Chapter 391: Dark Demon Is Not a Hero (4k)
“Hi.”
Dark found Senior Mare Bond in the competitor passage and greeted her proactively.
Among the four lower-grade students who advanced to the second round, only Senior Mare Bond could still talk some sense.
Mare Bond raised her head, pulling her hair back, and said, “We were lucky. We all made it through.”
Dark smiled as he walked over. “Lucky indeed.”
Then Mare turned toward the stage. “Let’s go. I hope we don’t meet you next time. I feel like I might not be your match now.”
Dark replied, “Still, Senior Bond is formidable.”
“You kid,” Mare couldn’t help but smile. “No wonder you can get along with Drogan. Your words are so sweet.”
Dark looked at this senior who was just one year older than him but seemed like she had more life experience. He smiled helplessly.
Once all eight advancing contestants gathered, they walked onto the stage together.
On the stage, a senior from the Noble Academy was playing the violin.
When they arrived backstage, Senior Judy raised her hand to signal them not to make noise.
The senior’s violin performance was excellent, captivating everyone.
After a few minutes, he finished playing, and Judy picked up the microphone and stepped onto the stage.
“Please welcome the eight advancing contestants!”
Then Dark and the others stepped forward one by one.
This time, there was no interview; Judy only asked the staff to bring two long tables.
On each table were four Easter eggs, and the eight contestants needed to break the eggs simultaneously to draw new tokens.
The tokens would determine the rest of the tournament.
Originally, these arrangements could be done backstage, but doing so would make the audience feel more involved.
“Lower-grade students on this side, upper-grade students on that side,” Judy separated the eight contestants.
Dark stood at the first position on the left table.
To his right stood Mare Bond, Stewart Fane, and Tom Nixon.
Once all eight contestants were in place, Judy smiled and said, “Don’t forget to pick up the hammers. When I count to three, we’ll knock them together.”
“I’m still playing ‘Rock Paper Scissors’…”
Dark picked up the small hammer, suddenly feeling like he was playing a game with kindergarteners…
He shook his head, dispelling the absurd feeling, and with Judy’s countdown ending, he knocked hard.
“Crack!” x8;
All eight eggs shattered simultaneously.
The audience held their breath.
“Bang bang bang!”
The eight eggs released brilliant fireworks, forming red and blue numbers in the air that lingered for a while.
“Aren’t these supposed to be tokens?”
The contestants complained, but subconsciously lifted their heads to remember the numbers.
“Is it number 2?”
Dark glanced at the glowing red number 2 above him and turned to check the numbers of the other contestants.
Mare Bond’s number was 4.
Stewart Fane’s number was 1.
Tom Nixon’s number was 3.
According to the schedule, 1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4, then the winners from each group would compete in the final.
“So, my next opponent will be him?”
Following the number 1, Dark turned to look at Stewart Fane, who was one position away from him.
This third-year senior from the Noble Academy had delicate features, middle-parted hair, shoulder-length brown hair, deep black eyes, and fair skin with a rough texture.
As he turned his head, Stewart Fane also turned to look at him.
At the moment their gazes met, the corners of Stewart Fane’s mouth curled slightly, revealing a cruel smile.
Then he opened his mouth silently, “I got you.”
…
In the ring…
Angus Jeffrey, the president of the Noble History Research Club, almost simultaneously showed a similar smile.
He cupped his hands under his chin, looking gloomy as he whispered, “Mike, which one do you think will win between the two of them?”
Mike Owen felt helpless. He had originally sat in the back corner, but Jeffrey inexplicably brought him closer.
After bringing him close, Jeffrey didn’t speak, leaving him in an awkward situation.
Unexpectedly, Jeffrey suddenly asked such a question.
He analyzed, “Dark Demon’s deck is very strong, and the intelligence level of the Golems is extremely high. That’s his unique strength, but his combat style is straightforward and lacks finesse in chains.
If you’re not familiar with him, it might be difficult to deal with him. But Stewart’s deck…
Well, how should I say it? He should be least afraid of decks relying solely on Golems. So, I believe Stewart has a higher chance of winning.”
Jeffrey was surprised, “You’re so sure Stewart will win? Dark Demon just defeated you.”
Mike Owen gave a bitter smile, “Unexpected.”
Jeffrey realized, “Oh, I thought you went all out.”
Mike Owen replied helplessly, “It was an unexpected outcome even when I went all out.”
Jeffrey sneered and stopped looking at him.
…
In the spectator area.
Alvaraite had been bored for a long time until she finally mustered some energy.
Her purpose for coming here was to see what the “model Easter eggs” were and to try her luck at drawing a prize.
She was lucky enough to spot her beloved again, but the interval between matches was too long. It had been over two and a half hours since Dark’s last match.
Not seeing Dark for two and a half hours made her mood gradually sink.
“I can finally see him again!” Alvaraite was excited for a moment but then became disheartened.
“But after this match ends, I don’t know when I’ll see him again. Why isn’t summer vacation here yet?”
Since her beloved joined Saint Maryan, the kingdom’s Valkyrie had become somewhat anxious.
…
In the Free City.
Montiel Farley and Aurora focused their attention on Dark Demon reappearing on the field.
Despite their different inner thoughts,
both mother and daughter wanted to learn more about him.
…
As for Diana and Rose in the ring, they were a bit worried.
Stewart Fane had been outstanding in both the preliminary rounds and the first round of the main event.
Being first-year students, they could already sense the vast gap between them and the upper-grade students just by watching from the sidelines.
It was hard to imagine how they could defeat such powerful opponents.
“Don’t worry, Dark already defeated a third-year senior. The one with the chest,” Diana comforted Rose, who seemed nervous.
