Chapter 18: The Flames of Rivalry

Tigram and Gabriel's Past

Tigram and Gabriel had been inseparable since childhood, their bond forged by their parents, who were members of the same adventure party. Growing up together, they shared countless experiences, from playing in the forests to listening to their parents' tales of heroic feats. However, as they matured, their paths began to diverge. Tigram, ever the playful and carefree child, preferred to enjoy life and shunned studying. In contrast, Gabriel was more serious, dedicating himself to perfecting his knowledge and honing his skills.

As time passed, the two childhood friends gradually drifted apart, their relationship becoming more distant. While they remained friendly, they eventually became little more than acquaintances. This distance might have remained, but everything changed when a new student, Dave Blake, transferred to their school.

Dave Blake, the son of the richest businessman in the Azeal Empire, hailed from Shell City. He was a firm believer in the adage, "A better family background means better resources and better opportunities. With these external conditions, many ordinary people have surpassed geniuses." This belief ingrained in him a deep sense of superiority, rooted in the wealth and status of his family.

From a young age, Dave was taught that wealth and resources were the keys to becoming a respected Orion. He grew up believing that his privileged background made him inherently superior to others. When he transferred to the academy, Dave was confident that he would quickly rise to the top, relying on his family's wealth and connections to secure his success.

However, Dave's confidence was soon shattered upon meeting Gabriel, a fellow student who consistently outperformed him in every aspect, whether it be knowledge, skill, or combat prowess. What began as a sense of superiority quickly turned into a festering sense of inferiority. As time went on, Dave's jealousy and hatred towards Gabriel grew stronger.

Determined to reclaim his perceived superiority and undermine Gabriel's standing, Dave resorted to using his family's resources to gather information about his rival. When he discovered that Gabriel and Tigram were old friends, he saw an opportunity to exploit this relationship for his own gain.

Dave began to befriend Tigram, showering him with resources, flattery, and other temptations to win his favor. Tigram, who had developed a taste for the luxuries Dave provided, gradually became dependent on him. This allowed Dave to subtly manipulate Tigram, sowing seeds of discord between him and Gabriel. Their once-close friendship deteriorated, and as Gabriel distanced himself, Tigram became increasingly hostile, lashing out at those around him. Dave's plan had succeeded.

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Dave Blake's POV

[Assessment Ranking Board]

[First Place: Gabriel Heart 

No. of Kills = 3 - Iron ★, 6 - Iron ★★ 

Points = 150 

Class: Support - Type, Healing]

[Second Place: Tigram Gray....]

Upon seeing the rankings, Dave's face twisted into a deep scowl, irritation evident in his expression. Frustration boiling over, he opened his status panel to reassess his situation.

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[Name: Dave Blake]

[Class: Squire]

[Level: 1 - Early Bronze Level] 

[Health Points: 250/250] 

[Mana: 300/300] 

[Experience: 177/500] 

[Physical Attack: 55–75] 

[Attributes: STR: 12, AGI: 11, DEX: 6, INT: 3, VIT: 11] 

[Skills: Triple Slash, Parry] 

[Talent: Infinity Edge (O)] 

[Equipment: Iron Sword]

---

Dave's frustration reached a boiling point as he stared at the assessment ranking. He had just punched a nearby tree in anger, cursing under his breath. Despite being in a combat-focused class, he had failed to surpass Gabriel's performance. Dave had assumed that his class would give him an edge over his peers, but reality had hit him hard.

He couldn't fathom how Gabriel had managed to excel so effortlessly. Could it be possible that Gabriel had cheated? Dave had gone to great lengths to isolate Gabriel, even using Tigram to threaten their classmates into avoiding any party formation with him.

Before the assessment, Dave had used his family's considerable resources to bribe students from his class and others to steer clear of Gabriel and form parties with him instead. But despite all his efforts, his plans had fallen apart.

Frustration and defeat overwhelmed Dave, and he could no longer contain his emotions.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!" he roared, the sound echoing through the forest as he released his pent-up rage.

His ferocious roar startled a group of low-level monsters nearby, causing them to scatter in fear. All except one. This monster stood its ground, misinterpreting Dave's roar as a challenge.

The monster let out a deafening roar of its own and charged straight at Dave, who welcomed the fight with eager anticipation. A rush of adrenaline surged through him as he prepared to unleash his frustration on the beast.

As the monster closed in, Dave braced himself, waiting for the right moment to strike. The creature raised one of its limbs, and a swirling aura of mana enveloped its sharp claw. Suddenly, the mana burst into flames, engulfing the claw in a fiery blaze.

With a menacing growl, the monster slashed at Dave with its flaming claw, aiming to inflict as much damage as possible. Dave remained steadfast, ready to meet the challenge head-on.

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WHOOOSHHH!!

