"Next time... can it be a date?"
Acoley mustered her courage to speak, her heart pounding wildly. A faint blush had already spread across her cheeks.
Luo Sheng nodded. "Sure."
"I'll wait for you. And I'll grow stronger—so strong that one day, I'll be able to help you, and I won't just be that weak girl from that night!"
Acoley smiled like blooming cherry blossoms in spring, her soft pink lips glistening sweetly.
"I'll be waiting for that day," Luo Sheng said, patting her head before leaving without hesitation.
In a quiet spot, he summoned a stream of light and color, returning to his own world.
Of course, before leaving, he left a bag of gold coins on the orphanage's table.
"It's just in-world currency," he thought. "Might as well leave it for them instead of letting it go to waste."
After Luo Sheng left, Granny Gu discovered a bag full of heavy gold coins on the table.
Startled, she quickly called for Acoley, who laughed wryly. "It must be him. He did the same thing last time."
"What a kind young man," Granny Gu remarked, her voice filled with admiration. "Perhaps he's the best future you could have. Kind people are rare, and those willing to do so much for you are even rarer."
Acoley blushed deeply and nodded. That man had brought her hope time and time again during moments of despair. She owed all her achievements to him.
Unfortunately, he was so mysterious. All she knew was his name and his formidable strength—nothing more.
Time passed.
Acoley returned to the academy and submitted proof of slaying the forest drake.
Her feat shocked everyone.
No one expected a mage to single-handedly defeat a high-level magical beast. Acoley's strength was now unparalleled in Ferlan Academy's history.
Her reputation soared, spreading throughout the city of Divat. Citizens treated her with newfound respect.
As Acoley honed her magical abilities, she mastered her Fire Magic Lance and gained proficiency in close combat. From her battle with the forest drake, she developed new techniques, combining explosive magic with her fiery arts to create the devastating Blazing Storm spell.
Meanwhile, her fame spread far and wide.
Hearing of a beautiful and talented mage, a certain count set his sights on Acoley.
"This strong and beautiful young mage? She should be mine," the count declared.
Over the next month, Acoley received a steady stream of invitations from the count, all of which she firmly refused.
The count's attempts grew bolder. He sent treasure-laden carts to the academy and publicly announced his intention to make her his wife, promising wealth and luxury.
When Acoley used fire magic to drive away his guards and emissaries, the count became enraged.
"How dare this wench try to elevate her worth? Becoming my countess is the greatest honor she could hope for!"
His patience wore thin. That very night, he ordered his soldiers to set the orphanage ablaze, terrifying the children and forcing Granny Gu into sleepless turmoil.
The count even pressured the village elder to evict the orphanage's residents, threatening them with homelessness as a means to coerce Acoley.
"I'll handle this," said Professor Phyllis, trying to comfort Acoley.
Unfortunately, Ferlan Academy lacked the influence of a capital-based institution. After hours of negotiation, the count relented slightly, agreeing to invite Acoley to a banquet without further coercion.
Left with no choice, Acoley reluctantly accepted. The last scene Luo Sheng glimpsed from the card world was Acoley boarding a carriage.
Back in his room, Luo Sheng examined his newly upgraded card.
[ [Fire Witch - Acoley]
Level: Bronze 10-Star
Type: Character
Skills:
Fire Affinity: Exceptionally high affinity with fire elements.
Witch's Resolve: Boosts agility and intelligence; reduces casting time.
Guardian's Heart: Increases all attributes by 10% for three minutes when allies are injured.
Fire Conversion: Creates medium fire barriers to block enemies.
Blazing Storm: Massive damage through fiery whirlpools and explosions.
Bang Bang Fireball: Ordinary attacks trigger explosive effects.
Ignition: Inflicts burning status on enemies, increasing fireball accuracy.
Boom Boom Bombs: Starts with 10 bombs that bounce and explode three times before scattering land mines.
Fire Magic Lance: Adaptable for melee or ranged attacks; damage increases at close range.
Evasion: 20% chance to dodge attacks.
Overview: A rapidly growing prodigy chasing after someone's footsteps.]
"Great card!" Luo Sheng exclaimed.
The card's evolution boosted Acoley to Bronze 10-Star, an exceptional offensive unit. Strengthening her card also granted Luo Sheng a 3% increase in mental power, pushing his progress to 64%.
However, he couldn't ignore the challenges Acoley faced in the card world.
The card offered these enhancement options:
[ Acoley, unwilling to marry the lecherous count, needs help to escape her predicament. As a mage, Acoley remains vulnerable in close combat after exhausting her bullets. Unlocking new cards could lead to a miracle.]
"I'll need to strengthen myself or acquire more cards before I can handle this," Luo Sheng mused.
Looking at the other cards, he sighed. Bai Moxue was surrounded, Dongfang Muqing had attracted unwanted attention, and Alice's world teetered on the brink of war.
"Why is everyone trying to steal my girls?" Luo Sheng grumbled.
At that moment, his phone buzzed with a notification: [Academy News: Xu Yourong Missing – Xu Family Announces Reward]
"Another crisis?" Luo Sheng sighed.
(Chapter End}