The tension in the sparring arena grew heavier. Candidates who had failed the second phase were seen leaving in frustration, some muttering angrily, "This is impossible! There's no way to pass!"
Roy stood silently amidst the crowd, his gaze fixed on the sparring platform. His expression was calm, his emotions as still as a deep pool. The noise around him did not disturb his focus. He understood the harsh requirements of a four-star academy—failing simply meant one had room to grow.
On the platform, an inner disciple stepped forward. Dressed in a deep blue battle robe, his aura was imposing, his energy surging like a mountain. The strength of a Level 38 Advanced Warrior radiated from him.
The crowd collectively drew in sharp breaths. Whispers broke out among the candidates:
"Level 38? This is just sparring, right? How can we possibly compete?"
"It's not about winning or losing," Roy reminded himself, recalling the elder's earlier guidance. "They're observing how we handle the fight." He tightened his grip on the sword at his waist, formulating a strategy.
On a nearby rooftop, a man and a woman stood quietly, observing the arena. Both carried an air of distinction, their postures upright and their demeanor composed. The young woman, cool and elegant, was none other than the girl Roy had encountered earlier—Sheila.
"Sheila, it's rare for you to take an interest in the academy's tests," the man remarked lazily, leaning against a wall with a teasing smile. "Dragging me along too—if Father finds out, I'll be punished for shirking my training."
Sheila turned to him, her voice calm and aloof. "If you trained harder, you wouldn't need to worry. At this rate, I'll surpass you soon."
The man chuckled dryly, spreading his hands in mock surrender. "Come on, I'm not that bad. I just broke through to Level 79. Besides, I'm your older brother."
Her tone remained cold, even carrying a hint of mockery. "An older brother who's about to be overtaken by his younger sister? How embarrassing."
The man laughed helplessly and waved her off. "Fine, fine, you win. But…" His gaze shifted toward Roy, and a sly smile formed on his lips. "What about that boy? He had the nerve to approach you earlier."
Sheila frowned slightly but kept her tone neutral. "It was nothing. Just a coincidence. We exchanged a few words."
Her brother raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? He seemed pretty interested in you. Should I 'take care' of him?"
Sheila shot him a cold look, and he immediately backpedaled. "Kidding, just kidding! Don't get mad."
Her gaze returned to Roy, distant yet contemplative. "His talent is purple-tier. There's a chance he might advance to gold in the future."
Her brother's expression grew slightly more serious as he studied Roy. "Interesting. So, you're paying attention to him?"
Sheila's tone remained indifferent. "It's merely curiosity. Besides, I'd never consider anyone weaker than myself."
Her brother chuckled. "The future is full of surprises. You never know."
She looked back at him with calm certainty. "Unless he achieves rainbow-tier talent or surpasses my cultivation speed, it's impossible. I reached Level 73 in ten years, starting from scratch. I'm only 19."
The man nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, he still has a long way to go."
Sheila's gaze turned distant. "Even if I develop an interest in him, could he ever defeat that person?"
The brother fell silent for a moment before speaking gravely. "That person's talent matches yours. Father once described him as 'a future contender for a seat among the gods.'"
Sheila gave a slight nod, saying no more, her eyes drifting back to the sparring platform below.
---
Roy, unaware of their conversation or their observation, remained focused on the upcoming match. He took a deep breath and raised his head, his eyes shining with determination.
"No matter what, I'll give it everything I've got."
As the number of eliminations in the second phase continued to rise, the elder could no longer contain his frustration and shouted, "Are you here to make a joke? Is this what you call combat ability? Even with a gap of more than ten levels—or less—you shouldn't be losing this quickly! If this is how you perform, you're just cannon fodder on the battlefield!"
The elder sighed deeply and added, "I advise those of you who can't handle this to give up on cultivation now. This is a four-star academy, not a playground!"
He then glanced at his list and called out, "Next! Alice!"
Alice turned to Roy with a cheeky grin. "Watch me shine."
With a graceful leap, she landed in the center of the arena. Smiling faintly, she nodded politely to the inner disciple across from her. "Please, let's have a good match."
Her opponent, clad in dark red battle armor, was a burly man exuding the overwhelming aura of a Level 38 Advanced Warrior. His expression revealed disdain as he scoffed, "An auxiliary? Let's see how long you last."
Alice remained unbothered, brushing a strand of golden hair behind her ear as she replied calmly, "Auxiliaries don't always stay in the back." Her aura flared, revealing her Level 27 power.
The inner disciple made the first move, stomping hard enough to crack the ground and dashing toward Alice like a shadow. His massive blade slashed downward, sending a sharp wave of energy aimed to suppress her immediately.
Alice was ready. She softly chanted an incantation, and with a wave of her hands, a light purple barrier materialized before her, nullifying the energy slash.
"Is that a mental barrier?" someone in the crowd exclaimed. "That's a master-level high-grade mental technique!"
