Chapter 14
───────────
Episode 3 - The duel of the strongest [3]
─────────────────────────────────
When the current duel came to an end, it was finally my turn: the last duel before the semifinals.
Honestly, I felt uneasy, because regardless of the outcome, my life in this Academy would only get worse.
And ever since the first day, I've been treated like someone on the evil side by all the cadets and professors.
'Well, I guess the magic professor is like the principal.'
The principal shared ideals with the First and Third Saints, so she didn't care whether I was a Dark attribute user.
I might even end up on her good side someday if I prove that I'm not like other Dark attribute users.
And the magic professor would be the same as the principal.
"At least two people don't see me the same way the rest of this Academy does."
I muttered as I rose from my seat and walked toward the platform.
And, of course, since Rinna has been incredibly kind, she's also on the principal's and the magic professor's side.
'Mhm, I guess I could include the theory professor too.'
Anyway, as I stepped onto the platform, I looked at Princess Clana, who was holding a sword while staring directly at me.
Until now, she hadn't even looked at me directly or indirectly.
But she also hadn't shown any contempt toward me; you could say that, at this moment, she was neutral.
Since Princess Clana doesn't have much involvement, not until the end of chapter one and throughout all of chapter two.
'And from what my senses are feeling right now, she's completely prepared for combat.'
At the very least, she seems to be the only one who acknowledges my strength and understands that caution is necessary when fighting me.
Anyway, the referee raised his hand and said:
"Greet each other."
Princess Clana and I placed a hand over our chests and spoke at the same time:
"I am Clana Ordeal, Rank 3."
"I am Adel, Rank 1."
Next, the referee finally said:
"Let the match begin."
The referee lowered his hand as though signaling the start of a vehicle race.
Clana and I made no moves during the first second, unlike Verónica and the other cadets.
Instead, she took a stance and tried to conceal her weak points without leaving any openings.
But of course, in front of my Weakness Detection, that was impossible.
Through my True Sight, I could see several blue points and lines where I could pass my sword through and defeat her easily.
However, the problem was the following:
"..."
"Wow, Princess Clana is going all out. She's using Light attribute mana."
"Light is stronger than Dark. There's no need to guess who will win this match."
"Ha, that blind Dark attribute user will definitely lose."
"So what if he's rank 1? If his opponent has the Light attribute, he'll naturally lose."
"..."
These worthless nobles have never even seen a life-or-death battle between a Light attribute user and a Dark attribute user.
Certainly, the most intense battles are those between attributes that repel each other.
Especially Light and Dark.
Most of those battles turn into wars of attrition, and in other special cases, the winner is the one with superior refinement over their opponent's attribute.
'The Holy Church always says that those with the Dark attribute lose their rationality and only think about bringing chaos to the world.'
But that was a lie; the Dark attribute has no abnormal effects whatsoever. In fact, the attributes that usually have abnormal effects are the rare attributes.
A radiance spread from Clana's sword; white mana covered her weapon.
As soon as I sensed the Light attribute mana, I laughed inwardly.
'Honestly, I don't know what she's trying to achieve by using her attribute.'
Among the previous fighters, no one had used their attribute yet.
Because, in the first place, these were honorable and peaceful duels, not life-or-death battles.
That was why no one had channeled mana into their weapons, yet Clana was going further than that.
'I should fight using my attribute…'
At this point, I was already screwed anyway; regardless of the outcome, my life at the Academy wouldn't matter if things got even worse.
So I began channeling mana into my sword.
I didn't use inverted mana, since doing so would cause me to use Inverted Heaven.
'If I knew another basic sword art, like Mercenary Fencing, I could use inverted mana.'
But that wasn't the case.
When Dark attribute mana covered my sword, disgusted expressions and boos instantly filled the entire hall.
But I paid them no attention and simply continued covering my sword with mana.
A thick darkness enveloped my weapon.
Naturally, I didn't use too much mana. Compared to me, Clana only had a Legendary-rank sword, while mine was Mythical-rank.
The differences are clear: if I use more mana, her sword will be cut apart, so I used the bare minimum.
Next, I looked at the blue lines through my True Sight and, without hesitation:
Bang!
I charged at Clana.
***
Lumina frowned.
She did not understand what she had done for this regression to have such a strange change.
'Who is Veronica?'
A girl who appeared out of nowhere and possesses one of the Five Sword Arts of the Five Swords.
And not only that, there is also Clana.
