CHAPTER 56: CHALLENGE(3)

Neurolink—he named the spell.

Those with weak minds are always easy prey for someone like him.

You can’t build mental strength by meditating or reading books. It comes from experience, from what life throws at you—mostly the hard, painful parts.

And Mia... she hadn’t gone through much of that.

Neurolink works through slow, steady mental probing. Once it takes hold, he becomes part of the target’s mind. Reading their moves then is as simple as flipping through a book.

He looked down at the girl on the ground, holding her right hand.

He let out a quiet sigh. There was no mockery in his voice as he said, "You fought well, Mia. You saved your best moves for the end, made me think you had nothing left. That was clever."

Mia sniffled. "Thanks..." Her meek, shy side returned now that she’d calmed.

William stepped closer, holding out his hand. "Come on, get up."

Mia lifted her eyes slowly and reached for his hand—

DOOOOM

A boy slammed into the wall right beside her.

The girl screamed and jumped to her feet.

William let out an annoyed sigh. "Really, Emma?"

The silver-haired girl raised her hands in surrender. "Oops... my hand slipped."

William’s eyes flicked to the battlefield around her. She had made quite the mess—everyone who attacked her was on the ground.

She wasn’t completely unharmed, though. Defeating so many ambushers had worn her out, leaving a few cuts on her shoulders and back.

William shoved his hands into his pockets and walked toward her. "You look pretty beat up."

Emma glanced at herself and shrugged. "These? It’s nothing." As she spoke, the cuts on her shoulders and back slowly vanished under a faint golden glow.

William hummed. "Hmm... but are you sure you should be talking to me? There’s still one more."

Emma’s eyes widened as she turned to look forward. A redhead stood there.

His long hair cast a shadow over his face. His legs trembled slightly, but he refused to give up. He wasn’t letting this chance slip away.

William stepped back. "Your opponent. Deal with it."

Emma didn’t respond, her brows knitting together.

She remembered crushing him completely. He was also from the first section, his name is Hayden.

He had been one of the few to actually challenge her... and yet, despite the beating he took, he was still standing.

’I can’t take him lightly.’

Her left foot tapped the floor like a single drop of water on still water.

Just then—

"YOU!" The boy shouted, flames erupting behind him like phoenix wings.

The other students scattered immediately, and those who were unconscious were gently pushed away by William with a simple flick of his fingers.

Now, the redhead had William’s full attention. The amount of aether he was channeling was staggering.

’It seems you’ve finally found your match,’ William thought, grinning as he prepared for the clash.

Hayden raised his left hand, flames bleeding from his skin as he stammered, "I-I will destroy your strongest... with my strongest."

(A/N:- Homage to one of the goated anime)

Kevin, Natalie, and Gizel, having just finished their own battles, were drawn to the scene.

Not just them—almost everyone was watching, eyes glued to the clash between the second and seventh ranked students.

Emma drew a deep breath, aether swirling around her like a veil. A massive spell circle began forming at her feet.

"Third Circle," she murmured.

At that moment, Hayden lunged forward, his wings flaring like a storm, leaving a blazing trail behind him as he hurtled toward Emma.

Emma’s eyes turned golden as she lifted her left hand, finishing her incantation, "...Spiral Ward."

Barriers erupted before her, one larger than the next, forming several walls between her and the phoenix.

*CLANK* *CLANK* *CLANK*

Natalie gasped as Hayden tore through the barriers like they were made of paper.

His form was clear now, deadly, advancing relentlessly toward Emma.

The silver-haired girl focused. The smaller the barrier, the stronger it became. She had mastered this spell over six months... surely—

"Huh?"

Shock crossed her face. Hayden was before her, with only the last barrier left standing.

His blazing hand slammed against it, eyes burning with fire as he muttered, "Not again... not again!"

He roared, flames going wild, licking toward the ceiling.

The barrier before Emma began to crack. Her eyes widened.

*CRACK*

It shattered.

"Emma!" Kevin shouted, lunging forward—only to hang frozen mid-air.

His eyes widened as he realized who had caused it.

Before he could act, an explosion hurled Emma backward.

Gasps echoed through the crowd; many gritted their teeth, seeing their idol struck by someone.

Emma’s skin burned from trying to block him, but tending to the pain wasn’t her focus.

"Here I come!" Hayden roared, already above her, his fist blazing with flames.

Emma twisted mid-air, rolling to the side as Hayden’s flaming fist slammed into the ground where she had been. Sparks and smoke filled the air.

She raised her left hand, a faint golden barrier flickering into existence, deflecting a burst of fire aimed straight at her. But Hayden roared, punching through it effortlessly, flames searing through the edges.

Emma ducked under a sweeping kick, her barrier popping up just in time to block a second strike—but again, his sheer force shattered it with a deafening crack.

She darted backward, flipping over the weapon rack, barely avoiding a rain of fiery punches. Each strike he threw sent waves of heat toward her, forcing her to parry and dodge relentlessly.

For a moment, the fight was one-sided. Hayden pressed the attack relentlessly, each blow breaking through her defenses, flames roaring around him.

"You see that?! You aren’t almighty! You bleed too!" Hayden screamed, staggered back as he saw Emma, gasping, standing a few meters away.

A hush fell over the crowd. For the first time, someone was truly pushing Emma to the edge.

Emma stood there, breathing roughly, her face and arms burnt and the girl seemed on the verge of surrendering.

Kevin grew concerned but the others around him were still staring intently at the girl.

William’s eyes narrowed. *...why...is she not using—oh, here it comes.* A sharp smile crept across his face.

Suddenly, a burst of aether made everyone shield their eyes.

Emma’s hair hovered, defying gravity, and in the next instant, multiple mana circles erupted beneath her, spreading outward like a web of invisible chains.

Hayden’s frown deepened as he looked down. He was standing inside the radius.

"You think any of your spells can save you?" he scoffed, though unease flickered in his eyes.

Emma didn’t answer. Her golden eyes burned into him, cold and unyielding.

Step by step, Hayden advanced. And with every step... it became harder. His movements slowed unnaturally, each breath a struggle.

"Haah... haah..." He faltered, his chest heaving. Something was wrong—he felt weaker than he had moments ago.

"Huh? Why... why am I moving like this? Why... am I bleeding?"

A voice from the crowd muttered, "Dumbass... that’s the spell. Sixth Circle—Titan’s Grip."

Every step Hayden took felt like wading through molten stone. His vision blurred, darkness creeping from the edges. His body screamed in resistance as unseen pressure crushed him from all sides.

"The atmospheric pressure is rising every second," Emma said calmly. "Your body can’t resist it. Every organ... every muscle... it’s being crushed."

"Khuak!" Blood exploded from Hayden’s mouth, his knees slamming to the ground. His shoulders caved inward as if invisible hands had gripped him, flames sputtering and dying from his body.

He gasped, a guttural, tortured sound, eyes streaming blood. The heat of his own fire burned against the crushing pressure, searing him from inside. He coughed violently, his body trembling violently, each movement a scream of agony.

The crowd recoiled. Hayden—the raging phoenix—was being torn apart by a force he couldn’t even see. The air itself had become a weapon, relentless and merciless.

Hayden’s knees hit the ground again, shattering under his own weight, his arms flailing weakly. His flames dimmed to flickers. His golden eyes, once full of fire, now burned with terror and pain.

Emma stepped closer to him and said, "It was a good fight."

That was the last thing he heard before fainting.

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Now, that’s what I call a power couple. Thanks for reading.