Necromancer Academy’s Genius Summoner

Chapter 64

Begin the duel!

Simon immediately pulled on the imaginary lever. Three skeletons with weapons jumped out of the subspace.

Haren drew a magic circle with jet-black behind his back. After a while, with the sound of a splatter, the demons arm made of jet-black soared.

It was his specialty, Black Hand.

Simon Polentia, Ive prepared the perfect strategy for you.

Haren smirked while moving the Black Hand to respond in any kind of situation.

Hes a Summoning aspirant, but his most threatening skill is Combat Magic. I just have to avoid approaching him.

Simon was a slightly different case from the general notion of a Summoner. The most common strategy would be to avoid the skeletons and directly target the caster, but Simon was also good at Combat Magic.

Itd be dangerous to recklessly go into close combat.

Hell probably attack me with a skeleton and induce me to charge. I wont let that happen easily.

Haren kept the distance and didnt move an inch. It was Simon who made the first move.

Hes coming!

Haren was watching him with a tense face, but Simon wasnt coming forward. Rather, he was stepping backward.

Tap. Tap.

He continued to step backward. The same went for the skeletons guarding him. While maintaining their formation, they backed off so far that the front of the formation now stood where the back was.

What is he trying to do now?

Harens eyebrow twitched.

Haren kept on watching him to see how far he would retreat, and Simon went all the way to the end of the Stadium.

The wall was now at his back. It was as if he had cornered himself.

I dont know what kind of strategy youve prepared, but I can use ranged attacks too.

Haren floated the jet-black magic circles in the air. Four jet-black arrows were rapidly being formed, nearing completion.

Huh? What? Whats going on?!

Rick, who was watching the match from the audience seat, jumped up.

He shouldnt be able to use other dark spells while maintaining the Black Hand, though?

However, Haren, who proudly completed the magic circle, shot out the jet-black arrows.

Simon reacted quickly too. Three shields came out of the subspace of the floor, and the skeletons threw away their swords, grabbing a shield with both hands.

Block it!

Skeletons ran towards the jet-black arrows while putting their shields in front.

Clonk! Clonk! Cloooonk! 

A sound of the impact rang out. The skeletons were pushed back, but they managed to guard it stably.

Look at this bastard now, hm?

The corners of Harens lips went up. His gaze was directed towards the weapons the skeletons had thrown to the floor.

He has no intention of attacking at all now. Is that it?

Simon stepped back, and the skeletons threw their weapons.

Haren, feeling puzzled, thoroughly observed Simons appearance.

A dark-blue jet-black was rising from Simons right arm, and although it wasnt a magic circle, it seemed like he was preparing something. Or even this could have just been an act

If you have no intentions of attacking, then!

Haren spread his palms out. The jet-black that flowed from the bottom of his hand began to draw a Curse magic circle.

Originally, it was a curse that couldnt be used at Harens level, but it became possible with Bahils surgery.

Bahils hidden technique, which allowed you to recreate a magic circle using jet-blacks property of recreating magic circles without needing knowledge or proficiency.

Haren stretched out his hand as the magic circle was completed.

Sickness!

A black curse flew like lightning from the magic circle.

The skeletons jumped in front of Simon to block the curse, but it easily passed through the undeads bodies and pierced Simon's chest.

Kugh!

His vision spun. Simon knelt down to a knee as nausea welled up.

A Sickness curse. It was known to be pretty effective when dealing with Combat Magic aspirants.

S-Something like this is a sickness?

Simons head spun, and the world split into three, rocking back and forth.

Simon clenched his teeth and got a grip on himself.

Oh.

Haren smiled.

Usually, youd lose your fighting will after getting hit by that, but by the looks of it Youre going to continue?

Simon, sweating profusely, raised the corner of his lips instead of answering him.

While thinking that it was a very annoying smile, Haren moved the Black Hand.

Wooooosh!

The devils arm extending out from his back swung like a whip. Simon sent skeletons with shields in front of him.

Pooow!

Two skeletons were flung away with ease. The hand changed its direction again in mid-air and swung toward Simon.

Despite feeling a terrible sickness, Simon formed jet-black on his right foot and jumped into the air.

Th-This is crazy, for real!

He dodged the attack, but his sickness and nausea got worse when he jumped. Simon wiped his lips while landing on the floor.

You paltry bastard!

Haren moved the Black Hand again. Simon frantically rolled around the floor to dodge the attack that bent freely and swung like a whip.

Harens one-sided offense continued.

What are you doing?! Simon! 

Meilyn stood from her seat and shouted,

Attack! You should fight back!

