Chapter 317

317

“What?”

Abad stiffened upon hearing news from the rear detachment through the magic communicator.

“Leo appeared there? How many others are with him besides Leo?”

“It’s just Leo! Emio has already fallen!”

After hearing the communication, Abad fell deep in thought.

‘Leo, of the attack team that was supposed to strike other dormitories, why did he show up at the rear of our base?’

“What is the probability that Kal Thomas’s information was wrong?”

At Duran’s question, having overheard the conversation, Abad shook his head.

“No, that can’t be. I observed Kal collecting the information myself. The information was reliable.”

“Our movements might have leaked the other way around…”

As Duran was responding, his eyes sharply changed.

Flash! Crackling!

Duran drew his sword, and an intense golden light surged out.

KABOOOM!

With a thunderous noise, golden sparks erupted from the sword, decorating the sky.

PABABABABAT!

The lightning aura, spread out like a net, struck the incoming icicles.

The icicles evaporated due to the intense heat emitted by the lightning.

The male students of Noble were awestruck upon seeing this.

“Definitely Duran.”

“Completely at the level of a large-scale magic spell, right?”

“Kyaah!”

“Duran is so cool!”

Duran, enveloped by the lightning aura, was indeed impressive.

However, Duran’s movement was not yet finished.

Crackling!

A golden current wound around Duran’s feet.

Using the Aura Step technique, Duran darted through the air with incredible speed.

“Isn’t it dangerous for a wizard to take such a forefront role?”

Duran lifted his sword and smirked as he looked at the platinum-haired girl.

“Chloe.”

Flash!

Duran’s lightning aura surged.

Chloe’s blue eyes tracked the trajectory of Duran’s sword.

JINGLE!

An instant ice barrier appeared.

Duran’s eyes twitched.

‘Did Chloe know how to use this type of magic? Given the level of defensive power in this spell, there should have been some sign.’

He had not sensed any magical movement at all.

‘Is this one of the servant familiars the Department of Magic students created recently?’

At that very moment.

KIING!

Chloe’s magic power surged.

“Frost Nova.”

As soon as the incantation was completed, a cold gust of icy wind surged.

Just as Duran was about to be swept away by the wind,

KYAOOO!

The Wind Wyvern grabbed Duran’s arm and ascended into the sky.

Duran used the momentum to quickly mount the back of the Wind Wyvern.

Crack-Crack!

Duran raised his hand.

‘Greatsword?’

In Duran’s hand was a massive two-handed sword.

‘I heard the Department of Knights students handle auxiliary weapons… So Duran wields the greatsword.’

Even though they belong to the same sword category, the methods of handling a longsword and a two-handed sword are entirely different.

‘The characteristics of a two-handed sword are as follows.’

Chloe concentrated her magic power.

‘Far greater destructive power than a longsword.’

Flash! Crack-Crack-Crack!

As Duran raised his two-handed sword, a bolt of lightning from the sky struck the blade.

A wave of golden electric current surged.

Seeing this, Chloe stirred her magic power.

HUMM!

Complicated runes floated in the air.

“Ice World.”

Crackling!

CRACK!

As Chloe’s incantation concluded, the freezing cold air of absolute zero enveloped Duran.

HOLY!

Duran winced in pain and withdrew his attack.

Other Noble students also gasped and distanced themselves from Chloe’s magical range of influence.

At the same time, the Department of Magic students began to chant spells for counterattacks.

However, Chloe quickly disengaged from the battlefield.

“They’re pretty frightening for a surprise attack.”

Abad whistled.

Such Abad extended his palm,

and a magic circle unfolded.

“Instant Contract.”

As the magic incantation was recited, powerful magic power exploded all around the vicinity.

“What kind of magic is this? Some kind of contract magic?”

“Servant Familiar Contract Magic.”

“Servant Familiar Contract Magic?”

“It’s a magic that forms a large-scale servant familiar contract with all the animals in the surrounding area.”

This magic was also one of the magic presentations prepared for this semester’s Department of Magic assignment.

Under Rent’s instructions, the team used magic artificial engineering to create servant familiars.

Abad, on Rent’s and Tina’s advice, re-engineered the basic magic usually bestowed upon familiars, allowing its temporary effects to be bestowed upon the surrounding animals instead.

