Who Isn't a Herrscher

"You lost."

Fu Hua looked at him calmly, stopped her next move, and spoke.

"!"

Upon hearing Fu Hua's words, Luo Mio realized it.

His left hand, which had been struck by the teacher, was temporarily unable to move.

After examining it with Mana Vision, he understood that during the first strike, the teacher had quietly infused the power of Feather of the Dust, instead of Magic Power, into his palm. From there, it flowed to the joints connecting his palm to his arm, rendering his left forearm immobile for a moment.

Though it was only for a moment, it was enough to allow an attack in the next exchange.

Fu Hua knew who Luo Mio's opponent would be tomorrow and what their abilities were, so she analyzed for him: "In tomorrow's duel, your opponent is a 'Water Mage.' Learn from the battle of the 'Water Mage' beside you."

"You must constantly pay attention to the fluctuations of Magic Power around you, as well as the blood flowing through your body."

"Fortunately, you possess Mana Vision. Against an opponent who primarily controls Magic Power, you won't be at a disadvantage."

"Therefore, you must keep Mana Vision active at all times and observe your opponent's every move."

After quietly listening to Fu Hua's teachings, Luo Mio once again assumed his starting stance.

"Again!"

The two then began to attack each other once more.

But this time, Luo Mio was different from before; he activated Mana Vision and observed.

Unexpected feathers, traces of Magic Power lingering somewhere, Magic Power hidden in blind spots, wisps of Magic Power infused into his body.

His brain worked at high speed, processing rapidly and formulating corresponding countermeasures.

"Opening! Don't get too distracted! Focus on what's in front of you!"

"Don't move too hastily, don't try to overwhelm the opponent!"

"Don't rely too much on Mana Vision! Vision has blind spots! Use your other senses for what you can't see!"

"Pay attention to any Magic Power within or on your body! Your hair, clothes, magic barriers – if you miss even one spot, your opponent will seize the opportunity!"

Fu Hua's scolding and teaching echoed in the training room.

Midnight...

After training, Luo Mio sat on the floor, leaning against the wall.

He panted heavily.

"Rest now." Fu Hua stood in front of Luo Mio, hands on her hips, and said softly.

Hearing Fu Hua's words, Luo Mio smiled and said in a tired, quiet voice.

"Then I'll trouble you, Teacher."

"Mm."

Following that, red and white feathers appeared on Luo Mio's forehead, and specks of crimson light floated around him.

Before long, Luo Mio's consciousness drifted into dreams.

The next day, seven in the morning.

Outside the Number One Giant Egg, a crowd had already gathered.

Chapter 50: VS Yakushi Kiriko

On the path exclusively for participating students leading to the Number One Giant Egg.

Luo Mio moved his body as he walked towards the Giant Egg arena.

"Hoo, I'm in good condition." Luo Mio checked his body.

Under the power of "Feather of the Dust," Luo Mio's exhausted spirit had been fully rested.

"Oh my, isn't this 'Thousand Stars White Night'?"

A female voice rang out.

Luo Mio turned his head.

She had short, emerald-green hair and emerald-green eyes. She wore a white doctor's coat over a black, simple long dress. Even from the wide neckline, one could see her fair, ample bosom – though not as much as Stella's, the alluring curve of her chest was still visible.

Luo Mio was slightly surprised.

"Yakushi Kiriko… Senpai?"

That's right, the one who greeted Luo Mio was his opponent for today, the "White Knight," Yakushi Kiriko.

"Good morning, student Toudo Touka." Yakushi Kiriko smiled sweetly at Luo Mio.

"Good morning, Senpai Kiriko." Luo Mio bowed slightly and said, "Senpai Kiriko, please just call me Touka."

"Then I'll gladly accept, student Touka."

Yakushi Kiriko's emerald eyes scanned Luo Mio's body.

"It seems you've made quite thorough preparations before fighting me," she said.

Luo Mio shrugged and chuckled, "After all, you're a strong opponent, Yakushi-senpai, so I had to be ready."

Yakushi Kiriko smiled and waved her hand.

"You're exaggerating. I'm just a doctor."

Luo Mio shook his head. "Yakushi-senpai, you don't need to be so modest. I know how strong you are."

"No matter how strong I am, I'm still just a doctor," Yakushi Kiriko replied.

