chapter 8
Episode 8 – Second Chair (3)
8. Second seat (3)
The sun hung high, scattering its light and driving away the chill of early spring.
The central square was already filled with the enthusiasm of the spectators, so much so that it felt muggy.
Leon and Essabel face each other holding swords, about 10 meters away.
Chiiing!
Leon’s sword was reflected in the red light, creating a dazzling glow.
The martial arts club cadets who recognized the value of the sword all expressed their admiration.
“Huh, a first year student already has a sword like that?”
“It’s Prince Crusif.”
“No matter what, isn’t it too much?”
“It seems like the duke cares for you a lot.”
Before we knew it, people were starting to see Duke Crusiv as a father full of paternal love and warm to his son.
It was a sound that would make Locke’s blood pressure soar when he heard it, as if his sword had been stolen by his son.
Instructor Melmorn, standing in the center between Essabel and Leon, opened his mouth.
He participated in this duel as an initiate.
“It’s a ranking competition from the first day of admission. You’re full of blood. After all, I like youth.”
With a face like a tired office worker, he cast a shield spell on Esabel and Leon.
The 6th Circle wizard’s turquoise mana spread out, carefully covering their entire bodies.
“There are a lot of new students, so I’ll explain the rules again. Attacks targeting vital points or that could threaten one’s life are prohibited. Absolutely no follow-up attacks against opponents whose shields are broken or who abstain. Lastly, accept the result clearly.”
I was admitted after beating a lot of competition.
Elprime’s cadets had high pride, so there were many cases where they couldn’t accept defeat and whined.
Mel Morn turned her head as if she understood, and Essabel and Leon met her eyes and nodded.
“Good. This duel is notarized by the Melmorn Variety instructor, and if any objections arise, you can come to me.”
After she finished speaking, Mel Morn lightly waved her hand.
Chi-ik!
Then, a circle of flames was drawn in the air between Essabel and Leon.
“It starts when the spinner disappears. Good luck.”
With those last words, Melmorn retreated far away.
Chiikik!
Like a loading spinner, the red line gradually burned into a circle.
Across the disappearing flame circle, Esabel and Leon’s eyes met.
Leon looked at her and smiled brightly.
“Please take care of me, princess.”
“Hmph.”
Esabel snorted softly at the disgust.
She had come to know Leon’s shameless personality to some extent.
Chiikik!
Leon quenched his appetite as he looked at the few flames left.
Of course, he had no intention of losing this duel.
‘Billy, I will let you live quietly!’
If he firmly maintains his position as second chair, wouldn’t there be no need for Billy to compete in the rankings? (For those ranked 10th or higher, ranking matches can only be played against those ranked one level higher than themselves.)
Leon had no intention of rubbing up against Billy just to aim for the top spot.
He did not give Billy any stimulation and had to slow down his growth.
At least until you catch up.
Chiikik!
Spinner with less than a quarter left.
“······.”
“······.”
In a tense moment, the two prosecutors quietly raised their spirits.
Jjjing!
When Leon slightly infused mana into the Thousand Slash Sword, there was a faint sword noise.
Chiik- Patchoon!
Soon, a large spark appears and the spinner disappears.
Pababat!
Essa Belle charged in first, stepping lightly to her left and right.
“Oh.”
Leon was amazed by the strange and quick movements.
Just by looking at those movements, there was no doubt that she was the strongest opponent she had ever encountered.
Katz!
Essabel’s sword reached her close range and struck her diagonally.
Leon leaned his body in the opposite direction and stepped forward with his front foot.
Boom!
As her mana exploded from her toes and her earth shook, Esabel’s center of gravity slightly shook.
Leon did not miss the opportunity and began swinging his sword.
Kang! Kagagaga River-!!
Dozens of attacks took place in the blink of an eye.
Essabel received Leon’s sword strikes that rained down on her one by one with her elaborate movements.
“Hey, did something just pass by?”
The low-level freshmen couldn’t even see their movements properly.
“···Did I just see it right?”
“You’re crazy. “I can’t believe I’m already at that level at that age.”
“Oh, that’s the Cruciv family…!”
The senior cadets were amazed by the amazing performance of the freshmen, and the instructors’ eyes sparkled.
15 Seconds passed, but Leon was still in control.
Boom! Bang! Bang bang bang!!
Leon’s attacks continued to the point where I wondered if he was still breathing, and they were getting stronger as time went by.
