Chapter 175: Three Women Vying for the Crown (4k)
Despite Dark lowering his voice, the microphone on the spellboard amplified his words.
Emma suddenly realized that she had been so engrossed in fresco research that she had neglected her fundamental summoning practice!
Although the 8-second summon was already quite fast for a young magus, it was only on par with Wit Gold’s level, far inferior to Dark Demon’s!
While she completed two summons, Dark was nearly done with the Sacrificial Summoning Spell.
The gap in their basic abilities was as vast as a chasm!
With just this much skill, how could she even think about winning back?
Thinking of the opening declaration she made out of confidence in her deck, Emma felt endless shame.
She stayed on the competitor platform for quite some time.
When she regained her senses, the opposite platform was empty.
…
Upon stepping down, Dark was surrounded by students from the Noble Academy. His classmates congratulated him for making it to the finals as the top-ranked winner.
After politely responding, he led the Noble Academy students to the ②nd arena.
Diana was here, dueling with ⑦th contestant Justin Wayne.
Even though Dark and Emma’s duel had ended, Diana and Wayne’s duel seemed to be just beginning. Both had two mana spirits on the field.
Wayne’s mana spirits were from the Knight series, one human knight and one orc knight, both combat-type mana spirits.
Diana’s field included “Bear Spirit” and “Earth Bear.”
“Bear Spirit,” under the enhancement of “Bear’s Strength,” gained incredibly violent power!
But Wayne seemed to have immobilized it with a special magic card, leaving Diana to barely counter with “Earth Bear.”
However, when the third bear was summoned, “Earth Bear” rose its stats by 600 points in magic, attack, and defense due to “Bear’s Bond!”
This allowed it to gain the powerful stats of a three-star mana spirit despite being only a two-star, and it successfully killed Wayne’s human knight.
Then “Bear Spirit”’s immobilization was finally lifted.
In the roar of the three bears, the third mana spirit Wayne hastily summoned couldn’t hold up, and Diana overwhelmed it completely.
The match eventually entered the final phase.
…
On the other side,
The Fool’s Academy student, relying heavily on white cards, met defeat under Sarah Swati’s strong attack.
The match concluded, entering the loser’s bracket final.
Emma, who fell from the winners’ bracket, will duel against the winner between Diana and Sarah.
The ultimate victor can challenge Dark Demon again!
…
Loser’s Bracket:
①st arena:
②nd vs ⑨th;
…
Dark soon discovered that his initial calculations were slightly off; there would be a thirty-minute interval, but it didn’t matter much.
As they prepared for the next round, Diana clearly became nervous.
She seemed especially eager to return to the finals and compete with Dark again for the championship.
But Sarah Swati’s deck was stronger than expected, and her summoning speed was even faster than Emma and Wit, placing her second only to Dark among first-year students.
In her duel with Dark, Sarah used a targeted deck and had a powerful three-star mana card that she couldn’t summon.
Diana’s strongest combination was “Bear Spirit” + “Bear’s Strength.” Once “Bear Spirit” was restricted by “Sphinx Cat’s” “Shadow Step,” her combat power would significantly decrease.
With both players’ trump cards exposed, the outcomes were predictable.
Half an hour later, after mana enrichment, both contestants entered the arena.
At this moment, aside from Professor Jones still serving as the referee, the other three professors had free time.
They watched the duel from the sidelines, not holding high hopes for Diana.
As expected, Diana stopped here, leaving the arena with a first-year fourth-place ranking.
…
Next round.
Loser’s Bracket:
①st arena:
⑤th vs ⑨th;
…
Emma Maltis VS Sarah Swati!
This match garnered attention no less than the semifinals of the winners’ bracket.
Due to having only one arena, all first-year students gathered here.
Emma, representing Knight Academy, will duel against Sarah, representing Mana Academy.
The previously unconnected Knight and Mana Academies were now in a tense standoff.
Dark and Diana, who had already overcome her disappointment, stood together as spectators.