Hey, you, the student in front. Please remain silent!

Meilyn blushed at the voice she heard from the back seat and bowed her head. It was a rare opportunity where Rick could make fun of Meilyn, but Rick was sweating profusely while watching Simons battle.

Somethings off. Somethings really off.

Hey, Rick.

Meilyn glanced at him.

The information you got, none of it was correct! You said he cant use any other dark spells while using Black Hand, didn't you? And you said that the maximum length of Black Hand is around 2 meters, right? None of that was correct!

Rick scratched his head.

I dont know, I dont get it! Did he hide his powers? Is he actually a geek who concealed his power?

What the hell do you mean?!

I dont know either!

Shouted Rick.

Whats certain is that Haren Cork right now is many times stronger than as hes known to the public!

Slaaam!

Simon covered his mouth while avoiding the Black Hand that swung like a whip. 

Dammit, youre hella good at dodging.

Said Haren Cork while huffing. Before Simon knew it, a new Sickness magic circle was being prepared in Harens left hand.

But its all over once this gets completed. Lets see if you can still stand on 2 stacks.

A clear taunt.

Haren came closer and closer while needling Simons nerves.

He deliberately swung the Black Hand at a wide-angle to appear that his guard was down and to trick Simon into rushing in, but Simon didnt use Combat Magic to the very end.

He just silently brought out new skeletons to replace the shattered skeletons.

It was strange. It was clearly Haren himself who was taking the lead.

The first curse had hit, and the next curse was almost complete.

However

What in the world are you preparing?!

It was Haren who was feeling pressed.

Thummp!

Baaang!

On the other hand, Bahil was in the audience stands, watching silently with his arms crossed.

As he expected, the match was one-sided. 

Interesting.

Bahil turned his head and murmured,

Isnt this the first time youve come to see a first-years duel, Senior?

Aaron in a shirt and shorts came up into the audience stand from the stairs. He tried to pass by Bahil without saying a word. 

A sense of guilt.

Aaron stopped.

Isnt that the reason why you arent taking any direct disciples, Senior? Since you know exactly what kind of hardship youll go through if you choose Summoning. Most of your disciples also changed their major without overcoming those hardships, so you shouldnt be able to take it any longer.

Bahil shrugged his shoulders.

And youre feeling greedy after all that?

Aaron looked back at Bahil with a cold gaze.

Bahil smiled without avoiding his gaze.

Take a look.

Bahil spread his hand out.

See what kind of situation our disciple is facing now.

Now, Haren was actively closing his distance and wielding his Black Hand.

Simon was focused on blocking and dodging, devoting himself only to defending.

The shield that the skeletons were holding eventually got destroyed. With Harens follow-up, the skeleton was broken, but Simon persistently revived it with Restoration.

When Harens second Sickness is complete, this match will be over.

Am I wrong, Senior?

Aaron silently looked down at the match between Simon and Haren. Then, he turned his back and went down the stairs he had come up earlier.

Senior, where are you going?

The match is already over.

Aaron turned to Bahil and added another sentence.

I came here just in case, but theres no need for me to watch anymore.

?

Bahil looked at the back of the leaving Aaron, puzzled.

* * *

* * *

Slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!

The stadium was covered with dust from Harens attack. Haren gasped heavily, his face red.

You!

He couldnt understand Simons strategy at all. Jet-black continued to rise on Simons right arm, but that wasnt a magic circle or anything.

Nah, it wouldnt be necessary for me to know that. Now itll be over!

Haren stretched out his right hand.

The second Sickness hit Simon as he lost his balance while dodging the Black Hand.

Ooof!

Simon felt like his surroundings were being terribly twisted. The feeling of dizziness and vomiting pushed him to his limit.

He wasnt in a state where he could fight at all.

How is it? Doesnt it feel like shit, Special Admission No.1?

Haren smiled with his teeth.

You obviously came here to completely beat me up, but its not that easy, right? You're crawling on the floor. Thats the reality.

Theres nothing obvious in this world.

Simon stood up slowly, resting his left hand on his forehead.

Phewww.

The jet-black that was lingering in Simons right hand disappeared. Harens smile deepened.

You gave up. Planning to surrender?

No.

Simon slowly brought his hand to his neck, relaxing his muscles. You could hear bones popping.

Its now complete. Time for me to fight back.

?!

Was it the one that he'd been preparing for all this time?

Haren hurriedly turned his head and looked around the stadium.

There was no change in Simon or the stadium, or the condition of his own body. It wasnt a curse, nor a hallucination.

