"You lost."
Fu Hua looked at him calmly, stopped her next move, and spoke.
"!"
After hearing Fu Hua's words, Luo Mio noticed it.
His left hand, which his teacher had knocked aside, was temporarily unable to move.
After checking with Mana Vision, he realized that during the first strike just now, his teacher had silently replaced her mana with the power of Feather of the Dust and injected it into his palm. It then traveled from his palm to the joint connecting it to his arm, rendering his left forearm unable to move for an instant.
Though it had only lasted an instant, it was enough for her to strike him during the next attack.
Fu Hua knew who Luo Mio's opponent would be tomorrow and what abilities she possessed, so she analyzed the situation for him. "In tomorrow's match, your opponent is a 'Water Mage.' Take cues from the 'Water Mage' beside you."
"You must always pay attention to the fluctuations of mana around you, as well as the blood flowing through your body."
"Fortunately, you have Mana Vision. Against opponents who primarily control mana, you won't be at a disadvantage."
"So, you must keep Mana Vision active at all times and observe every movement your opponent makes."
After quietly listening to Fu Hua's instruction, Luo Mio assumed his opening stance again.
"Again!"
The two resumed their exchange of attacks.
But this time, unlike before, Luo Mio kept Mana Vision activated and observed carefully.
Unexpected feathers, traces of mana left behind somewhere, mana hidden in blind spots, strands of mana injected into his body.
His brain raced, processing everything at high speed before formulating the appropriate response.
"An opening! Don't spread your attention too thin! Watch what's in front of you!"
"Don't be so hasty with your movements. Don't just think about suppressing your opponent!"
"Don't rely too much on Mana Vision! It has blind spots! Use your five senses for what you can't see!"
"Pay attention to any mana inside or on your body! Your hair, your clothes, your mana barrier—if you overlook even one place, your opponent will seize the opportunity!"
Fu Hua's stern instructions echoed through the training room.
Late at night...
After training, Luo Mio sat on the floor with his back against the wall.
He panted heavily.
"Rest." Fu Hua stood before Luo Mio with her hands behind her back and spoke softly.
Upon hearing Fu Hua's words, Luo Mio smiled and said wearily in a low voice.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Teacher."
"Mm."
Red-and-white feathers then appeared on Luo Mio's forehead, while faint crimson lights floated around him.
Before long, Luo Mio's consciousness sank into a dream.
The next day, seven in the morning.
Outside Dome One, the area was already packed with people.
Chapter 50: VS Yakushi Kiriko
On the road reserved for competing students leading to Dome One.
Luo Mio stretched as he walked toward the dome's arena.
"Whew, I'm in good condition." Luo Mio checked his body.
Under the power of Feather of the Dust, Luo Mio's exhausted mind had also received sufficient rest.
"Oh my, isn't this Thousand Stars White Night?"
A woman's voice rang out.
Luo Mio turned to look.
She had short emerald-green hair and emerald-green eyes. She wore a doctor's white coat over a casual black long dress. Even through the wide collar, he could see her fair, full breasts. Though they were not as impressive as Stella's, their alluring curves were still clearly visible.
Luo Mio was slightly surprised.
"Yakushi Kiriko... senpai?"
That was right. The one who had greeted Luo Mio was his opponent for today's match, the White Knight, Yakushi Kiriko.
"Good morning, Toudo Miohua." Yakushi Kiriko smiled radiantly at Luo Mio.
"Good morning, Kiriko-senpai." Luo Mio gave a slight bow and said, "Kiriko-senpai, just call me Miohua."
"Then I'll gladly accept, Miohua."
Yakushi Kiriko's emerald eyes swept over Luo Mio's body.
"Looks like you made quite a few thorough preparations before fighting me."
Luo Mio shrugged and laughed. "After all, an opponent as strong as Kiriko-senpai deserves proper preparation."
Yakushi Kiriko smiled and waved her hand.
"You're exaggerating. I'm only a doctor."
"No need to be so modest, Kiriko-senpai. I know how strong you are," Luo Mio said, shaking his head.
"No matter how strong I am, I'm still just a doctor," Yakushi Kiriko said.
