Conquest (4)
Crackle-!
Sparks flew wildly.
A flash of light.
High-voltage currents painted the world white before intertwining and exploding.
An intense flash surged towards me.
It was like a lightning strike.
"Oh dear."
I ducked my head just in time to avoid it.
The missed attack struck the innocent floor.
A deafening roar followed.
Kwaaaaaang-!
A terrifying force shook the arena.
I almost got caught in the electric shock.
Even if it looked like a light graze, the voltage was enough to knock out most students instantly.
Judas calmly regained his composure.
"You're not an easy opponent, are you?"
He muttered, sounding troubled.
It had already been 10 minutes since the battle began.
The duel was intense.
As I brushed the soot off my fingertips, someone emerged from the thick smoke.
It was a boy with a relaxed expression.
"You've been running away all this time. Your wriggling around like a snake is quite impressive."
A leisurely taunt.
Ian was smiling.
Electricity crackled in both his hands.
As he recharged his magic, he pointed a finger at me and said,
"I guess you didn't expect to be pushed back like this, huh?"
It was a clear mockery.
"Hmm... I don't know about that."
Judas shrugged.
"I haven't been pushed back, not really."
"Isn't it obvious just by looking at you avoiding a head-on fight? If you're confident, don't dodge and come at me."
"Consider it a strategy."
"Strategy? You've only been busy dodging."
Perhaps it was because of the accumulated animosity.
He was pushing his opponent more than necessary.
It seemed he was enjoying this moment of having the upper hand.
The boy put on an air of nonchalance.
"You might be called a genius among the freshmen, but you're still just a kid."
I can't describe how absurd it felt when I first received the duel request.
How dare a mere first-year brat look down on me?
I wanted to crush him on the spot.
However,
"I'm a patient person."
I endured it for the sake of perfect revenge.
If you truly want to crush someone, it's fundamental to break them beyond repair.
Ian had thoroughly analyzed Judas for the past few days.
"Judas Snakus."
He was certainly a boy with exceptional talent.
Magic, swordsmanship, academics... He maintained top rank in all areas, but there was one area where he truly excelled.
Illusion magic.
"But."
Ian had identified a blind spot.
"No matter how good your illusions are, what good are they if I don't play along?"
He could simply avoid the magic.
Of course, avoiding mental magic wasn't as easy as it sounded.
It was only possible because it was Ian.
He was one of the fastest students in the Academy.
Especially when he channeled electricity through his body, he could momentarily reach speeds comparable to the professors.
In short, it was the ultimate counter.
"I wonder if you can keep up with my speed?"
An opponent with not only speed but also deadly explosive power.
At least for Judas, it was the worst possible matchup.
"······."
The golden snake remained silent.
The boy stood motionless, as if lost in thought.
Ian thought he was scared.
His lips, tainted with arrogance, spat out a sneer.
"It seems you're finally grasping the situation, huh?"
Crackle-!
Ian leaped forward, releasing sparks.
A bolt of lightning shot out.
"······!"
The snake, who had been standing blankly, belatedly moved his sword.
A blade forged from shadows.
It collided with the flashing light and managed to deflect the attack's trajectory.
Even that simple act left it ragged and chipped.
Clang-!
Leaving behind the shattered darkness, Judas drew a new sword.
Ian rushed forward, not giving him a moment to breathe.
The two clashed with all their might.
Sharp cracking sounds echoed through the arena for a while.
Clang! Crackle! Kagrk...!
It was a close battle.
Light and darkness, refusing to yield an inch, fiercely tore at each other.
An exchange too fast for the eye to follow continued.
"Ugh...!"
However, the snake was clearly showing signs of fatigue.
Although he was holding his own against Ian's speed, he couldn't shake the feeling of being dragged along.
It seemed like just defending against the onslaught of electricity was a struggle.
"Haa, haa...!"
And so,
The tide of the battle seemed to turn completely.
It was time to drive in the wedge.
Ian, briefly creating some distance, began chanting, preparing for his final attack.
Dark clouds gathered above the arena.
"O sky of torrential rain."
He was finally unleashing his ultimate skill.
"Strike without leaving a trace."
- Ian Ryu Lightning Magic Secret Art -
'Lightning Strike'
The moment his lips parted,
Thousands of lightning bolts descended from the dark clouds.
Kzzzzzt-!
Beams of light poured down like rain.
White flashes exploded through the cracks that appeared one after another, hindering vision.
Everyone in the audience had to shield their eyes.
Beeeeee-!
After a moment of deafening ringing in their ears,
When they opened their eyes again, they saw the snake kneeling on the ground, his back to them.
The fierce duel had come to an end.
"······."
The boy couldn't utter a word, as if he had been thoroughly defeated.
Ian circled around his opponent.
The thrill of finally crushing him brought a sneer to his lips.
"I told you, you shouldn't have messed with me."
"······."
