Chapter Seven: Schuster Faces Off Against Czech

Chapter Seven: Shust Versus Czech

A hush fell. The entire arena was engulfed in silence...

“Did I see that correctly? Fran from the Paladin Academy knocked Gao Ji off the stage with a single move?” Even the announcer was left speechless.

“Referee! Announce the result!” Fran called up to the judges.

“Ah? Oh, right—just now, Fran has won the match with overwhelming force! The next round: Czech from Paladin Academy versus Balalaika from White Crown Academy!” The announcer snapped back to attention.

“Balalaika! Balalaika!” The White Crown students erupted in cheers; after all, Balalaika was last year’s champion in the Academy Tournament.

“White Crown will win!” Balalaika strode onto the stage, raising her wand high and shouting.

“Victory! Victory!” The students of White Crown Academy echoed her chant.

“Heh, this one knows how to stir up the academy’s morale,” Shust said with a chuckle, glancing at Balalaika’s heroic figure on the stage.

“Young Master, if you face Czech or Fran, you must give your all!” Sakuya urged seriously at his side.

“Hm? Why? Fine, I understand.” Shust had thought that a mere seventh-tier initiate was nothing to worry about, but seeing the gravity on Sakuya’s face, he realized she was quite serious.

The scene shifted to another stage.

“Balalaika, last year’s champion. This time, I’ll shatter your confidence!” Czech stepped up and addressed Balalaika.

“If you’re that confident, bring it on! I, Balalaika, will defeat you without fail!” Balalaika swung her wand, casting a magical shield around herself, ready for combat.

“Then—let the battle begin!” The announcer’s excitement was palpable; hosting Balalaika’s match so soon was an honor.

“Both sides are ready! Balalaika immediately unleashes her signature skill—Twin Dragon Strangle! Two water dragons surge at Czech from left and right. Will Czech be knocked out with a single blow?” The announcer narrated.

“Tricks. Grand Prophecy. Arcane Dispel.” Czech smiled coolly, clenching his fist. The two water dragons dissipated a meter before him.

“What! Balalaika’s signature skill vanished with just a squeeze of his hand?” The announcer was stunned—no, the entire White Crown student body was stunned.

“What! Damn, Water Sprite Fusion—take this! Fury of the Waters!” Balalaika was shaken; her best technique, Twin Dragon Strangle, had been broken so easily. But that was not the most shocking thing.

“Oh, this one’s got some power, but… in the face of absolute power, it’s nothing. Arcane Dispel.” Czech was slightly surprised; if he hadn’t mastered Grand Prophecy, an ordinary seventh-tier knight would likely have lost to this peak sixth-tier mage standing at the threshold of the seventh.

“How could this be? Such advanced magic dissolved as easily as an ordinary water ball!” The announcer was nearly slack-jawed; the spectacle before him defied belief.

“This makes no sense! The arcane elements just vanished,” Shust exclaimed from the audience, unable to contain his shock.

“Young Master, he’s using Grand Prophecy—a divine technique, wielding a fragment of law itself,” Sakuya explained. She’d read about it in a book, having perused every tome in the library thanks to her time manipulation ability.

“A divine technique? Interesting. I’d like to face off with those two myself.” Shust sat down gracefully, crossing his legs and growing serious.

Huh? The Young Master is serious. This is the first time I’ve seen that look on his face. Still, I’d rather see him in a skirt… The usually perfect and composed head maid was now lost in a lovestruck daze…

“Damn it, how is this possible? Water Bomb Barrage! Aqua Fissure! Aqua Trap! Rain Arrow! Tidal Wave!” Balalaika was no longer the confident and composed champion she’d been before stepping onto the stage; she was in a complete panic.

“Enough—I’m done playing. Grand Prophecy: Bind!” Czech, bored now, immobilized her with a word. He walked over, raised his foot…

“This guy—if I meet him, I’ll make sure to rearrange his face!” In a flash, Shust vanished from his seat in a burst of lightning.

Bang! Czech’s kick landed on the magical shield, sending Balalaika flying off the stage.

Flash—a bolt of lightning, and Shust caught Balalaika in midair.

