Chapter 37

Most of the people who had entered the Academy have now cleared out of the podium.

The students were hiding in the audience seats, watching the bizarre situation unfolding at the center of the podium.

The faculty and professors were dispersing to guide the students, mentally preparing themselves to intervene with force if necessary.

Kerg Durakal had vanished somewhere after the disciplinary action ended.

Now, standing on the grass of the podium were just two people.

A silver-haired girl aiming an icy sword radiating pure white cold.

And on the opposite side, a girl with daggers in each hand, enveloped in red lightning.

Tirisia Bruerd and Rusika Rafisle.

The two had been friends for over ten years, but now they were exchanging looks filled with hostility.

And—

“Tirisia Bruerd!”

There are no referees or bells in the Academy’s duels.

Once both parties acknowledge the duel, it’s already begun.

Furthermore, the duel ends when one side admits defeat.

Put simply, if you don’t concede defeat, the fight keeps going.

Bang!

With a red flash, Rusika’s body surged forward with explosive speed toward Tirisia.

“You!”

Bang—!

Her two daggers, thrusting forward, clashed against Tirisia’s ice sword lying sideways.

“How could you!”

Crack crack crack—!

Rusika roared and unleashed a ruthless barrage of slashes on the ice sword.

Each strike burst with magical power, creating the sound and flash of a thunderstorm raging at the center of the podium.

“I can’t betray Erto! How could you!”

“…”

Thud thud thud!

Tirisia, maintaining a cold expression, was merely deflecting Rusika’s furious attacks one by one.

Rusika, unleashing storm-like strikes right in front of Tirisia, shouted desperately.

“Have you gone crazy?! Have you lost your mind?!”

Bang!

Tirisia took Rusika’s fierce kick on her arm and was pushed back, crushing the podium.

“Was it all a lie that you loved Erto?!”

Whing—

Rusika’s dagger charged with red energy,

Bang—!

When she swung it, dozens of red bolts of lightning erupted in all directions.

The lightning spread across the sky in a curve, pouring down toward Tirisia.

“Ugh!”

Tirisia wielded her ice sword, deflecting most of the lightning, but some bolts struck her body.

Crackle crackle crackle!

“Ah!”

The bolts hit her, sending red sparks flying all over, with a pained scream escaping Tirisia’s lips.

Seizing the moment when Tirisia’s actions slowed, Rusika threw one dagger high above Tirisia’s head.

And,

“Was it all a lie?!”

Bang!

The moment she slapped her palm down, a massive lightning bolt fell to the ground, taking the dagger as a conductor.

“What about the time we spent together?”

Bang!

Again and again,

“The things we exchanged!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Again and again,

“The warmth we shared when we smiled at each other!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Roaring and screaming, Rusika continued to slam her hands down.

“Was it all meaningless?!”

Gathering all her magical power in her uplifted hand,

“Aaaaah!”

Bang—!

A massive bolt of lightning came crashing down, turning the entire podium to ashes.

Red flashes and ear-splitting shockwaves reverberated outward.

“W-What immense magical power…!”

Haidiera exclaimed, pressing down her hair being blown upward by the shockwave.

“That kid has some insane potential…!”

Perjena also bared her fangs, marveling at the scene before her.

“Rusika…!”

Erto, shielding his eyes from the flash, called out his friend’s name with worry.

—

As the explosive sounds subsided, a momentary silence settled in the podium.

The wooden planks, grass, and tents had all been turned to rubble, emitting black smoke.

From the center of this chaos, Rusika spoke roughly, unable to contain her fury, as she looked at the silver-haired girl lying on the ground.

“Get up, Tirisia Bruerd.”

Some of the Academy students thought the duel had already ended.

Rusika’s all-out assault, overloading with magic circuits, wasn’t something an ordinary student could withstand.

No matter how much of a Bruerd they were, could one stand up after taking dozens of lightning strikes bare-handed?

A momentary air of doubt lingered in the audience.

“…Is this all you’ve got?”

From the center of the podium, now turned to ashes, Tirisia began to rise slowly.

Her body was charred, with red sparks still sporadically flaring, but her aquamarine eyes remained cold and icy.

Tirisia’s body appeared to have sustained no actual damage at all.

In fact, all that burned away were the remnants clinging to her.

She looked at Rusika and spoke, her voice dripping with disdain for someone so pathetic.

“If this is all there is to your rage… I can hardly call it very Rusika-like.”

