attack, Ris emerged unscathed.
“Amazing! As expected of Ris-senpai.”
“To repel such an attack without much trouble!”
Students erupted in gasps of admiration.
Meanwhile, the professors watched Ris with an expression of matter-of-fact admiration.
“No matter how you look at it, not even his clothes were scorched. He’s incredible.”
As Assistant Professor Anna marveled, Professor Ren crossed his arms.
“Leo’s student’s attack using magic and aura is certainly astonishing. But, his opponent is Ris Zerdinger.”
Ren narrowed his eyes,
“Known as the Phoenix Knight, the strongest student, not just in Lumeran but the most skilled among current Hero Candidates across Seirun, Azonia, and Demian. Also, when it comes to the art of using flames, few in the world would match the prowess of Ris Zerdinger, the inheritor of the Hero family Zerdinger, renowned as a knight skilled in the use of flames.”
“Given Leo student’s current skill level, challenging with flames is akin to s*icide.”
“Did Leo student not realize that?”
“It’s unlikely he didn’t.”
Ren’s lips curled upward.
“Rather, it’s a challenge.”
“A challenge?”
“Exactly. He’s challenging to see just how effective his flames are against Ris.”
“Even so, isn’t it too reckless?”
“Ho ho ho! Anna Assistant Professor! That’s why Leo student is amazing!”
Ren’s grin widened from ear to ear.
“Leo student is currently ‘testing’ how remarkable Ris student is! What a bold student! The guts to test the strongest fifth-year! This is indeed the proof that he suits the Department of Magic!”
“Ah, yes.”
Anna replied indifferently.
Lately, Ren had shown a pattern of trying to connect anything related to Leo to the Department of Magic.
When he heard the story about Leo’s successful creation of the Bible, Anna had nearly knocked him out with a thick magic book to calm his over-the-top enthusiasm.
‘Should I really stop him?’
Anna sighed deeply as her superior’s fits grew more frequent.
‘Surely.’
Upon seeing Ris, who resisted his attack with minimal damage, Leo was left in awe.
‘Even in the Era of Catastrophe, there weren’t knights at his age who could achieve this level of skill.’
Even with 5000 years of refined techniques and the means of the Hero’s World, this level was still extraordinary.
‘His ability to wield flames is the top across both his previous and current life.’
Leo adjusted his sword.
Of course, Leo could currently emit flames on par with Ris.
But those flames require Leo to be ready to sustain burns. Moreover, even if he could generate flames of equal power, they wouldn’t likely reach Ris.
“You can’t inflict any injury on me with your current strength, Leo.”
“That’s correct.”
Leo nodded at Ris’ words.
“I can’t counter your flames with just my aura and magic.”
Seeing Leo’s straightforward acknowledgment, Ris smiled.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Simple.”
Leo smiled.
“Isn’t it most effective to counter power with power?”
“Power?”
Ris gave an expression of confusion.
A moment ago, Leo acknowledged that he couldn’t counter Ris’ flames.
‘Even using a different attribute’s power would be the same. Is there a method?’
Leo’s use of another type of aura.
Even the gray aura from Kyle wouldn’t suffice to counter Ris.
A completely mismatched, reckless battle.
And yet, Leo intends to meet force with force.
‘What is he thinking?’
Ris’ eyes narrowed.
Seeing this, Leo’s lips curled upward.
“It’s over.”
The upperclassmen murmured in agreement.
When Leo initially scored an effective hit on Ris, it was a surprise, but that was the end of it.
Ris fought without giving Leo any leeway.
It was evident that the duel was about to end instantly.
“Still, he’s pretty amazing for a first-year, right?”
“Pfft! ‘For a first-year’! Don’t make me laugh!”
Scoffs and complaints were heard from various places.
The first years had a similar reaction.
“A fascinating fight, but it ends here.”
Eliza muttered, polishing her nails.
“I told you, you should’ve fought me, not the student council president.”
