Chapter 319

319

Kugugugugung-!

The Great Spirit of the Earth, Titaum, raised his hand.

Upon seeing this, Leo swiftly launched his body into action.

Hwaak-! Kwagagagagagang! Kugugugung-!

Titaum’s attack made the earth tremble and the entire island shake.

Other students, who were watching the confrontation between Leo and Warden from a distance with astonished eyes, staggered due to the aftershock.

Having moved out of Titaum’s attack range, Leo’s eyes narrowed.

‘When did you make a contract with a Great Spirit?’

While watching Warden, who stood facing him with Titaum behind him, Leo clenched and unclenched his fists.

Leo was one of the few people in Lumeran who knew Warden’s talent and potential the best.

Even just going by skill, excluding himself, Warden was the strongest in the second year students.

In terms of combat power, Warden was on par with or even surpasses Lunia and Ar.

With an innate strength and talent that set him apart, Warden truly lived up to his nickname, the Monster.

However, Warden did not overly flaunt his presence.

He wasn’t particularly proactive in participating in departmental schedules.

He didn’t mingle much with other students.

Although he was originally a taciturn individual who preferred spending time alone, there was more to it than that.

Leo knew very well what Warden’s goal was and what he always observed.

The person who occupied the position Warden was aiming for…

Warden had always been watching Leo.

And Warden had put in relentless effort in solitude to overcome Leo.

Walking a path with the ambition of becoming the strongest.

Among the second-year students in Lumeran, no one had practiced as much as Warden since entering the academy.

‘Could the fruit of his mad efforts to catch up to me be… a Great Spirit?’

While looking at Warden, who was observing him, Leo extended his sword.

Gooohooo-!

Flames enveloped Leo’s body.

Hwalrek-

Wings of fire erupted behind Leo’s back.

Hwaak-

Leo’s body soared into the air.

Kugugung-!

Titaum bowed his head and extended his hand, and Warden climbed onto it.

Kugung-!

From a distance, students looked up at Leo and Warden.

Gulp-

With the Phoenix and the Great Spirit of the Earth in a standoff, the students swallowed dryly.

Warden lifted his head, standing on Titaum’s shoulder, and looked up at Leo with an emotionless face.

Looking at Warden, Leo spoke.

“Never thought you’d have made a contract with a Great Spirit.”

Leo smiled faintly.

In response, Warden opened his mouth.

“Every time I see you, I realize something, Leo Flove.”

“What’s that?”

“The feeling of looking up to someone else.”

“You’re just going to look up?”

In response to this question, Warden curled his lips upward.

“I once read a story about a foolish person as a child.”

Spiritual Energy surged around Warden’s body.

“A story about a foolish person who tried to get close to the sun by flying high but ultimately fell and died.”

Kugugung-!

It seemed as if an earthquake had struck, and the earth shook violently.

“While other children laughed at the main character in the story, I did not laugh.”

Warden raised his hand.

In response, Titaum also raised his arm.

“I have no interest in a life of looking up and being unable to meet someone’s eyes.”

Warden extended his hand toward Leo.

“Even if I ultimately cannot reach and end up falling…”

Kugugung-!

“I will not stop reaching towards my goal, putting everything I have into it.”

With that shout from Warden, Titaum’s arm swung at an incredible speed.

In response, Leo’s body shot up into the sky.

Hwalrek-!

As Leo raised his sword, flames surged wildly.

Kwagagagagajac-!

Due to attribute compatibility, Leo was at a clear disadvantage against the Earth attribute.

But Leo didn’t mind.

As if becoming a blazing sun, Leo’s body burned brilliantly.

Kugagagajac-!

The flames of the Phoenix that shot out from Leo’s sword turned Titaum’s arm into ashes.

Kugugung-!

The ash-covered arm lost its form and collapsed to the ground.

Hooak-!

But almost instantly, the arm regenerated itself.

Kwagajac-

When Titaum extended his hand, massive rock-like webs shot out.

