Chapter 137

The students watching from the spectator seats stood up as if they had made a promise and gave a standing ovation.

Although the victory was decided rather easily, it was still the highest-quality Holy War among the matches so far.

“Hmm, pretty decent.”

“Wychronon’s potential stood out.”

Harden and Vulcan also nodded, showing their satisfaction.

‘……Did Demona even do anything?’

“Eh? I won?”

…The victorious Demona looked around in bewilderment, not even realizing she had won.

Meanwhile, Sion, who had returned to the spectator seats after exchanging greetings, approached Roan.

Her face was slightly flushed, perhaps because she felt considerably aggrieved about losing to Demona.

“Darc.”

“……What is it?”

“Please teach me Holy War!”

At the unexpected request, Roan looked up at Sion in bewilderment.

“Weren’t you also not very interested in Holy War?”

“But to Demona…”

Sion, who was about to say something, glanced at Harden and Vulcan and whispered in Roan’s ear.

“I can’t just stay quiet after losing to Demona…!”

‘Indeed, that is quite understandably annoying.’

It was a reason Roan had no choice but to admit.

Harden and Vulcan looked at Sion warmly.

“Competitiveness is a good driving force for growth.”

“The Saintess candidate will grow even further thanks to Wychronon.”

Roan found their words utterly absurd, but he nodded for now.

“Well, I don’t know much about Holy War either, but we’ll manage somehow.”

““Bwahahaha!!!!””

Hearing Roan’s reply, Harden and Vulcan burst into laughter at the same time, clutching their bellies.

…Both of them had heard the story of Roan winning a three-on-one battle with the Abyss Dragon.

***

“Player Roan Darc! Please come down!”

Time passed, and soon it was Roan’s turn.

At Denver’s call, Roan went down to the arena with the Abyss Dragon and the Heavenly Sword Peacock King.

‘Do not use black magic as much as possible.’

[Why? I have to use black magic to stand out! I want to do better than that guy!]

You would stand out, indeed.

In a bad way.

‘If I tell you not to use it, don’t. And treat your younger sibling kindly.’

[Hmph.]

The Abyss Dragon glared at the Heavenly Sword Peacock King, looking highly displeased.

Kirru—

The Heavenly Sword Peacock King politely lowered its eyes and showed respect to the Abyss Dragon.

It was a show of respect toward the legendary dragon that had hatched before it and served the same master.

[Hmph! Pretending to be nice!]

The Abyss Dragon turned its head away for no reason, but internally it seemed pleased.

It seemed there would be no major problem with the two getting along.

However, when Roan actually stepped onto the arena, his opponent had not come out yet.

“Senior Denver. Who is my opponent?”

When Roan asked, Denver nodded.

“Ah, about that…”

Step, step—

“???”

Denver then walked over and stood opposite Roan.

“It’s me.”

“Yes?”

Roan could not contain his bewilderment.

For a senior—and the captain of the Holy War Club at that—to step forward among freshmen who had just hatched their eggs for a friendly match.

Denver also seemed slightly embarrassed as he blushed and spoke.

“It is a special order from the Professor. He said you have to face me.”

“Then who is the main referee?”

“It’s me! Darc!”

Instead, Sherry the Shorts Girl positioned herself in Denver’s place.

Roan let out a sigh and shook his head.

‘To have to face him with only a newly born Abyss Dragon and Heavenly Sword Peacock King, this is too harsh a treatment.’

…It was questionable whether the word ‘only’ could be applied to the Abyss Dragon and the Heavenly Sword Peacock King.

The students’ murmuring could not be omitted.

─ Hey, it seems Darc is playing against Senior Denver.

─ Obnoxious brat! How dare he against our captain…

The Acherandir students who were dissatisfied even when provided with a Holy War!

Roan, in a state of mind to let whatever happens happen, spoke to Denver.

“If it is the Professor’s order, there is no helping it. But where are your holy beasts, Senior?”

“Ah, actually, I prepared them in advance too.”

As Denver looked back toward the rear entrance, the door opened, and soon two holy beasts revealed themselves.

“……?”

Confirming their appearances, Roan was lost for words.

─ ……?

The students envying Roan were the same.

Percival Hall was enveloped in silence in an instant.

Even Harden forgot to eat popcorn and asked Vulcan.

“Professor, is that correct?”

