Chapter 239: Fallen leaves [3]

Chapter 237

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Episode 60 - Fallen leaves [3]

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The competition between the assistants proceeded normally; however...

’... Some truly capable Awakened have noticed.’

They could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

The thirty-two members of Fallen Leaves were scattered across different positions, probably preparing to attack at the right moment.

I couldn’t help but let out a sigh. Then I turned toward Lumina and, using the tip of my finger, pressed against her temple.

"....."

She flinched, but before she could react, I had already removed the seal on her Mana.

She stared at me for a second before looking down at the palms of her hands.

Finally, she looked around before turning her gaze back toward me.

"The assassins are already here."

She whispered quietly enough that no one could hear. I, for my part, nodded slightly and leaned back even further in my seat.

"Yes, and I think they’ll attack when the award is presented to the winner."

Lumina nodded slightly before looking toward the podium.

It wasn’t long before it was finally our turn.

Lumina and I stepped onto the podium. Then, she began her thesis presentation.

The topic she had chosen was rather unexpected.

"My thesis concerns the possibility of cleansing a Demonic Zone."

A Demonic Zone was an extremely vast stretch of land where the Power of Chaos covered the entire area.

In these places, life ceased to exist, and countless creatures were born. They also tended to be places where villains had greater freedom and protection.

Naturally, criticism flooded in toward Lumina, but she simply ignored it and continued.

Finally, after the question-and-answer section, she answered every question, and, of course, her thesis was approved.

Her thesis explained a method to completely eliminate a Demonic Zone, something that had existed since the Three Dark Eras.

These zones had consumed vast stretches of land throughout the Continent.

From villages to cities and important roads.

’Alright, here we go.’

My turn finally came. I could feel countless pairs of eyes on me; all of them reflected confusion.

They were confused because a blind man was standing on the podium.

But then, when Lumina took my thesis, she began reading it, and I naturally began explaining it.

The Alchemists were the only ones who stood from their seats and listened in silence.

For me, it was unexpected. I thought they would be the same as the mages, but, surprisingly, they remained silent.

Finally, the question-and-answer section arrived, and every single Alchemist asked a question.

There was a limit of three questions per person, so after answering all three questions from a total of seventy-eight Alchemists...

Clap! Clap!

One of them began applauding, and then another followed.

Soon, applause echoed from all around.

"...."

’This was different from what I expected.’

In any case, they approved my thesis, and finally, the competition between the assistants had come to an end.

***

Approximately thirty minutes later.

A man appeared and stepped onto the podium. In his hand was a letter.

"Attention, everyone present."

He cleared his throat and began his speech.

"We have carefully reviewed each of the theses submitted by the assistants who participated in this competition."

He looked at everyone seated before finally saying:

"So, we already have our winners. Allow me to congratulate the assistant duo from the renowned Holy Academy."

Clap! Clap!

A round of applause erupted. At the same time, Lumina and I stood up and headed toward the podium.

Shortly afterward, an old man who appeared to be the organizer of the competition between the assistants appeared.

The old man carried a tray upon which rested two vials. According to my memories, the vials had a brilliant golden color.

’So this is an elixir created by the Golden Alchemist.’

So the old man standing before me was none other than the Golden Alchemist.

An Alchemist who had lived for more than a hundred years, dedicating his life to the study of alchemy.

He was a respected figure and, of course, the most renowned Alchemist on the entire Continent.

"The legendary Golden Alchemist will now present the awards."

"An elixir personally created by the Golden Alchemist. Its name is the Golden Elixir."

The old man extended the tray. Lumina and I took the Elixir and, at the same time, smiled at the old man.

"Both of you have done an impressive job. Although I would like to speak with you for a little while, we have some unwanted guests this time."

At that moment, the Golden Alchemist quietly said a few words that only the two of us could hear.

I couldn’t help but be surprised by his words.

’For an Alchemist, he has some pretty sharp senses.’

Come to think of it, if he was an Alchemist, then he must have consumed all kinds of elixirs.

