Andrew and Sylvia stood across each other on the stage. Andrew was holding a sword in his hand, while Sylvia was weaponless.
Unlike Andrew, who had a solemn and focused expression, Sylvia carried a relaxed smile. It was as though she was confident that there was no way Andrew could defeat her.
The entire class was completely focused on the two of them. Every one of the students was curious and expectant about the result of their match. They wanted to know the gap between them and the best two students of this batch.
I was also curious, but for another reason.
Between Andrew, a [Hero], and the mysterious but frightening Sylvia, who was stronger?
[It’s obvious. The girl will win.] The demon stated with certainty.
I was slightly startled. ‘Are you sure?’
[100%. The boy is a hero, yes, but that girl is more special. I would not be surprised if she ends up being an Irregular.]
This time, I was really surprised.
I’m still not that clear about the concept of Irregulars, but according to the few things the demon has told me, Irregulars are very powerful existences at the top of any world.
… Is she really that strong?
[I’m not sure, but if she is not, she will reach that level eventually.]
I nodded and fell deep into thought.
... Is Sylvia really that powerful?
While I was conversing with the demon, Andrew and Sylvia finished their preparations.
“Are you ready?” Mrs. Heller asked.
“I am,” Andrew stated and Sylvia nodded calmly. “Me too.”
“Then start.”
Immediately, Andrew’s rushed toward Sylvia at full speed.
In an instant, he activated two of his skills, [Physical Strengthening] and [Domain]. Mana filled the surroundings, creating an oppressive space that suppressed Sylvia as Andrew filled his sword with mana and swung it down with all his strength.
*BOOM!*
An explosion resounded in the training room. The power of that strike was enough to make the entire place shake.
But Andrew’s eyes shrunk in the next instant.
Sylvia did not bother to avoid the attack. She just smiled at Andrew as a handful of threads appeared around her, blocking Andrew’s sword strike with ease.
Andrew grunted. He pulled his sword back and stomped the ground violently, using his feet as the axis to rotate his body and swing his sword towards Sylvia’s neck.
But once more–
*Bam!*
His sword was easily blocked.
“Just that?” Sylvia asked with a smile.
“Not yet.”
Putting strength in his arms, Andrew activated his third skill.
[Limit Breakthrough]!
A storm of mana surged around his body as power filled him. In the instant the skill was activated, Andrew felt as though there was nothing that he could not overcome.
“Ha!”
Bellowing, he infused his sword with so much mana that it glowed brightly. It pushed the threads back until it seemed that they were going to snap.
“Break!” He shouted, and the threads snapped.
But–
“Not enough.”
Following Sylvia’s calm voice, more threads appeared. Dozens of threads materialized around Sylvia, entangling Andrew’s sword and holding it in place.
Andrew tried to push forward, but the sword remained immobile. Even after he put as much mana as he could into the sword, it did not move an inch.
It had been completely neutralized.
Andrew’s expression changed.
He tried then to pull the sword back this time, but the threads had secured it firmly. He was not even able to make the sword twitch.
Sylvia’s lips curved up. She extended her right hand and looked at Andrew as she slowly clenched it into a fist.
As though they were receiving orders, the threads tightened around the sword. The steel then deformed slowly until–
*Clang!*
The sword shattered like glass.
Andrew’s eyes opened wide.
The rest of the students also looked at the scene in a daze. The ease with which Sylvia got rid of Andrew's weapon stunned them.
[They are on completely different levels.] The demon sighed.
I could not help but nod.
This battle did not seem like a battle between two students of the same year. Instead, it seemed like the battle between an adult and a child.
No matter how much the child struggles and hits the adult with his tiny fists, the adult can still laugh and tease the child playfully.
Just like Sylvia was smiling playfully at Andrew now.
“Are you done now?”
Andrew did not reply. He just took a deep breath and jumped back.
He then closed his eyes and extended his hand forward as though grasping something.
An immense amount of mana started to gather on his hand, creating a whirlpool of mana that pulled all the mana nearby toward him. Soon, the mana started to take shape, turning into a bright white sword made of pure mana.
That is… A new skill!? When did he learn it!?
