How to Survive at the Academy Chapter 219

King of Dunjae (7)

Everyone in the audience was holding their breath at Dyke’s efforts.

Right now, this duel has been dominated by Ed Rosteylor ever since it started. It is pitiful to see Dyke Elferlan’s desperate figure, who somehow clenches his teeth and holds on.

After a brief conversation with Ed in the middle of the arena, Dyke, for some reason, began to move more lightly after that.

Raising his guard, he swayed his massive body around and rushed towards Ed, but was blocked and stopped by various magics and elemental arts. Every time that happened, Dyke’s wounds increased in number, but Dyke himself showed no signs of paying attention.

Students and combatants belonging to the imperial family, who had a natural fighting sense, could easily read his age from Dyke’s movements.

Ed leisurely evades, and Dyke’s one blow, which he uses magic to block, is truly powerful.

But that’s all.

No matter how powerful a cannon is, it has no meaning if it doesn’t hit.

By repeating the ducking and swaying movements, he miraculously succeeded in outwitting Ed once, but it was close to a fluke that only worked the first time.

As soon as he got the information that the opponent wasn’t just fast, he was approaching with proper evasion and fakes… Ed’s movements became noticeably more cautious.

Even when an estimate of a counterattack comes out, he does not easily counterattack. It reads each and every movement of the opponent and launches an attack at a time when the center of power is completely focused and can never be countered.

That’s how Dyke falls out, rolls on the floor, and increases the wound… but with a clenched teeth, he raises his body with one clenched jaw and runs towards Ed again.

but…

“Princess Selaha.”

Princess Selaha’s aide, the butler, Dest, who was escorting her side and watching the sparring, quietly approached and whispered in her ear.

“Without looking further, the eldest son of the Elphelan family is about to be defeated.”

It may mean to prepare your mind.

The Elphelan family has given full support to Princess Selaha for a long time. Satisfied with her loyalty, Princess Selaha also maintained a special relationship with her, to the extent that she uttered various voices and contributed in many ways to the revival of the El Phelan family. When the head of such a family boasted of victory in a duel, Princess Selaha also smiled.

Selahha knew that Ed Rosteiler was a very strong man. Because he was at the site of the massacre at the Ross Taylor mansion.

I had to admit that it was not an easy opponent, as I had even seen Ed Roth Taylor summoning some of the highest level spirits himself.

However, there is no way that a weapon with many restrictions like the highest ranking spirits could be taken out from a place where so many people gathered.

Ed Rosteyler’s best power would have been that wind wolf. It was because the Ed Rosteilor in Sellaha’s head remained as a stronger Elementalist compared to his peers.

After drawing a conclusion about what Ed could do, the head of the Elphelan family made a boast to Princess Selaha.

Princess Selaha nodded her head in satisfaction at the story of Esthutel Elferlan, who decided that Dyke Elferlan would surely be able to break his nose.

And now, it looks like this.

Doesn’t it hit high-level magic out of the blue, or avoid Dyke’s attacks in close combat?

Ed Roth Taylor’s fighting style was closer to that of an all-rounder with deep knowledge in all fields, rather than a wizard. More than I thought, Ed Roth Taylor was a style that was perfected as a fighter.

‘Even the highest level spirit I saw at that time… was just one of the secret methods…?’

Princess Selahha narrowed her brows as she watched the sparring scene. She seems to have already come to a conclusion, but it’s just that Dyke is struggling.

Ed Rosteyler is one step above Dyke Elphelan in almost every area. It was a scene that not only Princess Selaha, but most of the audience gathered in the arena had to admit.

“That student named Dyke is great as a warrior. As far as strong mental strength and will, it is indeed worthy of being called a role model for warriors. He must have gone through years of training. but…”

Dyke digs in and punches Ed, but he falls out once again due to the ‘Blessing of the Storm’ after the cooldown has expired.

“I was hopelessly lacking in combat sense. No matter how many times you train your body, train your mind, and polish yourself over and over again… There is no choice but to be a natural upper limit to that growth.”

At Dest’s words, Princess Selaha frowned.

Butler Dest, who had once worked as a combat agent, could easily read Dyke’s natural limitations from his movements.

“Probably, the Dyke student himself knows best. He has risen to the highest level where he can be strong by investing effort.”

Dest gently closed his eyes and spoke.

“However, this ideal is a dead end. I also… I know it well because I’ve experienced it. In a duel with the lower grades, I might have been able to take it down with just the performance of that effort, but in a duel between those who are aiming for the top… that alone is not enough.”

