Chapter 287: Champagne Supernova (2)
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Mon-Fri
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Crash!
The table struck the spot where Adrienne had been sitting.
She had already moved away.
"You bastard, that's my line!"
Swoosh
The sword slid out of its sheath, maintaining its accelerating force and power as it was swung forward in a clean draw.
But, clang!
Theo casually blocked Adrienne's draw with a simple forward motion of his sword.
"Adrienne, you should be more humble. Your self-esteem is too inflated compared to your skill."
Adrienne's eyes widened as one of her proud techniques was blocked. The moment was brief.
She immediately retrieved her sword and thrust at Theo repeatedly.
The technique was strikingly similar to the nameless thrusts used by Irene.
However, there was a significant difference in completion.
To the untrained eye, it might look like a single thrust, but in reality, she had thrust over ten times.
Watching the onslaught of thrusts, Theo's lips curled up.
'...I can see them all.'
His training had paid off.
His enhanced physique was not just about increased strength and speed. His nervous system had been greatly improved as well.
Clang, clang, clang!
Theo deflected all the incoming thrusts with his sword. The thrusts were so fast that he managed to block two or three thrusts with a single defense.
He had intended to match each thrust this way, but his body couldn't keep up.
'Without using a buff... my body can't keep up with my eyes.'
Theo did not counterattack but simply looked at Adrienne.
Adrienne stared back at Theo with a look of shock.
'Not a single hit... landed.'
It's common knowledge that defense is harder than offense.
Of course, her attack wasn't with full intent, but it was clear that he wasn't defending with all his might either.
"..."
This meant his skills surpassed hers. And he was just a first-year student at the academy.
Theo silently raised his left hand and then flicked his index finger at her.
"Is this really all you've got?"
"You... bastard!"
Her frustration was short-lived. Enraged, Adrienne gripped her sword tightly and charged at Theo with speed more than double than before.
Swoosh, swoosh!
Her sword aimed at Theo's shoulders.
Theo dodged by twisting his body to the left and right.
Again, Adrienne's sword failed to reach him, thanks to his movements being more than twice as fast.
Crack-
Adrienne clenched her teeth.
'I'll land a hit no matter what... even if I have to use [Release].'
Resolved, Adrienne gripped her sword with both hands.
Her sword's tip, however, pointed not at Theo but at her own heart.
Just as the tip was about to pierce her heart.
"You fool."
Shick.
Theo's sword severed her hands.
Thud.
The hands holding the sword fell to the ground.
Blood dripped from the severed wrists, surprisingly little for such wounds.
"Uh..."
Adrienne looked incredulously between her severed hands on the floor and Theo's face, alternating her gaze.
"You bastard... what the hell are you doing?"
She was remarkably calm for someone who had just had their hands cut off. She appeared immune to pain.
Theo didn't respond but instead strode towards Adrienne.
Slash!
He immediately slapped Adrienne across the face.
A fire rose in Adrienne's eyes, not from pain but from the anger of being slapped.
"Theo Lyn Waldeurk, do you really wish to die?"
Adrienne's words were not an empty threat.
She considered using the 'last resort' of the practitioners of light. She had never been this angry before.
Theo opened his mouth.
"[Release]."
"!"
Adrienne's pupils dilated in shock.
Theo glared at her and said.
"You were going to use [Release] for something as trivial as this?"
"Really curious who your informant is."
"I told you, you'll find out eventually."
"If you know about [Release], then it's a different story. Who told you? Don't tell me it was Britney, that creepy b*tch?"
"We're not in a state to have a conversation. Can't help it then."
Shick.
Theo swung his sword, severing both of Adrienne's legs. The speed was so fast it was invisible to her.
"Now are you willing to have a conversation?"
Thud.
Adrienne collapsed to the floor, her body missing everything below the knees.
"You... you f*cking lunatic! Son of a b*tch!"
Adrienne growled. Propping herself up on her elbows, she looked up at Theo.
Theo crouched down to meet her eye level.
He spoke calmly.
"Pretty tough. Still barking like this. Are all the practitioners of light like this?"
