Chapter 447: Dark Demon and the Mana Academy Duo (56/233)
The contestants from the Noble Academy and the Mana Academy exuded entirely different auras merely by standing there.
Though their inner qualities were inscrutable, the Noble Academy’s participants radiated luxury through their appearance alone.
In contrast, the Mana Academy’s participants carried an intellectual air, like scholars.
Indeed, every person on stage was a prodigy, and even Pandora Dragon standing among them did not stand out like a crane among chickens.
As they took the stage, the audience cheered endlessly, clearly showing their massive fan base.
Dark felt the atmosphere, which was several times more fervent than that of the Easter Duel Festival, causing him to slightly narrow his eyes.
Watching a duel was completely different from participating in one.
Originally, he preferred watching duels, but after tasting the thrill of dueling, he became more eager to participate himself.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t his time.
If he could still dominate as a second-year student next year, representing the Noble Academy in the Academy Cup should not be a problem.
For now, he was content with absorbing experience from watching, preparing for future duels.
In the overwhelmingly enthusiastic atmosphere, the first round of duels officially began.
First up were the second-year students from both academies, followed by third, fourth, until sixth years.
Dark gradually focused on the matches, trying to enrich his combat strategies and deck-building ideas.
The duels between second-year students didn’t bring much surprise, but from the third year onwards, it opened his eyes!
Winnie Scarlet, a third-year student from the Mana Academy, displayed overwhelming power once she got serious.
Dark had dueled against Tom Nixon, who had eliminated her during the Easter Duel Festival, and won.
But watching from the stands, he felt that even with his current deck, he might get crushed by this descendant of the Winter Sage!
The powerful third-year student from the Noble Academy was no match for Winnie Scarlet.
Her strength far surpassed what a third-year should have.
“Should we see her challenge someone above her grade level after six rounds?” Dark thought to himself.
This year’s third and fourth-year students from the Mana Academy were beyond their class.
It was extremely difficult for the Noble Academy to win under such conditions.
With Winnie Scarlet’s inevitable victory, the fourth-year duels began.
Pandora Dragon’s entrance caused another frenzy.
Dark waved to Senior Pandora as she watched from the competitors’ platform, then witnessed Pandora’s brutal defeat of the Noble Academy’s fourth-year student.
“This year’s Mana Academy is truly formidable!” Dark observed carefully.
Pandora didn’t use “Fusion” in this duel, whether due to incomplete preparations or a strategic choice. Regardless, her victory was as expected.
After these two consecutive losses, the Noble Academy’s momentum further declined.
However, neither side’s players were affected.
In the fifth-year duel, the Noble Academy finally defeated the Mana Academy, tying the score.
In the final decisive sixth-year duel, the Noble Academy’s sixth-year student engaged in a fiercely intense battle with the Mana Academy’s counterpart.
Their strengths were evenly matched, with countless ways to resolve situations, and a series of special summons dazzled the audience.
After over ten rounds, this evenly matched struggle finally ended.
The Noble Academy’s sixth-year student emerged victorious!
Such a hard-fought win instantly made the Noble Academy supporters dance with joy.
But the Mana Academy supporters didn’t lag behind, cheering loudly to boost their players.
One round’s outcome didn’t decide anything.
The next round remained crucial.
After the first round, Senior Judy summoned the symbols of the four houses and pointed the needle to the Fool’s Academy and the Knight Academy.
This was another exciting duel that left the audience in awe.
Ultimately, the Fool’s Academy won three to two against the Knight Academy!
In the audience’s common view, the Fool’s Academy was not a notable house.
The prestigious Knight Academy losing to the Fool’s Academy was undoubtedly a disgrace!
The spinach party supporters, who bet on the Knight Academy, suffered heavy losses and cursed wildly.
A hint of chaos appeared in the stands.
However, St. Maryan’s branches maintained high security standards, far beyond what one or two individuals could disrupt.
Thus, the initial unrest quickly dissipated.
The start of the third round further captured the audience’s attention.
