Chapter 184
Editor : Amethyst00
“W-What the—!”
“Is that even possible?”
Voices of shock burst out among the 3rd and 4th years.
For the 1st and 2nd years, it had all happened too fast — they couldn’t even follow the exchange between Leo and Rhys, much less comprehend how incredible their movements were.
Only the top students of the 1st-year Knight Department clenched their fists tightly.
Meanwhile, in the 5th-year spectators’ section, Jamua muttered while eating popcorn.
“Was he always that good? That’s not just impressive — that’s downright terrifying.”
At Jamua’s comment, Torua, who had been scribbling something beside him, glanced at the arena and spoke.
“That’s exactly why Rhys recommended him for student council president.”
“I suppose so. But hey, Torua, what’ve you been writing nonstop these past few days?”
“Graduation deferment application.”
“……”
Jamua looked at her with a dumbfounded face.
“I’ve already been rejected ten times.”
Even after finishing her graduation thesis, Torua had submitted an unprecedented application — making the professors of the Department of Magic collectively clutch their heads.
The reason: Magical research.
“Let’s see it.”
At Jamua’s words, Torua obediently handed over the form.
“Graduation Deferment Application. I wish to study at Lumene for one more year. Reason: magical research. Detailed research plan: analysis of Leo Plov’s ‘Bible’ magic formula and concentrated observation of Leo Plov?”
Jamua looked at it and said, “Do you honestly think this’ll get approved?”
“Hmm… maybe I should take out the ‘concentrated observation’ part since it could be considered an invasion of privacy?”
Jamua sighed.
This friend, famous for being the smartest in school, turned into a complete fool when it came to magic.
Giving up on her, Jamua turned his gaze back to the dueling arena.
'Now then, what will you do, Leo?'
In technique alone, Leo had clearly taken the upper hand.
But combat strength wasn’t determined by skill alone.
Especially not when his opponent was Rhys Zerdinger — the strongest student of them all.
'At this rate, it’ll be hard to hold out against Rhys.'
Leo gripped his sword tightly as the vortex of flames hurtled toward him.
'That’s not Zerdinger’s Flame.'
Zerdinger’s Flame was the Phoenix Flame — its power and aura were on an entirely different level from normal fire.
'He’s using a Hero Skill.'
After quickly analyzing the attack, Leo smirked.
'So, you’re testing me.'
He awakened the fire sleeping within his body.
Gooooo—! Fwoooooosh—!
Crimson flames blazed along the spear in Leo’s hand.
Chk—!
Adjusting his grip, Leo took a throwing stance.
Kwagagagagak—!
The flames were absorbed into the spear’s tip.
Once all of it was gathered, Leo clenched his teeth.
“Hup—!”
Fwoooom—!
He hurled the spear straight into Rhys’s vortex of flame.
Fwoosh—!
The spear flew at incredible speed, piercing through the raging blaze.
KWAANG—!
For an instant, Leo’s spear collided with Rhys’s vortex.
Goooooo—!
There was a brief explosion — and then Phoenix Flame burst from Leo’s spear, devouring Rhys’s fire completely.
Even among flames, there were ranks.
The Phoenix Flame, known as the supreme fire, consumed everything.
It was no wonder that among the families of flame-wielding heroes, Zerdinger and Lunda stood at the top.
'Still, to block it this easily…' Rhys thought, impressed.
The flame he had just used was from the Fire Elemental Lord, Itharan, who had extinguished a thousand years ago.
It is a flame he obtained as a Hero’s World reward. Though not the complete form, it was by no means weak.
'And yet his flame devoured it…'
Rhys smiled as Leo’s spear came flying straight toward him.
'His control over flame is remarkable.'
Thud—!
KWAANG! Fwoooooosh—!
As Rhys caught Leo’s spear, a massive wave of fire swept across the arena.
Everyone in the stands gasped.
Protective barriers were set up to shield spectators from harm, yet the heat that broke through felt like it could scorch their skin — proof of the sheer power of Leo’s flames.
But Leo’s assault didn’t end there.
He unleashed all the spells he had prepared.
Flash! Kwagagagagang—!
Like a rain of bombardment, fierce fire spells rained down on Rhys’s position.
This was Leo’s full power — a simultaneous attack of aura and magic at their peak.
The senior students looked astonished.
Even if Rhys had allowed Leo ample preparation time, this level of force was far beyond expectation.
No matter how talented Rhys was as successor to the Zerdinger flame, Leo’s output was extraordinary.
The 1st years, however, stayed relatively calm — unaware of just how absurd the exchange truly was.
As the smoke cleared, everyone’s eyes turned toward Rhys’s position.
When he emerged from the flames unscathed, the crowd gasped in admiration.
“As expected of Rhys-sunbae.”
“To block that kind of attack without a scratch!”
The professors, on the other hand, looked unsurprised.
“Not even a burn mark on his clothes. Impressive.”
Associate Professor Anna clicked her tongue, and Len folded his arms.
“Indeed. Leo’s attack, combining aura and magic, is astonishing. But his opponent is Rhys Zerdinger.”
Len narrowed his eyes.
“The strongest student among all hero candidates in all Hero Acadamies, the so-called Phoenix Knight. He’s one of the finest hero candidates. When it come to flame control, few in the entire world can surpass him.”
As successor to the Heroic House Zerdinger, Rhys had reached a global pinnacle in mastery of flame.
“At Leo’s current level, trying to fight him with fire is practically suicide.”
“Then did Leo not realize that?”
“He knows.” Len smirked.
“It’s a challenge.”
“A challenge?”
“Yes. He’s testing how far his flames can reach Rhys.”
“But isn’t that far too reckless?”
“Fufufu! Associate Professor Anna! That’s what makes Leo amazing!”
