"Stop crawling up!"Malcolm, clad in the Black Knight's armor, charged forward, trailing black smoke. His armored fist swung menacingly.Whoosh!Simon easily twisted his shoulder to dodge, then slid sideways and swung his left fist.Crack!Malcolm's head snapped back violently. But he endured the impact and extended his other arm. Simon didn't back down, extending his right fist.Thwack!Crack!Their fists crossed, landing squarely on each other's faces.The Black Knight's helmet and the Skull Helmet creaked and twisted, and both their heads snapped to the side."Waaah!"The sudden close-quarters combat brought the crowd's atmosphere to a fever pitch.Simon stepped back, wiping his mouth. Malcolm seemed fine, but only a small portion of Simon's barrier gauge had been chipped away.Malcolm knew this and sneered.'Pure close-quarters combat won't work.'Simon's current Bone Armor was in its initial stage. It increased the defense of the bone-covered areas and could even provide muscle augmentation like an exoskeleton suit by utilizing the undead's core.In Blue Harbor, he had fully utilized this function to arm the residents with Bone Armor and drive out the pirates, but for Simon himself, who operated his own core, he couldn't expect such a significant muscle augmentation effect.Wearing ordinary skeleton bones instead of Pier's only made his movements stiff. It was better to simply enhance himself by operating the Jet Black within his body.So, Simon had prepared a slightly different way of using Bone Armor."Kuaaaap!"Simon ducked low to evade Malcolm's swinging fist, then plunged deep into his opponent's embrace.He slipped his arm into Malcolm's armpit, twisting it, and moved behind Malcolm's back. Then, he grabbed another arm joint and twisted it, tilting his body slightly, causing Malcolm's balance to break."Wh-what? You bastard! Let go!"No matter how strong the armor, if caught in a joint lock or submission technique, it was useless.Simon immediately activated dark magic.'Bone Armor!'The Bone Armor covering Simon's body partially detached and clung to Malcolm's Black Knight armor like ticks."You bastard! What are you doing?!"Simon smiled faintly."I thought you couldn't beat me with just one suit, so I'm letting you wear mine too.""You son of a biiiitch!"Malcolm tensed his body. Simon, who was concentrating on the Bone Armor, momentarily lost his grip on Malcolm's right arm, and quickly retreated to avoid Malcolm's swinging elbow."I'll kill you!"Freed from Simon, Malcolm lunged forward wildly, throwing a punch. Simon dodged by bending his waist so far back that the back of his head almost touched the ground.'Flexible!'The crowd gasped in admiration.As Simon dodged the attack, he pulled Malcolm's right arm while simultaneously kicking his right leg hard, forcing him to his knees from the impact.Crack!Thud!At the same time, the Bone Armor attached to Simon's arm began to transfer to Malcolm's arm.'What the hell are you doing?!'Malcolm, losing his reason to rage, wildly swung his fists.In Simon's view, Malcolm's combat style was typically one-dimensional, focused only on striking.Simon continued to stay close to Malcolm, attaching more bone armor to his body. "Simon! What are you doing?"Mei-rin in the stands was fuming."Your opponent is a special admission student too! You don't know what'll happen if you don't fight seriously!"Kamibarez, sitting next to her, turned her head with a worried expression."Dick! Did Simon tell you anything?""Not really, but I can guess what Simon's going to do.""Huh?""You know what Simon's especially good at in Summoning Studies."Dick grinned, holding up two fingers."Restoration and Control."Simon gasped for breath and retreated.By now, a noticeable amount of Bone Armor bones were stuck all over Malcolm's Black Knight armor. They were particularly concentrated on his arms and legs, where their fists and legs had repeatedly made contact."Hey, do you think you can win with this kind of childish trick?"Malcolm grabbed a bone attached to his waist. With a ripping sound, he tore off the bone and threw it to the ground.The moment Malcolm grabbed the next bone.Thump!Simon pushed off the ground and charged. Malcolm's expression tensed at the sudden change in offense, and he pulled back his fist.'Stop!'Simon's Absolute Command was issued.A strong attractive force acted on the skeleton bones attached to Malcolm's arm, causing Malcolm's arm to falter."What, my arm...!"Thwack!Simon's straight punch landed cleanly on Malcolm's face.Malcolm staggered backward, trying to swing his other arm, but.'Stop!'Again, he was interfered with by the skeleton.Simon twisted his waist and delivered