‘What is this!?’
Esabel, who was catching the sword that continued to fall like a waterfall, was astonished.
Her expression was calm on the outside, but on the inside she was very agitated.
Kaang! Bang! Bang bang!!
There is a degree of succession, but it was clearly abnormal for it to continue for over 30 seconds and its power gradually increased.
“hehehehe!”
Leon laughs like a madman and keeps rushing forward.
Essabel was overcome with chills as she thought she would be like this until she collapsed from exhaustion.
Kang! Cancan! Chiit! Kang!
If you overdo it in the beginning, it is normal to lose strength later.
But because his physical strength was so good, the power contained in the sword became stronger and stronger, and even its sharpness did not decrease at all.
‘It can’t go on like this.’
Essa Belle bit her lips hard.
It didn’t suit her to keep being pushed around.
I had to admit what I had to admit.
Despite his unpredictable personality, Leon was an excellent swordsman.
In order to defeat him, she had to do everything in her power.
Kang! Chi-ik!
The look in her eyes changed as she retreated from the strong recoil of her sword.
Tall!
Leon, who sensed the change like a ghost, stopped running and took a step back.
‘A quick-witted guy.’
Esabel was disgusted by his serpent-like appearance.
She adjusted her stance and assumed the Qi form of her Tai Huang Sword (太皇劍).
I could feel the flow of mana from the sword raised high.
The arrogant ruler’s spirit gently weighed down Leon.
This is real.
Leon licked his dry lips as he faced Esabelle’s Great Emperor Sword, which he had only seen in writing.
“Ha!”
Esabel rushed in with a short burst of energy.
A heavy blow like Mount Tai flew towards Leon.
Whoa!
‘This is crazy!’
This cannot be prevented.
I had to avoid it or let it go.
Chiit! Chiiing! Visor!
Leon walked her steps like crazy and deflected her sword.
The situation has changed 180 degrees from before.
Essabel, who had completely taken the initiative from her, fiercely pursued Leon.
Leon narrowed his eyes slightly at the shock she felt on her body.
Her wrists and shoulders, which were holding her sword, hurt as if they would break.
Her sword was carrying an incomprehensible weight.
Leon retreated helplessly from the precision of the Emperor’s sword, which was considered the essence of her swordsmanship.
Kaang! Cheaeng! Cancan!
A sword built by the martial arts scholars of the imperial palace through countless research, improvements, and trial and error.
Even attacks that seemed monotonous at first glance contained profound and complex tricks.
When Essa Belle showed off her skills, people clicked their tongues when they saw Leon starting to get hit on by her.
“After all, it’s not okay for the princess…?”
“Hmm, I think I used too much stamina in the beginning.”
“I was so excited. “Emotion control is a basic virtue of a warrior.”
That’s terrible!
In response to her criticism coming to his ears, Leon actually raised the corner of her mouth.
Currently, Leon’s senses were extremely sensitive.
Whoop. Huh. Ha. Ha.
Hearing her own and her partner’s breathing.
Exciting! Exciting! Exciting!
The heartbeat that rings without change creates rhythm.
Esabel’s sword, which seemed incomprehensible, begins to become clearly visible.
The position of her feet, the movements of her shoulders and wrists, her gaze, her breathing, and the movement of her mana.
Everything was understood and it was possible to predict what attack would come next.
In the end, swordsmanship is a series of certain formulas.
The talent I gained by selling my soul to the devil increased my understanding of the sword to the limit.
Leon feels that the fight is getting easier.
She places her sword in advance at the point where Essabel’s attack will fly.
Chaeng! Visor! Visor! Visor!
The sword clashes with the sword, and the metal sound resonates at a steady beat as if playing a musical instrument.
It was like watching a contrived play between two actors.
“······Uh, huh?”
Essabel’s face was colored with embarrassment as she felt like she was hitting her shield hard.
Leon, who was reading the beat intently, saw a gap.
‘Now!’
Leon’s eyes turned red.
Couuu!
The mana in the body rushes through the circuit like a tidal wave.
Controls every joint and fine muscle to create optimal posture.
Put the energy like a bomb about to explode into the sword.
It shoots out.
The first form of Jecheon Geombeop (制天劍法), Yeomyeong (黎明).
Sigh!
Let the sword strike like a beam of light sever the gap between the sword and the sword.
Flash-!
From the tip of Leon’s sword, a bright sunset poured out like the sun that illuminates the dawn.