Chapter 167: Your Life Is Like a Waning Candle in the Wind (4k)
Huhu’s shadow was abruptly pinned down on the ground!
“Clack clack!”
An unfamiliar unease spread from the shadow to the entire body.
With an intelligence level exceeding 3.0, Huhu clearly showed signs of panic, struggling fiercely.
But waves rippled across its tentacles, while the overall outline was completely immobilized, unable to move!
…
“Got it!”
Sarah couldn’t help but smile slightly from the Blue Side Competitors’ Platform.
Anyone who had seen the duel between Dak and Tudor understood the value of this “Huhu.”
It must be of core importance in Dak’s deck!
Sarah learned about this information after her match from her supporters.
Gathering intelligence on competitors—this was very natural for someone aiming for the championship.
Sarah did this exceptionally well.
After careful analysis, she believed that “Huhu” was not only valuable for its individual strength but also because it was the only Three-star Mana Spirit Dak had brought out so far!
Three-star + One-star = Four-star;
To summon the previously featured Four-star Mana Spirit—”Deoxys”—the existence of “Huhu” was crucial.
In other words…
If “Huhu” were thoroughly blocked, Dak’s deck would be crippled by half!
And “Sphinx Cat” was a Mana Spirit Card specifically designed for blocking.
Its ultimate skill, “Shadow Stepping,” could completely pin down a Mana Spirit!
Whether moving, recalling, or sacrificing, any attempt to change its coordinates would be forbidden!
Of course…
As a Two-star Mana Spirit Card, “Sphinx Cat” had clear flaws.
It needed continuous mana injection and could not move while maintaining “Shadow Stepping.”
The stronger the prey struggled, the more mana it consumed.
“Sphinx Cat” had only 600 mana.
So…
Before “Sphinx Cat” ran out of mana or was forced to lift its foot, they had to finish quickly!
Sarah calculated the mana consumption speed and judged that she had less than two rounds left.
But duelists raced against time; two rounds were enough!
She glanced at Dak’s summoned “Trash Slime,” and her lips curved upward involuntarily.
“This should be a One-star Mana Spirit. Combined with the Three-star Huhu, they aim to quickly summon a Four-star card?”
“As expected, he hasn’t realized that Huhu is already locked!”
“Mana Summoning!”
From the Blue Side Summoning Area.
Another Mana Spirit belonging to Sarah was summoned!
A distinct face, graceful figure, and powerful limbs.
It was a black hunting dog with golden patterns!
…
[Card Name: Anubis Dog]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ??]
[Race: Avian-beast Kin]
[Attribute: Dark]
[Mana: 900]
[Attack: 900]
[Defense: 900]
[Ultimate Skill: Shadow Hunting]
…
Similar to Sphinx Cat, Anubis Dog was often mistaken for a grim reaper’s pet due to its noble posture and habit of lurking in shadows.
But they were merely a breed named by humans.
They were usually friendly, intelligent, alert, and loyal, excellent at hunting rabbits.
They were loved by both hunters and assassins.
Lurking in shadows, hunting d*ath!
…
When the aura of d*ath enveloped “Trash Slime,” Dak’s Sacrificial Summoning was already halfway through.
“Using ‘Trash Slime’ and ‘Huhu’ as sacrifices, I will summon—Deoxys!”
The trash slime wriggled like a puddle on the ground.
“Huhu” was pinned down by Sphinx Cat’s shadow.
Both Mana Spirits emitted white light under the influence of the Sacrificial Summoning spell.
Threads of light converged between them.
Trash Slime’s body was instantly pulled apart.
“Huhu” also stretched forward visibly.
But Sphinx Cat’s golden eyes suddenly glowed intensely, suppressing the light that was about to consume “Huhu”!
“What?”
Dak’s Sacrificial Summoning stopped abruptly.
His expression changed involuntarily.
Accustomed to the simple tactics of young magi, he never imagined anyone could stop a Sacrificial Summon!
…
“Why did Dak’s Sacrificial Summoning stop?”
Outside the arena, Tudor, who had assumed “Deoxys” would appear again, exclaimed in surprise when looking at Heidi.
The girl with braids smirked: “This is Sarah Swati, our pride from the Mana Academy!”
Tension and excitement.
Two different atmospheres rapidly spread between the two academies.
“Not good!”
First-year students from the Noble Academy could sense the key points of the duel, feeling worried.
Most students from the Knight Academy and Fool’s Academy were confused.
“What just happened?” Robert asked, bewildered.
The changes on the field exceeded his knowledge.
Wit hesitantly guessed: “Maybe that black cat did something? Dak’s Sacrificial Summon failed.”
Robert was astonished: “Can Sacrificial Summoning actually be stopped? Then Dak’s situation isn’t good, is it?”
Wit looked serious: “Exactly. Not only did he waste time on the Sacrificial Summon, but that slime doesn’t seem strong enough to counter Sarah’s dog.”
Robert’s face paled: “So even Sarah from the Mana Academy is this formidable?”
…
In fact, Dak’s Trash Slime was weaker than anyone imagined!
A Trash Slime with 0 attack and defense, possessing only an auxiliary skill “Enhanced Acid,” was no match for the swift and fierce hunting dog.
Seeing the Anubis Dog’s shadow stretch out, its body attacked swiftly along the shadow, sharp claws tearing through the Trash Slime’s body in an instant!
…
“Tick… Tock…”
The second round passed in that moment.
Dak suppressed his nervousness, calmly adding two new Mana Cards to his hand from the top of his deck.
In his half of the field, Huhu was controlled, Trash Slime was torn apart, and there was no Mana Spirit to stop the Anubis Dog.
The floating Mana Guidance Ball was now exposed, vulnerable.
“Anubis Dog, tear it apart!”
Sarah Swati’s high-pitched voice echoed.