This was because the two beasts that came out under the guise of Denver’s holy beasts…

Thud— Thud— Buoooo!

Flap— Flap— Zzzzt—!

…were indeed the large holy beast, the Giant Tree Elephant, and the medium holy beast, the Thunder Beak Bird.

[We have to fight them?]

Kirru—?

It was so absurd that even the Abyss Dragon and the Heavenly Sword Peacock King in the arena turned around to look at Roan with dumbfounded eyes.

‘What can we do, this is just how this place is.’

As their master, Roan had nothing to say.

“They are… Alfun and Bill.”

Moreover, Alfun and Bill were two holy beasts that even played as starters for the Acherandir Holy War Club.

While everyone else was lost for words, the ones who thought this matchup was balanced…

“Please trust me. Even with that, it is hard to guarantee the outcome.”

…were Vulcan, who had planned everything, and

“This is going to be fun! Darc, I’m so jealous!”

…the crazy Sherry.

…Even so, it was more accurate to say that the latter thought that way not because she deemed it balanced, but simply because she was crazy about Holy War.

In any case, since the main referee had no second thoughts, the matchup was established just like that.

“The match between Roan Darc and Denver Holland will begin!”

[Even in this situation, I shouldn’t use black magic?]

‘……Do whatever you want.’

Roan had half-given up.

To deal with a crazy school, there was no choice but to go crazy on this side too.

***

No matter how they were divine beasts, they were still a newly born Abyss Dragon and Heavenly Sword Peacock King.

And the contrast with the Giant Tree Elephant and the Thunder Beak Bird, which were large and medium respectively, was too stark.

─ Isn’t… isn’t this a bit too much?

─ Even if it’s Darc, how is he supposed to win?

─ What if Darc plays directly?

─ ……Huh?

Even the Acherandir students, who would usually charge in with eyes rolled back at the mention of Holy War, did not predict Roan’s victory.

Simply put, it was because the size was such that Roan’s divine beasts could easily be swallowed in one bite.

“Professor Vulcan. With what intention did you arrange this match?”

Harden asked Vulcan.

Vulcan replied with a serious expression.

“Principal. Do you know how many times the Darc family has won the Holy War League?”

“Ah, of course they won tremendously. But that is a story for when the family’s experience is passed down. No matter how clever Roan is…”

Harden tried to refute, but Vulcan shook his head.

“No. The Darc family does not simply possess experience. They utilized even species they saw for the first time freely. That is rather closer to instinct.”

Vulcan still remembered the sight of Roan controlling the Wind Terrier in their first class.

“It is still my guess, but Darc is probably…”

Vulcan, pausing for a moment, finished speaking.

“…equipped with the qualities of a proper champion. No, not just the qualities, but even the spirit felt from him is already so.”

“Well, this professor…”

Harden reacted with bewilderment to Vulcan’s words but shifted his gaze to the arena for now.

‘Listening to him, one would think Darc has already won the Holy War League.’

Harden had no idea that his joke-like thought was actually true.

One fact that even Vulcan did not know.

…Roan had more experience winning the Imperial Holy War League than anyone present.

He had even participated in illegal Holy War arenas quite a few times to solve important requests, and in such places, a weight class difference like this was nothing.

Only one’s own ability existed.

‘I dislike Holy War, but once it starts, I must win.’

Even while everyone else thought it was a predetermined match, Roan was calmly thinking about the upcoming game.

“If both sides are ready, shall we start?”

Sherry the Shorts Girl asked, looking back and forth between Roan and Denver.

Sherry looked ecstatic just watching the situation, as if she were participating in the Holy War herself.

The two of them nodded.

“Start!”

With Sherry’s command, the Holy War began.

Denver did not move immediately.

‘I feel sorry for stepping forward, and on top of that, there’s a weight class difference…’

Denver thought there must be a reason Vulcan told him to face Roan.

Meaning to teach him well since he was a junior who would join the Holy War Club.

‘I don’t know much about the Abyss Dragon, but I can at least teach him about the Heavenly Sword Peacock King.’

Denver was also a person who had been completely head over heels for Holy War since childhood.

Ever since then, up until now.

“Darc, you know that the Heavenly Sword Peacock King can change its combat form depending on the color of its cloak feathers, right? So—”

So he had intended to face Roan while teaching him what he knew, but…

“Charlotte, Blue Sword.”

“??”

