Chapter 272: Dark Demon Does Not Want to Pull an All-Nighter (4k)
Diana’s victory was like an adrenaline rush that energized the entire crowd.
No one had expected that this first-year girl could successfully challenge up a level before the match began.
After all, her opponent wasn’t a newcomer to the Dueling Club.
There indeed was a technical barrier between first and second years.
Her victory was out of everyone’s expectations!
But precisely because of this, dueling became even more captivating.
Unfortunately, the Mana Guidance Balls in the Novice Tournament lacked mana value, leaving people wanting more.
As soon as the referee announced Diana’s victory, the ring and spectator area erupted with thunderous applause!
Rose waved her signboard frantically; she hadn’t been this excited since the start of the semester.
The first-year students from the Noble Academy also led the applause, as if they themselves had won.
But the most excited person was still Viscount Gretebail in the spectator area!
“Awoof!”
Viscount Gretebail suddenly stood up and let out an excited roar like a giant bear!
He never thought his clumsy daughter could achieve such remarkable results in just half a semester.
This was nothing short of a miracle!
Although he had been confident earlier, he had always been worried that Diana’s performance might not measure up to Tudor’s, which would have been embarrassing.
Now, he realized his daughter might possess the talent to lead a new era!
“Could it be that my daughter is someone with great wisdom who appears simple-minded? Is her seemingly naive behavior merely a display of innocence during her懵懂 period?”
Even Lady Gretebail couldn’t help but think this, secretly wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye.
…
“This is the daughter of the Giant Bear family? She actually won!”
Prince Charles, who had been bored, suddenly woke up.
Tudor’s duel had made him feel quite bored, even leading him to think that first-years were only at that level.
If it weren’t for observing the future “Hero,” he wouldn’t have come here to waste time.
However, this daughter of the Gretebail family surprised him.
“But why, again, is it a female?”
In recent years, with the rise of Valkyries as female role models, the entire kingdom’s social structure had undergone significant changes.
Women’s status had gradually increased, and many self-reliant talents emerged.
This situation even gave Princess Eliza the confidence to vie for power!
Prince Charles was originally a strong supporter of traditional noble systems, which earned him support from some old nobles. He strongly disliked the gradual changes in society.
…
On the other side…
Princess Eliza and others greatly admired Diana, especially when they learned that Alvaraite was a friend of Dark’s. They found this child very likable.
Perhaps it’s what they call “love by association.”
But not long after, Alvaraite started worrying about when her son would appear?
Saint Mary had been too inhumane by not even sending a schedule!
…
Wilson on the commentary platform felt awkward for a long time before finally congratulating Diana on her victory. He quickly adjusted his mood and fast-forwarded to the next match.
The two contestants for the fifth match were already at the competitors’ entrance, another first-year student facing a second-year student.
After watching Diana and Franco’s impressive duel, the audience had high expectations for this match.
Wilson’s commentary became even more spirited.
…
Diana stood on the competitors’ platform for a long time, overwhelmed by the deafening applause and cheers.
“I really won!”
It wasn’t until her father’s roar reached her that she suddenly snapped out of it, gradually smiling. She waved her hand towards the competitor rest area, towards Rose in the ring, and towards her parents in the spectator area.
Excitement!
Only when the referee began urging did she reluctantly put away her Mana Guidance Ball and carefully return her deck to her card pack, then jumped down the stage three steps at a time.
As for Franco, losing 50 credits was still within his means.
“Bang!”
He forcefully hit the spellboard.
Franco indicated that he remembered!
He might spend another half year in the Novice Tournament, and there would still be plenty of chances to meet Diana!
…
While Dark was happy for Diana’s victory, he didn’t forget to continue watching the fifth match.
This time, the first-year contestant was Justin Wayne from the Knight Academy, a popular yet unfamiliar classmate.
Justin Wayne’s deck seemed to be a standard Knight Series, consisting of human knights, beastmen knights, goblin wolf riders… all the way to mechanical cavalry, mostly composed of this type of Mana Guidance Ball.
His strength was considerable, ranking among the top first-year duelists.
Out of seven first-year duelists, he was likely in the middle.
Before any specific battles, Dark couldn’t determine their outcomes.
After all, first-year students were in a rapid growth phase, much like Diana, who had completely crossed a stage after obtaining a four-star Mana Guidance Ball.
Speaking of Diana, she arrived.
She returned to the competitor rest area with light steps, hoping to get Dark’s praise.
“How is it, my ‘Bear Treasure’? Surprised?”
Diana pulled out “Bear Treasure” and waved it in front of Dark.
Dark couldn’t help but smile lightly. “Not bad, is this an orange card?”
Diana nodded immediately. “The first one! Made with your Christmas gift!”
Dark casually asked his question. “Is ‘Bear Treasure’s’ special attack team a skill that can summon allies?”
Diana glanced left and right, then whispered, “Yes. Each additional cub increases the special attack team’s attack by 100 points and doubles its range.”
Dark was stunned. “Is there a limit?”
Diana shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Some information about ultimate skills needed research and experimentation to fully understand.
“Bear Treasure’s” special attack team definitely had a capacity limit, but this limit was likely related to factors like “Bear Treasure’s” leadership.
If one could somehow break through this limit and form a hundred small bear special attack teams, the attack power would be unprecedentedly terrifying!
But it certainly wouldn’t be easy.
Dark sighed. “Impressive!”
Diana rubbed her head and laughed sheepishly. “Just average.”
For a moment, the atmosphere was warm.
…
Dark turned to watch the match with Diana.
With her task completed, Diana relaxed and could chat with him about viewpoints.
