Chapter 234: Diana Charges Forward (4k)
“Five points, three points, and six points?”
Dark pondered for a moment and understood the scoring criteria of the judges.
Professor Jones’s score was somewhat subjective, Professor Foxs was stricter, while the sole student judge scored in a more standardized manner.
Emma did indeed lose her duel, but it was because her opponent was too strong; she couldn’t be blamed for that.
Within those thirty seconds, she had done everything within her capability.
Her composure before the battle, her stable mindset when facing third-year students, and her relatively quick summoning speed compared to first-years were all factors that added to her score.
Therefore, the student judge gave her a passing grade of six points.
Generally speaking, if the average score could reach six points, the approval would be a sure thing.
Jones’s five points were somewhat acceptable, but Foxs’s three points were less optimistic.
To ensure a stable pass, Emma needed to perform well in the next two duels.
…
On the Red Side competitor platform.
Emma silently noted down her scores, feeling slightly relieved.
When she confirmed her defeat earlier, she had considered the worst-case scenario, such as getting zero points…
Fortunately, it didn’t come to that.
“I couldn’t even last one round. This time, I really made a fool of myself.”
She patted her rosy cheeks, and the brown-haired girl restrained the bitterness in her heart.
Failure was common, and she had experienced it several times.
Every failure made her stronger.
She would also learn from her failures and become increasingly perfect.
This time was no different.
Closing her eyes…
Taking a deep breath…
It was over!
“I absolutely have to work hard in the next match!”
Unconsciously, Emma had already descended from the competitor platform. Susan and Lucy immediately held her hands on either side.
Susan exclaimed, “What’s going on with this lousy competition? They bring in third-years to bully others? Don’t worry, Emma, you can get back at them in the next match!”
Lucy echoed, “Yes, our Emma will definitely do it!”
Emma’s eyes reddened slightly but she held back, “Why worry needlessly? Do I look like someone fragile?”
Susan quickly said, “Of course not, Emma is very strong.”
Lucy added, “Strong like a balloon, tough and hard.”
Emma chuckled, “Who talks about people like that?”
Lucy laughed, “Haha, let’s go. We’ll talk over there, so we don’t affect the next match.”
Emma nodded, “Okay.”
As she walked out, she cautiously glanced at the nearby bench, then turned and walked briskly away.
But before she took a few steps, she met two people directly ahead.
“Little Emma.”
Helena waved at Emma.
Emma paused slightly and told her friends before heading toward Helena.
As soon as she approached, she noticed Vini Scarlet beside Helena, who had danced with the Big Princess during the Halloween ball. Her impression of her was still vivid.
Before she could ask, Helena hugged her shoulders and waved her fist, saying cheerfully, “Don’t be sad. When I return, I’ll help you knock out Anglia’s little head!”
“Anglia…” Emma came to her senses, “Is that the senior just now?”
Helena nodded with a smile, “Angelia Hudson, a third-year student from the Fool’s Academy and a member of our Literature Club.”
Emma frowned slightly, “From the Fool’s Academy?”
Helena explained, “Reserved and low-key, they accumulate strength quietly. That’s how the Fool’s Academy works.”
Then she introduced Vini to Emma, “This one is also a third-year, but from the Mana Academy. It’s Vini Scarlet.”
Emma nodded, “Mm, I know, senior.”
Vini extended her hand to shake with Emma, and they acknowledged each other.
Next, Helena said, “We’ve watched your match, and your basic skills are quite good. If you perform decently in the next two matches, we can offer you a spot in the Literature Club.”
“Literature Club?” Emma was surprised, “Isn’t joining other clubs only allowed from second year?”
Helena smiled brightly, “This is called an advance ticket. The first year is for laying a foundation. With a solid base, you can soar. That’s why the academy has this rule.
After second year, you’ll understand how important a good team is. Our Literature Club is undoubtedly the top club in the entire castle. You should know that we only have four recruitment spots every year!”
Emma thought for a moment and asked, “Four houses, one for each?”
Helena replied, “Mostly.”
Emma understood, “Got it. I’ll consider it when I’m in second year.”
Helena sighed.
Vini couldn’t help but laugh softly, “Actually, we came here to offer you an opportunity. Helena recommended you, and this spot is reserved for you regardless of your future performance.
Of course, it’s voluntary. Helena was right that a good team is important, and our Literature Club is nothing to be ashamed of.”
Helena helplessly said, “Anyway, I’ve passed the message. You don’t need to worry about it. Just give me a reply later.”
Emma nodded.
She would certainly consider it carefully.
Before truly understanding the Literature Club, she wouldn’t make any rash promises.
But looking back now, she suddenly understood what Anglia meant by “let’s talk next time.”
“So that’s it!”
This eased her feelings about the recent failure.
She also genuinely became interested in the Literature Club.
…
“She seems to be in pretty good shape,” Dark glanced at the Literature Club sign casually held by Helena and turned his head.
Diana used two fingers to pull down the corners of her eyes, muttering, “If it were me, I’d be doing this by now.”
Rose mercilessly exposed her, “You’re kidding! Stuff a piece of candy in your mouth, and you’d forget everything.”
Diana grinned, “Who asked for such delicious candy?”
The three continued watching the battlefield.
The second match began quickly, between two second-year students.
The first-year students got to see the ordinary level of second-years.
Their usual summoning speed was around 5 to 10 seconds.
The ritual summoning speed exceeded 10 seconds.
If we’re talking about summoning speed alone, they might even be slightly slower than Dark.
But their accumulation from an extra year of study was evident in their mana cards.
Their mana card types were significantly richer, each having their own unique features, and at least one Second-tier Mana Spirit Card.
Why say “at least”? Because they only summoned one card during their duel.
