Chapter Six: Meetings of All Parties and the Commencement of Battle

Chapter Six: Meetings and the Commencement of Battle

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Now, the main story begins.

Schuster calmly stowed away the Spark of Paradise, leaving everyone around dumbfounded, then resumed his seat and continued playing his PSP, reaching new heights of shamelessness.

Half an hour later, three gigantic airships descended from the sky.

“They’ve finally arrived! I’ve waited long enough for these guys!” Silva, the head of the Martial Arts Department, was the first to leap from his chair.

“Line up for the welcome!” Seras’s sweet, melodic voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

The members of the Martial Arts Department formed a neat row, placing their left hands on their right shoulders.

“So this is the full strength of White Emperor Academy? Looks like my odds are pretty good!” Gates, who had spoken earlier, eyed the front row with disdain.

“Looks like the prize is ours for sure this time!” Czech and Fran, just off the ship, glanced at the front ranks of White Emperor Academy and scoffed.

“Welcome to White Emperor Academy! I am Seras, the Icebound,” Seras floated from the back to the front.

“It’s been years, Seras. Still the same as ever,” the Pope of Light addressed Seras with a forced smile.

“And you’ve gotten even older, old man!” Seras retorted in kind.

“Heh, bickering right off the bat. You two haven’t changed a bit over the years,” said the Principal of Phoenix Dance Academy as she approached.

“You have the nerve to talk, you ancient hag!” ×2

“You two dare call me that? One’s a fossil, the other’s a perennial little girl!” The Phoenix Dance Academy principal, unable to keep her composure after being shouted at, joined the fray. In truth, she looked quite young—about twenty-seven or twenty-eight—a paragon of elegance and maturity.

“Principal, shouldn’t you get to business? Now’s not the time for old friends to quarrel!” Elwin, still stern-faced, cut in with a deadly seriousness.

“Uh, what did you all just see?” Seras, the Pope of Light, and the Phoenix Dance Academy principal each turned to their own students.

“Uh, we saw nothing!” ×N

“Alright, the Martial Arts Department and Student Council, organize the visiting students and show them to their lodgings! Everyone else, dismissed!” Seras declared with what she thought was great authority.

“Yes, Principal!” The Martial Arts Department and Student Council members responded in unison and got to work.

“Hey, Sakuya, how strong are those other academies?” Schuster asked idly as he followed Sakuya toward the dormitory.

“Nothing special. None of them are my match anyway,” Sakuya replied with her usual nonchalance.

“Ah, Schuster, your move earlier was so cool!” Somia suddenly darted from nowhere and leapt into Schuster’s arms.

“Ouch, you little rascal! Sneak attack? I’m always the coolest—don’t you know?” Schuster feigned annoyance, pinching Somia’s tiny nose.

“Hmph, you big meanie! Not cool at all, always bullying me!” Somia covered her nose and darted behind Catherine.

“Hehehe,” the group laughed as they returned to the villa.

Thus, the day flew by!

—A dividing line marking the start of the second day—

Boom! Boom! Magical fireworks exploded across the sky. Crowds thronged the area, all eyes fixed on the twenty-square-meter arena at the center. Everything proclaimed what day it was.

“Ugh, so boring. Why is my opponent just another low-level guy?” Schuster looked at the fifth-rank knight from the Paladin Academy with frustration—he’d lost count of how many such opponents he’d faced that day.

“Don’t underestimate me!” The knight, clearly angered, shouted.

“Boring. Magic? This is not the place for such arts!” Schuster formed a seal with one hand and simply turned his back.

“There it is again! Schuster’s infamous ‘Taunting Back’ skill! Every time he uses it, his opponent rushes off the stage in a rage! What a divine technique! If I had it, I’d compete too!” The announcer worked the crowd, excitedly explaining Schuster’s mysterious move, which baffled everyone, referring to it as ‘Taunting Back’—and sweating at its effectiveness.

“Damn it, that move again! I’ll cut you down!” Unable to endure the contempt any longer, the knight went berserk, charging at Schuster’s back…

“Wah—thud!” The Paladin, certain he was about to strike Schuster, felt elated, thinking just half a step more and he’d slay the infuriating foe. But idealism is beautiful, reality harsh. Suddenly, the ground vanished beneath him, and with a resounding thud, he toppled out of the arena!

“The victor—Schuster Redona!” The announcer shouted into the microphone.

