A few minutes later, she arrived at the "Gem School " exhibition hall and, following the staff's directions, went to the rooftop outside the hall. This area was behind the audience seating and could be used to dock airships or flying beasts, but it was currently surrounded by two groups of people looking at the rising curtain platform in the middle.
Not only her, but almost all the chiefs who received the news rushed over, and now, with a somber expression, the one presiding over the duel was Nores.
"Since some conflicts are difficult to resolve through negotiation, then we can only resort to a contest. But today is the Silver Bell Festival, and I don't want any casualties to occur." After saying that, he glared at the Thetis Academy students who were about to go on stage.
The disheveled student trembled in fear, after all, Nores ' strength was overwhelming; even thirty of him tied together might not be able to defeat this strongest chief.
"Yes, I understand, Chief." He answered dejectedly with his head down, then walked onto the stage.
The members of the Woodland Alliance across the street saw this and gathered together to discuss it.
"How arrogant! The way they talk makes it sound like they have to hold back to avoid hurting us. That's incredibly arrogant."
"Indeed, even if the Mage Alliance is powerful, individual Mage are not particularly remarkable when compared to others."
Tia approached the Thetis Academy and listened to their explanation of what had happened.
It turns out that both sides had their eyes on a special gem being sold by the Gem School and hoped to acquire it as a resource for future advancement. The Woodland Alliance students claimed they arrived first, while the Thetis Academy students argued that they had offered a higher price and therefore it should belong to them.
The matter was originally minor, but later both sides became emotional and the argument inevitably involved their respective schools of thought. At this point, even if one side wanted to back down, it was no longer an option, because backing down would be a disgrace to their school of thought.
Unable to reach an agreement, the two sides decided to decide the ownership of the gem through a duel.
After listening, Sylutia was speechless. No wonder Chief Nores looked unhappy. It was really embarrassing for the organizers to cause a conflict over such a trivial matter.
However, they couldn't admit defeat at this point, since they represented the top Academy in the Mage Alliance, and the outcome of the competition had to be the sole basis for judgment.
Not knowing which faction's members were involved in the dispute within the Woodland Alliance, Sylutia looked up.
A shirtless young man carrying a long-toothed scimitar emerged. He had a blood-red wolf tattoo on his shoulder and back, which seemed to come alive with his breath, radiating a faint aura of power.
"This must be the Wildfire Sect within the Woodland Alliance," Sylutia realized.
The Wildfire Sect originated from the Shaman Sect in the wilderness. They are violent in their behavior and often fight with other members of the Woodland Alliance, but they are restrained by the rules and do not act too recklessly.
"Go up and teach them a lesson, Shawen!" cheers erupted from the Woodland Alliance students.
"I know, it's so noisy." He muttered, frowning, gripping the long sword slung over his shoulder, then fixed his eyes on the Mage opposite him.
Seeing that both sides were ready, Nores, standing at the head of the table, announced the start.
Then the young man Shawen moved quickly. His figure was like that of a nimble beast, and he swung the long knife in his hand with great ease. The rough blade cut through the air and made a whistling sound.
Faced with the attack, the students from the Thetis Academy were not idle either. He waved his Magic Staff, and the special opals embedded in it lit up. Then, an invisible force field spread out like water mist and rushed towards the other side.
Shawen crashed headlong into the mist, his footing becoming erratic. In this strange environment, his footwork became distorted, his body tilting to one side. He stumbled a few steps before regaining his balance, but this delay allowed his opponent to widen the distance again.
"This is really annoying." Shawen took a deep breath, gripped his longsword tightly, and then opened his mouth to let out a loud roar.
[ Tiger Roar Sonic Wave ] ( Blood Law ): Utilizes the power of "Blood Law " to temporarily expand the chest and lungs, unleashing a trembling sonic wave that vibrates the blood vessels. This can shatter the hearts of weak creatures and neutralize some weak spells.
Spells also require the support of Aspect Power energy. In the violent sonic waves caused by the Blood Law " Aspect Power, the force field environment previously cast by the Mage student was instantly destroyed. The violent sonic waves also made the Mage's body stiffen and his heart ache.
