NoveLight ™
A bold declaration, bordering on arrogance.
The crowd’s reactions varied widely. Some laughed, others took cautious steps back, while a few lifted their cameras, capturing the moment with looks of admiration. But the most common reaction was… anticipation.
Not only the first-year students, who made up the largest portion of the crowd, but even the faculty and guest instructors watching all shared an expectant gaze, glancing between the transfer student brandishing his sword and the agitators who had insulted him.
Those aware of the political tensions between Board Member Nikolai Cerny and the Admissions Director wore serious expressions, but the students were simply excited, waiting eagerly for the fight to begin.
A superhuman versus another superhuman. And one of them was the subject of all those wild rumors.
The students scrambled to find the best spots to see the action. They jostled each other, climbed over railings, and spilled out onto the runway beyond the airport.
Even the airport security, who should have been controlling the crowd, were too caught up in the impending showdown to intervene, resulting in a natural barrier forming between the transfer student and his hecklers—a wall of students.
Trapped within the wall of people, the hecklers’ expressions stiffened.
“What’s the matter? Is there no one among you who would like to step forward and test my skill?”
The transfer student’s voice rang out as he addressed the hecklers.
But no answer came. The dozens of agitators who had been jeering just moments before now fell silent, either looking for a chance to sneak away or glaring at the transfer student with clenched jaws.
Just as the students began to feel disappointed by the agitators’ retreat…
Step.
The transfer student started moving forward.
The sharp-eyed students noticed something unusual in his steps. With each step, his mana rippled, revealing a practiced martial art.
One step. Another.
With each step closer, the agitators took nervous steps back. Even among them, a few superhumans flinched.
When only about ten paces remained between the transfer student and the hecklers…
“Enough! We only raised a legitimate concern!”
One of the agitators shouted.
Some onlookers recognized him as an academy staffer affiliated with the Cerny faction on the board.
“I can’t believe my eyes! Not only does he brandish a sword toward civilians, but he’s openly threatening them! How could someone like him be admitted to Lord Howe?”
He shouted, aware of the growing attention on him.
“Everyone! Do you see this? This is why the founder never created a transfer system! To prevent those who haven’t been properly vetted from tarnishing our academy!”
The transfer student didn’t respond but instead tilted his head as if inviting the man to continue.
Facing those calm, golden eyes, the heckler swallowed and yelled even louder.
“Look, everyone! This is the type of person the Admissions Director brought in with his ridiculous transfer exam!”
“…I see.”
“A mere mercenary who draws his sword at the slightest provocation! Is it right for him to be a student of this academy?”
The heckler’s words drew the crowd’s attention back to the transfer student.
Regardless of his achievements in Manchuria or the rumors surrounding him, it was true that the Admissions Director had brought him in without the usual procedures.
Of course, the students weren’t concerned with the political nuances of the situation. They were simply curious about how the transfer student would respond.
And in the next moment, his response far exceeded their expectations.
“Did you know? The Saintess can easily heal wounds where limbs have been severed.”
“….”
What…? The heckler, confused by the sudden comment, tilted his head. Then, realizing the implication, he gasped.
‘I’ll sever your limbs.’
While the heckler fell silent, the transfer student pointed his sword, indicating each agitator.
“For those against my transfer, I’ll take a finger. For those who insulted me, an arm. And for those who incited open rebellion… one limb for each offense.”
His words, delivered with a deadly calm, had an even greater chilling effect.
Not only the agitators, but everyone nearby was left speechless.
In the tense silence, the transfer student began moving slowly toward the agitators.
The students whispered, and the security guards glanced nervously at each other.
Some faculty members hurried to call for help, and as the agitators tried to push through the crowd to escape…
A girl suddenly leaped from the crowd and stood before the transfer student.
She had neatly combed black hair that shimmered like dark sapphire, and her expression was cold. With her spotless school uniform, she radiated a dignified aura.
Had it not been for the hefty hammer in her hand, she would have looked like the perfect model student.
Lowering the hammer, she addressed the transfer student.
“That’s enough, don’t you think? Transfer student?”
“…And why’s that?”
“If it’s a demonstration of skill you’re after, surely you can do better than picking on these idiots?”
At her words, they both fell silent, staring at each other.
To the onlookers, it seemed a tense moment of mutual assessment, but…
Both were actually holding back laughter, trying not to let it show.
As a short silence fell, Yeomyeong managed to suppress his grin and spoke.
“…What’s your name?”