Len’s grin widened.
“He’s testing the might of Rhys Zerdinger himself! The guts to challenge the 1st ranked fifth-year. That’s proof he belongs in the Magic Department!”
“Uh… sure.” Anna responded flatly.
Lately, Len had been linking everything about Leo back to the Magic Department.
When they’d heard Leo succeeded in manifesting the Bible, she’d nearly had to knock Ren unconscious with a thick grimoire to calm him down.
'I really should quit…' she sighed, weary of her superior’s growing obsession.
'Impressive.'
Leo admired Rhys, who had endured his onslaught with barely a scratch.
'Even in the Age of Calamity, there were no knights that skilled at that age.'
5000 years of refinement and the existence of the Hero’s World aside, it was still a breathtaking level of mastery.
'His control over flame surpasses even what I achieved in my past life.'
Leo steadied his sword.
He could unleash a flame equal in power to Rhys’s — but only at the cost of burning himself.
And even then, equal strength wouldn’t be enough to reach him.
“With your current power, you won’t be able to wound me, Leo.”
“That's true.”
Leo nodded readily.
“With aura and magic alone, I can’t match your flame, Rhys-hyungnim.”
Rhys laughed at the calm admission.
“Then what will you do?”
“It’s simple.”
Leo smiled.
“The best way to deal with fire — is with more fire.”
“Fire?”
Rhys frowned.
Leo had just admitted he couldn’t counter his flame.
'Even another element wouldn’t make a difference. So what does he mean by that?'
Not even Kyle’s gray aura would bridge that gap — this was a fight between leagues.
'What are you planning?'
Rhys’s eyes narrowed as Leo’s smile deepened.
“It’s over.”
Among the upperclassmen, murmurs of ‘of course’ spread.
They’d been surprised when Leo had landed a hit earlier, but that was it.
Rhys had since stopped holding back, and the match would clearly end any moment now.
“Still, for a first-year, he’s done well, hasn’t he?”
“Hmph! For a first-year! He’ll never be student council president!”
Boos and jeers echoed here and there.
Even the 1st years shared the sentiment.
“It was entertaining, but it’s over now.”
Eliza clicked her tongue, flexing her fingers.
“Really, he should’ve fought me instead of challenging the president.”
“Eliza, you realize you sound like you’re in love with the 5th class president, right?”
“Do I?”
“Cough! Cough!”
“Was it this mouth that said that insolent thing?”
“I–It’s the— cough— mouth! Not— gghk! —my throat, why are you strangl— ghhk!”
With a crack of her ever-present whip, Eliza looped it around her classmate’s neck, smiling brightly.
The poor girl barely escaped, clutching her throat and grumbling.
“Anyway, it’s over. A first-year student council president? Impossible.”
“Yeah, it’s ridiculous.”
Just then—
Swoosh—
Leo raised his hand.
Wooooom—!
“Summoning art?”
Eliza looked intrigued.
'Now that I think about it, Leo Plov has never used summoning in any major battle, has he? He may be an All-Class, but compared to his aura and magic, his summoning was clearly lacking.'
Not weak, exactly — he simply lacked a truly powerful summon. His skill in handling familiars and elementals was still enough to make even Eliza click her tongue in awe.
'But in this situation, summoning can’t change anything.'
She rested her chin on her hand.
'What you lack now is power. No matter the technique, such a gap in strength can’t be overcome.'
The others were thinking the same thing — though some were curious what kind of summon he’d call forth.
Fwoosh—!
A small flame bloomed on Leo’s palm.
Pop—!
“Cheep—!”
A tiny red chick appeared, and everyone collectively gawked.
The sudden summon blinked at the huge crowd, looking flustered — then spread its wings proudly and lifted its chin as if it were a grand phantom beast.
“So cute!”
“What is that? I want one!”
A chorus of delighted squeals broke out, completely mismatched with the tension of the duel.
The 1st-year summoners, however, just looked baffled.
“Hey, isn’t that the chick Leo contracted with in our first class?”
“Yeah.”
“Why’s he bringing that out now?”
As they whispered, Eliza’s face turned slightly red.
'I–I thought it was adorable before too, but still! What’s he planning to do with such a cute familiar?'
Even the 5th years were dumbfounded.
“What on earth does he plan to do with that thing?”
“Maybe he’s trying to weaken Rhys’s resolve with cuteness?”
As Jamua and Torua exchanged incredulous looks—
“You’d better watch closely,” Ulta, who had been silently observing, curled his lips into a smile.
“Because the real sparring evaluation starts now.”
“Cheep—!”
Rhys scratched his cheek awkwardly as the chick, Fiora, as she flapped her wings at him in defiance.
“Uh, Leo. No matter what, it’s kind of hard for me to attack something that cute.”
“Don’t worry.”
Leo smiled and released his spiritual power.
“…?”
Fwoooosh—
One by one, Fiora’s feathers began to burn.
“In a moment, you won’t find it cute anymore.”
FWOOOOOSH—!
A strange, ominous flame began to ripple around Leo.
Rhys’s expression stiffened.
Goooooo—!
The fire gathered around Fiora, swelling into a single, massive flame.
Her entire body ignited.
Fwoom—!
And then—
“SKREEEEEEEEEEEEE!”
KWAGAGAGAK—!
With a cry that split the air, heat burst outward in all directions.
“Kh!”
Rhys staggered, his head ringing.
A—A ‘Peer’?
The realization that he was being overwhelmed by a mere Peer-class summon shocked him.
He steadied himself — and then froze.
Perched gracefully on Leo’s arm was a beautiful flame bird.
A being that inspired reverence at a glance — the very source of the flame Rhys wielded.
“…A Phoenix?”