The fated rivalry between the Noble Academy and the Knight Academy sparked intense discussions.
After three rounds, the venue entered a midday break.
Dark and his classmates headed to the cafeteria, with the boys’ excited whispers barely concealed.
The fated rivalry between the Noble Academy and the Knight Academy ended with the Noble Academy winning by a single point.
In the morning’s three rounds, the Noble Academy won two, while the Knight Academy lost two.
Such results were very satisfying for the Noble Academy students.
Those who had been battling the Knight Academy for years hoped to see the Knight Academy fall.
However, the Knight Academy, strong and resolute, had the determination to return to the battlefield even if they fell.
After lunch, the fourth round saw the Knight Academy defy expectations by winning three to two against the Mana Academy!
But紧接着第五轮，魔导院便以相对碾压之势，战胜了愚者院，扳回了场子。
在单场获胜的总场次上，魔导院甚至要高于骑士院。
一共获胜七场的骑士院和一共获胜八场的魔导院，便同时将目光放向了最后的一轮平级决斗。
贵族院VS愚者院！
……
愚者院既然连败给了贵族院的魔导院都无法战胜，逻辑上也应该无法战胜贵族院。
然而事实胜于雄辩。在贵族院VS愚者院的对战中，贵族院竟然大败亏输。
愚者院逆势而起，狂澜名声，将贵族院打入凡尘！
最终，贵族院获胜八场，与魔导院持平，暂时并列第一。
而骑士院和愚者院各胜七场，以较差的成绩位居后位。
但第四和第一，实质上也就相差一万的临时学分。
一场越级挑战的成功，便能轻易的弥补这一份差距。
想要真正取胜，越级挑战就成了关键。
四个分院的参赛选手便都瞄准了越级奖励，暗中蓄力。
……
晚餐时间，学生们就此而激烈讨论，各个分院的学生相隔几桌挑衅，恨不得将对方的脑浆子打出来。
到最后更是演变成了私人决斗，一个个在食堂外的空地上展开决斗，其激烈程度竟是不比场内比赛来得逊色。
二到五年级的学生最是激动，虽然守住了校规的底线，但骂战声不断高涨。
六年级则因为即将毕业而有所收敛。
一年级则根本斗不起来。
达克和多隆等人游走在间隙之中，有些小兴奋的吃着瓜，大有唯恐天下不乱的趋势。
在事态进一步恶化之前，吃完晚餐的希尔芙教授慢悠悠的从边上穿过，瞬间鸦雀无声。
随后也不知道谁高喊了一声，学生们忽然意识到新一轮的比赛即将开始，连忙返回了露天决斗馆。
晚上七点整，新一轮的比赛正式开始！
和学院内争斗的学生不同，各地场馆内的观众们更多的是单人明星选手的粉丝，只要支持的选手发挥出色，他们便非常兴奋。
而兴奋之后当然是要消费。
悲伤的话，也同样需要消费来发泄。
于是场馆内便恰当的出现了大量的美食、纪念品和模型彩蛋！
尤其是模型彩蛋。
