Chapter 97
After swiftly eliminating the group of students who targeted him, Leo climbed to the top of the tallest visible building.
‘No one would know this is the place where Lysinas and I defeated our first legion commander.’
This city, destroyed by greed, was also where Kyle and Lysinas subjugated the Tartarus legion commander, Gluttony King Jormungand, long ago.
It was the first land reclaimed by the surface races after losing everything except Guardslone—a truly monumental place.
The birthplace of a legendary hero’s tale, now lost even to history.
“Back then, it was just me and Lysinas, so it feels strange to call myself a great hero.”
Leo laughed, thinking back to his past life.
“First, I should look for Lake Erdiana.”
He pulled out the map of Neigrang he had prepared in advance.
Five locations were marked on the map.
And in one of these five lakes, the Great Spirit of Light, Luminus, might still be sleeping.
After the devastating battle with Jormungand, Lysinas had made a promise to the wounded Oathbound.
‘I promise, Luminus. When I wake you again, this world will be filled with light.’
At that time, Luminus had suffered a wound so great it was impossible to avoid destruction.
So Lysinas had no choice but to seal Luminus in this land.
‘So many years have passed. The odds of Luminus still sleeping here are nearly zero.’
Leo looked up from the map.
‘But if Luminus is still asleep, I’m the one who should wake them.’
* * *
The students quickly made their way toward the center of Neigrang.
“Move faster! There’s no reason to fight here right now!”
Whoever secured the central stronghold—the safe zone—first would decide the outcome of the battle royale.
Even if you were confident in your strength, reaching the stronghold first was more important.
“If a curse activates, you’ll be in trouble before you even get a chance to fight! The stronghold first!”
This battle royale was also their final practical exam, but it was still the Department Competition.
That’s why many students moved in departmental groups.
This party was no different.
They’d encountered several other department parties on their way here, but there were no fights yet.
Since it was still early, everyone was acting cautiously.
‘Fighting here would just hurt yourself!’
Juredin Rusen, third place in the Summoning Department, was sure of it.
He led a five-person party from the Summoning Department.
Juredin’s party quickly made their way to the city walls, all while methodically preparing.
“There are actually some edible things in this cursed land.”
The battle royale wouldn’t end until only one person remained.
It could easily turn into a war of attrition.
And in a war of attrition, food was most important.
Juredin’s party was preparing for just that.
“All that suffering in the Familiar Forest last month wasn’t for nothing.”
A female Summoning Department student grumbled as she picked mushrooms and stored them in subspace.
“Yeah.”
They’d interacted with untamed familiars in the Familiar Forest.
Some students had even improved their affinity to the point they could issue simple commands to low-level familiars and spirits without using spirit power.
But what was most useful now was having learned how to survive in the wild.
“Thanks to that, we won’t have to worry about food, no matter how remote it gets.”
“Ugh, just thinking about it is awful!”
The students shook their heads in disgust.
‘As long as we get there and prepare for the long haul…’
Suddenly, Juredin’s expression changed.
A spirit he had sent to scout was forcibly dismissed.
“I think a monster appeared up ahead. Let’s get out of here!”
“Okay!”
Juredin’s party started moving.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong, Juredin?”
His teammates looked confused at Juredin’s suddenly serious face.
“It happened again.”
“What?”
“Me too!”
Another teammate shouted in alarm.
“Something’s coming at us at incredible speed!”
Juredin yelled in panic.
At that moment—
Crackle—!
A fierce spark exploded in the ears of everyone in the party.
Flash!
A powerful golden light burst in front of Juredin’s party.
“Duran!”
‘Damn! We ran into the worst one possible!’
Juredin scowled, wary of Duran.
“Why are you blocking our way?”
“Are you really asking?”
Duran drew his sword.
“This is the Department Competition. Of course we fight when we meet an enemy.”
A female Summoning Department student looked incredulous.
“What if a curse triggers? Or monsters show up? Fighting here is just stupid!”
“Don’t be an idiot.”
Duran sneered.
“You think we’re on the same level? Whether it’s monsters or curses, none of that matters to me. Before heading to the stronghold, it’s better to reduce the competition.”
“I knew there was no reasoning with you.”
Juredin scoffed.
Whoosh!
Wind swirled around him.
“You might be strong, Duran, but don’t you think you’re underestimating me? I’m third in the Summoning Department.”
“Wasn’t third place Leo Plov? I didn’t care enough to know.”
“You—!”
Boom—!
The wind spirits all attacked Duran at once with a furious gale.
Crackle—!
Duran swung his sword, and golden electricity whipped out in every direction.
He instantly dispelled the spirits, his eyes narrowing.
‘Just low-level spirits?’
