The Genius Evolution Store

Chapter 196: Sparring

Auric led her to the second floor. There was a big space on the second floor. He secretly asked Lindwurm to modify this room into a combat room for a sparring match.

"Is this place going to hold out?" Katarina asked.

"As long as we don’t get too overboard, it should be fine." Auric nodded.

"Let’s just make another assurance." Katarina placed her hand on the floor. She spread her energy throughout the entire room, reinforcing it so that her bullets wouldn’t destroy it.

"Are you going to be alright after using all that energy?"

"I have more than enough energy. Besides, I’m going to lower my strength when fighting you. If not, you won’t stand a chance."

Auric didn’t say anything even though he was underestimated. Still, he wanted to see what kind of power the person who was known as the strongest in her generation was capable of using.

Auric took a deep breath. "In that case, let’s begin."

He first released his energy.

"Let’s do it then." Katarina raised both her hands. In the right hand, Katarina formed her small bullets. She summoned the bigger ones in her other hand. "3..."

"2..." Auric smiled.

"1..."

"Go!" Katarina and Auric said at the same time.

In that instant, Katarina sent forth the small bullets and scattered them so that Auric had to form a big barrier to block them.

However, Auric simply spun his hands and expanded the torrential wind energy around both hands.

Katarina was amused by the answer Auric gave. The wind pressure dispersed the bullets further, but Katarina had full control of her bullets.

Since Auric didn’t take them down, Katarina simply changed their trajectory one more time, making sure that they reached Auric this time.

Auric couldn’t help but furrow his brow. This kind of control was indeed amazing. In addition, it looked like she had reinforced the thin lines of energy that allowed full control over her bullets.

His wind attack earlier was intended to destroy those connections after all.

Auric created a barrier this time, surrounding himself.

The bullets hit his barrier but were unable to destroy it. That was when Katarina sent forth the big bullets.

Auric had seen this coming just by following the energy in her body.

The big bullets cracked the barrier upon impact and shattered it after the fourth one hit. The remaining bullets, big and small, continued toward Auric.

"..." Auric could actually follow the bullets’ movements with his eyes, but Katarina had perfect control, so she could adjust her strike immediately. "I see. This is annoying."

Auric leaped away and formed a thicker barrier, which stopped the big bullets. However, the small bullets once again curved and avoided the barrier before coming toward him.

Lightning suddenly sparked violently around his body. The sparks were controlled in a way that they would hit the incoming bullets.

Auric managed to finally stop all the attacks, but Katarina was already forming her second wave of bullets.

’So that’s how it is. A very annoying fighting style. I will need a thicker barrier to stop those bigger ones, but if I do, the smaller ones will have good maneuverability to avoid the barriers. If I spread my barrier too thin, the big bullets will destroy it. It is a very simple fighting style, but with her elemental manipulation and the toughness of her element...’

He could finally see why Katarina was strong.

Still, he didn’t think this was enough for Katarina to be number one.

"I have been wondering what multiple elements are capable of." Katarina sent forth all the bullets. "Let’s test it, shall we?"

Auric placed his hand on the floor.

Plant Wave.

Auric used the ’Ice Wave’ technique with his plant element. Multiple roots emerged and continued moving forward like a wave.

Some of them struck the bullets, but most of the bullets managed to pass through.

Nevertheless, it was more than enough to make Katarina jump to the right.

Auric then pointed his finger and shot his Piercing Thunder.

Of course, he knew the bullets were coming, so Auric ran to the side to avoid them.

The bullets curved again, chasing after him.

In addition, Katarina saw the Piercing Thunder coming.

Katarina halted her step and stomped on the floor. A metal spike appeared and sucked the incoming lightning like a lightning rod.

But this time, Auric was also coming.

Katarina covered her body with energy. When Auric was about to strike her, she manifested that energy to turn it into armor. There was no way Auric could pierce it.

Katarina shot her bullets, surrounding Auric with all her bullets.

This time, Auric should be hopeless. There were bullets chasing from behind, Katarina had shot another wave of bullets from the front. The right side was blocked by the store’s wall, and the left side was covered by the Plant Wave.

Besides, even after Auric passed all these obstacles, he wouldn’t be able to penetrate Katarina’s defense.

She took advantage of her manipulation to make such a strategy work. All her opponents had been overwhelmed by both offense and defense.

This was why Katarina had been showing her poker face all this time. To make sure that the strategy worked, Katarina had to remain calm all the time. Once she got distracted, she wouldn’t be able to think about how to shoot, where to shoot, and how to trap the opponent.

However, this strategy might be less effective against Auric.

He abruptly slid on the floor to slow down. Once he stopped, he placed his hand on the floor.

Wood Wall.

He formed a wall with his wood element in front and behind him to block the bullets.

The big bullets hit the walls, cracking the wooden walls. The small bullets looped around the walls and hit him.

Auric activated his elemental fusion. A powerful gust burst from the walls, sweeping the bullets left and right. It might not be enough to destroy the bullets, but it was more than enough to buy time for Auric.