Even though he didn’t create familiars, he now effectively commanded hundreds of them with this magic.

As a universally gifted mage, Abad could provide powerful ranged support from the back like Chloe and engage directly in combat upfront like Chelsea.

At a glance, he might seem versatile, but most all-rounded-type mages tend to be mediocre at everything. However, with his overwhelming talent, Abad grew into the ideal, flawless, versatile mage without any clear weaknesses.

In such a case, Abad believed what was needed was the collection of prior information to gain the upper hand in combat.

That’s why he developed “Instant Contract,” a magic that could artificially create a large-scale group of servant familiars around him.

‘What an enticing magic.’

Eliza’s eyes gleamed.

Several ideas on how to utilize this magic in the Department of Summoning appeared in Eliza’s mind.

Just when Eliza was showing an interested expression,

“… All the Glory students are at the base.”

The Noble students were surprised by Abad’s statement.

“Does that mean Kal’s intel was wrong?”

“No. The info is likely to be accurate. But Glory must have anticipated the information leaking and adjusted their strategy accordingly.”

“If so, then what about Leo Flove? Are they not involved in base defense?”

Eliza frowned delicately.

To this reaction, Abad replied,

“From what I know, among the Glory students, Leo is the only one outside, currently fighting students from other dormitories.”

This statement made all the Noble students widen their eyes.

“Leo is single-handedly taking on the mission to hunt down students from other dormitories. Completely.”

“Ah, but no matter how strong Leo is, it’s not realistic for him to hunt dozens of other students, right?”

In response to the bewildered Noble student’s question, Duran, who had just returned, remarked.

“… Except for the dormitory head or top-tier students, does anyone truly believe they can stand against Leo Flove?”

The Noble students widened their eyes.

“You guys seem to have a misconception, so you’d better understand this now.”

Sparks crackled around Duran’s body.

“That guy is not just someone who possesses skills from all classes.”

Eliza snickered and summoned her familiar, mounting it.

“He’s a perfect monster who understands and uses the skills of all classes flawlessly. Rushing at him with numbers will only make you his sacrifices. There is only one way to stop him.”

CRACKLING! HOLY!

“Overwhelming strength!”

With that, Duran darted out, and simultaneously Eliza’s Wind Wyvern raced forward.

SCREEEEEECH! RRRROAAAAARRR!

Nella blocked Leo’s sword strike.

Other students didn’t dare to step forward to confront Leo.

The detachment was composed primarily of mid-tier students who were mobile and skilled at stealthy actions.

Meanwhile, most top-tier students were accompanying their dormitory heads to attack the Glory Dormitory from the front.

One of the skilled individuals capable of responding to Leo’s attack, Emio, had already returned after receiving the d*ath verdict due to carelessness.

In other words, Nella was the only person here who could somewhat hold her own against Leo.

But most students were horrified when they saw the disparity.

“Flawless!”

“No matter how impressive he is, they’re all second-year students…”

No student doubted that Leo was the strongest second-year student.

However, very few students thought the gap between Leo and common students would be this extreme.

It was a one-sided massacre.

There was no room to exploit any weakness.

An overwhelming show of strength.

The second-year students shuddered as if they were facing students from the fourth or fifth year.

“This… this is the Youngest Student Council President…”

As a student was engulfed in Leo’s flames, he muttered under his breath.

SCREEEEEECH!

Nella parried Leo’s flames with gritted teeth.

“So, this is the first time you’ve fought like this, isn’t it?”

“That’s right… Back in first year, I was just between the class leader and the vice-leader. All our battles were just light sparring.”

With great difficulty, Nella responded and raised her aura.

WHOOSH!

Leo’s flames enveloped Nella.

But Nella deliberately leapt into Leo’s flames.

The healing property of her aura mitigated the damage from Leo’s attack.

Seeing this, Leo said,

“That’s a bad choice.”

“What?”

Leo promptly countered Nella’s self-destructive attack.

Leo had faced countless enemies attempting self-destruction,

especially from enemies known for their regenerative abilities.

As Leo was about to finish off the teeth-gritting Nella,

KUUUUUUUNG!

The ground trembled.

Leo distanced himself from Nella.

And he looked up at the sky.

“You’re the first to arrive.”

Leo smiled faintly.

Upon seeing his smile, his opponent descended from the sky.

THUD.

