The Magic Feather Fantasy Winter Festival performance rehearsal was underway…
On the wide, brightly lit stage, the girls moved with energetic vitality.
Su Nian stood at the center of the group, every move textbook-perfect, both precise and graceful.
The girl’s snow-white neck arched in a beautiful curve, beads of sweat sliding down her delicate collarbone, vanishing into the slightly open neckline of her practice attire.
Yet in this moment, her brilliant sky-blue eyes occasionally flickered with a barely noticeable hint of anxiety.
“Huff.”
A round of high-intensity rehearsal finally came to an end, and the girls panted for breath as they rested.
Amy came over, gasping, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.
Her perpetually energetic doll-like face was now edged with clear concern.
“Nian-bao, you seem a bit distracted today, don’t you? Is it because of tonight’s match with those noble ladies? Don’t worry! You’re so amazing, you’ll be fine!”
Lise also approached, handing Su Nian a clean towel, her cool gaze tinged with a trace of inquiry.
Though she didn’t speak, the concern in her eyes was obvious.
Su Nian took the towel and roughly wiped the sweat from her cheeks and neck, forcing a smile and shaking her head as she said, “It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about some tactical countermeasures.”
She couldn’t possibly tell these two innocent companions that what worried her wasn’t those pampered noble girls — that would be a walk in the park…
What truly worried her was getting home late, and being “punished” by that bastard Horned Demon, right?
This was a secret she could never share with anyone.
The rehearsal ended promptly at dusk, and the person in charge of Magic Feather Fantasy announced that tomorrow would be a day off for rest and adjustment in preparation for the official Winter Festival performance the day after.
Su Nian almost dashed back to her own private dressing room at the fastest possible speed.
She had to get ready for tonight’s magic pet match… swift and decisive!
But after all, this was a formal duel.
Wearing a dance costume to the Magic Pet Glory Arena was definitely not appropriate.
In the end, her gaze landed on a magician’s performance outfit, carefully altered from one of her show costumes…
It was a short battle dress, moon-white as the main color, layered in tiers like white flowers blooming quietly in the night, light and full of movement.
The upper body was a strapless design that perfectly outlined the girl’s graceful, enticing figure.
The dress was adorned with countless tiny star diamonds, as if she wore the whole star-studded night sky.
Around her waist was a dark gold openwork soft-armor belt, accentuating her slender waist, adding a dash of heroic flair.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Su Nian nodded with satisfaction.
These days, her standards for her own image are getting higher and higher.
Wherever she went, she had to look presentable and beautiful.
Except when…
Forget it, not worth mentioning.
She had only one goal right now…
Win with the force of thunder, then rush back to Shadowmoon Manor as fast as possible, so she could obediently kneel before the main house doors before that bastard Horned Demon’s set time, waiting for the Horned Demon Master to return…
***
Dusk.
The scenery of Academy City was dazzling beyond words.
Magic Pet Glory Arena.
This grandest and most historic building in Academy City was at this moment completely enveloped in a frenzy of feverish energy.
Waves of people surged in from every corner of the city.
They nearly filled every inch inside and outside the arena.
The nobles’ ornate carriages caused traffic jams on the nearby streets.
The commoners excitedly waved all kinds of homemade cheering banners.
In the air, the aroma of grilled meat and the rich scent of ale intertwined, mingling with the noisy clamor of the crowd, forming a unique, restless atmosphere.
On the towering stone walls of the arena, all the magic lanterns had already been lit.
Their gentle yet bright light bathed the entire field, making it seem like broad daylight.
The massive circular sandy arena, though empty of people for the moment, still seemed to echo with the silent roars and the scent of blood from countless fierce battles.
“Miss Su Nian will win! Magic Feather Fantasy will win!”
“Miss Su Nian will win!”
“The honor of Magic Academy depends on Teacher Su Nian!”
“Miss Su Nian, represent Academy City and defeat these people soundly!”
The shouts came wave after wave.
Thanks to the deliberate promotion and behind-the-scenes maneuvering of Countess Lilian Field and others, what was originally just a rivalry among a few noble ladies had now clearly escalated.
It had been cleverly shaped into a critical duel about the honor of “Academy City’s genius” versus the face of the “Seven Great Families’ city-states”.
As a result, the people of Academy City were overwhelmingly on Su Nian’s side, the one representing their city.
Countess Lilian Field was not only not angered by this outcome, she was actually quite satisfied.
This was exactly the spectacle she wanted.
The greater the hope, the deeper the despair when hope was shattered.
Once Su Nian’s, in her opinion, utterly ridiculous “little fat bird” was ruthlessly burned to ashes by her Lava Drakesaur…
These currently fervent, shouting people would turn with the most caustic, poisonous words to attack the loser who had fallen from the altar.
And she, Countess Lilian Field, would step over the ruins of Su Nian’s ruined reputation to become a new legend.
The VIP seats of the arena were already packed with elegantly dressed nobles and prominent figures of the city.
They swirled crimson wine in their glasses with elegant poise, eyes filled with anticipation as they leisurely awaited the spectacle about to begin.
“Boom– Boom– Boom–“
A deep, powerfully rhythmic war drum suddenly resounded.
The beat struck at everyone’s hearts, signaling the start of the match.
Amidst deafening cheers that nearly lifted the roof, Countess Lilian Field and the other six noble ladies entered the arena first, each accompanied by their proud, powerful magic pets.
At the head was Lilian’s own, extraordinarily massive Lava Drakesaur, its whole body covered in thick, dark red scales.
Every step it took made the solid ground seem to tremble.
Hot, sulfurous breath spewed from its nostrils, so intense that even front-row spectators felt a suffocating shortness of breath.
The unique oppressive aura of a draconic beast spread invisibly, making some lower-ranked magic pets at the edge of the arena let out uneasy, low hisses.
Next came Rosaline’s sleek, jet-black Shadow Leopard, its fur so dark it didn’t even reflect the lights.
Juliana’s Steel-Armored Bull lumbered like a moving, heavy mountain, radiating rugged, ferocious energy.
The Two-Headed Wind Serpent twisted its agile body, the Swamp Giant Toad flexed its warty skin, the Windblade Wolf bared its sharp fangs, and there was also the wide-winged Longhorn Griffin.
Every magic pet exuded an aggressive, ferocious aura.
They silently showcased the profound heritage of the noble families in the art of magic pet breeding.
On the spectator stands, bursts of awe and genuine admiration erupted instantly.
“Heavens! Is that really the legendary draconic Lava Drakesaur of the Field Family? That’s terrifying!”
“And that Shadow Leopard! Look at those muscles—imagine the speed when it strikes!”
“Miss Su Nian… Can she really win?”