Chapter 380: Auric’s Challenge

[Kyaaaa!]

[Auric is too powerful.]

[This is the difference in class.]

[Auric is dominating the training program. There is no one coming close to him. Who says that he’s only good at evolution? He’s also good at fighting.]

[Damn. Just look at that cold gaze after releasing a force of that level. However, if we combine it with how he treats his patients, wouldn’t this mean Auric has two fronts?]

[I know, right? He’s cold to his enemy but warm to his people. In other words, he can be the sweetest to you, but merciless to your enemy.]

[I’m going to make a novel out of him. Let me see, something like "My Doctor can’t get enough of me," or something along the lines.]

[It will definitely become a CEO novel where the male lead is spoiling the female lead while being ruthless to anyone bullying the female lead. The male lead just can’t get enough of the female lead for absolutely unknown reasons.]

[Hell yeah! Where to buy?]

[Just look at these people. They’re making their own happiness.]

[Go away.]

However, the craze didn’t stop because Auric’s female audience was simply too much. They could already imagine Auric looking at them with such a loving gaze, hugging them and making them feel safe.

When someone hurt them, Auric would ruthlessly crush them before becoming lovely again. And that loveliness would only be theirs.

Auric didn’t even realize that his fans or stans might actually be as crazy or even crazier than his cult members.

Still, it was true that people simply couldn’t get enough of Auric, especially since he kept progressing at such a speed that it felt like there would be something new about him every month.

Katarina somehow read everything and pinched the bridge of her nose. It felt like she was reading something forbidden, but at the same time, she might end up buying it when no one was watching.

"This is really fun." Katarina chuckled. She never thought she would be facing something like this when she first met Auric. She still remembered how she acted so coldly toward Auric when he first arrived at Kallarnos University.

...

Evolution Association.

Chief Lucas couldn’t help but smile when he saw Auric’s performance. "This is actually good. It turns out he is good at fighting as well. If his main role is that of an attacker, the risk he will face will be significantly lower.

"He just has to attack his enemies from afar with overwhelming power. This means Auric will be able to get enough materials to push himself to Rank 6 like I have, or even surpass me.

"Even though he has multiple elements, his original power is a unique element. If he can surpass me, he will become the first Rank 7 human with a unique element."

Chief Lucas felt goosebumps. This kind of achievement could only be achieved once. It looked like protecting Auric was the correct choice.

He truly wanted to see how terrifying Auric would be.

"I wonder if I can still last for another two decades. Maybe I should just drop all this matter so that I don’t have to be burdened with all this work and prolong my life just to watch this kid surpassing all the records." Chief Lucas smiled wryly.

He really wanted to do that, but there was no guarantee that the next chief would have a good relationship with Auric.

Besides, he was the one maintaining Auric’s relationship with the country.

"When the election approaches, all the candidates might reach out to Auric to gain his support. With so many female fans, the one Auric chooses will definitely gain a significant number of votes. That’s why they’re going to do everything they can to secure Auric’s support.

"That’s where the problems arise. If they’re doing it legally and openly, Auric will have the chance to reject them. However, if they’re going to coerce him, his relationship with the country will turn for the worse."

Chief Lucas let out a long sigh. "This is why I can’t retire just yet. I just want to see as many young and talented people grow."

...

In the arena, they brought Alexander to the infirmary.

The referee noticed that Auric was still standing here, so he came to him and whispered, "You can go back right now."

Auric just smiled. "We are allowed to challenge someone, right? Since I’m still in the arena, doesn’t that mean it’s my turn to challenge someone?"

"!!!" The referee was startled. He thought Auric would be exhausted after releasing that much energy. "Are you sure about that? You can rest first, you know?"

"Yeah. Don’t worry. My energy reserve is still fine." Auric waved his hand, reassuring him.

"If that’s what you think, then I don’t have any reason to deny you your opportunity." The referee nodded.

The students couldn’t help but widen their eyes.

"The referee backs out?"

"Auric is still standing in the arena."

"Don’t tell me..."

