Chapter 171
"Fire Ball!"
Yuridia's magic activated after the casting was complete.
Flame spheres with the unique crimson color of the Rownter family.
Three flame spheres rushed towards Caron.
Thud! Thump thump thump-!
Teron and Caron were fighting at a distance close enough for their faces to touch.
But Yuridia's flame spheres accurately aimed at Caron's back.
Because she was casting a 'Force' magic to control the flame spheres.
An amazing control perfectly manipulating three flame spheres.
However.
Swoosh-.
Caron easily dodged it, rendering that control meaningless.
And he did it with just a single step back.
Bang! Boom!
Yuridia's magic exploded on the innocent ground, scattering soil, rock fragments, and dust in all directions.
'The field of vision...!'
A situation where it's difficult to secure visibility. But Teron couldn't back down.
Because Caron's dagger flew through the dust towards him.
Clang!
Teron deflected the dagger with amazing reaction speed.
It was a wooden dagger, but currently, Teron had mastered the unique mana circulation technique of the Vyuern family.
Even if it were a steel dagger, he wouldn't have gotten a single scratch.
So there's no reason for Caron to criticize him even if he defends with his hands.
However.
Bam!
"Kuk!"
An attack striking the body was different.
It's said that mastering the vision of the Vyuern family can protect the whole body, but Teron is currently a 4-star knight.
He can only cover his arms and legs with mana.
Of course, it's nonsense to use the word 'only' for Teron.
In the entire history of the empire, less than a hundred people have reached the level of 4-stars at the age of fifteen.
But.
"Daggers are weapons that can be thrown. In a situation like this where your vision is obscured, you should have naturally been cautious."
"...I will gratefully accept your advice. After this test is over, that is."
"Oho, you're as arrogant as that guy."
Thud! Thump thump thump!
While the offense and defense were going back and forth, one of Caron's hands reached into his bosom.
It's probably to grab a new dagger in his empty hand or to throw multiple daggers.
'An opening!'
The first secret technique of the Vyuern family style.
Explosive force.
The first secret technique of the Vyuern family that strikes not the exterior but the interior muscles, tendons, and blood vessels.
Even if the defense succeeds, unless the body is protected with mana, it will definitely receive a blow.
It's the same even if the body is protected with mana.
If continuous strikes are dealt, there will be a problem with mana operation, and the body won't be able to be protected with mana.
But it can't be left undefended either. The moment the attack is allowed, the blood vessels, tendons, and muscles will all be destroyed.
Let alone operating mana, the body won't be able to move properly.
There's a problem whether it's blocked or not.
One of the secret techniques that raised the reputation of the Vyuern family.
Whoosh!
The fist containing that technique struck Caron's forearm. But.
"Too bad. Your technique is lacking."
The moment the fist touched, Caron skillfully twisted his arm and deflected the impact.
Swish-!
Teron retreated and dodged Caron's dagger throw.
'He's fast.'
Movements that are hard to believe he was hit by the explosive force.
Of course, it won't be completely without damage.
'About 20% of the force went in.'
The problem is that it won't be easy to strike the same spot again, and Caron is protecting his body with mana.
Properly landing two hits. If not, he needs to succeed with the current attack 9 more times to barely incapacitate one arm.
'Damn it! What 6-star knight!'
Teron recalled what Caron said before the 3rd stage test, the 'group duel', began.
-I will use the strength of a 6-star knight level. For you guys, if you subdue me, it's a victory; if you fail, it's a defeat. Of course, the score will be higher if you win.
That was the first and last thing he said.
Caron arbitrarily started the test and blew away two people at the same time.
The other kids weren't much different. They didn't last a single exchange.
The battle that started with eight people quickly turned into a situation with only himself and Yuridia.
Only two people were left.
'It's not a lie that he's at the 6-star knight level.'
Teron, who has had numerous duels with his family's knights, can tell.
That the level Caron is showing now is that of a 6-star knight.
'The problem is that he's a top-tier 6-star knight.'
A 6-star knight on the verge of reaching 7-stars, so to speak.
So Caron wasn't lying.
Whether top-tier or bottom-tier, a 6-star knight is a 6-star knight.
"Are you looking away?"
Caron's kick that approached in an instant.
Teron blocked it by crossing his arms, but he couldn't avoid his body being lifted into the air.
'Damn it! I made a mistake!'
Swish! Swish swish!
Five daggers were fired at the airborne Teron.
It's impossible to dodge daggers while floating in the air.
But Teron didn't give up. Because he's not alone right now.
"Shield!"
An opaque hemisphere enveloped Teron's surroundings.
Clang-!
The shield shattered from the flying daggers. But it was enough to weaken the power of the daggers.
Teron swung his arms and legs to deflect the weakened daggers.
The problem was.
Caron was charging towards Yuridia.
"Yuridia!"
Landing on the ground and grabbing one of the fallen daggers, Teron.
Swish-!
He threw it at Caron.
But the force was far too weak to stop him.
Caron deflected the dagger and was about to punch Yuridia, right at that moment.
Bang!!
"...!"
A mana bullet flew from somewhere.
It was too late to dodge. Caron filled his arm extended towards Yuridia with mana.
He swung his arm like that to deflect the mana bullet.
Boom boom boom-!
The mana bullet that fell into the forest devastated the surroundings.
"......"
Caron raised the arm he used to deflect the mana bullet.
It tingled.
'A magic gun... Not something to be taken lightly.'
A weapon that's difficult to aim due to the power of mana. That's why he thought it wouldn't be usable.
But he was wrong. It was a problem with the user, but it was sufficiently usable.
'If even ordinary people can achieve precise control through training?'
It will be a weapon that changes the era.
'A magic gun...'
A magic gun, not an arrow. Currently, there's only one person using that in Annwood Academy.
