Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 654
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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654.
Sring-!
Leo drew his sword.
Pababat-!
At that moment, Chen Xia disappeared from sight.
Chaeng-!
Leo narrowed his eyes as he saw Chen Xia appear right beside him.
‘Was Chen Xia this fast?’
Before Leo’s sword could even be fully drawn, Chen Xia was already swinging her dagger at Leo’s neck.
Leo, who blocked Chen Xia’s attack with his sheathed sword, saw the murderous intent flashing in Chen Xia’s eyes and immediately put strength into his sword.
Kwak-!
With their blades locked, he pressed Chen Xia with pure force.
Kigigigigik-!
Chen Xia crossed her daggers to block Leo’s attack.
But even so, she couldn’t stop Leo’s sword.
From her position aiming for Leo’s neck, she was instead pushed down by Leo.
Jjeojik-!
The ground Chen Xia was standing on began to crack.
Huwang! Kwagagagagagang!
In an instant, Leo’s sword struck the ground.
“Eoeot!”
“Chen Xia?!”
Screams erupted from among the 3rd years who thought Chen Xia had been struck down, unable to withstand Leo’s force.
Leo narrowed his eyes as he looked through the thick dust that had risen.
Chen Xia, who had deflected Leo’s force, was pressed against the ground.
Leo’s diagonally swung sword had barely grazed past Chen Xia’s head.
Swiik-!
Chen Xia, who had been lying on the ground looking up at Leo, sprang her body to close the distance with Leo.
Sgak-!
She threw the dagger gripped in her hand toward Leo.
Hwiririk-!
The spinning dagger aimed for Leo’s vital points.
Leo dodged the dagger with minimal movement.
Chen Xia instantly dove into Leo’s embrace and placed her hand on his chest.
Pueong-!
Water aura exploded at close range.
Tremendous water pressure struck Leo.
But Leo seemed unaffected as he reached his hand toward Chen Xia.
“Did he withstand it?! Senior Sia’s attack?”
As Havedon shouted with wide eyes, Duran narrowed his eyes.
“No. He neutralized it with the same water aura.”
Leo had also exploded water aura in response to Chen Xia’s attack.
As Leo tried to grab her neck, Chen Xia kicked off the ground and created distance.
At the same time, the water flowing around Chen Xia transformed into blade-like shapes and aimed for Leo’s vital points.
Chwaak-!
Leo grabbed the water aura as if snatching a curtain.
The water aura, sharp enough to tear through rock, was caught in Leo’s hand.
Bogeulbogeulbogeul-
But the water blade was neutralized by the water aura Leo created.
Chen Xia tried to create even more distance from Leo with light movements.
Just as she was about to release the water aura caught in Leo’s hand.
Huuk-!
“…?!”
When Leo pulled the water aura, Chen Xia was dragged toward Leo.
Of course, it didn’t stop there.
Chen Xia’s water aura was invaded by Leo’s aura.
‘The control of water has been taken over.’
The aura that had followed her will now resisted her.
The water aura bound Chen Xia like a rope.
Chen Xia was in a state as if tied up by rope.
Leo, who had subdued Chen Xia using her own aura, pulled and swung the water aura, then slammed Chen Xia into the ground.
Kwaang-!
Seeing Chen Xia being slammed into the training ground floor, the 1st and 2nd years unconsciously squeezed their eyes shut.
“If you came at me with the resolve to kill, I should respond accordingly, shouldn’t I?”
Leo said with an expressionless face.
It meant he wouldn’t hold back.
Chen Xia must have been prepared for this when she challenged him to a duel.
‘No, this isn’t a duel anymore.’
Leo muttered inwardly as he pulled Chen Xia again and slammed her into the opposite side of the ground.
‘This is already a death match.’
Since Chen Xia was already fighting him seriously, Leo had to be serious too.
Only then could he show others what Chen Xia wanted to demonstrate.
‘That’s the courtesy toward an opponent who comes at you with everything they have.’
The moment Leo was about to pull Chen Xia once more.
Paat-!
Chen Xia released herself from the water rope that bound her.
The water fragments that had been scattering in all directions instantly became needles and poured toward Leo.
Pababababababak-!
Leo threw his body to dodge the attack.
Hwiik-!
In an instant, something was thrown from Chen Xia’s hand.
Leo tilted his head back to avoid it.
Tak-!
Chen Xia landed on the ground.
Leo also raised his tilted head.
Juryuk-
A thin line of blood appeared on Leo’s cheek.
“Hmm.”
Leo tapped his cheek with his finger.
“A hidden weapon. This is getting serious?”
Leo’s red eyes glowed dangerously.
Chen Xia smiled and grabbed her right shoulder upward with her left hand.
Udeudeuk-
With a chilling sound, her dislocated right shoulder was set back in place.
Then she grabbed her left forearm with her right hand.
Wadeuk-!
The sound of bone setting was heard.
She had stimulated the muscles of her broken left forearm bone with aura to fix it in place.
Of course, tremendous pain rushed through her, but she didn’t care.
