Earth's Greatest Magus

[Application received - 36]

Four days remain until the finalization of hall acolytes,

Despite the hall's increased popularity, there was a noticeable absence of new applicants seeking to join their ranks. The only additions to the hall's roster were the two acolytes who had returned with Emery from the Zodiac Outpost the previous day—siblings of an insectoid lineage.

Asahaka diligently conducted lessons for the other students, his voice resonating within the hall as he imparted knowledge and guidance. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the hall, Emery observed as Dillion engaged the two new students in a practice spar. Damo, seated on the sidelines, meticulously recorded notes.

The younger sister, Bellana, was a 15-year-old possessing a mythical worm bloodline. Proficient in manipulating the elements of ice and earth. She was currently a rank 7 acolyte with an aptitude score of A, 88%.

The older brother, Blaine, aged 17, was a mythical Ant bloodline. Proficient in manipulating fire and earth elements, he had achieved an impressive rank of 9 with an aptitude score of A, 82%.

In the midst of the sparring session with Dillion, the stark contrast between the siblings' combat abilities became increasingly evident.

Bellana, employing her proficiency in ice manipulation, launched a barrage of thin ice needles and sharp strings from a distance. However, her attacks lacked the finesse and precision required to overcome Dillion's defenses. Within a few moves, she found herself overwhelmed by Dillion's swift counterattacks, ultimately conceding defeat.

On the other hand, Blaine showcased remarkable resilience and skill in hand-to-hand combat. Despite facing off against Dillion, a top 100 acolyte, he remained steadfast, enduring their onslaught for over a hundred moves without faltering.

"What about weapons? Have you mastered any weapons?" Dillion inquired, a glint of anticipation in his eyes as he readied his enormous weapon—a ruler-type sword known for its reliance on weight rather than sharpness.

Blaine's response was not verbal; instead, he unleashed his transformation, enveloping his body in a shimmering crimson armor. With a determined expression, he raised both armor-plated arms in preparation for the next round of combat.

With an excited grin, Dillion swung his massive sword in a vertical arc, aiming for Blaine with calculated precision. Yet, Blaine remained unfazed, executing a perfect evasion maneuver that allowed him to sidestep the impending blow and retaliate with a swift punch.

The sheer size and weight of Dillion's sword made it seem impossible to parry, but to everyone's astonishment, Dillion had no intention of evading or deflecting. Instead, he met Blaine's punch head-on, using his own forehead as a makeshift shield.

The impact was thunderous—BAM!—as Blaine's fist collided with Dillion's forehead with startling force. Momentarily stunned by the unexpected counter, Blaine found himself vulnerable to Dillion's swift retaliation. With a fluid motion, Dillion spun on his heel, unleashing a rapid horizontal strike with his sword that sent Blaine hurtling through the air, the force of the blow propelling him several meters away.

"Brother!!" Bellana cried out in panic, her voice echoing with concern as she watched Blaine's abrupt expulsion from the battlefield.

Emery assured the girl that her brother was fine. Blaine's impressive skill allowed him to mitigate the impact by jumping away at the last moment, effectively reducing the force of the sword strike by at least half. It was evident that the young ant acolyte possessed a high level of combat expertise, knowing how to effectively take a hit. Coupled with the protective armor encasing his body, Blaine appeared relatively unscathed by Dillion's formidable strike.

Observing the scene unfold, Dillion couldn't help but express his amazement at Blaine's resilience before turning to Emery for guidance. "Master, should I continue?" he inquired, eager to resume the sparring session.

Emery cast a thoughtful glance in Blaine's direction, noting the determined glint in his eyes as he prepared for another round of combat. With a nod of approval, Emery encouraged Dillion to proceed. "Yes, of course. I also haven't had the opportunity to see you properly fight. Give it your best," he instructed, his voice filled with anticipation.

"Alright, master," Dillion responded eagerly.

With Emery's encouragement still echoing in the air, Dillion wasted no time in unleashing his full strength, assuming a formidable sword stance that sent tremors rippling through the ground beneath him. As he initiated his attack, the sheer force of his movement caused the earth beneath his feet to crack, a testament to the raw power he possessed. With a resounding battle cry, he unleashed himself forward, his speed and strength magnified twofold as he closed in on Blaine with lightning-fast precision.

