NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114: Ambushed!
"Hmm?" Hayden was curious why he was being looked at.
With his Ocularis Lens, he could guarantee that Ulysses's eyes were staring at him and not the Headmaster or anyone else in his direction.
Seeing his confusion, Headmaster Mensa chuckled and made a guess.
"The modified Dawn Swordsmanship that he's using is made by you… Maybe he wants to show you that he can also use it."
"T-thats... I don't think that's the case, Headmaster."
Hayden wryly smiled. However, deep inside, he knew that it was possible. Furthermore, it certainly explained why Ulysses was looking at him.
'It's as if he was asking for my approval or something…' Hayden thought as he continued to watch the battle.
In any case, Ulysses' action was just a brief moment, so most of the crowd watching the fight didn't notice it at all.
***
"I'm not yet done…"
Wave said as he suddenly planted his great sword into the stage. This action seemed to be a part of his technique as his Aura started surging.
For a moment, Hayden realized that Wave was about to use an Aura Technique. It wasn't just a move that was reinforced or strengthened by Aura.
Instead, it was an attack that only a special Aura User could use, like his Mind Sword.
As expected, Hayden was right…
"Mountain's Judgment!"
The ground shook as a shockwave erupted outward, forcing Ulysses to leap back—
But Wave was already chasing after him, his large sword swung in a horizontal arc, aimed to bisect Ulysses!
It was such a brutal move, but the referee wasn't worried at all. He just watched the battle silently as if aware that everything would be fine…
"You're slow…"
Ulysses said as he did something that made many spectators nervous.
He actually dropped low, while his sword was held in a reverse grip—
Then, Ulysses spun! And just like that, his blade carved a perfect crescent of light.
"Dawn's Crescent Reversal."
Headmaster Mensa muttered as it was the only Aura Technique being taught in his Academy. Furthermore, only those in the last year of the Academy could learn them.
Of course, there was always an exception as Hayden had also learned this technique with his special status as Elite Squire…
Ulysses performed the Aura Technique and there was even a slight modification on it. It was as if he'd perfected it.
Bam!
The crescent slash deflected Wave's strike, the force had even sent the great sword veering off-course—
And Ulysses followed through, and his free hand slammed a palm strike into Wave's chest!
BOOM!
The move was so fast that Wave could only block with his Aura… Unfortunately, the force was too strong and he staggered to the ground.
Ulysses wanted to end this match now, after seeing an opportunity.
His sword then came down in a flawless Dawnbreaker Strike, stopping a hair's breadth from Wave's throat.
"You win…" Wave said with a helpless smile on his.
"However, if you're only this good… You will not be able to defeat our Rank 1." Wave chuckled as he was certainly happy that he forced Ulysses to use almost all of his techniques.
On the other hand, he was only the fourth strongest in the Mountain Sword Academy.
"We'll see about that." Ulysses replied as he didn't think much of Wave's words.
Once again, as Ulysses sheathed his sword, his gaze flicked to Hayden for the briefest second.
Hayden, of course, smiled at Ulysses as he actually liked how this student learned his modified version of the Dawn Swordsmanship.
It means that his performance on the day he arrived at the academy, wasn't wasted. Someone had actually seriously learned the technique performed by a 7-year-old kid!
***
The competition continued and several more duels occurred. It had already been about five hours and finally, they were about to watch the final duel.
Then, as the announcer had just opened his mouth to call the next duelists when—
BOOM.
A sound like the world itself had cracked apart tore through the Lirandel Grounds.
The air trembled as an invisible wave of pressure slammed down upon the arena, so heavy that spectators gasped, clutching their chests as if an unseen hand had pressed against their lungs.
"Aacckk!"
"H-help me!"
"I can't—"
"Someone---"
The ordinary people suffered the worst.
It didn't end there as the barriers shattered.
The barriers that had protected the arena for a long time had splintered like glass, dissolving into a fading light.
The crowd erupted into chaos even more… There were screams, shouts, and the clatter of overturned seats and other items as people scrambled in panic.
Thankfully, the Mage Guards, under Torvain's lead immediately activated their emergency measures to protect the civilians.
However, there was a sudden silence as the people finally noticed something above them.
Apparently, they all felt a chill as they saw what was floating high above the arena. There were actually two figures watching them all silently.
Needless to say, it was Magister Orhan and Magister Sylria.
None of the people in the crowd knew about them but they were all aware that only three-circle mages or higher could float in the air without any assistance from Magic Artifacts or something similar.
Their presence alone was enough to freeze the blood in the veins of every mage present.
"Unassisted flight. A feat only achievable by Three-Circle Mages." Headmaster Mensa frowned as he knew that they did not have three-circle Mages on their side.
If these two are their enemies… They could get in a lot of trouble…
Thankfully, the Mage Guards and many other Aura Knights are prepared.
However, it was at this moment that more Voidflare Bomb was detonated.
Boom! Boom!
These bombs created a chaotic form of energy, and they would disrupt spells and aura techniques!
As if the Voidflare wasn't enough, the Formation Cores embedded by the first-circle mages activated…
They had stronger Aura Disruption Arrays to ensure that the Aura Knights wouldn't be able to do a thing while they were taking the young talents of the kingdom!