Enrico had just bought the fourth artifact in the shop while Yumeha, Rina, and Aoi went to deliver Emperor Renzou's letters to gain entrance into the academy when he saw the system message.
[The arc of confrontation against the crown princess has begun...]
Enrico rushed ahead—he had to return to the academy. He left a message for the shop owner and departed. His friends currently had no chance of defeating Elowyn and her subordinates. Upon arriving at the academy, he noticed that the professors had gone to help protect the city, so he ran through the door without hesitation.
[Better go fast, or you'll miss your triumphant entrance.]
Enrico was going to respond in kind, but he was stopped by a girl who handed him Seraphina's letter, so he moved quickly.
'System, this pact—are you sure it won't affect Yumeha?'
[Don't worry. The pacts only affect you.]
It was a pact that would permanently take away twenty mana from him in exchange for improving an ability. Of course, he only had one skill to improve: the clone. So, when he arrived and saw the others injured and so many opponents, he decided to accept.
Enrico looked around, waiting for someone to move. Jorge was the first. Seeing that they still had the advantage, he attacked using his crystal magic to enhance his sword.
"Crystal Sword"
Jorge launched a barrage of sharp crystals at Enrico, but to him, Enrico disappeared and reappeared in front of him. Enrico placed his palm on Jorge's chest and fired a fireball that sent him flying. Then, using fire kick, he launched himself and arrived at the spot Jorge would land just before him, using the momentum to deliver a kick to the chin that sent Jorge airborne.
The only thing Jorge saw after being kicked into the air was another kick hitting him, sending him crashing to the ground unconscious. Enrico landed but noticed that Lan and Jorge must have been somewhat exhausted from fighting the others.
Meanwhile, Elowyn's eyes were fixed on Enrico, trying to figure something out, her gaze glued to all of his movements. Just behind her, Narisse arrived.
"Lady Elowyn, that level of speed is from someone in Class S... maybe at the same level as us."
Elowyn heard the comment but didn't care about that. Speed was something she could handle. What really made her uncomfortable was the color of Enrico's essence.
'Nothing... I see nothing.'
He had no color. She felt no discomfort in her eyes when looking at him, unlike with others—even the darkest like her. It was simply a void she couldn't understand.
"What is this?"
"Princess?"
Narisse was starting to worry—was there more to the boy than they could see? Elowyn, on the other hand, felt two things: curiosity and danger.
"Narisse, no matter what it takes, take him down. Not just you—all of them."
Narisse nodded and called on Diana, who was afraid, Grark, Velka, and Deymon to attack. Grark felt uneasy, so he stayed behind when the others moved in.
Enrico saw them all approaching and felt a bit overwhelmed.
"Wait, weren't they supposed to attack together?"
[Good job. You drew everyone's attention so your friends could rest.]
Enrico panicked a bit but focused, dodging Diana's first attack—a slicing wind. A dark sphere came from behind, and he jumped away without thinking—he wouldn't let Deymon's magic touch him. Pointing his hand backward, he fired a fireball that hit Velka, who defended herself with magic surrounding her body. Enrico then grabbed her clothes, surprising her, and threw her on top of Narisse.
"Who is this guy? Is he really rank 31?"
Deymon grew irritated and placed his hands on the ground, corrupting it with his magic—but noticed Enrico had already jumped, as if he knew what was coming.
"How?"
Enrico summoned his fire bow and shot two arrows, narrowly hitting them as they moved.
"I have to finish this quickly. With my mana now lower, I need to save some for Elowyn."
Grark suddenly appeared behind Enrico, with Elowyn standing where the orc had been—meaning she must have spoken to him.
"Sorry, human."
"No need to apologize."
Enrico spun to the side, using the momentum of Grark's axe as it struck the ground, then delivered a kick to his jaw.
'Right, he's already unlocked Earth King's Resistance.'
Earth King's Resistance was Grark's unique ability, which boosted all his physical attributes while his feet were on the ground. Enrico dodged another axe strike as Serenya and the others looked on in surprise, realizing Enrico was stronger than he had been a week ago. Was this his true power, or had he simply evolved?
"We're falling further and further behind him..."
Kai returned from the trees, limping from Elowyn's attack, and Valença clenched her fist upon witnessing Enrico's nonstop evolution. Serenya felt useless seeing her subordinate's power—this couldn't happen. As his leader, she had to keep up. Meanwhile, Sílvia, Elian, and the others felt relieved and sat down.
"Finally, we can rest."
Enrico, noticing they were only watching, got a bit annoyed—they could at least help. But he let go of the thought, seeing how injured they were.
"Fire Fist"
He landed an uppercut on Grark's chin, disorienting him, then kicked the back of his knee, bringing him down. Enrico began to charge more mana into his hand.
'I need to eliminate someone fast.'
He could only sustain this fight physically due to the improvements from the past week—and because he knew all of their abilities.
"Poisonous Breath"
Enrico escaped Narisse's venom's range. That poison could cause extreme pain and magical exhaustion. He noticed a shadow above him and rolled to the side as a golden sword shattered the ground.
"You're stronger than I thought."
Elowyn had her hand raised, and Enrico sighed—he had hoped to take someone down before Elowyn stepped in. Elowyn's golden magic could take on any shape depending on the user's mana and magic circle.
'Of course, there's a limitation—she can only form three shapes in Circle One.'
[Even so, it must be hard, given how much mana that girl has.]
'Yes.'
Elowyn's mana was the third highest in the first year, and She was only not ranked higher due to a lack of skills.
'Facing her alone would already be impossible—let alone with others.'
Enrico saw that Kai, Valença, and Serenya were about to join the fight, but honestly, he preferred they didn't, given their injuries—like Kai's broken arm.
'Well... that is, if I were alone.'
"Akaname."
Enrico smiled as Diana was hit and thrown to the other side, then immediately struck with a staff, knocking her out.
"Master, are you okay?"
"My Ketsumei, how are you?"
Two girls appeared on either side of Enrico, and a third with a kitsune mask stood behind Elowyn's subordinates. While everyone was shocked, Enrico silently summoned his clone behind a rock.
"Now things are more balanced."