The one that landed on the ground spoke.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment, Leo Flove.”

Warden’s eyes gleamed.

*

First-year students, having just finished their test schedule, quickly headed for the assigned seating for first-year spectators.

First-year students, who had secured their seats by class, all wore relieved expressions on their faces.

Given that this was their first test in the Lumern, they had prepared as best as they could.

And regardless of the results, they were now fully enjoying the feeling of liberation after the test had ended.

In the meantime,

The testing area was rapidly cleared, and a magic display floated up for the spectators to see.

People in the guest gallery marveled at the sight.

“We’ll be able to watch our child perform in real-time.”

“To elevate the glory of our house!”

Second-year parents spoke excitedly.

Amidst the throng,

a woman with black hair was heading toward the front seat without any escort.

Seeing this woman, some people narrowed their eyes.

“Oh my, she came alone without any attendants.”

“She must be from some insignificant family.”

“There’s no seat left since she came late. Why does she think she can take the front?”

As she passed, a woman seemingly from a noble house covered her mouth with a fan and said,

“The front seat is not a place anyone can just occupy. It’s a place for graduates of Lumern.”

To this, the woman with black hair smiled gently.

“Yes, I am aware.”

“What did you say?”

As the middle-aged woman’s eyes narrowed,

“…Senior Reina?”

A cautious call came from behind.

Reina turned her head to see a face she hadn’t seen in decades and smiled brightly.

“Rent! It’s been such a long time!”

“Indeed, it’s Senior Reina!”

Rent approached Reina with a bright smile.

At this, the surrounding spectators exchanged bewildered glances.

“Why didn’t you come earlier to cheer Little Leo on?”

“Come on, you know him. He lacks charm. My cheering wouldn’t exactly give him much motivation.”

Reina smirked.

Seeing Reina, Rent smiled faintly while escorting her.

“Come, let’s go. I have something urgent to discuss with you, Lady Reina, in regards to Master Leo’s future.”

Upon hearing this conversation, the surrounding parents were shocked and hurriedly averted their gazes.

After all, they had carelessly murmured about someone who was the mother of the unprecedented All-Class Master and the youngest Student Council President of Lumern.

But Reina wasn’t particularly bothered by their reactions.

“Hey, Rent. The spectator seating is over there.”

“There’s something urgent to discuss with you, Senior Reina, in a quiet place where there’s no one around.”

“Are you trying to take me to a secluded spot, married man?”

“This is extremely important.”

Just as Reina wore an incomprehensible expression,

“Where on earth are you messing around?”

Yura, who appeared behind them, grabbed Rent’s neck with her arm.

“Oh my, Yura, it’s been such a long time.”

“It’s been a while, Senior Reina.”

As Rent struggled to break free from Yura’s arm, he exclaimed.

“Let go of your gorilla-like arm! As a professor, I must have an urgent meeting with parent Senior Reina!”

“…Let me see you d*e by choking on that gorilla-like arm!”

“You guys are still the same as ever.”

Reina clapped her hands while laughing, seeing the two junior students’ fierce argument as something familiar.

Contrasting with the anxious parents who were worried that the fight might escalate,

Reina’s calm demeanor was something only graduates of Lumern could possess.

At that moment,

“…Reina Zerdinger?”

“Oh my, Ain?”

Seeing her classmate Ain, Reina’s eyes sparkled.

“It’s really been a while!”

“…I suddenly need to go to the restroom.”

Without looking back, Ain tried to leave.

“Hey! How can you ignore a classmate whom you haven’t seen in a long time?”

“Let go.”

As Reina grabbed Ain’s collar from behind, Ain broke out in cold sweat.

Seeing such Ain, Reina narrowed her half-lidded eyes and said,

“If you keep being cold, I’ll tell people about that incident after the first semester midterm exam when you were a first-year.”

Ain glared at Reina, and the movements of Yura and Rent, who had been fighting fiercely just a moment ago, froze instantly.

“…You, Reina Zerdinger, truly deserve the nickname ‘Flame Witch’.”

“Been a while since someone called me that.”

Watching Ain sigh deeply, Reina grinned and responded.

At that moment,

Just as Leo’s figure was zoomed in on the screen,

Ain narrowed his eyes upon seeing Warden standing opposite to Leo.

“Big match indeed.”