CHAPTER 151: EX 151. ANNOYING

The air on the field was tight with anticipation. The kind of silence that trembled under the weight of what was about to unfold. Every soldier, from the grizzled elites to the fresh cadets barely two months into service, had their eyes locked on the open stretch of reinforced ground. It had been cleared hours ago, the Federation’s way of preparing for something that was less a duel and more a statement.

A display.

To the Federation, strength wasn’t just a necessity. It was a currency. A creed. A proof of one’s worth, earned only through feats that couldn’t be questioned. The higher the rank, the greater the expectation. And for someone to carry the badge of an Azure Colonel, A-rank strength wasn’t a suggestion. It was a requirement. That was what this was. Not a sparring match. Not training. But a rite. A declaration of what one could do, when it mattered.

Sakura Yakomoto watched Leon from the edge of the field, arms crossed, lips curled slightly in thought. She had wanted to use him. That much was true. A pawn to provoke Nikko, force the ever-perfect heir to show cracks. But now? Now it was personal.

"I just wanted to get under her skin," she mused silently. "But now? I want to crush him. I want Nikko to watch her little boy toy bleed. Maybe lose a limb. Maybe two. I wonder what kind of face she’ll make then."

A smirk bloomed on her face, subtle but sharp.

Leon, on the other hand, stood at ease, too at ease for what was coming. His usual lazy calm hadn’t left his face, but something in his eyes simmered. Controlled fury and quiet resolve. His jaw clenched once, barely noticeable. Not because he feared Sakura. But because she had dared to insult Nikko. That was unforgivable.

He rolled his shoulders like he was shaking off dust, but inside, the heat was building. It wasn’t just a challenge anymore. It was war.

Behind the gathering line of soldiers, whispers had begun to ripple like a tide.

"I wonder what kind of challenge the Supreme Heir will throw at Colonel Leon," one soldier muttered, eyes wide with expectation.

"With what happened earlier? She’s not going to go easy on him," the one beside him replied, adjusting his collar.

The first soldier leaned in. "Still... I don’t know why, but I’ve got this feeling Colonel Leon’s going to shock us again."

"Yeah," his comrade agreed with a nod. "Me too."

At the far end of the field, Arbiter George stood like a statue of war, arms folded behind his back, his golden cloak unmoving in the dry wind. He had been there since the heated words between Leon and Sakura, observing in silence. It wasn’t every day that two figures tied to the Yakomoto name clashed under such public scrutiny. But more than curiosity, George was calculating.

"Why does the Supreme Heir care about that boy so much?" he thought, narrowing his gaze. "Yes, his talent is rare. But the Federation has seen talent before. Talent is not true strength. A prodigy can still be squashed like a bug if they meet someone strong enough. There are better suitors stronger than the boy presently."

It was a reasonable thought. It would have even been correct, if Leon were just a talented boy. But he wasn’t. Unknown to George and every high-ranking official present, the one watching over Leon was the most powerful man in the Federation. Not a general. Not a commander. The Governor himself.

Leon wasn’t just a prodigy.

He was the successor.

But none of them knew that.

Not yet.

George stepped forward, voice like a hammer on stone.

"The Display of Strength for Azure Colonel Leon will now commence. The challenger, Supreme Heir Sakura Yakomoto."

The field exploded with sound.

Cheers, shouts, stomping boots.

They had expected something grand.

But now?

They knew it would be unforgettable.

****

The crowd of soldiers had gathered around the Federation’s training field, murmurs rising like smoke as the challenge between colonels was about to begin. The moment had the weight of history, the Supreme Heir was present, a top brass was watching, and now, a newly promoted Azure Colonel was about to do the impossible.

Sakura stepped forward first, her uniform crisp, and her eyes glittering with a quiet, triumphant fire. A soft smile touched her lips as she looked at Leon.

"Colonel Kael, I hope you’re ready for the challenge."

Leon’s expression didn’t change. it was Calm, blank and deadpan as ever. As he gave a small nod.

Sakura’s smile widened, more edge than warmth now, as she thought,

’This will be the last time you ever look down on me.’

Then her mana surged.

It wasn’t subtle. It didn’t whisper. It roared.

A violent pressure spread across the training field, suffocating in its weight. Grass trembled. Trees beyond the barrier bent low. The very air thickened with vitality as Sakura’s Supreme Talent awakened—[Vital Bloom].

Nature responded like a soldier snapping to attention.

Vines slithered from the ground. The soil cracked. Leaves burst into life where none had been seconds before. And in the center of the field, the earth exploded.

From that crater, a seed of impossible power erupted skyward.

The soldiers watched, mouths parting in awe, as a tree, no, a monument of living nature, climbed toward the heavens. Its trunk was thick as a fortress tower. Its roots clawed into the ground like anchors of war. The branches spread far enough to blot out the sun, casting a vast shadow over the entire area. It was easily the size of the Federation’s outer wall.

Sakura stood before it, framed by its glow, her hand raised like a queen commanding her dominion. Supreme Heir Nikko and Elizabeth both narrowed their eyes from their seats. Neither of them said a word, but their silence was sharp.

"This," Sakura announced, voice clear and smug, "will be your display, Colonel Leon."

She turned to him with a self-assured smile.

Leon looked up at the tree. Its bark shimmered faintly, almost humming with the essence of the world. Natural energy rolled off it in waves. The thing was radiating an aura, as if alive.

The soldiers were silent, caught between admiration and intimidation.

Leon’s face didn’t change.

As it was Still blank and unreadable.

But beneath that expressionless mask, something stirred. It wasn’t excitement. It wasn’t nervousness. It was irritation.

A thought floated through his mind:

’This is going to be annoying.’