Leo’s red eyes quickly traced the trajectory.

Hwaak-!

Dodging numerous stone webs, Leo dashed toward Warden.

Seeing Leo coming, Warden swung his arm.

Teb-!

Titaum’s arm swiftly grabbed Leo.

At the moment everyone witnessed this with wide eyes,

Titaum plunged his fist into the ground.

Kugugung! Kugagagagagajang!

“AAAAAAAGH!”

“Are you serious? No holding back!”

The students watching the fight panicked and fled.

Hwallek-!

Despite receiving a shock beyond imagination, Leo’s body, caught in Titaum’s fist, burst into flames.

Warden, whose grasp had been forcibly loosened by the tremendous force while holding his fist firmly plunged into the ground, contorted his face.

Right now, Warden and Titaum were using one of the high-tier Spirit Magic skills: Fusion.

This advanced Spirit Magic allows Fusion with a Spirit, letting you control the Spirit’s power as desired.

The downside is that the damage absorbed by the Spirit is felt identically by the Spirit Mage.

“Titaum, Earth Wave.”

At Warden’s words, the ground began to heave.

Kwagajang-!

Warden slammed Leo, caught within his grasp, deep into the ground.

Thick clouds of dust rose.

Due to the brilliant flames emitted by Fiora and the earth controlled by Titaum, the mist had already cleared completely.

– Truly worthy of the monster whose name is well-known even among Spirits, I see.

Titaum expressed admiration.

“…”

– However, bringing Phoenix whose element isn’t a favorable match against him was reckless, wasn’t it?

“Titaum.”

-Um?

“He’s coming.”

Kukwagagagajang-!

Leo, who had been forced deep underground, shot into the sky.

-Eh?!

Titaum was shocked, and Warden prepared for combat.

bl**d flowed from a wound on Leo’s forehead.

With an aggressive smile, Leo declared,

“Outstanding.”

Gooohooohoo-!

The flames of the Phoenix swirled wildly around Leo’s sword.

Trying to move his body urgently, Warden hesitated.

But Leo was faster, severing Titaum’s head in one swift motion.

“Grit.”

Warden felt a momentary dizziness.

Kugugugung-!

In an instant, Titaum was recalled.

The massive mound of earth collapsed.

And Warden himself, mixed in, plummeted to the ground buried under the mound of earth.

‘Warden… the monster truly is a monster.’

Upon landing on the ground, Leo took a deep breath to deal with the pain coursing through his body.

‘Never would’ve guessed he’d been hiding an ace card like this.’

He might not have handled Titaum completely.

Warden wasn’t fully capable of harnessing the Great Spirit’s power entirely.

But the fact that a seventeen-year-old could summon a Great Spirit was itself proof of his incredible latent abilities.

‘…An unpolished gem of this quality?’

Whistling, Leo looked toward the dirt pile.

‘Besides… he hasn’t fallen yet.’

Despite receiving a tremendous blow, Warden was not knocked unconscious.

Just as Leo was adjusting his sword,

“I’ll go first!”

“Don’t joke around! I was going first!”

A familiar quarreling voice rang out.

Placing his sword into the ground like a cane, Leo looked skyward.

Durant, adorned with Aura of lightning, and Eliza, riding a Wind Wyvern, were rapidly approaching.

Seeing this, the other students brightened their expressions.

With Duran and Eliza joining the fight,

Even the mighty Leo had suffered considerable damage from his fight with Warden.

And with two additional combatants joining, most thought even Leo would have no choice but to retreat.

Tak! Tadak!

Duran and Eliza stood in front of Leo.

Chilrit- Eyeing each other angrily, the two made Leo laugh.

“Planning on double-teaming me?”

“Stop fooling around. Leo Flove.”

Eliza pulled out a whip from her bosom.

“Joining hands with Duran Moira to bring you down would violate my pride.”