Chen Xia wasn’t weak enough to have her movements dulled by pain, nor had she lived such an easy life.
“I don’t like rough stuff.”
“You’re the one who made me rough, aren’t you?”
Leo curled up the corners of his mouth.
Watching Leo like that, Chen Xia gripped her dagger tighter.
She had no intention of stopping.
Seeing that, Selia’s face hardened stiffly.
‘Leo is serious.’
Selia put strength into her clenched fists.
Watching the two fight, she could tell.
What the two were engaged in was an extremely dangerous battle of death.
A fight at the edge of limits that only those who had experienced death countless times could experience.
A precarious battle where a small mistake would directly lead to death.
‘Could I hold out like Sia against Leo fighting this seriously?’
She had no confidence.
She understood at once what Chen Xia was trying to tell them.
‘This is real fighting.’
Whether it was Chen Xia or Leo.
The enemies they would have to fight from now on would surely be standing in that realm.
On the surface it seemed like a paper-thin difference, but that paper-thin difference was huge.
Duran was also making a stern expression because he felt it too.
Not just Duran.
Not only Chloe, Chelsea, and Avad, but even Woreden and Eliza.
While others were focusing on Leo, they were looking at Chen Xia.
‘In the past two years, I’ve never once seen Chen Xia really fight.’
Even Chen Xia, whom they thought was a competitor, had been hiding her real skills in actual combat.
The person they thought was beside them was actually standing one step ahead.
‘This isn’t simply teaching.’
Selia bit her lips tightly.
‘I will stand behind Lord Leo before anyone else.’
This fight right now was a provocation thrown at the competitors.
She came to her senses at the declaration of war from someone she thought had been on the same level for the past two years.
While Chen Xia’s fighting shocked the 3rd years.
Chen Xia, gripping her sword, took a step forward.
Watching that, Leo narrowed his eyes.
‘I should end this soon.’
The reason Chen Xia could seriously emit killing intent toward him was because there was a vast difference in skill.
Even standing at death’s threshold, Chen Xia’s best was inflicting a small scratch on Leo’s cheek.
That was Chen Xia’s best.
If the fight continued any longer, Chen Xia would be in real danger.
‘I should end it with the next strike.’
Chen Xia’s movements were already within Leo’s expected range.
The fight was as good as over.
The moment he thought that.
Whoosh—!
Chen Xia’s body disappeared like a mirage.
What caught Leo’s eye was a black haze.
As if she had vanished from this world.
‘This is…!’
It far exceeded Leo’s expectations.
He had completely lost track of Chen Xia’s presence.
If this technique had been one Leo didn’t know, it might have been impossible to respond to.
Leo swung his palm toward the back.
Originally he should have swung his fist.
But if he had done that, Chen Xia’s life would have been in real danger.
Leo had been dealing with Chen Xia with some leisure throughout, but only at this moment did Leo react seriously to Chen Xia’s movement.
Thwack—!
Leo’s palm struck Chen Xia’s chest.
Chen Xia was sent flying outside the training ground and just before hitting the courtyard wall.
Whoosh—!
Ain’s Associate Professor Claria gently caught Chen Xia in her arms and landed on the ground.
Softly—!
“According to Knight Department regulations, life-threatening fights should be prohibited.”
Ain revealed herself in the middle of the training ground.
“Being Student Council President doesn’t mean everything is forgiven. Besides, just now. You were really serious, weren’t you?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sigh… For now, you and Chen Xia will clean the restrooms for a week as punishment. Of course, you’ll also receive penalty points.”
“Yes.”
Looking at Leo nodding calmly, Ain said.
“First, go to the infirmary with Chen Xia.”
Claria, who had approached Leo’s side, handed over Chen Xia.
Leo, holding the unconscious Chen Xia in his arms, headed to the infirmary.
“Isn’t that a bit lenient?”
At Claria’s words, Ain chuckled.
“Neither Leo nor Sia are fools who would cause accidents due to hot blood.”
If they had caused trouble simply due to personal grudges or competitive spirit, it wouldn’t have ended with restroom cleaning but they would have been dragged to the reflection room.
But the two’s fight had stimulated others.
“I think it was a necessary fight.”
Looking at the 3rd year top students lost in thought, Ain glanced at Leo.
“For Leo too.”
“For Student Leo too?”
“Yes.”
Claria made a puzzled expression.
“His burden should be somewhat lighter now.”
***
Arriving at the infirmary, Leo laid Chen Xia on the bed.
Chen Xia, who had regained consciousness, opened her eyes.
“How was it? Lord Leo?”
“…How did you use it?”
“Previously, my ancestor possessed my body, didn’t she? I remembered my ancestor’s movements from that time and kept practicing.”
The footwork Chen Xia had shown just now was Bihar’s footwork.
Bihar’s aura skill that moved colorlessly and odorlessly.
Bihar’s secret technique that even Kail couldn’t use.
“…I can’t treat you like a child anymore.”
“Of course, I’m 19 years old this year. I’m a proper adult now, you know? Please treat me as an adult from now on.”
