Chapter 162: Xion (1)
Evangeline stared at Adrian with a pout.
"When will you stop treating me like some stupid child?"
"When you stop being a stupid child, of course." Adrian replied flatly.
Evangeline puffed out her cheeks.
"Fine then, if you are so confident, then how about a bet? Let’s see who performs better in the entrance examination. Whoever loses has to fulfill the winner’s one wish."
Adrian remained silent for a bit with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Hmm... well, it isn’t like anyone else will be able to match us since we are both Phase Three. Fine, I will take you up on that challenge."
Evangeline pumped her fists.
’Just you wait, I’ll show you what I’m really capable of!’
***
Getting off the public carriage and handing the carriage driver the fare, Xion turned to look at the tall walls stretching in both directions and the massive black gate.
’Hmm... It has plenty in the size department, it seems.’
Based on the information he had received during his briefing, the Imperial Academy was a closed city with its own culture and economy that was completely unaffected by the situation of the rest of the empire. It was a city that was completely self-sufficient.
This meant that once enrolled, a cadet would have a hard time leaving before the end of their curriculum.
’Of course, children from powerful noble families are probably an exception to that rule, but since I’m playing the role of a commoner child, I can’t really benefit from that.’
Suffice to say, he would have a hard time leaving once he got inside. Probably...
Xion eyed the men in silver full plate armor standing guard next to the door.
’Let’s test out the security first.’
He took out a dull, grey coin from his pocket. Approaching them with unhurried steps, he smiled amicably.
"Hello there, valiant sirs. I would like to enter the academy city. I am a commoner, but I can take the test since I have the ability to use mana."
One of the armored guards eyed the two shortswords attached to Xion’s back.
"You aren’t allowed to carry weapons inside without enrolling first. Submit them here for now, and you can collect them from the reception in the enrollment area."
Tensing his muscles, Xion tossed the coin into the air. And the next moment, he drew both his shortswords and lunged at the nearest guard, aiming for a stab through the gap in the man’s armor.
"It’s an enemy!"
Both of the guards were quick to react, trying to draw their swords. Sadly, they weren’t quick enough.
Before the guard could draw his sword, Xion swung down one short sword, cutting the man’s arm itself. He stabbed the other short sword into the hole in the helmet, straight into the man’s skull.
"Gaaahhh!!!"
The man screamed in pain.
But by the time Xion turned to the second armored guard, he saw a sword’s blade covered in purple energy inches away from his face.
His hand moved instinctively, blocking the sword with his shortsword. But instead of being blocked, the sword cut through his shortsword’s blade and reached his neck, beheading him cleanly.
Xion’s head got flung in the air and fell to the ground moments later. Blood sprayed like a fountain from his neck as his headless body also fell to the ground.
"Huff... Huff..."
The guard panted heavily as he stared at the headless body. Then he turned to look at his comrade on the ground, who was squirming in pain while holding the hilt of the shortsword stabbed into his skull.
Moments later, several other guards arrived, probably because of the scream.
"What happened?! Report!"
Just then, the dull grey coin he had tossed fell to the ground with a low metallic sound.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
"Hello there, valiant sirs. I would like to enter the academy city. I am a commoner, but I can take the test since I have the ability to use mana."
One of the armored guards eyed the two shortswords attached to Xion’s back.
"You aren’t allowed to carry weapons inside without enrolling first. Submit them here for now, and you can collect them from the reception in the enrollment area."
Xion offered them a short, polite bow.
"Why, of course." He took both his shortswords and handed them to the nearest guard. "Here, you can take them. Am I supposed to have myself checked for weapons as well?"
The guard shook his head.
"There is no need."
Xion tilted his head.
"Hm? Why not? What if... let’s say, a spy from the enemy nation infiltrated the academy city while hiding daggers under their clothes. Shouldn’t you be thorough?"
Hearing him, the guards let out soft chuckles.
"Kid, you’ve got some really wild imagination there. Spy from enemy nation, huh? Well, to answer your question, it doesn’t really matter if a spy is able to enter while hiding weapons in his clothes. Inside, each and every person is monitored, and security is extremely tight. No way in hell will an enemy spy be able to pull anything off in there."
Xion furrowed his brows.
’Then why did you even collect my weapons?’
Just then, the massive black door opened, and the guard gestured for him to enter.
Offering them a nod while smiling amicably, he began walking forward with unhurried steps. But just as he was about to enter the academy city, his steps paused.
He glanced at the guards.
’...Maybe I should try once more.’
One of the guards tilted their head.
"What happened, boy? Why did you stop?"
He tossed the dull grey coin he had been playing with.
Taking a deep breath, Xion spoke.
"Kiryuzor, kill them."
The moment he spoke those words, an invisible ripple spread through the area as all his mana left his body, condensing in the sky above him.
The entirety of his Phase Three mana reserves was emptied all at once, causing a wave of weakness to wash over him. But Xion wasn’t affected much since he had gotten used to this sensation at this point.
A shadow fell on them all as the condensed mana materialized into a massive dragon with dark blue scales.
The guards froze the moment they laid eyes on it. All except for one.
"A d-dragon?!"
The guard who had maintained his composure shouted.
"It’s an Eternarch, and that boy is the summoner—!!"
Sadly, his shout was cut short as the blue dragon opened its maw and devoured him whole. The other guards soon came to their senses, but they were a moment too late, as they were all devoured by the dragon the next moment.
But just then, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky, striking Xion and turning him into a burnt corpse.
With the death of the summoner, the massive dragon dissipated into wisps of mana.
Just then, the dull grey coin he had tossed fell to the ground.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Offering them a nod while smiling amicably, he began walking forward calmly. But just as he was about to enter the academy city, his steps paused. He glanced at the guards.
’...Maybe I should try once more.’
One of the guards tilted their head.
"What happened, boy? Why did you stop?"
He shook his head with a reassuring smile.
"Oh, it’s nothing. I was just worried about my shortswords. They weren’t cheap, so I don’t know what I’d do if I were to lose them."
"Oh, boy, don’t you worry, we’ll take good care of your weapon. And if something happens to them, then we’ll buy you new ones."
Hearing the guard’s reply, Xion nodded at them and started walking again.
And just like that, he entered the Valcarion Imperial Academy City.
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