Both Emma and Sarah were knocked down to the losers’ bracket by him, and neither used all their mana cards in their duels with him. Therefore, watching this duel could provide valuable intelligence before the final.
Dark watched intently.
Diana said lively, “Dark, who do you think has a better chance?”
Dark pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said, “It’s hard to tell.”
The summoning speeds of both were close; although Sarah was faster, it wasn’t enough to make a qualitative difference.
Moreover, each mana card had its strengths.
Thus, it was difficult to judge.
Diana pouted and said, “I think Sarah will win.”
“Why?” asked Dark curiously.
“Because she beat me!” replied Diana.
Dark tightened his lips.
Rose teased, “But Diana, during your first in-class competition, Sarah was eliminated by Emma.”
Diana retorted, “Times have changed!”
…
“Contestant ⑤, Emma Maltis, and Contestant ⑨, Sarah Swati, both are outstanding representatives of their respective academies, especially in their learning attitudes. They have reached this point through effort and knowledge. We hope you understand that while magi don’t require as high a knowledge level as ancient mages, they still need broad knowledge. Please enter the arena!”
Professor Jones’s voice echoed throughout the venue.
Emma and Sarah ascended the competitor platform.
…
“Hey, I heard you lost in just one round,” Sarah said casually after activating the spellboard.
Emma’s expression changed, and the effect was perfect!
Recalling, she had considered Dark as her rival since the start of the semester. However, she had only surpassed him in fresco research, which was under his lack of interest.
The previous match made her realize her shortcomings, and she intended to correct them in the future.
But none of this was related to the woman in front of her!
Angry, Emma responded, “I lost in the second round, but didn’t you lose in the third? Once I defeat you, I’ll return to the finals and face him again!”
Sarah smiled charmingly, “Coincidentally, I think the same!”
The temperature between them dropped to freezing point, and the duel was imminent!
…
“Standby Phase” [30s]
Both drew cards simultaneously!
Emma pursed her lips.
Sarah’s lips curved faintly.
In reality, both had drawn the mana card they most desired.
…
“Battle Phase” [30s]
“Mana Summon!”
Sarah drew a mana card and held it high.
Her summoning speed was faster than Emma’s, putting her in a dominant position.
A mana spirit appeared in the blue summoning zone, one that hadn’t been summoned in Dark’s duel!
—”Death Mummy”!
It was a mummy wrapped entirely in white bandages!
…
[Card Name: Death Mummy]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ???]
[Race: Undead]
[Attribute: Dark]
[Mana: 1000]
[Attack: 100]
[Defense: 1600]
[Ultimate Skill: Feigned Death]
…
The Death Mummy was over two meters tall, but its arms were tightly bound to its sides, leaving only a slit around its eyes. Its feet were tightly bound, forcing it to crouch and hop without any offensive capability.
For the cost of only 100 attack points, the Death Mummy had over 1500 defense points.
Its ultimate skill, “Feigned Death,” had been used in previous battles.
It demonstrated its ability to survive death—having two lives!
…
First appearance.
The Death Mummy’s bandages hanging from its sides began to move.
This was its only attack method, but its strength was equivalent to a Star Lil’Eevee’s slap.
Under everyone’s watch, the mummy used its bandages to grab the floating Mana Guidance Ball and pressed it into its abdomen.
Its belly was originally bulging, but pressing down caused it to cave in.
Most of the Mana Guidance Ball was pushed inside!
The bandages wrapped several more times, securing the Mana Guidance Ball firmly!
Then…
It retreated to the corner of the field, facing away and squatting with its head bowed!
…
This was another tactical system by Sarah—Ostrich Tactic!
Using the Death Mummy’s two lives, it protected the Mana Guidance Ball completely.
If the opponent couldn’t break through the Death Mummy’s defense, Sarah could remain undefeated.
…
On the other side…
Though Emma was slightly slower, she also summoned her mana spirit—a previously seen Golden Beast!
The Golden Beast’s attack was only 1300, unable to penetrate the invincible Death Mummy.
Emma’s expression darkened slightly, but she didn’t attack recklessly and silently readied her CD.
