Chapter 175: Three Women Vie for Supremacy, Who Will Be Queen
Although Dark had lowered his voice, the amplifier in the Card Table still projected it loudly.
Emma was startled to realize that she had been so engrossed in mural research lately that she had neglected the most fundamental summoning technique practice!
Although 8-second summoning was already fast enough for a junior mage of her age, it was only on par with Virt Gold, far from Dark Demon!
By the time she completed two summons, Dark was already on the verge of completing a sacrificial summoning technique.
The gap in fundamental abilities between them was already like a chasm!
With so little skill, how could she talk about 'winning it back'?
The thought of her opening declaration, spoken out of confidence in her deck, filled Emma with endless shame.
She remained on the dueling platform for a considerable time.
When she finally came to her senses, the opposing dueling platform was already empty.
As soon as Dark stepped off the stage, he was surrounded by Noble House students, who congratulated him on reaching the finals as the top seed of the winner's bracket.
After politely responding, he led the Noble House students to Arena ⑨.
Dianna was here dueling against contestant No. ⑦, Justin Wayne.
Now that Dark and Emma's duel had concluded, Dianna and Wayne's duel seemed to have just begun, with both sides having two Magic Spirits on the field.
Wayne's Magic Spirits seemed to be from the Knight series: one human knight, one orc knight, both combat-type Magic Spirits.
Meanwhile, Dianna's field featured [Bear Spirit] and [Earth Bear].
[Bear Spirit], bolstered by [Bear's Strength], gained incredibly furious power!
But Wayne seemed to have used a special Magic Card to immobilize it, so Dianna could only barely cope using [Earth Bear].
However, with the third bear summoned, [Earth Bear], relying on [Bear's Bond], simultaneously gained 600 points in Magic Power, Attack, and Defense!
This allowed it, as a two-star, to gain powerful stats that even three-star Magic Spirits couldn't achieve, and successfully defeat Wayne's human knight.
Afterward, [Bear Spirit]'s immobilization was finally lifted.
Amidst the roars of the three bears, Wayne's third urgently summoned Magic Spirit also failed to take effect, and was completely overwhelmed by Dianna.
The match eventually entered the End Phase.
Emma, who dropped from the winner's bracket, would duel the winner between Dianna and Sara. The ultimate winner would then challenge the winner's bracket champion—Dark Demon—once more!
Loser's Bracket:
Arena ①: No. ② vs No. ⑨
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Student No. ④ from the Fool's House, who had persisted until now relying on numerous white cards, finally faced defeat under Sara Swati's strong offense.
The competition, at this point, entered the decisive stage of the loser's bracket.
Dark then realized his initial calculation was slightly off; there would be an extra thirty-minute interval, but it was harmless.
While preparing for the next round of matches, Dianna visibly grew nervous.
She seemed particularly eager to fight her way back to the finals and contend for the championship with Dark once more.
But Sara Swati's deck was stronger than expected, and her summoning speed was even faster than Emma's and Virt's, making her second only to Dark among the first-year students.
In her duel with Dark, Sara had only used a targeted deck; she herself possessed powerful three-star Magic Cards that she hadn't been able to summon.
Dianna's strongest combination was [Bear Spirit] + [Bear's Strength], and if [Bear Spirit] were to be restricted by [Sphinx Cat]'s 'Shadow Stomp,' her combat power would be greatly reduced.
With both sides' trump cards now exposed, some outcomes were predictable.
Half an hour later, both contestants, having replenished their magic, entered the arena.
At this moment, apart from Professor Jones who was still refereeing, the other three professors were free.
They watched the duel from outside the field, none of them particularly optimistic about Dianna's chances.
The result was as expected.
Dianna's journey ended here, as she left the arena having placed fourth among first-year students.
The next round.
Emma Metis VS Sara Swati!
This match received no less attention than the winner's bracket semifinals.
Because there was only one arena, all first-year students gathered here.
Emma, as the representative of the Knight House, would contend for victory against Sara, the representative of the Magic House!
The Knight House and Magic House, which usually had little interaction, suddenly became intensely competitive.
Dark and Dianna, who had already shaken off her disappointment, stood together, watching the match as spectators.
Both Emma and Sara had been sent to the loser's bracket by him, and neither had been able to use all their Magic Cards in their duels against him, so watching this duel could also serve as intelligence gathering before the finals.
Dark watched intently.
Dianna cheerfully asked, 'Dark, who do you think has a better chance between the two of them?'