I felt goosebumps just from looking at the sword. From just a glance, I knew that it was so powerful that I would be unable to resist it.
It was the same for the other students. Even the teacher could not help but put on a serious expression.
But Sylvia just raised an eyebrow.
She did not try to interrupt or stop Andrew. She just stood there peacefully, as though she was not concerned about whatever move he was going to pull off.
After five seconds, and when the glow of the sword became blinding and the blade extended to one meter long, Andrew finally opened his eyes.
“[Ultimate Sword].” He spoke.
And the sword was swung down.
All the mana inside the sword was released instantly. It created a sword wave that cut throughout the ring, leaving behind a ditch on the ground that extended until Sylvia's location.
*BOOM!!!*
The training room trembled, and the students that were expecting the battle could not help but take a couple of steps back. The attack created such a powerful explosion that it was unbelievable that it was due to the attack of a Tier-4 Awakened.
Nevertheless–
“That attack was pretty good.”
It did not even manage to ruffle Sylvia’s clothes.
She just extended her hand, stopping the attack so easily that it seemed unreal.
“It’s a lie.”
“... Crazy.”
Leon Meyer and Ley muttered in astonishment.
I was just as astonished as them. Only one word appeared in my mind.
Monster.
That girl was definitively a monster.
Andrew’s gaze was full of disbelief. He seemed like he had seen a ghost.
That was his strongest attack. Something that he had recently learned, and his biggest trump card.
However, Sylvia had stopped it so easily.
Sylvia chuckled.
“It looks like that was all. You should surrender. I don't want to hit Jane's friend.”
Andrew took a deep breath and shook his head.
“… I don't like to surrender.”
Sylvia smirked.
“Really?”
As soon as her words finished, countless threads appeared on the battlefield.
The threads appeared around his arms, his legs, his neck, his head, his back, and every part of his body. Sharp threads had appeared all around him, as though waiting for Sylvia's order to cut it into pieces.
Andrew froze in terror. Feeling the sharp threads against his skin made him sweat cold.
If he moved even slightly, the threads would cut him.
“Now, are you going to surrender or do you wish to continue?”
Andrew put on a bitter smile.
Andrew and Sylvia stood across each other on the stage. Andrew was holding a sword in his hand, while Sylvia was weaponless.
Unlike Andrew, who had a solemn and focused expression, Sylvia carried a relaxed smile. It was as though she was confident that there was no way Andrew could defeat her.
The entire class was completely focused on the two of them. Every one of the students was curious and expectant about the result of their match. They wanted to know the gap between them and the best two students of this batch.
I was also curious, but for another reason.
Between Andrew, a [Hero], and the mysterious but frightening Sylvia, who was stronger?
[It’s obvious. The girl will win.] The demon stated with certainty.
I was slightly startled. ‘Are you sure?’
[100%. The boy is a hero, yes, but that girl is more special. I would not be surprised if she ends up being an Irregular.]
This time, I was really surprised.
I’m still not that clear about the concept of Irregulars, but according to the few things the demon has told me, Irregulars are very powerful existences at the top of any world.
… Is she really that strong?
[I’m not sure, but if she is not, she will reach that level eventually.]
I nodded and fell deep into thought.
... Is Sylvia really that powerful?
While I was conversing with the demon, Andrew and Sylvia finished their preparations.
“Are you ready?” Mrs. Heller asked.
“I am,” Andrew stated and Sylvia nodded calmly. “Me too.”
“Then start.”
Immediately, Andrew’s rushed toward Sylvia at full speed.
In an instant, he activated two of his skills, [Physical Strengthening] and [Domain]. Mana filled the surroundings, creating an oppressive space that suppressed Sylvia as Andrew filled his sword with mana and swung it down with all his strength.
*BOOM!*
An explosion resounded in the training room. The power of that strike was enough to make the entire place shake.
But Andrew’s eyes shrunk in the next instant.
Sylvia did not bother to avoid the attack. She just smiled at Andrew as a handful of threads appeared around her, blocking Andrew’s sword strike with ease.
Andrew grunted. He pulled his sword back and stomped the ground violently, using his feet as the axis to rotate his body and swing his sword towards Sylvia’s neck.
But once more–
*Bam!*
His sword was easily blocked.
