Lucifer took a deep breath before shouting, "Captain of the swordsmanship club, I, Lucifer Windward, Rank 1 of Class 1-A, challenge you to a duel for the swordsmanship club!"
Stepping off the stage, I yielded the spotlight to Lucifer.
"You okay?" Rachel inquired, her eyes reflecting concern. 'Ah, what an angel!' I thought, my heart thumping. I nodded, and she exhaled in relief.
"You were strong, man!" Ian praised, giving my back a hearty pat. "I really didn't expect you to use magic like that. Are you a magic swordsman?"
"Not really," I replied, shaking my head. "It was my first time trying that."
"Honestly, if you learned a weapon art, you'd be dangerous," Ian chuckled.
"Have some," Seraphina offered, handing me a piece of bread. Both Ian and I stared at it in surprise.
"Well, don't mind if I d—" Ian began, reaching for the bread.
Thwack!
Seraphina swiftly slapped his hand. "Not you," she declared, narrowing her eyes as she glared at him.
"Thanks, Seraphina," I said, accepting the bread. It was only when I started eating that I noticed something.
Bread filled with mana meat!
Specifically, healing meat!
I took the food from her and devoured it while Ian looked at me like a puppy without an owner.
"Looks like he's here," Jin announced out of the blue, drawing our attention to the stage.
Both Ren and Jin were looking at the stage with burning curiosity as Lucifer's opponent entered.
Drake Namgung.
He belonged to the once-potent Namgung lineage, a force that, in their prime, surpassed the current big three in Murim—the Mount Hua Sect, Southern Edge Sect, and Wudang Sect. However, a tragic encounter with the Heavenly Demon Sect triggered a significant decline in their standing.
Despite their setback, the Namgung family remained a formidable swordsmanship lineage in Murim, wielding influence across the world. It was no surprise that one of their descendants had found a place in Mythos Academy.
The family's downfall was intricately tied to the loss of their Grade 6 art, a pivotal event that reshaped their standing. Their once-dominant technique now languished at Grade 5, still formidable compared to most arts of its rank. However, it fell short of the Grade 6 arts held by the preeminent forces in the world.
To compound matters, the Namgung family had not produced a
Enter Drake Namgung—a beacon of hope for his lineage. Though not the heir by seniority, he possessed unparalleled talent. With the potential to elevate the Namgung family once more, his destiny took an unexpected turn when he succumbed to the demon's provocation during the incursion arc.
This duel marked the onset of Drake's descent into the demon's snare, fueled by his festering inferiority complex. Kali's victory over him planted the seeds, and Lucifer's subsequent triumphs, capped off by Ren's defeat of Drake, pushed him to a tipping point.
Yet, I remained indifferent. The Namgung family held nothing I coveted, and I had no intention of needlessly entangling myself in their troubles, especially considering the formidable strength of the demon that ensnared Drake—a foe beyond my current capabilities.
Addressing Lucifer, Drake inquired, his gaze fixed on Lucifer's chest, "Are you Lucifer Windward?" With his hair tied back in a ponytail and a longsword in hand, Drake exuded an air of determination.
Lucifer affirmed, "Yes, I challenge you for the position of the swordsman club's captain."
"And if you lose?" Drake queried.
In the realm of equals, a trade must be struck.
"Then I will offer you my assistance until graduation, provided my life isn't at stake," Lucifer replied.
A smirk crossed Drake's face as he agreed, "Agreed."
Turning to Nero, Drake requested, "Instructor Nero, would you mind overseeing this battle?"
Nero nodded as he descended onto the stage, his presence ensuring that the two could engage in a battle with intent to kill, unburdened by concerns of collateral harm.
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Lucifer and Drake faced each other.
"Begin!" Nero said as he raised his hand to the air. Instantly, they both surged their mana. They weren't at the level that mana would seep into surroundings and clash, but everyone could feel their power.
Drake held the upper hand in mana, as anticipated, and his formidable Gift, the [Thunder God Physique], gave him a notable advantage.
Despite not reaching the heights of Gifts like [Yin-Yang Body] and [God's Eyes], the [Thunder God Physique] was undeniably exceptional. It heightened the user's affinity with lightning mana and aura, enhancing reflexes and neurotransmission within the body.
Drake's sword crackled with intense lightning aura, prompting Lucifer to strategically coat his own weapon in ice aura to counter the impending electrical onslaught. Knowing Drake's Gift provided him with significant resistance to lightning magic, Lucifer wisely refrained from employing such tactics.
Lucifer, with his extraordinary broken gift, possessed resistance to all elements except for space, time, and gravity.
Poised for action, Lucifer prepared to unleash a Grade 6 art passed down by his father. Surprisingly, he didn't hesitate to display such advanced techniques in public. The subtle nuances that differentiated a Grade 6 art from its Grade 5 counterparts were likely to go unnoticed by most observers. Only the most perceptive martial masters, those who had attained the
Lucifer's proficiency with the Grade 6 art, despite being in the novice realm and only mastering two movements, would still provide him a crucial edge in the upcoming clash.
