Chapter 159: 90% Progress

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: 90% Progress

The Wheel of Fortune required ten minutes to activate. Currently, there were only about fifteen minutes left until the end.

If Asaro could pin down the three people on her side, then the only remaining enemy was Lucius.

No matter what, Jeremy had to hold Lucius back.

Facing Jeremy’s thinly veiled hostility, Lucius shifted his chain blade Fang of Abyss into its second form — the Ice Prism Sword.

Lucius slightly turned his wrist, letting the sword blade catch the residual golden halo from the collapsing clock, and lazily asked:

"If I insist on passing, what does Ms. Mouse plan to do?"

Lucius clearly knew the answer yet still asked.

Jeremy smiled: "The premise is that you can defeat me."

Lucius said no more. Lucius spread his wings, and the Ice Prism Sword twirled in a circle, unleashing a half-moon-shaped sword aura.

Having known each other for a few months, the number of times they clashed in training was no less than twenty. Jeremy knew every type of skill and signature magic Lucius possessed by heart.

Calling this sluggish sword aura the weakest move in Lucius’s arsenal would not be an exaggeration.

It flew over at a speed that even a nearsighted first-year student could block.

...Could it be that he intended to go easy?

The thought had just kindled when a stream of black mist spread out incredibly fast.

Vision was entirely swallowed. To avoid the toxins in the mist, Jeremy immediately held his breath, divided a portion of magic power to envelop himself, and focused all his attention on his remaining senses.

The opponent’s scent was masked by the gloomy fragrance within the mist. The wind speed was also disrupted by the wind element in the fog. It was almost impossible to use that simple method to pinpoint his location.

But... ultimately, Lucius was still Lucius.

After so many sparring sessions, Jeremy had grasped a habit that perhaps even Lucius didn’t realize: every time Lucius used instant teleportation, Lucius always appeared at a slight left angle from the opponent.

Not out of calculation. But because his dominant hand was his right hand.

At the second second since Lucius vanished, the scythe in Jeremy’s hand swiveled at his waist. Twisting his body slightly, Jeremy borrowed the momentum to sweep the scythe slightly towards the left.

"Clang——!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal clashing erupted in the very next instant.

Sparks flared in the black mist for exactly one second, then sank back into darkness. The longsword that had just met the scythe instantly retreated as well.

But before the sword completely retreated, Jeremy managed to realize one thing: the force behind that slash was at least thirty percent lighter than Lucius’s usual level.

Lucius’s second skill — Ghost Slayer — aside from obscuring vision and spreading poison, its most important aspect was boosting the master’s strength.

Meaning Lucius was using a strength-boosting skill, yet delivered a strike weaker than usual.

As a precaution against Lucius using instant teleportation to adjust his position for a sneak attack, Jeremy summoned three clones to surround himself.

At the same time, Jeremy cast clear wind magic to blow away the mist.

But the preparation period before the spell took form was enough for Lucius to clear out the three clones. By the time visibility returned, Lucius was already standing right behind Jeremy.

And the tip of the longsword was less than an inch away from the back of Jeremy’s neck.

Jeremy leaned back forcefully. The sword tip grazed past his face, severing a few strands of hair at his temples.

Retreating a distance, the scythe handle spun within Jeremy’s wrist. He used the rigid handle to block the relentless pursuit of the sword’s attack.

"Clang——"

A heavy, deafening sound of impact.

The reverberating force left both of their arms numb, yet neither was willing to retract their hands.

Dust plumed from the ground. Both of them synchronizedly spread their wings and vaulted into the air.

The two figures intersected in mid-air, plunging into aerial close combat in the blink of an eye.

Both unleashed their skills without the slightest mercy. Blood already seeped from the corners of both their mouths, but neither stopped.

Below, in the area designated for eliminated individuals, Phoenix and Leon craned their necks to look up.

The two figures high above collided and bounced off, then lunged back in, their blades clashing so ear-piercingly that the upperclassmen watching via the live broadcast screen also had to hold their breath.

Leon furrowed his brows: "Do those two recognize each other at all?"

Phoenix was silent for two seconds, then replied succinctly: "Yes."

"Then why are they fighting like they have a blood feud over a murdered father?"

Phoenix said no more.

The wind, carrying killing intent, howled incessantly.

Under the deadlocked situation where neither gave an inch, Lucius utilized instant teleportation to close the distance, executing a backhand slash with the longsword, its tip thrusting rapidly.

Jeremy twisted half his body to dodge sideways, adjusting his position before instantly counterattacking.

The scythe, curved like a crescent moon, hooked towards the blade of the Ice Prism Sword, intending to lock onto it tightly.

Lucius let out an incomprehensible chuckle, then abruptly loosened his force.

Jeremy had not anticipated this point. Wanting to pull his force back was already too late.

Momentum pulled Jeremy straight forward. The distance between the two was shortened in just a single breath.

Four eyes met. In that moment, Lucius’s breath brushed against Jeremy’s face.

A very light voice rang out by his ear: "Is our Ms. Mouse underestimating the enemy?"

Jeremy did not retreat. He raised his chin, his gaze meeting straight into the icy blue eyes less than a hand’s span away from him.

Then Jeremy pointed downwards.

"Are you certain I’m the one underestimating the enemy?"

Lucius lowered his eyes to follow Jeremy’s gesture.

The Lumina Ribbon — which had been unraveled from Jeremy’s wrist at some unknown point — was currently coiled three times around Lucius’s waist and both his arms, tightening to the extent that there was no room left to draw the sword.

It had slithered up from the exact second Lucius loosened his force.

"..."

There was no trace of surprise in Lucius’s eyes. As if he had known that thing was there all along, merely too lazy to mention it.

Lucius dispersed the Ice Prism Sword, half-smiling, half-sighing: "I lose."

Seeing the opponent concede, Jeremy didn’t continue fighting and put away his Sacred Weapon.

But this match wasn’t settled just by conceding. Only five minutes remained, and Asaro’s side was still deadlocked.

Before going to provide reinforcements, Jeremy decided to use the Lumina Ribbon to tie Lucius up, preventing him from interfering.

Even though there was a high probability Lucius wouldn’t sneak attack after conceding, one still had to take precautions.

Lucius obediently stood still to let Jeremy tie him, even tilting his shoulder slightly to make it easier for the ribbon to loop around.

Before Jeremy approached, Lucius lowered his voice: "No tying around the waist."

The corner of Jeremy’s mouth twitched.

Was this guy really on the losing side?

"...Troublesome thing." Jeremy showed no mercy.

Lucius immediately retorted: "I am not."

"Then what are you? A whiner?"

Lucius: "..."

Despite the verbal mockery, Jeremy’s hands still complied with his wishes, avoiding the waist and abdomen area, switching to tightening around Lucius’s upper arms and wrists.

Talking while working, Jeremy tied him up swiftly, then sealed the other party’s magic power.

Finished, Jeremy took a half-step back to inspect him once over.

Lucius stood there, his silver hair disheveled, the corner of his lips still bearing an unwiped bloodstain, his entire body tightly bound in the white ribbon. Yet his expression remained as leisurely as if he were waiting for someone to invite him for tea.

Jeremy didn’t bother to think further, slipping past him and dashing towards Asaro.