Chapter 171 | The Otherworld Journey That Starts From a Slime

Today was the day of the Monthly Test.

Instead of heading to the forest training ground, everyone gathered in the arena area. Students from other classes were also arriving one after another, filled with either nervous anticipation or excitement.

Today's Monthly Test would truly determine the Freshman Rankings.

Some might ask, hadn't the Freshman Rankings already been determined during admissions?

In truth, that was not the case. The admissions test evaluated overall potential, not individual raw strength. Only today's Monthly Test would truly establish the Freshman Rankings and decide the actual Freshman Ten Kings!

Only those who officially secured their positions as the Freshman Ten Kings would be qualified to announce their own titles!

Everyone was full of anticipation. Would the original Freshman Ten Kings be able to defend their ranks?

The Central Grand Arena was the venue for the Rainbow Class's Monthly Test. The students of Rainbow Class One and Rainbow Class Two had already taken their positions, standing on opposite sides of the arena, facing each other while their respective mentors negotiated.

The mentor of Rainbow Class Two was a Two-star Saint-tier named Katfina Morton, a Saint-tier ice mage.

She also had a cousin nine years her junior, Katelansi, a Tier Nine early stage mage who was a student in Rainbow Class Two.

“I heard your class organized a bet?” Leona asked with a smile.

Katfina chuckled. “Yes, but in the end, the Black Dragon Guild chose to decline the bet... Tsk, tsk, that precious student of yours is quite something.”

Just as Zhang Ye had anticipated, the Black Dragon Guild to which Gajeel belonged had declined the wager.

Although winning would have yielded a million points, losing would cost them far more than just points. This was only a personal wager; if other guilds found out that the Black Dragon Guild had lost a million points over a personal bet, they would be laughed out of the academy.

It was a matter of face. After careful consideration, the Black Dragon Guild chose to decline, much to Zhang Ye's disappointment.

Leona laughed. “Of course! He's incredibly capable!”

“But my students aren't lacking either. Gajeel's physical strength has also broken through to the Tier Nine mid stage,” Katfina said. “I don't think Class Two will lose to Class One.”

The corner of Leona's mouth curved into a confident arc. “In any case, Class One is definitely going to win!”

Katfina looked at her and couldn't help but laugh. “You're as confident as ever.”

“Of course!”

“Then let's wait and see.”

“Alright!”

Returning to her students, Leona waved Zhang Ye over. Zhang Ye ran up immediately and asked, “What is it, Big Nana?”

“You must win, understand?”

“Of course!” Zhang Ye grinned.

Having broken through to the Tier Eight late stage, his strength had grown by more than just a little. Furthermore, over the past month, he had already finished parsing most of the Tier Nine spells. Given the ranks of the Rainbow Class Two students, he was ninety percent confident in winning!

The remaining ten percent was just to keep himself from becoming arrogant.

The Monthly Test was a single-elimination tournament where one match decided the outcome. The one hundred students would compete in fifty matches, leaving fifty winners. Those fifty would then fight twenty-five matches, leaving twenty-five winners. One student would receive a bye while the remaining twenty-four fought twelve matches, and so on.

Because of the byes, the tournament used a point system. A win earned two points, a bye earned one point, and a loss resulted in no points gained or lost.

The daily rankings also awarded extra points. The higher the rank, the more points received, with first place earning ten points directly.

This would continue for three days, and the final rankings would be decided by the total accumulated points.

As the bell chimed, the students began drawing random numbers to determine their opponents.

Number 1 against Number 2, Number 3 against Number 4, and so on.

Finally, the matchup list was confirmed!

Zhang Ye looked at the number plate in his hand, his expression slightly odd. Number 88?

How come ever since he arrived in this world, his numbers were always sixes or eights?

This was too auspicious!

Then, the Central Grand Arena suddenly began to tremble. The surrounding spectator stands receded, and the central stage rose before splitting into four sections. Several more sections rose from below, piecing together with the top four. The circular arena transformed into a rectangular one, becoming even more massive.

Three mana barriers rose, dividing the rectangular arena into three square arenas, each spanning several hundred meters on all sides!

This made Zhang Ye sigh in admiration; this academy was simply too rich.

Three Saint-tier mentors had already taken their positions as referees, and the three arenas began their matches simultaneously.

“Number 1 and Number 2, please step onto Arena One.”

In the next moment, two students walked up. Zhang Ye looked over and saw that his brother-in-law was actually Number 2!

