Mage Manual

Chapter 49: Chapter 47 I’m Not Serving You, Mom

“Hey, stop attending classes and come to the Practical Combat Hall! Don’t you admire the Orange Dancer the most? She’s right here!”

“Can the person in front please step aside? If you’re not from the Sword Skill Faction, get out of here! This is a class for the Sword Skill Faction!”

“This is the school’s Practical Combat Hall, the ones who should leave are you from the Sword Skill Faction!”

The Practical Combat Hall was overflowing with students, many of whom even called their friends to come and watch. After all, the emotional entanglement involving Felix, Sonia, and Celia was already thrilling enough, plus it now included the intriguing guest appearances by Lauren and Reonie, making it even more exciting for the students who gathered around, skipping classes.

The instructor for the practical combat class simply stepped aside, letting them carry on with their strife—since the study of disputes among apprentices was none of his business, and as long as no one died, the fight was considered a legitimate student exchange.

If it had been a clash between two equally strong students, the teacher might have worried they would get too carried away and be unable to stop, but this was arguably the safest situation possible.

Because the difference in combat power was just too great.

Hu!

With a fierce shout, Sonia swung her wooden sword, creating a rustling wind sound. A pale purple Sword Qi wave formed a curtain in the air in front of her, acting as a wall blocking Reonie.

“The use of the Wave Motion Sword is not bad.”

Reonie casually commented, lightly tapping the wave curtain with the tip of her wooden sword, then with a twist of her wrist, threw the wave curtain aside like a rag. She then stepped forward, swinging her wrist!

Dang!

The heavy force transmitted through the sword’s tip forced Sonia to stagger backwards two steps, her hands nearly losing grip on the wooden sword.

Sweat dripped down her face, smudging her makeup, and her clothes were nearly soaked through, making her pant heavily and inelegantly like a peasant. But Sonia had no time to care about her appearance as her eyes were firmly fixed on Reonie, not daring to slacken even for a split second.

This was her first time experiencing what a true Mage was.

Both Felix and she had just entered the Void Realm a few days ago and were nothing special; Professor Trozan’s gap was far too great, and his sparring with her was mainly educational, never allowing Sonia to feel any real pressure.

Plus, her journey through the Void Realm had been smooth, which even made Sonia a bit arrogant—being a Mage didn’t seem so difficult after all.

Her modest behavior wasn’t due to humility, but from arrogance: she believed her future was exceptionally bright, so she was willing to endure temporary solitude.

It wasn’t until Reonie appeared that she tore away Sonia’s proud disguise.

It had nothing to do with Technique Spirits; from the beginning to now, Reonie had only used the basic three Technique Spirits: “Cutting Sword,” “Stabbing Sword,” and “Slicing Sword”; nor was it related to Magic Power, Reonie’s attacks were pressuring but not unbearable.

The truly fearsome power of a Mage, was knowledge.

Every second, every movement, Sonia felt that everything about her was under Reonie’s control. It was as if she knew all Sonia’s derivative movements, and prepared countless countermeasures, easily resolving whatever Sonia did.

This feeling, was like a child fighting an adult—one hand on the child’s head was enough to prevent any touches. Despite Sonia’s intense efforts, the sense of impotence was growing in her heart, almost making her want to roar in frustration.

“Continue, Junior Sonia, show me all the moves you have.”

Reonie slightly raised her wooden sword, “Don’t worry about hurting me.”

These seemingly caring words were more sarcastic than any harsh speech, Sonia clenched her teeth, took a deep breath, “Then, Senior, I’m going full force, be careful!”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Sonia assumed a sword-drawing stance and Reonie raised an eyebrow, seemingly more interested, “Iaido Sword Skill?”

Steps, turning, a swing!

A gust of wind rose abruptly, sending a Sword Qi wave sweeping across the battlefield, Sonia charged forward with the speed of thunder and in a blink, reached Reonie!

This was Sonia’s own creation—the Iaido Wave Motion Sword!

“Quite interesting, but…”

Reonie accurately predicted Sonia’s sword path, slicing down, “Just like this—”

At that moment, Sonia suddenly stopped the Wave Motion Sword, her steps shifting eerily to dodge to the side and reorganize her sword stance for a counterattack!

A sword technique skill taught by the Observer—Seeing Cut!

Dang!

The wooden swords collided, producing a metallic clang. Reonie had more to say, but her expression suddenly changed the next second!

Ding ding ding ding—

Sounds like the strumming of steel wires rang out, and faintly visible armor plating appeared on Reonie, hit by threads of moonlight on her chest, waist, and thighs, causing ripples to spread across the armor.

“What Technique Spirit is that…?”

“I can’t tell, but it’s definitely not from the Sword Technique Faction, it must be from the Radiant Faction!”

“Sonia just became a Mage a few days ago; how could she have such a Technique Spirit? The Hidden Hand Sword Saint didn’t cultivate in the Radiant Faction either, did she?”

“It couldn’t possibly be something she obtained from the Void Realm, right? She’s only been there a few days!”

As people buzzed about Sonia’s new Technique Spirit, Reonie suddenly changed tactics, responding with a fierce assault to Sonia’s ‘surprise’!

Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!

Like a sudden storm, the onslaught left Sonia gasping for breath, her hands nearly numb.

In her haste, she tried to use moves like ‘Moon Threads’ or Seeing Cut to hinder Reonie, but these unchanging attacks didn’t delay Reonie even for a second and were instantly cracked by the Orange Dancer!

