Chapter 163: A Series Of Explosions
The platform in the center of the combat room quickly gave up as multiple craters were created on it every time the two clashed.
The room was now multiple degrees hotter, but none of said heat reached Renelle as Adrian had created a barrier around them, one infused with her ice mana.
The same couldn’t be said for the students who had been drawn into the training room by the trembling caused by Darius’s and Conan’s clashes.
"W-what the hell is this?" A year one class three student let out as he watched the aftermath of the ongoing fight whilst sweat rolled down his face.
Most of the first years knew who Conan was, after all, during the past month they had challenged him quite a few times for the position in class one, since he was one of the few commoners in the class.
They had learnt the hard way why he was in class one and they were lower.
But even then, this was unbelievable.
He was going toe to toe with a second year and not just any second year, a class one second year.
Even the second years here were surprised, yes they had thought of challenging those in class one for the position, but if all of them were monsters just as the one currently in the arena, then they’d immediately reconsider.
After all, the flames were currently not aimed at them and yet, they felt as if they were melting.
Meanwhile, back in the arena, the actual barrier that was supposed to be around the platform was destroyed within the first few clashes of dragon flames.
Darius had a wide grin on his face as he was launched backwards by a flame in the shape of a dragon before blasting himself towards the kid again.
Even Inanis had to admit, the kid was quite creative with flames that didn’t belong to him, even more so than its contractor who preferred brute force.
Though that wasn’t to say that it approved of the fact that its flames were being used by someone not contracted to a dragon.
BOOOOM!!!
Another explosion of crimson dragon flames erupted across the combat room as Darius and Conan collided head-on once again.
The remaining fragments of the platform were completely shattered beneath them.
Conan was forced back several meters, metallic screeching noises escaping his feet as he forcefully stopped himself.
The dragon flames were clearly taxing his core, but they were a lot stronger than normal flames.
Meanwhile, Darius rolled his shoulders while grinning like a madman.
"That’s it!" he shouted excitedly before blasting forward again, "let’s have more fun Junior, show me all you’ve got."
The dragon flames around him roared violently, taking the shape of massive jaws that attempted to swallow Conan whole.
Conan looked at the attack before letting out a sigh, "If that’s what you truly wish."
The flames around him also grew larger, also taking the form of a dragon, but that was far from the end.
"Allow me to introduce you to another feature of the Nexus core 2.0," he added with a smile.
The flame dragon was suddenly enveloped in what seemed to be sparks of lightning.
"Meet the {flame lightning dragon}" Conan said as he launched the attack.
The dragon met the second year head-on, creating an even more intense explosion that shook the entire training room.
"What the hell is happening here?" The door that led into the training room was kicked open by the second year’s combat instructor, Tess.
She looked towards the center, where the platform was before frowning, at first glance it seemed like a clash between S-rankers, but the mana being released was clearly from B-rankers, so how the hell did they achieve such a destructive effect?
This was enough to bring down half the kingdom, and to think it came from the year one and year two students.
Her eyes then moved to the two that stood close to the platform, Adrian and Renelle before she let out a sigh and turned back around, "I couldn’t be bothered to deal with this."
"I’d rather spend some time with Leon," she muttered before walking towards the door again, "besides, I’m sure that the old ha— headmistress has already noticed."
With that, she walked out, in search of Leon, after all, this was the only free time they got and she wouldn’t allow it to go to waste.
Back on the platform, Darius clicked his tongue as he recovered from the attack, feeling both his hands numb.
But Conan suddenly appeared directly beside him and a flaming kick slammed into his ribs.
BOOM!
The attack sent Darius skidding across the ruined platform before forcefully digging his feet into the ground to stop himself.
He then spat out a bit of blood, the metallic taste annoying him quite a bit.
Darius then looked back at Conan who didn’t seem much better himself, it seemed he would soon run out of juice....which was the case.
Normally, merging elements didn’t require too much mana from the Nexus core, but it was different with the dragon flames.
The only reason he hadn’t bottomed out right now was because of the ice dragon’s mana within the core.
The same ice dragon that the yeti had absorbed mana from.
"One last attack?" Darius asked with a grin as he stood up straight.
"Bring it on," Conan answered as he poured everything into a larger flame lightning dragon.
Darius did the same, but his flames were black instead of red, and Conan’s eyes immediately glowed as an interface appeared before him.
{Threat level reevaluated, do not engage.}
Well, it was too late for that now, after all, the two had already launched their attacks which clashed in the center.
For a second, there seemed to be a struggle between the black flame dragon and the flame lightning dragon, but the next, the black flames completely swallowed the red one.
Conan’s eyes widened as the flame dragon approached, but just before it could reach him, the black dragon suddenly turned red, much to Darius’s surprise.
«We can’t have him killing the kid now, can we?» Noctis muttered, revealing that it was he who had stripped the flames of the void mana.
Still, Conan was launched backward like a cannonball before crashing through the combat room’s wall entirely.
"I guess we have our winner," Adrian muttered with a smile.
"Yeah," Renelle nodded as she looked at the two.
Darius, although spent, hopped off the broken platform and approached Conan who was lying on the ground, looking at the ceiling as his head bled.
"Are you okay?" He said, extending his hand.
"Not really," Conan muttered, "and I don’t think it’s wise for me to stand right now."
"I see," Darius muttered before sitting by him and muttering, "you’re quite strong."
"So are you."
They were silent for a while before Conan suddenly let out a chuckle, confusing Darius.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"Nope," Conan shook his head, "it’s just that, a few months back, I could never have dreamt of being this strong and yet, here I am."
"I’m strong enough to even protect my sister now," he continued, "and it’s all thanks to Adrian."
"I see," Darius nodded, understanding why Conan, like him, was eager for Adrian to see his progress.
After all, they both owed their strength to him.
"He’s pretty awesome, isn’t he?" Darius let out.
"Yeah," Conan muttered,
"He very much is."