However, Blaine remained undaunted, his focus unwavering as he employed his own unique technique. Engulfing both of his feet in flames, he ignited a burst of fiery energy that granted him explosive agility, allowing him to evade Dillion's onslaught with a short, sudden movement boost. With each agile dodge, Blaine narrowly avoided the incoming strikes, leaving Dillion swinging in empty air.

"Excellent!" Dillion exclaimed excitedly, his enthusiasm undiminished as he pressed forward with a relentless combination of attacks.

Blaine met each blow with a calculated defense, utilizing his explosive footwork to bolster his defense. Yet, despite his best efforts, there were moments when he couldn't evade entirely, resorting instead to channeling the explosive energy into his arms to block the incoming strikes.

Despite his valiant defense, Blaine's efforts proved insufficient against the overwhelming force of Dillion's onslaught. With a powerful clash, Blaine was once again sent hurtling backward, the impact shattering the armor on his arm and sending shockwaves reverberating through the training hall. However, Blaine refused to yield, his determination unwavering as the shattered pieces of his armor quickly reformed, and he prepared to face his opponent once more.

shattered pieces of his armor quickly reformed, and he prepared to face his opponent once more.

It was evident that there was a significant disparity in power between them; while Dillion had reached his 6th pillar, Blaine was only in his first or second. Even his transformation couldn't fully bridge the gap in their battle prowess. Despite the odds stacked against him, Blaine remained steadfast, relentlessly seeking an chance to counter Dillion's relentless assault. However, before he could mount a defense, Dillion swiftly changed tactics, unleashing a powerful downward strike aimed at the ground.

BAMM!!! BAMM!!!

With a resounding crash, Dillion's sword struck the earth with devastating force, creating a tremor that broke the ground apart. Blaine, caught off guard by the sudden upheaval, lost his footing and found himself unable to properly dodge the incoming strike. As the weight of Dillion's sword bore down upon him, Blaine was defeated, forced to yield beneath its crushing weight.

"You are very strong, Blaine. Good fight," Dillion remarked, his tone sincere and respectful.

Despite the praise, Blaine remained silent, his expression a mask of concealed irritation. Emery, observing the exchange, wasn't surprised by the young ant's reaction. He had observed Blaine's efforts to hide his disappointment ever since he and his sister were assigned to Emery's class the day before. It was clear that the siblings had been deliberately placed in the lowest-rank hall for a reason, and Emery was determined to uncover the truth behind their assignment.

Both recruits showed remarkable talent during the bout. While the sister lacked close combat experience, her mastery of ice spells was impressive. Emery couldn't help but hope that Klea would be able to glean valuable insights from her abilities upon her return.

However, what truly astonished Emery was Dillion's prowess. The young man fought with a ferocity that could only be honed through grueling life-and-death battles. Yet, it wasn't just his current abilities that impressed Emery—it was his untapped potential.

Emery urged the young man to continue utilizing his special sword technique, the "[Magnitude Slash]." This technique, blending earth and darkness proficiencies, was Dillion's family legacy that was refined by his old master. As Dillion executed the technique repeatedly, Emery observed with keen interest.

However, amidst the flurry of slashes and strikes, Emery confirms his suspicion as he hints the potential for gravity-

based attacks within Dillion's strikes. The realization struck Emery profoundly.

Seeing Dillion's character and potential, Emery couldn't help but reminisce about one of his most grueling battles against the Khaos Champion, Ezekiel. With dedication and guidance, Emery believed that Dillion had the potential to ascend to the top ranks of the academy.

However, as Emery attempted to provide guidance to Blaine about his techniques, he was met with clear resistance. The young man seemed unwilling to heed Emery's advice, displaying a level of frustration that led him to abruptly leave the training yard. Concerned for her brother, Bellana apologizes for her brother's attitude and expresses her worries.

Amidst this tension, a commotion erupted from the other side of the yard, drawing Emery's attention. As he came to investigate, he was taken aback to find several of his other acolytes openly voicing complaints about Asahaka's teaching.

The discontent among the acolytes escalated to the point where some of them decided to withdraw their applications altogether, causing a significant drop in the number of applicants for Emery's hall.

[Application acquired - 30]

"What happened?"