Chapter 240: The Boundless Sea of Learning Is Navigated by Hardship (4k)
“Is this the Noble History Research Society?”
After Owen left, Dark began to ponder more deeply.
Of course, he didn’t really think this society was studying the history of nobles; who was this Owen anyway, and he seemed unfamiliar before?
Ah…
That made sense…
Since the Valkyrie took over, the Diemon family rarely engaged in superficial social niceties.
Even if they had interacted before, he might not remember.
…
Dark quickly refocused his attention on the recruitment matches.
The first match was actually a duel between two third-year seniors.
Although they weren’t outstanding among their peers, two and a half years of studies still gave them a level of strength befitting their experience.
“A rather engaging duel.”
Dark gave his assessment.
Then, he anxiously stood up.
“It’s my turn; I wonder who my opponent will be this time?”
“If these seniors are involved, it’ll be somewhat enjoyable.”
No matter who, after putting in such tremendous effort, needed positive feedback.
Like how Dark had established a small red flower reward system for the mana spirits, positive feedback could encourage some mana spirits to work harder autonomously.
Enjoying “Bliss” in duels was his chosen form of positive feedback!
Undoubtedly.
He found new enjoyment in duels.
…
“Here he comes again.”
Professor Fox on the judging panel instinctively straightened up.
Regardless of comparisons or competitions, Dark Diemon was the most promising young talent he discovered in this recruitment match.
The previous round ended too quickly; he hadn’t seen much.
This time, he had to watch carefully.
Professor Jones next to him smiled slightly. Some people’s life trajectories started ahead from the beginning. Being able to walk alongside them even before they showed their potential was an honor, especially as a mentor.
Though she initially came to Saint Maryan not entirely out of her own volition, seeing the young magi grow rapidly under her guidance gradually strengthened her sense of belonging as a teacher.
“I wonder what kind of surprise he will bring us?”
…
Elsewhere…
Angelia put down her book, “Claire’s Travels,” after being reminded by a classmate and walked towards platform ①.
Recently, Traveler’s Street had taken on a peculiar trend where old and new bookstores were selling Christmas signed editions, driving prices up.
Despite this, some people still fell for it.
Angelia spent all her savings to fill her shelves, exclaiming it was worth it!
As a result, joining the Dueling Club went from just talk to action.
“There are only two more duels left…”
Sincerely feeling that dueling was troublesome, Angelia hurried to the edge of the field, not looking elsewhere, and directly stepped onto the red side competitor platform.
At this moment, Dark had already reached the stairs of the blue side competitor platform.
Seeing the red side competitor had arrived, he subconsciously looked over, instantly feeling a slight joy.
“They’re here!”
In today’s recruitment matches, if anyone was the biggest “shark,” it would undoubtedly be Senior Angelia.
Senior Angelia had shoulder-length hair with particularly long bangs, giving off a very low-key and quiet impression.
But her dueling style was starkly different from her appearance.
This was evident from her duel against Emma.
She was truly a “newcomer shark”!
Facing such an opponent, even Dark couldn’t be confident of winning.
But isn’t that what dueling was about?
Winning effortlessly was certainly delightful.
But turning the tables in adversity was also thrilling.
After all, this was a duel!
…
Dark felt he had rediscovered the mindset he once had when playing card games.
He walked onto the platform, giving a mysterious smile to Senior Angelia as she joined him, leaving her bewildered =.=!
…
As both competitors took their places, many spectators from outside the first-year students gathered around.
The students, drawn by the excitement, keenly sensed the atmosphere and gathered together.
“Isn’t that Angelia?”
Third-year students from the Fool’s Academy felt a sense of nostalgia seeing Angelia on the red side platform.
Angelia finally returned to the right path!
From now on, the third year would have another powerful member!
Whether in the grade cup or the academy cup, they would be more confident.
As for the unfortunate one dueling Angelia…
Wasn’t that the top first-year student last semester?
Seemed like the winner of the Crimson Star, who should have some skill.
But after all, they were still first-years.
First-years who didn’t even know how to transmit magic power remotely.
Although Angelia lacked dueling experience and hadn’t refined her skills, her inherent strength meant she had almost no chance of losing.
It was simply a matter of whether she would win by overwhelming force or by strategy.
Everyone believed this.
…
“Please get ready!”
The referee reminded them with a whistle.
Dark and Angelia placed a full deck of cards in the slots on the right side of the spellboard.
Dark had meticulously adjusted his deck, removing useless mana spirit cards and keeping only twenty core cards, mainly focused on mana spirits and capital sin cards.
Since Senior Angelia was going for a quick-summon strategy, it was a race to see who could summon faster!
Angelia didn’t seem to give it much thought; she probably just wanted it to end quickly…
So the exchange phase was skipped.
The countdown to the “Standby Phase” began.
Both competitors switched states and drew cards simultaneously!
…
“1, 2, 3, 4, 5!”
Five mana spirit cards.
Dark swiftly spread them out into a fan with his left hand.
[Bliss III]
[Magic Beast: Eevee]
[Arrogance II? Old]
[Magic Beast: Ditto]
[Fairy Eevee]
“Bliss III as the starting hand?”
Dark’s heart raced.
In his current deck, Bliss III played a crucial role.
Whether it was Eevee, the imp beast, or Ditto, they could all gain significant boosts through Bliss III — a shortcut to fast-summon techniques.
Fast summon tactics were the most common in mana duels.
If one could summon a powerful mana spirit in the first round, they could decisively end the match.
Not waiting for the opponent to draw more transformative mana spirit cards!
“Under the heavens, speed conquers all!”
This held true even here.