“Eliza, you occasionally seem to have a crush on Class 5’s class leader, don’t you?”
“Am I?”
“Guack! Gwack!”
“Are those insolent words coming from this mouth?”
“Thi, This mouth! Guack! Was wrong! Kehack! To – Haaack! Hit me! Keh! Why do you… Guack!”
Using her ever-present whip, Eliza swiftly tightened it around her classmate’s neck and beamed a bright smile.
Gripping her throat and choking with “Gwack! Gwack!”, the female student muttered grumpily,
“Anyways, this duel is over. A first-year student council president? That’s absurd.”
“Yes, a first-year student council president is absurd.”
Just as Eliza responded with an uninterested look,
Swish-
Leo raised his hand.
Whoom!
“Summoning?”
Eliza’s expression turned amused.
‘Now that I think about it, Leo Flove hasn’t used summoning once in an important battle. Even though he’s called an ‘all-class’ talent, his summoning is undeniably weaker compared to his aura and magic.’
Certainly, Leo’s summoning isn’t deficient.
He lacks a powerful summoned creature. But Leo’s skill in handling familiars or spirits still impressed even Eliza to the point of admiration.
‘There’s no way he can turn the situation around just by using summoning now.’
Eliza rested her chin in her hand.
‘What you lack right now is sheer power. You should know that your techniques are useless given the immense power gap, right?’
Others felt the same way.
Additionally, curiosity sparked about which creature Leo would summon here.
Whoosh!
A flame bloomed in Leo’s palm.
Puuff!
Peep!
Everyone momentarily froze, dumbfounded upon seeing the small red chick appear.
The suddenly summoned red chick seemed bewildered for a moment, realizing it had everyone’s attention.
Then, it gracefully flapped its wings, spreading its wings as if on top of Leo’s palm, puffing out its chest.
Raising its head as if it were the mightiest familiar ever,
“Ahh, so cute!”
“What is that! I want it!”
Gasps of admiration for cuteness, inappropriate for the situation, echoed around.
On the other hand, the first-year summoning department students were flabbergasted.
“Hey, isn’t that the chick Leo contracted during the first class?”
“Exactly.”
“Why on earth did he summon that chick in this situation?”
As the summoning students murmured, Eliza’s face reddened slightly.
‘That time, I felt it too; it’s such an adorable familiar! But what exactly does he plan to do with it?’
From the fifth-year spectators, reactions of disbelief were visible.
“What is this familiar supposed to do?”
“Maybe he’s trying to weaken Ris’ resolve with cuteness?”
Just as Jamua and Toluah looked at each other with puzzled expressions,
“It’s better to watch carefully.”
Ulta, who had quietly been observing, grinned.
“Because the true evaluation of this duel starts now.”
*
Peep!
Seeing Piora flapping its wings aggressively and tweeting, Ris scratched his cheek.
“Listen, Leo. Even if you consider everything, bringing out such a cute familiar… it’s kind of hard for me to touch it.”
“Don’t worry.”
Smiling, Leo activated his spirit force.
“…?”
Hwaarr!
Piora’s feathers began burning one by one.
“Very soon, you’ll find it quite unappealing.”
Hwaarrr!
Around Leo, dangerous flames began dancing.
Seeing this, Ris’ face stiffened.
Gooouuuuu!
The flames began coalescing around Piora.
Once her body became a singular flame, it started blazing furiously.
Kwaang!
Suddenly, the flames roared and ceased.
And then…
Peiaaaaakk!
Kwaaaac!
With Piora’s fierce scream, waves of heat expanded in all directions.
“Guaaah!”
Instantly, Ris swayed as waves of sound struck his head.
‘The… Phoenix?’
As he regained his stance, Ris saw the magnificent firebird on Leo’s forearms and his mouth dropped open.
Ris immediately recognized the identity of this firebird.
A presence that inspires awe.
The very origin of the flames he uses.
“The Phoenix?”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
