39 Theres No Free Lunch (1/2)

”It's good that you accepted but don't be complacent. There is no responsibility as a representative and anyone can challenge you for the spot throughout the 2-month training period. The final holder of the representative position at the end of the training will be entitled to a special promotion. That is it for today. You are free to go home.”

They were dismissed but no one had the energy to leave and just busy chatting among themselves about what they just learnt.

Those closest to Leon were pleasantly surprised and started looking at him differently. Lynne was the least surprised. She knew he was capable but didn't expect him to be this capable. Leon felt helpless at Fatty Ben's twinkling eyes.

”Wow you are awesome, bro... no, boss.” Fatty Ben started changing how he address Leon.

”Don't start worshiping me now.” Leon shrugged. Being the representative didn't give him any immediate benefits and only made him public enemy number one again. The students eyed his position covetously.

They weren't sure what the special promotion was but considering only one out of all of them would be entitled to it, it had to be something good. They thought that having a better position in the military would allow them an easier time during their service, but their thinking was a bit simple and naive.

”Leon Bradford, with the instructor as witness, I challenge you!” A 3rd step awakener challenged him. No one had left yet, and the student took first opportunity to challenge him. Like the rest of the students at the 3rd step, he wasn't convinced that Leon was stronger than them. Since the instructor didn't mention how strong he was, they believe he was also at the 3rd step like them.

Leon was speechless, while glancing at the challenger that was still recovering from his fatigue. He could have picked a better time to challenge him. Even if the student manages to beat Leon, he would just defeated by the next challenger with his exhausted body. Leon silently labelled him an idiot.

”Well go ahead then, make your move.” Leon accepted the challenge straightforwardly. The representative position wasn't something he wanted but since it was given to him, he wouldn't let others obtain it so easily. He wasn't a philanthropist. If the student wanted his position, then he had to earn it. There was no free lunch in the world.

”Right here…? Are you sure? There's people around us.” The challenger said with doubt. Someone might get caught in their fight.

”Y-You! Fireball!!” The challenger had his own pride and was easily angered for being looked down upon. He let go of his misgivings and condensed a fireball and threw it at Leon. His body was too exhausted to fight physically and resorted to using his ability. He was confident in winning because fire was the most destructive element and he assumed that Leon was physically drained like him.

Leon stopped the fireball with his bare hand. He was a 5th layer tempered body with 5-element body, fire from 3rd step awakeners couldn't burn him and just felt warm in his hands instead.

”Are we going to play with fire now?” Leon formed a miniature fire dragon and let it dance on the tip of his fingers. The fire was no longer in the challenger's control when he threw it, so Leon was able to wrestle control of the fire and tame it easily.

”Y-You are also a fire user…?” The challenger widened his eyes at Leon's exquisite control. He didn't know what kind of creature the fire dragon was, but he didn't care. A contest of elemental abilities requires one's mental focus and he couldn't afford to be distracted.

”Why ask the obvious?” Leon tossed the fire dragon back at the challenger without warning.

”W-Wait! Fire shield!!” The challenger wasn't ready to receive Leon's attack and casted a wall of fire to block the attack in a panicky manner.

The thin wall of fire couldn't block the dense fire dragon for even a second and was directly pierced through. The fire dragon attack stops abruptly in front of the challenger's face under Leon's control, making the challenger's face pale as he stumbled backwards and fell on his bottoms.

”Do you admit defeat?”

The challenger's face changed from pale to red when he was asked.

”I do not! You launched a sneak attack on me!”