“Just that?” Sylvia asked with a smile.
“Not yet.”
Putting strength in his arms, Andrew activated his third skill.
[Limit Breakthrough]!
A storm of mana surged around his body as power filled him. In the instant the skill was activated, Andrew felt as though there was nothing that he could not overcome.
“Ha!”
Bellowing, he infused his sword with so much mana that it glowed brightly. It pushed the threads back until it seemed that they were going to snap.
“Break!” He shouted, and the threads snapped.
But–
“Not enough.”
Following Sylvia’s calm voice, more threads appeared. Dozens of threads materialized around Sylvia, entangling Andrew’s sword and holding it in place.
Andrew tried to push forward, but the sword remained immobile. Even after he put as much mana as he could into the sword, it did not move an inch.
It had been completely neutralized.
Andrew’s expression changed.
He tried then to pull the sword back this time, but the threads had secured it firmly. He was not even able to make the sword twitch.
Sylvia’s lips curved up. She extended her right hand and looked at Andrew as she slowly clenched it into a fist.
As though they were receiving orders, the threads tightened around the sword. The steel then deformed slowly until–
*Clang!*
The sword shattered like glass.
Andrew’s eyes opened wide.
The rest of the students also looked at the scene in a daze. The ease with which Sylvia got rid of Andrew's weapon stunned them.
[They are on completely different levels.] The demon sighed.
I could not help but nod.
This battle did not seem like a battle between two students of the same year. Instead, it seemed like the battle between an adult and a child.
No matter how much the child struggles and hits the adult with his tiny fists, the adult can still laugh and tease the child playfully.
Just like Sylvia was smiling playfully at Andrew now.
“Are you done now?”
Andrew did not reply. He just took a deep breath and jumped back.
He then closed his eyes and extended his hand forward as though grasping something.
An immense amount of mana started to gather on his hand, creating a whirlpool of mana that pulled all the mana nearby toward him. Soon, the mana started to take shape, turning into a bright white sword made of pure mana.
That is… A new skill!? When did he learn it!?
I felt goosebumps just from looking at the sword. From just a glance, I knew that it was so powerful that I would be unable to resist it.
It was the same for the other students. Even the teacher could not help but put on a serious expression.
But Sylvia just raised an eyebrow.
She did not try to interrupt or stop Andrew. She just stood there peacefully, as though she was not concerned about whatever move he was going to pull off.
After five seconds, and when the glow of the sword became blinding and the blade extended to one meter long, Andrew finally opened his eyes.
“[Ultimate Sword].” He spoke.
And the sword was swung down.
All the mana inside the sword was released instantly. It created a sword wave that cut throughout the ring, leaving behind a ditch on the ground that extended until Sylvia's location.
*BOOM!!!*
The training room trembled, and the students that were expecting the battle could not help but take a couple of steps back. The attack created such a powerful explosion that it was unbelievable that it was due to the attack of a Tier-4 Awakened.
Nevertheless–
“That attack was pretty good.”
It did not even manage to ruffle Sylvia’s clothes.
She just extended her hand, stopping the attack so easily that it seemed unreal.
“It’s a lie.”
“... Crazy.”
Leon Meyer and Ley muttered in astonishment.
I was just as astonished as them. Only one word appeared in my mind.
Monster.
That girl was definitively a monster.
Andrew’s gaze was full of disbelief. He seemed like he had seen a ghost.
That was his strongest attack. Something that he had recently learned, and his biggest trump card.
However, Sylvia had stopped it so easily.
Sylvia chuckled.
“It looks like that was all. You should surrender. I don't want to hit Jane's friend.”
Andrew took a deep breath and shook his head.
“… I don't like to surrender.”
Sylvia smirked.
“Really?”
As soon as her words finished, countless threads appeared on the battlefield.
The threads appeared around his arms, his legs, his neck, his head, his back, and every part of his body. Sharp threads had appeared all around him, as though waiting for Sylvia's order to cut it into pieces.
Andrew froze in terror. Feeling the sharp threads against his skin made him sweat cold.
If he moved even slightly, the threads would cut him.
“Now, are you going to surrender or do you wish to continue?”
Andrew put on a bitter smile.
