Chapter 561: The Wind of the Mana Duel Scatters Everywhere (5K)
The duo quickly entered the common room of the Knight Academy Tower.
Justin Wayne, the second-year prefect and a sunny young boy, immediately stood up and ran over when he saw them, exclaiming, “Finally found you guys! Where’s the Mana Language homework that Professor Heldred Bode assigned?”
“Don’t worry, we’ve naturally completed it,” Robert waved his duel disk, boasting on the spot.
Justin subconsciously frowned, “It’s not something to be proud of just to finish your homework on time, Robert. You should know that this is what being a student entails.”
Robert hurriedly waved his hands, “Alright, Justin. Ever since you became the prefect, you’ve become more and more nagging.”
Justin defended himself, “This is for your own good.”
Robert was about to retort further, but Wit promptly pulled him away, “Justin, wait a moment. We’ll bring down the homework right away.”
After saying this, he dragged Robert upstairs.
After a while, the duo finally handed over the homework to Justin.
Justin let out a sigh of relief, muttering, “I don’t want to face Professor Heldred Bode with incomplete homework.”
“Go on, go on!” Wit pushed him away by his shoulder, only turning around and facing Robert with a smile after he left the room.
Then, the two raised their duel disks in perfect unison!
…
Although the duel disk had slots for charged cards, for the young magi who possessed mana, it only required a small amount of mana to activate it.
The two mixed their newly purchased cards together and slid them into the card slot from the side, then activated the duel disk to shuffle automatically.
The entire process was basically the same as when performing a mana duel on the competitor’s platform.
First came shuffling, followed by drawing cards.
Once activated, the duel disk automatically recognized its opponent and established a signal connection.
“Please create your title, duelists.”
Just as the two were excitedly trying, the newly activated duel disk issued a voice reminder without any inflection.
Wit and Robert looked at each other and said simultaneously,
“Log in, Knight Sword!”
“Log in, Steel Fist Warrior!”
…
“Connection successful.”
“Knight Sword” vs “Steel Fist Warrior.”
…
Almost simultaneously, heavy, thick chains emerged under both of their feet, extending forward and connecting instantly.
“Click!”
The field connection was complete.
“The battle begins!”
A solemn voice echoed from the silver duel disk.
Flames burned at both ends of the field, with numbers jumping within the frames.
Having read the rulebook, the two naturally knew these numbers represented “HP.”
Simulated duels, limited by the cost of duel disks, had significant simplifications in their rules.
First, the mana guidance balls were removed, and every mana golem summoned from a card could only attack once per round.
Mana golems lacked mana values; they only had attack and defense.
If the received attacks exceeded the defense value, the mana golem would be destroyed.
Only when all summoned mana golems were destroyed would the duelists receive direct attacks.
Of course, these were basic rules, and there were always special card effects that could break them.
In summary, the rules simplified the control needed by duelists but added some strategic elements.
Not only magi, but even ordinary people without mana could find enjoyment in it.
However, compared to this, the most attractive feature of the simulated duel game at its early stages might have been the ability to summon projections of popular mana golems!
“Normal summon, Eevee!”
As Wit shouted, a lively little Eevee appeared in the air.
He immediately exclaimed excitedly, “Robert, look what I summoned!”
“Damn, it’s Dark’s magical beast!” Robert glanced at his hand, saying, “Wit, although Dark’s Eevee is very powerful, it can only be fully utilized in his hands. Your Eevee card should only be one star, right? My turn, normal summon—Gigant!”
A three-star ugly Gigant suddenly appeared in Robert’s field.
“It’s a Gigant!” Wit couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
“Gigant, attack!” Robert shouted abruptly.
The sudden appearance of the Gigant projection in the common room and Robert’s excited shout immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the Gigant projection emitted a highly intimidating sound effect, followed by a burst of white light from its mouth.
Seeing the one-star Eevee about to be destroyed by the Gigant, Wit immediately flipped a card, “Use magic card—Counter Shield!”
The magic card “Counter Shield” was one of extremely high difficulty to craft.
Even second-year students had no chance to craft it, let alone touch it.
But Wit had drawn this rare card from the pack he bought.
A rotating light wall instantly appeared before Eevee, deflecting the Gigant’s attack back, destroying itself.
In the next round, Wit ordered a direct attack on Eevee and the newly summoned mana golem.
…
The simulated duel between Wit and Robert caused quite a stir in the common room of the Knight Academy Tower.
At the same time, others who received duel disks began to try it out.
Even in the common room of the Noble Academy, people had already started using them.
Dark keenly sensed the wind blowing this way.
When he returned from the clubroom, he noticed senior students using duel disks for simulated duels in the common room of the Noble Academy Tower.
The duelists’ expressions were serious, abnormally focused.
More and more spectators gathered, almost filling the entire common room.
They gathered around.
Everyone’s eyes were filled with curiosity, generating considerable interest in this simulated duel.
“I hope this isn’t just a fleeting trend.”
Dark crossed his arms and lingered in the Common Room for a moment, feeling a slight joy in his heart.
He had spent an entire afternoon in the shop, yet only managed to sell one duel disk. It would be false to say he didn’t feel frustrated.
Although “Public Dueling Society” was founded by Claire Kate, he had been involved in all the planning and treated it as a form of “entrepreneurship.”
If his venture failed halfway, he would indeed feel disheartened.
However, the current situation seemed to show signs of improvement.
If this interest could last longer, the initial testing would be considered a success!
Even though there would still be significant work ahead, at least they could start on a good note.
Once simulated duels became popular among the commoners, “Public Dueling Society” might even host competitions, introduce a professional system, and exist as a companion industry to mana duels.
At that time, not only could it boost consumption, but it could also create job opportunities and improve living standards, making substantial contributions to the kingdom’s economic development.
…
That night.
Dark spent most of his time in the Common Room, analyzing the pros and cons of the simulated duels to prepare for future improvements.
It wasn’t until the mana elves returned from the clubroom after finishing their day’s studies that he went back to the dormitory with them.
Not long after,
A guest unexpectedly arrived in the dormitory—a Second-Year student named Princess Anna!
As Dark had suspected, Anna came to report the incident.
Dark did not want to waste too much time on this matter.
He ordered Anna to list all the names of the first-year students involved in this matter, then prepared to submit this list… to Professor Shylph.
Professor Lars Melnor was already advanced in years, and Dark did not want to disturb him over such a trivial matter; therefore, he decided to let the Vice Principal handle this.
He always believed that children being mischievous was fine, as long as they didn’t cross the line.
As a student, if one did not respect teachers, at the very least, they should have basic reverence for those who teach them.
He trusted that Professor Shylph would handle this matter appropriately.
“Is this everyone?”
Dark picked up the list filled with names and examined it under the light.
Anna blinked and nodded her head like a pecking chick.
Dark tapped the table with his knuckles, looked up at her, and smiled slightly: “Don’t you want to add your own name?”
Anna’s eyes flashed, immediately showing a look of surprise and confusion: “Huh? Why should I add my own name? Is it to praise me?”
Dark put down the list and reached for the apple juice, saying casually, “After all, this matter was planned together by you and Angie. If we only write their names and not yours, wouldn’t that be unfair to them.”
Anna’s eyes widened instantly, looking bewildered and lost: “Dark, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
“Alright, stop acting,” Dark turned around and said, “Actually, I’m quite curious why you didn’t write Angie’s name on the list. Couldn’t it be that you softened at the last minute?”
Anna asked in puzzlement, “Why should I write Angie’s name? She didn’t participate in this. Wait, are you suspecting us? No way, no way, we’ve been friends for so many years… do you think we’re that foolish?”
Dark complied with her request and scrutinized her face carefully.
The Second Princess was naturally beautiful, her skin so tender it seemed it could drip water, making one want to pinch it.
Dark quickly composed himself and said, “It seems you also know that writing Angie’s name means you can’t escape either. Considering the royal family’s face, I can overlook this once, but there won’t be a next time. You may leave now.”
Anna frowned immediately, “You’re kicking me out? After so long, you haven’t spoken to me once, and now when I come to visit, you’re kicking me out so quickly… I will definitely tell Princess Elisa!”
Dark stretched and leaned back, smiling, “What use is telling her? Can she eat me? If you don’t leave, someone else will be added to the list.”
“Tch!” Anna muttered to herself and turned around, deliberately stomping heavily on the floor with a loud slapping sound.
After she left, Dark summoned the “Mana Book” and memorized each name on the list according to the scan records of the “Mana Book.”
Anna and Angie’s names would not appear on the list.
But this did not prevent him from recounting the entire incident verbatim to Professor Shylph.
As for whether the two princesses would be punished, it would depend on Professor Shylph’s opinion.
Currently, Saint Maryann Academy was in a crucial period.
Punishing the two princesses was minor, but the political impact caused by this could be deliberately exaggerated by malicious individuals.
Therefore, in the end, it would probably only be a covert warning.
However, when those listed discovered that only they were punished while the two little princesses remained untouched, they would surely give more thought in the future.
If the two little princesses wanted to cause trouble again, it would not be so simple.
“I hope this way, these first-year students can calm down and not engage in nonsense like a tripartite confrontation… Just the first-year Noble Academy has forty people, and they can divide into three factions?”
Thinking here, Dark couldn’t help shaking his head and wanting to laugh.
…
Before long, it was Saturday.
After morning practice, Dark came to the Common Room, waiting for Diana and Rose to arrive.
Second-year students, due to morning practices, had mostly developed good habits of going to bed early and waking up early.
Additionally, today was the debut battle of a new duelist, so the Common Room was already full of people early on.
At this moment, those who had become duelists last semester…
Seven pioneers became more relaxed, and Tudor made a signboard that read “Piston,加油”.
Piston looked a bit nervous; Tudor was massaging his shoulders to relax his muscles.
Other second-year contestants were also talking to each other, trying to ease their tension.
Dark didn’t wait long before Diana and Rose appeared from the staircase.
Rose walked ahead, with Diana pushing her from behind.
She rarely tied her pale golden hair on the sides with a ribbon, and she had put on some lip gloss, making her look even more delicate than usual.
After all, this was her first time stepping onto a formal dueling stage, so she had taken the time to dress up carefully.
In contrast, Diana seemed much more casual.
As she pushed Rose forward, she was waving a homemade cardboard sign, looking like it was a new shell placed over an old sign Rose might have used before.
In the middle of the cardboard was a pink bunny surrounded by a big heart.
Underneath the bunny were familiar drawings of a bear and a cat.
The sign was also inscribed with words like “Go” and “Victory.”
“This time, we’ll be cheering for you.”
Dark took the sign from Diana’s hand and waved it at Rose.
Rose blushed slightly and nodded quietly, “Thank you.”
…
By the time the second-year students from the Noble Academy had gathered, they rushed out of the tower in unison towards the cafeteria.
Students from all four houses met almost simultaneously in the cafeteria, and after breakfast, they set off together towards the Outdoor Dueling Arena.
Saint Maryann Academy’s Outdoor Dueling Arena remained magnificent, shimmering under the morning light.
Second-year students were already quite familiar with the arena; they chatted and laughed as they entered.
Then, over a hundred people flooded into the Competitors’ Passage, while only a few turned towards the internal spectator area of the ring.
“If there are so many participants, the chances of drawing a senior should be low, right?”
At the Competitors’ Entrance, Diana spread her fingers under her chin, looking like a detective.
“I hope so.”
Rose covered her inner tension with a smile.
Even though she had performed very strongly during the Dueling Club’s recruitment matches, she was still just a second-year student. Once facing third-years, she would find herself in a tough battle.
No one hopes for their debut match to end in defeat.
If faced with a third-year, even if she performed brilliantly, losing would still mean losing.
Moreover, both Dark and Diana had won their debut matches last semester, and Rose did not want to lose at all.
Her gaze swept through the crowd but found no third-year students, which brought her slight relief.
“Lions still use full force when hunting rabbits,” Dark noticed her thoughts and reminded her.
Rose nodded understandingly, “I will definitely give it my all.”
Dark nodded, “Your uncle and aunt should come to watch, right?”
Rose couldn’t help turning to the spectator area, saying, “I-I guess so?”
With a mix of anticipation and greater nervousness, Rose and her two friends parted ways, entering the internal competitors’ passage.
Right afterwards, encouraged by Wit, Robert also entered the competitors’ passage with rising spirits.
…
Due to the large number of applicants this morning, the Outdoor Dueling Arena activated four fields simultaneously. The students would duel in these four fields.
“Field Two, Match Six, let’s wait here.”
Dark found a suitable seat in the ring for watching, then pulled Diana down to sit with him.
They placed the cheer sign between them and both turned their attention to the surroundings.
Since the annual new student debut matches on the second Saturday of the first semester had become a regular event, many upperclassmen came to watch every year at this time.
The ring quickly filled up with people.
Almost all second-year professors attended, including Professor Shylph, who maintained her usual stern expression, and Professor Pavar Jones, whose demeanor was quite serious.
At exactly eight o’clock.
Suddenly, a phenomenon resembling spatial distortion appeared behind the spectator area, followed by the sudden appearance of spectators.
Viscountess Florette and Viscountess, along with the senior who served as Rose’s private tutor, were among them.
…
With all participants and spectators present, the competition began promptly.
Four commentators ascended to the commentary booth, their voices almost simultaneous, somewhat chaotic.
But if viewers focused on one field, they would notice the sounds from the other three gradually fading away, leaving only the sound of the desired field in their ears.
This experience was very novel for new viewers, but those who frequently watched dueling matches were already familiar with it.
The commentator responsible for Field Two was a third-year senior—she was actually a newcomer to commentary, feeling a bit nervous at the moment.
But as she continued to commentate match after match, her speech became clearer, her thinking faster, and she began to show the professional qualities of a commentator.
An hour passed in a blink.
As the clock struck nine, the two contestants for Field Two, Match Six, finally stepped onto the dueling stage.
Commentator Buddy Morris immediately exclaimed excitedly, “This year’s new duelists have brought us a lot of surprises, with each duel being spectacular. Now, two new second-year duelists are about to appear; let’s welcome them!”
“First, the Red Side contestant, Rose Florette from the second-year Noble Academy.”
“And then, the Blue Side contestant, Robert Broheim, a new student from the second-year Knight Academy!”
“Noble Academy vs Knight Academy!”
“Classics always leave a lasting impression.”
“Let’s give the two contestants a warm round of applause before the match begins!”
