Chapter 113 - Who Won?

"Yulong!"

Worried cries filled the place as those from the same city as the long-haired guy thought he already lost against Aldrin when those three Shadow Clones suddenly lunged at him.

However, the lauded praises Aldrin heard about him weren't unfounded.

"Uncle, do you like stabbing someone in the back?" Yulong Xin effortlessly spun. His arm drew the momentum from that spin to deliver a horizontal slash.

One of the three Shadow Clones got hit by it, cut down into two halves while the other two barely evaded thanks to Aldrin's split-second decision to forgo the attack.

Like Aldrin first guessed, that falchion was too hot. It instantly sizzled and the bisected clone to flames starting from where it was cut.

Moments later, it turned into energy particles and disappeared.

Those crying for his loss abruptly stopped before it immediately switched to cheers. Applauding that seemingly godly maneuver for amateurs like them.

Aldrin didn't pay attention to those reactions, instead, his eyes gauged what should be his next action while humoring Yulong Xin. "Maybe? I'm older than the two of you but I'm not as strong as you. What do you want me to do, fight you head-on?"

"That's fair. You won't win that way, however."

Yunlong Xin chased after Aldrin, his Minor Aura Veil causing him to glow in orange. The same as his red and black falchion, heat haze seemed to occur around her, making him look like a human torch.

Aldrin began thinking that he'd be a great companion in exploring dark dungeons. He wouldn't need to look for any other light source. He'd make Yunlong Xin glow like a torch and send him ahead to light their way.

"Did you just think of something rude, uncle?"

"Huh? Are you reading my mind?"

"It's written in your face!" Enraged even though he had no idea what Aldrin was thinking, Yulong Xin's speed went up a notch to catch up with him. His refined energy coated his falchion as he activated his Concept. 

Along with his long, lustrous hair fluttering behind him, Yulong Xin's outstretched arm seemingly transformed into a dragon's head. It roared towards Aldrin, its imposing aura drowning any other sounds.

Not only that, aside from the incoming Yulong Xin, the green-haired girl who he rendered immobile had recovered and stood up. Her Minor Aura Veil covered her whole body again as she joined the fray, racing against Yulong Xin on who could take Aldrin down.

Seeing that he became the sole target of the two instead of it being a three-way duel, Aldrin stopped retreating and recalled the two Shadow Clones back to his side. He also resummoned another clone before splitting to face his incoming adversaries.

Along with his clones, Aldrin utilized Shadow Steps, surprising the two young late Stage 1 Energy Refiners.

Mila widened her eyes in surprise, stabbing the first clone but getting kicked away by the second. It didn't break her Minor Aura Veil but that's enough to give Aldrin the space to not worry about being stabbed by her while he's dealing with Yulong Xin.

'Am I that much of a threat? No. It's probably because I'm performing beyond the data they gained about me.'

He's supposed to be the weakest among them when it comes to progress in Energy Refining. However, not only did he easily manage to dodge and immobilize Mila in as little as two or three exchanges but he also seemed at ease when it came to confronting Yulong Xin.

If Aldrin could focus his hearing on what the Instructors, onlookers and their fellow trainees were discussing while watching their fight, he'd surely hear his name countless times.

Unfortunately, he had to put his entire focus to at least come out unscathed against the two.

After letting go of the Black Steel Sword that's about to crack in two, he pulled out his mostly unused handgun, the Stag Mk.1.

He fired once in Yulong's direction, forcing the long-haired guy to dodge. Following that, the third Shadow Clone lunged at him to tackle him down, further disrupting the momentum he built up.

Upon seeing the imposing dragon's head lost most of its grace, Aldrin jumped, his Shadow Steps propelling him further upwards,

"You're strong so… don't hate me for this."

Aldrin once again aimed his gun at Yulong Xin who had already stopped in his tracks.

At the same time as Aldrin fired his gun, the long-haired guy slashed upwards, his Concept furiously roaring at him.

