Chapter 597 - Disappointing Choice (1/2)

The atmosphere froze for just a moment before the youths suddenly erupted into movement. What once was an orderly field of promising geniuses became akin to a mosh pit. But, in this context, with the strength of the people in question, it felt as though this mountain that Valiant Heart had called home for so long might collapse.

Earth cracked, air crackled, the sounds of shouts of anger and pain sounded as the so-called geniuses fought and jostled for position, each trying to make their way down the mountain faster than the last.

In what felt like no more than half a minute, over 90% of the field had been completely dispersed. As for those that remained, they had long since been trampled by the crowd to the point of being on their last breaths.

There was no doubt that amidst all the chaos, some had taken advantage of the situation to get rid of some competition.

However, true to his word, the old man didn't raise a single finger, watching these youths with broken bodies bleed out without a single word. Aside from a sweep of his gaze, he spared them nothing more even as some of them begged and pleaded.

Still, there were a few that seemed to stand out, geniuses who had kept their calm even in the face of such harsh elimination requirements.

There was the pale youth who was, even now, still intently staring at Balthorn. There was a burly young man with twin short sabers strapped to his back – juxtaposed to his size, they felt more like curved daggers than saber-like weapons. There was a young woman whose hair was pulled into two ponytails that combined down her chest. And, finally, there was Balthorn herself.

Each stared at the gates intently, unwilling to take their eyes off of it. Of course… With the exception of the pale youth.

Among these youths were Leonel and Aina who hadn't moved from the very beginning. But, rather than having done so out of curiosity, their reasoning was far different from the norm. Rather, Leonel had begun teasing Aina before she could even think of the next step she wanted to take.

But, after a while, Leonel raised his head to take a look at all the carnage.

With furrowed brows, he raised a hand.

”[Grand Heal].”

Strong Light Elemental Force descended from the skies, falling onto the bodies of the youths who lay bleeding out on the ground. If they were really left for just a few more minutes, it was likely that none of them would survive.

This minor action caused Leonel to once again become the center of attention.

The old man raised an eyebrow, but he couldn't exactly become mad at Leonel's actions. After all, there was no rule against this.

'Light Elemental Force…?' The gaze of the elders and youths sharpened.

This was no longer Earth where there were talents at every corner. In such a place, Leonel's Light Elemental Force stuck out like a sore thumb. There wasn't a soul here who didn't understand just how rare Light Elemental Force was.

The youths who had been focused on the two pillars looked back toward Leonel, a hint of seriousness in their expressions. But, Leonel simply cast [Grand Heal] again and again, lamenting the fact his healing capabilities were still severely lacking.

It was only after the last person's life was no longer in danger that he came to a stop and turned his attention toward Aina.

”What do you think?”

Leonel was only here to follow, truthfully. He had come here not because he wanted to, but because of Aina. So, he would let her take the lead.