Chapter 34: Virtual Simulation [6]
"H-Hey, Sarah… He's not normal. Let's r-retreat…"
"No."
In front of him, Brandon could hear one of the mages speaking to the sound mage. The mage's voice trembled.
'So her name is Sarah.'
An unfamiliar character.
Another extra.
Truthfully, Sarah was fairly attractive, black hair tied to a ponytail, purple eyes that contoured to a determined gaze. She was tall, taller than any of the girls in his friend group.
She seemed to be the leader, as the mages with her tended to rely on her orders.
But her beauty isn't what caught Brandon's attention.
It was her magic.
The whole time, she had never used any sound magic to attack Brandon.
'Why?'
It was peculiar.
Was she preparing for a surprise attack?
Brandon couldn't tell.
It should've been obvious that they were at a disadvantage, now that Brandon had stopped handicapping himself to only using lightning.
Yet Sarah refused the plea to retreat.
'What is she planning?'
Regardless, Brandon was determined to kill them.
Whatever Sarah was planning for him didn't matter.
'I'll win.'
He smirked.
Crackle…
An ice sword slowly materialized in his hand, gripping it tightly.
He'd already learned all of the advanced swordsmanship from the books he bought. Though, only in theory.
This was his chance to test its application.
The mage who's neck he gripped had already recovered and returned to their position.
Step–
An ice sword in his hand, Brandon stepped forward.
The mages all locked eyes with him, their expressions were serious.
They must've realized he was now in a different league as they focused all their attention on his every move.
It was then when one of the mages lifted his hand, conjuring mana.
However…
[Mana Disruption]
Since [Mana Disruption] didn't have any visible effects, no one would notice Brandon did something.
No one but the victims themselves.
"Wha–"
Spark– Crackle—!
At that, Brandon flashed forward, as trails of blue sparks left his trail.
Brandon instantly blinked in front of the mage. The mage's hand was still lifted up, trying to conjure mana.
But it was futile.
Then…
Swoosh– Splurt–!
His arm was cleanly sliced off.
"Fuuuuck–"
With the ice sword raised up, Brandon tried to swing it and cut his head off..
Vooosh–
Spark–!
A gust of wind tried to blow him away but he immediately blinked back.
But…
Water shaped like a whip had managed to grab hold of his leg.
"Now!"
Sarah screamed, giving out her orders.
Instantly, a barrage of wind and water made their way towards Brandon.
One of the mages, seemingly the ice mage, tried to conjure up her mana.
"Huh?"
Yet nothing happened.
Since [Mana Disruption] could only target one specific spot–object, inanimate or animate, Brandon couldn't do anything about the other magic skills.
He couldn't do it simultaneously, and there was a time lag.
But he was relieved since the ice couldn't mix with the water on his leg.
At the moment, the ice mage was the most dangerous opponent, besides Sarah, who still didn't do anything.
With the water whip grabbing his leg, Brandon protruded lightning sparks from his feet.
Tszzzz–
The sparks slowly crawled up to the water mage.
"Kehhuut..!"
At that, the whip dissipated as the water mage twitched spontaneously.
"Idiot, you've forgotten he can use lightning as well."
Sarah stepped back, reprimanding the water mage.
Tszzzz–
Brandon once again flashed forward, dodging the gust of wind. He then appeared in front of the ice mage.
"S-Sarah, help–"
Spurt!
Her plea was abruptly cut off as Brandon cleanly slit her throat.
Blood splattered everywhere, staining Brandon's clothes, as the ice mage dematerialized into white particles.
Kszzz–
His attention was then redirected on his back. The black fur coat dematerialized as well.
"So she was the owner…"
Step–
They took a step back.
There were only four mages left, while one of them was out of commission, having no arm.
Brandon coldly locked his gaze with them, then to Sarah.
"Why aren't you doing anything?"
Two of them had already died. Yet Sarah had never revealed her cards.
"Yeah! Are you just going to let us die, Sarah?"
One of the mages, seemingly the earth mage screamed. His expressions were one of terror, as he held the spot where his arm once was.
"Shut up, shut up!"
Brandon was taken aback. Sarah seemed to have lost it, disheveling her hair.
'Could it be?'
"You."
At Brandon's words, Sarah turned to the left, then to the right.
Then eventually looked back at Brandon, while pointing at herself.
"M-Me?"
"Yes, you. The only thing you can do is create a sound barrier, can't you?"
"..."
She hesitated.
'It all makes sense now.'
She had no magic skills that would aid her in a fight.
In other words…
"Are you the 2,021th ranked student?"
The lowest rank possible.
"..."
Though he didn't show it, Brandon was quite surprised.
Who knew the lowest ranked student had a rare affinity.
Her gaze tore down with an anxious expression.
"...Hold on. Is that true, Sarah?"
