Dinner was very good, but at the table the young girl from the Imperial Academy who had helped guide them still seed restrained, as if she had sothing on her mind.
Lin Mo understood this; she was most likely sent by Finnie’s sister Nuolun to assist. Her tsundere tendencies were almost like base code—clearly worried about Finnie, yet always expressing it in awkward ways.
Overall, though, her heart was in the right place, and she really had helped them a lot.
So Lin Mo didn’t pay much mind to that surface-level “bratty” behavior; on the contrary, he found it a bit endearing.
After dinner, the sowhat timid girl hurriedly excused herself and left. Lin Mo guessed she was probably going back to report.
It was getting late, and everyone returned to the dormitory that the Imperial Academy had arranged for them to rest.
Normally, since they had a match tomorrow, they should go to bed early and conserve their energy.
But...
Night deepened, and the dorm area of the Royal National Academy in the Violet Empire was quiet.
In Lin Mo’s room, the magical lamp still flickered. He had ford the habit of ditating a little before every rest.
Those first monts of ditation were always most effective, the fastest way to raise proficiency. After a while, Lin Mo opened his eyes, exhaled a breath, and prepared to rest.
When he reached his bed, he discovered soone was already lying on it, though he had no idea when they had gotten there.
“Sherfilia?”
Lin Mo blinked in surprise. “Why are you here? We have a match tomorrow...”
Sherfilia didn’t answer imdiately. She looked at Lin Mo with those calm eyes for a mont, then said, “That’s precisely why we should use tonight to raise our strength as much as possible... my Master.”
Lin Mo scratched his head. Did that an she didn’t intend to let him rest?
He looked into the maid’s eyes. Sherfilia instinctively tried to look away, but he cupped her face with his hand, and she couldn’t turn away.
“You still have more to say, don’t you?”
By now, he knew Sherfilia quite well.
“...”
Sherfilia finally obediently spoke her heart: “Ellie’s strength has improved very quickly.”
Lin Mo imdiately put it together. Because Ellie had skyrocketed in strength, Sherfilia felt a large gap?
That was why she wanted to seize every mont to catch up.
“And then?”
Lin Mo smiled as he gently stroked her soft lips, his fingers brushing the warm, retreating softness.
Sherfilia lowered her eyes and said in a very small voice, “It’s not like I’m jealous because you favor that idiot...”
Her tone didn’t fluctuate much, but the faint tremor beneath that calm was more touching than any dramatic outburst.
“Did Finnie know you snuck over like this?”
Sherfilia didn’t answer; her eyes clearly betrayed a guilty conscience.
“She’ll be like that later on...”
Lin Mo teased, “Isn’t Finnie supposed to be your important young mistress and sister?”
Sherfilia remained silent, and Lin Mo didn’t press further.
A little teasing was enough; if he continued, the little maid might fly into a fit of indignation—though even then, she probably couldn’t do much.
Ever since officially changing how she addressed him and calling him Master, Sherfilia, aside from occasionally taking petty revenge during long-ago sparring sessions, mostly limited herself to sharp words. She always talked big but didn’t act on it.
Even if Lin Mo tried to do sothing excessive, she would rely give him a look of disdain and then obediently comply.
That sort of two-faced behavior was part of Sherfilia’s charm.
Since the maid so badly wanted to improve, Lin Mo naturally had no reason to refuse.
Besides, raising Sherfilia’s strength was truly important.
Ellie no longer needed his worry—her strength was sufficient. Finnie wasn’t a combat class anyway, and worrying about the other students like Eve wouldn’t help.
Only Sherfilia stood in that awkward middle ground: neither low nor high enough.
She had reached Elite Level. Against weaker contestants she could win, but the Academy Grand Competition was full of talent, many of whom were higher-tier geniuses.
Although Sherfilia’s attributes were balanced with Lin Mo’s help, those geniuses were formidable and each had tricks and trump cards. At best she could beat Level 12 opponents a level above her and tie with Level 13.
Improving her strength to add another high-tier fighter truly was the most effective asure right now.
