Dark Dragon: The Summoned Hero Is A Villain - Chapter 289

Chapter 289: Good Work, Boys
Frederick was the first to move. His boots struck the arena floor with a crack of energy, mana flaring around him like golden fire.

His partner followed close behind, both charging with speed.

“Let’s see what you’ve got,” Frederick called, his lips curling into a confident grin.

With a sweep of his hand, the air shimmered before him, forming a translucent echo, a duplicate of himself, made of pure light.

The echo flickered once, then split apart, its shape distorting and twisting until it was no longer human.

Its limbs stretched unnaturally, fingers curving into claws. In seconds, the figure had transformed into a hulking creature with a long, barbed tail dripping venom.

The monster let out a shrill roar and lunged towards Arlo.

Arlo didn’t flinch. His body shifted just enough that the stinger passed by his shoulder, but it was close enough that he could feel the wind from it.

His movement was smooth and efficient, with not a single wasted effort. Anyone who saw it would think it was instinct, but anyone who knew Arlo would know he’d deliberately moved like that.

“Nice pet,” he called to Frederick, sliding back a step.

Noah, meanwhile, watched the other student coming straight for him.

The boy’s hands glowed a bright green as he conjured a strange, sticky substance that he hurled forward.

The glob arced through the air like a net of liquid resin.

Noah didn’t even bother moving. He simply snapped his fingers.

“Rot.”

A pulse of energy radiated from his hand as he cast the spell, invisible at first, until the goo in the air began to wither and crumble.

It dissolved into dust before it ever reached him, scattering harmlessly to the ground.

The other student blinked in shock, realizing his spell had been undone with a single word. He pulled back his fist and charged, aiming for Noah’s face.

Noah caught the fist in the air. His grip tightened, and before the student could react, Noah’s other hand shot forward in a single punch.

The boy’s body went limp as he dropped unconscious to the floor.

Across the arena, Arlo ducked again, his movements fluid as the monstrous echo’s tail cut through the air above him. The creature’s momentum sent it stumbling, its claws scraping the ground.

Noah cast Rot again, turning his gaze on the monster.

Black veins of decay spread instantly across its luminous body. It convulsed, its form unraveling, the golden light turning to ash and smoke as the spell consumed it from within.

Arlo, recognizing the attack, didn’t wait around.

He dropped low, scooping up a handful of sand from the arena floor, and when Frederick rushed at him, flicked his wrist, sending the sand straight into his opponent’s face.

Frederick’s shout of pain filled the air as he staggered back, clutching at his eyes.

“Can’t see?” Arlo taunted. “That’s unfortunate.”

Frederick swung wildly, desperately trying to hit Arlo, but he might as well have been trying to swat a mosquito while blindfolded.

Arlo dodged easily, his movements playful now. Then, in one swift motion, he caught Frederick’s arm mid-swing and twisted.

There was a loud crack.

Frederick screamed, clutching his arm.

“Enough!” Professor Oliver’s voice rang through the arena like a whip.

In an instant, a barrier of pale blue light appeared between the fighters, stopping any further blows.

The fight was over.

The watching students erupted into noise, with gasps, murmurs, and excited shouts filling the space.

“Did you see that?” someone said.

“They didn’t even break a sweat!”

“Noah took that guy out in one punch!”

“And Arlo, did you see how he blinded Frederick? That was insane!”

On the arena floor, Noah lowered his hand, his expression calm, almost bored.

Beside him, Arlo straightened, brushing the dust from his clothes.

Frederick was on his knees, clutching his arm, his partner unconscious on the ground beside him.

Professor Oliver glanced between them all, his expression blank. Then he gave a small nod. “The winners, Arlo Kael and Noah Webb.”

The students didn’t need to be told twice.

“Reaper and Jester!” someone shouted, and the chant spread through the class.

Noah shot Arlo a look of amusement. “See that? You’re a celebrity now.”

Arlo grinned. “Nah. Didn’t you hear my nickname? Jester. I’m meant to be the funny one.”

“Funny’s not the word I’d use,” Noah said, but there was the faintest trace of a smile tugging at his lips.

Above them, students leaned over the railing, still talking in excited tones.

“I didn’t know they worked that well together,” one said.

“They looked like they’d been fighting as a team for years.”

“They’re monsters,” another whispered. “Actual monsters.”

Noah looked around the arena, his dark eyes calm as ever.

To him, it had been nothing but another exercise, but to the others, it was something else entirely.

The Reaper and the Jester, the academy’s two strongest first-year gold-tier students.

It had a nice ring to it.

Professor Oliver’s gaze stayed on the two of them for a moment before he gave a curt nod.

“Good work. Now, join the others,” he said, motioning towards the stands.

Then, with a wave of his hand, he signaled to his assistants, who were already hurrying onto the arena floor.

They lifted Frederick and his unconscious partner carefully, escorting them to the infirmary.

As the injured were carried off, Oliver turned back to the rest of the students.

“Next pairing!” he called out, his voice echoing through the arena.

The matches continued in quick succession. Compared to the first, none carried quite the same energy.

The other students seemed tense, their movements cautious, as if afraid to draw the attention of the two who had just fought.

Noah and Arlo watched in silence from the stands, like overlords watching the peasants trying to avoid their gaze.

Soon, the final match ended. Oliver dismissed them with his usual brevity, reminding everyone to review their spells and how they could use it in group battle before next class.

Noah and Arlo made their way to the changing rooms with the others. The showers hissed softly, washing away sweat and dust. When they were done, they changed back into their academy uniforms.

As Noah buttoned his shirt, he glanced at Arlo. “We should check on Ben Stanley,” he said.

Arlo paused, tightening his cuffs. “Yeah,” he said after a moment. “We should. If he didn’t show up for class, it’s not just him being lazy.”

Noah nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Then let’s go in assuming the worst.”

Arlo gave a grim smile. “With our luck? The worst is probably waiting.”