Chapter 28

【28】27

Split into two camps, Class 5 and Class 1 sat in a circle around their respective professors.

“Are there any students who wish to participate?”

“I recommend Leo and Chelsea first!”

When Kal raised his hand and said this, the other students nodded in agreement.

Leo wasn’t just the representative of the year but had also shown impressive skills during the provisional period, firmly establishing himself as a powerful student in the students’ minds.

As for Chelsea, there was nothing more to say—she was from a prestigious hero family and had scored the highest in Class 5 during the entrance exam.

“Leo Flove, Chelsea LeWalyn. Any complaints?”

“None.”

“Nor do I.”

“Great, Kal Thomas, since you’ve recommended, you’re next.”

“Huh? Me? Other students should go instead of me…”

“There’s no refusal.”

“…”

Kal reluctantly agreed to participate.

“Next?”

“I’ll join!”

“Me too!”

Iliana and Teid eagerly raised their hands.

“Iliana Laden, Teid Marcoa. That leaves four more spots.”

“I will participate as well.”

“Nella Kaven.”

With a lazy tone, Nella announced her intent to participate, causing the male students to rush and raise their hands enthusiastically. One of the top beauties in the class, Nella’s participation had inspired their zeal.

Thus, eight participants stepped forward.

“Class 5 seems to have its team ready too, right?”

Sedgen spread his arms.

Uuung-!

A light emerged on the training ground before straight rectangular lines were drawn. Simultaneously, mana-infused goalposts appeared on the edges of the square lines.

Players from both teams gathered in the center.

“The game will last 20 minutes. Victory is important, but the spirit of fair play is more critical. I’ll give you some time for strategy discussions.”

Professor Sedgen then headed toward the referee’s stand after providing time for the team consultations.

“Don’t they have any fear coming out like this?”

“We are going to crush them.”

Celia and Chloe glared at Kal with a fierce smile, making him hide behind Chelsea out of fear.

After formalities were exchanged, the players from both teams gathered in the center of their respective camps. Chelsea’s recommendation had placed Leo as the team captain.

“Although the top students in Class 1 may be exceptional, let’s look at the others.”

“They’re all from noble families.”

“They must be determined to win.”

“Wasn’t Class 1 the class with the highest average score?”

Tensions were high as everyone planned, but during this time, as Leo put on a blue-light emitting vest, he asked:

“But isn’t moving around during the game always advantageous for the Department of Knights?”

“What do you mean, Leo? Just because we’re from the Department of Knights doesn’t necessarily mean we have a huge advantage. Magic or Summoning Departments could also show off their extraordinary skills!”

Teid replied.

“Why?”

Teid, who had been hesitating, suddenly asked:

“Leo, have you ever tried Bastera?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“You’re from the Delrad Kingdom, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Aha, now I get it. You probably don’t know much about Bastera since the Delrad Kingdom is far off.”

Teid covered his face.

“In Bastera, the game is won by getting the ball into the opponent’s goal as many times as possible within the time limit. But…”

“But?”

“Time for strategizing is over. Team captains, come forward to determine who goes first!”

Leo stepped up.

The captain for Class 1 was Duran.

Sedgen, holding a coin, asked Leo:

“Which side do you choose—heads or tails?”

“Head.”

When Sedgen glanced at Duran, Duran shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

Ding-!

The coin flipped, then landed on Sedgen’s palm.

“Tails. Class 1 will start.”

Duran, holding the transparent ball, gave an intimidating smirk.

“This time, we’ll annihilate you for sure.”

Duran’s provocation was brushed off casually by Leo, who merely shrugged.

Watching this, Duran frowned and returned to his side, passing the ball to Celia.

“Explain the rest.”

With Leo’s request for an explanation, Teid yelled anxiously:

“No time to explain! You’ll have to experience it directly! Here they come!”

“Huh?”

Fwoosh-!

The transparent ball changed into a fiery red ball, engulfed in flames.

“Let’s go!”

Celia threw the ball with all her might.

Flash-!

The ball traveled in a straight trajectory, approaching Leo at an incredible speed.

Leo narrowly dodged it.

Bang-!

“Ugh?”

The male student behind Leo was struck in the side and screamed, flying back in pain.

Thud! Roll, roll, roll!

Celia, brushing her messy hair back, exchanged high-fives with her teammates.

As they watched their classmate groan after rolling along the ground, Leo asked seriously:

“…Am I dying?”

“Well, you are protected by the protective outfit, but… it’s really painful.”

Kal said, his voice trembling.

Teid swallowed hard.

“This is Bastera! When you hit someone with the ball, the attack goes to the other side! But if you’re hit and immobilized, you’re out! If a really strong person throws it, it could even cost you your life—it’s a dangerous game!”

Only now did Leo understand why everyone was so nervous.