As if empathizing with Dyke… Dest spoke in a whisper.

It is a wall.

Standing before Dyke’s eyes, who raised his guard, was a majestic and gigantic wall. It is a wall so large and strong that it cannot be broken down or bypassed.

Even if they make the same fist, Dunjae’s fist and genius’ fist are completely different.

From trivial body movements to the sense of instantly catching the enemy’s movements, the movement of twisting and breaking the center of force in an instant, and the agility of moving by using even the inertia or gravity that restricts the body as a driving force.

The realm of training and the realm of the senses are completely separated.

The sense of the moment that people like Clevius, Ziggs, Taily, and Beros were born with… Dyke was not born with it in the first place.

Delays in skill mastery can be overcome.

If you learn the same kick twice as slowly as everyone else, you’ll have to practice it twice as long.

In reality, it took about five times longer, and there were many days when I had to practice ten to twenty times more. That’s what you can break through with willpower and the amount of training points.

However, once you reach the limit of your effort, what you see is a wall that cannot be overcome with effort alone.

Overtaking the rabbits taking a nap by the side of the road, the tortoise gritted its teeth and ran straight down the road. When you reach the end of the road, stretching out among the lazy geniuses, what you see is a huge rock. It is so high that it cannot be jumped unless it is a rabbit.

The referee approaches and whispers in the turtle’s ear. To go next to this, jump over it.

– Boom!!

Dyke, who got up again, was losing his mind. Even so, he gritted his teeth and got up to raise his guard.

Take a deep breath and exhale hotly.

Hueup-

ha-

When there was no sign of a declaration of surrender, the bachelor’s staff came out and began preparing to finish the duel.

It has already shown to the audience how much the best students in the bachelor’s level are.

In addition, the composition of the duel itself has reached a point where it is meaningless to proceed further.

As the duel slowly turned into a long battle, all of Dyke’s melee attack patterns had already been destroyed.

The throwing fists are powerful, but there are few irregular attack patterns based on sense, and there is no more way to catch Ed off guard after close proximity.

‘Fal-gyeong’, which has no warning and suddenly jumps out and embarrasses the opponent, consumes too much mana. Dyke, which lacks magic response in the first place, is a skill that cannot be used properly a few times, and ‘rock skin’, which alleviates physical shock to some extent, is also likely to be incapacitated in an instant if repeatedly hit with high-powered magic.

By all accounts, there’s no way to beat Ed Rosteyler anymore.

That blonde aristocrat is strong as a monster.

However, Dyke let out a laugh.

“I lost, Ed Rosteylor.”

Sudden declaration of defeat. Not only the audience, but also all the faculty members were shocked.

Dyke Elphelan never threw the white flag first, despite losing many duels.

No matter how clearly it was a win, he was a man who never gave up.

However, even though he said it out of his mouth… he still didn’t lower his guard.

“…”

“I had a hunch about defeat from the beginning. In the first place, it wasn’t once or twice that I lost a duel with my pride… Each time, my pride was hurt and I was like a dog. It really makes me angry and resentful to fall on my knees in front of bastards who haven’t trained a tenth as well as me.”

“Didn’t you say you were used to it? In fact, she didn’t even react that emotionally.”

“okay. In the eyes of others, he might have looked like a mature and mature person who accepted defeat. But I just didn’t want to show the disassembly. Because it hurts my pride.”

Dyke knew. Originally, defeat is resentment.

It is many times more dangerous to get used to defeat and settle down without feeling any more resentment.

No matter how many times you roll on the floor covered in blood, you must never lose the spirit of improvement that goes upwards.

That is the treasure that Dyke has kept until the very end. Even if it’s worn out and tattered pride, I somehow patch it up, and I remember the feeling of being with him until the end. That’s how Dyke Elphelan lives.

“But, for some reason, I’m not angry today.”

“…yes?”

“It must be because the other person is a guy like you.”

A tattered, half-unwound bandage barely clung to Ed’s arm.

The wounds and small muscles revealed through the gap. The hardships that I could barely achieve while wandering between death and death many times.

Since that thorny path was not difficult to draw in Dyke’s mind, he spoke in a clear voice.

“—Is the road still open?”

Dyke felt it. His path is now blocked.

A huge wall is standing tall, so you can’t move forward. I can only take a side step with difficulty.

Ed thought for a while to the question Dyke asked with a big laugh… and then spat out an answer.

“Not yet.”

“Yeah, that’s a very enviable thing.”

