Chapter 120: The Curse That Shouldn’t Be Cast Twice

“I will, Dear Selena.”

Leon turned his gaze back toward the battlefield.

A faint trace of regret crossed his eyes.

Too bad they could only stay here for eight hours.

If they had more time, Leon would have completely stripped this place bare.

There was simply too much soul energy scattered across the battlefield.

Every boss-level creature here was practically a walking treasure chest.

And Leon had never been the type to leave treasure behind.

Especially when it was sitting right in front of him.

His eyes swept across the ruined landscape.

Bodies were scattered everywhere.

The ground was torn apart.

The air still carried the heavy remnants of the battle.

Yet even after everything that had happened, some creatures were still alive.

Leon clicked his tongue.

“Hmph. Some fish slipped through the net.”

He slowly closed his eyes.

A moment later, his soul vision spread across the battlefield.

Since breaking through to B-rank, his perception had become noticeably sharper.

Much sharper.

The thick mist that had once interfered with his vision no longer felt like an obstacle.

It was almost as if the mist had become transparent.

Countless spiritual traces appeared within his perception.

They flickered through his mind one after another.

There.

And there.

Leon immediately picked them out.

Several monsters were still moving.

They were struggling to get back onto their feet.

Their bodies trembled.

Some could barely stand.

Others dragged themselves across the ruined ground, leaving dark trails behind them.

Their movements were painfully slow.

But Leon could still sense the strength hidden beneath their weakened bodies.

Their vitality remained frighteningly strong.

That was the terrifying part about boss-level creatures.

They were ridiculously difficult to kill.

Leon had already experienced it before.

Back in the Ancient Tree Labyrinth, even the boss-level Black Mountain Treant had managed to survive the Heavenly Fall.

That alone was enough to prove just how monstrous their vitality was.

So Leon wasn’t particularly surprised to find survivors here.

Instead, he simply watched.

Quietly.

Patiently.

His soul vision swept over every remaining creature.

He studied their condition.

He watched their movements.

He waited.

Then the corner of his lips slowly lifted.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“If one strike isn’t enough…”

Leon paused.

His smile widened.

“Then we do it again.”

His gaze shifted toward Selena.

There was a strange confidence in his eyes.

Almost as if he had already decided the fate of every surviving monster.

“Selena— another ‘Heavenly Fall’!”

Selena’s golden eyes sharpened.

“Understood!”

She stepped forward.

Her snow-white robe fluttered as spiritual energy began gathering around her.

The air became heavy.

The temperature seemed to drop.

Then the ground beneath her feet trembled.

Selena raised one hand.

The surrounding spiritual energy rushed toward her.

It was like an invisible river being pulled into a whirlpool.

Evelyn instinctively stepped back.

“Leon…”

“Hm?”

“She’s really going to use it again?”

Leon nodded.

“Yes.”

Evelyn stared at Selena.

“Then I’ll stay out of her way.”

Selena glanced back.

“Evelyn.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t worry.”

Selena gave her a small smile.

“I won’t let the attack hit you.”

Evelyn nodded.

“I know.”

Selena turned back toward the beasts.

Her expression became cold once more.

She had the 5-Star Breakthrough Skill—Mana Wellspring.

Her mana capacity was 100 times the original!

Her regeneration was also 100 times faster!

She had no fear of mana depletion!

The sky above them warped once more.

Clouds twisted.

The mist scattered.

An overwhelming pressure descended upon the hunting ground.

It was the same terrifying feeling as before.

The surviving beasts froze.

Their bodies trembled.

The creatures that had survived the first “ordeal” showed a surprisingly human expression of terror.

Even beasts knew to avoid danger.

Instinct told them something was wrong.

They had already experienced that terrible power once.

They knew exactly what another strike would do.

The beasts that had just scrambled to their feet immediately turned and fled the way they had come.

One enormous Shadow Leopard stumbled as it tried to run.

Another beast ignored its wounds and desperately pushed forward.

The battlefield that had been filled with bloodlust suddenly became chaotic.

The beasts were running away!

“Holy crap—Leon scared them off with just a threat?!”

In the proctor hall, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Leon was the biggest dark horse this year.

It would have been a tragedy for him to fall here.

“Haha—amazing! I thought he was done for!”

A burly man laughed heartily.

“Looks like he’s bluffing to scare off the beasts.”

“Smart move—the kid’s clever!”

The recruiters murmured in approval.

After all, a forbidden-curse level skill consumed massive energy.

No martial high student could possibly use it twice in a row.

At least, that was what everyone believed.

So everyone assumed Leon was bluffing—just to scare the beasts away.

The crowd relaxed.

Some recruiters even smiled.

“He’s using their fear against them.”

“That’s actually clever.”

“At least he knows when to stop.”

But then—

“No…”

A middle-aged man suddenly stood up.

His voice cut through the discussion.

“You’re wrong! Leon isn’t bluffing! He’s actually trying to cast a second forbidden curse!”

The entire hall fell silent.

Everyone turned toward the screen.

“What is Leon thinking?!”

“That’s too reckless!”

“Stop him! Get the proctors to intervene!”

“Exactly—if his beast-girl runs out of mana, she’ll drain Leon dry!”

“Stop him!”

“He’s the pride of Bellemont Province—don’t let him die here!”

The atmosphere instantly changed.

The recruiters who had been smiling moments earlier were now pale.

Several people rushed toward the communication equipment.

But they knew the distance was too great.

Rias remained seated.

She didn’t move.

Her hands had slowly tightened against the armrests.

Her crimson eyes never left the screen.

Why?

Why was Leon doing this?

He had already achieved an overwhelming advantage.

He had the highest score.

He had already proven himself.

There was no reason to take such a huge risk.

Yet some part of her couldn’t look away.

“Why… why is he doing this… Leon, you keep surprising me.”

Rias unconsciously bit her lower lip.

Her eyes were glued to the screen.

Every moment on screen tugged at her heart.

She had watched countless martial exams.

She had seen talented students.

She had seen arrogant geniuses.

She had seen powerful beast-girls.

But Leon was different.

He didn’t seem to understand the meaning of retreat.

Or perhaps he simply didn’t believe retreat was necessary.

The proctors were already moving.

But the distance was enormous.

“The proctors can’t reach him in time.”

“This skill casts too fast!”

Another recruiter slammed a hand against the table.

“Someone contact them!”

“They’re already moving!”

“But they’re too far away!”

“It’s over—Leon’s going to be drained dry!” Several recruiters shouted, their foreheads slick with cold sweat.