Several hours into their killing spree, the little thief suddenly stopped, its long nose twitching as it sniffed the air. It let out a series of low, cautious chirps, pointing towards a rocky clearing up ahead. Levi’s senses, now incredibly sharp, followed its lead.
He heard it immediately, the sounds of battle.
Curiosity piqued, Levi slowed his pace, moving through the grass like a cat sneaking up on its food.
He crept to the edge of the clearing and stared through the thick leaves. What he saw made his eyes widen in surprise.
In a wide, open clearing, a single student was surrounded and when he saw who the person was., he couldn’t help but be surprised.
That person was actually Ivory.
The timid girl who had supported him from the beginning.
And she was actually being attacked by a group of students.
There was Gerald, with his B-rank Inferno Winged-Tiger, Rosè, her C-rank IceFrostHawk circling above and another powerful C-rank student.
However, they weren’t the only ones. There were other students present as well and they numbered in the hundreds.
At this moments their eyes are filled with greed and murderous intent as they focused on the girl at the center of the clearing.
It seems the attacks from them had destroyed the nearby trees and grasses.
Levi was stunned when he saw this.
What could possibly make all these students, including the top geniuses, join together to attack a single person?
Then as his ears strained, he heard the students discussing.
It was a Heaven-grade Genetic Serum.
A treasure that could forcefully raise one’s Astra Soul talent by two complete grades, completely changing their destiny. An E-rank could become a C-rank.
And Ivory, who was currently a C-rank talent, could become an A-rank super genius!
A true, top-tier genius.
Even more shocking was that, despite the overwhelming odds, despite being attacked by three of the strongest recruits simultaneously, Ivory was actually managing to withstand their attacks without backing down!
A shimmering, golden mirror, her Astra Soul projection, floated behind her. It pulsed with a astral power, absorbing the attacks of Gerald and the icy blasts of Rosè, before firing them back with double the strength.
At the same time, the very space around her seemed to distort, a powerful gravitational field slowing her opponents while leaving her own movements unaffected.
For a C-rank talent, her combat ability was simply incredible.
Ivory, her face pale but her expression resolute, stood at the center of a tightening circle of predators.
Gerald’s fiery aura burned with impatience, Rosè’s gaze was cold as well.
Not to mention the hundred other students who were surrounding them like a pack of hungry wolves.
Gerald’s arrogant voice rose as he spoke.
"Ivory, it’s impossible for you escape now. Hand over the serum now, and I might consider letting you leave this trial without falling!"
"He’s right," Rosè spokw indifferently. "Your mirror is powerful, but the amount of Astra energy you’ve spent is immense. You should give up now while you can."
Ivory checked her fist tight. Her eyes were filled fraustration and anger. "This is a treasure I found. By the rules of the trial, it belongs to me!"
"Rules?" Gerald let out a scornful laugh. "In this world, strength is the only rule! And you are not strong enough to possess such a treasure!"
He faced the three and gave a signal with his eyes. And they all immediately attacked.
Just as the wave of attacks was about to be unleashed, a calm, almost lazy voice cut through the tension from the edge of the clearing.
"Three of the so-called top geniuses, ganging up on a single woman? And here I thought you guys actually have some sort of pride. I guess not."
Every head in the clearing snapped towards the source of the voice.
Levi leaned against a massive tree, his arms crossed, his exprssion one of immense disdain as his lips curled up into a smirk.
For a moment, there was silence as they stared at the person who had just spoke. Then, a wave of laughter erupted from the crowd.
"Look! It’s the F-rank trash!" one student sneered.
"What’s he doing here? Did he get lost?" another mocked.
Gerald’s eyes narrowed, a flash of contempt in them. "Levi Borne. I heard you got lucky and managed to climb the leaderboard. Don’t let a little success go to your head. This is not a matter you are qualified to interfere in. Get lost, before you get hurt."
Levi simply pushed himself off the tree and began to walk calmly towards the center of the clearing, his path taking him directly between Ivory and her attackers.
Ivory’s eyes widened in shock and she bit her lips. "Levi. You shouldn’t have come here. I don’t want to get you into trouble, I can handle this my self!" She knew he was strong, but this was a hopeless situation.
Levi was speechless. He wanted to help her but she was rejecting his help.
He didn’t even glance at her. His gaze was locked on Gerald. "I find it funny," he said, his voice filled with indifference, "that the ones who talk the most about strength are usually the ones who are terrified of a fair fight."
That was the final spark. Gerald’s face contorted with rage. He was the B-rank genius, the star of their generation. To be lectured by this F-rank nobody was an insult of the highest order.
"You’ve chosen death!" he roared. "Inferno Tiger’s Claw!"
"BOOM!"
A massive, five-meter-long claw of pure, condensed fire materialized above him and slashed down at Levi with terrifying speed and power.
The air itself sizzled and warped from the intense heat, and the ground beneath the claw’s path began to melt into orange lava.
The crowd gasped.
Levi watched the descending claw of fire with an almost bored expression.
He didn’t draw his cleaver. He didn’t activate his Inferno Slash or his Thunder Step. He didn’t even seem to brace himself. He simply raised his right hand to meet the attack.