After spitting it out so coolly, Dyke took a posture to prepare for the last sum.

Even though he already knows defeat, he intends to pay the sum this time. Perhaps he had a hunch.

The willpower remains, but the body’s energy has already reached its limit. His body can’t keep up with Dyke’s strong mental strength.

A heartfelt administration that puts out all its might, just once. If it works, you win, if not, you lose.

—And, it wouldn’t work.

Knowing that fact, Dyke was able to declare defeat in advance.

However, a declaration is only a declaration. As long as I have energy left, I unleash a fist. I’ve lived my life that way. Ed also knows very well that Dyke isn’t going to end here, so he never lets go of his defensive stance.

Because there is no way to reverse the way of life that has been carried out all my life.

Hueup-

ha-

Dyke takes a deep breath and punches out.

– Woe!

– Quaaaaaaaaaang!

Ed, who changed the trajectory of movement using wind magic, evaded Dyke’s fist without much effort.

While lowering his stance as it is, a ‘single point explosion’ directly hits Dyke’s chest.

Dyke is in a state of complete disrepair, unable to raise his guard or prepare his mind, and even run out of mana.

As it was, all damage was stabbed into Dyke’s body without being blocked or spilled.

– Kwaaaaaang!

– patter

When the rising dust was scattered by the wind and disappeared, what I saw was Dyke’s limp figure on his knees.

There was no consciousness to be found, but the expression seemed relaxed.

*- Waaaaaaaaa!

Cheers pour in for the winner.

Praise pours down on Ed Roth Taylor, who stands upright again in the center of the arena.

Flowers thrown from the audience seats embroidered the sky. They sit down one by one on the floor of the arena and pile up.

Ed bowed his head to Dyke, who was kneeling down and bowing his head.

After raising him on a stretcher with the bachelor’s staff who came to help him, he bowed his head to the audience.

Then cheers erupted from the audience again. They applauded for a while in the heat, then Ed Rosteyler raised a finger and asked for silence.

As if it had been promised, the audience fell silent. For now, it’s time to briefly talk about your feelings about the glorious victory.

Princess Selaha narrowed her eyes and bit her lip.

If Dyke had won, he would have thanked Selahha for his work here.

I can smile proudly here as a warrior because I have compassionately helped a family in crisis.

All these honors go to Princess Selaha.

Saying such a thing would further enhance Princess Selaha’s prestige. In a place where countless nobles were watching, and even Emperor Chloel was watching.

However, all plans went awry. I tried to judge Ed Roth Taylor’s strength as conservatively as possible, but he was stronger than I expected. The pace of growth far exceeded expectations.

He who supports Princess Fenia will probably further enhance Fenia’s name here.

Selaha closed her eyes tightly and was about to sigh.

“Today’s victory is due to the great Princess Selaha, who calmly coordinates the situation even in the midst of the disaster at the Ross Taylor Mansion and always tries to look at the world objectively.”

However, a story that made me doubt my ears came out one after another.

“It is a great honor for me, Ed Roth Taylor, that Princess Selaha watched this duel here. There was a time when you doubted me and looked at me with a hostile gaze. But it was the natural thing to do as an all-encompassing monarch. It is because the original sin of the Ross Taylor family is not nonexistent.”

The audience held their breath and focused their attention on Ed Rosteyler’s words.

“But I know. Because Princess Selahha, who is always determined and has her convictions, centered herself and led the crowd during the disaster at the Ross Taylor mansion, I, too, can live upright here. That’s why, on that day, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Princess Selaha, who corrected the Roth Taylor family, who were going the wrong way, and led them toward the right path with reprimands and scoldings. Today’s glory is all thanks to Princess Selaha!”

Amidst the falling petals, Ed Rosteyler’s glorious words continued.

The crowd began chanting Selaha’s name. It really felt like Selaha had become the main character of this arena.

Emperor Chloe, as if proud of Selaha, smiled with satisfaction and stroked the back of Sellaha’s head. It was a sight to be proud of.

‘what…?’

The only one who couldn’t understand this situation was Princess Selaha.

There is absolutely no reason for Ed Rosteylor to defend and exalt Princess Selaha.

Nevertheless, Ed Roth Taylor, who gave all the credit to Princess Selaha with a sincere expression… was standing there casually applauding.

‘This… what kind of situation is this…?’

Only Princess Selaha stood firm in the crowd’s cheers.

Selaha’s intuition cries out.

──That man is plotting something.

That intention… is invisible to Selaha’s eyes. like a thick fog.