Noah's POV
The sun hung high in the sky, casting long, angular shadows across the rugged terrain of the island. I had originally planned to spend the day simply surviving—getting a feel for my new surroundings, maybe gathering some supplies—but a sudden quest notification had altered my course.
[Sudden Quest: Defeat the Strongest]
[Rewards: Fusion (S)]
[Penalty: Stats halved]
The strongest. Arthur, the Rank 1 student, was the obvious target. Defeating him would be no small feat, but I wasn't the same person I once was. Gone was the timid boy who once cowered in the shadows. The dragon's blessing had given me a power I barely understood, but it was time to test it.
I set off, heart pounding with anticipation, feeling the wind at my back as I activated my skills—Shadow Strike, Gale Dance, and Phantom Edge. Each move was fluid, precise, the battle rhythm ingrained in me. Monsters fell one by one, crumpling like wheat before the scythe, their futile cries echoing in the air.
[1000P]
A smile tugged at the corner of my lips, but I stifled it. Focus, Noah. I had a mission, and I needed to find Arthur.
Two hours passed, my points piling up, but Arthur remained elusive. Frustration began to gnaw at me. "Where the hell is that Arthur?" I muttered, glancing around the dense, shadowed forest.
Just as I was about to sit down and gather my thoughts, a voice rang out—smooth, mocking, and unmistakable. "Did you miss me, Noah?"
I whipped around, instincts kicking in. My hand flew to my blade, and I dropped into a defensive stance, eyes scanning the surroundings. And there he was—Arthur. His blond hair gleamed in the sunlight, a beacon that only amplified the eerie, void-like darkness of his eyes.
Why is this bastard so handsome and creepy at the same time? I thought, shaking my head in confusion. And what the hell? Why does his voice sound so sweet? Is he cross-dressing?
Arthur leaned casually against a nearby boulder, arms crossed, his expression amused. "Come on, man. Don't ignore me or I'll leave." His tone held a tinge of annoyance.
I clenched my jaw, staring at him. "Arthur," I said, my voice steady. "I challenge you to a battle. You can go all out. I want to see if the Rank 1 student really lives up to the title."
He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. "Heh, is that why you were so desperate to find me? Want to impress that red-haired girl?"
I didn't flinch. "It's got nothing to do with her. I just want to see if you're truly as strong as they say."
Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. "You can always back out if you're scared. I'm sure I can find someone else to fight."
A smirk tugged at my lips. "Not a chance. You're the one I want. Now, are you going to fight or what?"
"Alright," Arthur said, pushing off the boulder and standing tall, his eyes now serious, the teasing from earlier gone. "Let's see how strong you've gotten."
I nodded, taking a deep breath, readying myself. This was it.
"Use everything you have," I warned, "or you're going to regret it."
"And about Charlotte?" Arthur said, his voice turning cold. "I couldn't care less about her anymore. So stop bringing her up."
The tension in the air thickened, crackling like an electric charge just waiting to explode.
Without another word, we charged forward. Our blades clashed with a loud, resonant CLANG, and the force of the collision sent a shockwave rippling through the air. Arthur's sword radiated divine energy, and before I could fully react, he unleashed his first attack—Divine Strike.
I barely managed to dodge, feeling the rush of wind as the attack cleaved the air where I had just been standing. The ground below cracked, leaving a crater in its wake.
"Not bad!" I shouted, already shifting my stance and retaliating with Shadow Strike. My blade met his with a resounding CLASH, sparks flying from the point of contact.
We were evenly matched—each of us moving with blinding speed, casting spells, and weaving through the air. I activated Gale Dance, summoning the winds to enhance my speed. The gusts swirled around me, adding a surge to my movements. Arthur countered with Holy Shield, summoning a barrier of light just in time to absorb the impact of my attack.
"Is that all you've got?" I taunted, a confident grin spreading across my face.
Arthur's lips curled into a tight smile. "Don't get cocky." He raised his sword, launching a Radiant Burst in my direction. The explosion sent me hurtling backward, but I gritted my teeth and rolled to my feet, shaking off the blow.
We were in it now—there was no turning back. Every move, every counter, every spell became a testament to how far I had come. I activated Flash Step, closing the distance between us in an instant.
Swoosh!
I slashed out with Demonbane Slash, but Arthur was ready. With a fluid motion, he summoned Angelic Wings, dodging my attack and soaring above me with ease.
"Impressive!" I called out, admiring his agility. But I could see it—the frustration beginning to creep into his eyes.
As the fight dragged on, I could feel myself gaining the upper hand. My moves were seamless, controlled, while Arthur's responses began to show signs of strain. His divine aura was flickering, and he was beginning to sweat.
"Is this really the best the Rank 1 student has to offer?" I taunted, enjoying the rare taste of dominance.
"Shut up!" he growled, his eyes flashing with anger. Without warning, he summoned Light of Judgement, a beam of blinding light aimed directly at me.
I countered with Astral Mirage Clones, creating duplicates of myself to confuse him. The beam of light tore through my clones, but it bought me precious moments to regroup.
The crowd watching from the academy's main hall gasped in disbelief. Noah, the last-ranked student, was holding his own against the strongest. I could hear the teachers murmuring, their voices tinged with surprise. Layla, who'd been sulking after her loss to Charlotte, now had a small, knowing smile on her face. Even Lyra, usually indifferent to such things, seemed to have a glimmer of respect in her eyes.
Back on the island, I could see Arthur's temper flaring, his patience snapping. He unleashed everything—every divine spell, every ounce of power he had.
"Why the hell are you pushing me this far?" he snarled, his voice strained with exhaustion.
"Because you're weak, Arthur," I retorted, my confidence unwavering. "Rank 1 is a joke."
The battle raged on, the air thick with power and desperation. Every strike we exchanged felt like it could be the last, but I could feel the tide turning in my favor. Arthur was faltering.
With a final surge of energy, I unleashed Radiant Nova, an explosion of light and power that engulfed the battlefield.
BOOM!
When the dust settled, I stood victorious. Arthur lay on the ground, defeated, his form dissolving into white particles. I took a steadying breath, blood pounding in my ears, but the victory was mine. I had done it. I had defeated the strongest.
[+1000]
Arthur had a lot of points. Now, to see what I'd earned.
[Sudden Quest Completed]
[Congratulations, you have received the skill: Fusion (S)]
[Fusion (S)]
(A skill that allows you to fuse two or more skills together to create a new, unique ability. The result of the fusion can be stronger or weaker depending on the combination of skills. You can fuse skills of S rank or above.)
"Let's go somewhere quiet and try this out," I muttered to myself.
I soon found a secluded cave and, after ensuring it was safe, sat down to inspect my new skill.
Time to see what this fusion thing can really do.
[Mana Sense + Mana Control]
[Starting Fusion]
[1%... 70%... 99%... Complete.]
A small notification popped up, and I grinned, leaning back.
[A Superior Skill has been Created]
"This is pretty awesome," I said, my heart racing with excitement.