"He’s going to challenge someone?!"

The students looked at each other, wondering who Auric would challenge next. It would be difficult to reject Auric’s challenge, considering there would be so many people who would smear their names afterward.

Auric originally planned to challenge a lot more people, but he realized that after revealing his power, he wouldn’t be able to abuse his chances by challenging so many people.

So, he had to make it count.

Suddenly, Theressa Lee moved to the edge of the arena. "Are you perhaps going to challenge me? I am also a Rank 4 student. Seeing how you use your power in Chinese, perhaps you would like to talk about it with me over dinner?"

"Bitch!" Some students secretly sneered.

Auric just chuckled. "I’m using that language simply because it’s the most suitable one I can think of. I’ll have to refuse that dinner since I prefer having dinner with people I know."

"Pfft!" The students chuckled when they heard Auric’s refusal.

Auric, on the other hand, didn’t care about their reaction. He continued, "The one I’d like to challenge is my fellow student from Dermania, Antonio Sastre. It was too bad that you weren’t able to fight with everything you had in the final, so I’d like to see you in action."

It was true that Antonio wasn’t able to utilize all his power since his opponent in the semifinal forced him to use so much energy.

Still, the way Auric spoke made it hard for him to reject it.

First of all, there was already a conflict between Auric and Dermania. So, Auric challenging someone from Dermania was nothing out of the ordinary.

In addition, Auric had used a lot of his energy as well, so if he was still afraid of Auric, it would tarnish his country’s reputation.

Antonio just looked at Auric, half-drunk. He didn’t care about politics in the first place. All this time, he worked hard just because he had to.

The one who was supposed to make everyone happy was Gloria, but with Gloria gone, he was the one who had to take up the fight.

Antonio just wanted to keep drinking, but it looked like he had no choice.

Antonio simply said, "I won’t be like Alexander. I don’t intend to stand still and let you attack me."

"Of course. I have always admired the power of a phoenix. The legend makes the phoenix sound like the most stubborn creature in the world. It refuses to give up in any given situation." Auric smiled.

Antonio leaped into the arena and landed in front of him while saying, "Phoenix’s rebirth is merely a curse that stops the Phoenix from dying. Who can say whether the phoenix wants to die or wants to survive?"

"That’s one way to interpret it, I guess." Auric smiled.

"Well, let’s just fight. I should also pay you back a little."

"For what your country has done to me?"

"No. For stealing my drinking buddy."

Auric was startled. Antonio really prioritized drinking over anything else. He used to have Timothy with him because of his condition, but after getting cured, Timothy was trying to push the alcohol away from his life, meaning he had just lost his drinking buddy.

Auric chuckled. This was the first time he had seen such a man.

Auric noticed the bottle Antonio was still holding. "By the way, you may want to put down your alcohol for a bit."

Antonio looked at his own bottle and shook his head. "No thanks."

"I see. What are you drinking? I don’t drink, but I’m curious. It doesn’t have a color, so... vodka?"

Antonio simply showed the bottle’s label, which was actually beyond what he imagined.

96% Spirytus.

Auric dropped his jaw in disbelief. "Can humans even drink that?"

"I am a human."

Auric was speechless. He couldn’t exactly refute that. However, he wondered why Antonio had brought the bottle this time.

When he fought in the Rank 3 competition, Antonio didn’t bring alcohol.

"Anyway, let’s just start it. I want to drink peacefully again." Antonio glanced at the referee.

Since that was his wish, Auric chose to respect it, so he nodded to the referee as well before stepping back.

The referee made sure both of them were ready before raising his hand. "All right. The match starts now!"

It looked like Auric found out the reason for the alcohol right after the match began.

After all, Antonio abruptly took a mouthful and held it in his mouth. His energy soared first before he spurted all that alcohol toward Auric.

The alcohol combusted, turning the already strong flame even more powerful. In fact, this might be even stronger than the ones Antonio had shown in the Rank 3 competition.

"!!!" Auric took a step back, but the flame ended up engulfing him.