On the field, Reno felt the terrifying energy fluctuations, and his expression changed completely.
Rank 4.
Although it was only close, it was already far beyond the limit of what he could endure.
With this strike, he and Reya...
...
...would undoubtedly die.
He spun around abruptly and rushed toward Reya at the edge of the field.
“Reya! Defense! Maximum power defense!”
Reya also realized the severity of the situation. She raised her staff and began chanting at her fastest speed.
A pale blue water curtain unfolded in front of her, enveloping her and Reno within it.
But the thickness of that water curtain seemed so fragile before that terrifying magic.
Reno rushed to Reya’s side and quickly turned, using his body to shield her. He held his spear across his chest, his magic erupting with all his might.
“Brother...” Reya’s voice was trembling.
“Don’t be afraid,” Reno said through gritted teeth. “I’m here.”
He looked up at Lilith in the air.
Lilith was also looking at him.
Then...
The chant ended.
A sharp slash swallowed everything.
A deafening grinding sound swept across the entire field.
The ground shook violently; the earth had been completely split apart.
In the spectator area, everyone held their breath.
Vice Principal Glen had even stood up, prepared to rush into the field to save them.
But a few seconds later, the dust cleared.
Everyone was stunned.
Reno and Reya stood in place, completely unharmed. The water curtain in front of them had shattered.
But they didn’t have a single scratch on them.
And behind them...
A twenty-meter-long gouge had appeared out of nowhere on the open ground.
At the edges of the crater, the red mana residue still lingered.
“This...”
Reno turned his head blankly toward Lilith, who was clutching her chest.
Lilith took a deep breath and staggered, nearly falling over.
She barely managed to stand firm, her face pale and her breathing heavy. She looked as if she had exhausted all her magic.
Reno opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he simply bowed deeply.
“Thank you.”
Lilith waved her hand.
“It’s fine. Do you want to continue?”
Reno shook his head.
He helped up the still-shaking Reya and then raised his hand.
“We surrender.”
As the words fell, two beams of teleportation light lit up.
Reno and Reya’s figures disappeared from Field 3.
Lilith looked at the spot where they had vanished and breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, her body swayed, unable to support itself, and she collapsed to the ground.
Finally, she closed her eyes and fainted.
...
In the spectator area, there was a moment of silence, followed by a burst of applause.
It started sparse, then grew louder and louder, finally turning into thunderous applause.
“That kind of control... it’s terrifying...”
“To be able to precisely avoid her opponents under magic of that power... how much mental strength and mana control does that require?”
“A genius... a true genius...”
“Holy City Magic Academy really found a treasure this time...”
Principal Aurora stood up with a smile and waved toward the projection.
A beam of teleportation light fell on Lilith.
In the next second, Lilith’s figure disappeared from Field 3 and appeared on a bed in the infirmary.
...
The infirmary.
Lilith lay on the hospital bed, her eyes closed, motionless.
Several healing-element teachers were gathered around her, checking her condition.
“Strange... there are no external injuries...”
“Could it be a coma caused by excessive mana consumption?...”
“All her vitals are normal... how could she have fainted?”
The teachers looked at each other in confusion.
And just then, the corner of Lilith’s mouth curled up ever so slightly.
She was snickering in her heart.
“Hahaha... my acting was pretty successful...”
“Surely no one noticed, right?”
Just as she was thinking this, the infirmary door was pushed open.
Principal Aurora walked in.
He waved his hand, signaling the other teachers to leave first.
Then, he walked to the bedside and looked down at the still-unconscious Lilith.
He watched for a few seconds.
Then,
Smack.
He reached out and flicked Lilith on the forehead.
“Congratulations on advancing,” Principal Aurora said with a smile.
“I know you’re not hurt. Stop faking.”
Lilith’s body stiffened.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes with difficulty and looked at Aurora with a weak expression.
“Principal... what are you saying... I clearly...”
“Clearly what?”
Principal Aurora raised an eyebrow.
“You didn’t even bleed, and the healing magic had no effect on you. Isn’t it obvious you’re faking?”
Lilith: “...”
Awkward.
She sat up and scratched her head.
“Hehe... you caught me.”
Lilith stuck her tongue out.
“So... the other teachers...”
“They didn’t notice.”
Principal Aurora waved his hand.
“But it doesn’t matter. As long as you’ve advanced and achieved your goal, that’s enough.”
He paused before continuing.
“Get ready to participate in the quarter-finals.”
“The quarter-finals start tomorrow morning at the Central Arena.”
“At that time, the winners from the eight fields will compete in a single arena until a champion is determined.”
Lilith nodded.
“Got it.”
Principal Aurora turned to leave.
As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Lilith.
“By the way.”
“That boy named Reno asked me to pass on a message before he left.”
“What message?”
“He said: Thank you for showing mercy.”
Lilith: “...”
Rate on N.U.
