Chapter 646

“He is arriving!”

“The defensive barriers and concealed snares are collapsing at an astonishing pace!”

Following the panicked alerts from the mages, the remaining fourth and fifth-year students assumed grim countenances.

“Curse it! Haven’t we already depleted our reserves summoning an army of creatures to contend with the Great Spirit of Water?”

“Seriously, what horrific crimes did we commit in our past existences to deserve a underclassman who is such an absolute monster?!”

Lamentations echoed across the battlefield.

These were no mere exaggerated jests.

The upperclassmen genuinely felt pushed to the brink of tears.

Yet, in contrast to their earlier despair, their fighting spirit remained unshaken.

This resilience did not stem from a sudden renewal of their resolve.

Nor was it because they had steeled themselves after witnessing his terrifying, unmatched prowess.

A spark of defiance had been struck.

“Look at Runbar! He is honestly attempting to play the solitary hero and take all the glory!”

One of the fifth-year summoners roared, his voice laced with indignation.

The passion Leo had kindled within Runbar rapidly rippled through the remaining fourth and fifth-year cohorts.

Lil and Elena, who stood at the vanguard of the upperclassmen.

Their peers recognized that they might never bridge the gap between themselves and those two geniuses, even across a lifetime.

The exact same truth applied to Leo.

“If we underwent reincarnation ten times over, do you think we could best Leo?”

“Even ten lifetimes wouldn’t suffice!”

They were acutely aware of the vast chasm between them.

Even at this moment, they harbored no illusions of standing as equals alongside Leo.

However, the declaration made by Runbar struck a profound chord within the hearts of the upperclassmen.

‘At the very minimum, let us command the dignity befitting seniors.’

This aspiration was not solely focused on earning Leo’s acknowledgment.

At some point.

It had expanded to encompass the third-year students who were relentlessly pursuing them.

“Those underclassmen have been constantly battered by Leo ever since they arrived at the academy!”

The third-years were the ones forced to clash directly with Leo’s generation.

Yet, unlike the upperclassmen who had accepted their own limitations upon witnessing the heights of Elena and Lil, the third-years refused to surrender to despair.

Could they truly hold their heads high as seniors if they continued to cower in complacency?

Faced with that internal dilemma.

The fourth and fifth-year students underwent a fundamental shift in perspective.

They abandoned the lazy assumption that they would naturally inherit status without striving for it.

They likewise discarded the notion that they were destined to forever walk in the shadows of Elena and Lil.

Serving as the tactical coordinator, Eren barked out orders.

“Regardless of Leo’s strength, Senior Runbar has successfully manifested a Great Spirit! This is not the same battlefield as before!”

“Everyone, maintain your focus!”

Tarkon roared in tandem.

The frontline defenders fixed their gazes ahead with fierce intensity.

They were consumed by the conviction that this engagement would yield a different outcome.

“Deplete Leo’s mana reserves by any means necessary!”

“Ultimately, if we manage to secure the key, victory is ours!”

“Let us throw ourselves into the fray!”

“Forward!”

Their collective morale skyrocketed.

Tarkon, having re-ignited the spirits of the upperclassmen, anchored the vanguard.

In that fleeting moment, Eren slipped toward Niel.

“Senior Niel, is there any method available to catch Leo off guard?”

“A way to disorient Young Master Leo?”

“Precisely. Similar to how Leo caught you off balance earlier with his unsettling remarks.”

Pondering Eren’s query for a moment, Niel tightened his fist resolutely.

“It is a desperate gamble regardless.”

“Ah? Do you possess an option?”

Eren’s expression instantly brightened.

Niel gave a firm nod.

“This particular revelation will unquestionably throw him for a loop.”

With an ironclad resolve, Niel adjusted his hold upon his blade and drew a deep breath.

Right then, Leo materialized at the front of the advance.

Whoosh-

Radiant golden flames burst forth around Leo’s frame before dissolving back into his skin.

“It is that bizarre shroud of aura armor!”

“Is his intention to plow straight through us once more!”

“He is relentless!”

“Spellcasters! Unleash your invocations!”

Obeying Tarkon’s command, the magic students unleashed their offensive incantations simultaneously.

“Gravity!”

Leo, who had been advancing with terrifying velocity, suddenly stumbled.

An oppressive weight descended upon Leo, seeking to crush him into the earth.

‘A synchronized casting.’

Leo’s gaze sharpened.