a heavy roundhouse kick to Malcolm's head. The sudden, strong impact caused his helmet to momentarily blur and transform into a Jet Black shape before returning to its helmet form."Kuhuk!"Whether it was armor or a barrier, impacts still transferred shock.Malcolm reeled, feeling a brain-shaking impact. This time, even his barrier gauge was damaged."This kind of thing! I'll just tear it off...!"Of course, Simon wouldn't just stand by. Simon landed three consecutive punches on Malcolm's head, then dodged Malcolm's counterattack and delivered a perfectly angled spinning kick.Thud!As Malcolm fell to the ground from the impact, Simon rushed forward, grabbed Malcolm's helmet, and struck it with his knee.Crack! Thwack! Thwack!Malcolm's helmet repeatedly blurred, turning into Jet Black and then back into a helmet.His barrier gauge instantly dropped to less than half."Kuaaaaaah!"Malcolm roared and lunged, grabbing Simon's waist tightly and tackling him. Simon fell to the ground, and Malcolm, having successfully mounted him, grinned and raised his fist.'Back.'Simon's immediate Absolute Command followed.All the Bone Armor attached to Malcolm pulled Malcolm's upper body backward.Malcolm couldn't throw a punch and instead took consecutive punches from Simon, breaking his mounted position.Spin.Simon stood up, spun his body, and then kicked Malcolm hard in the abdomen. His body flew several meters. "Cough! Khuk! Kuaaaak!"Malcolm was in pain, yet also seething with uncontrollable rage. He pushed himself up and opened his subspace. 'I don't care about the consequences anymore!'What popped out of the subspace was another liquid bomb. This time, there were five bottles.Malcolm shouted and ran towards Simon, igniting the potions in his arms with Jet Black.'At this distance, you won't be able to dodge, even if you die!'He was wearing the Black Knight armor, and Simon was bare-bodied.If it exploded here, both would take damage, but ultimately, he, wearing the Black Knight armor, would survive. 'Attaching Bone Armor to me was a mistake! Simon!'However.Simon was standing in place, wearing a wry smile."How can you be so predictable?"There was no easier enemy than one who had lost their reason and was consumed by rage.Simon raised his index finger.Shwaaaaargh!Shwaaak!Shwaaaaargh!Blades erupted from the subspace on the ground, striking Malcolm's body from the floor to the ceiling. "Khuk!"With Simon right in front of him, his vision suddenly shot upwards. His body soared dozens of meters, and the explosive potions in his arms emitted a fierce flash. "Simoooooon!"Malcolm's wailing face was engulfed in the explosion.Kwa-kwakwakwakwang!Followed by gray smoke and a thunderous roar.The spectators quickly covered their heads and ducked. The explosion had blown a hole in the arena's roof, revealing the sky, and a strong wind blew through.And a moment later, Malcolm, completely stripped of his Black Knight armor, was falling from the explosion cloud. Simon raised his right arm.Shwaaaaargh!Four blades snatched the falling Malcolm and slammed him into the wall. Simon finally let out a sigh of relief, having ensured the finish.[Malcolm Randolph: 0%][Simon Pollentia: 79%]The referee raised his arm."Winner! Simon Pollentia of Class A!"Waaaaaah!A thunderous cheer erupted from all directions."He's overwhelming. This year's special admission #1 is something else!""Is Kizen some kind of endless spring? It's amazing how monsters like him pop out every year.""He's 17? I feel so inadequate."The adults chattered, reviewing the match details and laughing, while scouts frantically moved their quills or turned on their communication crystal balls to contact headquarters."You need to change the recruitment priority right now.""Aren't you doing your job properly? You said he was a student who hadn't done advanced studies! He used Bone Armor, you crazy bastards!"A prodigy of unprecedented caliber, no, a new star had appeared."Ha, that Malcolm, tsk...!""Number 1 really hit him hard.""Betting is all about luck. Khahahaha!"The second-years laughed with mixed feelings as they accepted their betting results."I'll treat you when the money comes in, Simon!""Simon! You were so cool!"The members of Group 7 loudly waved their hands towards Simon and shouted. Simon smiled and waved back."I'll prepare for the next match."The agents began to clear the arena floor, and Simon returned to the waiting room. He received a quick check-up from the medical team and returned his barrier equipment.And no sooner had he stepped out of the waiting room and walked a few steps down the hallway than."Ah."He ran into someone wearing a Kizen uniform. Simon bowed his head."Greetings, Senior."It was Andre, the president of the Noble club and the third prince of the Dresden Kingdom. His face was beet red, and he was trembling."