"It's no use regretting it now. I intend to claim your withdrawal from the Academy as the price for this duel. If you don't like that, kneel and beg all day long."
"Pfft."
"······?"
A sudden burst of laughter.
The snake was smiling.
"What's so funny?"
Had he gone mad from the pain?
As Ian stood there, frowning, a clear voice reached his ears.
"It's funny, isn't it? That you didn't notice anything until the very end."
How could he speak so calmly after being scorched by lightning just moments ago?
Ian was stunned by the unexpected reaction.
"B-But it was a direct hit? How could you...!"
"Honestly, it's disappointing."
"What are you talking about?!"
"I thought you'd at least show some suspicion."
Judas leisurely dusted off his knees and stood up.
Their eyes met.
Ian couldn't help but hold his breath.
"You said that no matter how good illusion magic is, it's useless if I don't play along, right?"
"······."
"Then, here's a question for you."
Eyelids that were usually closed were now open.
White, bleached pupils.
The boy asked, his eyes gleaming brightly,
"When exactly did you start to think... that I wasn't using illusion magic?"
Crack, crackle-!
At the same time, cracks appeared in the air that had been perfectly fine.
Like a mirror shattering,
The scenery surrounding them crumbled into pieces. An unbelievable sight.
To the horrified boy, the snake chanted,
"Shatter."
Crack-!
The inverted world returned to normal.
***
Crack-!
When Ian regained his senses, he was standing in the circular arena.
In the same spot where they had first faced each other.
He hadn't moved a single step.
"······?"
The scene before his eyes was natural.
It felt like waking up from a dream.
He racked his brain in confusion, but he couldn't grasp the situation.
His consciousness kept drifting in and out.
"What is this...?"
It was all illusion magic.
The fierce battle after the duel, pushing his opponent with lightning, and even achieving victory in the end.
It had all happened within an illusion.
In other words,
He had been played.
"No way."
Nothing had happened in reality.
It was an unacceptable notion.
He tried to look around, but his body, frozen stiff, wouldn't obey.
It was as if he had lost control.
"Why... why can't I move?"
As he barely managed to move his lips, someone suddenly spoke to him from the side.
Naturally, it was the golden snake.
"Oh my~ You've finally come to your senses?"
A cheerful smile.
He put his arm around the statue-like Ian and spoke with an ominous grin,
Answering the question that must have been on his mind.
"Senior, you've already been hypnotized."
"Hypnotized...?"
"Another application of illusion magic. You won't be able to do anything until I release you."
"Damn it, you were playing with me from the beginning...!"
"I was just playing along, you know."
"Don't give me that bullshit!"
Ian raged, unable to accept it.
Was it the shock of being so easily defeated?
He seemed to have lost his composure.
Of course, it was too early to lose his mind completely.
"Please, lower your voice, Ian Ternado."
While the boy was lost in the illusion, the snake had also been deep in thought.
How could he crush the opponent before him?
How could he break that arrogant heart in the most cruel way possible?
Judas had just come up with a method.
"A stage awaits you."
"Wait, what are you trying to do...!"
The snake lightly snapped his fingers.
Following the gesture, Ian's frozen body began to move, taking one step at a time towards the center of the training ground.
He soon found himself facing the audience.
"Show everyone."
The students' gazes focused on Ian.
Judas, with a meaningful smile, said,
"Show them your passion."
It didn't take long to understand the meaning of his words.
***
""······.""
The students in the audience were silent.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that they were speechless.
Their expressions were all stiff.
<Uwaaaaaaaaah!!!>
They stared coldly at a particular spot.
The center of the training ground.
<Stop it!! Please!!!>
There, a boy was screaming.
A cry filled with despair.
It was Ian Ternado, the participant in this duel.
It was originally a space where fierce battles unfolded, but the boy was currently on that stage...
<I-I was wrong!!>
...enjoying a lively dance party.
Awkward dance moves unfolded.
The boy shamelessly wiggled his hips, giving a massive middle finger to the students watching.
He had been swaying for a whole hour.
<I'd rather surrender... Mmmmph!!>
Whenever he tried to express his intention to surrender, his lips would automatically seal shut.
The students simply watched.
<Shiiiiiiit!!!>
Ian Ternado.
The epitome of an elite, boasting numerous followers and praised as a clear genius.
The crane reigning over the second year.
""······.""
Reputation shattered in an instant.
Even as he faced social death, Ian didn't stop his passionate twerking.
A single tear rolled down his cheek.
"Hehe."
Only the mastermind behind this chaos was smiling amidst the pandemonium.
As if dopamine was exploding within him.
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That's actually so tuff.
ReplyDeleteDeath by twerking, has never been so real, LMAO, no cap, frfr
ReplyDeleteOng, type shi, On YOUR soul this is so peak.
When did you think that I wasn't using my Kyokasuigetsu?
ReplyDeleteSame vibes as aizen