The inner disciple frowned but didn't pause, launching a flurry of blade strikes. Waves of slashing energy filled the arena like a storm.
Alice dodged nimbly through the barrage, her movements fluid. At the same time, she released a ripple of mental energy that spread outwards. The disciple froze for a moment, his actions faltering as his judgment was affected.
"Mental disruption!" the elder's eyes glinted with approval. "Not only is her talent exceptional, but her combat awareness is also highly refined."
The disciple quickly shook off the disruption with a roar, his aura surging as he forcefully stabilized his mind. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his tone sharp.
With a burst of speed, he charged at Alice, moving several times faster than before. But Alice remained composed. With a flick of her wrist, mental chains emerged out of thin air, snaking toward him like living serpents.
The disciple managed to shatter some of the chains with his energy, but the remaining ones wrapped tightly around his legs, momentarily halting his advance. Taking advantage of the opening, Alice retreated, a sly smile on her lips. "It seems like your speed has dropped quite a bit."
"Damn it!" the disciple roared, his aura exploding once more to destroy the chains. Yet just as he regained his freedom, Alice's healing spell activated. A gentle white glow enveloped her, replenishing her stamina and undoing the strain from the battle so far.
"She's maintaining mental suppression and healing herself at the same time!" someone in the crowd muttered in awe. "This isn't just support—she's a full-fledged combat genius!"
Realizing the fight couldn't drag on, the disciple gathered all his energy for a final attack. His blade cleaved through the air like a thunderclap, sending a wave of destructive energy across the arena.
But Alice didn't flinch. Crossing her hands in front of her, she summoned a mental shield that absorbed the full brunt of the attack. Though she was slightly out of breath, her eyes remained calm as she looked at her opponent.
"Hmph. If we were the same level, I'd have beaten you already," she said confidently.
The disciple tried to press forward, but his movements were noticeably sluggish. A wave of dizziness overtook him, leaving him vulnerable. Alice seized the moment, summoning one last set of mental chains to bind him completely.
The elder laughed heartily. "Excellent! That was an impressive display! Alice, you've done very well. Proceed to the third phase."
Applause erupted from the crowd as everyone stared at Alice with admiration and respect. "An auxiliary capable of holding her own against an Advanced Warrior—what a rare talent!"
Alice descended from the platform and walked toward Roy with a triumphant smile. "Well? How'd I do? Pretty good, huh?"
Roy blinked in surprise, then nodded with a smile. "You're stronger than I thought."
Alice winked playfully. "Of course! I'm a golden-tier genius, after all!"
Roy chuckled helplessly. "This little show-off," he thought. But there was no denying her strength—or her versatility.
At the edge of the testing arena, Alice chattered nonstop around Roy like a little sparrow. "Hey, hey, Roy! Did you see that guy's moves just now? So slow, yet he dares to call himself an advanced warrior. What a joke!"
Roy couldn't help but smile wryly as he carefully observed the fight on the platform. "Yeah, I saw. But his defense is actually something to note."
Alice widened her eyes, puffed out her cheeks, and said, "Hey! Are you just brushing me off? I was being serious with my evaluation!" She placed her hands on her hips, looking like a pouty little girl.
Roy glanced at her and couldn't hold back a chuckle. "Alright, alright, you're right. He really is a joke."
Alice smiled in satisfaction, her hands behind her back as she swayed from side to side like a proud little cat. Suddenly, she crouched down, picked up a small stone from the ground, and handed it to Roy. "Here, this stone looks a lot like the hilt of your sword. Doesn't it have some sentimental value? Why don't you keep it?"
Roy shook his head in exasperation. "You really have too much time on your hands. Why would I carry around an ordinary stone?"
Alice pouted, like a child who had been rejected. "Hmph, Roy, you're no fun. Can't you be a little more romantic?"
"What does romance have to do with a stone?" Roy sighed lightly and continued watching the battle on the platform.
Seeing Roy ignore her, Alice ran to the front, leaned forward to watch the duel, then turned back and asked, "Hey, Roy! Don't you think that guy's swordsmanship looks like he's just swinging wildly?"
Roy nodded, his tone serious. "Yeah, his fundamentals aren't solid. His attacks are fierce, but full of openings."
Alice clapped her hands excitedly. "Hehe, I knew it! See, I have an eye for this!" She gave a sly grin and leaned closer to Roy. "But I think you'd definitely beat him, right?"
Roy gave her a helpless look. "You really believe in me that much?"
Alice held her head high with confidence. "Of course! You're my designated friend and teammate, after all. But if you lose, I'll totally laugh at you!"
Looking at Alice's mischievous and adorable expression, Roy couldn't help but shake his head. "You're really a handful."
Alice grinned proudly, hands on her hips, striking a pose like a little tyrant. "That's right! Hanging out with me is always fun! So, you'd better put in some effort!"
Roy gazed at her innocent and lively smile and thought to himself that having such a vibrant companion might not be so bad after all.