The examination arena was a 40×40 meter platform, completely open without any coverings around it.
However, the middle of the arena was filled with stone pillars of varying heights and widths, the tallest reaching ten meters high.
Besides Su Xing and the others, many other first-year students came to watch.
After all, this was the competition for the top spot on the Support Ranking.
Moreover, Su Xing’s year group was ranked last, while Viktor’s year group was first, and the two had long-standing grudges.
Almost all the first-year students knew about this gossip.
Now that there was clearly some entertainment to watch, who would want to miss it?
“Who do you think will win?”
“Is that even a question? Definitely Lierde!”
“But I remember Quinn’s results were pretty good. He’s often praised by the teachers.”
“He’s just a bookworm. Look at his pale face—how could he possibly beat Lierde?”
“That’s true. Then this match isn’t much of a contest. Why bother watching?”
“Of course, it’s to watch the fun unfold.”
A friend smiled excitedly.
“The first and last teams in the year, plus the genius eldest son of the Pike Corporation and the useless youngest son of Unicorn Bank. I can already feel the brewing storm inside the academy!”
Another person couldn’t understand his strange hobby: “It’s a one-sided fight. I don’t get why you’re excited.”
***
The chatter of the crowd aside, the match officially began on the arena.
Lierde immediately released his Phantom Spirit Energy Orb and activated his skill—“Vitality Possession!”
With a swoosh, Lierde’s thin frame suddenly expanded to three times its size, his whole body becoming rounded and plump.
Watching Lierde’s transformation, Su Xing twitched the corner of her mouth.
Their B-Class took physical training classes together with A-Class, but not the Phantom Spirit training classes, so this was the first time Su Xing and the others had seen Lierde possessed by his Phantom Spirit.
“This change… it’s still bearable because it’s Lierde. Imagine if it were someone else—what would they look like?”
Su Xing couldn’t help but comment.
Kaka clearly had other thoughts: “So handsome!”
Su Xing shot her a shocked side glance, unable to understand but clearly stunned.
Is this what straight male aesthetics are?
Su Xing and the others standing in the stands could all feel this astonishing change.
From the arena, Quinn, facing him, must have felt it even more clearly.
Not only had Lierde’s size increased, but his aura seemed to have leveled up as well.
That huge volume gave Quinn a feeling of being completely outmatched.
Calming himself, Quinn thought, the increase in size should affect speed.
As long as he could buy enough time and exhaust Lierde’s skill, he would have a chance to win.
This was exactly what he planned. Quinn clearly understood his disadvantage.
In fact, facing the powerful Lierde, he had almost no edge.
He could only seize the opponent’s weaknesses to find a way out.
However, Quinn didn’t expect that although Lierde had gotten bigger, his speed had not slowed at all. He charged at Quinn with lightning speed.
Startled, Quinn quickly retreated backward.
But Lierde, naturally faster, soon caught up and forced a grapple.
From the stands, Su Xing and the others were also shocked. Kaka’s mouth gaped open in surprise: “How is he so fast?”
Su Xing was equally puzzled: “When I gathered intel before, A-Class students clearly said Lierde’s speed would slow after possession. Why isn’t that happening?”
She refused to believe Viktor bribed the entire A-Class to lie to her.
This could only mean that Lierde had improved through training over time.
Sure enough, Viktor looked over smugly, obviously having predicted this scene: “You don’t really think we’re the same as at the start of the semester, do you?”
Avril glared at him: “You say that like they could beat us right at the start.”
Viktor watched the one-sided situation below, his mood brightening as he laughed: “You’re right. I misspoke.”
“Swish!”
Suddenly, a crescent-shaped hidden weapon whizzed past Viktor’s hair and stuck into the chair back behind him.
Viktor froze in place.
Avril screamed, and several people quickly stood up, glaring fiercely at Ivencel, who had thrown the hidden weapon.
When Viktor came to his senses, his face turned pale as he shouted angrily: “Are you crazy? This is the school! Are you trying to murder me?”
Ivencel replied succinctly, “It didn’t hit you, did it?”
“You!”
Viktor was furious.
Su Xing gave Ivencel a well-played look, then smoothed things over: “It was an accident, an accident. We all make mistakes, right?”
Viktor sneered coldly at them: “You guys only know how to pull these petty tricks.”
Then he turned his full attention back to the arena below.
Su Xing’s gaze also shifted downwards.
She saw that Quinn had finally put some distance between himself and Lierde, running with all his might.
But his face was covered in bruises and welts, looking utterly miserable.
Behind him, Lierde had no wounds at all, relaxed and carefree.
The gap between them was quickly closing; Quinn would soon be caught again.
Su Xing’s heart sank.
If this continued, Quinn would undoubtedly lose.