Although, of course, the more elixirs an Awakened consumed, the greater their resistance to the effects of elixirs would become.

The same thing was happening to me.

’Unless it’s an Elixir that reaches the Supreme Rank, this will be the last time one gives me any significant results.’

My body was developing resistance to elixirs and many potions, including those used to heal wounds and restore Mana.

"That’s a shame, Lord. Then we can talk next time."

I said as I gave the old man a slight nod.

He returned my gaze and said:

"Yes, it’s a shame. Then I’ll see you next time."

The old man calmly stepped away from the podium. Internally, I thought:

’He isn’t afraid of the assassins storming into the Atlas Seminary within a few seconds.’

It was somewhat surprising, but perhaps the old man was already accustomed to this and had survived situations like this many times before.

Regardless...

...Within seconds, Mana surged from all across the Atlas Seminary; a total of thirty-two Mana signatures, among which...

Six were exceptionally noteworthy.

"...."

Without showing the slightest reaction, I pinpointed the locations of the weaker ones and then focused 60% of my senses on Professor Ashly’s location.

’My objective is to prevent Professor Ashly’s death.’

There was no reason to wait any longer.

In the blink of an eye, the world around me became extremely slow.

Then, I appeared before one of the assassins.

".....!"

Even I, who hadn’t truly tested my abilities since reaching the Five-Star Realm, was surprised.

Whoosh...!

As if I had teleported, I appeared before one of the assassins and, using Mana, formed a sword in my hand.

Then, suddenly, the forty-centimeter-long blade of Mana crystallized.

At the Five-Star Realm, an Awakened possessed the ability to crystallize Mana.

And depending on the type of Attribute Manipulation, Mana crystallization could be either weaker or more powerful.

’And my Attribute Manipulation stat isn’t far from the Nine-Star Realm.’

Boom...!

The crystallized Mana sword descended, and the instant it touched the assassin’s body...

"....."

Crack...!

The crystallized Mana spread throughout his entire body.

Then, the crystallization shattered his body from the inside out, and in the blink of an eye...

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Tiny Mana crystals fell to the ground. There was no blood, much less a recognizable corpse.

"...."

’This guy was a Five-Star Awakened.’

I don’t remember using Mana crystallization with all my strength.

That was around 30% of its actual power.

And even so, he died in less than a second.

Although surprised, I didn’t waste any time and moved again.

By then, Lumina had also moved and had already killed a large number of the assassins.

I moved my body the instant I killed the first one. Then...

Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!

The next scene was that of crystallized bodies falling to the ground and shattering.

It had happened so quickly that only around ten or fifteen seconds had passed.

Even the commotion among the people present had died down, leaving them simply staring around in confusion.

’Now there are six left.’

Lumina appeared beside me, glanced at me briefly, and then said:

"Three each."

"That was exactly what I was going to suggest."

She nodded and suddenly disappeared. Then...

Boom! Clank!

Three Mana signatures moved away from this location by a dozen meters.

The other three Mana signatures focused on me, and the next second, they lunged at me.

Each of them was a Seven-Star Awakened, and after carefully examining their Mana, I could tell they were at the Peak Stage.

"....."

I loosened my control over my Mana, causing the crystallization to disappear.

Then, I extended my hand and opened my palm. A crimson flower petal appeared above it.

Tap! Tap!

Then, I took a step, and flowers emerged from the sole of my boot, spreading in every direction.

Finally, the single crimson petal flew through the air, and suddenly, two more followed, then three, four, five...

...Crimson petals began appearing one after another.

In an instant, a dozen crimson blades formed above my hand. However, it didn’t stop there.

Crimson blades bloomed all around me, forming in less than a second.

At the same time, I felt my Mana begin draining faster than it normally would.

Even so, after forming the Mana blades and then utilizing my senses, I moved my hand, and the crimson petal blades shot forward so quickly that the air exploded.

The crimson petal blades flew toward the three assassins.