Regnum Aetern Dual Rebirth Chapter 173

To continue serving our readers, I have removed Korean novels due to copyright issues.

Thank you for your continued support. I’m still working hard to bring you more great novels and the best reading experience possible.

[ … words ]

“What happened, girl? Where did your confidence go?”

“-Ugh!”

“I was honestly expecting more of a challenge than this. Come on! Make me go all out at least!”

“-Agh!!”

Evangeline clenched her teeth and poured her mana into the bracelets without thinking, and a vortex of wind suddenly spun fiercly around her body.

The girl jumped back before the wind vortex could hit her, landing a few meters away.

“Huff… huff…”

’This… this is harder than I thought…’

The fight felt too one-sided. She was not being given any time to prepare an attack, and she was failing to keep up in physical combat.

As she had said moments ago, the girl was indeed holding back. She hadn’t covered her fists with mana during their previous exchanges, nor had she used any of those platinum weapons that she could create, aside from the chains she used at the start.

’Do I have no choice but to use it?’

Evangeline was still holding some cards that could bring her victory. One of those cards was her Origin ability, Vox Imperium. She could briefly immobilize the girl and then land an attack that could knock her out.

It was just that… for some reason, Evangeline felt extremely uncomfortable displaying her Origin ability in front of so many people. She felt that it would somehow get her in trouble in the future.

’But hiding it isn’t worth it if it means that I’d lose.’

Making up her mind, she channeled her mana and cast a spell. The girl rushed at her, trying to close the distance once again, but Evangeline was faster this time.

Before the girl could reach her, a ring of flame materialized behind Evangeline’s back. The same ring of flame that the assassin had used against them six years ago.

And the next moment, dozens of fireballs separated from the ring and shot towards the girl. Just as before, the girl twisted her body in an attempt to dodge, but the fireballs changed their trajectory and followed her.

The girl’s eyes widened.

“What?!”

Evangeline internally cheered.

’That’s right! You aren’t the only one who can change their attack’s trajectory in the middle!’

The girl hurriedly covered herself in mana at the last moment, but it wasn’t that effective, and she still seemed to have suffered minor burns on her skin after being hit by all the fireballs.

But the girl gritted her teeth and pierced Evangeline with her gaze.

“Using tricks now?!”

Before her opponent could lunge at her, the ring behind Evangeline’s back rapidly grew in size and materialized a flame barrier around her, shielding her from all sides. This was the same move that the assassin had used by the end.

Inside the barrier, Evangeline began preparing an attack by mixing flame with a small vortex of wind. While doing so, she shot a spray of water at the walls of the flame barrier. The barrier’s searing heat caused the water to vaporize, and moments later, the inside of the barrier was completely shrouded in steam, hiding Evangeline’s figure.

Outside, the girl raised her hand, and a platinum axe materialized in her grip. Covering it in mana, she swung it down at the flame barrier, shattering a small part of it. The girl didn’t hesitate for even a moment and jumped straight inside the steam-filled flame barrier.

The temperature inside was hot, and nothing was visible due to the steam, but the girl easily navigated it with her eyes still closed. She appeared before Evangeline, who was just a few moments away from completing her attack.

As Evangeline saw the girl’s fist flying towards her face…

…Her lips curled up into a smile.

’Got her!’

A barely audible whisper left her mouth.

⪡”I command you to freeze.”⪢

An invisible ripple spread through the surroundings, and the girl froze with her fists inches away from Evangeline’s face.

’It really worked!’

Adrian hadn’t been able to break the assassin’s flame barrier, but the two of them were only Phase Two back then. Considering that her opponent was a Phase Three, Evangeline had expected the girl to be able to break the barrier.

Those watching them wouldn’t be able to see what was happening inside the barrier due to the steam, so Evangeline’s Origin ability would remain a secret to everyone aside from her opponent.

She released the attack she was preparing since it was bait anyway.

Covering her hand with a wind vortex and a chunk of raw mana, she pulled her fist back. Mustering all the strength she could, Evangeline struck the girl in her gut.

The force of the punch sent the girl flying several meters back, nearly throwing her outside the stage.

Evangeline let out a tired sigh.

’It’s finally over.’

She released the flame barrier and stopped channeling mana into the bracelets and tiara. With the barrier gone, the steam filling it escaped outside, slowly clearing Evangeline’s vision.

But just as she was about to turn around, she saw a moving silhouette within the half-cleared steam.

Evangeline’s eyes widened.

’What?!That attack wasn’t enough to put her down?!’

But before she could react, the girl lunged at her from within the cover of the steam.

“Full of tricks, aren’t you?! But that wasn’t nearly enough to defeat me!”

Caught off guard, Evangeline wasn’t able to defend in time as the girl grabbed her by the hair and smashed her face to the floor.

“-Gah!!!”

The impact was so significant that it caused her vision to darken and she soon lost consciousness.

***

Standing before the girl who lay unconscious on the floor, Saria wiped the blood off her lips.

Her body’s condition was in ruins. The girl’s last attack had broken several of her ribs. Standing still and keeping herself from losing consciousness was already a struggle.

But it didn’t matter.

A single Time Potion would heal all her injuries and return her to her previous state.

When she had applied for the Imperial Academy’s entrance exam, she didn’t think that there would be someone who would be this much of a challenge for her. But this had surprised her quite a bit, even if she didn’t show it.

In a one-on-one fight between a caster and an infuser, where they were both of the same strength, the caster would lose eight out of ten times. This was why she had assumed that this match was going to be easy.

That was not to say that she was unaware of the girl’s reputation or underestimated her. No, it was quite the opposite.

’There would be no one foolish enough to underestimate this girl after seeing her display of strength during the practical exam.’

But even with that, there was no way the girl could’ve defeated her. There was no way anyone could’ve defeated her.

Her father’s voice rang in her mind.

’Saria, you must engrave this in your mind. If you really wish to make your dream come true, then from this point onward, you cannot allow yourself to be defeated.’

Standing still, Saria took a deep breath.

’That’s right. I can’t allow myself to be defeated.’

Not by her, not by any other applicant in this academy or by anyone in this entire world. If that was what it took for her to fulfill her dream, then so be it.

The referee hesitantly raised his hand and announced.

“The duel is over and the winner is Saria Velcyra Mythrien!”