Sigh...
In the chaotic, clamorous Combat Hall, at this tense moment of battle, Sonia suddenly heard a long, melodious sigh.
Then her field of vision split in two.
On one side were the faces of the other students in the Combat Hall—some mocking, some expectant, some envious. Every sort of expression was there.
On the other side, she saw a woman... who looked very much like herself.
Though the woman resembled her, Sonia was certain that she was not Sonia.
The woman stood upon a lake beneath the moonlight. Suddenly, a gigantic horned monster charged toward her from afar. As it rushed forward, the beast stirred up a torrent of darkness like a storm, sweeping in with the force to destroy heaven and earth. By the time it drew close, it could even blot out the moonlight, as though darkness itself were collapsing!
Compared to it, the woman was so small and fragile!
Yet she did not dodge in the slightest. She remained where she was, summoned a Spell Spirit, and then—
One slash!
The darkness was torn in two, and pure radiance shone through the monster's gash, illuminating her tyrannical yet elegant sword stance!
Sonia did not see her movements clearly, nor did she see what Spell Spirit she had summoned. Yet for some reason, Sonia felt that she could imitate it.
That urge to imitate was so intense that Sonia's body moved on its own!
"You're not throwing down your sword..."
As Leonie danced through the air, she saw that Sonia showed no sign of surrender and could not help giving this junior student a high appraisal. Surrendering in a battle one was destined to lose was the rational choice, but only stubborn persistence could give birth to miracles.
If one lacked the courage to challenge the strong even in such a safe environment, how could one forge the resilient heart of a Spellcaster needed to face the dangers of reality?
As expected of the Hidden Hand Sword Saint. She had taken in an excellent disciple at once...
Though she admired Sonia inwardly, Leonie would not hold back.
Not only was she defending the prestige of the Rhythm Sword Saint, but going all out was also the greatest respect she could show a Swordsman!
Miracle: Rhythm Melody: Third Sonata!
Just as Leonie launched her attack, she discovered that Sonia had suddenly made a strange move—she sheathed her sword.
At the same time, countless moonlight threads appeared around Sonia. Every thread connected to Sonia's body, as if she had turned herself into a trap.
A trap?
Mutual destruction?
Many thoughts flashed through Leonie's mind, but she still slashed out with her sword. When facing a change they had never seen before, Swordsmen had only one response: cut through every obstacle with their swords!
Forward, forward, forward—keep moving forward!
That was the way of survival for a Swordsman!
Golden sword light flashed through the hall again. Yet the instant it touched the moonlight threads, Leonie immediately sensed that something was wrong—Rhythm Melody could not cut through them!
No, they were not merely moonlight threads!
Looking closely, she saw streams of water flowing along every thread. The water not only deflected the impact, but also granted the moonlight threads unparalleled resilience!
No, the water was not deflecting the impact!
Leonie's eyes widened. When the sword light tugged at the threads, all the energy flowed along them toward Sonia, who stood with her sword sheathed. Sonia and the threads formed a spring system. Whenever struck by an outside force, Sonia, connected to the threads, would unleash the fiercest possible counterattack!
Flowing water... moonlight threads... and Ripple Sword...
This was a counterattack Miracle!
Clang!
As Sonia swung her sword and released a Ripple Sword aura so fast that only an afterimage could be seen, Leonie finally appeared. Her feathered robe was visible, but her hands were empty.
Clap. Clap.
When the broken training Wooden Sword fell to the ground, the people in the Combat Hall still had not reacted.
"Leonie... lost?"
The speaker's voice trembled, as though they feared they were fabricating facts, spreading rumors about the truth, and would be held accountable.
"She lost... Orange Dancer lost..."
"Leonie lost to Sonia!"
"What was that move? I've never seen a Miracle like that... A new Miracle!?"
"Sonia, who only became a Spellcaster a few days ago, defeated Leonie, a fully fledged Silver Arcanist!"
"A first-year student defeated a fourth-year student!"
"My god, am I witnessing the rise of a new Sword Saint!?"
Amid countless cries, cheers, and exclamations, Leonie looked at Sonia, whose entire body was soaked in sweat and who could barely remain standing, then asked with a smile, "What is this Miracle called?"
In Sonia's eyes, the woman dancing with her sword beneath the moonlight seemed to appear once more. Without any thought at all, the name came straight out of her mouth:
"Water Moon."
