The referee glanced at the two of them, drew a deep breath, and sharply waved his hand.
"Match—begin!"
The instant the referee's words fell, the two slender figures on the arena moved simultaneously, both completing their Martial Soul Possession.
At Cinderella's feet, golden and blue light burst forth like shattered diamonds, dazzling enough to make people unable to open their eyes.
The pair of Crystal Dance Shoes condensed around her toes, crystalline and translucent, every facet refracting blinding light.
Yellow, purple, purple, black.
Four Soul Rings rose beneath her feet, slowly rotating.
Level forty-seven.
On the other side, scarlet light shone forth as well.
Ailuo held her right hand aloft, and a budding rose appeared out of thin air in her palm.
Its petals were an exquisite crimson, as though they gathered all the world's tenderness and danger within them. A faint glow flowed across every petal, making it breathtakingly beautiful.
Then came yellow, purple, purple, black.
Four Soul Rings rose beneath her feet.
Level forty-nine.
"What?"
Below the stage, Yu Xiaogang abruptly rose to his feet, his glasses nearly slipping off his nose.
Flender's eyes widened, disbelief filling his tiny eyes. "Level forty-nine? Wasn't she supposed to be level forty-six?"
In Plant Academy's preparation area, a smile appeared on the team leader's lips.
After hiding it for so long, they could finally reveal it.
On the stage, Cinderella's amber eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the four Soul Rings.
Level forty-nine.
Two levels higher than her.
And—
Her gaze fell upon the crimson rose.
The aura radiating from that flower made her instinctively sense danger.
"As expected." Cinderella spoke softly, yet a smile curved her lips. "I knew you weren't that simple."
Ailuo smiled faintly. Her expression remained serene and noble, as though she were merely responding to