So this private training had to happen.
The room’s light was soft as Sherfilia gently helped him undress...
The flow and convergence of energy began silently.
The next morning the weather was clear. Bright light pierced the clouds and flooded the Grand Competition grounds of the Royal National Academy in the Violet Empire.
Winter’s chill remained, and the golden light on the field brought little warmth.
The weather was cold, but the arena was already buzzing with people.
This wasn’t the large hall from last night, but one of the smaller competition venues ntioned earlier.
Though called small, the scale was still large: the surrounding seats could hold tens of thousands, and indeed were packed.
Most of the crowd ca for the spectacle. Students from the Imperial Capital’s academies were present, along with people from other kingdoms’ academies here to “gauge the enemy.”
Of course, many competitors sat in the front rows, ready to participate.
Last night, Archmage Elvish had already attended the draw ceremony and the first opponent for the Doria Kingdom was decided.
Coincidentally, their first opponent was the Donis Kingdom’s National Academy, the sa academy that had participated in the Hunting Competition.
Donis sent more than one academy to compete, but the other had little strength and resembled previous underperforming Doria entries, so this team could be considered their kingdom’s hope.
Learning their opponent was Doria Kingdom, the Donis representatives felt complicated.
In the past, drawing Doria Kingdom would have been great news—practically a free point.
But this ti...
Recalling the Hunting Competition incident, the Donis team leader’s face darkened.
“Is everyone ready?”
In the first row of the stands, Flora asked with concern.
As the team’s ntoring instructor, she was responsible for this match.
Other instructors and Archmage Elvish had gone to scout other venues.
“We’re ready!”
The students were full of fighting spirit and looked energetic.
There was no denying Donis Kingdom was a good opponent, and Flora was pleased with the draw.
If they had drawn a far stronger academy, it might intimidate the students; if it were too weak, a win would be a dry one-point gain.
Donis National Academy was just right—in most people’s eyes they were stronger than them, including so of the academy’s own students who thought the sa.
Defeating them and creating montum would not only shock other kingdoms and bring fa to the kingdom and academy, it would also bolster the students’ confidence.
Below the stands, noisy chatter rose and fell as everyone speculated about the upcoming matches, especially the opening bout.
“The Doria Kingdom versus the Donis Kingdom. Funny, those two kingdoms seem pretty close geographically...”
“This result shouldn’t be shocking, right? The Doria Kingdom is just a small main kingdom and has done poorly before.”
“Don’t be so sure. Didn’t Doria produce a few geniuses these years?”
“You an that fla witch... Her talent is indeed good, but isn’t she already an instructor?”
“She’s not the only one. Their Warrior Academy’s chief is supposed to be strong, and I heard during the Hunting Competition...”
So well-inford people seed to know bits of intelligence, but overall, not many were favoring Doria Kingdom.
Soon it was ti for the contestants to take the stage.
All contestants assembled on stage wearing the uniform issued by their academies, the kingdom’s crest embroidered on them.
The referees hosting the match ca out and reiterated the rules.
“Without further ado, please have the contestants step down from the stage. Then, according to the rules, the academy with the higher ranking from last year—Donis National Academy—will send a challenger first to hold the platform!”
The Donis team leader thought for a mont and decided to probe first, sending a student of only Level 8 onto the stage.
“Now, Doria Kingdom National Academy, please send a challenger to take the platform.”
“They sent a Level 8. What do you think?”
Flora didn’t rush to decide, instead looking at Lin Mo.
Lin Mo was taken aback. “Isn’t that your decision? Still, the first match is important—losing doesn’t look good.”
“Indeed.”
Flora nodded. Also Level 8, she wasn’t certain whether her Level 8 students could win, but she also didn’t want to send Eve or Lin Mo right away.
First, she wanted to conserve their strength and resources.
The fewer tis they appeared, the less they’d be studied. Revealing too much early would be detrintal to later matches.
Second, beyond pride, this competition was a valuable experience for the participating students. It would be best to let them get more stage ti; that would help their future developnt.
