The Academy's Competition (IV)

Swoop!

In an instant, Leon, leader of the Sword Academy, dashed forward like a bolt of lightning. His sword gleamed as he aimed a piercing strike straight at Aestrea.

Aestrea reacted instantly as he merely sidestepped to the right and swung his blade in a vertical arc, aiming to catch Leon's back.

Clang!

Sparks exploded between their swords as Leon twisted to block the attack, teeth gritted, pushing back with all his strength.

However, Aestrea merely kept a small smile as a silvery glow began to radiate from his sword, its light growing stronger by the second.

Swoop!

Aestrea's sword slammed against the ground, creating a crater of a slash on the fortified ground.

And immediately, the crowd started cheering even louder.

It was the first time the arena had been broken by a student.

"Damn it..." Leon gritted his teeth.

Slowly, a red energy surged up, swirling and crackling before enveloping his entire body along with his sword.

And then, he disappeared in a flash.

Clang!

Appearing right behind Aestrea, he swung his sword at his head, but Aestrea without even looking at him, blocked the sword with his own, only sticking out his arm backward.

"Impossible!"

Leon's eyes widened in surprise, but suddenly, Aestrea let Leon's sword slide across his, making him stumble, and took the opportunity to deliver a kick to his stomach.

Thud!

"Kugh!"

Still blocking the blow with the sword's blade, Leon still took damage from his kick. He held his stomach where Aestrea's kick landed and glared at him.

"Pfu!"

He spat blood on the ground before wiping his lips and then facing his sword in Aestrea's direction.

"Sword Circle: First Move..."

『 Revolving Swords! 』

Around him, a bunch of swords appeared booming in the air before drifting towards Aestrea with a long speed.

To this, Aestrea kept the same smile as he started running towards the sword.

He leaped...

Tap...!

Jumping on top of one of the swords, a burst of mana surged from his body, strong enough to send the remaining swords flying across the arena.

Then, he swung his sword...

Zooom!

A crescent-shaped slash of mana was sent towards Leon, who quickly dodged to the left and looked towards Aestrea...

But, he had disappeared from his view, and Leon's eyes widened as he sensed a presence behind him.

Thud!

This time he couldn't dodge it and was sent rolling down the arena's floor.

"Is that all?" Come on, you should use your unique talent, this is too easy for me."

Aestrea's voice reached out to him, and hearing his words, Leon gritted his teeth in annoyance, the veins in his neck bulging.

It was the first time someone had overpowered him so much, not to mention that he was also joking around with him.

"Is that so?" Leon sneered coldly.

"Let's see if you're still smiling after this!"

A dense aura exploded from his body, and the floating swords around him multiplied, and he wasn't even using the Sword Circle's techniques.

『 The talent "Sword Immortal" has been activated. 』

"Go!"

He sent the swarm of swords flying toward Aestrea in a deadly wave, but Aestrea's smile only deepened as he saw this.

He stopped in his tracks, and seeing the hundreds of swords coming towards him, he shifted his body slightly.

"Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."

『 First Move! (✦ Ice Lotus Bloom ✦) 』

Around his body, an ice lotus with moonlight's light bloomed into dozens of petals, and slowly they started hurling toward the swords coming at him.

Clang, clang!

The sounds echoed through the arena, raising the crowd's excitement by yet another level, and sure enough, even the higher-level nobles were interested.

In the crowd, Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise.

"This... is a self-made sword art."

And hearing her words, the others around were even shocked.

"Northern Duchess, are you sure about your words? Just the power of the first move is already comparable to the A-rank!" Elandor frowned slightly.

Normally, one would be happy to see such a talented student, but Leon was actually his grandson, and of course, he wanted Leon to win the match.

"I can confirm that." Empress Isabella nodded her head.

She had also been a swordsman, a higher rank at that, and from her experience, she had never seen swordsmanship as exquisite as Aestrea's.

It wasn't just his swordsmanship; every move he made followed a precise line, each one perfectly aligned with the others, making his opponent follow his wishes.

It was as if... 

"He fights like some kind of puppet master," Evelyn muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Empress Isabella nodded in agreement.

"It's true. I was thinking the same thing."

"Ah... such a talented child," Emperor Francis muttered as his eyes started conveying greed, and as Isabella noticed this, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"If only he were my son-in-law," she nodded knowingly with a wry smile.

Hearing her words, Emperor Francis frowned but began to contemplate the idea.

However, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a loud noise.

BAAM!

Leon was sent flying across the arena, piercing his sword into the ground, just enough to save him from falling out of the arena.

His whole body was bruised with cuts, blood slowly dripping down from every inch of his body, normally, one would forfeit.

But Leon's pride was quite immense, and he wouldn't forfeit, even if he died.