“Such dull matches. Can’t I get a more formidable opponent?” Schuster sighed, feeling his life was as lonely as snow.

“Young master, you dropped your dignity!” Sakuya appeared beside Schuster.

“That sort of thing is useless anyway—what, am I supposed to save it for having children?” Schuster waved it off dismissively.

“Alright, let’s proceed to the next match! Next up: Sakuya Izayoi of White Emperor Academy vs. XX of Paladin Academy. Let’s see what she’s made of! It’s Sakuya’s first match today—as Schuster’s maid, just how powerful is she?” The announcer was especially excited, as it was his first time hosting such a spectacle.

“Good luck, Sakuya!” Schuster called out.

“Yes, young master. I won’t let you down!” Sakuya gave a graceful maid’s salute.

“Sakuya Izayoi, head maid under Young Master Schuster, reporting!” Sakuya announced to her opponent.

“Vice-captain Fang of the XX squad, Knights of Light, reporting!” came the reply.

“Both have declared their names. Let the match begin!” The announcer declared.

The battle began with the opponent charging straight at Sakuya.

“Wow! XX launches a direct assault, charging in with unstoppable momentum!” The announcer howled. “What’s this? Sakuya appears right behind XX, kicking him off the edge of the arena! Such astonishing speed—clean, decisive, and perfectly graceful—she truly deserves her title as the ‘Perfect, Dashing Maid.’” The announcer was beside himself with excitement.

“How is this possible? Spatial fluctuation!” All three eighth-rank powerhouses in attendance felt the same shock.

“Who is that child? Clearly just seventh-rank, but able to wield space itself. Seras, your academy is full of hidden talent!” The Phoenix Dance Academy principal exclaimed in surprise.

“I have no idea! She’s just Schuster’s maid—I never paid much attention. Who knew she was this capable!” Seras was equally stunned.

“How can this be? Must I use that to obtain the crystal?” The Pope of Light now struggled internally, weighing whether to unleash his trump card.

Below the arena, Schuster handed Sakuya an icy red tea. If anyone questioned where it came from, he’d shout that the system was all-powerful and that would be the end of it.

“Sakuya, you fought with such flair, hahaha,” Schuster was delighted.

“Thank you for your praise. Clearing your enemies from your path is my duty,” Sakuya straightened her slightly rumpled maid uniform and spoke.

“Come, let’s return to the waiting room. We have no more matches this morning,” Schuster said, taking Sakuya’s hand and heading off. Since they shared a master-servant relationship, Schuster often relied on Sakuya, and their frequent physical contact meant neither blushed anymore. Of course, every morning while dressing Schuster, Sakuya would discreetly wipe away the mysterious red liquid that trickled from her nose, unseen by the obliviously natural Schuster.

“You two, take these scrolls. If you encounter that girl Sakuya Izayoi, use them immediately—understand?” In a corner, the Pope of Light handed two scrolls to Czech and Fran.

“Huh? Is Sakuya Izayoi really that strong? We’re supposed to use these the moment we see her?” Fran asked, puzzled.

“If you don’t want to be annihilated instantly, do as I say!” The Pope of Light spoke with grave seriousness.

“Yes, Your Holiness!” Czech and Fran saluted in the manner of temple knights.

“Alright, go on and finish your respective matches!” The Pope departed after his instructions.

“The next match: Fran of Paladin Academy versus Gao Ji of White Emperor Academy!” The announcer continued to energize the crowd.

“Captain of the Black Knights?” Fran didn’t even glance at Gao Ji as he stepped onto the stage.

“Your attitude really irritates me!” Gao Ji, angered by Fran’s disdainful gaze, snapped.

“I’ll fight you with one hand,” Fran, a seventh-rank, looked down on Gao Ji, who was at the peak of sixth rank. Both Fran and his brother Czech were considered geniuses at Paladin Academy, always held in high esteem, viewing others from their lofty positions.

“Don’t look down on me! Take this—Earth-Shattering Slash!” Thick, pure earth-type battle energy enveloped Gao Ji as he swung his sword at Fran.

“Trash is trash. Grand Prophecy—Imprison! Reflect!” Fran, confident in his abilities, unleashed Grand Prophecy, instantly reflecting Gao Ji’s attack and binding him, leaving him unable to move. Gao Ji was bounced out of the arena by his own attack.

PS: Sorry, sorry, got carried away playing games—NBA2KOL is just too fun, I forgot all about updating!