The students split to the left and right, with Leo and Duran at the center.
Everyone was excited about the match between the representative of the freshmen and the top-ranked new student.
"Who do you think will win?"
"I'm for Duran!"
"Yeah, he was famous even before he enrolled, right?"
"But still, as the representative of the freshmen, he should show something, right?"
"Well, he didn't come in first in the exam, did he? And I heard he hasn't even mastered the Aura Step."
All the first-year students predicted Duran's victory.
In the midst of this, Celia asked with a worried look.
"Will you be okay?"
"Don't you trust me?"
"You just learned the theory of the Aura Step a moment ago."
"Don't worry, I'll win."
Duran pointed to a large tree attached to the far wall of the training ground.
"The rules are simple. The one who runs around that tree and returns here first wins."
"Got it."
The two of them warmed up before the race.
Leo removed the bracelets and anklets from his wrists and ankles, recalling the Aura Step theory taught by Professor Ein.
After the warm-up, the two stood at the starting line, and the student acting as the referee raised his hand.
"Get ready."
Leo tensed his muscles.
"Go!"
The two of them kicked off the ground and ran simultaneously.
At first, Leo took the lead.
Duran frowned, watching Leo's back.
'He's really fast.'
"Go! You're fast!"
"Go, Leo!"
Karl clenched his fist tightly and cheered, while Chelsea jumped up and down excitedly.
But Celia's expression remained dark.
'Duran hasn't used the Aura Step yet.'
Right now, both were running purely on physical strength.
Leo's physical abilities were so incredible that even Celia would admit to being a few steps behind.
So it was natural for Leo to be faster without using the Aura Step.
But that was just the initial advantage.
As soon as Duran activated his Aura, the distance closed rapidly.
Zap! Golden sparks enveloped Duran's legs.
It was the Lightning Aura.
"I'll go first, slowpoke."
Duran sneered and charged forward.
Duran turned the corner much faster than Leo and sprinted at an incredible speed.
To anyone watching, it was clear that Leo would lose.
Then Leo accelerated explosively toward the training ground wall.
"Aura Step? Didn't they say the representative of the freshmen couldn't use it?"
"Was he lying?"
The students murmured, and Celia's eyes widened.
'No, how can this monster learn so quickly?'
While she was inwardly screaming,
Leo didn't slow down even as he approached the training ground wall.
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!
"Wait, can't he stop?"
"He's going to crash!"
The students screamed as Leo raced toward the wall at a terrifying speed.
Crack!
At that moment, Leo focused his strength in his legs and leaped.
He then looked up, placing both feet on the wall, and saw Duran's back.
Crash!
Leo used the force of his leap to chase after Duran, causing cracks in the wall.
The students were shocked by this sight.
Duran's face stiffened when he turned around and saw Leo flying toward him like a bullet.
'You bastard!'
Though surprised by the unexpected pursuit, Duran quickly regained his composure.
'He lost his acceleration when he landed!'
Since Duran maintained his speed, he wasn't worried about being caught.
Leo kicked off the ground again.
With the Aura Step activated, his speed was incomparable to before.
But the distance between him and Duran didn't close.
Now, they were halfway back to the starting line.
"Go, Leo!"
"Go, Duran!"
The students split into two groups, raising their cheers.
Celia bit her lip slightly.
'No, he can't catch up.'
Leo also knew this.
Whoosh!
Then, flames erupted from Leo's feet.
'The method Professor Ein used to walk in the air.'
He recalled the demonstration given by Professor Ein.
It was impossible to replicate it now.
Leo was just a beginner in the Aura Step.
But he could refer to Professor Ein's method.
Activating Phoenix Breath, Leo focused his Aura on his feet.
Whoosh!
And...
'Kick the ground!'
Crack! Boom!
The unexpected explosion startled the students.
Celia's mouth dropped open.
'Phoenix Step? Leo shouldn't have mastered it yet, right?'
Boom! Boom!
Small explosions sounded in quick succession.
Leo began to accelerate at an incredible speed.
Burning all the Aura in his body, Leo caught up to Duran's back.
"Damn? You bastard!"
"Going first, slowpoke."
Leo smirked and kicked the ground forcefully.
Boom!
"Leo Flaubert!"
Duran glared and shouted, chasing Leo closely.
The distance didn't widen, but he couldn't catch up to Leo, who was now accelerating.
Leo's Aura flames and Duran's Lightning Aura streaked through the air as they raced.
Leo crossed the starting line by a hair's breadth.
"Wow!"
"Crazy! He's so fast!"
The students exclaimed in amazement.
"Huff! Huff!"
Duran panted heavily, glaring at Leo.
Leo, with his hands on his knees, took deep breaths, drenched in sweat.
"Hey! That was amazing! You're really fast. Duran is the fastest among the first-years, and you beat him?"
Karl exclaimed, while Celia spoke.
"He wouldn't have won in a long-distance race."
"Huh?"
"Celia is right. Duran has much more Aura capacity."
Leo nodded in agreement with Celia.
"But I still won. See? I said I would win."
"Wow, you're great."
Celia shook her head at the smug Leo.
"Leo! Here's some water!"
"Thanks."
Leo smiled softly as Chelsea handed him a water bottle.
"Even I think it's cool. He'll be popular with the girls. Is this what a well-mannered gentleman is like?"
Karl marveled, but Chelsea shook her head.
"He's not a gentleman."
"Huh? Why?"
"He threatened to burn my butt to get my cooperation during the entrance exam."
Chelsea's face turned grim.
Karl muttered, "A perverted gentleman."
***
"Yesterday, I felt it too. Albion Professor didn't recommend Leo as the representative of the freshmen for nothing."
Professor Ein muttered on the roof overlooking the training ground.
"Isn't it the professor's duty to stop student conflicts, Professor Ein?"
Vice-Professor Clarissa sighed deeply and pointed out.
"It's an annual event, isn't it?"
Lumern attracts students selected from various cultural backgrounds around the world.
Moreover, their backgrounds vary widely.
As a result, situations like the one just now often occur at the beginning of the school year.
"Even knowing this, not stopping it is the problem."
"Many of this year's first-years have the potential to become heroes. The Academy is paying attention to them. I thought it was necessary to distinguish the wheat from the chaff early in the semester."
Lumern's professors adhere to the principle of equality for all students.
However, as humans, they inevitably have favorite students.
Despite his cold exterior, Ein is passionate about his students and is highly respected by his former students after graduation.
Ein was proud of his students.
But one regret was that none of his students had yet become a hero.
"Raising heroes. Clarissa, you know how much I desire that, don't you?"
"Of course."
Sighing, Clarissa took out a notebook and asked.
"So, what will we do?"
Even a temporary class, fighting without the professor's permission is a violation of school rules.
"Leave it alone since they didn't actually fight."
'Leo must have really impressed him.'
Professor Ein, who values school rules, overlooked this incident.
Clarissa laughed, watching Leo talking with his friends.
***
After class, Leo sat in the student cafe.
In the meantime, the story of Leo and Duran had spread throughout the school.
"From the first day, you're already the center of attention."
Karl raised his thumb, and Chelsea, sipping fruit juice through a straw, said,
"Leo's performance was indeed impressive."
"Hey, Chelsea Levalin. I noticed you call Leo 'oppa' but call me by my name. Why?"
"It's my choice."
Chelsea stuck out her tongue.
"Hey!"
"If you don't like it, call me 'oppa' too, or something!"
"Just call me by my name."
Celia gave up.
"Next is Summoning class. Anyone taking it?"
Karl checked his schedule and asked.
"I am."
The three of them looked at Leo with a 'What are you going to do with that?' expression.