That was the pride of a swordsman.

"Ah... This really is shameful, you couldn't land a single hit in me despite using your talent. I'm quite disappointed."

Aestrea's voice reached Leon's ears, who clenched his sword tightly.

In front of him, Aestrea kept the same faint smile as he continued walking towards him. His body was unscathed, and his uniform didn't even have a small cut or anything.

"You..."

"YOU BASTAAARD!"

Leon screamed loudly, his voice echoing through the whole arena like some kind of roar.

At that moment, fiery red energy exploded from his body, surging into the sky like a raging inferno, to the point of reaching the clouds, and seeing this, Aestrea took a step back.

He looked at this, and the glow in his eyes intensified with excitement.

If one saw this, they would call him a battle junkie.

Crackle!

From the stormy clouds, a giant glowing red sword began to materialize as a strange crimson lightning started crackling around it.

Leon's face was contorted with madness, his eyes wild as he raised a trembling hand. Then, with a sharp motion, he swung his arm downward.

"DIE!"

The sword slowly descended in Aestrea's direction.

"AESTREA!"

Panicked shouts erupted from the crowd, but Aestrea didn't flinch.

Instead, he raised his thumb in the air, giving a casual thumbs-up as if to say...

"I've got this."

His stance shifted slightly as he pressed his upper body forward and reflected both of his legs a bit forward.

"Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."

『 30% Strength: Third Move (✦ Moonlight's One Flash ✦) 』

Shing!

A blinding flash of light streaked through the arena, slicing upward towards the descending sword.

For a brief moment, Aestrea's figure vanished, reappearing a heartbeat later just a few meters from Leon.

The crowd held her breath, and the higher noble's mouths opened agape.

Crack...!

The massive red sword fractured, splintering into countless shards that rained down like crimson snow.

Plop...

Leon's body crumpled to the ground, his face drenched in sweat. Blood trickled down his forehead as his breaths turned shallow and labored.

Step...

Aestrea approached slowly, each step echoing through the now-silent arena.

His glowing red eyes flickered wildly and widened slightly, like a predator toying with its trapped prey.

Leon's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

He bit his lip, trying to steady himself, but his voice came out in broken stutters.

"W-w-what k-kind of m-monster a-are you?"

He swallowed hard, loud enough for Aestrea to hear it.

To his words, Aestrea tilted his head as his smile deepened.

"Just a... moonlight lover."

Then, Aestrea pressed the palm of his hand against Leon's chest.

His crimson gaze never wavered as he spoke a single word.

"Impacto."

ZOOOOOOM!

"ARRRGHH!"

An air explosion happened as shortly after, Leon's body, like a lightning bolt was sent flying out of the arena.

CRASH!

"Kugh...!"

His body splattered against the protective barrier of the crowd, his sword clattering uselessly to the ground.

His body was battered and bruised, blood seeping from dozens of cuts, and everyone was completely speechless.

"T-the... the winner is Silverleaf's Leader, Aestrea!"

The announcer's voice rang out.

And immediately...

"OH MY GOD!"

"HE'S SO STRONG!"

"DID YOU SEE THAT MOVE?!"

The crowd went crazy, spouting all kinds of compliments.

Ignoring those shouts, Aestrea left the arena smiling, walking towards the Silverleaf's Academy Station.

"That was amazing!"

"You completely crushed him!"

One upon the other, his classmates started gathering around him, and with a smile, Aestrea tried to calm down the countless compliments from his classmates.

Vivian merely looked at Aestrea with a more than satisfied smile, but her expression quickly soured when she heard a familiar voice.

"Brother Aestrea~~," Mia whispered seductively, pressing her huge breast against Aestrea's arm, clung to him like a desperate cat.

"Ahem!"

Immediately, Vivian's voice rang out, and everyone turned their gaze to her.

"Aestrea needs to rest, stop bothering him already!" her voice grew sharp and stern.

In an instant, everyone scattered around, whistling as if they didn't do anything.

"Hah..." Aestrea let out a small laugh.

And then, just to add more to his satisfaction, the announcer's voice rang out once again.

"The winner of this match is the Silverleaf Academy!"

"OOOOOOHHH!"

The crowd went crazy once more.

Step...!

Aestrea walked back onto the stage, this time carrying the Silverleaf Academy flag.

Alone, with steady hands, he raised it high above his head, the academy's emblem shining proudly in the light.

In the crowd, students from Silverleaf who weren't chosen for the competition watched with tears in their eyes

Aestrea knew they were there, so he particularly made this gesture towards them, telling them indirectly that his victory wasn't just his, it was theirs, too.

At that moment, everyone knew.

The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy...

Is a complete...

Monster.