She continued evenly, "Caius has already made up his mind. Even if you force him, he won’t destroy his weapon."
"And if you act now, you won’t be able to participate in the next round properly. If Caius turns around and accuses you of deliberately sabotaging his next match, it’ll only cause more trouble."
Zora’s tone was indifferent, yet her reasoning was precise. Soone like Caius, who had already discarded his bottom line, was fully capable of pulling such tricks.
Marcus frowned deeply. "So we just let him play this rogue ga?"
Zora waved her hand lightly. "His mind is already in chaos. Even if he enters the next round, it will be difficult for him to perform well."
She paused, then added calmly, "Besides, he’s already destroyed his own reputation. Compared to that, ruining a weapon is nothing."
If Caius had decisively destroyed his weapon earlier, people might have at least respected him as a man. So might even have looked at him in a new light.
But his current actions had proven one thing beyond doubt.
He was a true villain.
The contempt in everyone’s eyes was far more lethal than any broken weapon.
Alaric Von Seraph spoke up softly, "Zora is right. Marcus, don’t bother with him."
In his heart, his admiration for Zora grew even deeper. Strength, wisdom, composure... she surpassed ordinary people in every aspect. Even when holding an absolute advantage, she remained clear-headed and magnanimous.
Marcus finally understood. He nodded firmly. "I get it."
Reesa and the others exchanged glances, no longer hesitating. One after another, they began attaching the inscriptions Zora had given them to their weapons.
With these inscriptions in hand, they were determined to perform even better in the next round of promotion.
Gerrad glanced at Malrick with a faint smile and spoke unhurriedly, "Vice Principal Malrick, your student... doesn’t seem to have a great character."
At an academy exchange like this, the students were the face of their institutions. Caius’s shaless behavior was no different from slapping Lunar Academy across the face in public.
Such a glaring flaw was sothing Gerrad would naturally never let pass.
Malrick’s expression stiffened. Caius’s actions had truly embarrassed him.
No matter how capable Caius might be, when it ca to character, he was lacking by more than just a little.
Hearing Gerrad’s thinly veiled mockery, irritation surged in Malrick’s heart.
In the past, it had always been him laughing at others. When had the situation reversed like this?
"Vice Principal Gerrad," Malrick said coldly, "if your academy hadn’t played so many tricks, would Caius have ended up in this position? It’s only been three years, and the students of your academy have learned quite a few dirty moves."
Gerrad was not the least bit flustered at those shaless counters. His gentle expression remained unchanged, and the corners of his lips curved faintly. "That can only an one thing," he replied calmly. He’s too stupid."
With that, Gerrad couldn’t even be bothered to continue the conversation. He turned his gaze away, clearly uninterested in arguing further.
Malrick nearly choked on his breath.
Did Gerrad just call his student stupid?
Just as Malrick was about to flare up and argue, Cindral shot him a sharp look from the side, cutting him off before he could speak.
Cindral’s mood was already terrible. This exchange had originally been ant to showcase Thunderclap Academy’s dominance. Instead, the poor showing of Lunar Academy’s students had only highlighted the strength of the college.
The frustration in his chest was obvious.
With Cindral’s warning gaze upon him, Malrick forced himself to swallow his anger. This matter was already Lunar Academy’s fault, and he didn’t dare provoke Thunderclap Academy further.
Nearby, Sebastian and Miel exchanged glances, both unable to hide the smiles in their eyes.
It had been a long ti since they’d felt this satisfied. For years, Wystan and Jorvan had pressed down on them relentlessly. Now, at last, it was their turn to hold their heads high.
Soon, the hour of rest passed.
Cindral rose to his feet, his voice echoing across the arena. "The second round of promotion begins now!"
As soon as the announcent fell, the Spirit Warriors who had advanced, including Zora, stood up one after another and turned toward the competition platforms.
"The second round will also be decided by lottery," Cindral continued.
"Five pairs will be randomly drawn to compete!"
Zora remained where she was, calm and composed. To her, the identity of her opponent hardly mattered.