At that moment, Ingrid, whose heart was pounding and whose face was flushed red from watching the duel, suddenly raised her right fist and shouted, "Sonia!"
The first-year students of the Swordsmanship Department cheered in unison, "Sonia! Sonia! Sonia!"
Orange Dancer's supporters refused to be outdone. "Leonie! Leonie! Leonie!"
For a time, only two names remained in the Combat Hall: Sonia and Leonie!
"After today, you will become one of Sword Flower University's most dazzling jewels."
Leonie raised her brows. "Just like me."
Sonia tugged at the corner of her mouth, but she could no longer hold on. Her body tilted, and she was about to collapse.
Leonie reached out and caught her. Their gazes met, and they smiled at one another, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Felix and Luo Lian, who had been fighting fiercely and were both panting for breath, gradually stopped when they saw this scene, as though every ounce of strength had left their bodies.
They exchanged a glance, wore the same bitter smile, and helplessly shook their heads.
The conflict had begun because of them, yet they were not its protagonists.
For geniuses like them, born under the attention of countless people, nothing hurt more than being ignored.
Luo Lian suddenly tossed away his Wooden Sword. "Stand still. Let me punch you."
Felix froze, but Luo Lian walked straight over and punched him in the face, sending him flying.
"Remember this punch, Felix. Not every woman is someone you can provoke." After saying that, Luo Lian turned and left.
Felix sat on the ground, looking at the two people receiving the attention of the entire hall, and softly sighed.
"Yeah."
At that moment.
Felix did not realize it, and neither did anyone else, but two visiting guests without shadows had suddenly appeared behind him.
They did not exist in anyone's sight throughout the entire hall. When they spoke, all the noise was automatically shut out, as though the whole world contained only the two of them.
"I remember that losing to Orange Flash Leonie was one of the few great humiliations in your life, wasn't it?"
Facing Watcher's teasing, the Sword Maiden remained calm. "Not really. I defeated her three years later, so I never kept it in mind."
"You actually remembered it for three years..." Watcher muttered, then turned to look at Felix sitting on the ground. He took a notebook from his robes and flipped it open to a page.
"Still, I never expected the infamous Villainous Duke to have once been a Sword Art genius. His notebook never recorded this experience."
"As a member of the Vosrodar Family, it would be more surprising if he were not a Sword Art genius."
"Could it be that this period of study was why the Villainous Duke understood how to target and restrain Swordsmen, laying the groundwork for his future achievement as the Sword Saint Burier?"
"Who knows? No one can know what impact their choices in this moment will have on their future self. All Spellcasters are the same sort of creatures, using their hands to dig for the future they desire in the earth called Fate, only to inadvertently dig out graves that can bury themselves... We are all fools digging our own graves."
"Why are you suddenly so sentimental? That doesn't sound like the Death Maniac Sword Princess I know." Watcher smiled. "Did merely coming into contact with the current Sonia change you this much?"
Clang!
A frost-cold blade kissed Watcher's neck. The Sword Maiden said coldly, "Do not mistake me for that foolish girl and toy with me. You are merely someone defeated beneath my sword. Watch your attitude."
Watcher raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, I lost my composure. If you are truly angry, feel free to take it out on Ash. I do not mind."
The Sword Maiden snorted and withdrew her Longsword.
"Come to think of it, the Water Moon Miracle I saw before was not like this. Sword Maiden, do you still have the spare capacity to improve Miracles in this state?" Watcher asked curiously. "I thought we were all the same—only capable of decline, never growth."
"You are wrong. This is not a brand-new improvement, but expired leftovers."
The Sword Maiden shook her head. "What you saw was the most perfect Mirror Flower, Water Moon. Before that, I created many different versions. The combination of Moon Silk and Rapid Stream was one of them. Its power is not strong, its speed is not fast, and its defense is not tough, but for the current Sonia, it is perfectly suited."
"Indeed." Watcher nodded. "There is no best Miracle, only the most timely Miracle. Hehe, I am increasingly looking forward to what Sonia will be like without all that misery and hatred."
"You should worry about Ash instead. Today is the day of his Blood Moon Judgment."
"Why should I worry?"
Watcher chuckled, but the indifferent fake smile without a trace of amusement made the Sword Maiden instinctively tighten her grip on her sword hilt.
"The Four Pillar Gods are watching him."
Before you continue