What on earth.

Roan ordered the Heavenly Sword Peacock King to change forms before Denver could even finish speaking.

‘He knows the activation word?’

Well, considering the previous events, it was not surprising.

Before Denver could even finish that thought.

The appearance of the Heavenly Sword Peacock King immediately changed.

Rustleee—

The blue-green feathers instantly changed to assume a blue color.

At the same time, the cloak feathers detached and hovered vertically in the air, circling as if guarding the Heavenly Sword Peacock King.

The defensive form of the Heavenly Sword Peacock King, ‘Blue Sword.’

“Charge as you are.”

Kirrrr—

Accompanied by its cloak feathers, the Heavenly Sword Peacock King ran at high speed toward the Giant Tree Elephant and the Thunder Beak Bird.

Denver was startled by Roan’s swift command and the rapid approach of the Heavenly Sword Peacock King.

‘A freshly hatched creature is showing that kind of movement?’

That looked like the movement of a partner who had synced up multiple times.

Meaning Roan’s level of control was above master class.

However, as the captain of the Holy War Club, Denver immediately countered.

“Bill, fly up and cast Electric Spear! Alfun, block with your body!”

In terms of coordination, this side was not lacking either.

The Thunder Beak Bird immediately discharged a powerful streak of electricity.

The Giant Tree Elephant was prepared to completely block the Heavenly Sword Peacock King using its massive body.

─ Spiky is going to get hit by lightning!

The Electric Spear looked as if it would sweep away the Heavenly Sword Peacock King at any moment.

But.

Flash—! Zzzzz—

Just before the Electric Spear could reach the Heavenly Sword his path was blocked by the surrounding cloak feathers.

The cloak feathers lost their power and returned to the Heavenly Sword Peacock King, but the Electric Spear also failed to inflict any damage.

‘The cloak feathers of the Blue Form automatically block projectile attacks. It isn’t a divine beast for nothing.’

It was just as Roan had expected.

“To the Giant Tree Elephant.”

The Heavenly Sword Peacock King dashed straight ahead, closing in on the Giant Tree Elephant.

Buoooo— Crash—

The Giant Tree Elephant raised its massive foot to stomp, but it inevitably lacked agility compared to the Heavenly Sword Peacock King.

“Stop right there. Red Sword.”

Roan’s command.

The color of the Heavenly Sword Peacock King changed once again.

From a sea-like blue to a blazing red.

At the same time, the arrangement of the cloak feathers that had been in a defensive posture also shifted.

The cloak feathers that had protected the Heavenly Sword Peacock King like a solid wall scattered immediately, this time lurking like sharp swords.

Although that left openings in defense, the Heavenly Sword Peacock King’s current position was directly beneath the Giant Tree Elephant.

The Giant Tree Elephant’s massive build served as a natural barrier just like that.

“Fire Rain.”

Flashhh—

The red feathers of the Heavenly Sword Peacock King scattered in all directions.

The feathers gleamed with sharp energy, aiming at targets throughout the arena.

The red feathers could strike both the Giant Tree Elephant and the Thunder Beak Bird.

In the rapidly changing situation, Denver had to increase his speed of judgment.

‘A-Am I facing a first-year, or a professional Holy War player?’

The tempo of the Holy War had long since transcended the Holy War of a mere freshman class.

First of all, whom would those red feathers attack?

“Bill! Electric Disruption! At the same time, evasive maneuver to the left!”

The Thunder Beak Bird left a bundle of electrical current in its place and soared to the left.

Dispersing the opponent’s attack while simultaneously changing positions was impossible without arduous training.

Even though he had allowed Roan to take the offensive, Denver was also not an easy opponent.

Fwoosh—

A baptism of cloak feathers raining down like a shower of fire.

More than half were fooled by the disruption, while a small number struck the Thunder Beak Bird directly.

Squeeeek—!

The Thunder Beak Bird was in pain, but it was not a fatal wound that would immediately decide the victor.

“Alfun! Vibrating Earth! Bill, Flash Sweep!”

Since things had turned out this way, Denver resolved to clean up the Heavenly Sword Peacock King with area-of-effect skills altogether.

Although it had taken a blow, looking at the layout, it was a case of a small divine beast fearlessly jumping in between medium and large holy beasts.

An honest, straightforward attack was the textbook method.