---

Noticing the enemy's impending attack, Dave quickly shifted into a defensive stance, preparing to block the strike. As the sharp claws drew near his sword, he expertly executed his special move, [Parry], effortlessly deflecting the attack.

---

[Parry: The user enters a parrying stance that adds a chance to block incoming attacks and retaliate. A successful counterattack deals damage to the opponent. No damage is received if parrying is successful. 

Counter Damage = Skill level x 200% Physical Attack 

Mana Cost: 70 

Cooldown: 7 seconds]

---

The clash of claw and sword rang out, a metallic sound echoing through the surroundings.

---

"CLANK!!!"

---

Dave, a skilled swordsman, deftly blocked the monster's attack. A familiar sensation of swirling force enveloped him, as he had experienced many times before. Without hesitation, he unleashed a powerful slash, channeling the force surrounding him.

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BAAAANNG!!!

---

The monster was thrown back three meters, losing 300 HP in the process. Dave frowned, glancing at the enemy's status panel to assess the damage he had inflicted.

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[Name: Flame Lion]

[HP: 2900/3200] 

[Mana: 1000/1100]

[Physical Attack: 190–230] 

[Rank: Iron ★★★★★]

[Skills: Flame Claw, Fire Fang, Flame Charge, Fire Breath...] 

[Description: In the vast expanse of the kingdom, there exists a ruler of all monsters. This being is known to erupt in great fury when its authority is challenged. With its powerful flaming claw, it is capable of tearing apart any and all who dare to oppose it. Its fearsome presence commands respect and instills fear in all those who dare to cross its path.]

---

The two opponents locked eyes as the Flame Lion slowly rose, shaking off the impact. Suddenly, its body ignited with flames, and the sound of crackling fire filled the air.

---

CRACKLE...!!!

---

The flames danced in the wind, creating a mesmerizing yet ominous spectacle.

Dave steeled himself for the lion's next attack, adopting a firm sword stance and letting mana surge through his body. He knew that one wrong move could spell disaster. Activating his talent, he waited for the lion's move.

---

[Infinity Edge: Form a stance and collect energy around the caster. Once charging is complete, the caster dashes forward, performing up to 10 slashes in rapid succession. During the attack, damage from enemies is reduced by 70%. If the 10th slash lands accurately, it deals an additional 300% damage. After completing the attack, the caster will suffer mana depletion and be unable to regenerate mana. The higher the mana depletion, the greater the damage.

Damage Per Attack: 200% Physical Attack + pPEN + Mana Depleted/10 

Final Damage: 300% x Damage Per Attack

Mana Depletion Duration: 10 seconds 

Mana Cost: All remaining mana (min. 100) 

Cooldown: None]**

---

As Dave stood still, his body began to glow with an intense, luminescent aura. The ground beneath him trembled and cracked under the immense pressure of mana building up within him. Suddenly, he charged towards the Flame Lion with incredible speed and agility, leaving behind a trail of shimmering light.

---

VROOOOOM!!!

---

In response, the Flame Lion activated its powerful skill, [Flame Charge]. With a fierce roar, the flames surrounding its body intensified, and the air around it grew unbearably hot. The earth beneath its limbs began to melt as it charged towards Dave, ready for a ferocious battle.

---

[Flame Charge: The Flame Lion cloaks itself in flames and attacks, building up more power the farther it charges. Its speed increases while wrapped in flames. Once the attack is complete, the flames vanish. 

Mana Cost: 200

Cooldown: 15 seconds]

---

The sound of two powerful auras clashing could be heard in the distance. Two formidable beings were about to face off. As they collided, the force of their impact shattered the rocks beneath them, and flames erupted in all directions. Despite being dealt a staggering blow of -113 HP, Dave withstood the damage thanks to his talent, which reduced incoming damage by 70%. With his life intact, he quickly recovered and launched a series of rapid attacks on his fiery opponent.

He began with a Side Slash, dealing -330 HP, followed by a Downward Slash that inflicted -299 HP. The Flame Lion retaliated, but Dave pressed on, delivering a Horizontal Slash that dealt -350 HP, followed by a Diagonal Slash for -300 HP. As his confidence grew with each successful strike, Dave seemed to relish the battle. He executed a Forward Slash for -320 HP, then a Twisting Slash that dealt -350 HP. Leaping into the air, he unleashed a powerful Jump Slash that took away another -310 HP, followed by a Backhand Slash that inflicted -300 HP. With one attack left, Dave pivoted and delivered a devastating Pivot Slash, taking away another -320 HP.

As he swung his sword for the final time, a sense of invincibility washed over him. He was so focused on defeating his opponent that he failed to notice the golden light enveloping him. Suddenly, the air was filled with the sound of a deafening explosion. Expecting to see the Flame Lion fall, Dave was shocked to find himself outside the mystical realm instead. Confusion etched on his face, he struggled to make sense of what had just happened.