What are the disadvantages of showing one's power?
The answer is the increased probability of formulating a formula to counter it.
And what are the most basic things when you encounter someone strong?
'Beating it with numbers.'
This is nature's one basic rule.
A bear can destroy a wolf when each of them is alone. But a bear would never attack a wolf blindly.
Because, most of the time, wolves would hunt in herds. And it would know whenever he sees a wolf; the herd will flock sooner or later.
And humans tend to be the same.
In front of the absolute enemy, they would first group and then deal with other things first.
/SWOOSH/ /SWIRL/
"Hiss…."
Releasing a frost breath, I focused my senses on the three boys in front of me.
"Let's beat him first."
"Yeah, he is the strongest here."
"Agreed."
I had been fighting constantly for the past hour and almost got no rest.
Which made me pretty tired.
And my mana reserves were also depleting.
Focusing my eyes on them, I instantly read the panels appearing beside me.
'One four-star knight, one four-star mage, and one three-star ranger.'
Analyzing the enemy, I immediately conjured a formula in my head.
Though that also gave the enemies the opportunity to attack me.
/SWOOSH/
A sword that aimed right through my neck.
/BOOM/
Immediately releasing fire mana from my hand, I blasted off the incoming attack.
"Tsk!"
And a sound of scoffing came.
/SPLASH/
Though, I didn't have the time to look at the boy.
A blade of water conjured immediately reached me.
/BOOM/
Blasting the water, I deflected the momentum while cutting the wave into the two.
/SWOOSH/
And dodged the incoming arrow by amplifying my aura to my foot, increasing the distance.
'Now, follow me like a fool.'
And then, the boy with the sword tried to follow me, proving my thoughts and attacking me with his hands.
'He is using his mana this time.'
With my All-Seeing eye, I saw the earthen mana that was amplified on his arm.
'Going for a punch, huh? It seems he only knows enchantment spell.'
Immediately seeing the mastery over his spell, I analyzed.
And then raided my feet as well.
/SWIRL/
With the fire mana on my fists, I took my posture.
'Monk Foot.'
"HA!"
/SWOOSH/
Remembering the technique, I evaded the attack that aimed right at my shoulder.
And lowered my center of gravity.
To dodge the punch that was following it.
"What?"
Certainly, a surprised reaction could be seen on his face.
Then, with my foot behind me, I was ready to finish the boy in front of me.
Then without even closing the fire input on my hands, I immediately used the same spell I had been practicing.
Fireball.
Throwing a palm strike to the boy that was wide open with his attack missed….
/BOOM/
While blasting him off.
/SWIRL/
And then, I focused on the two others that were behind.
Then started chanting to use a more powerful spell.
Though if I had my artifacts with me, I would be able to destroy them with one-star spells, right now, the power of my spells won't be enough to disqualify them.
Therefore, I started chanting the 3-star spell that I had learned from the diary of Xenon.
"Ignis Infernus, flames rise and dance, Let your power enhance. Burn bright and fierce, with fiery might; bring forth your strength, ignite the night!
An attack that was aimed at a coordinate where suddenly a shower of fire would descend upon the place.
/SWIRL/
With the fire mana that was swirling, I conjured the coordinates in my hand.
"With whispered words and a watery embrace, let the currents swirl, full of mystical grace."
Though, of course, the other party was not staying idle either.
He was also conjuring a spell.
A boy with water affinity.
I heard his chant as I was attacking at the same time.
"From tranquil pools to raging floods, let water's magic shape as it should!"
Finishing his chant, he raised his hand.
"Whispering Waters."
And following that, a wave of water surged from his back.
Attacking me.
An attack that was very wide and very strong.
'What a fool.'
I thought.
/SWOOSH/
And finished the spell.
/PISSSH/ /BOOM/
And as I had finished conjuring the spell, a cloud of fire formed over his head, and a shower of fire descended upon him making.
"AAAAH!"
And with a loud shout of pain for a second, he disappeared, turning into particles.
The wave he conjured almost had reached me.
/SWISH/
Though, I just dodged it with a leap to the sky.
/SWOOSH/
Only to face an arrow that was coming right toward me.
Since there was one person that was left in the place.
A boy whose strength was three-star, way below others.
A boy who used an arrow.
Like a hunter, he was waiting for his time to come.
******
A young man who had nothing to lose.
He was the child of a couple that was living in a village.
His father was the ranger of the village that would protect it.
And thanks to it, he learned how to use the bow at a young age.
Though all ended when his village was massacred by a bunch of monsters.
And the boy was the sole survivor of that village.
Because of that, he only had himself to stay alive.
And he did.
By becoming the hunter.
He knew he was not strong; he was not the strongest.
But he learned something.
The one that lived in this world was not always the strongest.
It was the one that was in the right place at the right time.
And he polished this skill.
Being at the right place at the right time and doing the right thing.
Because of that, he was able to enter the academy even though he was a 3-star since a person recommended him.
And he didn't disappoint him either and left for the final four in his practical exam.
And he made others forget himself and hide.
Because he knew the boy with the sword would charge forward, and the boy with water skills would attract the attention of their common enemy.
And he was planning to attack at the one optimal second he saw.
Which he did.
The moment he saw the fire magician boy getting ready to jump, he knew it was the right time.
So, he released the string.
The arrow that was charged with mana flew toward the boy's head.
'Ah… You can't dodge it anymore. It is my win.'
He flashed a smile.
Though at that time, his eyes locked into the boy's red eyes.
And there he saw a smirk.
A smirk that looked like he already knew.
And suddenly something weird happened.
The arrow that was flying at the boy suddenly changed its trajectory.
It was a slight change, but it was a change nonetheless.
"What?"
And because of that change, the arrow missed.
The arrow that would certainly hit.
At least, that was what he envisioned.
"I missed?"
And before he could even think of any other thing, flames enveloped all around him, burning his skin.
And the moment the pain came, he felt something weird, and he lost consciousness…..
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