...Hey, do you even know what you've done?""Yes, I just finished my duel evaluation."Bang!Andre slammed his fist hard against the wall. The clean wall cracked, forming fissures like shattered glass."You beat up the Black Knight, the symbol of the Dresden Royal Family, in such a low-class manner?""...""I don't care if you're stronger than Malcolm or not! But the moment Malcolm put on the Black Knight armor, you should have understood the atmosphere, shouldn't you?! Didn't you see that I! No, that the Dresden Royal Family was behind Malcolm? You should have lost or forfeited, but you won? You crazy bastard! Is it that hard to just swallow your pride once? Don't you know how to conduct yourself? Are you really a noble, you damn bastard?!"Andre's eyes turned bloodshot as he bellowed."You have insulted the Royal Family!""...Uh, um. I apologize."Simon scratched his head once, then shrugged."It's hard for me to understand based on my common sense.""What?""Because what you just said is the most illogical thing I've ever heard."Simon placed a hand on his uniform and spoke softly."This is Kizen. You should act like a Kizen student."Andre looked dumbfounded. What was this guy saying? Was he really talking to him?"It's your freedom to give Malcolm the Black Knight armor, Senior, but defeating him was my duty as a Kizen student, giving my best in the match. Isn't it going too far to bring up 'insulting the Royal Family' in that context?""You lowly...!"Andre raised his palm, and Simon stood still."Grab!""Stop it."A hand shot out from behind and grabbed Andre's wrist. It was a small, delicate hand, but Andre's pupils trembled as if he was under immense pressure."How much more pathetic will you become, Brother?"It was Princess Molly of the Dresden Kingdom.Andre recoiled in shock, then forced a laugh."M-Molly! When did you come to Kizen? Hahaha! If you came, you should have told your brother...!""I had a feeling."She put her hands on her hips and glared at Andre."Stealing the Black Knight armor, a symbol of the Royal Knights, and giving it to the son of a criminal gang, then acting as if it's your own power... I think you're the one who insulted the Royal Family, Brother."Simon blinked at the unexpected sight. The third prince couldn't utter a word against the youngest princess."Do you even know what kind of disciplinary action the Black Knight who lost his armor because of you received? And to put on such a disgraceful display in front of elders from other countries... I will report this to Father!"Andre gasped and grabbed Molly's sleeve."Molly! Have you forgotten who I am? I'm Andre! Your brother, Andre! You know perfectly well what will happen to me if you report this to Father! Please...!""Then you shouldn't have behaved this way."She signaled behind her, and someone quietly walked over."Ah...!"Andre's face twitched as if in a spasm when he saw that person."Well done, Brother."The person who appeared was none other than the female student in the maid uniform, whom Andre had treated like a housekeeper."To dare do such a thing to a Kizen student. You knew this student's father worked in the Royal Garden and threatened him, didn't you?""N-no! That's...!""I will personally bow my head and apologize to Lady Neptis for this matter. And I will tell her the whole truth."Her eyes turned cold."You know how much she cherishes her students, don't you? I will never let our kingdom become like the Talhern Empire.""Yes, yes! Exactly!"Andre said excitedly."Why are you trying to cause trouble?! There's nothing good that will come from Lady Neptis knowing about this, or Father knowing about this, is there?! It's not too late! Just cover it up...!"Slap!Andre's head snapped to the side.This time, even Simon, who had been quietly watching, and the female student in the maid uniform were surprised."Still blabbering, not learning your lesson."She lowered her hand, a look of disgust on her face."It's gone too far to cover up, Brother. The stench of the mess you've made is permeating all of Kizen.""...""I have no choice but to clean up after you. I've prepared a carriage outside, so get out of my sight right now."Andre, despite being a formidable Kizen second-year, couldn't utter a single word against Molly, an ordinary woman without even a core.Simon felt a sense of satisfaction watching Andre's retreating figure."Lord Simon Pollentia, first-year of Kizen, correct?"Princess Molly's gaze now turned to Simon.
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