Chapter 42: Our Red-Blooded Combination Technique!

On the arena, Ian and Amivy were momentarily stunned upon hearing the news of the opponent change.

Silence was the theme of the night…

Ian glanced at Amivy beside him, his determination to break away from the original plot growing even firmer.

‘Is this the perk of being a protagonist? Always on the path of fighting over-leveled monsters.’

Amivy, equally bewildered, felt her pupils contract.

No, how did that damn man dare to do this?

He was pitting two near-Level 4 novices against two near-Level 5 experts.

Was he not afraid of accidentally crippling his own Hero?

At that moment, the two new opponents stepped onto the stage.

They were two tall middle-aged men wearing magic robes with subtle, dark-patterned Imperial Emblems.

One had eyes like a hawk, surrounded by a refined aura of the Wind Element; the other was as steady as a mountain, his earthy yellow Mana feeling incredibly heavy.

Just by standing there, the two projected a sense of pressure that far exceeded the previous team of Academy elites.

The murmurs from the audience grew louder, and many onlookers began to eye Ian and Amivy with sympathy.

“Kevin… this…” Amivy called out.

“No problem! Trust me, Your Highness! I’ve prepared a tactic!” Ian said to Amivy with a face full of passion.

The referee signaled for both sides to prepare.

The two near-Level 5 Imperial Guard Mages looked at Ian and Amivy, their expressions solemn and professional.

William Reinhardt did not actually intend to cripple Amivy; he simply wanted to see the extent of her current strength.

Both Imperial Guard Mages had received orders to push Prince Arthur to his limits while ensuring they did not harm him.

“Oh!! Kevin, you’re right!”

Referee: “Let the match begin!”

Ian: “Let them witness our red-blooded combination technique!”

Amivy: “My thoughts exactly! Let’s combine!”

As the referee announced the start, the two Imperial Guard Mages had already charged forward.

They were experienced and knew the importance of giving their all even when a lion hunts a rabbit.

Moreover, Prince Arthur and his companion seemed to have some mysterious tactical trump card.

They had to remain vigilant and focused.

The Wind Mage moved like lightning, nearly blurring into an afterimage as he condensed highly compressed green wind blades at his fingertips.

The Earth Mage let out a low shout, causing the arena floor to rumble as several solid rock spikes erupted without warning from beneath Ian and Amivy’s feet!

Facing this sudden and fierce offensive, Ian and Amivy reacted almost simultaneously.

“Prince Arthur!”

Ian shouted, his voice filled with ‘trust’ and ‘reliance.’

“Kevin!”

Amivy responded with equal fervor.

Then, under the bewildered gazes of the entire audience, the VIPs, and even the two attacking Imperial Guard Mages…

Without a hint of hesitation and with perfectly synchronized movements, the two took a massive leap backward!

They retreated all the way to the edge of the arena.

Furthermore, as they retreated, the two shouted in unison with immense momentum:

“I’ll leave the rest to you!” ×2

The wind blades whistled past the spot where Ian had been standing, rippling against the arena’s barrier.

The rock spikes pierced empty air where Amivy had been, looming uselessly.

The two highly alert Imperial Guard Mages were stunned.

Protecting one’s teammate by shoving them to the front…

Was this some kind of new tactic?

A brief, dead silence fell over the area surrounding Arena No. 3.

The audience’s mouths hung open.

On the VIP stand, King William’s expression froze, and Marguerite’s face was covered in dark lines.

At the edge of the arena, Ian and Amivy stared at each other.

Amivy: “What do you mean by leaving the fight to me?! Kevin, where is your tactic?!”

Ian: “Dammit! Prince Arthur, aren’t you the Hero?! Why did you retreat? I haven’t thought of the tactic yet!”

Amivy: “You’re only thinking of it now?!”

Ian: “What did you expect?! I didn’t know we’d be up against near-Level 5 opponents!”

Seeing the two opponents bickering on stage, the Imperial Guard Mages and the surrounding spectators cast subtle, judging looks toward them.

Amivy: “…”

Ian: “…”

“Ahem, that was truly perfect coordination, Excellency Kevin!”

Amivy quickly regained her composure after sensing the stares, attempting to explain.

“No more joking around, Prince Arthur. We are ready to implement that operation!”

Ian also returned to a serious state, crossing his arms with a stern expression.

“Operation?”

“That’s right. First, Your Highness, you attract one enemy…”

“Mm… and then?”

Amivy nodded seriously and inquired.

“Afterward, you take the opportunity to finish off the other one as well!”

Amivy: “?”

“Then aren’t both of them mine?!”

“Alright, let’s change the tactic…”

“What tactic?”

Having learned her lesson, Amivy glanced suspiciously at the masked man.

“We go in together! I’ll handle the attacks, and Your Highness can be the meat shield!”

“Then I’m the only one getting hit?!”

Amivy couldn’t help but take a swing with her sword at her坑 teammate.

As if he had expected it, Ian nimbly dodged Amivy’s blade and charged directly at the Earth Mage.

At the same time, Ian shouted, “In that case, petty tricks are useless! Your Highness! Let’s each take one and give it our all!”

“Hey, what about the operation?! What about the tactic?!”

Although Amivy was complaining, her reactions were not slow. She gripped her sword and slashed toward the Wind Mage, who was still busy watching the drama.

The two Imperial Guard Mages were still immersed in the duo’s antics, wondering how much strength they should use.

Ian activated the Heart of the Platinum Dragon God to its full extent.

During his sprint, he immediately began charging a Dragon Breath.

The terrifying, massive dragon head caused the distant Earth Mage to freeze for a moment.

He had not expected Ian to choose him—the further target—while ignoring his teammate who was closer.

‘Is he not afraid of my partner?’

Though this thought only lasted a second, the Earth Mage was a combat-experienced Imperial Guard Mage.

His body instinctively began constructing defensive magic, but at the last moment, he remembered the “do not harm” condition in his orders.

Hesitating, he reduced the Mana supply to his shield.

It would be troublesome if the counter-shock injured the opponent.

The Earth Mage was very considerate, but he had never encountered a cheater before.

Even though the Earth Mage had shown respect by using nearly half his power, he was facing Ian at full throttle.

By the time the Earth Mage realized he had underestimated his opponent, it was too late.

With the infinite Mana from the Heart of the Platinum Dragon God and the long-distance charge, Ian’s Dragon Breath blasted a hole straight through the Earth Mage’s defensive barrier.

The near-Level 5 Imperial Guard Mage was thus blasted out of the arena by Ian’s “dishonorable sneak breath attack” and was declared defeated by the referee.