Chapter 238: Who Reaches the Summit in Pecking Order (4k)
Wit was completely unprepared for his opponent to be Scott!
Right after watching Dark’s match, he was full of energy and looking forward to his own duel.
But why was his opponent Scott?
…
Watching Scott enter from the blue side area, Wit couldn’t help but ask Robert, “Robert, what should we do now?”
Robert looked puzzled, “What do you mean? This is a duel! Of course, fight to the death!”
Wit: “…”
He quickly realized he had asked the wrong person.
Since the Christmas ball, Scott had become his guide, and their relationship had progressed steadily. Especially after the incident in the secret passage, they were almost considered comrades who had shared life and death.
However, Robert and Scott’s relationship hadn’t improved at all.
Wit always believed that people could change. If they made mistakes and corrected them, it was good.
But he found out that Robert didn’t think like that.
Or perhaps Robert just drew a clear line between friends and enemies.
He was generous to friends and merciless to enemies.
But Scott hadn’t done anything overly harsh to him, did he?
Wit was bewildered.
Robert, on the other hand, sneered inwardly.
People grow up.
Robert wasn’t as impulsive as he was at the beginning of the school year.
Seeing Wit still hesitating, Robert casually said, “Hurry up, the professors are watching.”
Only then did Wit suddenly understand.
Yes, the professors were watching.
If he held back during the duel, the professors would surely notice, and his score might even be lower.
Still, he decided to give it his all!
…
As Wit and Scott met at the edge of the battlefield, they exchanged greetings.
Though they weren’t familiar on the surface, with the sect planning to go public, there was no need to maintain the previous secrecy.
Scott laughed bitterly, “I never thought my first opponent would be you. I thought I’d get lucky and face some first-year students in the recruitment match.”
Wit’s smile was even more bitter, “Senior Scott, if you say so, you’re already quite lucky. Because I’m one of those easy opponents…”
Scott quickly interrupted, “Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re the child of the hero. By the way, how’s your Holy Sword Spell research going?”
Mentioning the Holy Sword Spell, Wit’s face lit up.
The Holy Sword Spell was a high-level universal spell that could be engraved onto mana cards without requiring complete knowledge of mana language.
Of course, this spell was special. Only a select few could manifest powerful weapons, while others would find it useless once learned.
Wit believed that if he could thoroughly study and refine the “Holy Sword Spell” left by his father, his strength would surely rise to the next level!
But that was for the future.
His current strength…
Although it had improved,
He wasn’t sure how much.
In the last class competition, he didn’t even make it to the quarter-finals.
During the secret passage incident, he barely had any chance to show off.
These facts made him realize himself.
But when facing Scott, he still had some confidence…
“Please, both contestants, hurry up and enter!”
The referee’s urging interrupted their off-field conversation.
They looked at each other before heading to their respective platforms.
When Wit climbed onto the platform, he noticed that some students from the Knight Academy were watching him. He steadied himself, deciding it was best to win with all his might.
On the other side, Scott had already resolved to give it his all.
Second-year students who couldn’t join the Dueling Club early next semester would miss many opportunities.
Of course, some students had plenty of chances and didn’t care about losing one. They could choose not to join.
But Scott couldn’t.
“Regardless of winning or losing in the recruitment match, try to perform well and earn a high score! At least pass!”
Scott set this goal for himself and activated the spellboard.
…
On the judges’ stand…
Professor Fox hadn’t recovered from the previous match yet.
But upon discovering that the hero’s child was participating, he said, “Now I know your student Diemon is indeed impressive. What about God? Is he talented?”
Professor Jones’ eyes flickered as he casually said, “You mean Wit? He started with almost zero foundation but has caught up now.”
Fox, being experienced, immediately sensed something unusual.
This reinvigorated him, and he sat straight, his expression becoming composed, “That student named Scott is from the Noble Academy. His grades are poor.”
With that, Fox stopped talking.
Enough said.
He understood very well!
Jones’ lips twitched slightly as he glanced at the field, hoping Wit would pull through!
…
The rivalry among professors did not significantly affect the students.
Since it was a match between two grades, the first-year students naturally hoped Wit would win.
Diana curiously asked, “Dark, who do you think will win?”
Dark answered without hesitation, “It should be Wit. After all, Senior Scott is too weak.”
Diana: “Oh, really that weak?”
Dark nodded, “Maybe weaker than your previous opponents.”
Diana: “Oh, that’s pretty weak.”
But she didn’t know that Dark was being lenient in his assessment.
A person’s evaluation of others depends largely on their experiences.
Dark’s understanding of Scott’s strength was based on two encounters.
One was in Traveler’s Street.
Scott had come to track him because of the Flower Card, but was later beaten by Wit and Robert.
Another encounter was during the Halloween event.
Scott’s three-eyed squid was kicked away by Senior Maly!
That scene left a deep impression on Dark.
So he instinctively felt Scott was very weak.
But in reality, Scott and Wit had another encounter.
Back then, Scott and “Pufferfish” successfully defeated Wit and Robert’s team, taking them as spoils into the temple.
Of course, these were events from last year.
The growth rate of young magi was incredibly fast, and true development happened in the blink of an eye.
Thus, the outcome of their duel remained uncertain.
…
Having exchanged words off the field, Wit and Scott didn’t speak much after entering the arena.
Private relationships remained private.
Once the duel began, it was only red vs. blue.
As the words “Standby Phase” appeared above the spellboard,
Both players placed their decks into the slots and automatically shuffled them.
After shuffling ended, the “30s” countdown on the right side began.
Both players drew their starting hands!
…
After drawing five cards, Wit spread them out fan-like.
“I didn’t draw the Gigant!”