As long as you were fast enough, you could seize every advantage.
Why were Mind Magi unique?
Because they were fast!
…
Dark shifted his focus to the other four mana spirit cards.
“Eevee or Ditto, a choice?”
…
[“Battle Phase” 30s]
“Ding!”
“I’ve decided, it’s you, Eevee!”
Almost as soon as Angelia summoned her mana spirit, Dark’s Magic Beast: Eevee card lit up.
Their summoning speeds differed by only half a second.
But that half-second determined everything.
Angelia’s initial summon, unsurprisingly, was still that “Bookworm”!
Having watched Emma’s matches, Dark was prepared. He steadied his mind, allowing Eevee to materialize in front of the blue mana guidance ball.
The Bookworm immediately fluttered its wings made of pages, diving down like an eagle.
Almost instantly, it covered thirty meters, fiercely pecking the blue mana guidance ball!
This attack clearly bore the mark of a skill, dealing fixed damage!
The blue mana guidance ball’s mana value dropped by 100 points.
[2000-1900]
“Gruh!”
Startled, little Eevee instinctively covered its head, using its ultimate defense move, “Headbutt Defense!”
The effect was obvious; Eevee’s presence dropped to zero.
The Bookworm ignored it, finishing its attack and performing a sharp turn back to the red summoning zone.
…
Outside the arena, Emma Maltis furrowed her brow, watching intently.
She was curious how Dark would respond to this situation.
Would he use the golden “Huhu”?
Or something else?
Emma’s gaze shifted to little Eevee.
She clearly remembered Dark summoning this initial magic beast during the last class competition and using a special magic card to evolve it into a Second-tier mana spirit.
But the evolved mana spirit was completely uncontrollable, despite solving the Sphinx Cat’s shadow-tracing issue and running out of the field afterward…
Perhaps the high intelligence of mana spirits brought trouble?
Emma felt envious.
But uncontrollable mana spirits had no practical combat value.
…
The first round of mana duels tested foundational abilities the most.
Duelists concentrated intensely during this half-minute, displaying their best state.
Every second was precisely calculated.
Angelia’s Bookworm used its ultimate skill, “Bug Suction,” draining 100 mana points from the blue mana guidance ball’s life barrier.
Then, it utilized this mana to trigger another core skill — “Infinite Library”!
Under the influence of “Infinite Library,” the Bookworm created a replica with 100 mana points.
The replica had 100 mana but no attack or defense, but it was a 2-star, usable for sacrifice!
…
Sacrificing two 2-star mana spirits could summon a 4-star mana spirit.
Angelia immediately prepared for the sacrificial summoning after the summoning cooldown ended.
Once the Bookworm created the replica, she promptly completed the latter half of the sacrificial summoning.
With the successful use of the sacrificial summoning, a bright white light shot from her mana card toward the ground.
The Bookworm and its replica transformed into light, merging with the white light from the mana card, forming a complex and mysterious sacrificial summoning array!
From this array, another 4-star mana spirit emerged.
“Not the same one.”
Outside the arena, Emma felt a slight concern, realizing her lack of a 4-star mana spirit.
But her eyes widened as she noticed the magic beast in the blue summoning zone had undergone a species-level transformation.
No, it happened before Angelia’s 4-star mana spirit was summoned!
“Dark is faster than Angelia!”
Emma’s heart leaped, then she realized the transformed mana spirit wasn’t the Moon Eevee from the class competition — it was the adorable, pink Fairy Eevee!
…
“Mii—”
Eevee was satisfied with its evolution.
Compared to the uncontrollable Moon Eevee, Fairy Eevee was the form it aspired to.
Its pink appearance, smoother skin than the smelly thing at home, and cuter bow tie…
Everything about it was cuter!
Thinking about it, Fairy Eevee suddenly puffed up, feeling angry.
Why did it need a capital sin card to evolve?
Could diligent study change this situation?
…
[Card Name: Magic Beast (Fairy Eevee)]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ????]
[Race: Avian-beast Kin]
[Attribute: Fairy Type]
[Mana: 1900]
[Attack: 1700]
[Defense: 1300]
[Ultimate Skills: Fairy Skin, Roar, Destruction Beam]
…
“Cough!”
Noticing her obedient child’s thoughts wandering, Dark coughed loudly as a reminder.
Fairy Eevee regained focus, seeing the opposing mana spirit flying toward it!
It was a lion-shaped mana spirit, but its face wore a pure white mask, revealing only its eyes, nostrils, and a thin slit for its mouth.
As the king of the forest, the lion’s teeth and claws were its strongest weapons.
But the mask sealed its fangs.
This made it less intimidating but added a sinister touch.
Continuing Angelia’s usual style, this “Flip Lion” was incredibly fast.
In a split second, it was already in front of them.
But Fairy Eevee suddenly took a step forward, its tiny mouth opening wide, and then a terrifying roar erupted!
“Roar!”
Originally, the mountain roar should have been the lion king’s signature, but now the roles were reversed.
Fairy Eevee’s roar echoed like thunder, affecting even the nearby duels!
The entire venue reverberated with the sound.
Audience members near the field hurriedly covered their ears, but the echoes continued.
The air vibrations caused by the roar made the Flip Lion’s fur tremble, freezing its charge mid-air before being blown away!
Mana plummeted!
…
The Flip Lion rolled several times on the ground before standing up, its mask suddenly turning yellow.
A surge of angry and agitated energy spread!
…
[Two-in-One 4100 words]
[Last 30 hours of October, wrote 25000 words, still haven’t recovered.]
[Back from dinner, let’s write another chapter to make up for yesterday.]