Scoring many goals was one method of winning, but making the entire opposing team unable to fight could also lead to victory.

“Fantastic! Powerful! Elegant! As expected from the direct descendants of Zerdinger!”

Sedgen clapped happily.

“Harlin! Your class can never beat ours!”

“It’s still early in the game, however?”

“Ho ho ho! That’s true! But with student Celia here, we have a definite advantage! You know full well how the Zerdinger family excels in Bastera!”

“….”

When Sedgen finished speaking, a student from Class 1 raised his hand and asked:

“Why is the Zerdinger family particularly good at Bastera?”

“Great question! The most effective attribute in Bastera is the powerful flame attribute! And the Zerdinger family’s flame is widely considered the strongest among humans!”

He grinned triumphantly, pointing at Harlin.

“Your legendary senior student who’s spoken about fondly at Rumearn Academy—my first disciple—was also a Zerdinger!”

Sena laughed while listening to the explanation:

“We also have a student who handles the aura of flames on our side!”

Harlin glanced at Leo, who was holding the ball. Flames were already surging from it.

‘Unaligned mana is infused in it?’

Having identified the nature of the ball, Leo lightly rolled it on his palm, wrapped in a soft aura of flames.

The students of Class 1 looked at Leo with anxious expressions.

“Kal.”

“Yeah?”

“Is it okay to attack or restrain someone with abilities?”

“That’s not allowed. Marking someone to stop their movement is allowed, but attacking can only be done with the ball.”

‘That means the ball is the only offensive tool. Whoever has the ball holds an absolute advantage.’

“Is that right?”

While Leo was figuring out the rules, Nella approached the first of their teammates who had fallen, generating an aura.

As white aural light burst forth, the student’s face relaxed noticeably.

‘Ah? A healing attribute aura? That’s a rare property.’

There are various attributes in an aura. Typically, there are many with attributes that enhance attack power, but Nella, for example, possessed the type that healed wounds.

“Big brother Leo, holding the ball for too long is a foul, and you lose the attacking turn.”

“Got it. And one more thing—does it matter if I kick it with my foot instead of using my hands?”

“It’s fine, but doing so will decrease accuracy, right?”

“It’s fine.”

Leo tossed the ball into the air and powerfully kicked it.

Klang-!

With the aura surrounding Leo’s foot exploding, the counter-pressure added to the ball. Enhanced momentarily with Leo’s tremendous physical prowess, the ball flew even faster than Celia’s towards Class 1’s goal.

“Block it!”

Celia yelled desperately.

Zzzzeerreeekk-!

Magic surged from Chloe’s body, forming a thick ice wall in front of the goal.

Crang-! Crack-!

The ball plunged deep into the thick ice wall.

“As long as I’m here, it’s impossible…”

“For sure?”

Running into Class 1’s camp, Leo smiled at Chloe and charged toward the goal.

“Wha… what…”

In the meantime, the Class 1 students were alarmed.

“Wh… what…”

In between, Leo leapt toward the ice wall.

“Aaah!”

Crackle-!

Leo performed a flying kick aimed at the ball embedded in the ice wall.

Zzzzreeekk-! Pop-!

The ice wall shattered, and the ball soared into Class 1’s goal.

Beep-!

“Class 5… first goal scored!”

The whistle blew as Professor Sedgen angrily announced.

“Truly the grade representative!”

“He has incredible reflexes!”

A cheer erupted from Class 5.

‘This is no easy task.’

‘Ugh! We let our guard down.’

‘d*mn it!’

Celia, Chloe, and Duran frowned as they stared at Leo.

“Nice! Securing the first point is super important!”

Kal raised his thumb in the air.

“Alright! Let’s block Class 1’s attack and take the turn!”

Iliana, the team’s mood maker, raised her hand and cheered.

“Wow!”

Class 5’s spirit soared.

“Though his attack seemed reckless, he used brilliant tactics to score!”

Sena exclaimed her admiration, while Harlin shook his head.

“No, that was planned.”

“Huh?”

‘According to Ain’s words, even on the ship during the inauguration day, he handled leadership roles. Thus, it’s clear he had already analyzed the characteristics of Chloe Mueller.’

Chloe specializes in ice magic, and her high-speed spell-casting ability ranks top among the first-year students.

That is, among the players from Class 1, she is the one most skilled in protecting the goal.

Leo had identified this beforehand and exploited her weaknesses.

‘A surprisingly brilliant strategist for his young age.’

Harlin, stroking his chin, brightened his eyes.

During this time, Class 1’s counterattack began.

Duran, holding the ball, charged towards Class 5’s camp.

Fizzle crackle-!

A golden aura sparkled around his body.

Crack-!

As he surged forward, Chelsea instantly caught up.

Lightning and wind—both speeds enhanced elements.