Chapter 45 - 45. The Hidden World (7)

45. The Hidden World (7)

In a medium size room, about 4x6 meters there's a worktable which faced the door and filled with paper and there's one woman sitting on that table while overlooking the paper one by one, and in front of the worktable, there are two sofas and another glass table between them, there's another woman enjoying a tea from a teacup on that sofa

Both of them were beautiful, the one who's working with the paper is big breasted sexy woman, with a blazing red hair, while the slacking one also has it big, but smaller compared to the other woman she has a blonde hair but red on its tip

Those two identity are Vera Crimson and Venti Crimson, two of the ten high executive of Crimson Eagle

*clack

After enjoyed her tea, Venti placed down the teacup onto the glass table.

"I observed when you told me you were interested in him" she said

Vera eyebrow lifted up a bit but she didn't reply

"I found that he had a big soul, it might be comparable to that witch"

This time Vera put down the paper in her hand "that much?"

Venti let out chuckle "yea, I'm not certain but I got that feeling, and for some reason he can't let out Mana out of his body, like being sealed or something like that"

"did you examine him?"

"nah, I didn't, even like that he's one of the 'Guest' too, I don't want to offend his background while I don't have knowledge about them, and it's useless to nurture him too much, if he went away from Crimson Eagle later, even you never prohibit me from meddling him that time on the survival exam last year"

"you mean, the stampede caused by the 'Rain Monkeys'?"

Venti nodded "that one, you saw it too, the Magic Weapon he brought, it was too powerful that it wasted when used to kill a small fry like a newborn Metal Bear"

"well, let's just watch over him for now, he's a bit naïve but he got a good head on his shoulder"

"there's no one except you who knew about his background, does it really that important?"

"…" Vera hesitate a bit before answering Venti "it is, you can expect a huge change over the hidden world if his background exposed, and we lose our benefit at the same time too, on the worst case we might be get lynched too"

Venti speechless when she heard Vera "and you accepted that!?"

"that's just how big the benefit is… and if we played it right we only need to wait till they expose themselves and we got the best benefit from them at that time it's better for Crimson Eagle in the future too, we just need to hide until the time comes"

"haa~~" Venti sighed "you're the leader, I knew Crimson Eagle is your priority so I believed your judgment, beside I got interested and enjoyed his suffering too"

"you, and your quirk…" Vera said exasperatedly "I hope it got better before causing something irrecoverable"

"no worries no worries~" Venti replied sloppily "I knew my boundaries~ oh right! I forgot to mention it, the mock battle has been decided"

"hmm" Vera accepted her words and trying to reach the paper but stopped immediately

"it's been decided Lex Spifer V.S Cleos Sariela"

"did you manipulate-"

"I did not, it's a coincidence, it's his own luck"

"no problem then"

"I'm interested with what he's gonna do at that time~" Venti let out an evil smile as she took the teacup back to her hand and took a sip, Vera back to her work but she nodded in agreement with Venti

***

The appointed day, the last day of the Preparation Class

(it was like what Mio and the others told me, we Guest did not have any obligation to follow any Executive, we're allowed to attend any classes)

All of the Freshmen gathered on their usual training ground, the training ground is only simple empty land, similar to school's field, it was like the usual day nothing change except the mock battle, the mock battle started on the same time they usual lecture started

The Ballot written in number, so the mock battle too following the order of that number, Lex didn't know is it really goddess of fortune playing mischief with him or not

(I have to face the representative of Guest, the strongest among the Guest and on the last battle at that!!)

Because of the ballot, Lex mock battle is the last one, he saw Max Mock Battle too, he lucky to face the other Numbers, cause Max literally the best among the Numbers he easily won his match

***

Before long, it's finally the time for Lex mock battle, the last match…

In the middle of the training ground, a beautiful goldish blonde man with golden eyes he looks like a girl if he had long hair, his looks somewhat similar to Clive, Lex's father but sadly Lex himself did not realize that, while Lex stood on the other side, there's about 25~30m distance between them.