Luo Mio didn't say anything more.

"Shall we head to the arena together, Yakushi-senpai?" Luo Mio asked her.

Yakushi Kiriko's beautiful face broke into a smile.

"Let's go then."

"At the arena later, please go easy on me~, Miohua-kun?~"

"Yakushi-senpai, please don't blow into my ear. And we're of different genders, so please don't get so close."

"What can I do~? You have such a cute face, Miohua-kun?~"

"..."

Inside the preparation room within the giant egg.

Since she didn't have a match today, Touka, dressed in casual clothes, stood in the preparation room, watching Luo Mio meditate with his eyes closed.

"Little Mio, it's time," she reminded him.

Hearing Touka's words, Luo Mio opened his eyes.

"I'm heading out then, sis."

"Mm."

Meanwhile, in Yakushi Kiriko's preparation room.

"Good luck, Director!"

Yakushi Kiriko held the Student Handbook to her ear, and the voice of Kajiwara Mio, the vice-director of Yakushi General Hospital, came from it.

"Mm, I understand," Yakushi Kiriko replied gently.

She had come to Tokyo to participate in the selection matches for the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival, so she had left the Yakushi General Hospital in the care of Vice-Director Kajiwara Mio.

At that moment.

"Kiriko-neechan, good luck with your match!" a childish voice came from the Student Handbook.

"Hey, Rena, don't just run out of the ward like that," Kajiwara Mio chided the little girl helplessly.

Yakushi Kiriko smiled faintly upon hearing this.

"Mm, I'll do my best, so be good, okay?"

"Then, Director, I'm hanging up now."

"Mm."

A synthesized female voice announced.

"Attention to all audience members already seated. The first match in Arena Number One is about to begin. We ask any audience members not yet seated to please take their seats. Competitors who are about to compete, please also prepare yourselves. The match is about to start."

"Attention, competitors in the preparation room. The contestants for the first match in Arena Number One are Toudo Touka from Hagun Academy and Yakushi Kiriko from Lianzhen Academy. Please proceed to the entrance gate."

From the commentary booth.

"Welcome, everyone in the audience! Let's cut to the chase and get straight to today's main event!"

"First, emerging from the red gate, we have one of the two great A-Rank Knights of the Far East, the current fan favorite, Toudo Touka from Hagun Academy! In his previous six matches, aside from an intense battle with the 'Gale Sword Emperor,' he crushed his opponents with overwhelming strength in the other five. Today, will he also achieve an easy victory?"

Luo Mio, walking onto the battleground, calmly looked at the yet-to-be-opened blue gate.

"Next, his seventh opponent is emerging from the blue gate."

"And she is none other than Yakushi Kiriko from Lianzhen Academy. She did not participate in the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival for the past two years, but this year, we have witnessed her powerful performance, winning six consecutive matches."

Yakushi Kiriko stood calmly opposite Luo Mio.

Seeing Yakushi Kiriko ready, Luo Mio said in a low voice.

"Come out, 'Eternal Twilight Wolves'."

Silver flames ignited, and the Eternal Twilight Wolves manifested on Luo Mio's hands.

At some point, Yakushi Kiriko had also revealed her Spirit Gear.

A scalpel-shaped Spirit Gear was held in Yakushi Kiriko's hand.

Then, looking at Luo Mio, she smiled brightly.

"And now! The match in Arena 1 of the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival preliminaries is about to begin!"

"Let's Go Ahead—!"

The signal for the match sounded.

Luo Mio charged forward first.

"Doctor Scope."

Yakushi Kiriko watched Luo Mio charge towards him, not panicking, but concentrating his Magic Power in his eyes.

Normally, he concentrated his Magic Power in his right eye for check-ups and previous matches, but now his opponent's strength didn't allow him to hold back even a little.

Under the "Doctor Scope," Yakushi Kiriko clearly saw the direction of the blood flow within Luo Mio's body.

His right hand, huh...

A water barrier instantly appeared between the two.

Seeing the water curtain blocking his path, Luo Mio didn't panic at all. He slightly lowered his body, increasing his charging speed once more.

Soon, he passed straight through the water curtain.

And the moment he passed through the water curtain, Several small splashes erupted from Luo Mio's body.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Although the power was small, it made up for it in quantity.