After weighing options, she looked to her students.
“Milun, you go first for this match.”
“Ah?”
Milun froze and pointed at herself. “?”
“Yes, I believe in you.”
Flora patted her shoulder. “You’re my student. I trust you won’t lose.”
Flora didn’t know the situation of the other Level 8 students, but Milun had been personally taught by her. She trusted she wouldn’t disappoint.
“All right... I’ll do it!”
Milun, though a little unsure, clenched her fists under her teacher’s encouragent and walked up to the stage with determination.
The referee announced the contestant’s na: “Doria Kingdom chooses Milun to make the first challenge!”
He faced both contestants and emphasized again, “Rember, no skill limits, no restrictions on fighting thods, but prohibited items outside the competition rules are banned. Violators will be disqualified!”
Then he shouted, “The match officially begins!”
Milun looked at her opponent roughly thirty ters away. He was a well-built youth, about her age, wielding a greatsword and wearing a fierce expression.
Seeing the opponent was a small girl, he did not underestimate her.
Milun held a staff—clearly a mage.
No one looked down on the mage profession.
He didn’t recklessly attack, instead adjusting his stance to observe and find an opening.
Milun took a deep breath, quelled her tension, and chose to strike first.
As a mage, long-range combat favored her; she shouldn’t hesitate and should use that advantage.
Milun’s fire elental magic was quite practiced. A Fireball quickly ford and flew toward her opponent.
The Donis contestant’s eyes narrowed. Because he had anticipated this and the distance was far, he dodged Milun’s Fireball.
“Just as expected!”
Milun bead—her opponent was a power-type warrior, which suited her well.
Mages fear heavy power warriors and knights the least.
She cast again; another Fireball shot out. This one was noticeably faster, catching the opponent off guard, and he could only swing his sword to block.
“Ha!”
He shouted, slashing out a wave of Sword Energy that split the Fireball.
He then stopped being passive and charged toward Milun.
Milun retreated to keep distance while continuing to cast.
“Fla Impact!”
A torrent of extinguishing fla sprayed toward the opponent. A power warrior’s speed made it hard to evade such an attack; he could only stimulate his Qi and Blood and use skills to counter.
Milun grew calr as the fight progressed. High magic proficiency and clear thinking gave her attack great rhythm; she controlled the battle and toyed with her opponent.
The opponent realized this and tried to break the pattern, recklessly draining his Qi and Blood to use skills and attempt to reach Milun.
But doing so rapidly depleted his stamina.
Milun maintained her tempo, neither rushed nor slow.
Though the power warrior was not as agile as an agility class, he was still faster than a mage. After a minute, he reached Milun and swung his greatsword in a heavy, angry strike.
Milun remained composed. A wall of fire ford in front of her; the greatsword struck the barrier and left only fine cracks but did not break it.
The youth launched another attack, slashing out Sword Energy that finally shattered the barrier.
His face lit with excitent as he swung his sword at Milun.
The thrill of near victory clouded his head, making him abandon everything else. He didn’t notice the already-charged fire behind him.
“Sword of Blazing Extinction!”
In the next mont, a sword-shaped fla suddenly pierced his chest and abdon. His greatsword flew from his hands as he fell to the ground in stunned shock.
“Match over! Doria Kingdom successfully defended the platform!”
At the referee’s decree, a beam of golden light descended upon the youth.
His wounds healed instantly.
The Grand Competition fights were real, but they wouldn’t allow students to be seriously hard. After victory, no lethal follow-up was permitted, and a priest arranged by the Empire imdiately provided treatnt.
These priests were very high level—so even Transcendent Level. Because students’ levels were generally low, as long as they didn’t die on the spot they could usually be saved.
This allowance let both sides fight without excessive restraint.
“Beautiful!”
Flora clenched her fists and cheered excitedly from the stands. “That’s my student!”
Other students cheered as well, and Lin Mo applauded.
It had truly been a brilliant bout. With equal levels and so countering factors, a win so smooth showed a clear gap.
Milun had indeed fought brilliantly.
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