“It’s Owen!” Rose involuntarily looked up at the sky. “I feel like Senior Owen wasn’t using his full strength, just like when we met on Valentine’s Day. He seemed to be holding back.”
Diana blinked, puzzled, “Is that so? But I felt he was quite serious.”
Pandora chimed in, “Mike Owen’s true strength isn’t simple.”
Rose immediately said, “See, the seniors must know more. Senior Owen might have other intentions. But this Senior Stewart Fane, he gives me a bad feeling.”
Poor Mike Owen, who was clearly giving it his all, few believed him.
Diana popped a piece of candy into her mouth and munched on it. “Fine, let’s hope Dark keeps winning.”
Rose added, “Me too.”
Pandora said, “Then let’s cheer for him.”
Rose became worried again, “Too bad I forgot to bring that token.”
…
A young girl’s worries are like clouds in the sky—gather quickly and disperse just as fast.
Dark Demon was unaware that his every move was being closely watched by so many people.
After learning the schedule, he shook hands with Stewart Fane on the stage, completing the pre-match etiquette.
Then they both descended from the stage and went to their respective competitor platforms.
Red Side: Stewart Fane;
Blue Side: Dark Demon;
Again, the blue side platform.
As Dark climbed the steps, he waved in Alvaraite’s direction, hoping for a response.
He realized that after regaining his past memories, he felt even more attached to family.
But when he observed Alvaraite’s reaction, his eyebrows twitched as he noticed a very conspicuous group entering the audience seats.
“Prince Charles? What’s he doing here?”
…
The prince, who had rushed over after the announcement, entered the spectator area with a grim expression.
Even though the front row was already occupied, as the heir to the throne, he had ways to get someone to give up their seat.
So, he directly went to the front row, just a few seats away from Alvaraite.
Their gazes met briefly before passing.
Alvaraite lowered her raised hand, her expression becoming increasingly serious.
“Did they hear something?” Alvaraite whispered.
Claire also saw the prince and said, “If he’s here, Princess Eliza should be coming soon.”
Alvaraite frowned, “That’s not a good sign.”
Claire tried to reassure her, “It might not be bad.”
Alvaraite shook her head, “Some things stick once they’re on. You might have to work harder now.”
Claire smiled faintly, “Why are you being so polite to me?”
Anna and Angie, playing the role of innocent princesses, stuck to her and said, “Is sister coming too?”
Just then, Angie suddenly looked up and said, “Tsk! She really did come!”
Anna lowered her head and whispered, “I suddenly have a bad feeling.”
Angie’s expression changed as she looked around hesitantly, “Can’t be that bad, right?”
Soon, Princess Eliza in casual clothes arrived at the front row, squeezing Anna and Angie into the same seat.
And Princess Eliza took the seat between Alvaraite and Claire!
The twin princesses looked dejected.
…
“What are you looking at?”
On the competitor platform, Dark suddenly heard Stewart Fane’s voice from across.
He turned his head, injected mana, and activated the spellboard.
Once the amplifier was ready, he spoke, “My eyes see the future.”
“Huh?” Stewart Fane was completely unprepared for Dark’s response.
He hesitated for a moment, “Seer?”
Dark blinked and couldn’t help but smile, “Don’t you think talking like this is profound?”
“Damn!”
Stewart Fane realized he had been tricked, but his expression remained gloomy, “Words won’t help you win. You’re still a first-year. Unlike Mike Owen, I won’t go easy on you because you’re younger. Next, I’ll show you the real gap between first-years and third-years.”
Dark nodded seriously, “I’m looking forward to it.”
Fighting against Senior Owen wasn’t particularly exciting.
After watching so many battles between upper-grade students from the sidelines, he also wanted to experience a fierce battle lasting more than eighteen rounds.
But he wondered if Senior Stewart Fane on the other side could handle it.
…
“Please have the contestants enter the standby phase immediately!”
The referee’s whistle suddenly blew.
Dark finally took out his deck from his mana card deck and neatly placed it into the slots on the spellboard.
The spellboard sensed it and began automatically shuffling the cards.
Stewart Fane on the other side also solemnly placed his deck into the slots.
The scene of both sides shuffling their decks was projected in the air by magic projection.
At this moment, the newly arrived Prince and Princess, who had just taken their seats, directed their gazes outward.
The conversation between the two contestants through the amplifier echoed throughout the venue.
The Prince and Princess were particularly sensitive to the words Dark had spoken earlier.
The Princess even hesitated, “Lord Duke, does Dark not only have the qualities of a hero but also the talent of a seer?”
Alvaraite blinked, and Claire couldn’t help rolling her eyes, saying helplessly, “Where did you hear he had the qualities of a hero?”
Eliza was stunned, and she closed her eyes to ponder.
But after a moment, she said, “He can summon a Holy Sword.”
Only a hero could summon a Holy Sword!
Eliza felt that the answer she deduced from the information she had gathered was correct.
Alvaraite and Claire exchanged glances.
They quickly realized that because they knew the hero qualities belonged to Dark’s two Golems, they had subconsciously overlooked this basic logic.
After all, even Alvaraite, despite being able to use parts of the Holy Sword, couldn’t actually summon it.
She used the “Holy Sword Curse”—the “Illusion Soldier Curse”—to summon a spear!
Dark’s operation of summoning a Holy Sword through a mana card could easily lead to misunderstandings.
If such misunderstandings spread, it could cause problems that shouldn’t exist.
After realizing this, Alvaraite softly said, “Eliza, your eyes can deceive you, let alone others’ reports. You should learn to analyze reality based on your own thinking. Watch this duel carefully.”
Eliza reluctantly bit her lip, “Alright.”
…
“BEEP—”
Standby Phase [30s]
Life Points: 8000