The audience stood on the side of the field were buzzing even before the battle began. They all can see that's Lex will be one-sidedly beaten on this Mock Battle, Lex which known as the one who can't use magic properly, and Cleos which known as the best on the class

They don't even try to watch anymore as the result is clear [ haha, he's too unlucky to face Cleos ] one of the Guest said

[ yea, he might able to win if he faced another Numbers ] another Guest said while purposely taunting the Numbers

Because there's a clear line between Numbers and Guest naturally there will be conflict between the two groups,

Too bad the Numbers isn't monolith too, they were gathered from different big groups

[ what!? even we won't lose to that loser! ] one of the Numbers replied, he was offended that their group underestimated like that, and in the next second [ that's right! ] [ that's right! ] the other Numbers quickly agreed with that commend

[ ha! Bunch of weakling tried to act tough! ]

[ what did you say! ]

With the leader of the Guest on the field, the Numbers tried to bring their leader Max to face the Guest, [ Max you too said something to them! ] [ yeah! ] [ yeah! ]

But Max ignored all of them, he eyes locked to the battle, ('only I... who knows what Lex can do, it's useless even if I tried to reason with them')

"just watch!" he said coldly

With no one stopping them, the two group conflict becoming bigger and bigger till Venti gave them a murdering gaze

[ [ [ eeekk!! ] ] ] the two group instantly quiet down

"good grief~, increasing my work" Venti muttered as she turned her face back to the two Lex and Cleos, she acting as a referee for today Mock Battle, by the way today she wore a kimono, a black kimono with violet colored spider net motif

(what a taste… aaa~~ I started to accept that as normal… I've come a long way huh~~)

"Are you ready?"

(ah! Focus! Focus!)

They both nodded

"well then, the time limit is 15 minutes, no need to hold back as we watching, do your worst!"

(we?) Lex got distracted a bit, then he shook his head in the next second to refocus himself to concentrate (think about it later)

"let the match begin!!"

As the match begin Cleos quickly made his move "I don't have grudge with you, but I'll use my full power from the start I can't lose here or I won't reach her"

After his declaration from Cleos back formed two stretched diamond light which looks like wings, Lex can feel the two Wings start to absorb Mana on the air at a fast rate

(is that Angel Race Wings!? Cleos is an Angel!? Aahh!) Lex slapped both of his cheek with his hand (Focus!! I should prepare too!)

"Harden and Become my skin "

"no mercy from me, circle an orb and burn " Cleos started with one and the number rapidly increased to five, and flew toward Lex with a small interval

(Fireballs were fast but not as fast as bullet, I still can follow it with my eyes) Lex put his hand in front of him

"Flow like liquid and become my second skin " when he pulled it back both of Lex's arm covered by water, it's like wearing a water gloves, then Lex easily parried the incoming fireballs with his hands

[ w-what is that!? ] the audience surprised as well as Cleos "What is that!?"

While Venti was surprised too for a moment, but she immediately gave Lex an evil smile, like a child given a new toy

Cleos saw Venti smile "unfair! he got a special lesson alone! You never taught us that Magic" with Cleos as the trigger the other freshmen which mean the audience too quickly complaint with Venti with the unfair treatment among them

('ha! I knew it!') only Max didn't participate with other who criticizing Venti, he's too busy admiring Lex ('as expected of Lex, you never fail to surprised me!')

"I did not teach him that!" Venti gave out heavy pressure silencing all the audience and Cleos "even if I DID teach him, so what? who are you to judge me! Know your place!" it's unknown to the amateur whether the pressure she gave out is Mana or not

It's only a moment, but Fear implanted in them except Max and Lex which isn't Venti target

"b-but…" Cleos still can't accept it, he can't lose he did not want to be and called incompetent anymore, even in fear he stuttered buy still able to let out his feeling

"in the first place, this is my first time seeing that Magic"

"eh?" Cleos shocked to his core ('never saw?')

