Linda was very strong.
A Soul Tier Layer 4 warrior could practically be appointed as a brigade general on the battlefield. In certain D-grade adventure worlds as defined by the Gods, even the so-called Demon King was only at Soul Tier Layer 4.
On top of that, her combat experience far surpassed that of the others.
Xuefei always thought this before every match, yet her opponents without exception never survived more than a few rounds. The gap between Soul Tier Layer 2 and Soul Tier Layer 4 was stark, but it meant nothing against Xuefei’s arsenal of tricks.
Linda was the first competitor to hold out for more than three minutes.
The two of them remained locked in a tense stalemate until, at last, Xuefei exploited the Karat Clan’s glaring weakness—the blind spot created by their massive horns—and struck at Linda’s unguarded flank to shatter her defenses.
It was a fight as visually spectacular as it was thrilling, captivating every eye in the arena. The venerable elders from Ephise Academy seated in the stands let out unanimous sighs of admiration.
The luxurious skybox drifted through the air, shifting angles for the best views. Mages operating the Image Crystals occasionally murmured incantations. Outside the arena, reporters from the magazines fidgeted impatiently, eager to splash this miraculous girl’s story across every front page.
One woman among them shot to her feet in excitement.
“Miss Clark?”
The maid behind her addressed the esteemed lady.
“It’s nothing. I’m just a little worked up.”
She settled back into the red chair, resting her hands on the table and clasping them together.
She was a palace maid, one who served the Evil Dragon Guards—a cadre of mighty Demons dedicated to the Evil Dragon herself. With less than a month until she returned to her duties, she had heard tell of an exhilarating friendly tournament in Arios Town. Dressed in an elegant black gown, she had hurried to the venue.
She smoothed her pale pink tresses, the beauty mark at the corner of her eye standing out all the more strikingly.
The silver-haired girl struck many as oddly familiar, though no one could place her. Some speculated she was Arios Town’s newest sensation—a monster girl born from some crawling beast that had sprouted wings after absorbing vast quantities of Demonish qi.
Only someone who had served in the palace could sense that telltale aura.
Her wings were unmistakably Dragon Wings, as were her tail and horns.
But veiled by Illusion Magic, no Demon who had never laid eyes on the Evil Dragon could possibly mistake her for Dragon Clan.
“The Evil Dragon’s daughter? No wonder she’s so formidable. But where are Lady Xuefei and Lady Leia? Has she concealed her presence?”
“You’ve had it rough, Miss Clark.”
A tall woman strode in from beyond the skybox door. Her long robe clung to her curves, its high slits accentuating her shapely legs. A cluster of deep blue flowers adorned her chest, barely containing her ample bosom. Mysterious gray hair veiled half her face, lending her an air of profound enigma. Like Miss Clark, she was a demon, complete with horns and a razor-sharp tail.
She removed her hat and plopped down casually on the opposite side of the table. The maid gave a slight nod, shut the door, and left the two ladies to converse in private.
“Miss Shining Mage?”
“Clark, sorry it’s been so long since I visited. You’ve slimmed down, haven’t you?”
“You’re too kind,” Clark sighed. “I was just excited and came to watch this match in particular. And you, Miss Shining Mage? How is your student faring?”
Clark lifted the teapot and poured from the nearby serving cart into a porcelain cup for the woman, who offered an awkward smile in return.
“Just call me Schneirak. You never pulled rank like that when we were kids. And now that you’re a palace maid, your position outranks mine—careful, or people might get the wrong idea~”
“My apologies, Schneirak. I suppose I got a bit carried away…”
Schneirak let out a sigh.
“Mia’s as stubborn as ever. My power alone isn’t enough to sway her…”
“If Mia faces her in the finals, what do you think will happen?”
“…” Schneirak fell silent. Her smile faded as she stared vacantly into the distance at Tilly, who had just cut down her foe and was basking in the crowd’s adulation.
It was a long while before she spoke.
“She’d take a hard hit, I imagine. After all, Mia’s never had anything like this.”
“I hope this fight helps her discover her sense of self… her reason for being.”
…
“I accept my defeat wholeheartedly, but my devotion to Miss Tilly remains unshakable for all eternity. Please, grant me the chance to challenge you again.”
She had poured tremendous effort into mimicking Tilly’s looks.
Xuefei had no intention of speculating what might happen if she revealed her true face—the one that so effortlessly charmed women. Would it drive these admirers into an even greater frenzy?
“If the opportunity arises.”
Xuefei sensed something amiss and quickly added:
“Right, you must confirm any duels with me in advance. If I’m not willing, I’ll shut you out completely.”
“Understood, Miss Tilly.”
Linda bowed politely and took her leave.
Cheers, applause, words of praise, declarations of pursuit and admiration—there were countless voices like these.
This seemed to be the “honor” that so many people chased after their entire lives. The classmates Xuefei had defeated felt it even more keenly. If she were truly cold-blooded and heartless, she wouldn’t give a damn about their feelings.
But when exactly had it been…
Once, back in the Human World, Xuefei had taken part in a competition just like this.
It was to select the finest members of the Hero Party—in essence, a test to see if the powers of those chosen ones measured up. Had she been eliminated there, or performed poorly, she would have missed out entirely on the path her life had taken.
What if she, who never set out on the Hero’s journey, had simply wandered the world with the Holy Sword in hand? What might have become of her?
By that time, she had already met Leia.
The approach of her next opponent snapped Xuefei out of her reverie, forcing her to shove those irrelevant thoughts aside. She raised her wooden sword.
With a slight bow, her striking black hair curled faintly at the ends. Her slender, girlish figure was at odds with the solemn, utterly emotionless expression on her face.
She wore the academy’s black-and-white uniform, her legs beneath the short skirt sheathed snugly in black thigh-high stockings against the chill.
Xuefei felt as if she were facing a mirror image of Laer. But Laer at least tried to convey her hyper-rational thoughts through all sorts of bizarre expressions, whereas this girl’s icy demeanor wore no mask at all.
The air itself seemed to plunge below freezing.
At that moment, she spoke.
“…I’m Mia.”
“Tilly.”
Just then, a fluffy little tail swished twice, revealing the white fur inside her black ears. Xuefei realized with a start that she was a cat girl.
The Cat Clan apparently hadn’t been swallowed up by the Demon Race. In other words, they were one of the exceedingly rare groups still intact among them.
What’s more, there was a distinct scar ringing the edges of her scarlet pupils.
“Were your eyes injured?”
“Yeah…”
“Did someone bully you?”
Only after the words left her mouth did Xuefei realize how off they sounded.
Had she zoned out for too long? This was the finals!
She had cut through opponent after opponent, claiming the top spot at Ephise Academy—the very pinnacle of the Demon Race.
Taking a closer look, Xuefei understood at once.
This girl was the real deal, no mere show. “Monster” was the word for her. The moment Xuefei laid eyes on her, she knew the legends weren’t exaggerated. Perhaps this young woman’s claim to be the “future Dragon King” wasn’t empty bravado after all.
“Soul Tier Layer 6… Are you really a student at Ephise Academy?”
