Above the sea of clouds, the teacher's voice, like a great bell, echoed in all directions.
Everyone quickly turned to look.
On the high platform, Lucian and a young man appeared.
Clouds drifted around them as they opened their eyes and locked gazes.
"This is the final match!"
"Let's see how you perform."
Instructor Strong announced calmly, his deep voice resonating, "Begin!"
As soon as he spoke, he disappeared.
Lucian gazed at the youth opposite him, his expression calm.
The young man smiled. "Lucian. It's an honor to meet you, classmate."
Lucian frowned but didn't return the courtesy.
For some reason, he had an inexplicable aversion to this man, as if they were born to dislike each other.
Mason didn't seem to mind. With a polite smile, he said, "It's an honor to spar with a genius."
"Please guide me."
His tone was warm and courteous.
Many spectators watching nodded approvingly.
Undoubtedly, he appeared to be a well-mannered, promising young talent, leaving a good first impression.
Lucian, however, remained indifferent. Without a word, he formed a seal with his fingers.
Mason narrowed his eyes and summoned a bone spear in his hand.
The next moment, Lucian's expression turned sharp and decisive.
Six Heavenly Thunders!
Boom—
Thunder exploded, and a streak of violet lightning descended from the sky, capturing everyone's attention.
This very lightning had decimated all of Lucian's previous opponents, leaving none standing.
Mason's pupils contracted as he quickly threw out a small bone doll with his right hand.
Crackling!
The Heavenly Thunder seemed drawn to the doll, striking it and shattering it to pieces.
"Dodged it!!"
"A substitute doll? Damn, that's expensive!"
"This is what money can do—impressive!"
"Damn rich kids!"
The spectators marveled.
Mason showed no hesitation and summoned another doll, barely avoiding the second bolt of Heavenly Thunder. But the shockwave sent him tumbling backward, landing awkwardly on the ground.
"Dammit!"
He scrambled to his feet, the black mist around him growing denser as he propelled himself forward again.
Within his mind, the realization dawned:
"This guy must be using a glass-cannon caster hero. Otherwise, his spells wouldn't pack such a punch!"
Boom!
Another thunderclap echoed.
Mason's heart raced as he frantically thought, "Again!?"
Finally, he understood—this was a multi-hit skill.
But how could such a spell have such absurd power? What level or quality of hero was Lucian using?
Boom!
The fourth bolt descended, followed by the fifth.
Boom! Boom!
The crowd above the sea of clouds gasped in awe as bolt after bolt of lightning crashed down.
"What kind of spell is this?!"
"What kind of hero could cast something this powerful?!"
As new lords, none of them could fathom how Lucian's strength seemed more like that of an experienced veteran.
Boom!
The sixth and final bolt, the most fearsome of all, came crashing down.
Mason, having no choice, threw his last substitute doll. But the final bolt's residual energy surged beyond the doll, forming lightning snakes that struck him directly.
His face turned pale as he bit down hard, spitting out blood.
Whoosh!
A pale beam of light shot out from between his brows. This was a desperate long-range teleportation skill, but it came with a heavy price.
But Chen Yuyi did not regret it.
He evaded the last of the Heavenly Thunder, closing the distance to Lucian.
He grinned savagely, his body transforming as his bones fractured and reformed into a horrifying skeletal figure.
With a growl, he launched himself at Lucian, a bone spear poised to pierce.
This was the full might of his 11th-level Netherblood Dragon Warrior, a rare purple-quality hero he had painstakingly obtained.
His strongest attack was directed at what he believed to be a fragile caster.
Crash!
The ground shook, sending shockwaves in every direction.
But as the dust settled, Mason froze in horror.
Lucian stood unmoved, effortlessly catching the bone spear with one hand.
The malevolent energy swirling around it dissipated as though it had encountered an unmovable mountain.
Mason's strongest attack, his best opportunity…
Blocked.
Disbelief filled his face.
Lucian's calm voice cut through the silence:
"You thought I was fragile?"
"Very well."
"But did you truly think I was just a glass cannon caster?"
Before Mason could respond, Lucian sidestepped and unleashed a flurry of punches.
Boom!
Iron Mountain Strike!
Boom!
Cannon Blast!
Boom!
He pummeled Mason relentlessly with the precision and ferocity of the Bajiquan style, one punch after another.
When Lucian finally stopped, Mason's mangled form lay crumpled on the ground, utterly unrecognizable.
Above the sea of clouds, the crowd was stunned into silence.
Even the instructors were at a loss for words.
For a long moment.
Not a sound could be heard.