The mass Gravity spell, woven concurrently by the combined fourth and fifth-years, possessed undeniable potency.

Leo, instantly dismantling and reverse-engineering the magical matrix, let out a silent murmur of appreciation.

The counter-enchantment parameters were shifting dynamically in real-time.

It was almost as if the spell anticipated the rapid pace of Leo’s structural calculations.

It narrowly evaded his magical disruption.

Under ordinary circumstances, he would have utilized his raw magical reserves to violently override and shatter the enchantment.

Regrettably, his current circumstances—having manifested high-tier phantasmal entities—left him temporarily depleted of mana.

Thud!

Yielding to the immense downward pressure, Leo sank to one knee.

Kwagagagagang-!

The stone floor fractured and dipped inward, mimicking the impact of an unimaginable weight slamming down.

‘Splendid.’

A faint smirk played upon Leo’s lips as he unleashed a surge of pure aura.

The colossal eruption of force violently rejected the crushing gravity.

Beholding this feat, Eren’s complexion drained of color.

“No, what manner of monstrous strength is that!”

“How can such a thing be possible?”

Alarms and cries erupted from the ranks of the mages.

Despite being subjected to a pressure that ought to rupture human organs or grind bones to dust, Leo continued to advance.

Witnessing this, a fifth-year knight’s eyes gleamed with profound admiration.

“As anticipated of Leo! A physical form forged through peerless conditioning can transcend magic itself!”

“Is this truly the moment to voice adulation?!”

“Hmph! Do not panic! Leo is undoubtedly exhausting the absolute limits of his endurance right now! He lacks the capacity to deploy offensive spells or complex summonings! He cannot unleash widespread devastation! Stand firm!”

The presiding leader of the physical conditioning fellowship, The Power, proclaimed with absolute certainty.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Leo resumed his thunderous charge.

Observing the oncoming threat, Tarkon remarked.

“If he executes a strike in that condition, won’t the kinetic energy delivered to us carry the exact burden of the weight he is currently bearing?”

“Precisely!”

“…Would that not effectively constitute a widespread devastation attack?”

“…Is it?”

“Brace yourselves, everyone!”

Coinciding with that realization, Leo bared his blade and delivered a sweeping, full-powered slash.

Kwagagagagagang-!

Leo’s monumental sword wave, amplified by the heavy burden of the Gravity spell, tore across the ranks of the upperclassmen.

It was an exhibition of raw, unadulterated physical might that rendered magic irrelevant.

“Intercept the blow!”

“Leo Flobe! I find myself once more filled with respect for your peerless physique! However, as the captain of The Power, I, Halcan Lac, have similarly dedicated myself to rigorous conditioning within Rumerun! The fortitude of my seasoned flesh…”

Thwack!

“Squeak!”

Struck squarely by the arc of Leo’s sweeping arm, Halcan sailed directly into the upper atmosphere.

“Tarkon! Do we terminate the enchantment?”

As an anxious fifth-year mage shouted the query, Tarkon shook his head in refusal.

“Negative! Maintain the pressure on Leo! Summoning division! Direct your manifested entities to seize the token Leo carries!”

Prompted by the directive, the elemental entities surged forward to overwhelm Leo.

In that precise instant.

Flash-

Leo’s movements suddenly regained their fluid lightness.

Eren’s gaze widened in sheer disbelief.

“What trickery is this?”

“The enchantment has ceased to restrict him!”

“Has it been undone via Dispel?”

“Negative! The spell structure remains active! Yet it yields no physical consequence!”

“What are you implying!”

The Gravity enchantment remained bound to Leo’s physical form.

However, the actual physical manifestation of the magic was rendered completely inert.

‘Immunity.’

The magic of absolute nullification.

It was the specific sorcery mastered by Luna, designed to disregard the specific properties of an active spell.

Leo, having successfully deciphered the foundational formula, had applied Immunity to insulate himself entirely from the effects of Gravity.

“It is an enchantment that grants absolute resistance to the specific magical property itself!”

Eren, swiftly deciphering Leo’s countermeasure, bit her lip in frustration.

‘Oh? You discerned the nature of the spell in a single glance?’

Leo offered a mental nod of approval, casting a brief look toward Eren.

‘As expected, the capability of the upperclassmen is far from negligible. What comes next, then?’

The corners of Leo’s mouth tilted upward.

‘How do you intend to counter?’

The advancing summoned entities that sought to crush Leo were abruptly halted by a spell of his own making.

