บท 10: All Sides

Freddie who was focusing on eliminating groups from afar retracted all of the wooden blocks and aimed them towards the multiple groups running towards them. However, the ones aiming to attack them weren't run-of-the-mill fighters, they were recruited and selected by Gilbert, himself.

The wooden blocks couldn't manage to hit their targets as a wind flow disturbed them. Freddie who was controlling those small blocks clicked his tongue and tried to redirect them again. It was his job to attack people from afar, he couldn't let them get close without so much as draining a bit of their power.

Meanwhile, Amy was keeping her barrier strong despite the numerous amount of magic attacks that got past Willow's blue flames. Their goal was to last long in this tournament while protecting Sebastian and that's why only Freddie took an active role in eliminating opponents.

James was keeping watch on any gaps in the barrier that might be pierced through but didn't show any signs of using his ability. Sebastian neither interfered or helped them, he knew that he would be more of a burden than anything. Still, he kept his eyes glued on their opponents.

Gilbert was still quite far from them, his starting point was nearly on the opposite side of the court. But, the groups under him were more than enough to prove a challenge for Sebastian's team.

In the first place, with the exception of Amy, Sebastian's team wasn't too outstanding. His roommates were only average when it came to combat and grades. It takes more than one person to win a war.

Finally, Amy couldn't afford to be on the passive side and reduced her concentration on the barrier. She created beams of light that traveled and knocked away the people that were hit and sometimes, she held it like a long whip.

Freddie's wooden blocks were destroyed and he had to resort to using a harder material, pebbles, and rocks. With just a few of them, they weren't much of a threat but he carried pouches full of them and gave his enemies a headache.

The pebbles flew and landed on many of the students without much discrimination and many of them were forced to stop and block.

Willow's pale blue flames that surrounded them began to spread out to create a sea of flames. Normal people would find this scenery absolutely terrifying but they weren't normal people—they were 『Inheritors』.

Some people began using water to douse the flames but the flames just grew hotter and brighter until nobody else could near their group. With the sea of flames as a shield, Amy began using small projectiles of light which traveled at insane speeds.

"Gilbert..." Sebastian muttered as he looked at Gilbert's group from afar. In about two minutes, they'd be able to pass through the other groups and head straight towards Sebastian's group.

Sebastian looked at the wooden sword in his hands and shifted his gaze towards his left hand unconsciously. He wanted the stigma to appear so he could fight. He had no talent when it came to physical combat and knew that if he were to try and attack anyone, as long as it wasn't a sneak attack, he wouldn't be able to win.

Sebastian smiled bitterly. Before this, he hadn't thought much of taking advantage of their kindness, just gratitude. A year ago, nobody targeted Sebastian specifically because of a grudge and so he and Amy had an easier time.

Gilbert wanted to humiliate him before the duel—in front of Amy at that.

Is it just a dream... to be strong? Is it a sin to wish to overturn fate?

Sebastian went into a daze as he realized, "did all of the users of stigma feel this way before?"

『Inheritors』 ruled the world of today, was it the same in the past with the 『Primogenitors』? What made the stigma users resort to using such means? The book never spoke of their crimes, just the fact that they had fought against the 『Primogenitors』 and the God who gave them the powers and lost.

A human can do unbelievable things when they're desperate. Sebastian had no doubts about that.

While Sebastian wallowed in thought, Gilbert finally arrived and with the help of one of the members of his group, parted the sea of flames enough for him and several other groups following him to get through.

Amy quickly created a barrier of light in front of Gilbert's group and pushed it out. However, just when Amy was about to succeed, Gilbert's body pulsed and veins appeared on his body. His stature grew and his body became larger.

The ability of the Walt House, muscle and body enhancement. They were known for their brute force and ferocity in battle. Weapons weren't a necessity to them as the power of their bodies is equivalent to that of a hundred men.

Gilbert took a running start and leaped out. His fist hit Amy's barrier and cracks immediately spread out on it. Even though she blocked several dozen attacks before, it still took quite a while to be destroyed yet Gilbert managed to crack it in a single punch.

The amount of power behind that fist... was overwhelming!

In the first place, though the four major houses are the ones protecting the kingdom, they each have their own unique abilities and roles.

The Walt House is suited to be the vanguard. The House of Sol performs much better when they are alone on the battlefield so their flames won't cause any damage to their own units. The House of Luna manipulated light and by proxy, shadows. They were more suited to assassination and covert missions.

In essence, the Walt House and the House of Luna are the exact opposite.

That's why this small confrontation between Amy and Gilbert would become the subject of comparison between the power of the two houses. They were both heir and heiress apparent of their respective houses.

This small battle... decides the very standing of the future house heads.

Gilbert retracted his fist and rammed his body into the already damaged barrier which cracked even further. Then, he roared.

CRACK SHATTER

Gilbert pierced through the barrier by ramming his body once more. He headed straight for Amy while accompanied by his teammates.