“Still, wasn’t this too much? Actually stabbing was going too far.”
Leo pointed to his back.
In the brief moment when Leo lost track of Chen Xia’s movement.
The Bihar dagger Chen Xia held had very slightly stabbed Leo’s back.
It wasn’t a big wound, but some bleeding was unavoidable.
“Please keep that scar for life.”
“Why? I’m not at an age where I need to carve scars into my body to develop.”
“It’s a mark.”
“A mark?”
“Yes, a mark that I’ll stand behind Lord Leo for the rest of my life. Proof that I’ve claimed that spot first.”
Chen Xia wore a delighted expression.
“From now on, the space behind Lord Leo is a place only I can stand. I won’t yield it to anyone.”
Leo burst into a hollow laugh watching Chen Xia speak as if she had written her name on her own possession.
“I’m the first to carve a sword mark on Lord Leo’s back, so I have more than enough qualification for that, don’t I?”
“Fine, do whatever you want.”
Chen Xia smiled brightly at Leo’s words.
Leo chuckled softly watching such Chen Xia.
“Then I should give you a reward, shouldn’t I?”
“A reward?”
“Yeah. Will you close your eyes?”
Chen Xia closed her eyes.
When she felt a strange flutter in her heart.
Something stamped her forehead.
“What?”
Chen Xia rubbed her forehead with a flustered face, then created a water mirror using her water aura.
And she frowned looking at the [Well Done] stamp pressed on her forehead.
“This childish stamp is the reward?”
“Then what were you expecting? A ‘well done’ stamp is enough for a kid.”
“I said I’m an adult now, didn’t I?”
“Calling yourself an adult is proof that you’re still a kid.”
Leo patted Chen Xia’s forehead and shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, get your treatment. I’m going to class.”
Chen Xia sighed deeply watching Leo’s back as he casually left the infirmary.
‘Would he stop treating me like a child if I looked more mature on the outside?’
***
Deep night.
The northeastern edge of the continent.
That place was the homeland of the dwarves, taken away long ago after an invasion by Tartaros.
“Everyone run! Hurry!”
Grwaaaaaaaar-!
The roar of magical beasts echoed.
The face of the dwarf hero leading the investigation team turned pale.
Recently, signs of a Hero Dungeon appearing in this region had been detected, so despite it being Tartaros territory, the dwarves had dispatched an investigation team.
If it was a rampaging Hero Dungeon, it had to be conquered before it could erode the world.
Even if it was in Tartaros territory.
And the investigation team faced the crisis of total annihilation.
They had encountered large-scale Gigantes divisions that hadn’t existed in this surrounding area before.
That alone made it clear that a rampaging Hero Dungeon had appeared here.
His mission was to risk his life to convey this fact to the outside world.
“There’s a fortress our ancestors used not far ahead! We’ll make our stand there!”
The dwarf hero encouraged his party members.
But despair was evident on the dwarf hero’s face.
That fortress had long since become ruins.
The fortress had also long lost its function.
‘I have to buy even a little time! Somehow I must convey this fact to Demian!’
The dwarf hero gritting his teeth and his party members knew they were already walking corpses.
If so, they had to at least convey the situation here.
But the Gigantes divisions wouldn’t allow even that.
The closer they got to the fortress, the more the number of Gigantes increased exponentially.
The Gigantes rampaging madly in the darkness ruthlessly ravaged the dwarves.
“Captain! At least you must hurry!”
“Pelorn!”
The dwarf hero Noren screamed at his adjutant’s death.
It was a scene of slaughter.
“Noble Demian! Great Dweno! Please help us complete our mission!”
Noren prayed to the great predecessor heroes.
The sun would rise soon.
When the sun rose, the power of the magical beast Gigantes would weaken and they could reach the fortress.
‘Then I can at least fulfill my mission…’
Checking the time, Noren desperately waited for dawn to break.
And the moment dawn broke.
“…”
Thud-
Noren unknowingly collapsed where he stood.
A dark red sun was brilliantly driving away the starlit night sky.
A gray morning was approaching.
Noren knew all too well what that was.
Long before ascending to the position of hero.
The sky from the heroic tales he had read since he was very, very young.
“The age of… calamity?”
He couldn’t even comprehend the situation.
What mattered was that sun was a symbol of despair.
Thus, with the appearance of the dark red sun, the dwarves lost their fighting spirit and despaired.
The moment they even forgot they had barely reached the vicinity of the fortress.
Kwagagagagang-!
The sound of bombardment echoed.
Peobeobeobeok!
Grwaaaaaaaar!
Kaaaaaaak!
The Gigantes hit by the magic cannons screamed in agony.
The startled dwarves’ gazes turned toward where the bombardment had come from.
And they saw it.
Not ruins, but a massive fortress standing firm and strong.
Seeing that sight, Noren’s mouth fell open.
“What on earth… is happening?”
In Noren’s astonished gaze, he saw a single dwarf standing on the fortress walls.
At that magnificent figure wrapped in golden flames all over his body, Noren’s eyes widened greatly.
“The divine… blacksmith?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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