“Bark!”
The Anubis Dog responded, lowering its body like a hunter, sharp fangs visible, saliva dripping from its mouth.
At that moment, it launched itself forward, muscles flexing clearly.
The Anubis Dog charged past the Red Side Mana Guidance Ball, leaving three claw marks on the Life Barrier!
The Mana Guidance Ball’s HP plummeted.
[1000-108]
…
Outside the arena…
The atmosphere in the Noble Academy was tense.
Even a few people, including Tudor, seemed more nervous than Dak himself.
Sarah Swati had driven Dak to the brink with just two Two-star Mana Spirits!
…
The Anubis Dog landed gracefully, amber eyes turning to the heavily damaged Mana Guidance Ball behind it.
Sarah Swati drew two new Mana Cards from the top of her deck.
But she didn’t look at them; instead, she declared with a commanding presence, “It’s over, Demon. Your life is like a waning candle!”
The moment she finished speaking,
The Anubis Dog, having adjusted its breathing, launched a second attack on the Red Side Mana Guidance Ball!
“Whoosh!”
The Mana Guidance Ball split in two.
The Anubis Dog leaped through the middle, landing abruptly.
It turned sharply, barking: “Bark! Awooo…”
“Futile resistance is meaningless, Anubis Dog!”
Sarah clearly observed the changes on the field from the Competitors’ Platform.
The cute elemental appeared like a fox, kicking the Mana Guidance Ball during the Anubis Dog’s attack, causing an illusion of division.
The Red Side Mana Guidance Ball’s HP dropped to zero.
[108-13]
Eevee landed and growled at the Anubis Dog.
Sarah remembered this small Mana Spirit was Dak’s Magical Beast, a One-star elemental with 100 Attack and Defense.
A single Magical Beast couldn’t hinder a Two-star Anubis Dog, but in a previous duel, Dak seemed to have strengthened it with a Magic Spell Card.
In a flash,
Sarah drew a Mana Spirit Card from her new hand.
And Anubis accepted the order, this time charging directly at Eevee!
The Red Side Mana Guidance Ball bounced upward upon hitting the edge of the field, gradually losing momentum, hovering in the air!
For Sarah, this was both bad and good news.
Badly, Anubis Dog couldn’t jump that high, and “Shadow Hunting” was still on cooldown.
Goodly, the opposing Mana Spirit couldn’t reach the Mana Guidance Ball.
And the Mana Spirit she was about to summon was a Bennu Bird!
That was also her initial Magical Beast, a gray-white heron with a long beak and double feather crown.
Once summoned, the Bennu Bird, the field’s situation would no longer matter.
The Life Barrier with only 13 HP could not withstand a Bennu Bird’s attack!
…
[Card Name: Magical Beast (Bennu Bird)]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ?]
[Race: Undead Kind]
[Attribute: Dark]
[Mana: 100]
[Attack: 100]
[Defense: 100]
[Ultimate Skill: Soul牵引]
…
Dak’s summoning speed was unprecedentedly fast.
He felt that in this intense battle rhythm, he had broken through some four-second summoning bottleneck!
Two new Mana Cards.
One was the initial Mana Spirit—[Magical Beast: Eevee]…
The other was “Arrogance II”!
Although the Mana Guidance Ball’s Life Barrier was now faint,
The charm of dueling lay in its infinite possibilities.
Until the last moment,
Victory remained uncertain!
…
He was in a strange state.
Clearly nervous yet calm.
Clearly calm yet excited.
Dopamine in his brain was rapidly secreting.
No previous duel had given him such feelings.
The summoning of “Arrogance II” completed in an instant.
Eevee responded to its owner’s expectations, bathed in dark gold light, advancing from one star to two stars.
Though its stats were still lower than Anubis Dog, the gap was minimal.
Facing the direct charge of Anubis Dog, it dodged more nimbly, then retaliated with a swipe, seamlessly.
The difference in intelligence levels was clearly shown in close combat.
Eevee’s reaction speed and fluidity were higher than Anubis Dog’s.
The confidence and composure in its evasive movements exuded a masterful aura.
“Huhu!”
Dak’s voice rang clearly.
Pinned down by “Shadow Stepping,” Huhu ceased struggling, its eyes glowing with psychic energy.
“It works!” You can’t know until you try.
Sphinx Cat’s “Shadow Stepping” couldn’t prevent the release of such skills.
“Beep—”
A crisp bird call suddenly echoed in the sky.
A Bennu Bird was summoned, resembling a heron.
Dak’s heart jolted.
But reacting faster was Eevee, engaged in combat with Anubis Dog!
No need for orders,
Eevee lifted its head, its proud eyes shining with fierce dark gold light!
The aura at such heights made the Bennu Bird in the sky turn its head.
Their gazes met.
The Bennu Bird’s mind was overwhelmed by arrogance, a great sense of defeat making it lose the desire to attack.
The bird was filled with despair.
“Bennu!”
Sarah’s shout unconsciously grew urgent.
Something felt off since she spoke.
Suddenly, cries erupted outside the arena.
Sarah turned her head, revealing a hint of surprise.
The Anubis Dog had seized the moment when Eevee used “Full Moon” to raise its head, attacking from the side and biting Eevee’s neck!
But just as the joy began,
Sarah was shocked to find that Eevee, which had been evenly matched with Anubis Dog, suddenly became incredibly “powerful.”
It seemed the aura boost from “Full Moon” still lingered—or rather, it was a real attribute dominance!
Anubis Dog’s fangs biting into Eevee’s neck felt like biting steel, unable to penetrate!
Had Eevee’s skin not been soft, its teeth might have shattered!
Eevee allowed Anubis Dog to bite its neck, turning its head, eyes looking down with disdain.
“Grrrii!”
(What the heck!)