“Niel!”

At that juncture, Tarkon threw himself across Leo’s path, calling out to his comrade.

Gripping his dual blades with white knuckles, Tarkon’s face was etched with grim determination.

“This engagement will not mirror our previous encounter!”

“I welcome the challenge. Let us see the fruits of your partnership.”

Leo offered a calm smile, shifting his gaze toward Niel.

Niel, drawing in a massive breath, leveled his weapon directly at Leo.

“Senior Niel. You appear certain that you will not lose your composure as you did previously…”

“I will no longer be undone by such petty psychological ploys! If you intend to speak of it, speak plainly!”

“Oh? So, regarding your arrangement with Senior Marchel, you have truly…”

“Correct! I have committed to a courtship with Marchel! Does that satisfy your curiosity?!”

“……”

Leo’s expression instantly turned utterly vacant.

He was momentarily rendered speechless by the sheer bravado of Niel, who had bellowed the confession in a fit of rage.

‘Perfect! The diversion succeeded in buying us time…’

Niel, internally celebrating his tactical success, happened to glance behind his position.

His features immediately twisted in horror.

“No! Why are all of you losing your composure as well?!”

“How could we possibly remain calm?! Is that statement accurate?”

“Weren’t you two bitter adversaries?”

“You were practically attempting to slaughter each other up until the recent winter recess!”

“What in heaven’s name transpired over the winter break?!”

An uproar rippled through the ranks of the fourth and fifth-year students.

Seizing that momentary lapse, Leo collected his wits and accelerated with blinding speed.

Kwagagagak-!

In that fraction of a second, a tempest of sword energy intercepted Leo’s path.

Tarkon, manipulating his dual blades with frantic precision, was actively parrying Leo’s advance.

Whoosh!

Niel’s blazing aura flared to reinforce Tarkon’s defense.

Leo smiled, preparing to unleash a heavy slash to shatter their joint defense.

In that instant.

Swoosh!

“……”

“……”

A look of profound bewilderment washed over the expressions of both Niel and Tarkon.

Leo’s brow furrowed in deep irritation.

He had distinctly willed his arm to execute a strike, yet his leg had lashed out instead.

Leo focused and tightened every muscle group throughout his frame.

When he attempted to command his right arm, his right leg responded.

His left arm’s movements were similarly inverted with his left foot.

Furthermore, an attempt to utilize his sense of smell resulted in his field of vision shifting erratically.

Thwack!

Goooooo-

A blistering, fiery aura detonated from Leo’s blade regardless.

A magic student, witnessing this, let out a terrified shriek.

“What! Has the sensory inversion enchantment failed to incapacitate him as well?”

“No! He has simply adapted to the scrambled sensory inputs instantaneously!”

“He is an absolute aberration!”

‘Sensory Distortion Magic.’

Typically, such an assault would be deflected by anti-magic barriers before it could ever compromise the nervous system.

Yet, this specific enchantment had bypassed Leo’s defenses.

‘The operational effect is sensory scrambling… but the foundational framework of the spell is built upon Gravity.’

He had merely established absolute protection against the weight aspect.

The Gravity spell matrix was still technically anchored to Leo.

The upperclassmen had brilliantly inverted this reality, preserving the core structure of the Gravity formula while swapping its active property for an entirely different effect.

It was a tactic that flawlessly targeted the inherent blind spot of the Immunity defense.

Moreover, their proficiency in altering a synchronized spell formula mid-battle was genuinely commendable.

‘Indeed. Regardless of its ancient power, this is magic originating from five millennia past. Given sufficient ingenuity, developing a counter-strategy is entirely feasible.’

Yet, individuals who had previously surrendered to despair over an seemingly insurmountable advantage would normally have found it impossible to devise an antidote so rapidly.

‘It appears they have truly found their fire.’

Leo’s lips curled into a smile.

The brief instability introduced by his inverted senses had yielded a minuscule opening.

Niel and Tarkon did not allow that fleeting vulnerability to pass, lunging inward in perfect unison.

Snip!

The cord securing the token to Leo’s hip was cleanly severed.

Clink!

“Victory is ours! We have secured it!”

Resian, a fifth-year mage hovering upon a broomstick, bellowed triumphantly as he intercepted the token as it spun through the air.

“Resian! Retreat immediately!”

“We shall anchor Leo here!”