Luo Mio did not say anything more.
"Would you like to head to the arena together, Kiriko-senpai?" Luo Mio asked.
Yakushi Kiriko's lovely face broke into a smile.
"Let's go, then."
"When we're in the arena, you'll have to go easy on me, Miohua-kun~"
"Kiriko-senpai, please don't breathe into my ear. And there's a difference between men and women, so please don't stand so close."
"Can't be helped~ Who told Miohua-kun to have such a cute face?~"
"..."
Inside the dome's waiting room.
Since she had no match today, Touka stood in the waiting room in casual clothes, looking at Luo Mio as he rested with his eyes closed.
"Little Mio, it's time," she reminded him.
Upon hearing Touka's words, Luo Mio opened his eyes.
"I'm going, Sis."
"Mm."
Meanwhile, in Yakushi Kiriko's waiting room.
"Good luck, Director!"
Yakushi Kiriko held her Student Handbook to her ear. Kajiwara Mio, the deputy director of Yakushi General Hospital, spoke from it.
"Mm, I know." Yakushi Kiriko spoke gently.
She had come to Tokyo to participate in the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival selection matches, so Kajiwara Mio, the hospital's deputy director, had been left behind to manage Yakushi General Hospital.
Just then.
"Big Sister Kiriko, good luck in your match!" A young girl's voice came from the Student Handbook.
"Hey, Rena, don't just run out of your hospital room," Kajiwara Mio helplessly scolded the little girl.
Yakushi Kiriko smiled slightly when she heard that.
"Mm, Big Sister will do her best, so make sure you listen, okay?"
"Then, Director, I'll hang up now."
"Mm."
An electronic female voice sounded.
"Attention, all spectators already seated in the venue. The first match of Arena One is about to begin. Spectators who have not yet taken their seats, please do so as soon as possible. Contestants scheduled to compete, please prepare yourselves. The match is about to begin."
"Attention, contestants in the waiting rooms. The competitors for the first match in Arena One are Hagun Academy contestant Toudo Miohua and Lianzhen Academy contestant Yakushi Kiriko. Please proceed to the entrance gates."
At the commentator's booth.
"Welcome, everyone! Let's cut the nonsense and get straight to today's main event!"
"First to emerge from the red gate is one of the Far East's two A-Rank Knights, Hagun Academy's current fan-favorite contestant, Toudo Miohua! In his six matches so far, aside from his fierce battle against the Gale Sword Emperor, he crushed his opponents with overwhelming strength in all five remaining matches. Will he be able to claim another easy victory today?"
Luo Mio stepped into the combat zone, his expression calm as he looked toward the unopened blue gate.
"Next, his opponent for his seventh match is emerging from the blue gate."
"She is Yakushi Kiriko of Lianzhen Academy. She did not participate in the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival during the previous two years, but this year, we have witnessed her claim six consecutive victories with her formidable strength."
Yakushi Kiriko stood quietly opposite Luo Mio.
Looking at Yakushi Kiriko, who was already prepared, Luo Mio spoke in a low voice.
"Come forth, Eternal Twilight Wolves."
Silver flames ignited as the Eternal Twilight Wolves appeared in Luo Mio's hands.
At some point, Yakushi Kiriko had also manifested her Device.
A scalpel-shaped Device rested in Yakushi Kiriko's hand.
Then she looked at Luo Mio and smiled brilliantly.
"And now! The match in Arena One of the Seven Stars Sword Dance Festival selection rounds 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 rush toward her without panicking, instead concentrating mana into both her eyes.
When examining patients and during her previous matches, she had always concentrated mana in her right eye. But her current opponent's strength did not allow her to hold anything back.
Under Doctor Scope, Yakushi Kiriko clearly saw the direction of blood flowing through Luo Mio's body.
His right hand...
A water barrier instantly appeared between them.
Seeing the watery curtain block his path, Luo Mio did not panic in the slightest. He lowered his body slightly and accelerated even further.
Very quickly, he passed straight through the water curtain.
And at the instant he passed through it.
Several small bursts of water suddenly exploded across Luo Mio's body.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Though each explosion was weak, there were many of them.
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