Willow and Freddie couldn't afford to help. If either of them were to stop then they'd be besieged on all sides. That left James as the only one capable of helping. He moved from Sebastian's side towards Gilbert's.

His entire body began to get covered in thick mist and soon enough, Gilbert's group was lost inside.

"Finn!" Gilbert yelled.

One of the people behind Gilbert stepped forward and snorted coldly, "disperse!"

A gust of wind blew away the mist but before it could completely disperse, it began crawling back towards them. Finn knit his brows together and used more energy but each time it dispersed, it would just generate more.

Finally, their group decided against moving suddenly and turned with their backs facing each other. "The Malborn House is as troublesome as ever," Gilbert muttered.

The special quality of the Malborn House who worked under the House of Luna also relied on illusions and deceit. They could create mist from their bodies that would forever leave their opponents trapped so long as they had energy.

Walking straight wouldn't work as those inside would get their senses confused. James could keep them at bay for only a few minutes at most but that was all Amy and the others needed to regroup.

Gilbert's teammates could disperse the mist early but when they get out, they wouldn't be able to last long with their energy deprived.

Outside of the mist, Willow, Sebastian, Freddie, and Amy regrouped. James was hidden somewhere in the mist and would be out of the match once the mist disperses.

"Why is Sir Gilbert attacking us...?" Willow asked.

"He's most likely after me," Amy responded. "He headed straight for me when I first saw him."

"They're planning on taking out the ones who can defeat them first?" Freddie paused to look in the mist, "that's playing dirty."

"Not necessarily. All is fair in love and war after all," Willow sighed and retracted the flames. He used energy to stretch them out that far and now he needed rest.

Sebastian kept silent, he knew the real reason Gilbert had targeted them first. Only a few minutes had passed since the match started and Gilbert's subordinates had headed for them without communicating, if that was just a coincidence then it was quite the miraculous one.

At this rate, they wouldn't be able to last fifteen minutes, let alone half an hour.

"Amy," Sebastian called out. "We'll split up, you go with Freddie and Willow. James can disperse the mist early and when we've separated, we'll be able to make more versatile movements."

Amy's expression changed, "what are you talking about? It's dangerous to stay by yourself!"

Sebastian chuckled and held out his wooden sword, "I've got this. I'll just knock out anyone that dares come near me, I've been taught by Instructor Lyons after all."

None of the people present knew that although Sebastian really was trained by Lyons, he had learned nothing.

Hearing that Lyons had personally instructed Sebastian made Amy hesitate, Lyon's abilities were acknowledged by even the four major houses.

"I'll be fine," Sebastian comforted her and turned his eyes to the other two. "Freddie, Willow, make sure to keep her safe."

Both of them looked stunned. He wanted them to protect her? With her strength, it'd be a joke for them to even try but nevertheless, they nodded.

"I'll go hide somewhere," Sebastian turned and began running towards the opposite of Gilbert's group. The further he got away from Amy the longer they'd last.

He didn't want to ruin the competition for them. Perhaps in Amy's mind, she was thinking that because Gilbert had her in his sights, Sebastian being away from her would be best.

However, just as Sebastian separated from the other three and James' mist ended early, Amy, Freddie, and Willow's expression changed.

The groups originally headed straight for them turned towards Sebastian. Gilbert's group was the only exception as they powered up and intercepted Amy's group.

"No!" Amy shouted and tried to pierce through Gilbert's group but even if she held the strongest individual prowess, she was facing an entire group.

Sebastian wasn't surprised but he felt his heart leaping out of his chest. In the eyes of the others, he made a good decision by separating from the target but in reality, he separated himself from his guards.

And, how could Sebastian outrun 『Inheritors』 and their abilities? He only lasted for a little more than thirty seconds before getting caught.

"Cough cough cough," Sebastian was hit in the abdomen by a knee from one of his pursuers. "Ugh!" another one of them kicked him down to the floor.

He tried blocking one of the kicks but someone took a running start and sent him flying with a kick to the abdomen. Sebastian was pale and he struggled to breathe but his pursuers showed no mercy and began beating him.

"No! No! Noo!" Amy screamed hysterically while using much of her energy to attack Gilbert. Just the aftermath of her attacks was enough to make the others stagger but Gilbert was different.

In front of the barrage of light, Gilbert's body stood like a mountain. Willow and Freddie were forced back, any help they tried to send Sebastian was stopped.

James tried to help as well but he was also surrounded. It didn't seem like Gilbert's group was bent on defeating them, but making them watch Sebastian get beaten.

"Stand up!" one of the men beating Sebastian yelled and threw the wooden sword at him.

"Come on!" everyone laughed at the man's taunting words. Sebastian had no choice. He propped himself up with the wooden sword and swung it but let alone knocking out his opponent, he couldn't keep a grip on the sword and it was flung away.

"Ahh..." Sebastian looked at the incoming fist with wide eyes and was sent back down to the floor.