Chapter 168
The vast arena, the majestic scale of the four rock golems,
And the single human standing at the center.
Yes, even though Claude appears monumental to me, he’s still just one human being like me…
“I can’t watch this…”
I muttered unconsciously.
“Eh? Miss Rose, why not? It’s going to be amazing.”
Log #3 seemed genuinely confused.
Despite Log #3’s insistence, I looked down, feeling unsettled inside.
—The demonstration will begin shortly. Please prepare.
While the announcement echoed through the arena, Claude remained motionless, just slowly scanning the surrounding golems with an unreadable, cool gaze.
—Start.
With a heavy clank, the shackles around the golems that had been confining Claude were released simultaneously.
The moment they were freed, the golems immediately charged at their target, Claude.
Boom, boom, boom!
As their hefty stone legs hit the arena floor, my body jolted. Log #3 had to hold down my trembling shoulder with such force.
The golems moved much faster than I had expected. They reached Claude in an instant, each raising its foot high.
But Claude didn’t move an inch until a foot was almost upon his head.
Eventually, he disappeared from view, obscured by the golems’ feet.
“Ah!”
“Miss Rose, it’s okay! Look!”
As I couldn’t bear to watch and turned away, Log #3 forcefully held me in place and shouted.
It was true.
The golems attempting to stomp on Claude, as if caught by invisible snares, were suspended in mid-air with their feet lifted.
Creak.
Creak…
Following the harrowing sound of rock grinding against rock—
CRASH!
With a thunderous roar, the golems’ legs shattered into pieces in an instant. Deprived of their support, the golems’ bodies crumbled to the ground.
A thick cloud of rock dust enveloped the training ground.
All of this happened in less than a minute.
“…”
I stared blankly at the dust dancing in front of me, veiling my view.
I knew from the beginning that he was the strongest in this world, tasked with facing the most dangerous mutants in the most extreme battlefields.
However, I had never fully considered how exactly he fulfilled that role…
Four second-class mutants that would require an entire squad of ordinary Espers to handle.
And Claude neutralized them with sheer overwhelming force, not with flashy techniques or tricks, but right there on the spot.
Log #3 was right. Despite my pride in being the only person he had opened up to, my understanding of Claude paled in comparison to his true capabilities.
As the rock dust finally settled on the floor of the training ground,
Slow applause began to ripple through. The applause grew, and cheers erupted from various sections of the lower seating.
During this, Claude had already effortlessly finished off the incapacitated golems, as if slicing through the last breath of a stunned fish.
Log #3, too, shouted excitedly with fervent eyes.
“Miss Rose, did you see that?”
“…”
“Isn’t it incredible? In battle, you have to conserve guiding energy, so you aim to achieve the maximum effect with the least amount of energy! That’s why Lord Claude was able to wait for the right moment to take them all down with a single strike… Lady Rose?”
“…I’m leaving.”
I brushed off Log #3’s arm from my shoulder and turned away.
A look of confusion crossed Log #3’s face, thrilled just moments before.
“H-Huh? Lady Rose! Where are you going? You should at least say goodbye! Lord Claude would be pleased to…”
“Don’t tell Lord Claude I was here.”
“Why not…”
Because I don’t want to face Claude right now.
Not at this moment.
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