“Hoho, how unexpected you’re speaking the truth. Eliza Hergin. I’d beat you down before joining hands to take down Leo Flove.”

“Dear, you’ll be the one falling.”

Growling at each other, the students inwardly screamed at Duran and Eliza.

‘Hey! You’re on the same side!’

‘Why are you two fighting so aggressively against each other when we have Leo here?!’

Just as the students from the Noble and Harmony Houses were pulling out their hair,

Kugugung-!

Warden emerged from the pile of dirt.

“The fight between me and Leo Flove is not over yet.”

With a blank expression, Warden turned to look at Duran and Eliza.

“Therefore, both of you, get lost.”

“The battle has already concluded, so you should step aside, Warden Tyden.”

“Hmph. I’ll take you down alongside him, you b*stard.”

Eliza and Duran coldly smirked.

Seeing this, Leo burst out laughing.

‘Guys who don’t know the meaning of giving up, huh.’

The gap in strength was something the three of them understood best.

And still, they persisted and struggled.

They raised their heads high and charged forward without fear.

Although they should have been disheartened,

No, even after losing heart, they kept pushing forward recklessly.

‘The brash attitude of teenagers is frightening.’

From them, Leo learned not to know how to give up.

Through Lissinas, he learned how to find light in endless darkness.

From Luna, he learned how to progress toward the light.

And from Aron, he learned not to lose heart while pursuing the light.

Lastly, through Dwenno, he realized that it’s okay to trust and rely on comrades.

It wasn’t just Warden, Duran, and Eliza.

‘Celia, Chloe, Abad… and Chen Sia as well.’

Even if individuals have different ideals and goals, they still strive for Leo as their target.

Chasing after him.

Even if their starting points differ greatly,

When viewed from their perspective,

Standing on the same starting line, they’d have only seen Leo’s back as he far surpassed them.

‘They’ll grow into remarkable heroes.’

Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

‘They’ll grow into fellow warriors I can fight alongside.’

Thinking that one day, these classmates of Lumeran Academy will become comrades to whom he can entrust his back.

‘And that’s why I’ve been working to synchronize our paces.’

To keep their eyes aligned.

To not despair from the large gap in level and to remain intact,

As a far-gone senior hero.

He’s shown consideration for the freshmen.

But lately, he had started questioning if continuing this way was right.

To those who sincerely challenge him as peers.

Showing only the “Leo Flove” persona… could it be the right thing?

“Believe in the future you’ve chosen.”

Dwenno’s advice resurfaced in his mind.

‘If you really could stand on the battlefield against Erebus as a hero someday.’

Leo opened his eyes.

‘Is it possible…’

When faced with overwhelming despair, would they be able to rise again?

‘Testing it now wouldn’t be bad.’

Leo summoned his Aura.

This made Duran and Eliza, who had been eyeing each other cautiously, hesitate.

Up until now, the second-year students had only seen the side of Leo Flove.

But this moment was different.

Leo’s gaze changed.

This made the three of them flinch.

“Stop fighting.”

If Leo Flove, the Student Council President of the second year of Lumeran Academy, was here,

It would be the right decision to step back from this position.

Even for Leo Flove, facing Warden, Duran, and Eliza,

It would be too reckless to go against all three.

However…

It would be a different story for Kyle.

“All three of you, come at me together.”

“Are you disrespecting us? Leo Flove…”

Kwagagajac-!

“…!”

Eliza quickly launched her body into motion.

Duran instinctively extended his sword to deflect the Aura.

But it wasn’t fully diverted.

If Duran had even been a hair slower in deflecting Leo’s Aura,

If Eliza hadn’t dodged,

They would’ve already been declared dead.

The sharp blade sent shivers down Duran’s spine.

‘…What is this?’

Duran looked at Leo.

“I’m not showing disrespect.”

Leo said plainly.

“Prove it yourselves. That you…”

A surge of killing intent and fighting spirit poured out of Leo’s body.

“Have the right to stand on the same stage as me.”