Seeing the strange force field break, Shawen stepped forward again, his long sword slicing through the arc of an antelope horn, slashing down on the shield erected by his opponent, shattering it directly, and the remaining force also tore a long gash in his opponent's body.
With his face contorted in pain, the Mage student rolled on the ground to avoid further attacks, his fingers trembling as he pulled out a potion.
The dark blue liquid flew out like ink, and then, under his direction, quickly took shape and solidified into symbolic emblems.
"You ill-mannered country bumpkin, get out of my way!" He shouted these words through gritted teeth, and then the black and blue symbol suddenly rushed out and crashed into his opponent.
An invisible force seeped into the opponent's body through the ink, freezing his wrist as he raised the knife again, causing him to bend over as if crushed by a mountain.
"Command Spell, "Sylutia blinked, analyzing the details contained in the spell. The first rule was a lack of etiquette. According to ancient noble etiquette, one should greet and introduce oneself before a duel, but the opponent attacked directly, which gave the law a "righteousness" bonus. The second rule was calling the opponent a "country bumpkin." Although it was very offensive, in Command Spell, it clearly demonstrated the difference in status, which could also enhance the spell's power.
With the combined effects of the two enhancements and the potion, the spell's power quadrupled, finally stopping the opponent's formidable physique.
Although he had briefly gained control of his opponent, his injured body wouldn't last long if he didn't win the match quickly. Command Spell excel at control and intimidation, but have very few direct means of attack.
The Mage student who stood up then took out another purple potion. He then chanted an incantation to bless it, and the potion gushed out, transforming into a strange Serpentine.
[ Construct Spell - Iron Lock Flying Snake ]: A flying serpent whose body resembles a chain, capable of binding an opponent and then locking itself, thus restraining the enemy.
This flying snake, about three meters long and constructed of sturdy metal rings, flew out, tightly coiled around its opponent, and then the iron rings at its head and tail locked together, making it a seamless whole.
Having just broken free from the shackles of the Command Spell, Shawen was now once again bound by the Iron Lock Flying Snake. He tried to struggle, taking deep breaths and expanding his chest, but the Iron Lock Flying Snake stretched and enlarged as his muscles expanded, rendering him completely powerless. Enraged, he roared again, the sonic waves of which caused the fighting Mage students to fall to the ground, their wounds, which had just stopped bleeding, to burst open once more.
At this moment, one side was stuck in place, unable to move due to the iron chain, while the other side lay on the ground, pale-faced and sweating profusely from the pain. Both sides felt ashamed of the ugly situation and remained silent.
Fortunately, the stalemate did not last. Shawen, who was trapped by the iron chains, finally activated his core secret technique at the third level. The blood wolf tattoo engraved on his body emitted an eerie red light, tearing apart the Iron Lock Flying Snake.
Core Card: [ Blood Wolf Totem ] [ Blood Law ]
You are the strongest warrior of your tribe, having personally slain a ferocious beast far superior to yourself, and imprinted its blood upon your body, absorbing its power - Effect: "Blood Wolf Possession", which can temporarily enhance your abilities in all aspects, and allow the Blood Wolf phantom to tear apart tangible and intangible things. (Strength +2, Constitution +2, Spirit +1, Blood Wolf Phantom Appears)
After tearing the Iron Lock Flying Snake apart, the phantom of the Blood Wolf also became illusory and disappeared into Shawen's body. However, the enhanced power he had gained had not yet dissipated. At this moment, he once again swung his sword and charged out, his face ferocious and his figure violent.
This guy probably can't control himself anymore; he might kill his opponent on the spot, Sylutia thought, glancing at Chief Nores in the distance.
The senior student frowned, realizing the urgency of the situation. He raised one hand, and a faint glow appeared on the floor of the hall. He could immediately stop the situation if it worsened.
Fortunately, the Mage student on the other side also managed to get up again. He endured the pain, stared straight at the approaching figure, raised one hand, and suddenly, an invisible force field spread out. As Shawen rushed past, the gravity under his feet changed. His original forward step was suddenly turned into a leap in the extremely low gravity environment, and his body flew up. When he landed, he had already missed the original position of the Mage student.