The difference in summoning speed between them was limited; while Sara was faster, it wasn't to a transformative degree.
And Magic Cards each had their own strengths.
Thus, it was truly difficult to judge.
Dianna pouted and said, 'I think Sara will win.'
Dark asked curiously, 'Why?'
Dianna: 'Because she won against me!'
Dark swallowed.
Rose teased from the side, 'But Dianna, in the first in-class competition, Sara was eliminated by Emma.'
Dianna: 'Things are different now!'
'Contestant No. ⑤, Emma Metis, and Contestant No. ⑨, Sara Swati, as the top students of their respective academies, are especially worthy of emulation in their attitude towards learning. Their progress to this point is entirely the fruit of their efforts and the manifestation of their knowledge. I hope you understand that while Magisters do not have as high a requirement for knowledge as ancient magic, it is still a scholarly profession. Both contestants, please enter the arena!'
Professor Jones's voice echoed through the venue.
Emma and Sara each ascended the dueling platform.
'Hey, I heard you lost in just one round?'
After activating her Card Table, Sara casually remarked.
Emma's expression immediately changed upon hearing that—it was highly effective!
Looking back, she seemed to have regarded Dark as a rival since the beginning of the semester, yet so far she had only been a step ahead in mural research, and that was when he wasn't even focused on it.
The flaws she realized in the previous round's match, she would diligently work to correct in the future.
But none of this had anything to do with the woman before her!
Emma replied somewhat angrily, 'I lost in the second round, but didn't you lose in the third? After I defeat you, I'll return to the finals and contend with him for victory again!'
Sara, however, smiled charmingly, 'What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing!'
The atmosphere between them dropped to freezing point, and a duel was imminent!
Sara's lips, however, subtly curved upwards.
But in reality, both had drawn the Magic Cards they most desired.
[Card Name: Death Mummy]
[Type: Spirit Card]
[Level: ★★★]
[Species: Undead]
[Attribute: Dark]
[Magic Power: 1000]
[Attack: 100]
[Defense: 1600]
[Special Move: Feign Death]
It was a mummy completely wrapped in snow-white bandages!
Its Special Move, [Feign Death], had been used in previous battles.
It embodied 'deathless persistence'—it had two lives!
[Card Name: Golden Beast]
[Level: ★★★]
[Species: Fairy]
[Attribute: Light]
[Magic Power: 1000]
[Attack: 1300]
[Defense: 1500]
[Special Move: Golden Parasitism]
The Golden Beast, suddenly spreading its wings and soaring high, with a single flap, conjured a strong wind, instantly transforming into a golden arrow, shooting straight forth!
It hid in the corner of the field, facing away, turtling with its head tucked in!
Pulling the lever would make the numbers spin like a slot machine, from 0 to 9.
Once it landed on '777,' one would gain good luck.
[Defense: 700]
[Special Move: 777]
[Preparation Phase][30s]
Both sides drew cards simultaneously!
Emma pursed her lips.
[Battle Phase][30s]
'Magic Guide Summon!'
Sara drew a Magic Card, holding it high in her hand.
Her summoning speed was faster than Emma's, instantly gaining an overwhelming advantage in momentum.
Appearing in the blue side's Summoning Zone was a Magic Spirit that hadn't been summoned in her duel with Dark!
→[Death Mummy]!
The Death Mummy stood a full two meters tall, but its arms were tightly bound to its sides with bandages, its face only revealing a sliver at the eyes, and its feet were tightly bound together, allowing it only to hop with bent knees, possessing no attack power whatsoever.
At the cost of only 100 Attack, the Death Mummy gained a Defense value exceeding 1500.
Upon its first appearance.
The two bandages hanging from the Death Mummy's abdomen immediately began to move.
This was its only means of attack, but its attack strength was roughly equivalent to a one-star Eevee's massage.
Before everyone's eyes, this mummy surprisingly used its bandages to protect the Magic Orb floating in the air, wrapping it up and pressing it into its own abdomen.
Its belly was originally distended, but with each press downwards, it actually caved inwards.
More than half of the Magic Orb was thus pressed into its belly!
A few more wraps of those two bandages completely secured the Magic Orb!
Then,
It suddenly turned around and swallowed the Magic Orb!
This was Sara's other tactical system—the Turtle Fortification Tactic!
Relying on the Death Mummy with its two lives, she completely protected the Magic Orb.
If the opponent couldn't break through the Death Mummy's defense, then Sara would be unassailable.
On the other side.