"So, care to explain Lex? It's ok to reject it, it's your achievement you can hide it for yourself" she gave an unusual normal smile

"nah" Lex shook his head (I don't want to create more enemies, it's no big deal anyway)

"this a derivation of , it might be better to call it instead"

It's started on that day, when Lex found some idea all of a sudden and he tried it on his bathroom

***

"fire… imagine a fire… concentrated…" he put his hand in front of him

"Burn like blaze… and become my skin " right after Lex right hand begin to be covered by fire

"Hot!!!" Lex screamed when felt his hand burned, he thrusted his hand into a basin of water

"phew… good thing I prepared it beforehand… but looks like still a bit burned" Lex took out his hand and saw a bit burned mark on his right hand

"how can this be! Not affected by your own magic is template from fantasy world! I got burned!! Kugh! I Shouldn't trust Anime in the first place! And I should have choose other element too! If it's water I wouldn't get burned, haa~~"

Mana doesn't have any attribute, Mana is equal to anything and everything, Human Race is the same they don't have any attribute that they excel with everything is balanced, this different with other Race too, Hybrid Race is the same with Human Race as they mixed with Human Race

Angel Race excel in White Element, like Light, Earth, Water, etcetera, while Devil Race excel in Black Element like Ice, Fire, Lightning, etcetera, it's only excel Angel Race need less effort in using White Magic while more effort in Black Magic , but it doesn't mean Angel Race cannot use Black Magic, there are some Angel Race who's excel in Black Magic too, and vice versa with Devil Race

While Spirit Race is more specialized, Spirit of Fire, can easily use Fire Magic but harder to use the other element, and the same as Angel/Devil Race, it's only harder but still usable

"water… fluid… liquid… imagine…."

"Flow like liquid and become my skin " then slowly but Lex's hand gradually covered by water

"it's like wearing a gloves made out of water, gloves….!! Can I wear a second one?"

"But how do I test it? Should I use a Mana Skin? Ok, trial and error, let's try it first"

"Harden and Become my skin " when Lex felt the Mana covering his whole body he started the next one

"Flow like liquid and become my skin " the next second Lex's hand covered by water once again, it's much faster than the first one because Lex has already seen the real thing, he has a definite imagination for that

"Hmm…is it a success?" Lex observed his hand "I sensed Mana with both of them but I can't differentiate them… this is troubling…." He canceled the Magic

"Should I use Fire? With that I can feel the direct effect… ok, let's prepare another basin of water first"

"harden and become my skin "

"Burn like blaze and become my skin "

"…Hot!!" Lex thrusted his hand into the basin

"failed… it's impossible? The second Magic erasing the first Magic it's because both of them on my skin? Yosh! Another trial"

"harden and become my skin "

"Burn like blaze and cover my skin " Lex's hand did not get covered by fire like before

"haa~~ Mana cannot come out of my body, it repelled!"

"is it really impossible for me...? let's analyze from the beginning why do I think I can do it? It's gloves… layer…, but the first Magic erased the Second one…" Lex then saw the burned mark on his hand

"Ah! That's it! No one says we can only have one skin! When someone got burned the skin get swelled and another skin regenerated under it! Layered!"

"harden and become my skin "

"Burn like blaze and become my second skin " Lex's Hand once again covered by fire

"it… wasn't hot!?" Lex waved his hand a few times "… success! Yesss!! I didn't get burned after several seconds!!" after a moment of happiness and excitement Lex canceled his Magic

"with this… it's the second Magic that I can use… but it's derivation of Mana Skin, can I called it as another Magic? Aaa who cares!! But the name, I need a name which can help me imagine more easily and the strange power of words too"

"Fire gloves? Then what about the other elements? Water gloves? It doesn't feel right! And I got a feeling it's not limited only on my hands, I think I can use it on my feet or stomach too, … it's Mana Skin with Element… Magic Skin? But it doesn't help my imagination, oh! I got it! I can use the same for every element and it helps my imagination too!"