"Shut up! Bastard... I don't know what you're planning, but just kill me! Even if Britney doesn't know, the others won't let you get away with this!"
"Sounds like a very third-rate villain thing to say. Anyway, why would I kill you, Adrienne? I don't take pleasure in needless killing."
"?"
Adrienne tilted her head, looking at her severed limbs.
The cuts were clean.
His swordsmanship had the decisiveness of a murderer who had sliced through thousands without hesitation.
Theo said,
"I'd be interested to meet other practitioners of light. You've piqued my interest."
"Whatever your scheme is... you got what you wanted, Theo Lyn Waldeurk."
Theo smiled broadly and extended his hand.
"So, are we comrades now? Looking forward to it."
Adrienne stared at his face in a daze for a moment.
"Ah... beautiful."
His face was smeared with her blood, but the imbalance only made him appear more beautiful.
Adrienne, with her mouth agape, reached out her hand towards Theo.
"Ah."
Adrienne looked towards where her hand should be. It was empty.
Seeing her reaction, Theo spoke.
"Ah, I need to attach those. Just wait a moment."
Theo took out a bottle of imitation panacea from his [Subspace Bag].
He applied the imitation panacea evenly to each of Adrienne's severed ends, then rubbed her cut arms and legs against the cuts.
Theo handed the remaining imitation panacea to Adrienne.
She asked,
"What's this?"
"Drink it all. It's good for you."
Adrienne looked at Theo for a moment, then poured the remaining imitation panacea down her throat.
Soon, a completely healed Adrienne got up.
She rotated her wrists and ankles, marveling,
"This is amazing. Like it never happened. Everything's working, even the nerves. Did you use an panacea on me?"
"Yes."
"I see."
Adrienne nodded unconsciously.
After a while, she coughed.
"No, no way. Was that a real panacea? There's a healers' guild in the academy. Did you use something that precious just to attach severed limbs?"
"It's a copy. It's much weaker compared to the original panacea's effect."
Adrienne looked at Theo as if he were insane.
"Even imitations are incredibly expensive! We barely managed to get two."
"Is that so? Anyway, keep your voice down. It's annoying."
Adrienne was speechless, just staring at Theo.
'Why would God give such a lunatic, such looks?'
Humans are dominated by sight. With that appearance, his words felt somehow innocently foolish.
Adrienne suddenly felt her own pettiness.
Regardless, Theo spoke calmly.
"When is the deadline to join the expedition?"
"The sooner, the better. We're setting off for the Great Demon Shrine in three days."
"I have three companions; is that okay? They all have exceptional abilities. If it's okay, we'll leave right away."
"Abilities don't matter much. I wanted you to join more out of interest than for your skills."
Adrienne stared at Theo's face and continued, "Are they tight-lipped?"
"All three participated in the [Ford Company] subjugation just a week ago."
Adrienne nodded.
"Hmm, that's fine then. Are all your companions in the academy? I'd like to depart soon."
"Yes. I'll call them, so just sit and wait for a bit."
Theo pulled out a communication crystal.
He contacted his companions one by one, asking them to come to the front of the male dormitory.
After finishing the calls, Theo clapped his hands.
Sitting on the bed, Adrienne asked,
"Is the maid one of your companions? You contacted three people with the crystal."
"No. I'm going to have her clean up while we wait."
Then, a knock sounded, and Amy's voice could be heard from outside the door.
Yes, young master. Did you call for me?
"Clean up the room; it's gotten dirty."
Understood, young master.
Creak.
Amy entered the room.
"What on earth is this..."
Amy was unusually surprised as she looked around the room. It was completely covered in blood.
Immediately, she pulled out a dagger from her belongings and aimed it at Adrienne, on guard.
Theo spoke nonchalantly.
"Put it away, Amy. We've just become comrades."
Amy put the dagger back.
"That was quite an extreme way to recruit a comrade."
"Yes. Anyway, I'll be away for a few days, so enjoy your free time. Just clean up the room."
"Understood, young master. I'll bring the cleaning supplies."
Amy nodded and then left the room, closing the door behind her.
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