Rumbleee— Crackleee—

When the Giant Tree Elephant raised its two front legs and slammed them down, a massive vibration occurred centering on that spot.

At the same time, the Thunder Beak Bird flew low, as if sweeping the ground, wrapping its large body in electrical currents.

This combination was a powerful link-up skill used as a mainstay even in official matches.

However,

Roan smiled faintly.

‘Denver’s tactics are clear as day in my head.’

“Charlotte, fly and escape as well. And switch to White Sword.”

The fact that it was used as a mainstay in official matches meant it also had a high possibility of being researched by opponents.

Roan could clearly see the way to avoid that link-up skill.

The Heavenly Sword Peacock King hesitated for a moment at the sudden vibration, but fortunately, it soared up before the Thunder Beak Bird could pounce.

At the same time,

Flash—

─ T-The color changed again!

The red figure soaring at high speed turned white in the process.

The White Sword of the Heavenly Sword Peacock King was a proper skill, unlike the Red Sword and Blue Sword which were simply offensive and defensive stances.

Fade—

The white figure disappeared in an instant.

And in the next moment,

─ Spiky multiplied!

Five white Heavenly Sword Peacock Kings hovered in the sky, looking down at the Giant Tree Elephant and the Thunder Beak Bird.

The elegant posture of the white Heavenly Sword Peacock King with its wings wide spread, combined with the subtle holy power, exuded an overwhelming majesty.

The spectators, as well as Denver, were lost for words.

‘H-He is already using White Sword? And five of them?’

The ultimate skill of the Heavenly Sword Peacock King, White Sword.

‘The scary thing about White Sword is that all of them are the real body.’

If one evaluated it, the clones of the Sunrise Nest Butterfly were the same, but the clones of a divine beast like the Heavenly Sword Peacock King were on a completely different level compared to a creature with minimal combat power.

Although they did not possess defense on the level of the Blue Sword or attack power on the level of the Red Sword, the difference in numbers was more than enough to make up for that loss.

“Charge at the Thunder Beak Bird in order. Run wild to your heart’s content.”

Roan gave the command.

It was about time to bring the Holy War to an end.

Kirrrrrt—!

First, one Heavenly Sword Peacock King plummeted toward the Thunder Beak Bird, holding a cloak feather shimmering with holy power in each hand.

Although Fire Rain had fallen victim to the electric disruption, if the divine beast attacked directly, such deception would not work.

Moreover, in a battle between flying species, the difference in height was decisive.

Denver shouted urgently.

“Bill! Electric Discharge, rapid ascent! Alfun, block their path as much as possible!”

The two large holy beasts moved busily at Denver’s command.

The Electric Discharge, which did not distinguish between friend and foe, also paralyzed the Giant Tree Elephant, but it was better for the defensive holy beast to take a hit temporarily.

Thanks to that, Denver was able to avoid the first attack.

“Next!”

“Evasive maneuver to the left!”

“Next!”

“Forward this time!”

“Next!”

Under the storm of attacks from Roan and the Heavenly Sword Peacock King, Denver frantically moved the Thunder Beak Bird.

This was because if the Heavenly Sword Peacock King were allowed to close in, the Thunder Beak Bird, being a ranged holy beast, would be helplessly cornered.

Swishswish—

The cloak feathers swung by the Heavenly Sword Peacock King narrowly grazed or gradually wounded the Thunder Beak Bird, but it still could not be considered a decisive blow.

As it was frantically driven into a corner like that, the clones disappeared one by one as their duration expired, leaving only the main body.

‘Now that the clones are all exhausted…’

Denver looked at Roan on the opposing side, sweating profusely.

Shiver—

Roan was also looking at Denver, smiling with one corner of his mouth curled up.

It was as if he were looking at a demon’s smile having driven a sacrificial lamb into a trap.

At that moment, a thought flashed through Denver’s head.

‘Ah, the Abyss Dragon!’

Because he had responded with all his attention focused on the single Heavenly Sword Peacock King, he had forgotten the existence of the Abyss Dragon.

What if even exhausting the clones had been Roan’s plan?

Denver instinctively looked up above the Thunder Beak Bird.

In that place was…

“Bell, Desperate Judgment.”

…the Abyss Dragon, which had been looking down haughtily at everyone at some point.

[What’s Desperate Judgment?]

‘……Strike of Deeper Darkness.’

[Aha!]