He then launched another attack, and each subsequent attack was a repeat of the same scenario. The Mage student calmly adjusted his force field, constantly triggering changes to alter the trajectory of the opponent's attack, thus saving himself from harm.
If Shawen possessed calm and rationality, he might have realized his mistake after one or two attempts and changed his tactics. Unfortunately, by this time, his rationality had already spiraled out of control, and even with increased strength, he could only waste it in vain if he couldn't hit anyone.
A minute later, the totem blessing he received gradually weakened, and he regained his composure and rationality. He stopped charging blindly and instead took in a deep breath of air, unleashing a violent sonic roar that dispelled the invisible force field.
Unfortunately, at that moment, the Iron Lock Flying Snake flew in again, entangled him, and interrupted his next move.
Without the protection and burst of power from the totem, his strength was diminished, and he could no longer break free of the restraints, ultimately losing the match.
"It's finally over, what an ugly match." The fourth-year top student next to Sylutia covered her forehead, the beautiful older sister with chestnut-brown wavy hair looking like she couldn't stand it anymore.
Although neither side put on a particularly attractive display, Tia could see a clear difference in their styles. The Woodland Alliance members, like many other factions, emphasized strength and specialization in a particular skill, while the Mage focused on breadth and versatility, aiming to exploit their opponents' weaknesses and use skill to defeat them.
If a barrier is erected using pure force, few Mage would likely be able to withstand the violent attack of that Shawen's greatsword. However, by casting targeted spells, they can effectively counter their opponent.
Although the members of the Thetis Academy emerged victorious, considering that Thetis Academy's students are among the best elites of the entire Mage Alliance, while the Wildfire Sect is not a powerful faction within the Woodland Alliance, and its students are mostly members of the Wildlands, the true outcome of this duel is hard to predict.
Even in victory, it is still a disgrace.
When he gets back, that senior will probably get a lecture from the chief student.
Just when everyone thought the competition was over and was preparing to disperse, footsteps came from not far away, causing everyone to stop again and look in that direction.
A girl in a purple-black dress led a group of the Woodland Alliance members over. Her black hair was tied up in a bun, with only a few strands swaying around her ears. Her purple eyes had slightly upturned corners, revealing an aggressive smile.
"So it's you, Nores, the old acquaintance, leading the team!"
She looked no more than 19 years old, but her strength had already reached the Fifth Order. Her snow-white wrists were covered with dark purple gloves, which she lightly rested on her cheeks as she looked at everyone present with a smile. Woodland Alliance student who was stared at by her felt a chill run down their spine.
Although she hadn't introduced herself yet, the dark purple Nightmare flames emanating from her feet had already made many members of the Thetis Academy tense and slowly move away.
Nores then stepped forward, blocking the group of the Thetis Academy members, and looked at his formidable rival with whom he had fought several times in the past.
" Helis, you've advanced." His voice was calm and composed, showing no change in his mood despite being surpassed.
"Is this your way of congratulating people, or is it as boring as ever?" She stretched out her gloved fingers and snapped them softly.
"How about we have another match today, just you and me? If you win, you can do anything for me!"
She was flirting with the serious-looking chief.
Upon hearing this, the members of the Thetis Academy were in an uproar. Many looked at the two with curiosity and surprise, trying to find some gossip.
Nores frowned slightly at this immature and easily swayed reaction. He simply waved his hand, and the students behind him felt a chill run down their spines. The coldness spread through their bones, and the group of students quickly quieted down.
"Oh, you're lecturing a child again, always so rigid." Helis covered her mouth and chuckled, her captivating figure trembling slightly, attracting the attention of many. Even without using any extra abilities, she had already captivated many hearts.
Looking at the woman who had captured everyone's attention, Sylutia thought carefully and finally remembered the woman's background.
It must be her, the genius Witch of the " Night Dream Tea Party " faction, Helis, who is also the first genius in nearly a hundred years to enter the fourth rank before the age of thirty. Until Sylutia broke this record, unfortunately, when Sylutia lived in the Woodland, Helis was busy with matters related to advancing her rank and never showed up, so the two never met.
I never expected it would be Helis leading the team. If Sylutia were still in the Woodland Alliance, she might be in Helis's position right now.