His opponent was a member of the 【Bluefin race】 named Shaqite.

The Bluefin race was quite similar to humans, but their skin was covered in extremely fine scales. Their bodies were light blue with darker blue stripes, and they had a prominent blue fin on their backs.

Members of the Bluefin race generally possessed impressive water magic talent and were exceptional swimmers. The race was divided into Whitefins, Yellowfins, and Bluefins, with the Bluefins being the leaders and having the best talent. As such, Shaqite was a Tier Nine early stage water mage, and his physical strength was also slightly superior to others of his rank, reaching the Tier Eight mid stage.

However, to Renomon, who had already advanced to the Tier Nine mid stage, this was not even worth mentioning.

What, water counters fire?

In truth, attribute counters only manifested when both sides were of equal strength. Since Renomon's strength was clearly superior to Shaqite's, there was no such thing as a counter.

On the contrary, at this moment, fire countered water!

Shaqite leaped onto the stage, holding a spear-like staff that could serve as both a focus and a weapon, water swirling around him.

In the next instant, Renomon let out a sudden roar and leaped high into the air. Blue flames surged from his body, coalescing into a blazing lion that enveloped him. The moment he landed on the stage, the blazing lion let out an earth-shattering roar, and the blue flames shot straight into the sky.

It was a magnificent display!

Everyone watching widened their eyes, silently marveling at his power.

Shaqite was also startled, his eyes filled with immense wariness.

Zhang Ye almost burst out laughing from below the stage.

What was a flashy entrance? This was it!

Clearly, Renomon had taken his teachings to heart, and the flashy entrance had obviously placed immense psychological pressure on his opponent.

Look at that—while Renomon was still roaring his head off, Shaqite had already adopted a defensive stance, his face tense.

This was deterrence!

After his roar, Renomon looked at Shaqite, whose face was solemn and whose hands were turning white from gripping his staff so tightly. Renomon was overjoyed.

Ye-ge was right indeed. This is battlefield management! As expected of Ye-ge!

“Go get 'em, brother-in-law!” Zhang Ye bellowed from below the stage.

Hearing this, Renomon grinned and flashed him a thumbs-up, indicating he was fully confident!

After both sides signaled they were ready, the referee raised his hand.

“Begin!”

The moment the word left the referee's mouth, Renomon's fists ignited with blazing blue fire.

With the support of the 【Hydrogen-Oxygen Enhancement Formation】, his flame temperature soared even higher, distorting the surrounding air as the temperature on the stage rose rapidly!

In the next instant, Renomon roared and charged straight at Shaqite like a blue flaming meteor.

Shaqite was instantly alarmed.

Although his physical strength was also at the Tier Eight mid stage, he stood no chance against Renomon's Tier Nine mid stage physical power. If Renomon closed the distance, he would definitely be instantly defeated!

Shaqite immediately stomped his foot, retreating rapidly atop a stream of water.

Seeing this, Renomon rejoiced.

Want to run? The stage is only so big, where can you go? Don't forget, I'm a mage too!

Renomon spread his hands, initiating his hydrogen-oxygen enhanced fire magic. Four blue firelines suddenly whipped out; two lashed directly at Shaqite, while the other two extended to the sides of the arena before closing in on the center to trap him.

Shocked by the sight, Shaqite had no time for anything else and immediately cast a defensive spell!

A magic circle rapidly materialized in front of him, and three water sharks surged out, circling him defensively.

The two lashing firelines instantly vaporized the three water sharks into steam, but it bought Shaqite enough time to react. A jet of water surged beneath his feet, instantly sweeping him up into the air.

The other two firelines swept through, slicing the water tornado into three segments and causing it to collapse. Meanwhile, wings of water elements condensed on Shaqite's back, allowing him to hover in the air as he aimed his spear-staff at Renomon.

With a loud bang, a thick water snake surged forth, biting straight toward Renomon.

Seeing this, Renomon laughed heartily. “Perfect!”

The flames on his fists surged dozens of meters high as a booming shout echoed across the arena.

“Lion King Punch!”

A massive blue lion head, spanning a full hundred meters, roared forth. It tore the water snake to shreds and continued flying toward Shaqite with undiminished momentum.

At the sight of this, Shaqite's heart turned cold.

In the next instant, the referee materialized beside him, dispersing the blue lion head with a sweep of his hand before shouting, “Number 2, victory!”