As Leon stepped onto the stage, his eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of a girl walking up from the opposite end.
‘Hmm…? Have I seen her before?’ Leon wondered, his expression mildly puzzled.
“So, Mr. Leon Luster… the lone warrior fighting on behalf of House Virellis,” Tyron said, his voice laced with a teasing tone as he glanced at Leon’s coat. “Looks like you came prepared with your outfit too, huh?”
Leon turned to face him, his expression neutral and unreadable.
“Why are you asking me extra questions?” he asked calmly. “You didn’t do it with the other students. Are you mocking my House, Teacher?”
‘Speak now, motherfucker…’ Leon thought as he laughed in his mind.
“N-No… I would never do that!” Tyron stammered, suddenly flustered. “I-I am a teacher myself—why would I mock your house? After all, alchemists are also a part of—”
“Can we start this?” Leon interrupted flatly.
“Y-Yes… Ahem.” Tyron cleared his throat awkwardly. “A Summoner versus an Alchemist… FIGHT!”
He wasted no time leaping off the stage.
…
“Do you see it, or is it just me, Brother ?” Ariana asked from behind, her sharp eyes locked onto Leon.
“I see it too, Sister,” the Headmaster replied with a small smirk. “The only question is how he got it… and whether he knows how to use it.”
“You know that boy, don’t you?” Ariana asked, glancing at Derisa with a sly smile.
“Ma’am?” Derisa blinked in confusion, feigning innocence.
“Don’t make confused faces, Sword Queen. I saw the smile on your face the moment he walked onto the stage—and the subtle change in your posture too,” Ariana remarked knowingly.
“I-I do know him, but—”
“Relax. I won’t press you for answers,” Ariana said with a chuckle. “Just wanted to make sure my observation skills weren’t getting rusty.”
“I… I see,” Derisa murmured softly, her eyes drifting back to the arena.
…
“Commoner… Didn’t you recognize me?” Veronica asked from across the stage, with a neutral expression on her face.
<Inspect>
[Name: Veronica Reynal]
[Class: Summoner]
[Race: Human]
[HP: 400/400]
[MP: 200/200]
[Description: Veronica Reynal, fifth noble daughter of the prestigious Seven-Star Reynal House. Her summons aren’t that powerful.]
“Ah… you’re that girl,” Leon replied, still expressionless as he met her gaze.
“So? Are you going to accept defeat now, or what?” Veronica asked, genuinely confused by his calm demeanor.
“I don’t plan to,” Leon answered simply.
“Well then… I summon the force of nature to fight for me,” Veronica declared as she pulled a folded parchment from her pocket and infused it with mana.
Swisssssh!
A sharp gust of wind struck the stage, and from the swirl of turbulent air, a small humanoid figure materialized—its body formed entirely from condensed wind.
Without hesitation, Leon narrowed his eyes and activated his skill.
<Inspect>
[Name: Unknown]
[Race: Small Wind Spirit]
[Level: 4]
[HP: 800/800]
[MP: 400/400]
[Description: A contracted spirit that can be summoned at will to destroy the summoner’s opponent.]
“Oh my god… Veronica has summoned a wind spirit at such a young age! What else can you expect from the daughter of a Seven-Star Household?” Tyron exclaimed with visible excitement.
“Throw him out of the arena,” Veronica commanded coldly.
Obeying its master, the wind spirit conjured three massive blades formed from compressed air and launched them directly at Leon.
Swish—Swish—Swish!
“There it is! The wind spirit’s first attack! Can Leon defend against that?!” Tyron’s voice rang out through the arena.
Leon calmly reached into his coat and retrieved a small vial filled with greyish liquid.
“Let’s try this…” he muttered as he threw the vial to the ground.
Psssh!
A thick grey mist erupted on impact, engulfing Leon in a dense fog. The wind blades sliced into the mist—yet none emerged from the other side.
“Haha! Would you look at that—Leon has already hidden himself inside some strange mist created by a potion!” Tyron shouted.
“That potion…” Malkof stood from his seat, his eyes narrowing.
“The Killer Mist Potion,” Ariana said with an amused smirk. “This kid’s got guts.”
[Name: Killer Mist]
[Type: Consumable]
[Description: Creates a thick, vision-blocking mist with a one-meter radius. Absorbs all breathable air within the cloud for ten seconds.]
Clink—
Suddenly, a red-glowing vial shot out from the grey cloud, landing just inches away from Veronica.
Stch—Puff!
A burst of flame erupted, bright and sudden—drawing everyone’s attention.
“What the—?!” Veronica flinched back, startled.
The grey mist began to disperse, revealing Leon standing unbothered beneath it.
“You used a killer mist potion just to dodge that? What kind of strategy is that?” Veronica scoffed. “And throwing a fire potion without even knowing my location? Are you stupid or—”
“Your spirit should really look below itself,” Leon interrupted with a slight smirk.
Eyes widened as everyone turned their gaze toward the wind spirit.
Beneath its feet, another vial sat—this one filled with the same greyish mist, a dark black seal etched beneath it.
“No—”
“Kaboom.”
BOOOOOM!
Another dense cloud of Killer Mist exploded around the wind spirit, swallowing it whole.
“That fire potion… it was just a distraction,” Ariana murmured, her smile widening.
‘That was indeed a distraction, But how did he sneak the potion beneath the spirit? That wasn’t just some trick, neither did he threw that potion—that was precisely placed there.
He’s too calm… completely unfazed. If he defeats the daughter of the Reynal Household, things could get… really complicated for him,’ the Headmaster mused silently, his gaze locked onto Leon.
“You… you killed my wind spirit,” Veronica growled, her eyes shaking with rage.
“Oops. Looks like I hurt her feelings,” Leon replied with a neutral expression.
“With God’s grace… shall I summon my beloved—Arthur,” Veronica spoke as she Summoned another creature.
*Grrrr…*
From the shadow behind Veronica, a low growl echoed. A beast emerged—its form lithe and cloaked in darkness, eyes gleaming red.
<Inspect>
[Name: Arthur]
[Race: Shadow Wolf]
[Level: 10]
[HP: 1200/1200]
[MP: 600/600]
[Description: A shadow creature that dwells in the inner zones of the Vinceral Forest. Often tamed by summoners through special shadow-meat feeding rituals.]