The sun shone brightly, it was a scythe. The heat it radiated made one crave something refreshing.
But I don't think I can get something like that at the moment.
The noise of the crowd echoed in my ears, disorienting me a bit.
"Yes, they are excited."
I saw Lucian position himself in the other corner of this enormous slab. He was pointing the spear he held at me, gripping it in the middle.
(Lucian) Are you ready, Noah?
Lucian had a serious look that I had never seen before. In the manhwa, I never got to see his true face.
I saw my friends, Luna and Javier, both with very different expressions.
He wasn't good at fighting with a sword, and I'm sure in this world the fights must be much more extreme.
I will trust a little in Noah's fencing skills.
...I'm ready.
_! Alright, both ready...3...2...1...fight!
At that very moment, Lucian approached quickly, curving his spear from the left side towards me.
I used the sword I was holding to defend myself from the attack. But the impact was enough to push me back and leave me momentarily stunned.
…¡Ugh!
"one single attack was enough to leave me in such a condition"
(Lucian) Ha, one single attack and it seems like you're going to die.
The look Lucian had on his face only made me furious. I regained my composure and took a fighting stance.
(Lucian) Tsk, it seems you want to continue.
This time Lucian came with a thrust from the front. Each time getting closer.
[Pulse]
(Lucian)!!!
Going back seemed right, but it's a cliché move. Use the impulse from the left palm, I had a few milliseconds to act.
So that the force of the impulse wouldn't throw me far away, I made it travel through my body as a pivot point.
Thus, in a half-turn, the sword pointed at his neck.
(Lucian) Idiot!
Lucian, with a quick flick of his wrist, planted the tip of the spear into the ground and used it as a hook to move himself away from the spot.
It was to be expected, for an A-rank, their reaction speed is quite good.
I jumped forward, raising the sword, because at long range, the spear prevailed.
But Lucian, whose spear had gotten stuck in the floor, dodged by jumping backward.
I, who was seconds away from regaining my composure, approached with a fist imbued with magic.
He had an unsettling look.
I barely managed to notice the attack, but my body didn't react in time.
Boom!
The blow to my stomach knocked me back several meters. I was very injured and leaned on the sword to manage to get up.
(Lucian) Haha, nice trick but it won't be enough!
...You're right.
While Lucian struggled with the spear stuck in the floor.
(Lucian) Why isn't he coming out?!
I caught my breath, [pulse], used the skill from the sole of my foot, forward, intending to make an upward cut.
(Lucian)!!!
Lucian leaned his head back, barely managed to dodge but was able to pull out the spear with a leap.
(Lucian) Good! This time I'll take it seriously.
"I should have done something better than that."
I saw that Lucian emanated a fearsome and reddish aura. The place where he was was distorting.
"It's like seeing through the fire"
(Lucian) Why don't you speak?
...I forgot.
(Lucian) Tsk, Noah!!
He approached with great speed, with a flurry of thrusts.
The first thrust grazed my neck, the second I managed to deflect with the sword, the third struck my left shoulder.
…Ah!
Although I almost fell to my knees, I jumped back. But Lucian had no intention of stopping, he curved his spear towards my head.
"Do you think I'll lose here?!" "Do you think I'll lose here?!"
I saw the direction from which the spear was coming, I moved
instinctively the hand, as soon as I grab it.
[Pulse]
Not only did the ability destabilize Lucian, but it also pushed me to stand up.
I raised my sword upwards and made a cut.
(Lucian) Ahhk!
I managed to land an attack on the same shoulder as mine, and he fell to the floor. But since these are training weapons, they didn't cause serious damage.
So it was practically certain, but that also meant the fight continued.
Lucian recoiled in pain, clutching the injured part.
(Lucian) How is this possible?!
The unease was palpable in his words. Although between the two of us I was supposed to feel more pain, for some reason I didn't.
At the time, it hurt a lot, but now it's just small twinges.
I pointed my sword at him.
...That's none of your business.
(Lucian) Stupid peasant.
While he said this, he ran and made a jump of more than 6 meters.
"this already seems absurd to me"
Lucian, already in the air, began to spin like a top as he headed in my direction.
"I better get moving" [pulse]
I moved away from the potential impact site.
Boom! Boom!
The roar was deafening, the smoke blinded my vision, but I managed to see pieces of the tiles flying towards me.
One after another, the Slabs arrived.
"I will trust in fencing."
One, two, three, four. As I cut them one by one, the smoke ceased and became more visible.
Among other things, the spear came with impressive speed, and it gave me little time to react.
[Pulse]
The spear was deflected.
"But what about the carrier?!" "¡¿But what about the bearer?! "
Behind me, Lucian appeared, there was no way to dodge.
(Lucian)!Noah!