Scanning his hand, Wit’s heart sank instantly.
The “Gigant,” a three-star mana spirit card, was the core card in his twenty-card deck!
With the Gigant, he had a backbone.
Next was the “Radiant Python!”
And outside the mana spirit cards, the core card was undoubtedly the “Forbidden Love.”
His mana cards temporarily lacked a cohesive system, relying on strength to overpower.
But he lacked second-tier mana spirit cards, thus lacking the capital to duel seniors.
However, he knew Scott also hadn’t refined a second-tier mana spirit card.
Thus, in terms of high-end combat power, both were on equal footing.
But in his current five-card hand,
There was neither the Gigant nor the Radiant Python, let alone the Forbidden Love!
His luck was terrible.
Wit’s gaze swept to the edge, the [Magical Beast: Buck Deer], a one-star mana spirit card, was useless at this moment.
Among the other four mana cards, one was “Magic Bullet Spell,” another was “Mana Recovery Elixir,” and the remaining two were newly refined mana spirit cards.
“I can only choose one of these two mana spirits.”
“Endure the first round, bet on drawing better cards in the next!”
…
“Battle Phase” [30s]
…
Wit’s usual summon speed was compressed to six seconds, though not as fast as Dark, it was his pride.
Even Emma was slower than him.
Scott’s usual summon speed…
Anyway, after successfully summoning his first mana spirit, Wit was still reciting a spell.
Two choices…
Wit chose the one with higher attack and defense.
But it was only relatively better.
The mana spirit that appeared in the summoning zone was a two-headed ogre!
…
[Card Name: Two-Headed Ogre]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ??]
[Race: Subhuman]
[Attribute: Evil]
[Mana: 600]
[Attack: 900]
[Defense: 700]
[Ultimate Skill: Multi-tasking]
…
[Question: Why can the foolish two-headed ogre multitask?]
[Answer: Because it has two heads.]
…
The blue-skinned two-headed ogre wielded a stone hammer in one hand and a spiked club in the other, truly a dual-wielder!
As soon as it appeared, it swung its weapons toward the opposing mana guidance ball.
Wit was confident that Scott hadn’t mastered the technique to remotely control the mana guidance ball, so he wasn’t worried about it running away.
But the two-headed ogre’s short legs were indeed slow, and during its movement, it often stumbled, resembling the “three-legged race” scenario where both feet lifted simultaneously, causing it to fall flat on its face.
“Thump!”
That fall was quite solid!
Wit couldn’t help but cover his face.
At the same time, a beam of light shot into the summoning zone on the blue side.
From the light emerged Scott’s signature mana spirit—the Three-Eyed Squid!
The giant squid with three eyes, despite being kicked by Senior Maly, was indeed a three-star mana spirit!
…
[Card Name: Three-Eyed Squid]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ???]
[Race: Fish]
[Attribute: Water]
[Mana: 1200]
[Attack: 1100]
[Defense: 700]
[Ultimate Skill: Binding, Ink Jet]
…
The classification of water-based creatures in this world was vague. For example, seals, mammals, were classified as avian-beast kin, while squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish were categorized as fish.
But they weren’t actually fish!
…
Although Scott was slower in summoning speed, the mana spirit he summoned was clearly stronger than the comical and clumsy two-headed ogre.
“Three-Eyed Squid, catch it!”
Scott’s tone was filled with excitement.
Upon receiving the command, the three-eyed squid lunged towards the two-headed ogre—albeit slowly!
Squids were aquatic creatures, and moving on land was normal.
While the squid struggled to move, the two-headed ogre had already gotten back up and charged with weapons raised!
“Don’t!”
Before Wit could finish, the two-headed ogre entered the three-eyed squid’s attack range.
Two tentacles shot out, firmly wrapping around the ogre’s arms and hoisting it upward!
With its legs off the ground and arms bound, the two-headed ogre lost all resistance.
“Finish it!”
Scott gave the order without hesitation.
Almost simultaneously, the three-eyed squid’s tentacles pierced the two-headed ogre’s chest, tearing it in half!
Amidst the screams, the two-headed ogre turned into light.
Wit’s expression changed slightly but remained calm.
The three-eyed squid’s slow movement gave him time to summon a second mana spirit.
That was a giant dove with a golden crown!
…
[Card Name: Dove King]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ??]
[Race: Avian-beast Kin]
[Attribute: Flying/Fire]
[Mana: 800]
[Attack: 500]
[Defense: 400]
[Ultimate Skill: Healing Wave]
…
The dove king, with a wingspan over two meters, swooped down from the sky, grabbing the red side’s mana spirit’s life barrier with its claws.
Then, under Scott’s shocked gaze, it soared back up!
This was the last tactic Wit could think of.
In the previous class competition, several people had used similar tactics.
He was merely copying them.
Scott looked up at the fat dove, unable to resist a mental complaint.
Although this tactic was underhanded, it was sometimes unbeatable!
“Thankfully, I’ve refined new mana spirits…”
He drew a two-star mana spirit card from his hand and quickly summoned it!
Bright white light shot from the card, and a mana spirit materialized in the light.
It was a crimson-faced monkey-faced hawk!
…
[Card Name: Monkey-Faced Hawk]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ??]
[Race: Avian-beast Kin]
[Attribute: Flying]
[Mana: 600]
[Attack: 700]
[Defense: 500]
[Ultimate Skill: None]
…
A mere two-star “Monkey-Faced Hawk” was practically a useless card in senior students’ decks.
But Scott wasn’t the type to have excess.
To compensate for the inability to remotely control the mana guidance ball, he had to include flying-type mana spirits in his deck.
Now…
It came in handy!