Dark suspected they had multiple Second-tier Mana Spirit Cards but hadn’t had the chance to summon them before determining the winner.
Despite showcasing Second-tier Mana Spirits, these two second-year students didn’t score high.
Professor Jones and the senior gave them passing grades.
Professor Foxs gave even lower scores.
“Probably because their summoning speed hasn’t reached the standard for second-year students. Plus, their overall performance wasn’t particularly impressive.”
Dark thought and roughly guessed the reason.
Next to him, Diana looked at the elderly Professor Foxs and whispered, “That white-haired grandpa seems especially strict. Does he dislike bears?”
Dark took a while to understand her logic and said, “Don’t worry, he won’t give you a low score just because he dislikes bears.”
“Alright.” Diana jumped to the ground, shaking her hands, “It’s my turn!”
Rose said, “Let’s hope it’s not a third-year.”
Diana replied, “Same difference, scoring doesn’t depend on winning or losing.”
She ran confidently towards the Red Side competitor platform.
…
After a brief interval between duels, the first-year spectators finally recovered. The Noble Academy students regained their energy, ready to cheer loudly once Diana gained an advantage.
But as Diana stepped onto the field, her opponent also emerged from the crowd—a second-year student!
First-year vs. Second-year!
This wasn’t uncommon in the recruitment matches.
Due to the small gap in skill, both sides usually engaged in a close match.
Of course, second-year students had a much higher win rate.
The first-year students from the Noble Academy, after seeing the knights’ academy’s example, had toned down their cheers.
Instead, the second-year student’s friends cheered loudly, looking down on the Noble Academy first-years with disdain.
Yes, they were clearly from the Knights Academy!
The two academies had been at odds since early on. Even if their personal relationships were good, they would instantly turn against each other once it involved a dispute between the two schools.
All friendships would be calculated after the outcome.
However, the situation was stronger than their will. The first-year students from the Noble Academy clenched their teeth but had no confidence in winning, so they simply endured.
“Please, both competitors, enter the arena quickly!”
Under the referee’s urging, the second-year student from the Knights Academy finally stepped onto the Blue Side competitor platform.
He casually activated the spellboard and used the amplifier to say, “You’re so young, can you even participate in the competition?”
Diana, who was happily chatting, was suddenly stunned by his question, confused, “How does being young relate to participating in the competition?”
The second-year student scratched his head and retorted, “If you can’t even reach the table, how can you play cards?”
Diana placed her hand on the spellboard, puzzled, “I can reach it?”
“Pfft.”
Dark almost lost his composure off-stage.
Rose curiously asked, “Is this the trash talk Professor Jones mentioned?”
Dark shrugged, “Maybe.”
Rose realized, “Professor said that during the preparation phase, verbal exchanges can influence the opponent’s mindset, which is also a form of tactics. But I’ve never seen real trash talk before. Doesn’t he fear causing resentment?”
Dark: “Maybe he’s already notorious enough?”
Rose: “That’s true!”
…
The second-year student was indeed constrained, not daring to speak too freely under the watchful eyes of the professors.
But this minimal trash talk didn’t bother Diana at all—she didn’t take it seriously!
After placing her deck into the card slots, Diana asked proactively, “By the way, what’s your name?”
The second-year student replied, “Marjory Graysham, what about you?”
Diana shook her head, “I won’t tell you.”
Marjory was taken aback, “Then why did you ask my name?”
Diana wiggled her head and said, “I, Diana, don’t kill unnamed opponents.”
Marjory suddenly realized, “Wait, you’re Diana!”
“Blip!”
The referee’s whistle interrupted their intense exchange.
The duel entered the latter half of the preparation phase.
…
[Preparation Phase] [30s]
…
Diana energetically drew five cards from her freshly shuffled deck.
Immediately, her eyes lit up as she discovered “Bear Spirit” in her hand!
As a light-type undead creature, with an attack power surpassing the three-star standard, this Bear Spirit was Diana’s ace card.
Without hesitation, she revealed a corner of the card.
“Tick!”
The 30-second countdown ended quickly.
The duel entered the “Battle Phase.”
Diana immediately started summoning “Bear Spirit.”
Her normal summoning took less than ten seconds, which was inferior to Dark and Emma, but the second-year student Marjory wasn’t particularly outstanding either. Their differences weren’t significant.
Indeed, Marjory took eight full seconds to summon his first mana spirit!
Both players’ normal summoning techniques were nearly simultaneous.
“Come out, Giraffe Beast!”
“Decided, it’s you, Bear Spirit!”
Glowing light from the mana cards fell onto the summoning zones on both sides.
Two large-bodied beasts appeared amidst the light.
Diana’s Bear Spirit stood three meters tall even on all fours, emitting a bright white light with eyes that conveyed deep wisdom and a gentle demeanor of old age.
Marjory’s Giraffe Beast, however, resembled a camel without a hump but with an exceptionally long neck and a short elephant trunk!
This ancient creature existed only in ancient literature and fossils before the advent of mana technology.
Now, it was known to the world as a mana spirit.
Among三星魔导精灵, the Giraffe Beast, in terms of size and stats, was no less powerful than a Gigant.
Strictly speaking, its agility was inferior to that of a Gigant.
Marjory was confident in his Giraffe Beast, boasting 1500 attack points and 1400 defense points, making it a formidable opponent among three-star mana spirits.
“Charge! Crush it!”
Under Marjory’s command, the Giraffe Beast spread its legs and accelerated abruptly, charging forward like a heavy tank!
Its massive body caused the earth to tremble with each step.
“Roar!”
Facing the approaching giant beast, the Bear Spirit’s gentle demeanor vanished, and it charged fearlessly!
“BOOM!”
A loud explosion.
Marjory’s expression changed drastically!