'It's just like any other projectile-shooting Concept. But with the addition of that sword of his, it turned it into a fire dragon…'

After firing thrice which passed through the dragon's head and hit Yulong Xin down below, Aldrin faced it by doing a downward slash.

The flames instantly engulfed the sword followed by his whole body. From the eyes of those watching the battle, Aldrin had been bitten by the fire dragon.

However, moments later, the glinting Refined Crystalline Sword reemerged. Aldrin, whose body was still aflame, plunged downwards to the dumbstruck Yulong Xin.

The long-haired guy, who was hit by the weakened energy bullets in both arms, raised his falchion in difficulty to defend himself against Aldrin. His orange Minor Aura Veil flared in more intensity.

CRACK!

With the force amplified by the gravity that pulled Aldrin downwards, the ground where Yulong Xin was standing cracked as soon as their swords clashed.

"This! I can't lose against someone from a Secondary City!" the long-haired guy desperately yelled. Perhaps pushing himself to the limit, his refined energy manifested another Concept. Instead of another dragon head, a clawed arm emerged from his back. It's a dragon's clawed arm that instantly stretched out, hitting Aldrin's arm.

Before Yulong Xin kneeled completely from the overwhelming force of Aldrin's downward slash, Aldrin retreated, his face grimacing from the pain on his arm.

"Incredible exchange!"

"What happened? Who won?"

"Are you blind? No one won."

Amidst the clamor that boomed after the audience digested what just happened, Aldrin, Yulong and Mila stood up once again.

With considerable distance from each other, none of them moved to attack again.

Among the three, Mila had the ugliest expression on her doll-like face. She didn't achieve anything. She's the one who started the duel but Aldrin and Yulong Xin took the spotlight from her.

"Isn't this enough? You two got what you wanted." Aldrin started as he covered his arm that now had faint claw marks. Although he got hit, it didn't break his skin as it was a desperate attempt by Yulong Xin.

"I'm not satisfied!" Mila objected as she gripped her rapier tightly.

"Now, now. We're not here to duel each other. Is there even a reason to contend like this? No, right? You two just wanted to flex your strengths and compare."

"… I admit. I underestimated you, Uncle." Yulong Xin joined the conversation but he's not looking at the two. He's ashamed. After mocking Aldrin, he almost lost against him. To save himself from further disgrace, he'd rather not look at him or them. He then turned around and began walking back. His group parted, making way for him, leaving Aldrin and the indignant Mila in the middle.

The onlookers were still waiting if something else would happen. Unfortunately, it's over. With Yulong Xin's exit, Aldrin also began walking back to his group.

As for Mila, Aldrin gave her one last glance and met her eyes that were still burning with the desire to redeem herself.

"Don't take it too seriously. You're strong. I'm just… crafty, I guess?"

After leaving those words that's partly comforting and partly bragging, Aldrin continued on his steps.

Mila gritted her teeth, angered and embarrassed from that. If someone looked closely, tears started to well up in her eyes. Before that burst, she ran away and disappeared into her group, leaving behind the greenish aura that dissipated seconds later.

With the three main characters out of the stage, the three groups soon split up, ending that little event.

Although it ended without a clear winner, it's too clear who turned out superior among the three.

Even though Aldrin isn't a late Stage 1 Energy Refiner yet, he faced the two with ease, even clearly beating Mila.

He did say it's his craftiness that allowed it. However, in the eyes of those who witnessed everything, it's more than that. The two lacked the experience of fighting strong opponents or those at the same level as them while Aldrin was fighting opponents sufficiently stronger than him for six consecutive days.

"There you are. It's done. He's going to stick with your group on the way to the first site. Prepare to leak your identity. Don't make it too obvious that you're baiting him."

Janet showed up soon after and whispered that to him.. The plan to ensnare Carlos will commence on the way to the area where Base Building will be conducted.