Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

Valerie moved through the forest, closely listening to the sound of collision from far ahead as she prepared to help the raiders from her side.

The training site was situated in the forest which explains why she was having a hard time moving through the terrain.

Finally, she reached a clearing where Rhea was engaged in a battle with Ryan.

Although the two of them were of the same rank, Ryan was simply overwhelming the girl because of the experience he held

Ryan was much like Rhea—someone who was allowed to risk his life to gain experience. However, unlike the pinkhead, who was much more focused on refining her skills, Ryan utilized his time to attain combat experience.

Valerie could see that Rhea was getting pushed away, and if things continued like this, their team raider would be out of the game in the first few minutes.

Valerie summoned her Shard and was about to end this battle by encasing Ryan—when suddenly, she heard,

[Val, don't freeze him up but just intimidate him.]

It was the artifact they recently acquired from Morkel that allowed long-range communication. It was an artifact that the Council would have allotted them for the match, but the Professor already had them, so he provided them for a better training experience.

It uses the same technology and magic as the communication devices used by soldiers in border areas. However, its range was significantly reduced since military-grade equipment was banned for civilian use—even for Elite students.

Hearing the voice of her Lord, she frowned just for a moment but didn't question his judgment.

Tapping Shiverfall on the branch she was standing, she sent several ice spikes hurling in Ryan's direction

"Woah!" The boy jumped back, nearly dodging the attack that surely would have made him bleed.

Flipping in the air to retreat a little, he looked at the chanter of the spell.

Valerie didn't stop there; she jumped from the tree, and an ice platform was built under her foot, allowing her to skate her way to her opponent.

Ryan felt the temperature around him dropping as he raised his battle axe and got prepared.

However, Valerie was simply too overpowered for him.

She swung her spear from a distance, and several ice shards shot toward him.

"Shit!" The boy cursed before he covered himself with his Axe to save his face from getting scarred by those tiny little devils.

*CLINK* *CLINK*

Those shards that struck his weapon were shattered but many more of them damaged the other, uncovered part of his body.

Ryan was getting pushed back, and he knew he couldn't continue this any longer, so he called out, "ELARA!"

A figure appeared behind Valerie, holding her kunai and a vicious expression on her face.

However, before she could have attacked Valerie,

**BOOOOOM**

An arrow struck her back, throwing Elara straight toward Valerie.

The violette tilted her body before Elara crashed into the iced platform.

[Rhea, keep them engaged.]

Rhea received the message before she reloaded her Shard and shot another arrow toward Elara and Ryan.

"Move!" Ryan held Elara and moved away.

Elara yelped as she found herself being thrown away.

[Valerie, proceed.]

Upon receiving the order, Valerie shared a glance with Rhea before they shared a nod, and the spear wielder dashed toward the target.

The only reason Valerie was told to intimidate Ryan was because Austin wanted to pull Elara to the battle.

With his restricted powers(Valerie was told not to go all out in the training battles), Valerie might have had a hard time fighting against Rudolph and Elara, which is why it was necessary to detach them.

Austin smiled as he awaited the good news since he knew his lover would take care of Rudolph.

"You look quite happy~" Someone launched toward Austin, which ushered the blond to raise his Shard and prepare for the battle.

However, the moment Sheldon and Austin's blades were about to clash,

*SPOOOF*

Sheldon dissolved into clouds before Austin realized what it was.

The real Sheldon appeared behind the training doll, his blade raised.

His dagger was inches away from slaying the doll, when suddenly,

**BOOOOM**

Something came rushing down from the sky and plummeted Sheldon to the ground.

Austin smirked as he turned towards his classmate, ready to provide him a helping hand—when he was genuinely surprised to find no one pressed under Wisp.

*Slash*

Austin gritted his teeth as he heard the slash before he turned abort and found Sheldon standing on top of the training doll leisurely.

"You refrained from using your barrier, and now look what it caused you."

There were two large slashes on the training doll, which meant the end.

Austin exhaled a sigh before he nodded, "I understand....but here, in the open, I am slightly hesitant to show all my cards."

Shdon hummed, understanding what he meant. He didn't say anything and jumped from the wounded equipment.

Soon, the others began to gather around them before Annabelle confirmed, "Valerie damaged the doll before you, so it's apparently our victory."

Turning towards Austin, she added, "Nice work dictating orders. You did better than me."

Austin forced himself to smile, but inwardly, he was quite bitter, losing against Sheldon.

He really didn't think that Sheldon would use his clones in such a way. And it didn't end there,

*SPOOF*

The Sheldon, right before them, also disappeared in a white cloud before the real Sheldon appeared from the forest.

"You had a backup plan if you had failed the third time too?" Austin asked, evidently amazed.

Sheldon shrugged, "That's the ability of my Shard, so surely I will go all out to fool my opponent."

"You should keep your head high, though, Austin. You could have easily defended the target if you had used your barrier. So, in a way, it's your victory." Rudolph complimented.

Valerie wordlessly nodded in support.

Austin exhaled an audible breath, before he asked, "So...should we go another round?"

"No way! I am tired." The one who grumbled and complained was the redhead in the group.

Rhea, who was just beside her, nodded with her eyes droopy, "I am tired too...can't continue." They have always gone for five rounds since morning and she could barely feel her legs now.

Anabelle chuckled as she said, "Yeah, we should stop now. We have to gather at the arena to watch the first round of the squad matches as well."

Today, fortunately, they weren't listed to face the first round.

Having zero information about the round was too disadvantageous. That's why, it seems, they chose the top two academies—Ravencourt and Auroracrest—to play the first round.

On that note, everyone decided to return to their rooms and rest for some time.

"Do you want to have some breakfast?" Austin asked as he and Valerie walked together.

"How about in a few minutes? I am too sweaty right now."

When she said that, Austin was suddenly reminded of something as he asked, "Why were you wearing a high neck during the whole session?"

The others wore clothes designed for ease of movement, but when it came to Valerie, comfort was the last word that came to mind.

Valerie was embarrassed, but she showed him, by pulling the zipper.

"...!!" Austin's eyes stretched a little when he saw the glaring love bite on her collar bone which he left on her last night.

"It wasn't this profound last night, but in the morning...that's why...I covered it." She wasn't ashamed of having the trophy of love; rather, she didn't want others to comment on it and have Valerie lose her composure.

And there was a chance she would have embarrassed her Lord as well if she had roamed with the kiss mark.

"Val...why didn't you apply a potion on it?"

Valerie blinked, and then a very slight bulge appeared on her cheek as she said, "I will never make it disappear...Rather I want to have it for the rest of my life."

Drawing closer to him, she whispered, "It reminds me that my Lord is possessive of me."

Austin helplessly smiled at her thoughts before he told her, "Okay, don't apply potion, but rather than wearing a high-neck and dehydrating yourself, how about you apply a bandage there to hide it?"

Valerie hummed, "I will think about it."

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- This arc won't last for long. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far.