At that very moment, [pulse], the ability activated without my consent, and right on my back where Lucian's blow was coming.
"What a strange place to activate, but I'll take advantage of it."
Lucian, who was slightly pushed away by the pulse ability.
(Lucian) ¡Ay! , "I have to regain my composure"...!!!
[Pulse]
I didn't have the skills to throw a sword and have it hit its target one hundred percent of the time... "But what if I use this ability to send it?" "I didn't have the skills to throw a sword and have it hit its target one hundred percent of the time... 'But what if I use this ability to send it?'"
The impact of the sword on Lucian's body was a shock to the other students. Usually, a swordsman wouldn't throw his sword, because the sword is his source of strength, hence the darn name -swordsman-
Swordmasters are those who are related to swords; it is said that if they reach a point of strength, a swordmaster can speak with their sword, and thus both become stronger.
But that was the least of my concerns; if I saw an opportunity, I would take it.
Lucian made no sound, fell to his knees at the moment of impact.
"Could it be that he has already been defeated?" Or is he just messing with me?
It's better to prevent than to regret.
[Pulse], I approached quickly, [pulse] followed by a kick propelled with force.
Boom!
Lucian was thrown out of the ring without making a sound.
The winner is Noah Valcrest!!
The fervor and shouts were heard among the C ranks, while those in the A ranks were noticeably annoyed.
I saw Luna and Javier looking at me in surprise; Javier had a slight, worried smile, and Luna was mind-blowingly shocked.
Maybe things will never be the same, my stupidity was clear, ever since I came to the academy I ruined it from the very first moment.
I had no idea how the story was progressing, but now that I changed the only thing I knew, I wasn't sure if I would ever return home.
"I completely ruined it."
I looked at the sky, the sunset was approaching and the heat was gradually decreasing.
Little by little, the students were leaving. I stayed to talk with Luna and Javier.
And Lucian... well, I think he's fine.
(Javier) That was impressive!
(Luna) Yes, I thought it was incredible!
...Come on, it wasn't that great haha
(Javier) You fought in a very unpredictable way, I even think I would have had a hard time if I had fought you.
...What the heck are you talking about haha
(Luna) Noah is right, don't look for a fight without reason, you have to listen to this empress, okay? , they will never fight!!
(Javier) Hey! I only said it for fun.
...Luna, don't get upset, you know how Javier is.
(Luna) Yes haha
Time passed, and it was time to say goodbye and return to Noah's house.
After distancing myself from my two friends, I headed to the infirmary.
When I reached the door of the infirmary, I would open it slowly.
(Lucian) What are you doing here, are you looking for revenge?
Lucian's eyes were in a way as if they had cried.
...Did you cry?
(Lucian) What the hell, you came just to mock me, it's not like that!!
...No, no, I want to change the bet.
(Lucian)!!! .....I hear you. 'calmly'
Lucian calmed down, that's good, honestly, the rewards from the bet weren't something that suited me.
Especially if I don't like the woman being bet on.
...I want you to give me 30 gold coins instead of distancing yourself from Clarise. How about it?
You could see the face of bewilderment and shock, but with a hint of opportunity.
(Lucian) Hump hump! Well, if Haci wants it, I'm not going to refuse.
He threw me a bag that had several coins inside it.
...Why did you already have a bag of money?
(Lucian)…
...You were trying to buy me off in the same way!
(Lucian) That doesn't matter anymore!
"If I had known, I would have demanded more from him!!" "If I had known, I would have demanded more!!"
…Ok, everything stays between us.
(Lucian) Sounds good to me.
I turned around, I don't want to see that idiot's face, but I'm surprised, it seems Noah's feelings have calmed down.
Before, he would have lost control for letting Clarise go.
But I still have several doubts, why was I able to recover from the pain?
Lucian, with just one blow, endured the pain until the end, whereas I, in a matter of seconds, felt the pain ease.
Sometimes I don't understand what really happens to this body. But I will take advantage of it.
And I must prepare myself for what is coming.
According to the story, Javier tracked a suspicious identity wandering around the academy on the first day of classes.
He followed her but just happened to stumble upon the scene of Noah being beaten by Lucian; now that didn't happen, but they also didn't catch that identity.
I should ask Javier if he noticed anything strange. That way, maybe he can confirm it.
But one thing I'm sure of, that identity is strongly related to demons.
And it is a key point in Javier's life, because he will discover his destiny. To be the strongest swordsman -the sword saint-
His destiny will not be easy at all, and sometimes, if he can't handle an enemy, I won't hesitate to support him.
There must be an explanation for why he was sent to this world, especially being the protagonist's best friend.
I reached the academy gates, but before leaving, I raised my hand, clenching my fist.
So get ready, world.
or, I won't be easy to defeat.