Eternal Freedom's Ascension

Chapter 186: Hazel is indifferent?

Clang! Clang! Bang!

The duel between Liam and Austin stretched into half an hour, as they were equally matched in strength and skill.

They separated from each other, panting and exhausted.

"You haven’t used your ability yet."

Liam said, exhaling through his lips.

Even after fighting for over thirty minutes, Austin still hadn’t used his ability. This baffled Liam, and he was a bit unsettled.

Austin stabbed his sword into the ground, his back hunched as he tried to catch his breath.

"I’m also wondering why you haven’t fully drained me. It’s like you’re trying to keep a... balance."

Liam paused, his eyes narrowing.

’He’s already deducing my ability. I guess I can’t hide it any longer.’

Sighing, he decided to be honest.

"It’s not something comfortable to use."

"Oh?"

Austin raised his head, astonished. Liam actually admitted it? That was very... sincere of him.

Awakened humans didn’t usually admit the weakness of their abilities.

’Hmm. In that case, his ability is about balancing the stats of Awakened?’

Austin’s suspicion was spot-on. When Liam had fully drained Tamara’s strength yesterday, he had also been drained—on the brink of collapse.

However, his strong will allowed him to keep a facade of strength until the girl admitted her loss and Instructor Natalie announced the results.

"Very well," Austin straightened his back. "I will allow you to see my ability."

His gaze shifted from Liam’s face to his lance.

’Hm?’

Before the boy could react, the lance was forcefully turned, piercing into his shoulder.

Liam was stunned, staring at his own weapon blankly.

"Hah?"

Surprise and confusion rippled through the students as they watched the shocking turn of events.

"Liam!"

Kiera’s shout snapped him back to reality, and he looked up to see Austin closing in.

He immediately pulled out the lance, then swung it to block Austin’s attack.

Unfortunately, the usual clanging sound he was expecting wasn’t heard. Instead, it was a soft, cutting sound.

Austin’s greatsword sliced through his lance cleanly, even grazing his armor.

Holding the two broken parts of his weapon, Liam immediately retreated.

’What the hell just happened to my weapon?’

Austin paused, then said in a heavy tone.

"Dear friend, my advice for you is not to wear an armor when facing me."

Liam’s eyes widened, and his face became distorted in pain.

The armor he wore tightened around him, becoming a cage that compressed his body.

"Urgh..."

Immediately, Liam’s face became red, and it looked like he might burst soon.

"Alright that’s enough. Let’s not cause too much inju, okay?" Instructor Natalie said with a frail smile. "Austin M’banna wins."

Before she even finished speaking, Austin released his tightening grip on Liam’s armor, even using his ability to dismantle it.

The brown-haired boy collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily and barely conscious.

He was quickly carried away by the medical staff for treatment, while Austin returned to his seat with a calm expression.

Kiera kept glaring at him from where she sat, but couldn’t really do anything to him.

’If not for Kaiser’s threat... I’d have sucked you dry if I ever get to corner you.’

Meanwhile, Hazel looked on with a worried expression.

Even after the fight ended, she still hadn’t documented anything about the Class-D leader.

Ysabella approached her with a concerned look and sat next to her.

"Hazel, are you worried about Liam? I’m worried too."

Unexpectedly, Hazel shook her head.

"Liam will be fine. I’m more concerned about the threat this African guy poses to our class."

Ysabella blinked, an indignant expression appearing on her face.

"How can you be thinking about that right now?"

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she spoke.

"Didn’t you see his condition? His life is probably in danger right now, and you don’t even care!"

Her argument displeased Hazel, and she shut her down coldly.

"Liam’s life is not in danger. He was merely being strangled. Don’t make it look so ridiculous."

Ysabella stood up, an innocently righteous expression on her face.

"You... you... you don’t really care about the people you call classmates! You just want to use us to reach Class-A."

Bursting into tears, the girl covered her face and immediately ran away.

Hazel didn’t even turn to look at her retreating figure. Instead, she leaned into the chair and scowled.

"Use you? If I could reach Class-A on my own, I wouldn’t be burdening myself with you all."

Beside her, Kaiser asked slowly. "Does the... include me too?"

"Ugh..." Hazel glanced at him with a disgruntled expression.

"Stop being a jerk. You know what I mean."

Kaiser smiled and looked away. "Is that so..."

Down below, Instructor Natalie checked the list, then called the next name on the list.

"Maya Grace from Class-C."

The girl who had been quietly reading one of her favorite books flinched. She immediately looked up, then placed her book on the chair.

She climbed down to the stage, her head lowered as she tried to ignore the stares of the other students.

Standing before Class-C’s box, she hesitated slightly, then picked a card from within.

"Kiera... Xenovia?"

Calling out that name, she raised her head to see who her opponent would be.

Still displeased and angry over Liam’s condition, Kiera hadn’t even moved. Instead, she glared at the girl who had called her name, then walked straight to the stage.

’Maya? Her name sounds familiar, but I can’t remember where I heard it...’

Folding her arms, she furrowed her brows, staring at the girl.

Maya calmly removed her glasses, keeping it with Instructor Natalie, then turned to face her.

The two girls stood meters apart, staring at each other silently.

Kiera remained silent because she was fuming inside, while Maya didn’t say a word simply because she didn’t know what to say.

’Is there even a reason for us to talk?’

Noting their inactivity, Instructor Natalie sighed.

"I know it must be very touching for you girls to fight each other but you should summon your weapons now."

Maya nodded, then summoned her black, starlight armor, and her black scythe with a thin blade.

Kiera uncrossed her arms, summoning her red gauntlets and white armor.

Seeing this, Instructor Natalie smiled and declared.

"You may begin."