Though she wasn’t particularly sharp, she had good tactical instincts from being influenced by her family elders.
Dark found himself benefiting from their conversation.
On the field,
Justin Wayne used a strange magic card, forming a triangular formation with three knights.
This significantly improved the overall attack and defense of the three knights, gaining an advantage in a short time!
Unfortunately, his opponent wasn’t easy either. Soon, they found an opportunity to kill one knight, breaking the formation and then launching a crushing attack, ultimately winning.
Justin Wayne performed impressively, though he didn’t succeed in challenging up a level like Diana.
The second-year senior let out a sigh of relief upon winning; the pressure had been immense.
After all, he couldn’t afford to lose face for second-years.
The sixth to eighth matches were all duels between second-years.
The eighth match’s two second-year duelists performed extremely fiercely and spectacularly, igniting the crowd once more.
Dark watched very seriously, feeling he had learned a lot.
At the start of the ninth match, he took a deep breath and prepared for his turn.
His match was the tenth, coming up next.
But just as he was about to step back, he suddenly noticed one of the contestants was third-year student Angelia!
And her opponent was just a second-year senior.
Though Angelia lacked dueling experience, she was genuinely powerful.
Dark still vividly remembered that fierce battle.
“It’s like picking money while carrying a bag!”
Indeed, it turned out to be so.
The ninth match became Angelia’s personal showcase!
When Dark sensed the outcome was certain, he told Diana and entered the competitor passage.
It was just past 9:30 PM, almost exactly as scheduled.
He passed through the long underground tunnel, arriving at the Red Side competitor entrance, handing his contestant card to the staff at the entrance.
“First-year Dark Demon?” the third-year girl couldn’t help but ask.
Dark nodded. “That’s me.”
The girl couldn’t help but laugh softly. “I remember you, Angelia lost to you in the recruitment tournament!”
Dark smiled. “Sister, I wish you could remember me for other reasons.”
“Alright.” The girl handed back his contestant card but didn’t retract her palm. “Let’s meet. I’m a third-year from the Fool’s Academy, Angelia’s classmate, Demi Charlotte.”
Dark extended his hand to shake hers. “Hello, Sister Charlotte.”
Demi retracted her hand and said, “Okay, when Angelia passes through here later, pretend you don’t know me.”
“What…”
Dark was confused. We aren’t familiar with each other anyway!
Diana was much easier to understand.
…
During the wait, Dark leaned against the wall and continued watching the match.
A minute later, he noticed someone stepping out from the opposite competitor passage.
“Surely that’s Else Kevin.”
Dark recalled his memory.
He hadn’t paid particular attention to upperclassmen, so he wasn’t well acquainted with this fellow noble academy student.
But this didn’t stop him from encountering him in the common room.
Else Kevin, at thirteen, wasn’t unattractive, though some adolescent issues were evident on his face.
His behavior was always methodical, usually appearing in the common room with three or four companions.
He was often the center of the group, indicating his decent reputation among second-year students in the Noble Academy.
Dark observed for a while and suddenly remembered something, turning to ask Sister Charlotte, “Do you know him?”
Demi Charlotte glanced at the opposite Kevin and casually said, “The previous year’s Crimson Star winner, you don’t recognize him? That’s unusual. I remember you’re this year’s Crimson Star…”
“Ah!”
Dark slightly diverted his gaze; no wonder Senior Pandora recognized his name.
Meaning, this Kevin senior had received an award at last year’s Halloween party!
Though winning the first place in the grade during Halloween activities didn’t necessarily mean he was the strongest then, it undoubtedly confirmed his strength.
At this moment, Else Kevin probably wouldn’t be any easier to deal with than Angelia.
“I feel fired up!”
Dark’s eyes sparkled, his energy visibly different.
From the indifferent attitude when assigning homework, to slight interest last night, to wanting to win this morning… to now being full of fighting spirit.
Dark’s mentality had gone through multiple stages.
He felt his condition was good.
…
At this very moment, Else Kevin was also observing this side.
He was actually in the promotion tournament, originally not wanting to get involved in this mess.
To advance from the Novice Tournament to the main event, one needed to accumulate 100 points and win three consecutive matches in the promotion tournament.
Each win gained 10 points, each loss deducted 10 points.
Kevin wanted to enter the main event this semester to hone himself, so he applied for promotion last week. He had already won one match, needing two more.
These two matches, he wanted to secure them without any trouble.
But sometimes, some things were hard to refuse.
Kevin had joined the Nobility History Research Society and benefited greatly from it.
Logically and emotionally, he could only follow the president’s wishes.
“Then participate,” he thought at the time. After all, his opponent was just a first-year.
Though this first-year seemed somewhat overpowered, he was among the top second-years, giving him some confidence.
The aristocratic arrogance ingrained in him made him believe he wouldn’t be inferior to anyone.
Both were from the Noble Academy, and he had an extra year of learning. There was no reason to lose.
…
Their gazes briefly met in mid-air, but no sparks ignited.
Instead, the referee blew the whistle.
Angelia’s duel with the second-year senior finally ended.
Coming down from the Red Side platform, Angelia unexpectedly saw Dark at the entrance, stopping to greet him, feeling very regretful. “Bad luck, I didn’t run into you.”
Dark blinked. “Got 150 credits.”
Angelia smiled again. “Yeah, got another book.”
Then she continued forward, leaving behind a faint fragrance like fresh bamboo.
Dark was puzzled. “What book requires 150 credits? A meticulously edited limited edition signed collector’s edition?”
Demi Charlotte laughed. “The ancient bookstore opened by the goblins in Traveler’s Street sometimes auctions off rare books; you can try your luck there.”
