Meng still seemed immersed in the relief of escaping the clinging vines' attack, completely unaware that a figure had quietly approached to within ten meters of her back.
Shen Yalan was dressed entirely in black and kept close to the hedge wall as she advanced. That made her very inconspicuous in the dim maze. Without the magical Viewing Screen's special effects, the spectators would have struggled to spot her.
On the Viewing Screen, Shen Yalan silently raised her wand. She spoke no incantation, merely giving it a gentle flick. A burst of red magic shot from its tip and struck Meng squarely.
Meng's not particularly tall figure fell at once.
The Stunning Spell-a low-level but highly effective spell.
Quite a few spectators sighed with regret, while some gamblers who had placed their bets on Meng were even wringing their hands and sighing.
Well, to be fair, Meng was the youngest Champion apart from Harry, a few months younger even than Ron. The odds on her had therefore been quite high. Those willing to bet on her had mostly been gamblers attracted by those long odds.
Now that they had lost, they did not actually find it particularly hard to accept.
But if anyone had noticed the expressions of the Ilvermorny contingent at that moment, they would have found that none of their expressions had changed when Meng was attacked and fell.
Their practical combat professor, Professor Fontana, even had a slight smile on his face.
On the Viewing Screen, a smile immediately appeared on Shen Yalan's face when she saw her spell hit its mark. She straightened up out of the shadows and walked toward Meng.
But after just two steps, her expression suddenly changed. She abruptly dropped into a roll.
At the same time, Meng, who had been lying