Emma was slightly slower, but she also summoned her Magic Spirit.
It was the Golden Beast that had appeared before!
The Golden Beast's Attack was only 1300, completely unable to penetrate the flawless Death Mummy.
Emma's expression slightly darkened; she didn't attack rashly, but silently watched the cooldown.
Both sides appeared very composed.
A few seconds later.
Sara began to summon and activate her second Magic Card.
It was a [Sphinx Cat]!
The appearance of the black hairless cat with golden eyes drew cheers from the Magic House students who were familiar with it.
And Emma, after that, also summoned her second Magic Spirit.
That was not [Gold Coin Bug], but another [777 Treasure Chest Monster]!
Unlike the common Treasure Chest Monsters found throughout dungeons.
[777 Treasure Chest Monster] had a lever on its side and a frame on its lid that could display three numbers in a row.
Pulling the lever would make the numbers spin like a slot machine, from 0 to 9.
Once it landed on '777,' one would gain good luck.
[Card Name: 777 Treasure Chest Monster]
[Level: ★★]
[Species: Fairy]
[Attribute: Normal Type]
[Magic Power: 700]
[Attack: 700]
[Defense: 700]
[Special Move: 777]
As soon as the 777 Treasure Chest Monster appeared, it automatically pulled down its lever.
The three numbers on the treasure chest's lid immediately began to spin.
→[233]
The Treasure Chest Monster showed no change whatsoever.
A few seconds of silence.
It suddenly turned around and swallowed the Magic Orb!
The 777 Treasure Chest Monster didn't possess the excellent defensive capabilities of the Death Mummy, but it could run and jump!
The first round concluded with the standoff between the four Magic Spirits.
Both sides, surprisingly, made no offensive moves.
But this was more like the calm before the storm.
[Second Round][30s]
Draw card!
'Here it comes!'
Emma's eyes gleamed.
Among her two new hand cards, one was surprisingly a [Gold Coin Bug]!
She began to summon without the slightest hesitation.
The winged gold coin wobbled out.
'Golden Parasitism!'
Six small mechanical legs extended from beneath the Gold Coin Bug, 'creaking' as they plunged into the Golden Beast's spine!
Then, the parasitism began!
'Roar!'
Accompanying the Golden Beast's proud roar, liquid metal emerged from both sides of its body, forming thicker golden armor on its frame, and then a pair of golden wings violently spread open!
[Magic Power: 1000→1300]
[Attack: 1300]
[Defense: 1500→1800]
The Golden Beast, suddenly spreading its wings and soaring high, with a single flap, conjured a strong wind, instantly transforming into a golden arrow, shooting straight forth!
Sara flicked her fingertip.
In her Summoning Zone, the newly summoned [Anubis Hound] let out a fierce growl, and the shadow beneath its feet immediately spread rapidly towards the Treasure Chest Monster.
Shadow first, stealthy assault—that was [Shadow Hunt]!
The Anubis Hound's body surged forth along the shadow, its sharp claws slicing across in an instant, leaving three extremely distinct claw marks on the 777 Treasure Chest Monster's body!
The 777 Treasure Chest Monster's Magic Power immediately dropped by approximately 200 points.
It was only then.
That the Golden Beast finally flew above the Death Mummy.
But it didn't attack with claws or fangs; instead, it gripped the Death Mummy's neck, attempting to drag it into the sky!
However, the [Sphinx Cat] arrived in an instant, stepping on the Golden Beast's shadow!
The Golden Beast froze.
Despite this.
Emma did not panic.
Sara's [Sphinx Cat] had been revealed once before; Emma was already prepared.
The summoning speed of both sides differed by only a little over a second.
Including actions like thinking, drawing cards, and the appearance time of Magic Spirits during summoning, such a small difference was almost negligible.
For her second summon in the second round, Emma used [Golden Casket]!
The Sphinx Cat was immediately drawn by the golden light emanating from the Casket, its eyes transforming into the ∮ symbol representing holy coins.
For this round only.
The Sphinx Cat, under Emma's control, interrupted its 'Shadow Stomp.'
The now-freed Golden Beast tore it apart with one claw!
The Sphinx Cat was left with only a sliver of health!
But a blood-red magic circle suddenly appeared beneath its feet, instantly absorbing even that sliver of health.
The Sphinx Cat dissipated into light and retreated from the field.
From within the blood-red magic circle, a grayish-white distorted shadow shot out, burrowing directly into the Golden Beast's body.
The mechanical Golden Beast actually let out a pained wail!
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