The remaining fourth and fifth-year students formed a solid wall to impede Leo’s pursuit.

Runbar mobilized Undine to chain Leo to the spot.

The remaining upperclassmen had successfully formulated a strategy and achieved their primary objective.

‘Should I pursue them?’

The instant the thought crossed Leo’s mind.

The entirety of the fourth and fifth-year students vanished in a flash of teleportation light.

It was the unmistakable sign that the instructing staff had deemed the examination successfully completed.

Beholding this, Leo gave an approving nod.

‘Given that they recognized their vulnerabilities and pushed me to this extent, concluding the test as a pass is entirely justified.’

Leo smiled broadly.

“Outstanding.”

Offering words of commendation for the growth of his underclassmen with the grace of a seasoned elder, Leo turned and departed the clearing.

“You miserable wretches! I shall ensure you suffer dearly for this indignity!”

Peck- peck- peck-

Undine, thoroughly restrained by bindings of pure shadow, spat out words of venomous spite.

Piora, stationed directly atop her head, ruthlessly hammered her beak against Undine’s skull without pause.

Laruel offered a weary sigh, balancing a heavy bludgeon across his shoulder.

“This particular entity possesses an incredibly stubborn nature.”

“Evidently, she has yet to receive a sufficient chastisement.”

Ista remarked, rolling his shoulders to loosen his muscles.

“Still barking? Your arrogance is truly something to behold.”

Leo, arriving at the clearing, offered a soft chuckle as he spoke.

“I shall make you weep for this insolence! I am the absolute sovereign of the boundless tides! Undine, the elemental of the abyssal depths! Before long, my loyal undercurrents, having crushed the elementals of flame, shall arrive to exact my vengeance! Your regrets will find no salvation then!”

Even as Undine shrieked her defiance.

An innumerable multitude of moisture droplets coalesced in the airspace surrounding Undine, rapidly taking the form of high-tier water elementals.

Witnessing their manifestation, Undine erupted into triumphant laughter.

“Ahahahahaha! My legions have arrived! Prepare to meet your doom! Leo Flobe!”

-Why does that particular elemental persist in orchestrating her own misfortune?

Abruptly, Elsi materialized, floating lazily above Leo’s head.

Glimpsing Elsi’s form, Undine roared.

“What?! You insolent creature! A pathetic, low-ranking elemental dares to look down upon my majesty?!”

Undine’s response was dripping with venom.

She reacted with absolute fury, as though the mere intervention of an inferior spirit amidst the affairs of Great Spirits and the Three Great Phantasmal Beasts was an unpardonable sin.

Faced with that hostile reception, Elsi adopted a solemn countenance.

-Are Great Spirits universally this consumed by notions of hierarchy? It would be far more pleasant if everyone simply coexisted in harmony.

Elsi, having endured isolation since her inception, harbored a deep desire to foster companionship among elementals of every tier.

-Spirit of the Deep Sea. It is precisely due to your abysmal treatment of lesser spirits that you find yourself thoroughly despised.

“A worthless, bottom-tier spirit dares to lecture me?! What are you all waiting for! Give that miserable creature a lesson in—”

Thwack!

“……”

A heavy bludgeon wielded by one of the newly arrived high-tier water elementals struck Undine squarely upon the crown of her head.

Undine, momentarily incapable of processing the betrayal, stared blankly with a shattered expression.

“What did you just…”

Thwack!

“Ugh?!”

Thwack! Whump-whump-whump! Thwack! Thwack!

“Aaaaargh!”

The water elementals offered no verbal declarations of fury.

As if wasting breath on speech was an unnecessary luxury.

They simply applied themselves with silent, absolute dedication to administering a brutal thrashing to their former commander utilizing their clubs.

Observing the spectacle, Elsi displayed a conflicted look.

-Both Ista and Undine. I shudder to think how terribly they must have abused their subordinates for even the most placid of elementals to revolt in such a fashion.

Kirwan murmured, tracking Elsi with his gaze, noting how she had successfully brought both the factions of fire and water under her singular banner.

-I suddenly feel an overwhelming debt of appreciation toward my sire.

“Out of nowhere?”

-Indeed. Had I not been forcibly exiled from Fairy Land, I suspect I would have eventually met an identical fate.

Kirwan, who had been cast out of Fairy Land as punishment for his historical misdeeds, engaged in a moment of genuine self-examination.

Beholding this transformation, Leo gave a quiet laugh.

“He has finally grown up.”