Auric immediately leaped over his destroyed wall. Yes, he was taking advantage of the fact that his wall would definitely be destroyed by the big bullets.

With the wind burst from earlier, there were no bullets in his path anymore.

"!!!" Katarina was amazed. This was Auric’s power. The way he utilized his elements at the right time and in the right situation was superb. The most unbelievable thing was the fact that he could use an elemental fusion at that level.

This was probably the first one a freshman could actually reach her.

Auric gathered his lightning in his right arm and punched her stomach.

Her body was covered by her element, so a normal lightning punch wouldn’t be enough to pierce through her armor.

However, this wasn’t a normal lightning punch.

Crack!

Katarina looked down the moment she heard the crack. Auric actually infused plant element energy into his punch. As a result, the plant element used the elemental advantage to break down her element. This way, the lightning element’s piercing power would be more than enough to penetrate her armor.

Katarina stood firmly on the ground and kicked Auric.

Auric switched his stance and blocked the kick with both arms, sliding on the floor for several meters before the small bullets that he had repelled earlier rained down on him.

Auric managed to form a barrier at the last moment, protecting himself.

"Your power is amusing," said Katarina. "This is probably the first time I’m facing such a ridiculous opponent."

"I could say the same about you." Auric smiled. "I finally understand why you’re able to get that spot. You’re basically invincible in short to medium range."

"Well, that depends on how you see it. I may not be invincible after all." Katarina pointed to the crack in her armor. "Should we step up our game?"

"As long as we don’t break anything here..." Auric nodded.

"In that case..." Katarina picked a broom and a book on the right side of the room. She then covered them with her element, turning them into a metal broom and a metal book.

"Are you serious?" Auric widened his eyes in disbelief.

"I told you. I have learned all kinds of weapons. I may not be the master of them, but creating a variation is possible. Besides, my job here is like that of a maid, so isn’t this broom a perfect weapon?" Katarina pointed the broom up like a spear. "Don’t worry. They’re not going to be destroyed as long as I cover them with my element."

Auric couldn’t help but smirk, starting to get excited. In a way, Ellia’s overwhelming offense might be able to actually break everything he had. However, Katarina’s power was more annoying than Ellia’s attack.

He didn’t know whether he could win or not with three elements. It would be possible if he used all his elements, but Katarina was suppressing her power to match him.

Auric took a deep breath, ready for round two.

...

Meanwhile, Milinda was looking at the address and raised her head. "This is the store, right?"

She was standing in front of a two-story building. There were no customers. The sign hadn’t been changed as well.

When she pushed the door, it was actually unlocked.

"It’s open..." Milinda looked left and right. "Has Auric arrived? Well, that Katarina should have arrived as well, right? Where are they? Auric?"

Milinda opened each door, trying to find Auric. However, they were nowhere to be found on the first floor.

She took a look at the stairs and tried to go to the second floor.

"Auric should be somewhere in the building. He said he’s waiting for me, so he’s not the type to go somewhere without saying anything. Does something happen?" Milinda frowned. If something happened to him, she had to inform Ellia right away.

This place wasn’t so kind as to let her do reckless things.

But she soon heard something from one of the rooms.

Clank!

Clink!

"A fight?" Milinda wanted to storm in, but she didn’t know what was going on. So she chose to carefully open the door to see what was going on first.

She gulped and pushed the door slightly open, taking a peek inside.

The scenery in this room was unbelievable. The room was covered in black metal, most likely to reinforce it. There were roots everywhere.

The clash of energies continued in rapid succession.

However, the most unbelievable thing she saw was the two people fighting.

Before her was a maid beating up her boss. If Katarina wore her normal clothes, she wouldn’t have given much thought to the sight of this fight.

But Katarina was currently wearing a maid uniform. She kept swinging the broom toward Auric as if trying to beat him.

"What the f—"

...

In another corner of Kallarnos University, a man sipped his tea gracefully when a woman of the same age entered.

"Young Master, I’ve just got the information from the Astler family, specifically Master Christian Stroph Astler, the current head of the Astler family."

"Hoh? The Astler family? Have they finally accepted my proposal?"

"Sir Christian wants me to tell you he is willing to accept your proposal of marrying young lady Ellia, but there is a problem."

"A problem?"

"Apparently, young lady Ellia is in love with someone else."

"Hoh?" His eyes turned cold. "What does he want?"

"If you can eliminate him, they are willing to accept the proposal. All you’ve got to do is formally propose to the family and you two will be engaged immediately."

When he heard that agreement, his eyes were suddenly filled with excitement. "Interesting. Is it someone with another good background?"

"No. He is someone from the countryside. However, he happens to be one of the five students who come to Kallarnos University as an exchange student."

The man’s eyes turned cold. "I see. Since he’s just a country bumpkin, in that case, I will eliminate him. Tell Sir Christian that everything will be done soon!"

"Yes, sir."

"What is that guy’s name?"

"His name is... Auric Elfe."