This bastard, bluffing till the end!

Did you know?

Simon clenched his fist and punched the air in front of him.

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooom!

Woah!

Kyaaaaaaaaaah!

The whole stadium was shaken hard.

Screams broke loose from all over the audience seats, and people looked around in shock.

Simon pulled his fist back with an expressionless face, then punched again.

Detailed rules for Duel Evaluation. Article 3, Section 4.

Booooooooooooom!

Students participating in the Duel Evaluation will be disqualified if they leave the stadium during Evaluation.

Boooooooooooooooooooom!

Harens eyes widened.

A crack in the shape of a giant fist was being formed on the stadium wall behind Simons back.

But no matter how much I looked at the rules, there was nothing that forbade bringing anything from outside the stadium.

Slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!

Finally, the walls of the stadium were smashed through, crumbling down.

You could see the view outside. The referee, the officials, and the spectators all opened their mouths.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Something huge from outside was breaking into the stadium. Every time that huge leg hit the floor, it created a crack in the stadium floor.

Hah.

Haren let out a feigned smile.

Kuhugh! Hah! Hahahahah! You fucking crazy bastard!!

A huge summon with a large body made by the agglomeration of soil and mud centering on a core that had Summoning magic applied to it.

The symbol of a Summoner. 

Haren desperately shouted at the relaxed Simon,

This is a first-year Duel Eval! Fucking shit! What kind of?! Why is a golem coming out of here?!!!

Summon Mud Golem.

It was Summoning magic that gathered soil around the golems core and shaped it into a form of a golem.

Woooooooaaaaaaah!

A first-year who brought a golem to the first Duel Evaluation! The crowd was completely turned upside down.

Meilyn and Camibarez also opened their mouths. Rick feigned a laugh like Haren.

When I went out to look for Simon. He was burying the golems core in the back of the stadium. Simon was thinking of creating a golem from the start.

Meilyn turned her head.

I mean, lets say the skeleton archers are understandable, but is it possible for a first-year student to make a golem?!

Rick shrugged.

Youre looking at it right now.

Of course, the shock that Haren received was greater than anyone elses

This is ridiculous! No way! Referee! Isnt that someone elses summon? He should be disqualified as a violation of!

The referee shook his head coldly.

That summon is moving with the jet-black of student Simon. Its his golem.

Simon, who buried the golems core at the back of the stadium, headed to the place where it was buried as soon as the duel started. Of course, it wouldve seemed like Simon backing off and running away from Haren.

Then he went out on full defense and began to complete the golem beyond the wall. Since it was placed outside, there was no fear of the core being attacked.

And like that, without any visual help, he activated the core of the golem with jet-black and attacked the soil around it to create the golem.

Now,

Simon smiled.

its my turn now, right?

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

The golem began to charge at a frightening speed when Simon gave the order. 

Contrary to its gigantic, seemingly sluggish size, it was fast, faster than he expected. While experiencing the tension of facing the giant monster alone, Harens fists were tightened with nerves.

Dammit!

Life was unfair.

People were born with different things.

Talent. Wealth. Rank. Flesh. Race. Nationality. He knew. So he wanted to destroy it as a commoner without talent. He wanted to prove what value he could create when given the chance.

However!

A golem is too much!

A wall of enormous talent that was hardly imaginable.

For Haren, Simon standing behind the golem felt much higher and bigger than the golem itself.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Haren ran out while letting out a scream of desperation.

It was now do or die.

He stepped off the floor and flew into the air, spinning. He then threw out his Black Hand with all his might. The air cracked violently, and a demons fist slammed into the golems chest.

Thuud.

However, the golems body didnt even move an inch. A little pile of dirt fell, and the Black Hands arm bent like a soft jelly.

Straight punches are You could see Simon pulling his fist behind the golem. thrown with your weight in them.

As Simon threw a punch, the golem connected with Simons thoughts also threw its huge arm.

Thuuuuuuuuuuuuunk!

The world shook.

Harens body flew at the speed of light after being hit by the golems punch, reaching the other side of the stadium and crashing into a wall. The smashed walls caved in like a crater, and cracks appeared all over the stadium.

A wild wind like a runaway horse blew, and everyone in the audience seat had to curl themselves up.

Phewwww.

Simon slowly lowered his arm. The curse that Haren had placed on him was lifted, and his sight returned to normal.

[Simon Polentia: 76%]

[Haren Cork: 0%]

The referee, who was blanking out, belatedly came back to his senses and stretched out his hand. Sweat was glistening on his forehead.

The winner is Simon Polentia of Class A!