Chapter 33: The Gradual Collapse of Angelica
After realizing what had just happened, the students in the audience turned their gaze back to the arena.
At this moment, there was no longer a hint of contempt in their eyes.
If Shaya was an unfounded country noble who had risen to a Grand Knight purely through his own efforts, then they resembled a bunch of useless people who only knew how to indulge in pleasure.
This stark irony left everyone silent.
Although they felt unbalanced and even suspected that Shaya had used some cheating methods, with Dean Lucius watching from the stands, he said nothing, which naturally meant the students had no grounds to question.
Complex gazes were directed at the arena, which had become uneven due to the battle.
Shaya raised his hand and clenched his fist once more.
A more powerful pressure descended from above, and the five magical beasts covered by the power field were abruptly shattered, resulting in countless ice shards scattered across the ground.
Essentially, this was akin to a spiritual being, lacking real life and therefore possessing no organs or blood-like structures.
At this moment, Shaya was unaware of the profound shock he had instilled in the high-ranking individuals, nor did he realize that the Knight Power Field he had comprehended through countless deaths was, in fact, a prototype of a higher-level power.
“Although I don’t understand what you’re so surprised about, do you plan to just stand there dumbfounded?”
“You must be feeling pretty terrible after suffering a huge loss at the hands of someone like me, right? Boo hoo, are you about to cry?”
“Beg for mercy from me, and perhaps I’ll give you a dignified defeat.”
Seeing Angelica looking somewhat lost, Shaya imitated her tone from earlier and mercilessly mocked her.
It was evident that her fighting spirit had diminished.
It seemed that the impact Shaya had caused her was too great, or perhaps it was due to her intense unwillingness. In any case, once a mentality of retreat or fear arises in such a fight, it signals the seeds of defeat.
The contrast was simply too stark.
Not long ago, no one thought Shaya could win this battle, but now, the scales in their hearts seemed to tilt.
After all, in terms of realm, Shaya was no longer far from Angelica, even hinting at the trend of being on par.
Moreover, he possessed a unique power field.
It was fifty-fifty in terms of victory and defeat.
This was the thought of many perceptive individuals.
Even if Angelica could deploy some unique ancient artifacts or magical devices, this was still an arena with a limited range; if a mage was closed in by a knight of the same realm without any support, the outcome would be unimaginable.
Hearing Shaya’s tone, Angelica took a deep breath and suppressed her chaotic thoughts, coldly stating, “Do you really think you’ve won against me?”
“Perpetual Freeze: Frost Knight!”
“Perpetual Freeze: Infernal Ice Pack Wolves!”
Angelica chanted the spell rapidly, frequently waving her hands, and the 【Sigh of the Glacier】 on her wrist shone brightly!
A chilling aura enveloped her surroundings, and the ground began to freeze once more.
Several ghostly blue figures slowly emerged from the mirror-like ice surface; this time, in addition to the Infernal Ice Wolves, there were several heavily armored knights riding steeds.
The composition of those figures resembled the Infernal Ice Wolves, being summoned spiritual beings with the properties of ice crystals, lacking the traits of being alive.
Even so, these Frost Knights possessed the strength of three-star Grand Knights!
After summoning a total of twenty ice-type spiritual beings, even Angelica felt some fatigue; her face turned pale, and the slender hands under her mage robe trembled slightly.
This was a sign of overexertion.
After all, she was currently just a Mage, not a Mage Lord, let alone a Grand Mage; even for her, such a use of magical power was a bit taxing.
The 【Blessing of Forest Spirits】 once again radiated brilliance, but compared to the last time, the emerald light had dimmed considerably.
It was evident that this was some ancient artifact that required charging and could not be used endlessly.
“Tear him apart!”
A flicker of anger flashed in Angelica’s beautiful eyes as she commanded the summoned beings to rush at Shaya.
Immediately, the ghostly blue knights clad in heavy ice armor charged forward on their steeds, brandishing sharp lances, letting out furious roars alongside a few Infernal Ice Wolves!
“Knight Power Field—”
Shaya clenched his fist once more.
An immense force descended from above, accompanied by a mental shockwave emitted by the superior being. The forelegs of the ice horses ridden by the leading two Frost Knights broke on impact, and they were sent tumbling down due to the forward momentum.
Then, Shaya raised his sword, stepping forward bravely as a true knight would, charging into the fray!
An ice lance formed of crystallized frost came rushing towards him; Shaya tilted his head to dodge, his black hair drifting gently in the wind, and then, as fast as lightning, he reached out and caught the incoming lance under his arm.
“Get up!”
With a fierce shout, Shaya exerted force from his waist, lifting the armored Frost Knight, swinging it like a meteor hammer twice before that poor Frost Knight was sent barreling into a group of its companions.
Before it could rise, Shaya threw the lance he had captured.
The lance flew like a shooting star, instantly piercing the Frost Knight into the ground.
“Bang!”
Accompanied by the sound of crystal shattering, the summoned being, with the strength of a three-star Grand Knight, broke apart!
“Roar—!!”
Behind him, three Infernal Ice Wolves charged, and Shaya once more released the Knight Power Field, then wielded his sword, spinning wildly.
The scene descended into chaos.
“Clang clang clang clang clang—”
“Roar—!!”
Shaya executed the dazzling sword light again, engaging in close combat with over a dozen ice-based summoned beings with the strength of Grand Knights!
Like moonlight, the sword light protected his body, with each swing inflicting substantial damage on the surrounding summoned beings.
“Perpetual Freeze: Ice Vine Lance!”
Angelica was not idly watching; after regaining some strength, she again raised the 【Sigh of the Glacier】, and a rain of ice lances fell, deeply piercing the ground.
“Puff—”
A spray of blood erupted as a deep gash appeared on Shaya’s shoulder.
This was also the first time he had been injured during the fight.
A gasp echoed from the audience.
To the pampered noble students, this was already quite a severe injury, with blood flowing uncontrollably.
Especially Deyora, who was watching quietly, seemed to empathize, her eyes slightly reddening.
But Shaya remained calm.
Compared to the witch’s curse, this pain was hardly even a scratch to him.
As he swung his sword to shatter the two closest Infernal Ice Wolves and dodged a sharp knight’s lance that came from behind, Shaya then lifted his gaze, focusing on the remaining dozens of Ice Vine Lances in mid-air.
He tracked all their trajectories while either lowering his head, twisting his body, or bracing himself with one hand on the ground, instantly dodging.
It turned into a stunning display of agility.
Any minor misstep, and Shaya would be pierced by the descending lance.
“Boom—!”
A massive shadow, accompanied by the roar of compressed air, brought a giant hammer crashing towards Shaya from behind.
It was a Frost Knight wielding a giant hammer, attacking under Angelica’s command, seizing an opening to launch an assault.
Just as he was about to swing his sword, the knightly sword in his hand was suddenly seized by another Infernal Ice Wolf, and with a powerful bite, the already precarious sword finally shattered under the pressure.
“!!”
Seeing the disproportionately large frosty hammer hurtling towards him, many gasped in shock.
A trace of triumph flashed across Angelica’s pale face.
Who told you to bring a pile of junk to this duel?
This is all self-inflicted!
But then, her expression froze once again.