“Hong Seti. I entered the academy’s superhuman division as the third highest in my year. Think I’ll be a good enough opponent?”
“Well… I guess I’ll know once I see.”
At that, the two moved simultaneously, swinging their weapons.
Boom!
The sword and hammer collided, releasing an explosive surge of mana. The shockwave generated a gust that blew through the air.
Seti lost the strength struggle.
She was using a smaller warhammer than usual, but even so, the intensity of Yeomyeong’s mana was beyond her expectations.
The teachers watching were wide-eyed, shocked by the density of his mana—far stronger than when they last saw him.
Had he taken some kind of elixir? What could possibly make him this strong? The heart of a dragon, perhaps?
Seti wished she could know, pushing forward with a well-aimed kick.
Using Bikak Technique, she struck the same way she had when they first met, aiming for his head.
Whoosh!
Yeomyeong narrowly dodged her kick and thrust his sword into the open space. He almost matched her Bikak Technique, only to hold back at the last second.
Seti smirked and used the centrifugal force to swing her hammer around.
Their weapons clashed again.
Clang!
This time, the mana erupted with an even greater shockwave.
As Seti was pushed back, she glimpsed her fellow students and teachers, mouths agape at the spectacle.
It was exactly the reaction she wanted. This was the perfect debut at the academy.
Locking eyes with Yeomyeong, Seti intensified her mana. The emotion in his golden eyes was simple: faster, stronger.
If that’s what he wanted, she’d comply.
She immediately unleashed her martial art. Her mana surged wildly, enhancing every muscle in her body.
From her arms and shoulders to her trapezius and latissimus dorsi, even her erector spinae—all of it.
The basics of brute force technique involve squeezing every muscle to its limit.
Following that principle, Seti brought her hammer down toward Yeomyeong.
Boom!
The runway groaned under the impact. A tremendous wave shook the area, sending nearby students tumbling.
Even Yeomyeong, who had narrowly dodged the blow, was too busy regaining his balance on the shaking ground to launch a counterattack.
Seti seized the opening, controlling the recoil of her hammer as she prepared another Bikak move.
Overwhelming power can compensate for lack of accuracy.
Once again, she aimed her hammer at Yeomyeong’s head.
He quickly readjusted his stance, swinging his sword at the last moment with perfect timing.
His sword carried a surge of mana. Seti recognized it as Way of the Breaking Wave mana.
But the unstable footing prevented him from unleashing its full power.
Seti briefly debated pulling back her strength but widened her eyes at the radiance pouring from his blade.
!!!
The deafening noise reverberated, more than just the sound of clashing weapons.
It was the resonance of refined mana canceling out mana.
As a fellow student cried out, Seti found herself momentarily airborne.
Thud.
She managed to land on her feet, just barely. While she avoided the indignity of rolling on the ground in her uniform, her hair was disheveled, and her hand gripping the warhammer trembled.
Anyone could see she had been overpowered.
“…You’re strong.”
Seti brushed back her hair, thinking, I might have to go all out…
Although this was supposed to be a staged battle, she was also a superhuman, and the thrill of competition surged within her.
Unlike her, though, Yeomyeong seemed to feel no competitive spirit.
The worried look he gave her proved as much.
Continuing would be… difficult.
Originally, Seti had planned to keep the fight going until someone intervened…
But she knew that at this rate, Yeomyeong would suggest stopping first.
“Want to keep going?”
Sure enough, Yeomyeong lowered his sword and asked.
He’s so easy to read. Suppressing a smile, Seti raised her hammer again.
“…I still have a trump card left.”
One more big hit.
“….”
With a sigh, Yeomyeong began channeling Way of the Breaking Wave mana into his sword, pouring mana into it with raw intensity, as if to unleash a true sword energy.
Seti followed suit, gathering her mana into her warhammer.
This time, they would decide the outcome with one last strike.
The two stared each other down so openly that even the audience could sense it.
It was clear Seti was at a disadvantage… but fights aren’t always that simple.
As the surrounding students held their breath, and even the teachers who’d been about to intervene paused momentarily…
Both fighters prepared to strike. Or they would have, if not for—
“Seti?! Yeomyeong!? Stop!”
Just before their weapons released their energy, a frantic voice interrupted them from the direction of the plane.
All eyes turned to the plane entrance, where a girl in a pristine white priestess robe was descending the stairs.
“Yeomyeong, you idiot! If you hurt Seti, I won’t—Ack!”
Or rather, tumbling down the stairs.