The kid who hangs out with Luna and Zero. The name is definitely...
'I can't remember.'
Even the face is blurry.
A kid whose presence is so faint that it doesn't remain in the mind of Caron, who has excellent memory.
He only remembers that the kid resembles a rabbit.
That rabbit is wielding such a dreadful weapon.
It's simply astonishing. And that's not the only surprising thing.
'Not only the power, but the timing of the shots is also damn impeccable.'
Yuridia and Teron had re-established their formation.
It's been like this from the beginning. Whenever he tries to seize the upper hand, that nameless kid interferes.
'Is that why that guy accepted the kid as an ally...?'
That's not all. The kid is so good at concealing presence.
Rezé was not captured by Caron's senses at all.
She's not on the dueling ground, but it's not a failure for being outside.
In the first place, the test area was not limited to the dueling ground, but also.
'With that level of stealth, it's only natural to hide in the forest.'
It's a test, but the same goes for real combat.
Fighting in the place where you can best demonstrate your strength is also a skill.
'I want to go rabbit hunting right away, but...'
It's not easy because Yuridia and Teron are holding him back.
But he can't continue this kind of fight either.
In the end, Caron had no choice but to choose.
To exert strength beyond that of a 6-star knight.
'Well, I was already using strength beyond that in the first place.'
The mana bullet fired by Rezé.
If it weren't for subtly adjusting the angle, he would have already had his body pierced by the mana bullet.
This level of fine control is only possible at the level of a 7-star knight or above.
'You could say it's a foul play since I said I would only use the strength of a 6-star knight...'
Noticing that fact is also a skill.
If someone shouts that it's a foul play, he planned to announce a pass to the remaining members.
"Let's end this soon."
Thud!
As Caron stomped the ground, he passed Teron. He was aiming for Yuridia behind him.
"Sh-Shield!"
Clang- Clang clang clang-!
The shield collapsed easily to the point of being futile.
Caron driving his fist towards Yuridia.
"Damn it!"
At that moment, Teron blocked it with his body in front of her.
"T-Teron?"
"It's not for you! It's to pass the test!"
From the start of the semester until now.
Caron, who had analyzed Teron during that time.
Someone who likes kids who are outwardly confident but inwardly have snake-like sinister thoughts.
'The owner of a personality that's very perverted.'
But here, he's protecting Yuridia with his whole body?
He made a sinister(?) calculation that facing head-on and protecting Yuridia would receive a better evaluation.
Caron would have no choice but to give a high score.
"Indeed... You have a pretty good head on your shoulders. Well, it would have been better if you used that good head elsewhere."
Caron extending his fist towards Teron.
Thud!
And as expected, Rezé's mana bullet rushed from behind.
'Come!'
In fact, this was also Teron's ploy.
Caron, who has no choice but to deflect the mana bullet.
While he deflects that attack, he would land two explosive forces on him.
That was Teron's plan. But.
Bang! Bam!
Caron's hand moved like lightning, deflecting the mana bullet and attacking Teron at the same time.
At that moment, Teron realized.
That Caron was using strength beyond that of a 6-star knight.
"Kuk! C-Caron... You!"
Crunch-!
But Teron couldn't finish his words.
Because Caron stomped hard on his chest.
Teron fainted from the strong impact that rushed in.
"Too bad. If you had a silver tongue like that guy, you could have spoken to the end."
Caron shifted his gaze to Yuridia.
Left alone, Yuridia could no longer continue the fight.
She didn't even notice the secret like Teron did.
"Going to do more?"
"No, I surrender. I don't want to end up like that vulgar sight. Well, my mana is almost depleted too."
"Wait here."
Heading into the forest, Caron thought.
'I should give Teron a higher score.'
Not only did he notice that he was using strength beyond that of a 6-star knight, but also because Yuridia gave up the fight too easily.
Well, even so, they're on a different level from the kids who were blown away in one hit.
He had no choice but to give an excellent score high enough to compete for the top ranks.
'Now all that's left is that rabbit...'
He can't sense any presence. Not even a scent.
Caron recalled the fact that Zero had received the [White Hippo] from him not long ago.
He predicted this situation, this setup.
'Zero, you were raising quite an interesting kid.'
Certainly, the nameless rabbit(?)'s stealth technique is impressive.
But it's not to the extent that it will work on a 9-star knight like himself.
Whoosh-!
Caron, exerting the power of a 9-star knight, his true strength.
Eventually, he was able to find the rabbit's location.
The movement of the wind, small animals, and insects. He found the place where they were moving strangely.
'Over there!'
Perhaps because he was advancing straight ahead.
The rabbit reacted. It began to gather a lot of mana.
'You made a mistake!'
Flustered after the location was exposed, it hastily operated the magic gun.
Panic is not good.
'Damn rabbit, making me bring out the power of a 9-star!'
Thinking of giving a long lecture, he headed towards that place.
"It would be best to surrender... Huh?"
Caron arrived at the destination while being cautious of the mana bullet that would be fired.
But he couldn't help but be surprised.
Not only because Rezé wasn't there.
But because a Y-shaped wooden stand was neatly placed with a magic gun on it.
And it was filled with mana at that.
'Did she run away? After going through the trouble of injecting mana, she didn't even fire...'
Even if defeat is certain, one should struggle until the end.
Whether it's a test or real combat, anyone would make the same choice.
'But she ran away?'
Shiver-!
Right at that moment, Caron intuitively felt.
That he had fallen into a 'trap'.
"...!"
Caron, who was about to leave his spot, could see it for a moment.
A box disguised as a bush at a slight distance.
The glinting eyes from inside and the tautly drawn bowstring.
Bang!
The rabbit's fang.
Headed towards the heart of the Killing Machine, Caron.
--TL Notes--
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