Soldiers co, block them with a wall. Water cos, stop it with a dam. That had always been her principle.
Reesa tightened her grip on her long whip, excitent surging in her heart. She had already tested it. After branding the inscription, the power of her attacks had increased dramatically!
Soon, the draw was complete.
Hector, Vice Principal of Thunderclap Academy, stepped forward and slowly read out the matchups:
"Reesa versus Cecily Blackstar.
Alaric Von Seraph versus Caius.
Raphael versus Ragnor Blackstar.
Zora versus Godric.
Ignar Dragovic versus Niklaus."
As the results were announced, waves of emotion rippled through the crowd. So were relieved, so anxious, and so silently thrilled.
The second round was about to begin.
Fortunately, this draw avoided an internal clash within the academy.
Hector glanced at the slips in his hand and announced with a mild smile, "Reesa and Cecily Blackstar, please step onto the arena!"
In his heart, the outco already seed clear. Cecily Blackstar’s strength was formidable. Although Reesa was talented, the gap was undeniable.
After all, Cecily Blackstar had already stepped into the innate realm.
Unlike the first round, the second round of promotion was conducted one match after another, and the arenas prepared for it were noticeably larger, clearly ant to accommodate fiercer battles.
"Reesa! Go for it!"
Cheers erupted from the Imperial academy’s side.
Even though everyone knew how strong Cecily Blackstar was, that didn’t stop them from supporting their own. Win or lose, giving it everything was what mattered.
Reesa clenched her fist and nodded firmly. "I will!"
Cecily Blackstar moved first. Her figure flashed like a swallow in flight as she landed lightly on the arena.
But the words that followed stunned everyone.
"Zora, co up here!"
The entire venue went quiet.
Countless gazes snapped toward Cecily Blackstar, confusion written across every face.
"I want to fight you," Cecily Blackstar declared, her tone sharp and uncompromising.
She had hoped the draw would pit her directly against Zora. Instead, she’d been matched with Reesa.
Reesa wasn’t weak, but to Cecily Blackstar, she wasn’t worth the trouble.
What she wanted was Zora.
Only her.
Not because of victory points or rankings, but because of that na she couldn’t tolerate hearing anymore... Harold.
That ambiguous, infuriating connection burned like a thorn in her heart.
Hector was montarily stunned before responding, "Cecily Blackstar, your opponent is Reesa."
"I know," Cecily Blackstar replied coldly. "But I want to challenge Zora."
A faint murmur rippled through the crowd.
Cindral’s brows drew together. "Enough!"
He understood Cecily Blackstar’s temperant well. The royal family backed Thunderclap Academy, and for that reason, many of her excesses were usually overlooked.
But this was the academy exchange. A formal tournant that is conducted in public.
To disrupt it so blatantly was crossing the line.
Originally, Cecily Blackstar defeating Reesa would have been straightforward. But now, she was demanding a fight with Zora instead.
Zora was the academy’s trump card.
This was no small matter.
On the sidelines, A tutor of Thunderclap Academy, Edgar’s expression darkened. He had already been reprimanded for blocking the academy’s team earlier, and his mood was far from pleasant.
Now, hearing Cecily Blackstar’s demand, he instinctively chose to support her.
Stepping forward, Edgar said, "Principal, this is a competition. Since Cecily Blackstar is willing to issue a challenge, as long as Miss Zora agrees, there’s no harm in it."
His gaze flicked toward Zora, sharp and pointed, provoking her, "If she doesn’t dare to accept, then so be it."
Zora’s brows knit slightly.
She had never t Edgar before, yet the hostility in his tone was unmistakable.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
This was deliberate.
"Zora, who is that person? Why does he speak so unpleasantly?" Reesa frowned deeply, clearly displeased. The other party’s words were sharp and malicious.
On the surface, it sounded as though Zora was being given a choice, but in reality, if she refused, it would imdiately be twisted into fear of Cecily Blackstar. There was no real room to retreat at all.
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