Both sides remained very composed.
Seconds later.
Sarah began to summon her second mana card.
It was a “Sphinx Cat”!
The black hairless cat with golden eyes elicited cheers from the Mana Academy students who knew about it.
Then, Emma summoned her second mana spirit.
It wasn’t a “Gold Coin Beetle,” but another “777 Treasure Box Monster”!
…
Unlike the common Treasure Box Monsters found in dungeons,
The “777 Treasure Box Monster” had a lever on its side, and its lid had a frame displaying three consecutive digits.
Pulling the lever made the numbers flip like a slot machine, ranging from 0 to 9.
Once it landed on “777,” it granted good fortune.
…
[Card Name: 777 Treasure Box Monster]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ??]
[Race: Fairy]
[Attribute: General]
[Mana: 700]
[Attack: 700]
[Defense: 700]
[Ultimate Skill: 777]
…
As soon as the 777 Treasure Box Monster appeared, it automatically pulled the lever.
The three digits on the lid began flipping immediately.
Three seconds later, the lever retracted, and the digits stopped flipping.
-[233]
The Treasure Box Monster remained unchanged.
Silence ensued for a few seconds.
Suddenly, it turned around and swallowed the Mana Guidance Ball!
The 777 Treasure Box Monster lacked the superior defensive capabilities of the Death Mummy, but it could run and jump!
…
The first round ended with four mana spirits facing off.
Surprisingly, neither side initiated an attack.
But this calm was like the stillness before a storm.
…
“Second Round” [30s]
Draw cards!
“Here it comes!”
Emma’s eyes flashed.
Among her two new hand cards, one was indeed a “Gold Coin Beetle”!
Without hesitation, she started summoning.
Winged gold coins fluttered out.
“GOLDEN PARASITE!”
Six small mechanical legs extended from the underside of the Gold Coin Beetle and pierced into the spine of the Golden Beast with a “snap”!
Parasitism began!
“Roar!”
Accompanied by the Golden Beast’s roar, liquid metal emerged from its body, forming a thicker layer of golden armor, followed by a pair of golden wings unfolding!
[Mana: 1000-1300]
[Attack: 1300]
[Defense: 1500-1800]
The Golden Beast soared into the sky with its wings flapping, instantly transforming into a golden arrow, shooting forth!
…
Sarah’s finger flicked.
In her summoning zone, the newly summoned “Anubis Dog” let out a fierce growl, and its shadow rapidly spread toward the Treasure Box Monster.
Shadow leading the way, “Shadow Hunting” activated!
The Anubis Dog lunged forward with its shadow, and its sharp claws left three distinct scratches on the 777 Treasure Box Monster’s body!
The Treasure Box Monster’s mana value dropped by about 200 points.
Only then did the Golden Beast fly above the Death Mummy.
But instead of attacking with its claws, it grabbed the Death Mummy’s neck, trying to drag it into the sky!
However, the Sphinx Cat arrived in an instant, stepping on the Golden Beast’s shadow!
“Shadow Step” activated.
The Golden Beast froze.
…
Despite this,
Emma remained calm.
Sarah’s “Sphinx Cat” had already revealed itself once, and she was well-prepared.
Their summoning speeds differed by only a second or so.
Adding in thinking, drawing cards, and other actions, the slight difference was negligible.
…
In the second summon of the second round, Emma used “Golden Treasure Chest”!
The Sphinx Cat was immediately drawn to the golden light emitted by the Treasure Chest, and its eyes turned into Φ symbols representing sacred coins.
In this round alone, the Sphinx Cat was interrupted by Emma’s control, stopping “Shadow Step.”
The freed Golden Beast tore the Sphinx Cat apart!
The Sphinx Cat was left with only a sliver of health!
But suddenly, a blood magic circle appeared beneath its feet, absorbing that sliver of health instantly.
The Sphinx Cat faded away, and a grayish-white twisted shadow shot out from the blood magic circle, drilling into the Golden Beast’s body.
The mechanical Golden Beast let out a pained cry!
