Chapter 523: The Grand First-Year Combat Festival: Drakes vs Ashenlocke, Again

"Yes."

Professor Natasha Clause nodded once in a calm manner.

A small but noticeable silence filled the entire Arena after she answered Patrick West.

The four large Holographic Screens were still displaying the slowed replay of the final moments between the two Young Lords, allowing the spectators to see details that had been impossible to follow during the actual fight.

The sight of the destroyed platform remained on the screens.

The one hundred and five Lee-Enfield No. 4 Rifles created by Veda had been shown firing together, while Ravenor’s Scarlet Flame Balls had moved through the barrage with frightening precision.

Now that the battle was being replayed slowly, many people in the crowd could finally understand just how devastatingly talented Ravenor Burnwick truly was.

It wasn’t only because of his ability to copy or replicate other Alchemists’ techniques.

It wasn’t even simply because he possessed more Cognis than many other Alchemists of the same rank from the moment they broke through into that Alchemist rank.

The deeper problem was his control.

His battle IQ.

His ability to remain calm while his opponent was attacking him.

And most importantly, his ability to recognize the weakness in an opponent’s attack and immediately use it against them.

The combination of all those things placed Ravenor Burnwick on another level.

Truly...

A genius indeed.

"Wooooaahhhh!!"

The crowd erupted again.

Applause spread through the Arena as Ravenor Burnwick’s name was shouted from several sections.

"That’s the Genius of Burnwick for you!"

"These First Years are truly talented!!"

"I’m so proud to be here, watching this face to face!!"

The voices continued rising.

People talked excitedly among themselves, pointing toward the Holographic Screens as the final moments of the fight were replayed again.

Some spectators were still amazed that they had been able to witness a battle between two Young Lords in person.

Others were simply happy to have seen a true genius of Alchemy at work.

The atmosphere around the Arena remained lively even though the first fight had already ended.

Time passed.

The Craft-Based Royal Academy staff finally finished repairing the fight area and the platform so the next fight could commence.

During that time, the spectators continued watching the slowed replay of Veda and Ravenor’s battle with admiration.

Discussions filled the Arena.

People argued about the two Young Lords, their strengths, their different fighting methods, and the level of combat Alchemy they had displayed.

Some talked about The Young Lord of Ashenlocke’s determination.

Others focused on The Young Lord of Burnwick’s ability to calculate the weaknesses of The Young Lord of Ash’s firearms.

And a few were already wondering what the next battle would look like.

At the seating section of the First Years...

Ezra watched calmly as usual.

His black plain eyes remained on the fight platform until Linda and Tracy returned to their seats.

Ezra turned his head slightly toward the two girls.

"How is the Young Lord?"

He asked plainly.

Tracy replied while taking her seat.

"He’s fine, but he’s still unconscious."

Linda’s expression changed slightly as she heard Ezra’s question.

"You shouldn’t have answered his question."

She said harshly while looking at Ezra with clear displeasure.

"You didn’t even come to look if the Young Lord is okay, and you are asking about..."

She pointed at Ezra as though he were the person responsible for Veda’s condition.

"Linda, he went, but left early though. I saw him left through the other exit before we came in."

Tracy corrected her with an awkward laugh.

"Ehn?"

Linda turned toward Tracy.

Her face showed clear confusion.

Ezra didn’t bother himself with Linda’s usual antagonizing episodes.

He simply turned his attention back toward the fight platform.

The next match was about to begin.

Linda wasn’t finished, though.

"...He should have stayed longer or said something, so that I wouldn’t just assume you are a jerk..."

She folded her arms.

"...which you still are."

She made sure to finish the accusation.

"Humph!"

Linda sat down.

"Ha... ha... ha."

Tracy laughed with a helpless smile.

She seemed to know that there was no point trying to stop Linda once she had decided Ezra was at fault for something.

Then Patrick’s voice echoed loudly through the entire Arena.

"Welcoming the next fighters!!!"

The crowd immediately responded.

"Wooooaahhhh!!!"

The spectators cheered with renewed anticipation as the Combat Festival continued.

Patrick raised his microphone.

"Miss Gin Drakes!!!!!"

He shouted the first Young Alchemist’s name brightly.

The crowd responded with another wave of cheers as Gin made her way out from the Arena entrance on the right.

"Miss Gin Drakes!!"

"Beat that crazy Ashenlocke!!"

"You got this, Solid Earth of Drakes!!!"

"Win, Miss Gin Drakes!!"

Voices of encouragement filled the Arena.

Gin waved with a bright smile while walking toward the platform.

Her steps were calm, and she continued acknowledging the spectators who were calling her name.

But when she reached the steps of the fight platform, her expression changed.

The smile faded.

Her eyes became more serious.

’Make sure you win, Gin. You know you are the last Drakes in this Combat Festival.’

Gin remembered the exact words of the Duchess of Drakes.

She also remembered the cheers from the Elders, several High-board members of the Drakes, and her parents.

They had all encouraged her before she came to the Arena.

Lady Fatima and Sir Starke also gave me a lot of encouraging words, and that idiot Logan also gave me some encouraging words.

