"What's wrong?"
Claudia noticed the micro-expressions of Erend and the other two and asked.
Erend did not speak.
On the contrary, Jenni Ortega spoke directly.
"What's the situation in Alekante?"
Jenni's face was somewhat unhappy.
The same was true for Butler next to her, his brows furrowed.
Claudia understood immediately.
As the student council president of Durmstrang, Claudia was not just a decoration. Butler and Jenni had been secretly attacked many times before they formed a team and were forced to be involved in the incident. She had already found out the reasons and process behind it.
So, she knew that the person who secretly attacked Jenni and involved Butler in the incident was actually instructed by the Alekante Research Institute.
In other words, Butler and Jenni had a grudge against the Alekante Research Institute.
So, Claudia told them what she knew.
"As far as I know, there are no particularly strong and outstanding players from Alekante participating in this Phoenix Star Martial Festival. Not to mention the top 12 players in the first rankings, there are very few participants listed." Claudia paused slightly, then continued, "However, this year's Phoenix Star Martial Festival may undergo some special changes."
Except for Erend, the rest of the group was immediately attracted by this statement.
"Special changes?"
Natasha looked a little confused.
"This is not strange," Claudia explained. "Because the Star Martial Festival is a world-class large-scale event, its purpose is to attract global attention. The operating committee responsible for the festival usually tries new measures to stir up excitement for the event."
"For this reason, every time the Star Martial Festival is held, there may be changes in the rules or special trials."
"If these attempts benefit the festival, they become permanent."
"If they prove detrimental, they are abandoned."
Claudia had clearly received some insider information but was hesitant to reveal it outright.
"This time, the situation has changed in the Phoenix Star Martial Festival. Alekante is likely to be the biggest beneficiary. Even if there are no outstanding participants, you'd better not be too careless."
Hearing this, Butler and Jenni frowned and fell silent.
"What about Leiwolf?" Natasha asked weakly. "Are there any players from Leiwolf we need to pay attention to?"
"Of course," Claudia nodded. "In this Phoenix Star Martial Festival, besides Alekante, the one who needs the most attention is Leiwolf."
Claudia enlarged one of the many windows.
The next second, everyone saw a profile appear.
It was a girl with a fierce expression, exuding an aura of intimidation, like a crime syndicate boss.
"Charlotte, ranked third in Leiwolf Black Academy, also known as the 'Vampire Violent Princess.' She is the highest-ranked student in this Phoenix Star Martial Festival aside from Britain Company."
Claudia's voice reached everyone's ears.
"She wields the Pure Star Brilliance Weapon—Tyrant Blood Scythe. Although she ranks lower than Britain Company, if she were in Beauxbaton, she could compete for the first place."
Claudia's words made everyone's faces turn solemn.
Each academy had its own strengths, and even Butler, who had only recently arrived, had a solid understanding of them.
Durmstrang's overall strength was comparatively weaker than that of other academies. If compared with George, it wasn't bad. The nature of this academy meant it didn't produce many elite fighters. Even if there were a few, their numbers were limited. Against George, Durmstrang had a slight advantage.
Alekante Research Institute was another potential competitor. It was a research-driven institution, specializing in advanced technology. Students used Heavy Colour weapons with superior performance, but given its academic focus, it didn't necessarily produce stronger fighters than Durmstrang.
However, against the likes of Saint Galledovas Academy, the Seventh Kailong Academy, and Leiwolf Black Academy, Durmstrang paled in comparison.
These academies had distinct strengths.
Saint Galledovas Academy was the only aristocratic academy, emphasizing strict discipline, rules, and loyalty. Swordsmanship was their primary focus, and their students trained rigorously, producing numerous powerful swordsmen.
Seventh Kailong Academy was the largest among the six academies, incorporating a primary school system to nurture talent from an early age. With an emphasis on martial arts, they had also mastered the universalization of sensory abilities, known as "Star Fairy Art," making their students exceptionally skilled.
Leiwolf Black Academy, however, was entirely different. It thrived on chaos, fostering a culture of duels and survival of the fittest. Students who endured there were all battle-hardened. Many had criminal backgrounds and ties to the underground world, making them ruthless competitors.
Given these circumstances, it was no surprise that these three academies consistently dominated the Star Martial Festival rankings.
Charlotte, ranked among the top three in Leiwolf Black Academy, was no small threat. If placed in Beauxbaton, she could easily rival Natasha. It was no exaggeration to say she could compete for first place.
"Tyrant Blood Scythe…" Jenni mused. "That's the Pure Star Brilliance Weapon that has surfaced many times in past festivals, right?"
"Yes," Claudia confirmed. "This Pure Star Brilliance Weapon is highly versatile, meaning many people have used it before. It is also extremely powerful, making it one of the most well-known weapons of its kind."
"But…"
Claudia glanced at Erend, who remained silent, and smiled knowingly.
"But this weapon has an enormous energy cost. Very few people can utilize it to its full potential. If the 'Vampire Violent Princess' can harness its true power, she will be one of your strongest opponents."
The information also mentioned that Charlotte's partner was an unranked student—her younger sister—who had mediocre abilities and posed no real threat.
Even so, Claudia believed Charlotte was the most dangerous competitor from Leiwolf Black Academy, which spoke volumes about her strength.
Everyone's expressions grew heavier.
Only Erend remained silent throughout.
Staring at the fierce-looking woman in the display, Erend's eyes flickered slightly.
"If I remember correctly, she was specially sent by Leiwolf to target the user of the Black Furnace Demon Sword, right?"
In the original scenario, Charlotte participated in the Phoenix Star Martial Festival specifically to deal with Butler.
So... who was her target this time?
"It seems I'll need to find an opportunity to confirm this," Erend thought.
As Erend pondered, Claudia concluded her briefing on the strongest competitors from each academy.
"I'll send you all more detailed reports later," Claudia said. "This is all I can do for you. The rest depends on your efforts."
Everyone nodded in response.
...…
A few days later, Durmstrang Academy officially entered its summer break.
However, Asterisk became increasingly lively.
Tourists started pouring in, and the city's atmosphere grew more intense.
The Phoenix Star Martial Festival was about to begin.
It started quietly but with undeniable anticipation.
!
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