***

That's how Lex learned his second Magic he explained only the big line to Venti and others, he omitted the detail on his experiment of trial and error

"hahaha" Venti let out huff of laughter "great! Improvise! No one thought out this Magic cause it's better to use Fireball or Waterball rather than your half-baked Magic, but it's better than nothing at all with you! great! So great!!" with Venti full blown praises, the one who still have the right pride in themselves fallen into self-shame, they got embarrassed with their own quick judgment,

"ugh!" Cleos was the same too "I'm sorry to accuse you" he sincerely apologized

(I felt from the beginning, this boy really had a good moral and behaved well… but I can feel his impatient somewhere why…? Aaaa, don't think! Why should I care! Even if he looks like a girl he's a boy! Right! I only need to care for girls!)

"but still I will win this match" Cleos stated as he started to chant his next Magic.

A barrage of Fireballs flying toward Lex, the only way for Lex to counter attack is to get near him with close combat, but as Lex decreases the distance, it becomes harder to avoid and parry the incoming Fireballs

*boosh

"kugh!" Lex got hit once when he decreased the distance under ten meters, he quickly took a step back, while Cleos irritation gone when Lex got hit once

(think! What can I do other than get closer to him or a way to approach him more easily think!)

But Lex did not have time to think at all, as his thought always got distracted with the incoming Fireballs

Lex saw Cleos sweated face, he thought a battle of attrition but promptly rejected that idea (he's an Angel even at this time, Mana gathering from the air to his Wings for his use, he can rapid fire without rest I would be the one who got exhausted first!)

(throw a stone? But there's no stone nearby! Kugh another fireball!)

(that's right! Fire! I extinguished the Fire with Water every time I parried it, but maybe I can redirect it? But it's impossible with Water, another Fire is not useful too, then it must be Wind)

(I never tried it but I got the theory perfectly)

Lex took more distance than before, he needed time to Imagine as expected Cleos too still a child like others, he did not get suspicious or think any counterattack or comeback from Lex even after he increased the distance between them which gave more advantage to Cleos

"Wind…. Blow like gale and become my second skin " Lex's water hands disappeared and become there's like a slow tornado circling his hand

At the same time a fireball coming toward him, he accepted it with both hands and make a 360 degree turn with his body, he threw back a bigger fireball which increased by the Wind in his hand toward Cleos

""""what!?"""" the audience and Cleos surprised by that, he tried to cancel the Magic but because it's mixed with Lex Mana it's not in his authority anymore, and not in Lex Authority too

"kugh!" the next fireball hit Lex (I can counter attack, but it's hard to evade the next one! This rapid fire too troublesome!)

"gather and condense " Cleos easily defended the fireball, in fact he still panicked inside by the sudden counterattack. but he still continues his barrage of fireballs

(damn! Double casting is cheating!! How can he do that! It's already hard to imagine one thing, two is… damn!)

(and I can't throw back every fireball too!)

(haa~ calm down… at least I got a way to counterattack too)

(let's do this)

"Flow like Liquid and Become my second skin " Lex's both hands and feet covered by Water like before

"blow like Gale and Become my second skin " his right hand and foot covered by Wind while his left hand and feet still covered by Water

Threw back… evade… parry… parry… threw back… parry…evade… evade….

The battle continued till "Time's Up" Venti called the end of the Match "Lex V.S Cleos, Draw!"

"N, No I still can-" Cleos tried to protest but got stiffen when Venti glared at him "you can't beat Lex with small Magic like that, you need to prepare bigger Magic to defeat him, while Lex wouldn't give you the time for it, and Lex can't get near or win as long as you continue the fireballs barrage, but you can't win either, it's a Draw! Understood?" Venti glared at Lex too, but Lex knew he can't do anything except that in the middle of the match, everything depend on Cleos action at that time, he easily accepted that

"Ughh!!" Cleos glared at Lex dissatisfied as he's too afraid to glare at Venti, but he did not say any other word after that

"with this the Mock Battle ended!" Venti declared