The earth mage grumbled, while the other mages stared at Sarah as well.
"Fuck, I shouldn't have paired up with you."
It was then when Sarah continuously stomped her foot on the ground.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up! You were the one who approached me after finding out I was a sound mage. So don't put the blame on me."
Sarah then turned to look at the arm that wasn't there, and continued,
"I may be a fraud. But at least I didn't get my arm cut off!"
Sarah seemed to have enough.
Brandon blankly stared at the group as they continued to argue.
But it was then when the mages formed a circle, surrounding Sarah.
'Hold on.'
They were about to kill her.
Distasteful.
But nonetheless, Brandon let the scene unfold.
To let the others do the dirty work for him.
As the mages conjured up their mana, Sarah's voice reached his ears.
"Fuck… I don't care anymore, I'm dropping out after this."
She'd given up.
A shame.
'Her potential would be a waste.'
Sound magic was rare. Attending the Academy was only the beginning for Sarah to have complete mastery over it.
'She can't drop out now.'
It would've been a waste.
Thus, Brandon decided.
"Hey."
At his call, all the mages reluctantly turned their heads at him.
They trembled.
Just a simple word from Brandon was enough for them to be shaken.
"If you kill her, I'll come find you after the Battle Royale."
They tilted their heads, confused.
But Brandon wasn't done.
He continued, coldly emphasizing his last words.
"And I'll kill you myself."
At his last statement, all three of the mages surrounding Sarah had their eyes wide open. They shakingly lifted their hands down.
Silence.
No one retorted.
The one to have broken the silence was Brandon, as he spoke up once again.
"I'll give you two choices, I'll kill you all right here and now, or…"
He turned to look at the cave's entrance, then continued,
"You can go back inside and let Amy Ashfield kill you."
He spoke in a tone that seemed to tell–there was no room for negotiation.
They stood still, frozen.
Until…
Step–
One of them stepped forward. It was the earth mage.
"Hey! We haven't lost yet, are you really going to agree with his demands?"
The one to have said those words seemed to be the water mage, as she grabbed the man's shoulder, trying to stop him.
"Are you confident you could beat him?"
The earth mage glanced at Brandon, then back to the water mage.
"N-No, but if we all work together then–"
"Ridiculous. There were eight of us at the start. How many of us are left now?"
"..."
The water mage couldn't respond and took a glance at Brandon as well.
"You get it? That man… He's a monster. People like us… We're only stepping stones for him."
"..."
"I first entered this Academy with aspirations, thinking I could become someone special…"
The earth mage looked down with a sorrowful expression. He clenched his hands tightly to the point where blood started dripping.
"...I know it's only a simulation… But when I lost my arm…"
His voice started to crack.
"You know what an arm means to a mage, don't you?"
A mage's lifeline.
Tears started to drip, flowing down his cheek. As his voice continued to crack.
"Monsters like them, Raven Blackheart, Reinhard Van, Claire Victoria, Amy Ashfield, Rachel Asami… I can't compete with them."
Step–
He stepped forward, motioning towards the cave.
"I'm dropping out as well… This Academy… It's too much for me…"
Tears continued to drip down.
"Wait!"
The water mage called out to him, while the other mage stood by her side.
"...Let's all go together."
The earth mage seemed taken aback, but nodded with a smile plastered on his face.
"Okay."
But when he turned to glance at Brandon, he stared right into his cold eyes.
He then trembled in fear. He might've thought Brandon would come for him after the Battle Royale session, as he urgently told the two mages to hurry up.
At that, they entered the cave. Their figures gradually coalesced with the dark until Brandon couldn't see them anymore.
The entire time, Sarah stood silent.
She then turned to look at Brandon. Her previously terrified expression had contoured to a blank slate.
"Why did you spare me?"
"Spare you?"
What is she talking about?
Is all Brandon could think of.
"...So you aren't going to spare me?"
"No?... I'll just talk some senses into you."
"...?"
Brandon then strode forward, motioning towards Sarah.
Then paused, just a few inches from her.
"Don't drop out."
"..."
"Your talent."
"...?"
"It would be a waste."
Sarah seemed puzzled, tilting her head.
She then pursed her lips to say,
"Talent? I was useless the whole time, yet you tell me I have talent? Hah."
Truthfully, Brandon didn't know anything about Sarah.
She was a character that had never appeared in the novel.
But…
"Your mana capacity."
"What?"
"It's leaking."
She had a lot of mana. Too much that her body couldn't contain all of it.
Brandon then lifted his ice sword, and continued,
"I'll kill you now. But I'll come find you after all of this is over."
"Wha–"
Swoosh––!
—---------------------------
[Quest Completed!]
[Rewards Obtained:]
[EXP: +50]
[Stat Points: +3]
[System Coins: +50]
—---------------------------
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone