<p>Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Cry From the Soul!</p>
<p>After a soft chant, four icy long spears radiating a chilling aura instantly formed beside Angelica!</p>
<p>Each spear was three to four meters long, as thick as an ordinary person’s wrist, with an exceptionally sharp point. The transparent crystalline surface was covered with beautiful vine-like patterns, glowing faintly blue.</p>
<p>With a gentle wave of Angelica’s hand, the four spears instantly sliced through the air, shooting towards Shaya at a speed indistinguishable to the naked eye!</p>
<p>“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”</p>
<p>In the slight gasps from the audience, the sound of breaking air echoed throughout the arena.</p>
<p>Shaya raised his head, watching as the sharp tips of the spears closed in on him. Calmly, he picked up a somewhat decayed knight’s lance.</p>
<p>At the same time, his gaze locked onto the trajectory of each Ice Vine Spear, the spear tips lifted!</p>
<p>“Clang—”</p>
<p>“Clang, clang, clang—”</p>
<p>With a series of crisp collision sounds, the spear tips, now leaving behind several afterimages, let out a mournful cry under the weight of their own burden after the clash.</p>
<p>However, this caused the four Ice Vine Spears, which had surged like long arrows, to change their trajectory, deeply embedding themselves into the ground behind Shaya, their tips trembling violently, with cracks slowly spreading across the ice-crafted weapons.</p>
<p>It actually… blocked them?</p>
<p>This result was clearly beyond the expectations of all the spectators.</p>
<p>The Ice Vine Spear was considered a powerful first-tier magic. Against such speed and strength, an ordinary low-tier knight would be unable to withstand it.</p>
<p>But it wasn’t over!</p>
<p>In the moment that left everyone momentarily stunned, Shaya deeply bent at the waist, his black hair billowing, his body like a taut bowstring, taking a step forward and twisting to throw the broken lance in his hand!</p>
<p>“Whoosh—!!!”</p>
<p>The lance seemed to tear through the sky like a shooting star, vanishing in place, and then, accompanied by a flash of cold light, it appeared before Angelica as if teleporting!</p>
<p>As the lance passed, it generated a fierce gust of wind, and the air, compressed to its limits, burst open, producing a roar far more shocking than before!</p>
<p>Generally speaking, a mage’s individual defense was much weaker than that of a knight, so once a weapon was up close, they could easily be defeated in an instant.</p>
<p>But Angelica only slightly furrowed her brow, seemingly a bit surprised by Shaya’s displayed strength, but that was all.</p>
<p>The rainbow-colored gem glimmered once more.</p>
<p>In the eyes of all, Angelica’s graceful figure shattered like a bubble, transforming into a crystalline blue mist of ice, which then reformed in another location, her goddess-like form devoid of any dust.</p>
<p>“Boom!!!”</p>
<p>The lance struck empty air, causing no damage, followed by a dull sound as it stabbed into the stone wall at the far boundary, accompanied by spiderweb-like cracks forming, the lance trembling violently, debris cascading down.</p>
<p>The overburdened knight’s lance finally fulfilled its duty, with cracks covering its surface, gently breaking apart.</p>
<p>Angelica glanced back with disinterest, her gaze drifting away casually.</p>
<p>“Is this your reliance?”</p>
<p>Shaya did not reply, picking up a broad sword and swinging it again on the fighting stage before him.</p>
<p>With this setup, the moment the previous sword broke, he could draw the next sword for a counterattack in the shortest time possible.</p>
<p>“Let’s skip the testing.” He repeated the action while raising his head, “A battle that doesn’t hurt or itch for either side feels like a waste of time.”</p>
<p>Hearing this, Angelica’s gaze gradually darkened, a cruel smile appearing on her face.</p>
<p>To her, Shaya’s words seemed to equalize their positions.</p>
<p>But it was just a mere first-tier magic, how dare you think you’re worthy?</p>
<p>A little low-tier knight!</p>
<p>“As you wish.”</p>
<p>Angelica’s proud voice rang out.</p>
<p>She raised her hand high, her loose mage robe slipping gently from her arms, revealing a delicate arm as white as congealed fat, the [Sigh of the Glacial River] beginning to shine slowly.</p>
<p>“Everfrost · Ice Vine Spear · Storm Quake!!!”</p>
<p>As the chant fell, at that moment, all the students present suddenly felt the temperature around them drop significantly.</p>
<p>Lines of azure light quickly appeared, not just around Angelica but even in the air behind her, gradually凝聚成 countless incredibly sharp Ice Vine Spears, adorned with magnificent patterns.</p>
<p>With the operation of her powerful magical energy, this time, the Ice Vine Spears that formed were not only increased in size and sturdiness but also began to rise dramatically in numbers!</p>
<p>Ten Spears.</p>
<p>Twenty Spears.</p>
<p>Fifty Spears.</p>
<p>One Hundred Spears.</p>
<p>Two Hundred Spears.</p>
<p>The ice spears appeared endlessly, as if there was no limit, and Angelica, in a display of extreme arrogance, informed everyone present just how terrifying her total magical power had become.</p>
<p>Clearly just a first-tier magic, yet under her lavish expenditure of magical energy, it transformed into a semi-AOE damage attack!</p>
<p>Of course, this was largely due to the great contribution of [Sigh of the Glacial River].</p>
<p>It was evident to everyone present that one thing was clear.</p>
<p>Angelica had become serious.</p>
<p>“Oh.”</p>
<p>On the other side, Shaya raised his head, watching the densely packed azure spear tips in the sky, his expression unchanged.</p>
<p>Under his calm gaze, hundreds of Ice Vine Spears trembled slightly, as if anticipating a downpour, their tips twisting as though they had spirits, all aiming precisely at his position, ready to strike.</p>
<p>There was no escaping!</p>
<p>“Fall!”</p>
<p>Accompanied by a delicate shout, the flurrying ice spears buzzed loudly, like bees returning to their hive, or dark clouds before a storm, rushing quickly towards Shaya!</p>
<p>This number was enough to plow the entire arena from end to end.</p>
<p>“So strong!”</p>
<p>“This quantity is terrifying!”</p>
<p>“Go, senior!!”</p>
<p>“If you can withstand this, I’ll eat all those ice spears!”</p>
<p>“Hurry up and surrender, country bumpkin! Go home crying to your mama! Hahahaha!”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, cheers and jeers erupted from the stands.</p>
<p>To ordinary students, this was like witnessing a miracle!</p>
<p>What others had just begun, they would need decades to catch up.</p>
<p>It was over.</p>
<p>This was the thought in everyone’s mind.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“Angelica-senpai’s magical power has increased again.”</p>
<p>Naya said calmly, her pupils reflecting countless azure spears.</p>
<p>Mevis, resting her chin on her hand, leisurely observed the arena’s scene without speaking.</p>
<p>After a moment, she muttered to herself: “If one were to take it head-on, even a first-star Grand Knight might not be able to withstand all the Ice Vine Spears… I didn’t expect Angelica to hate your brother this much.”</p>
<p>“That’s enough.”</p>
<p>Naya, standing nearby with an indifferent expression, remained quietly like a doll.</p>
<p>However, in a place where Mevis couldn’t see, a hint of confusion and anxiety flickered in her eyes, a strange urge brewing in her heart, continuously suppressed by cold rationality.</p>
<p>Even she herself didn’t notice.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“Yah!”</p>
<p>Seeing her sister get serious, Xivista nervously covered her mouth.</p>
<p>She instinctively glanced at Deyora, only to find her as tense as herself, her hands tightly gripping the fabric of her long dress.</p>
<p>“W-what if he doesn’t surrender? Facing such magic, Shaya-san can’t possibly survive!”</p>
<p>Xivista stood up, anxiously addressing Deyora.</p>
<p>Deyora looked at her with slightly pale cheeks.</p>
<p>Clearly, this battle had exceeded the imagination of a mere maid from the very beginning. If it were anyone else up there, they probably wouldn’t even have a chance to react, being turned into mincemeat by the barrage of spears.</p>
<p>“I… believe in the young master.”</p>
<p>Finally, Deyora bit her lip tightly and said softly.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“Ahahaha, truly worthy of the unparalleled magical genius of House Algeria; even in my day, I’d still be a step behind.”</p>
<p>At the highest point of the stands sat an old man in a gray mage robe, his white beard flowing as he observed the densely packed Ice Vine Spears, quietly commenting to a black-robed clergy member beside him.</p>
<p>The old man was Lucius Daren, the fourth president of the Norton Public Royal Cultivation Academy.</p>
<p>The clergy member seated next to him was a kindly-looking middle-aged man in the black robe distributed by the Vatican, symbolizing the rank of Archbishop.</p>
<p>He was the Archbishop Edmund mentioned in the conversation between Sital and Rod.</p>
<p>“Miss Algeria’s talent is indeed outstanding, but it’s a pity her affinity for light elements is relatively weak. Otherwise, perhaps our Church of Light would have extended an olive branch to her,” Edmund replied gently, “However, this newcomer isn’t too bad; at such a young age, he managed to achieve the skills of a low-tier knight.”</p>
<p>“Too bad the age gap between them is just a bit too large; he can’t keep up in terms of realm.”</p>
<p>Lucius nodded, gently stroking his white beard, “If it becomes impossible to withstand, I will step in to save him.”</p>
<p>“You should be careful of that lady; she seems to have been watching you closely,” Edmund kindly pointed towards Mevis and Deyora seated opposite them.</p>
<p>“Hmph, just a young one who has barely advanced to sorcerer,” Lucius scoffed, disregarding the gaze.</p>
<p>It seemed there was some old grudge.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>The sky was filled with Ice Vine Spears, speeding towards Shaya in a storm-like barrage, whipping up gusts of wind that made his black hair dance in the breeze.</p>
<p>In his eyes shone hundreds of blue glimmers, as he drew two slightly lighter knightly straight swords from the cluster of blades before him, gripping them in hand.</p>
<p>“Whoosh, whoosh—”</p>
<p>“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”</p>
<p>With afterimages too fast for the naked eye to capture, the first wave of Ice Vine Spears fiercely approached, blocking all directions in front of Shaya, compressing even the spaces to evade.</p>
<p>However, in his sight, the icicles that were initially as quick as lightning now seemed to crawl slowly, as if they were turtles moving, their speed drastically slowed, optimizing his dynamic vision, uncovering all their trajectories.</p>
<p>It was as if time had slowed in that moment.</p>
<p>Shaya’s gaze passed through the torrent of spears, looking towards Angelica standing still; their eyes met.</p>
<p>Seeing her haughty demeanor, he smiled gently and lowered his gaze to the swords in his hand.</p>
<p>On the rusted blade, a vague reflection of his current appearance was cast.</p>
<p>Clearly smiling, yet within that expression lay a trace of helplessness and sadness.</p>
<p>“Actually, you really didn’t need to go this far.” Shaya shook his head, speaking softly, “Naya is my only family in this world. If she truly needed this title, a simple discussion as her older brother would suffice for me to agree.”</p>
<p>“But it seems you all never seriously asked for my opinion, treating me like a ball to be kicked around, thinking you could take whatever you wanted from me.”</p>
<p>“You not only want to hurt me but also want to harm Deyora, forcing me to sever ties with Naya in anger.”</p>
<p>“You never cared about… how I feel.”</p>
<p>The sharp spear tips reflected in his eyes, almost within reach.</p>
<p>Shaya raised his head, gazing into the distance, lifting the two swords, his voice slightly elevated, his handsome face gradually taking on a more sinister aspect.</p>
<p>“My parents and the villagers of the territory died under the iron hooves of invaders, as the Empire has yet to uncover the true identities of those bastards… And you, a self-proclaimed noble rotten bitch, time and again attempt to seize the last remnants they left for me.”</p>
<p>“Why?!”</p>
<p>“On what grounds?!”</p>
<p>“On the basis of your so-called shocking talent?”</p>
<p>“I have that too!!!!!!!!!”</p>
<p>With a roar—</p>
<p>Bow string, draw sword.</p>
<p>“Clang!!!”</p>
<p>Two intersecting sharp sword lights sliced through the air, severing an Ice Vine spear approaching him at its midpoint, scattering sparkling ice shards in the air.</p>
<p>But this was merely the beginning.</p>
<p>The second sword light followed directly.</p>
<p>“Clang, clang!!!”</p>
<p>Again, two more Ice Vine Spears coming straight at him shattered.</p>
<p>The third.</p>
<p>Shattered.</p>
<p>The fourth.</p>
<p>Shattered.</p>
<p>The fifth.</p>
<p>Shattered.</p>
<p>Shattered, shattered, shattered, shattered, shattered…</p>
<p>The speed gradually increased.</p>
<p>Until finally, it became so fast that each pause of his swings became barely perceptible!</p>
<p>As Shaya swung his blades time and again, the sword lights burst forth like a cold crescent moon, fiercely countering the thronging ice spears, continuously smashing them to ice dust.</p>
<p>The crisp sounds of shattering rang out incessantly, echoing throughout the entire venue.</p>
<p>“!!”</p>
<p>An unimaginable scene, akin to a nightmarish fantasy, reflected in Angelica’s eyes.</p>
<p>Her pupils slowly dilated.</p>
<p>How is this possible?!</p>
<p>Facing such a scale of Ice Vine Spears, he should have been instantly pierced through!</p>
<p>Why, why was he able to withstand it?!</p>
<p>At that moment, Angelica was suddenly startled, as if awakening from a trance, her gaze filled with disbelief as she looked at that boy.</p>
<p>Not… a low-tier knight?</p>
<p>“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—”</p>
<p>The sounds of slashing responded to the confusion in Angelica’s heart.</p>
<p>Arc light!</p>
<p>Aside from the cold arc light, there was nothing else!</p>
<p>The two long swords were like cold harvesting machines, with powerful air currents erupting between blades, centered on Shaya, stirring violent winds around him, invisible yet sharp, filling the arena.</p>
<p>“How is this possible?!”</p>
<p>“This is Shaya?”</p>
<p>“Is this a joke, a new student?”</p>
<p>“A country bumpkin, how could this be?!!”</p>
<p>All the students in the audience were dumbfounded, emitting shouts of disbelief.</p>
<p>Then, those cries were drowned out by a strong gust of wind, sword winds lifting their hair, blinding their eyes.</p>
<p>The dazzling flurry of slashes transformed into one after another of sword rays, surrounding Shaya in an airtight protective shield with a radius of five meters.</p>
<p>The black-haired boy, like a sword saint descending, received all the incoming Ice Vine Spears with precise angles and speeds too fast for the eye to capture!</p>
<p>For Shaya at that moment, the swordsmanship he practiced daily had vanished from his mind—there were no fixed patterns, only an instinctive flurry of slashes at will.</p>
<p>The continuously erupting ice pillars turned into glittering dust, dancing around Shaya like magnificent stars, adding a hint of cold elegance to the young knight.</p>
<p>Yet his movements clearly contained the purest beauty of violence!</p>
<p>“Ping—”</p>
<p>The sword in his hand could no longer bear the burden and exploded instantly.</p>
<p>Unfazed, he drew another long sword from the ground in front of him, countering an Ice Vine spear thrusting towards his right shoulder, then swung again.</p>
<p>In this fierce exchange, even swords made of high-quality steel couldn’t last long, let alone these soon-to-be-defunct broken blades.</p>
<p>But Shaya ignored it; each time one shattered, he instantly pulled out another to join the battle.</p>
<p>The process was seamless, without any stoppage.</p>
<p>The preparations Shaya had undertaken bore perfect fruit.</p>
<p>At this moment, he seemed to embody a dancer, executing a stunning sword dance, as countless sword lights gathered in front of him, like a slowly blooming flower of death.</p>
<p>All strikes flashed past in an instant, yet left an everlasting impression in the eyes of the students in the audience.</p>
<p>This was a shock that none would ever forget in their lifetime.</p>
<p>Some of them instinctively stood up.</p>
<p>That noon, on the expansive academy arena, the country boy, who no one had faith in, faced the overwhelming Ice Spears released by the once-in-a-century magical genius of House Algeria, swinging his own blade without a hint of hesitation.</p>
<p>He seemed to cry out to everyone, a cry from the very depths of his soul.</p>
<p>No backing from grand nobles, no guidance from sorcerers, no handy magical devices, and no cheers from the audience.</p>
<p>But none of that mattered.</p>
<p>“You all always think that the background of grand nobility is a form of strength, looking down on those who work hard, naturally believing they can never reach you and should always look up.”</p>
<p>Shaya declared loudly.</p>
<p>The defensive circle formed by the sword lights continued to expand.</p>
<p>The Ice Vine Spears, which had earlier descended like the grim reaper, now found themselves, instead, becoming the moths flying into the fire, rushing into the meat grinder formed by the two long swords, exploding and shattering!</p>
<p>With exhilarating speed, Shaya wielded his sword, and as his excitement peaked, he raised his head and shouted!</p>
<p>“Then my talent is also a strength you will never, ever reach!!!”</p>
<p>“Clang—!!!”</p>
<p>At some point, the once veil of dark clouds that had scattered numerous Ice Vine Spears in the sky had become a mere handful.</p>
<p>Surrounding Shaya were scattered fragments of swords, stacks of ice blocks and debris resembling small mountains, and glimmering ice dust floating gently in the breeze.</p>
<p>He took a slight breath, tossing aside the two dangerously close-to-breaking swords in his hands, and then stepped forward, leaning on one of the knightly broad swords stuck in the cluster of blades, standing upright.</p>
<p>His black hair fluttered gently in the wind.</p>
<p>Shaya’s expression was calm as he used his other hand to unbutton the top button of his knight’s uniform.</p>
<p>“Warm-up, over.”</p>
<p>Silence.</p>
<p>The entire arena fell into dead silence.</p>
<p>After a soft chant, four icy long spears radiating a chilling aura instantly formed beside Angelica!</p>
<p>Each spear was three to four meters long, as thick as an ordinary person’s wrist, with an exceptionally sharp point. The transparent crystalline surface was covered with beautiful vine-like patterns, glowing faintly blue.</p>
<p>With a gentle wave of Angelica’s hand, the four spears instantly sliced through the air, shooting towards Shaya at a speed indistinguishable to the naked eye!</p>
<p>“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”</p>
<p>In the slight gasps from the audience, the sound of breaking air echoed throughout the arena.</p>
<p>Shaya raised his head, watching as the sharp tips of the spears closed in on him. Calmly, he picked up a somewhat decayed knight’s lance.</p>
<p>At the same time, his gaze locked onto the trajectory of each Ice Vine Spear, the spear tips lifted!</p>
<p>“Clang—”</p>
<p>“Clang, clang, clang—”</p>
<p>With a series of crisp collision sounds, the spear tips, now leaving behind several afterimages, let out a mournful cry under the weight of their own burden after the clash.</p>
<p>However, this caused the four Ice Vine Spears, which had surged like long arrows, to change their trajectory, deeply embedding themselves into the ground behind Shaya, their tips trembling violently, with cracks slowly spreading across the ice-crafted weapons.</p>
<p>It actually… blocked them?</p>
<p>This result was clearly beyond the expectations of all the spectators.</p>
<p>The Ice Vine Spear was considered a powerful first-tier magic. Against such speed and strength, an ordinary low-tier knight would be unable to withstand it.</p>
<p>But it wasn’t over!</p>
<p>In the moment that left everyone momentarily stunned, Shaya deeply bent at the waist, his black hair billowing, his body like a taut bowstring, taking a step forward and twisting to throw the broken lance in his hand!</p>
<p>“Whoosh—!!!”</p>
<p>The lance seemed to tear through the sky like a shooting star, vanishing in place, and then, accompanied by a flash of cold light, it appeared before Angelica as if teleporting!</p>
<p>As the lance passed, it generated a fierce gust of wind, and the air, compressed to its limits, burst open, producing a roar far more shocking than before!</p>
<p>Generally speaking, a mage’s individual defense was much weaker than that of a knight, so once a weapon was up close, they could easily be defeated in an instant.</p>
<p>But Angelica only slightly furrowed her brow, seemingly a bit surprised by Shaya’s displayed strength, but that was all.</p>
<p>The rainbow-colored gem glimmered once more.</p>
<p>In the eyes of all, Angelica’s graceful figure shattered like a bubble, transforming into a crystalline blue mist of ice, which then reformed in another location, her goddess-like form devoid of any dust.</p>
<p>“Boom!!!”</p>
<p>The lance struck empty air, causing no damage, followed by a dull sound as it stabbed into the stone wall at the far boundary, accompanied by spiderweb-like cracks forming, the lance trembling violently, debris cascading down.</p>
<p>The overburdened knight’s lance finally fulfilled its duty, with cracks covering its surface, gently breaking apart.</p>
<p>Angelica glanced back with disinterest, her gaze drifting away casually.</p>
<p>“Is this your reliance?”</p>
<p>Shaya did not reply, picking up a broad sword and swinging it again on the fighting stage before him.</p>
<p>With this setup, the moment the previous sword broke, he could draw the next sword for a counterattack in the shortest time possible.</p>
<p>“Let’s skip the testing.” He repeated the action while raising his head, “A battle that doesn’t hurt or itch for either side feels like a waste of time.”</p>
<p>Hearing this, Angelica’s gaze gradually darkened, a cruel smile appearing on her face.</p>
<p>To her, Shaya’s words seemed to equalize their positions.</p>
<p>But it was just a mere first-tier magic, how dare you think you’re worthy?</p>
<p>A little low-tier knight!</p>
<p>“As you wish.”</p>
<p>Angelica’s proud voice rang out.</p>
<p>She raised her hand high, her loose mage robe slipping gently from her arms, revealing a delicate arm as white as congealed fat, the [Sigh of the Glacial River] beginning to shine slowly.</p>
<p>“Everfrost · Ice Vine Spear · Storm Quake!!!”</p>
<p>As the chant fell, at that moment, all the students present suddenly felt the temperature around them drop significantly.</p>
<p>Lines of azure light quickly appeared, not just around Angelica but even in the air behind her, gradually凝聚成 countless incredibly sharp Ice Vine Spears, adorned with magnificent patterns.</p>
<p>With the operation of her powerful magical energy, this time, the Ice Vine Spears that formed were not only increased in size and sturdiness but also began to rise dramatically in numbers!</p>
<p>Ten Spears.</p>
<p>Twenty Spears.</p>
<p>Fifty Spears.</p>
<p>One Hundred Spears.</p>
<p>Two Hundred Spears.</p>
<p>The ice spears appeared endlessly, as if there was no limit, and Angelica, in a display of extreme arrogance, informed everyone present just how terrifying her total magical power had become.</p>
<p>Clearly just a first-tier magic, yet under her lavish expenditure of magical energy, it transformed into a semi-AOE damage attack!</p>
<p>Of course, this was largely due to the great contribution of [Sigh of the Glacial River].</p>
<p>It was evident to everyone present that one thing was clear.</p>
<p>Angelica had become serious.</p>
<p>“Oh.”</p>
<p>On the other side, Shaya raised his head, watching the densely packed azure spear tips in the sky, his expression unchanged.</p>
<p>Under his calm gaze, hundreds of Ice Vine Spears trembled slightly, as if anticipating a downpour, their tips twisting as though they had spirits, all aiming precisely at his position, ready to strike.</p>
<p>There was no escaping!</p>
<p>“Fall!”</p>
<p>Accompanied by a delicate shout, the flurrying ice spears buzzed loudly, like bees returning to their hive, or dark clouds before a storm, rushing quickly towards Shaya!</p>
<p>This number was enough to plow the entire arena from end to end.</p>
<p>“So strong!”</p>
<p>“This quantity is terrifying!”</p>
<p>“Go, senior!!”</p>
<p>“If you can withstand this, I’ll eat all those ice spears!”</p>
<p>“Hurry up and surrender, country bumpkin! Go home crying to your mama! Hahahaha!”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, cheers and jeers erupted from the stands.</p>
<p>To ordinary students, this was like witnessing a miracle!</p>
<p>What others had just begun, they would need decades to catch up.</p>
<p>It was over.</p>
<p>This was the thought in everyone’s mind.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“Angelica-senpai’s magical power has increased again.”</p>
<p>Naya said calmly, her pupils reflecting countless azure spears.</p>
<p>Mevis, resting her chin on her hand, leisurely observed the arena’s scene without speaking.</p>
<p>After a moment, she muttered to herself: “If one were to take it head-on, even a first-star Grand Knight might not be able to withstand all the Ice Vine Spears… I didn’t expect Angelica to hate your brother this much.”</p>
<p>“That’s enough.”</p>
<p>Naya, standing nearby with an indifferent expression, remained quietly like a doll.</p>
<p>However, in a place where Mevis couldn’t see, a hint of confusion and anxiety flickered in her eyes, a strange urge brewing in her heart, continuously suppressed by cold rationality.</p>
<p>Even she herself didn’t notice.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“Yah!”</p>
<p>Seeing her sister get serious, Xivista nervously covered her mouth.</p>
<p>She instinctively glanced at Deyora, only to find her as tense as herself, her hands tightly gripping the fabric of her long dress.</p>
<p>“W-what if he doesn’t surrender? Facing such magic, Shaya-san can’t possibly survive!”</p>
<p>Xivista stood up, anxiously addressing Deyora.</p>
<p>Deyora looked at her with slightly pale cheeks.</p>
<p>Clearly, this battle had exceeded the imagination of a mere maid from the very beginning. If it were anyone else up there, they probably wouldn’t even have a chance to react, being turned into mincemeat by the barrage of spears.</p>
<p>“I… believe in the young master.”</p>
<p>Finally, Deyora bit her lip tightly and said softly.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>“Ahahaha, truly worthy of the unparalleled magical genius of House Algeria; even in my day, I’d still be a step behind.”</p>
<p>At the highest point of the stands sat an old man in a gray mage robe, his white beard flowing as he observed the densely packed Ice Vine Spears, quietly commenting to a black-robed clergy member beside him.</p>
<p>The old man was Lucius Daren, the fourth president of the Norton Public Royal Cultivation Academy.</p>
<p>The clergy member seated next to him was a kindly-looking middle-aged man in the black robe distributed by the Vatican, symbolizing the rank of Archbishop.</p>
<p>He was the Archbishop Edmund mentioned in the conversation between Sital and Rod.</p>
<p>“Miss Algeria’s talent is indeed outstanding, but it’s a pity her affinity for light elements is relatively weak. Otherwise, perhaps our Church of Light would have extended an olive branch to her,” Edmund replied gently, “However, this newcomer isn’t too bad; at such a young age, he managed to achieve the skills of a low-tier knight.”</p>
<p>“Too bad the age gap between them is just a bit too large; he can’t keep up in terms of realm.”</p>
<p>Lucius nodded, gently stroking his white beard, “If it becomes impossible to withstand, I will step in to save him.”</p>
<p>“You should be careful of that lady; she seems to have been watching you closely,” Edmund kindly pointed towards Mevis and Deyora seated opposite them.</p>
<p>“Hmph, just a young one who has barely advanced to sorcerer,” Lucius scoffed, disregarding the gaze.</p>
<p>It seemed there was some old grudge.</p>
<p>…</p>
<p>The sky was filled with Ice Vine Spears, speeding towards Shaya in a storm-like barrage, whipping up gusts of wind that made his black hair dance in the breeze.</p>
<p>In his eyes shone hundreds of blue glimmers, as he drew two slightly lighter knightly straight swords from the cluster of blades before him, gripping them in hand.</p>
<p>“Whoosh, whoosh—”</p>
<p>“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”</p>
<p>With afterimages too fast for the naked eye to capture, the first wave of Ice Vine Spears fiercely approached, blocking all directions in front of Shaya, compressing even the spaces to evade.</p>
<p>However, in his sight, the icicles that were initially as quick as lightning now seemed to crawl slowly, as if they were turtles moving, their speed drastically slowed, optimizing his dynamic vision, uncovering all their trajectories.</p>
<p>It was as if time had slowed in that moment.</p>
<p>Shaya’s gaze passed through the torrent of spears, looking towards Angelica standing still; their eyes met.</p>
<p>Seeing her haughty demeanor, he smiled gently and lowered his gaze to the swords in his hand.</p>
<p>On the rusted blade, a vague reflection of his current appearance was cast.</p>
<p>Clearly smiling, yet within that expression lay a trace of helplessness and sadness.</p>
<p>“Actually, you really didn’t need to go this far.” Shaya shook his head, speaking softly, “Naya is my only family in this world. If she truly needed this title, a simple discussion as her older brother would suffice for me to agree.”</p>
<p>“But it seems you all never seriously asked for my opinion, treating me like a ball to be kicked around, thinking you could take whatever you wanted from me.”</p>
<p>“You not only want to hurt me but also want to harm Deyora, forcing me to sever ties with Naya in anger.”</p>
<p>“You never cared about… how I feel.”</p>
<p>The sharp spear tips reflected in his eyes, almost within reach.</p>
<p>Shaya raised his head, gazing into the distance, lifting the two swords, his voice slightly elevated, his handsome face gradually taking on a more sinister aspect.</p>
<p>“My parents and the villagers of the territory died under the iron hooves of invaders, as the Empire has yet to uncover the true identities of those bastards… And you, a self-proclaimed noble rotten bitch, time and again attempt to seize the last remnants they left for me.”</p>
<p>“Why?!”</p>
<p>“On what grounds?!”</p>
<p>“On the basis of your so-called shocking talent?”</p>
<p>“I have that too!!!!!!!!!”</p>
<p>With a roar—</p>
<p>Bow string, draw sword.</p>
<p>“Clang!!!”</p>
<p>Two intersecting sharp sword lights sliced through the air, severing an Ice Vine spear approaching him at its midpoint, scattering sparkling ice shards in the air.</p>
<p>But this was merely the beginning.</p>
<p>The second sword light followed directly.</p>
<p>“Clang, clang!!!”</p>
<p>Again, two more Ice Vine Spears coming straight at him shattered.</p>
<p>The third.</p>
<p>Shattered.</p>
<p>The fourth.</p>
<p>Shattered.</p>
<p>The fifth.</p>
<p>Shattered.</p>
<p>Shattered, shattered, shattered, shattered, shattered…</p>
<p>The speed gradually increased.</p>
<p>Until finally, it became so fast that each pause of his swings became barely perceptible!</p>
<p>As Shaya swung his blades time and again, the sword lights burst forth like a cold crescent moon, fiercely countering the thronging ice spears, continuously smashing them to ice dust.</p>
<p>The crisp sounds of shattering rang out incessantly, echoing throughout the entire venue.</p>
<p>“!!”</p>
<p>An unimaginable scene, akin to a nightmarish fantasy, reflected in Angelica’s eyes.</p>
<p>Her pupils slowly dilated.</p>
<p>How is this possible?!</p>
<p>Facing such a scale of Ice Vine Spears, he should have been instantly pierced through!</p>
<p>Why, why was he able to withstand it?!</p>
<p>At that moment, Angelica was suddenly startled, as if awakening from a trance, her gaze filled with disbelief as she looked at that boy.</p>
<p>Not… a low-tier knight?</p>
<p>“Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—”</p>
<p>The sounds of slashing responded to the confusion in Angelica’s heart.</p>
<p>Arc light!</p>
<p>Aside from the cold arc light, there was nothing else!</p>
<p>The two long swords were like cold harvesting machines, with powerful air currents erupting between blades, centered on Shaya, stirring violent winds around him, invisible yet sharp, filling the arena.</p>
<p>“How is this possible?!”</p>
<p>“This is Shaya?”</p>
<p>“Is this a joke, a new student?”</p>
<p>“A country bumpkin, how could this be?!!”</p>
<p>All the students in the audience were dumbfounded, emitting shouts of disbelief.</p>
<p>Then, those cries were drowned out by a strong gust of wind, sword winds lifting their hair, blinding their eyes.</p>
<p>The dazzling flurry of slashes transformed into one after another of sword rays, surrounding Shaya in an airtight protective shield with a radius of five meters.</p>
<p>The black-haired boy, like a sword saint descending, received all the incoming Ice Vine Spears with precise angles and speeds too fast for the eye to capture!</p>
<p>For Shaya at that moment, the swordsmanship he practiced daily had vanished from his mind—there were no fixed patterns, only an instinctive flurry of slashes at will.</p>
<p>The continuously erupting ice pillars turned into glittering dust, dancing around Shaya like magnificent stars, adding a hint of cold elegance to the young knight.</p>
<p>Yet his movements clearly contained the purest beauty of violence!</p>
<p>“Ping—”</p>
<p>The sword in his hand could no longer bear the burden and exploded instantly.</p>
<p>Unfazed, he drew another long sword from the ground in front of him, countering an Ice Vine spear thrusting towards his right shoulder, then swung again.</p>
<p>In this fierce exchange, even swords made of high-quality steel couldn’t last long, let alone these soon-to-be-defunct broken blades.</p>
<p>But Shaya ignored it; each time one shattered, he instantly pulled out another to join the battle.</p>
<p>The process was seamless, without any stoppage.</p>
<p>The preparations Shaya had undertaken bore perfect fruit.</p>
<p>At this moment, he seemed to embody a dancer, executing a stunning sword dance, as countless sword lights gathered in front of him, like a slowly blooming flower of death.</p>
<p>All strikes flashed past in an instant, yet left an everlasting impression in the eyes of the students in the audience.</p>
<p>This was a shock that none would ever forget in their lifetime.</p>
<p>Some of them instinctively stood up.</p>
<p>That noon, on the expansive academy arena, the country boy, who no one had faith in, faced the overwhelming Ice Spears released by the once-in-a-century magical genius of House Algeria, swinging his own blade without a hint of hesitation.</p>
<p>He seemed to cry out to everyone, a cry from the very depths of his soul.</p>
<p>No backing from grand nobles, no guidance from sorcerers, no handy magical devices, and no cheers from the audience.</p>
<p>But none of that mattered.</p>
<p>“You all always think that the background of grand nobility is a form of strength, looking down on those who work hard, naturally believing they can never reach you and should always look up.”</p>
<p>Shaya declared loudly.</p>
<p>The defensive circle formed by the sword lights continued to expand.</p>
<p>The Ice Vine Spears, which had earlier descended like the grim reaper, now found themselves, instead, becoming the moths flying into the fire, rushing into the meat grinder formed by the two long swords, exploding and shattering!</p>
<p>With exhilarating speed, Shaya wielded his sword, and as his excitement peaked, he raised his head and shouted!</p>
<p>“Then my talent is also a strength you will never, ever reach!!!”</p>
<p>“Clang—!!!”</p>
<p>At some point, the once veil of dark clouds that had scattered numerous Ice Vine Spears in the sky had become a mere handful.</p>
<p>Surrounding Shaya were scattered fragments of swords, stacks of ice blocks and debris resembling small mountains, and glimmering ice dust floating gently in the breeze.</p>
<p>He took a slight breath, tossing aside the two dangerously close-to-breaking swords in his hands, and then stepped forward, leaning on one of the knightly broad swords stuck in the cluster of blades, standing upright.</p>
<p>His black hair fluttered gently in the wind.</p>
<p>Shaya’s expression was calm as he used his other hand to unbutton the top button of his knight’s uniform.</p>
<p>“Warm-up, over.”</p>
<p>Silence.</p>
<p>The entire arena fell into dead silence.</p>
