"Rank 99th, Silent Roar, please take the stage!"
Just as the audience was discussing August Veyron's appearance, the Night Party executive committee made another announcement, and the second-place participant slowly appeared.
That person was none other than Frey.
After some time had passed, Frey remained the same as before. She had a timid expression, a lovely figure, and a somewhat unhealthy complexion. It seemed like she was even hunched over, showing a distinct lack of confidence.
On the other hand, Frey's automaton, Rabbi, looked quite spirited, stepping onto the Night Party's combat stage with powerful strides, alongside Frey.
Frey appeared before August Veyron, visibly nervous yet with a resolute expression, standing her ground without any signs of backing down.
Looking at Frey in this state, it wasn't just Rozen; probably everyone else could feel her determination.
"It seems that Frey really wants to win," Rozen mused.
However, this had nothing to do with August Veyron.
"I don't like meaningless fights," the dispassionate Last One with no motivation remarked.
"Perhaps you should surrender now; otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety," August Veyron said.
Despite the ranking, nobody thought that August Veyron was merely putting on a show. In this academy, the top 50 participants were ranked based on their abilities, and the bottom 50 based on academic performance. August Veyron had the lowest academic scores, but his abilities were considered equivalent to Magnus's, which is how he obtained a Night Party participation slot. For Frey, he wasn't an opponent she could likely defeat.
At least, that's what everyone believed.
Perhaps even Frey herself felt the same way?
However, Frey chose not to surrender.
"I can't afford to lose," Frey's voice was very faint but clear enough for everyone to hear. "If I lose, I'll lose something important."
Frey spoke these determined words and looked resolute.
"Is that so?" August Veyron fell silent for a moment, then said somewhat impatiently, "In that case, don't blame me for not holding back."
With that, August Veyron extended his hand.
"Sleipnir, take care of her."
August Veyron released his magical power, and his humanoid automaton, Sleipnir, moved accordingly.
"Rabbi!" Frey immediately went on high alert and also released her magical power toward the large wolfhound at her side.
But, the next moment, something incredible happened. With a swift motion, Sleipnir, Frey's automaton, disappeared into thin air, reappearing right in front of Rabbi as if it had instantaneously moved.
"Bang!"
A loud, muffled impact suddenly echoed.
Even while receiving Frey's magical power, not even activating her magic circuits, and barely having a chance to make a move, Rabbi was struck hard by Sleipnir's fist, sending Rabbi tumbling through the air like a ball. Rabbi let out a cry of pain as he rolled on the ground, all the way down.
"Rabbi!"
Frey hadn't anticipated this outcome at all. She widened her eyes and let out a scream while looking on in dismay.
Frey didn't realize that, right in front of her, a person had appeared without a sound.
"Hand over the glove," August Veyron demanded, seemingly annoyed.
"?!?"
Frey was startled and took a few steps back in a somewhat disheveled state.
Not only Frey, but everyone in the audience was also in an uproar.
"So fast!"
"I can't see their movements at all!?"
"Is this the effect of magic?"
"Their attack power seems really strong!"
"No wonder they're said to be on par with the Marshal!"
The students in the audience were getting excited.
Even Yaya, who usually showed no interest, was displaying her shock.
"Yaya can't see their movements either!"
Yaya shivered in response.
Indeed, not even Yaya, despite her abilities, could perceive how August Veyron and his automaton moved to instantly appear in front of their opponents.
It was as if they were truly teleporting, or else, with such incredible speed, there should have been a strong gust of wind, and they should have trampled the grass underfoot.
"Could it be something like Magnus's Kamakiri, spatial transfer?"
Rozen thought, focusing his Mind's Eye to monitor the situation in the field.
However, he hadn't yet observed Veyron's actions, while Frey's actions had already been sensed by Rozen.
"Roar!"
Rabbi, knocked to the ground, immediately saw Frey being forced back by Veyron, so he let out a roar and leaped into the air.
"Rabbi!"
Seeing this, Frey, seemingly relieved, and with newfound courage, spoke up.
"Let's try once more, Rabbi!"
Frey concentrated her magical power, sending it into Rabbi's body.
This time, Rabbi's magic circuits were successfully activated.
Rozen's Mind's Eye immediately sensed an unusual change in the surroundings around Rabbi.
It was a phenomenon caused by the concentration of sound waves.
With the power of his Mind's Eye, Rozen could observe the changes in sound pressure in the area. Considering the situation he witnessed when he first encountered Frey, he deduced the nature of Rabbi's magic circuits.
"Rabbi's magic circuits seem to be related to 'Sound Pressure Manipulation,' right?"
"Sound Pressure Manipulation."
As the name suggested, it was a form of magic used to manipulate sound pressure. With this magic, Rabbi could launch sonic attacks, eliminate sound, serving a cloaking effect, and even use it for echolocation, similar to a bat, to detect everything around him.
Initially, the reason Rozen was discovered by Rabbi when he left the barrier and the effect of "Invisibility Jutsu" had not disappeared was precisely because of this.
While inside the barrier, sound waves would be shielded. However, once outside the barrier, even with "Invisibility Jutsu," it would trigger a sound wave reaction.
Now, Frey activated this magic circuit, allowing Rabbi to concentrate all the sound pressure in his mouth.
In the next second, with Rabbi's roar, the sound pressure formed a projectile, tearing up the grass, tossing the ground, carrying dust, and heading towards Sleipnir next to August Veyron.
The power of this strike might truly rival that of a cannonball, capable of blasting a large pit even in a city wall, right?
However, this attack actually passed through Sleipnir.
"This!?"
Frey was stunned.
"It went through!?"
The audience was even more surprised.
Only Rozen...
"The wave from just now..."
Rozen's Mind's Eye sensed the microscopic phenomena that occurred in that moment, first in astonishment, and then in realization.
"So, it's that kind of magic, huh?"
Clearly, Rozen had seen through the true nature of Veyron's magic.
And after seeing through it, Rozen sighed.
"It looks like Frey is going to lose."
That was the only thing Rozen was sure of.
Unfortunately, unexpected events always catch people off guard.
"Hmm?"
Rozen gazed at Frey, whose eyes had suddenly become focused.
"Not good!"
The next moment, Rozen stood up.