Duran was famous for his arrogance, but he never misjudged his opponents’ skill.
Even if he hadn’t cared about Juredin before, he knew the boy was a talented spirit user.
Buzz—!
Juredin glanced up at the sky.
A powerful summoning circle had formed.
“No point in a drawn-out fight with you! I’ll finish this quickly!”
Juredin grinned, summoning a high-level wind spirit.
His teammates raised their defenses, ready for Duran’s attack.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind instantly swept Duran off his feet.
Crash! Crash!
Duran’s expression hardened as he stomped the ground.
His feet dug deep into the earth.
‘Just the summoning alone had this much effect…?’
“Interesting.”
Duran smirked and tightened his grip on his sword.
Crackle—!
His arm muscles bulged, threatening to rip through his uniform.
Juredin shouted,
“Finish him! Alkethias!”
Whoosh—!
The summoned high-level wind spirit became a tornado and struck down at Duran.
Seeing the whirlwind tearing toward him, Duran’s eyes flashed.
A golden spark leapt from his eyes.
With [The Hero’s Breath], his sword’s power peaked.
‘[Thunderclap]! Astrape!’
A crescent-shaped blade of lightning sliced through the tornado and shot up to the sky.
Juredin’s eyes widened.
“Hoo!”
Duran took a deep breath and pulled his feet from the ground.
“Not bad. But this is as far as you go.”
“D-Damn it!”
Juredin’s face twisted.
As Duran stirred up [Aura] and advanced, Juredin’s party shrank back.
“That’s far enough, Duran Moira.”
At the ringing voice, Juredin’s party looked up in surprise.
“E-Eliza!”
“Sis! You came to save us!”
“Eliza! Eliza! Eliza!”
“Are you here to interfere, Eliza Hergin?”
Duran asked in annoyance as Eliza, riding a top-tier familiar, the Wind Wyvern, idly played with her nails.
“It’s the Department Competition. Of course I’ll help my department’s students.”
“Ah! Sis! Take me with you!”
“Eliza! Eliza!”
The Summoning Department students kept chanting Eliza’s name in adoration.
Eliza was usually haughty, but she was extremely proud of her summoning skills.
She was conceited, but very active in helping her department, which made her highly respected among Summoning students.
Finally looking away from her nails, Eliza smirked down at Duran.
“Well, if you insist on fighting because you don’t want to run away, I won’t stop you. Hohohohoho!”
“Hahaha. If you’re acting tough because you trust these fools, you’re making a mistake, Eliza Hergin.”
Duran burst out laughing.
Whooooom—!
The two most arrogant first-years squared off, and Juredin’s party started nervously edging away.
“A-Are we going to get caught up in this and get hurt?”
“I want to help Eliza, but… I feel like we’ll just get caught in the crossfire.”
The Summoning Department students broke into a cold sweat as they slowly backed away.
Duran’s eyes narrowed and he glanced at the sky, away from Eliza.
“Kr?”
“What’s wrong, Pippi? Is something coming?”
Sensing the wind wyvern’s sensitivity, Eliza kept a wary eye on Duran.
A moment later, something was seen flying in at incredible speed.
The instant they realized it—
Whoosh!
“Kyaaaah!”
A student flew across the sky in a flash.
And before Eliza could react, she was caught in the shockwave and thrown from her saddle.
Eliza, sprawled awkwardly on the wyvern’s back, was filled with rage.
She hadn’t crashed to the ground, but for a summoner, being thrown from their familiar’s saddle was a terrible humiliation.
“Hmph. I didn’t expect to run into you so soon! Let’s settle this right here and now!”
The fastest in the Knights Department, he had chased after Leo and vanished in an instant.
Climbing back onto her saddle, Eliza glared in the direction Leo had disappeared.
“Again! Again! Again! Leo Plov! Is it you again?!”
“Eek! She’s mad! She’s really mad!”
“Eliza, forget about them! We need to get to the stronghold—”
“Unforgivable! This time I won’t forgive you! Pippi! After Leo Plov!”
“Kyarrk!”
With a huge flap, the wind wyvern soared into the sky.
Then it dove after Leo’s trail.
As the three vanished, the Summoning Department girl stared in bewilderment.
“They’re heading the opposite way from the stronghold. What are they thinking?”
Juredin sighed.
“She’s the top student at our school. She must have a plan.”
“I get Leo, but it seems like Eliza and Duran are just mindlessly chasing him.”
“Leave those meatheads alone.”
“Huh? Meatheads? What does that mean?”
“Brainless idiots.”
“Oh! That’s perfect!”
Juredin’s party burst out laughing.
“Don’t say I said that.”
“We’ll see how you act!”
“Hurry up, before we get dragged into another pointless fight.”