Beside her, Viktor was already amused again by the scene, sneering: “Not even releasing his Phantom Spirit and just running away. The fifth-ranked Support player in your group has been turned into trash. I have to admit, I’m impressed by your abilities.”
Su Xing warned coldly: “You don’t want Ivencel to mess up again, do you?”
Ivencel casually took out another hidden weapon and toyed with it in his hand.
Viktor stiffened, snorted coldly, and fell silent.
After saying that, Su Xing continued watching. Quinn seemed to have an idea and headed straight toward a particular spot. Su Xing glanced and then smiled faintly.
Quite clever.
Ivencel was clearly running toward the densely clustered stone pillars in the arena.
Although Lierde’s size didn’t affect his speed, it was impossible for it not to impact anything.
At least his bulk meant he couldn’t move flexibly through an area filled with obstacles.
This idea seemed simple, but the actual execution was not.
Su Xing could react quickly only because she was watching from a god’s-eye view.
In reality, the stone pillars in the arena would change positions and only rose when both competitors stood on the platform.
This meant Quinn couldn’t directly discern which area was denser with pillars.
He had to explore on-site and memorize the map mentally to find the right spot.
Don’t forget, Quinn was constantly being chased and attacked by Lierde.
Su Xing was sure he was exploring the layout bit by bit while being beaten.
Then, catching Lierde off guard, he broke free—leading to the current situation.
Teachers watching behind the Phantom Duel Arena also nodded.
Many smiled, and Meni said to Adra, “Quinn is performing well. He’s calm and analytical despite the disadvantage.”
The A-Class homeroom teacher couldn’t help but say, “What’s the point of being smart? His winning odds are still slim. Even if Lierde’s possession ends, he can still beat Quinn.”
Adra was about to be modest but was immediately displeased: “The result isn’t decided yet. Don’t forget, Quinn hasn’t released his Phantom Spirit!”
The A-Class homeroom teacher shot back, “With his Phantom Spirit? What use is it when it’s released?”
“That’s uncertain.”
Winx pushed up his glasses gently and said kindly, the reflection gleaming: “Maybe that healing-type Phantom Spirit is Quinn’s key to turning things around.”
The A-Class homeroom teacher sneered and fell silent.
He didn’t believe Quinn had any chance of a comeback, only hoping he wouldn’t lose too badly.
***
On the arena, Quinn darted between the stone pillars.
He wasn’t fast, but the terrain restricted the opponent.
Even if Lierde jumped onto the pillars, he couldn’t catch up.
Lierde was frustrated: “Can you stop dodging? You’re making us look like we’re putting on a monkey show.”
Quinn gasped for breath and barely responded, “You just…解除附体状态 (解除附体状态) and you can… catch me, right?”
“Forget it.” Lierde had his own calculations. “I have more stamina than you. Wearing you down now will make it easier to win after possession.”
Like most, Lierde didn’t think he would lose.
His physical skills were average, but compared to the clearly weaker Quinn, he definitely had the advantage.
Even without possession, Quinn couldn’t beat him.
And Lierde knew that Quinn’s Phantom Spirit wasn’t offensive.
This match was a sure win for him.
The possession state lasted about two minutes before ending.
Slim again, Lierde immediately accelerated and quickly caught up with Quinn.
He grabbed Quinn’s shoulder and pulled hard.
Quinn turned his head and suddenly threw a green object.
Lierde panicked and tried to block it.
Unexpectedly, the green thing snapped shut on most of his arm, then dangled from his hand.
Lierde stared closely.
This thing was clearly Quinn’s Phantom Spirit Rose, its large mouth used for healing had bitten onto him.
Even Lierde couldn’t help but show a complicated expression.
Quinn didn’t give him time to react and launched the first counterattack of the match.
He grabbed Lierde’s unbitten left hand and slammed a punch into his face.
Lierde cried out in pain and tried to raise his right hand to hit back.
But the rose hanging on his right hand wasn’t light, slowing his motion.
Quinn pressed forward, trying to pin Lierde down.
But Lierde wasn’t a pushover; he mustered strength to lift his arm and smash the rose like a weapon toward Quinn.
Suddenly, he grunted fiercely and froze mid-motion.
Quinn took the chance to complete his move, pinning Lierde beneath him and landing solid punches.
Kaka was dumbfounded: “Is this really Quinn?”
Su Xing twitched the corner of her mouth, speechless: “I’m sure the Support Group’s matches are the fiercest among us.”
Even Ivencel didn’t argue but nodded in deep agreement.
This was way too brutal!
Soon, Lierde completely lost the ability to resist and was declared the loser.
After the match, Quinn collapsed off Lierde, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.
After ten minutes of running and close-quarter fighting, combined with the intense mental effort, Quinn was drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted.
Lierde lay beside him, breathing heavily.
After a while, he finally said the first words since the match ended: “Your Phantom Spirit’s mouth actually has teeth!”
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