'This is someone I need to surpass,' I thought as I clenched my fist.
Lucifer swiftly initiated the second movement of his Grade 6 art, [Myth of the Northern Peak]. It resembled Seraphina's snow petal attack but packed a mightier punch.
[Cocytus's Descent]
Drake countered with the Namgung family's prized Grade 5 art, [Lightning Heaven Boundless Sword Art].
Originally boasting six movements, the art had suffered losses, relegating it from Grade 6 to Grade 5. Drake, adept in its mastery, opted for the second movement.
[Lightning Heaven Martial Dominance Over the World]
This technique scattered sparks of lightning, seeking to dominate the stage.
The lightning clashes with the frost emanating from Lucifer's sword, who seizes the opportunity to close in rapidly.
Mastery in martial arts rested on a solid foundation of footwork. As the Windward family heir, Lucifer had taken footwork to an extreme level, aided significantly by his overpowered Gift.
[Yin-Yang Body] not only harmonized opposing elements but also provided an immense boost to martial skills. Footwork, visual acuity, response time, reflexes—all were significantly enhanced by the passive effect of his Gift.
When fully activated, it turned Lucifer into a walking beacon of destruction, but it seemed he wouldn't utilize it against Drake.
Lucifer wielded his sword with remarkable skill, even without relying on his special technique, driving Drake backward despite the latter's superior strength.
I was well aware of Lucifer's monstrous prowess in basic swordsmanship; he had nearly defeated me solely with those skills.
Drake seemed unlikely to secure a victory through conventional means. Lightning crackled around him as he attempted to create distance.
Yet, every move was part of Lucifer's strategy.
[5-circle magic: Frostfire]
Blending fire and ice magic seamlessly, Lucifer conjured frostfire—a potent combination. While typically a 6-circle spell, he manifested a condensed version using 5-circle magic. The flames cloaked his sword, emanating a deadly and frigid aura.
This was the moment Lucifer unveiled the true might of the second movement of [Myth of the Northern Peak].
[Cocytus's Descent], an attack rooted in ice magic, mimicked the pinnacle of ice spells, the 9-circle [Asphodel]. Though not a direct match, it shared similar mechanics.
Sensing the impending danger, Drake initiated the first movement of his technique.
[Lightning Heaven Dragon Claw Sword]
[Cocytus's Descent]
Drake focused all his lightning aura onto the sword, lunging forward to clash with Lucifer.
Their weapons collided in a dazzling display of sparks, as frostfire and lightning struggled for dominance.
While Lucifer could have potentially ended the battle here, he opted for a more strategic approach. Seizing the opportunity as Drake staggered, a powerful kick targeted Drake's left knee, nearly forcing him to kneel.
Simultaneously, ice aura emanated from Lucifer's sword, gradually freezing portions of Drake's body.
With a forceful kick, Lucifer knocked the wind out of Drake, continuing to press the advantage in the duel.
Lucifer harnessed the frostfire to freeze Drake's hand, causing him to release his sword.
"Enough!" Nero's voice echoed, "Lucifer is the victor!"
As the novel had foretold in my past life, Lucifer emerged triumphant against Drake, now securing the position of the club captain.
The spectators were visibly stunned by the outcome. How could a formidable scion of the Namgung family, a prestigious lineage comparable to the Dukes of the Slatemark Empire, succumb so decisively to someone two years his junior?
Lucifer ascended the stage with a triumphant grin, addressing us, "See? I told you I'd win."
Ian and Ren, in particular, seemed more in awe and perhaps a bit fearful. They were likely grateful that Lucifer hadn't gone all out during their sparring sessions.
Rachel wore an expected expression, while Seraphina maintained her usual icy demeanor. Cecilia, on the other hand, displayed surprise, and even Jin sported a rare smile.
"Great job," I praised him, offering a hearty pat on the shoulder.
"We're quite formidable, huh?" Ren mused, surveying our group with surprise in his purple eyes.
"Told you," Cecilia chimed in, "But honestly, I didn't expect it to be this one-sided."
"The Princess was mistaken," Jin remarked, "We're strong enough to take on all the lower years."
"No," Rachel interjected, shaking her head, "In a full-scale war, we should probably lose to Class 3-A. Remember, Drake isn't even the top-ranked in the third year, and Lucifer is, well, Lucifer."
Nods of agreement circulated among us. Even Ren, at his current level, wouldn't likely surpass Drake. Only Lucifer had that capability. As for the top-ranked student, I knew she wasn't significantly stronger than Drake, and Lucifer could defeat her without unleashing his full power. Yet, that remained my secret.
It was crucial to remain vigilant, especially since the upcoming arc wouldn't be a walk in the park. More importantly, Lucifer couldn't reveal his full strength against Kali.