Eternal Freedom's Ascension

Chapter 179: Insidious abilities

The duel ended there. It was very obvious that Iruca could not win against Sebastian.

He was a whole league above her.

After the two returned to their seats, Instructor Natalie called the next person.

"Class-E student. Liam Hart."

Hazel felt her heart tighten, immediately turning her gaze to the boy.

He stood from his seat with a calm expression, squeezed Kiera’s hand reassuringly, then walked to the stage.

Smiling pleasantly, Instructor Natalie gestured at the Class-E box.

"Choose your opponent~"

Liam took a deep breath and took a card from the box. The card contained a name that made his brows furrow.

"Tamara Dawnshade."

He looked around, immediately spotting the girl as she rose.

’So it’s her... Adela’s secretary.’

The girl came down with a cold expression, her eyes not even regarding him.

Finally, they stood opposite each other and locked gazes.

Liam summoned a full-body silver armor and his lance, holding it confidently.

A black, gothic armor manifested on Tamara’s body, along with two thin katanas in each hand.

Holding them by her side, she blinked.

"Begin."

She disappeared. Only a few people could track her movements.

Liam’s eyes widened, and he immediately raised his lance.

From the side, Tamara reappeared beside him, her blades pressed tightly against his weapon.

Everyone was shocked!

Liam had actually managed to block. Flicking his lance, he pushed her away and created some distance between them.

The boy smiled calmly and spoke in a respectful tone.

"I wasn’t expecting that. You’re really a strong Awakened."

Tamar didn’t reply with words, but action.

She took a single step forward, then leaped into the air. Liam watched her fall with a sharp gaze, and immediately retreated.

While falling, the girl spun like a throwing dart, rending the air apart as she dropped to the ground.

The move was letal, and Liam would have been crushed if he didn’t retreat. Now, she would only crash in vain.

To everyone’s surprise, the girl landed deftly on the ground without making any noise.

Liam was amazed, "Wow. You have a great control over yourself. I admire that."

Tamara still didn’t reply him. Instead, she dashed forward and attacked him directly.

Liam’s expression became serious as he blocked each of her attacks. She was fast, skilled, and unmistakably strong.

Despite looking lean, her strength was startling. Every of her blows reverberated into his bones.

’Hah... these Class-B students are really very strong.’

He smiled, then counterattacked. His lance shot straight at her chest, forcing her to lean to the side.

She didn’t retreat but attacked immediately, almost grazing Liam’s arm.

However, the boy was skilled and dodged, using only one hand to hold his weapon while he let her sword slip past him.

Clang!

They both separated, their weapons crossing between them.

"Excuse me, Miss. I have to win this."

Liam apologized, then took a step back.

He activated his ability.

Instantly, Tamara felt the air change. She felt weaker, like something was mysteriously draining her strength. Realizing that Liam was already using his ability, she also began to use hers.

"Bind!"

From within Liam’s shadow, two tentacles formed and grabbed his ankles, startling him.

The spectators were surprised, realizing that the girl’s ability was related to shadows.

Even Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

’This is getting... interesting.’

Liam reacted sharply, slicing them off with his weapon. He retreated from her, but more tentacles came from his shadow and wrapped around him.

He broke free from some with his strength, but others simply replaced them and wrapped around him.

"Woah... isn’t that ability pretty insidious?"

Not far from Hazel, Logan gasped in amazement. He couldn’t see how Liam was going to break free from such heavy restrictions.

’You are too soft. I will win this duel.’

Tamara thought to herself, slowly walking toward Liam. By now, the boy was almost completely covered in a cocoon of dark tentacles.

Liam watched her approach him and lowered his head. His eyes carried a hint of guilt as he muttered.

"Sorry."

He intensified the effect of his ability on her, directly sapping her strength in one go.

Startled, Tamara collapsed to the ground—too weak to even lift a finger.

The other students were confused and bewildered, wondering why the girl had suddenly fallen.

"Is her ability draining her essence that much?" Someone asked Adela, a frown on his face.

The lilac-haired girl shook her head with a smile. "No, you’re wrong."

"The one draining her is that boy, Liam. His ability is quite... envious."

The next moment, he suddenly tore apart the shadow bindings.

Looking unharmed, he rolled his arms and walked towards Rita.

"You’ve lost."

He said to the girl calmly, his eyes showing subtle sympathy.

’How...? What kind of...’

Tamara was enraged and confused, but she knew she had no way of overcoming the boy’s strange ability.

Seeing as she didn’t fight back, Instructor Natalie announced Liam as the winner.

Class-E students were relieved, and even a bit excited. They had already won two matches in a row, giving them six points.

Hazel didn’t share their excitement. Liam and Sebastian were two of the strongest students in the class.

Their own wins didn’t mean the other students would win their matches too.

’I’ll just have to document as much as I can.’

Holding her phone tightly, she took a deep breath and typed the information she had had gained about the student Tamara Dawnshade.

Next, Instructor Natalie called upon a student from Class-D.

The girl; Evelyn, went to her class’s box and picked a card.

"Thyla Dickson."

Hearing her name being called, Thyla turned her sharp glare towards the girl. She snorted, then stood from her seat and descended to the stage.

This was the first duel between two girls and Instructor Natalie was secretly delighted to watch. Seeing them summon their relics, she grinned.

"Begin."

Thyla rushed in instantly, throwing a sharp punch at Evelyn. The Class-D girl instantly raised her shield to block. However...

Bang!

When the punch landed, there was a loud ring and Evelyn was slammed into the wall of the arena, imprinting her figure into it.

The entire arena fell silent.