By the lake.
Lin Yu stood at the water's edge, staff in hand, warily observing his surroundings.
He knew his position was exposed.
On the map, the other four people could definitely see his light point.
“I need to move quickly...”
Just as he was about to leave, a figure stepped out from the forest.
Lin Yu froze for a moment, then tightened his grip on his staff.
“Lilith?”
“Hello there.”
Lilith walked to the lakeshore, crouched down, and idly rippled the water with her hand.
Lin Yu took a deep breath and asked, “Did you come looking for me because you want to team up?”
“Team up?”
Lilith thought about it. She still needed to observe the divine power inside Karl.
“Sure, why not?”
Lin Yu’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Mm.”
Lilith stood up and wiped the water from her hands. “However, I have one condition.”
“What condition?”
“If we run into Karl, you help me hold him off for ten seconds.”
Lin Yu: “...”
His mouth twitched. “Lilith, are you joking?”
“Karl is at the Rank 4 peak, and I’m only at the Rank 2 peak. Me, hold him off for ten seconds? He could kill me three times over in that time.”
“Is that so?”
Lilith shrugged.
“Then forget it.”
She turned around, preparing to stride away.
“Wait!”
Lin Yu called out to her. “Why do you want to hold Karl off?”
“Because I want to see if I can launch a sneak attack on him.”
Lilith looked back, flashing a brilliant smile.
“If the sneak attack succeeds, I might be able to eliminate him directly.”
Lilith recalled her previous discovery. When she was near him, the divine power inside Karl seemed to be hiding from her, which was likely why she hadn't noticed it initially. Thus, she planned to let someone else engage Karl while she observed from the sidelines.
Lin Yu: “...”
He suddenly felt that this girl named Lilith might have something wrong with her head.
Sneak attack a Rank 4 peak?
And “might be able to eliminate him directly”?
Do you think Karl is a wooden target?!
He sighed. “Lilith, I suggest you...”
Before he could finish his sentence...
Suddenly...
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion echoed from the distance.
Both of them turned their heads simultaneously.
They saw a distant mountain peak explode.
A massive pillar of light soared into the sky.
Within that pillar of light, a figure was faintly visible.
It was Karl.
He stood in the center of the light pillar, arms spread wide, roaring toward the sky.
“Hahahaha!”
His wild laughter could be heard even from several kilometers away.
“You ants!”
Karl’s voice, amplified by magic, echoed throughout the Mirage Corridor.
“Get out here and surrender on your own!”
“Otherwise—”
He raised his hand and slammed it downward toward the ground.
RUMBLE!
Another thunderous boom followed.
The entire mountain peak began to collapse from its midpoint.
Rocks and soil poured down like a waterfall.
Dust and smoke filled the air.
“...”
Lin Yu’s face turned completely pale.
This kind of power...
Was this really something a Rank 4 peak could possess?! It was almost at the level of Rank 6!
He turned to look at Lilith.
However, he found that Lilith was stroking her chin, watching the distant Karl with a serious expression.
“Hmm? The power certainly exceeds my expectations. It’s definitely beyond the scope of Rank 4.”
Lin Yu: “...”
He suddenly felt that he really shouldn't have participated in this competition.
These two...
Each one was more abnormal than the last.
...
In the spectator stands.
When Karl blew up the mountain peak and issued his public provocation, everyone was stunned.
“This... isn't this too arrogant?! He’s provoking everyone?!”
“He has the strength to back it up!”
“A Rank 4 peak... truly terrifying...”
“What will the other contestants do? Team up?”
Amidst the discussions, Vice Principal Glen looked at Principal Aurora and smiled.
“Old man Aurora, this Karl from your academy certainly has a lot of guts.”
Aurora stroked his beard. “It’s normal for young people to be a bit flashy.”
“However... being too flashy can sometimes lead to losses.”
Glen raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You think someone can threaten Karl?”
Aurora smiled and didn't answer.
...
Inside the Mirage Corridor.
Karl stood atop the ruins of the collapsed mountain peak, looking down.
“Still not coming out?”
He gave a cold snort. “Then don’t blame me for being unkind.”
He raised his hand, targeted the nearest light point on the map, and began flying in that direction. Once he arrived, he raised his hand and fired a pillar of light forward.
Boom!
The target was Wright.
Wright, who was hiding in the shadows of some rocks, had a change in expression.
“I’ve been spotted!”
Without hesitation, his figure blurred as he dashed out from the shadows!
Whoosh!
The light pillar missed, shattering the nearby rocks into pieces.
Wright appeared dozens of meters away, rapier in hand, warily watching Karl in the sky.
“Fast reactions.”
Karl descended from the sky and stood before Wright, thinking to himself, “Damn it, I used too much mana just to look cool while blowing up that mountain. But it should still be enough to clear the field.”
“Are you from the Twilight Academy of the Royal Capital?”
Wright nodded. “I am.”
“Rank 2 mid-stage. Not bad for making it this far.”
Karl raised his hand. “I’ll give you a chance.”
“Surrender on your own and get out.”
Wright gripped his rapier tighter. “And if I say no?”
“Then...”
Karl’s eyes turned cold. The moment the words left his mouth, his figure blurred and he vanished from the spot.
The next second—
Bang!
Wright didn't even see what happened before he was sent flying backward!
“Pfft—”
A mouthful of blood sprayed out.
He crashed onto the ground dozens of meters away, with at least three broken ribs.
“...”
Wright struggled to crawl back up.
But Karl had already walked up to him.
“I gave you a chance.”
Karl raised his foot, preparing to stomp down on Wright’s head.
“Stop!”
A furious shout came from the side.
Mo Fan rushed over, shouldering his greatsword.
“Karl! It’s just a competition, there’s no need for lethal force!”
Karl turned and glanced at him.
“Rank 3 early stage?”
“I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in a Royal Capital prison; as long as he doesn't die, it's fine.”
Karl smiled, his tone suddenly turning cold. “Unless, you want to try your luck too?”
Mo Fan gritted his teeth. “I just can't stand your style!”
“Can't stand it?”
Karl sneered again. He raised his hand toward Mo Fan and threw a punch through the air.
Boom!
A fist imprint whistled forth!
Mo Fan’s expression changed. He gripped his sword with both hands and slashed down with all his might!
Clang!
Mo Fan and his sword were both knocked back, sliding over a dozen meters. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
“...”
He looked down at his trembling hands.
Just one punch...
And he had almost lost his grip on his weapon.
Was this the strength of a Rank 4 peak?
Karl stopped looking at him, turned around, and continued walking toward Wright.
But just then...
Lilith suddenly appeared, blocking the way in front of Wright.
She looked at Karl. “Hey. It’s just a competition, no need to be so serious, right?”
Karl stopped and looked at her.
“Lilith?”
He smiled. “What, you want to save him?”
Rate on N.U.
