Chapter 122: The Battlefield That Should Have Been His Grave

The Battlefield That Should Have Been His Grave

Above the ruins, smoke and dust still lingered.

A chilling aura hung in the air.

The once-busy battlefield had become strangely quiet.

The proctors gazed at the center of the blast, their eyes filled with shock and regret.

"This student was extraordinarily gifted—but too arrogant."

"If he had held back just a little, he might not have met such an end."

"Such a shame. A genius, fallen to recklessness."

"Tragic. Sad. A pity!"

The proctors floated in the air.

Their expressions were heavy.

Even though they had watched countless students enter the hunting grounds over the years, watching a young genius destroy himself was still difficult.

The purple-robed proctor slowly lowered his sword.

He had arrived too late.

For the first time, his usually steady hand trembled.

"Wait, everyone!"

A white-haired elder suddenly spoke.

His voice wasn’t loud.

Yet every proctor immediately heard him.

His eyes were deep and ancient—as if they could see through all falsehoods.

"Since Leon dared to cast a second forbidden-curse skill, he must have had confidence. Perhaps he can still survive!"

The other proctors turned toward him.

The elder continued.

"R e m e m b e r, among us there are healing-type beast-girls. With proper treatment, his life may yet be saved."

A brief silence followed.

Then the proctors nodded.

They descended toward the ground.

No matter how powerful Leon was, he was still a student.

If there was even a chance to save him, they had to try.

Leon watched Selena’s experience bar skyrocket on his panel.

The battlefield was littered with destruction.

The ground had been shattered.

The surrounding trees had disappeared.

Even the mist had been scattered by the force of Selena’s attack.

And Leon couldn’t stop grinning.

The massive influx of soul energy had pushed Selena up another level.

He watched the numbers rise.

Then his own aptitude bar moved.

Again.

Leon narrowed his eyes.

His smile grew wider.

If the middle zone rewards were this rich—

What about the inner zone?

That thought alone made his blood stir.

He had originally thought the Heavenly-tier hunting ground would simply be a place to earn points.

But now he understood.

This wasn’t only an examination ground.

For him, it was an enormous source of soul energy.

S u d d e n l y—

Leon felt a shift in his soul detection.

Several powerful presences were approaching from the distance.

He turned his head.

Through the thick mist, several figures were rapidly approaching.

"Are those... people? Proctors?"

Leon was confused.

He looked at Selena.

Selena lowered her hands.

She also looked toward the approaching figures.

Leon scratched his cheek.

He hadn’t done anything wrong.

Why were so many proctors coming?

What did they want?

He glanced at the destruction around him.

Then at Selena.

Then back toward the approaching proctors.

"D i d w e c a u s e t o o m u c h d a m a g e?" Evelyn asked quietly.

She emerged from the mist a short distance away, breathing slightly harder than before.

Leon looked at her.

"I don’t think that’s the problem."

Selena’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Whatever the reason, we’ll find out soon."

Leon nodded.

"Fair enough."

The proctors streaked across the sky like shooting stars, landing on the ground in an instant.

Dust rose beneath their feet.

Their gazes immediately focused on the center of the energy blast.

But what shocked them even more—

Standing beside Selena, Leon looked completely fine.

Not injured.

Not pale.

Not even tired.

He simply stared back at them with a puzzled expression.

The blue-robed proctor froze.

"Th-This... how is this possible?!"

His eyes went wide.

"He... he’s unharmed?!"

The middle-aged beast-girl’s dragon horns twitched as she struggled to find words.

The purple-robed proctor didn’t even bother speaking.

He rushed forward.

His hand grabbed Leon by the shoulder, and his spiritual energy immediately swept through Leon’s body.

"You... are you really alright?!"

Leon blinked in confusion.

Then he smiled and nodded.

"Teacher, I’m fine."

The proctors exchanged glances.

Their faces were a mixture of disbelief and confusion.

They had been certain Leon would collapse from mana exhaustion.

They had prepared themselves to find an unconscious student.

Instead—

Leon looked perfectly energetic.

His breathing was steady.

His face wasn’t pale.

His spiritual energy was stable.

There wasn’t even a trace of the backlash they had expected.

"Th-This... how is this possible?" one proctor muttered.

"That was a forbidden-curse level beast-soul skill! How could it have no effect on him?"

He turned toward a gentle-looking woman in white robes.

"Teacher Charlotte—you’re the best healer among us. Please check his condition."

Charlotte nodded.

She had long blue hair and clear blue eyes. Her beauty was calm and mature, and her blue dress moved softly with the wind as she approached.

She gave Leon a warm smile.

"Don’t be nervous, student. I’m just checking your condition."

Leon nodded.

"Please."

Charlotte placed her palm gently against his forehead.

A soft blue light appeared.

Warm healing energy flowed into Leon’s body.

It passed through his muscles.

His bones.

His spiritual channels.

His soul.

Charlotte’s expression gradually changed.

At first, she looked calm.

Then confused.

Then genuinely surprised.

After a moment, she withdrew her hand.

"Strange..."

Her eyebrows drew together.

"His body is in excellent condition. No damage at all."

"What?!"

The proctors stared at her.

The blue-robed proctor almost lost his composure.

"How is that possible?"

He pointed toward the ruined battlefield.

"He just unleashed two forbidden-curse skills!"

"Exactly—it’s unthinkable!"

The middle-aged beast-girl sighed.

Her eyes remained fixed on Leon.

The purple-robed proctor stared at him for several seconds.

His earlier regret slowly changed into something else.

Respect.

And caution.

"It seems we really underestimated this young man."

Leon gave them a polite smile.

"Thank you for your concern, teachers."

He glanced toward the deeper part of the hunting ground.

"But I’m truly fine... may I continue the exam now?"

The proctors fell silent.

The white-haired elder looked at him for a long moment.

Then—