“Junior Sonia, to be honest, I was a bit angry just now,”

Reonie said while slashing, “When you hit my Sword Scale Feather Armor with the Radiant Trap, I felt humiliated by you—I, a fully-deployed Mage of the Silver Wings, fighting with you who has just become a Mage, and yet triggered the Protective Miracle, it was truly the most embarrassing thing.”

“If Professor Nidara knew, I would definitely get a scolding.”

“But I quickly realized that I had no right to be angry. The person who should be angry is you. You invited me with the greatest courage to have a passionate swordsmanship duel with you, yet I treated you with the condescension of an adult lecturing a child, humiliating you. It was wrong of me, and I apologize.”

“You awakened me with your Radiant Technique Spirit, and it made me realize that you are not useless like Felix—you are a true Sword Master!”

Sonia barely managed to squeeze out a few words amidst the beating, “You’re too kind—”

“No, I must offer you my sincerest apology.”

Reonie said slowly, “Next, I will use all my power to respond to your fierce battle intent.”

“Sonia, watch me closely.”

Reonie suddenly sheathed her sword and took a step back, but before Sonia could catch her breath, Reonie’s figure vanished from her sight!

A strong sense of crisis surged through her heart; Sonia got goosebumps all over and had no time to think, immediately swinging her wooden sword to the right to block—

Clang!

Sonia turned her head, but only saw a fleeting orange afterimage!

She could not capture Reonie’s form at all!

With her eyes rendered useless, Sonia could only depend on her instincts to defend!

Clang!

Around her, Reonie’s voice, filled with surprise, rang out, “It’s not luck, but now let’s see the real strength.”

The next second, the feeling of impending doom came rushing like an overwhelming tsunami, with Sonia feeling like a little boat before the tsunami, merely the aftershocks enough to make her perish!

She turned and blocked, just in time to see a streak of golden Sword Light lighting up the arena, like a Miracle punishing mankind!

Clang!

Sonia was sent flying, soaring through the air for several meters, but she immediately countered with the Wave Motion Sword to stabilize herself in mid-air, though her wrists were badly strained, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

At that point, Sonia finally realized what move Reonie had just used.

“Miracle･Rhythm Melody!”

“It’s here, the true Orange Dancer! A speed almost impossible to capture, just a flicker of orange afterimage!”

“Has Senior Reonie already mastered the famous Miracle of the Rhythm Sword Saint? But wasn’t this Miracle created by the Rhythm Sword Saint after becoming Two-winged?”

“That means Senior isn’t far from reaching the Two-winged Gold!”

Rhythm Melody, a sword technique Miracle created by Professor Nidara, is simple in effect: the first two strikes store energy, and the third strike explodes!

It doesn’t look like much, but once combined with the speed and invisibility Technique Spirits, Rhythm Melody turns into a deathly melody that harvests lives, easily destroying all defensive capabilities of an enemy in a short period and sinking any resistance with absolute violence!

Just like how Reonie is now overwhelming Sonia!

Clang!

Another heavy strike, although not the third explosive one, was still too much for a weary and injured Sonia to easily block. She staggered back several steps, reluctantly glancing at the sliced moon silk in the air.

“If my reaction couldn’t keep up with the speed, I would have died in the Abyss long ago.” Reonie’s voice rose again, “Traps like that are useless against me.”

Just before, Sonia had secretly activated the moon silk Technique Spirit, setting a trap in the air, thinking Reonie would crash into it due to her high speed. But how could a mage fall for such an obvious survival flaw? Reonie had cut the moon silk before even attacking. @@novelbin@@

Clang!

Sonia was forced back several steps again, and Reonie calmly stated, “Put down your sword, and it will count as a surrender.”

Should I surrender?

But if I don’t, the next would be the third strike of Rhythm Melody. Sonia knew clearly that she would not be able to withstand another explosive energy release; Reonie would send her flying over ten meters away, resulting in a humiliating defeat.

No matter how she thought about it, surrendering was the best choice.

Moreover, surrendering now wouldn’t bring shame on Sonia; fighting Reonie up to this point, not only did she bring out Reonie’s Protective Miracle, she also forced Reonie to use Rhythm Melody.

After this battle, no one would question Sonia’s qualification as Professor Trozan’s apprentice.

After this battle, Sonia would become the most renowned swordsmanship prodigy among the first-years.

She had gained a lot already, and this was the right time to step back.

If she was lucky, she might even build a relationship with Senior Reonie, who, I hear, has teamed up with people from Truth University, essentially opening a channel to higher connections.

Every rational thread in her mind knew what to do, her greatest asset since leaving the countryside to come to Jiale City—she never let emotions cloud her judgment.

Yet at this moment, despite the numbing pain in her hands, despite her body being so tired she could almost fall asleep the next second, Sonia just couldn’t bring herself to put down the sword!

She! Would! Not! Give! Up!

It wasn’t about gains, the future, or likes and dislikes!

She just wanted to win, she didn’t want to lose, that’s all!

Rebellious blood seared through every piece of her flesh, and angry thoughts at this moment overwhelmed her reason. She seemed to have transformed into a sword, living through death, crazed by battle!

“Observer, you orchestrated all of this just to enjoy my miserable defeat? Well, let me tell you, I’m not serving you!”

Sonia roared furiously in her mind, gripping her wooden sword tightly, tears brimming in her eyes, teeth almost biting through her lips, her whole body tensed, ready to face the final strike of Rhythm Melody!