CHAPTER 166: 166 LONGING.

A hush fell over the crowd, and their eyes glazed over the arena where the two candidates stood a few meters around each other.

Although the atmosphere was still, the faint ripple of wind brushed against the tension.

Jin and Tania’s gaze were locked, their uniform and hair fluttered gently by invisible hands that were ready for conflict.

Above them, the sun glared fiercely, eager to see the battle.

Tania gripped her staff tightly, and then a gust of swirling wind coiled around her, kicking up dust and gently enveloping her in a protective cage.

Her green eyes burned with determination as she shifted her stance, prepared to receive the recoil.

On the other side, Jin stood still, unbothered by the change, while tapping the primal mana in his surroundings.

The mana around her stirred and awoke from its slumber, growling in protest but tamed unconditionally when it entered his pores.

[Elemental Enhancement activated]

His body emits a green aura that pulsates like a beating heart, thump, thump, enhancing his abilities further.

Feeling the familiar strength surged in his veins, a grin tugged at Jin’s lips.

Tania’s eyes narrowed as the wind under her feet pushed her upward. Then, with a wave from her staff, several magic circles formed around her.

They glowed viciously and sent a compressed wind blade, all of it aimed at Jin’s side.

The blade slices through the fabric of the atmosphere, whistling the tune of death, turning the crowds deathly silent.

Jin inhaled softly, infusing his blade with mana. His Jade eyes skill flashed, watching the blade’s trajectory and its amount.

’Dozens and it keeps coming’.

He tensed the grip on his hilt and swung the blade sideways.

[Black Heaven Style Swordsmanship - Crescent Moon]

A single technique that conjured a compressed wind blade, the same as Tania did.

However, its sheer force and mass were literally like heaven and earth.

The massive slash was like a crescent moon but green. It easily shattered all of Tania’s efforts mercilessly.

The girl unleashed a gale on her back to launch herself forward, dodging the deadly slash that kept going until it tore the sky.

The crowds held their breath.

Cloud parted away, showing a glimpse of the boy’s true power.

And whether the students from Promethys or Valor academy, barely couldn’t hold their jaws from falling to the ground with eyes painted in disbelief.

"...!".

Tania, who watched everything happen, gulped; blood drained from her face as she was again reminded that the boy before her was an anomaly, a monster in human skin.

"...You abnormal freak". Tania’s voice was like a whisper as she turned to face Jin’s below.

She created four large magic circles on her side and began to suck the wind in the atmosphere.

It compressed itself until it took shape into four howling spears that carried a storm within.

"Tempest Spear!".

With a flick from her hand, the four spears shot like an arrow.

Jin lowered his blade and used his footwork. He seamlessly dodged the spears as he proceeded forward, letting the spear stab the ground.

However, Tania didn’t despair. She swung her staff sideways, and the spear trembled in resonation.

It left the ground, leaving several holes behind Jin, and it began to chase his back.

’Oh, homing abilities, nice’.

The corner of Jin’s lips lifted as he peeked backward. Soon, his emerald eyes gazed at Tania firmly and muttered.

’Can you keep up with my speed?’.

Jin stomped the ground, causing cracks to spread and dust to erupt upward.

His body soared above, startling Tania and the crowds because of his speed. He suddenly stood before Tania.

Tania glided to the back, and Jin gave chase.

However, when Jin stepped his foot forward, a magic circle appeared beneath his feet; it shone ominously and spilled a vortex that swallowed him whole.

The vortex surged into a towering storm, pulling black clouds to gather above the arena.

Tania didn’t finish with her attack as she pointed her staff forward and let the four spears circle the place where Jin stood.

"This is the end!". Tania brought her hand down, and the spear moved by its command, piercing the raging storm.

She kept fortifying the spells, and a thunderous clap rang in the clouds with a silver whip flashed in rage.

Although the spells she unleashed were dangerous, deep down, Tania knew too well just how fearsome the boy was.

’Did that finish him off?’.

Cold sweat drenched her back, not because of fear but because of how easily Jin caught in her trap.

’Something feels off!’. Tania’s brow furrowed.

Her instinct screamed to hurry and move away from her place, but it was too late.

"I’m afraid it was not".