'In the previous regression, when Adel appeared out of nowhere, he fought against Clana, but she hadn't used her attribute. So why is she using it now?'
Questions she would not be able to answer easily unless she investigated personally.
But since it involves Clana, a princess, that is impossible.
However, it is different with Veronica.
'I should investigate who Veronica is.'
In any case, Lumina looked at the battle just as Adel charged at Clana.
Both swords collided, and light and darkness repelled each other.
However, Lumina yawned and thought:
'Adel's dark attribute has an extremely high level of refinement, as if he had trained it for years, while Clana is nowhere near his level. So the outcome of the fight has already been decided.'
As she thought that, Lumina watched "her" Adel move and strike Clana's weak points with his sword.
Clana gritted her teeth as sweat ran down her face; naturally, she was being pushed back.
And Adel's next movements nearly caused Clana to lose her sword.
'Adel told me he learned how to use a sword from a veteran mercenary and, within a month, refined it into swordsmanship good enough to stand alongside the sword arts of noble houses, and even contend against the first form of the sword art of the five houses.'
Lumina knew about Adel's talent with the sword; however, she had noticed another talent as well.
'He has a natural talent for alchemy.'
It was probably due to his past, and although Lumina knew almost nothing about it, she did know that the elixir Professor Franklin possesses was made using Adel's blood.
A melancholic expression appeared on Lumina's face.
Although Adel did not seem to show any emotion at that moment, he probably felt extreme hatred just from seeing that elixir.
'Being given an elixir made from his own blood… he probably finds it disgusting, and it only brings back memories of his past.'
Lumina decided to win the tournament that Professor Franklin had hastily created.
And finally, the battle between Clana and Adel came to an end.
"The winner, Cadet Adel."
***
"Ahh…!!! Ah…!!!"
Clana felt as if she were about to collapse onto the ground.
The exhaustion and fatigue were so overwhelming that her breathing came out in ragged gasps.
'I didn't underestimate him, but… now I understand what it's like to face someone who can block and counter invisible attacks.'
Clana, just like Clementine, could not help but think about Veronica.
Her swordsmanship remains unknown, but if she were to become even stronger…
She would definitely become a monster known throughout the entire world.
'I didn't even see her sword move, but I'm sure she did move it.'
In that case, how was her opponent able to defeat her without much difficulty?
Adel had caught Clana's attention, and she wanted to test something; the results were exactly as expected.
As she sat down, she looked at the cadet who had defeated her, seated far away from the others.
He remained silent, his head lowered as if he were thinking about something.
Moreover, Clana could see it clearly: somehow, he looked very lonely.
Of course, technically, he is always alone, except during cafeteria hours.
Rinna is the one who talks to Adel; however, he never seems to show any emotion, and every time he gives Rinna a smile…
'It's... fake.'
A fake smile, along with a feeling that whenever you look at him, you can only think about how lonely he seems.
Shaking her head, Clana looked at her trembling hands.
She still felt some pain, since she had received attacks infused with her opponent's mana.
And when she looked at Adel…
Well, he looked exactly the same as always; he did not even seem tired. That made Clana think that Adel possesses absurd stamina.
In any case, she sighed and ignored the words the nobles around her were saying.
Something about punishing that vile Dark-attribute blind man.
And other things as well.
'Tsk, these nobles are irritating.'
***
After the fight against Clana, I returned to my seat and thought:
'I hadn't realized it before, but… my Dark-attribute mana has an extremely high level of refinement.'
During the battle against Clana, I felt the difference in refinement between our mana.
Clana's mana was clearly inferior to mine, so her Light-attribute mana did not affect my Dark-attribute mana very much.
Instead, it was the complete opposite; that is why I decided to end the battle immediately by knocking away her sword and finishing the fight.
〖You certainly possess highly refined Dark-attribute mana. Since when have you been training it?〗
"..."
I did not even know that myself.
In any case, refinement refers to the purity an attribute possesses.
If that purity is high enough, then when two opposing attributes clash… the one with superior purity will easily overpower its opponent.
For example, the battle between Clana and me.
"Ever since I escaped from 'that' place, of course."
In fact, I could roughly guess when Adel began refining his Dark-attribute mana.
And in truth, not even a full year has passed yet.
"With this final battle, we are now entering the semifinals."
Professor Franklin's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
By the way, Lumina has been winning overwhelmingly: first she fought Leon, then Clementine, and in the semifinals she will probably face Diana.
'Well, let's see who my next opponent will be.'