Gin thought to herself, remembering the way Logan had shyly spoken those encouraging words to her.

Very surprising and disturbing.

"Ngh..."

Gin rubbed both of her shoulders as a chill ran through her body just from remembering someone like Logan Drakes giving her words of encouragement.

She could still remember the strange expression on his face when he had said them. Even now, recalling it made her feel uncomfortable.

Why did it have to be Logan?

Of all the people who could have encouraged her in a shy manner, it had to be that idiot.

Gin slowly lowered her hands and looked toward the other side of the platform, her serious expression returning as Patrick’s voice echoed through the Arena.

"Vs... Miss Lyra Ashburn!!"

The announcement rang through the Arena speakers with the same bright energy Patrick had used when introducing Gin.

"Miss Lyra Ashburn!!"

"Miss Lyra Ashburn!!"

"The Wild Gun of Ash!!"

"You got this, Miss Lyra Ashburn!!"

"Ashenlockes all the way!!"

A second wave of cheers erupted from another half of the spectators.

Unlike the section supporting Gin, these voices were filled with excitement for Lyra.

Lyra walked out from the left entrance with a bright smile on her face. The moment she stepped into the open view of the Arena, she raised both hands and began waving toward the spectators.

"Hahaha."

Her laughter escaped naturally as she continued waving.

She looked completely different from the serious girl standing on the opposite side of the platform.

Lyra even hopped forward excitedly as she made her way toward the fight platform, her steps almost looking like she was heading toward something she had been waiting all day to enjoy.

The cheers for both young Alchemists continued to fill the Arena.

"Gin Drakes!"

Lyra suddenly called out, pointing directly at Gin.

"What?"

Gin replied with a serious expression.

Her tone was just as serious.

"Huh?"

Lyra stopped.

She stared at Gin for a moment, her bright expression slowly turning into confusion.

Her pointing hand remained raised.

"What did I want to say again?"

She asked herself, genuinely confused.

Gin stared at her.

For a moment, she wasn’t sure whether Lyra was actually serious.

Is this really the crazy girl who cut her hand off when she faced that idiot Logan?

Gin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The memory immediately returned to her.

Ugh... just remembering her cutting her hand makes me feel like vomiting.

Gin placed one hand over her stomach.

A faint irritated expression appeared over her otherwise serious face as she recalled what Lyra had done during her fight against Logan.

She still couldn’t understand how someone could casually make such a decision in the middle of a fight.

The memory alone was enough to make her stomach twist.

"Let the countdown begin!!"

Patrick’s voice echoed through the Arena speakers again.

At the same time, the four massive Holographic Screens displayed the countdown.

The entire Arena responded.

"THREE!!"

Hundreds of thousands of voices shouted the number together.

The sound rolled through the massive structure like thunder.

Lyra’s eyes suddenly widened slightly.

"Oh."

She raised one finger as if she had finally remembered what she had wanted to ask.

"Between you and Logan, who is the strongest Drakes?"

She asked with an excited smile.

Gin stared at her.

"Huh? What kind of question is that?"

Her eyes narrowed further while she frowned faintly, because it sounded like Lyra wanted to compare her with Logan of all people.

Lyra tilted her head.

"I mean, it would help me know if I would win easily or have to fight with more effort."

A small giggle escaped her.

"Hehehe."

She said it so simply that Gin couldn’t tell whether Lyra was joking or genuinely treating the upcoming fight like some kind of interesting experiment.

"If you watched any of my fights, especially the one against your fellow Ashenlocke, then you would know."

Gin replied plainly.

She didn’t bother explaining further.

If Lyra had watched her previous fights, she would already know enough to understand what she was facing.

"TWO!!"

The crowd shouted the next countdown number.

Lyra’s expression remained bright.

"I forgot to watch any of your fights like Nina said I should."

She paused.

"I went to sleep early."

Gin stared at her.

"Seriously?"

One eyebrow rose.

Lyra simply nodded.

There was no shame on her face at all.

Gin’s expression became even more serious.

She honestly couldn’t understand how someone could sleep early knowing that an entire Combat Festival was going to take place the next day.

"ONE!!"

The crowd shouted the final countdown number.

The sound became even louder as anticipation swept across the Arena.

The four Holographic Screens immediately changed.

The displayed number disappeared.

BEGIN!!

Gin’s attention returned completely to the fight.

"Well, then you would just have to find out for yourself."

Her voice remained calm.

She lowered her body slightly and took her fighting stance.

Both of her hands stayed close to her Space Bag while Cognis began flowing calmly through her body.

The flow wasn’t wild.

There was no unnecessary movement.

Every bit of Cognis remained under control as it passed through her veins, preparing her body for the battle ahead.

Lyra watched her.

"Is that so..."

She smiled.

"Haaa... that sounds really exciting."

Her expression became even more pleased.

She also lowered her body and took her own fighting stance.

The two young Alchemists stood opposite each other.

Gin’s expression was serious.

Lyra’s expression was bright.

Neither moved.

For one brief moment, the Arena seemed to hold its breath.

Then...

"BEGIN!!!"

The crowd shouted the words that officially commenced the second match.