A calm voice that sent chills down her spine, coupled with a cold steel that touched her neck. Its silver edge gleamed dangerously as if ready to rip her neck apart.

The girl’s thoughts swayed, and the spell she conjured burst forth like a balloon, dispersing into

thin air.

From the hollow in the gathered clouds, golden light cascaded down, bathing their figures in its divine glow.

Tania inhaled deeply and opened her stiff lips. "...H-How?".

"Simple, I’m just faster than the activation of your spell, that’s all".

Jin’s casual tone loosened the tension in Tania’s body as she exhaled sharply, barely holding the irritation in her mind.

"You’re a monster".

"Well, thanks".

The two slowly descended from the sky before touching the ground. Tania shrugged her shoulders, still feeling the sharp blade resting on her neck.

"I concede defeat".

"You did great, Tania. Oops, I shouldn’t be the one to say that. I will let Allen spoil you".

"What are you talking about!?".

A cheer erupted along with Tania’s sharp remark. Her face turned crimson like an apple, running away from the arena into the tunnel.

"...Jin is the winner".

Selene’s voice cut through the celebration, raising the excitement further and making the building shake in ecstasy.

***

While the arena was flooded with applause and cheers, in the quiet room above where important people gathered.

Jack patted his pounding chest, exhaling the nervousness that gnawed at his heart when his little brother got swallowed into that storm.

"...Thank god he is okay".

Beside him, her mother’s expression twisted in anguish as if swallowing a bitter pill.

"Oh my, Jin take the win again".

Across from his mother, Duchess Celia covered her mouth, barely holding the joy in her tone.

Ever since the match of her daughter, Duchess Celia shifted her seat and sat beside Jack’s mother.

He was curious at first and rained his mother with questions and soon found the trigger.

All of that was thanks to Jin and Silvia’s closeness.

As his big brother, Jack was dumbfounded at first, but another emotion began to swell in his heart: pride and happiness that his brother was doing well with the people around him.

However, at the same time, Jack felt a gaping hole open little by little. Thinking of how his little brother could have so much luck in girls, unlike him.

’Should I ask him later? No, no, no, not going to happen’.

Jack shook his head furiously and flinched upon hearing a faint click of a tongue behind him.

He turned his head around and noticed Victor abruptly stood up from his seat and left the room without informing his mother or anyone.

’What’s wrong with him?’. Jack’s brows knitted in a frown. Often, he caught his little brother Victor’s demeanor had changed drastically in the span of their distance.

Victor used to be a compassionate boy who adored strength and his father above all else.

Just like him, Victor adored his little brother Jin despite disagreeing in the past when he knew that Jin chose another sword style and did not follow in his father’s footsteps.

But that matter was already sealed under the ground, and Victor accepted it in his heart, understanding that everyone had their own paths to diverge.

A cheerful voice echoed in the arena, pulling Jack’s attention to it.

"Ah, my daughter is next".

"It is, and her opponent is".

Lady Celia and his mother exchange merry talk beside him.

If he wanted to be honest, this seat arrangement has been putting Jack’s heart on edge ever since.

He could only endure it with a calm expression, thanks to his training under the Mage Corps in the Kingdom.

Jack’s eyes narrowed as he unconsciously leaned from his seat. ’Its start’.

Lady Silvia’s regal and aloof appearance was ethereal as she stood in the middle of the arena, exuding a chill that froze the air around her.

Her sharp blue blade gleamed calmly under the sun, like a reflection of the water, steady and deadly.

Meanwhile, her opponent, a cat demi-human, was like a violent tempest. Darkness coiled around her skin, and the blade in her hands howled in savage intent.

Each strike from the cat girl was infused with killing intent. Yet, no matter how fast and twisted the attack was, Lady Silvia dealt all of them with grace.

Steel clashed, causing a spark to dance in the arena, halting the crowd’s expressions.

’They are strong’. Jack muttered, His fingers curled in tight fists, feeling dread all over.

As someone who entered the same institution in his younger days, he never found this kind of talent in mere students, let alone a first-year.

The freshmen this year were something one of a kind only.

A smile suddenly formed on his face, thinking of how wonderful this kind of generation appeared at his time.

’I’m truly envious’.

Jack leaned his back, and his green eyes locked into the matches while being oblivious to the state of his surroundings.