“Shut up!”

Thus the silence was broken, and the duel recommenced.

“Aaaaaaah!”

Fwoosh!

With a roar, two arcs of lightning sprouted from Rusika’s back, spinning in a circle.

Spreading them like wings, her body became magnetized and floated into the air.

“How much I trusted you!”

Fwoosh!

Rusika disappeared from everyone’s field of vision.

The next moment, she reappeared behind Tirisia.

Utilizing her signature technique, the lightning tunnel for quick movement.

Now enhanced to several times its strength, Rusika began moving at a speed that was literally like lightning, beyond anyone’s ability to track.

Bang!

As Tirisia barely registered the speed and raised her sword, the dagger wrapped in red energy collided with her blade.

Clang—!

The ice sword shattered in one blow, sending shards flying in all directions.

“…!”

Tirisia was left in shock, unable to brace herself as Rusika’s punches and kicks landed all over her body, leaving afterimages in every direction.

Thud thud thud thud!

“I really thought you could be happy with Erto! I believed it wholeheartedly!”

To the spectators, it looked as if Rusika had split into multiple copies.

Zap! Zing!

She unleashed countless red flashes inside the podium, battering Tirisia’s body as if wanting to crush her entirely.

Bang!

Rusika’s fist struck Tirisia’s cheek hard.

“That’s why I chose to be a supporting role for you!”

Bang!

Rusika’s kick slammed into Tirisia’s abdomen.

“For so long… for so long!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Rusika’s knee, elbow, palm, forehead,

“I’ve been sacrificing for Erto and you—!”

Bam bam bam bam bam!

Rusika’s heart roared as she pounded Tirisia’s body.

Red flashes swirled fiercely around the silver-haired girl, and amidst that glowing ring, explosions echoed without cessation.

“You dare betray Erto for some other guy?!”

Fwoosh!

Rusika’s upward kick connected with Tirisia’s chin, lifting her body into the air.

“Betrayal?! Pleasure?! Don’t mess with me—!”

Bang!

Rusika soared after Tirisia, launching herself at her with wild lightning crackling across her body.

Tirisia’s body ascended further, and Rusika didn’t stop accelerating.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Zigzagging through the air, she continued to crash into Tirisia’s body repeatedly.

“If you’re going insane, then do it gracefully!”

People’s gazes were increasingly drawn upwards. Rusika seemed ready to reach the clouds as she pulled Tirisia’s body higher into the sky.

[I was a fool to think of you as a friend!]

Thunder rumbled throughout the sky.

As if responding to that voice, dark clouds gathered above the podium.

And,

[I was an idiot for thinking you were worthy of Erto!]

Flash!

Thousands of bolts of lightning descended from the clouds to the ground, engulfing both of them.

Zap zap zap zap zap!

“Uwahhh!”

“Kyaaaahhh!”

Students screamed as they beheld the red lightning pouring down.

[Give it back!]

Clang!

The descending lightning gradually converged into a single stream.

A red flash, merging and coalescing into an overwhelmingly blinding light.

[My time devoted to you!]

The colossal spear of electrical fury merged with the dagger that Rusika grasped tightly.

[My memories! My heart!]

Rusika soared above the suspended Tirisia, charging towards the ground with a spear glowing like the sun in her hand.

Fwoosh—!

The spear pierced Tirisia’s body,

[Even the heart Erto gave you—!]

With a howl bordering on despair, Rusika slammed down to the ground, lightning flashing all around her.

[I demand it back—!!]

Bang—!

A massive explosion rocked the podium.

The shockwave sent overturned grass flying in all directions, and bright red sparks ignited fiercely.

“Wuwahhh!”

“Kyaaaahhhh!”

Students screamed as professors unfolded protective barriers to shield them.

“This… is too much…!”

“Are we about to die?”

Haidiera and Perjena shouted while huddling beneath the railing.

Erto gripped the railing, bracing against the impact and silently observing the situation.

Rumble—

The light and thunder gradually subsided, and the podium fell silent.

The dust settled, revealing the outcome of the duel to everyone.

There, in the deeply darkened ground, lay the unconscious Tirisia Bruerd with closed eyes,

And above her, Rusika Rafisle was atop with a dagger embedded in her shoulder, shedding tears.

“Please… give it back…”

Tears trickled down her cheeks, flowing along Tirisia’s face.

In her pale pink eyes was a depth of pain and sorrow surpassing that of a mere dagger wound.

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