“I’ll make sure you lose every shred of dignity!” Shust pointed at Czech.

“Oh? You? Hahaha!” Czech burst out laughing at Shust’s declaration.

Shust said nothing more, instantly teleporting back to his seat.

“What an advanced movement technique. Is she your school’s dark horse from the Assassin division?” Principal Fengwu inquired of Seras.

“I’m not sure. She’s a new student and not enrolled in any classes. Right now, Jasonki is the one instructing her,” Seras replied, staring in surprise at Shust, who’d just returned to the audience.

“Tch, nothing but smoke before divine arts. No need to expect much from her, Seras,” the Pope sneered from the side.

“Check your pronunciation—it’s ‘him,’ not ‘her.’ Shust is a boy,” Seras replied, smiling.

“How could that be?” the two exclaimed in unison.

Time flew by.

“All right, Fran wins this round. Next up: Shust of White Crown versus Czech.” The announcer sounded less enthusiastic.

With a flash, Shust appeared on the stage in a burst of lightning.

“Are you ready for me to flatten you?” Shust twisted his fists, warming up.

“That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day,” Czech laughed at the sight.

“Hmph, you’ll see soon enough. Illusion Art: Path of Darkness!” From Czech’s previous matches, Shust had deduced that this divine technique perfectly deflected all energy attacks and could bind any foe he saw. So, Shust decided to become unseen.

“What is this? Huh? Why can’t I see anything?” In an instant, Czech was blinded.

“Ninja Art: Hidden Mist!” Seizing the opportunity, Shust cloaked himself in a shroud of mist.

“Damn it, Grand Prophecy: Blessing!” Czech, flustered, cast Blessing on himself to cleanse abnormal states.

“What? Water magic mist? Grand Prophecy: Arcane Dispel!” Eyeing the thick fog, Czech scornfully dispelled it with his divine art.

“Shadow Dance Leaf!” Shust’s voice suddenly sounded below Czech.

“What—!?” Czech was kicked hard in the chin.

“Take this—Lion Barrage!” Shust followed up, unleashing a flurry of blows before sending Czech flying from the stage with a final kick.

“It’s not over yet! Shust—Fifty Strike Barrage!” Fifty shadow clones of Shust appeared below, shouting in unison.

“Damn it! My body’s completely under his control! Aagh!” One clone leaped and landed a kick squarely on Czech’s left cheek.

“Amazing! Shust has unleashed a masterful barrage of martial arts, pummeling his opponent from the air to the ground, then conjuring what seem to be fifty water magic mirror images to continue the airborne assault. Oh, that punch was beautiful! Let’s hope it ruins his looks for good!” The announcer was thrilled, though the last comment drew murderous glares from every student of Paladin Academy.

A spurt of blood accompanied the fiftieth blow.

“Yes!!” The entire White Crown student body roared its approval.

“Damn it!” Czech struggled to his feet.

“Still got energy left for another beating? I’ll give you this—you Paladins are sturdy,” Shust smirked at Czech, whose twisted expression showed he’d never suffered such humiliation.

“You… Unforgivable!” Czech knew his divine technique was useless here; Grand Prophecy’s weakness was its inability to counter martial arts. Paladin physical prowess was formidable, but against someone even stronger, there was nothing to be done.

“Hm? What’s he doing?” Shust watched Czech’s energy surge.

Ding-dong! S-class quest detected: Escape White Crown Academy within 5 minutes. Reward: 150,000 Soul Crystals, 5 Resurrection Crosses.

What? Why is the system giving me this quest? Unless… Before Shust could finish the thought, he looked down to see half a blade protruding from his chest.

What’s happening? How did Czech, who seemed completely unable to fight back, suddenly flash with white light and instantly drive his sword through Shust’s chest? The announcer was beyond words.

“What have you done, you old Pope?” Seras demanded, watching Czech—his sword still embedded in Shust, his power now rivaling Seras herself.

“…Angel Descent,” the Pope replied coldly.

“You—” Seras was about to speak, but then saw pure white wings sprout from Czech’s back.

“Angel’s Wings!!” both Seras and Principal Fengwu gasped.

PS: Sorry for posting late!