持续了两个月的高热畅销之后，模型彩蛋的热度竟是不减反增，每一次决斗比赛都是对模型彩蛋的一次广告宣传。
观众粉丝们为了开出心仪的魔导精灵，一度陷入狂热。
而在开出了普通的模型之后，又会想着开出能动的魔导模型，于是进一步氪金。
在财富还集中在一小撮人的时代里，贵族、大家族的财富不可估量，一旦氪金起来那就是一条金河银河。
由这模型彩蛋衍生出的个人交易市场，竟是意外的拉动了经济的流通。
随着稀有模型的市场增值越来越大，一些人甚至将其当做了和“彩票”一样能一夜爆发的机遇。
随之而来的“赌徒”自然不会少见。
但这也是类似产业难以避免的现象。
就像决斗经济的背后也隐藏着无数的菠菜行业。
是无论怎样也取缔不了的。
……
今夜的星辰异常明亮，圣玛丽安决斗馆内灯火通明。
越级挑战赛相比于同年级之间的决斗要更加的刺激，更加的富有期待性。
而深邃的夜幕也更加能带动情绪。
无论是学生还是观众，都被持续高涨的情绪所操控，为决斗的更加火热添砖加瓦。
但实际上对于参赛选手而言，越级挑战是一件慎之又慎的事情。
擅自的越级挑战不但会浪费自己仅有的一次挑战名额，还极有可能因为年级之间的落差而惨败。
过于惨烈的失败会导致明星选手的人气爆降，对此比较在意的人便需要慎重。
而且我们通常所说的越级其实是低级别的强者去挑战高级别的一般人。
但现场的选手每一个都是同年级的佼佼者，理论上都不能用现有年级来衡量。
因此想要越级挑战成功，难之又难。
就算有些信心的人，也需要仔细衡量是越几级。
……
最先申请越级挑战的，赫然是魔导院三年级的温妮·斯卡蒂！
这位日渐崛起的决斗新秀原本便因为知性的气质和美丽的外观而颇受欢迎，其实力在白天的决斗对抗赛上也是完美展现。
而让她真正出圈的，其实是万圣节前夜的舞会。
大公主伊丽莎从所有人中唯独选中了她为舞伴，当时各大报刊都有对她进行深挖的报导。
也是从那之后，温妮·斯卡蒂真正的进入了群众的视野。
而今天晚上，第一个申请挑战的温妮·斯卡蒂进入了“手中无书”的强势状态，直接挑战在白天表现良好的骑士院四年级生！
骑士院在白天的决斗之中以三比二的成绩战胜了魔导院。
但那位四年级生却是在潘多拉的手中惨败。
虽然那并未影响他在随后的精彩表现，但那一次惨败依然让他耿耿于怀。
此时骤然被魔导院的三年级生选为越级挑战的对象，不由得让他感到自己被魔导院当成了可以随意拿捏的软柿子。
因此而被点燃怒火的这位四年级生，便抱着给晚辈好好上一课的心态登上了选手台。
在另一边选手台上的温妮·斯卡蒂却极为冷静，秀美的脸庞映照在星辉之下烨烨生辉。
双方选手同时登台之后，决定便快速进入准备阶段，然后切入战斗阶段。
温妮·斯卡蒂面对着四年级的强者，依然是保持着与其本人的日常气质完全不符的强势姿态，从一开始便对那位四年级生形成了压制。
几乎是以潘多拉击败这位四年级生时完全一样的节奏，干净利落将其击败！
这位骑士院四年级生在最后魔导球彻底归零之时，依然是一脸的不可置信。
观众席上因为这第一场越级挑战便顺利成功而掀起的如山呼海啸般的欢呼声不断的冲刺着他的耳膜，让他遭受了巨大的打击。
原本他在这场决斗之前，还在思考着挑选哪一位五年级选手进行越级挑战。
那份心气直接被打没了！
……
而继温妮·斯卡蒂之后， 同为魔导院的四年级生——潘多拉·多拉贡也以强势的姿态挑选了贵族院的五年级生。
那位在贵族院与魔导院的决斗之中，帮助贵族院扭转局势的五年级强者，却是丝毫不敢小看名声极盛的“白银の龙女”。
决斗在比一波接一波的呼声中展开。
双方选手的开场之迅速之猛烈都超越了一年级生的认知。
决斗的激烈程度丝毫不逊色于白天任何一场六年级之间的对战。
那条漂亮得仿佛能突破生殖隔离的纤长白龙再次登场，引起“白龙狂热者们”竭尽全力的欢呼喝彩。
描绘着白龙全貌的巨大横幅迎风飘扬。
全场整齐划一的“白银龙女”的口号在这个时候竟是一点也不让人感到尴尬。
整个庞大的观众席都似乎都被“白银の龙女”的拥趸所占据。
而在那炽热的呼喊声中，“白银の龙女”不负众望， 以凛然之姿镇压了对手！
