Soma saw Xiao Lian''s back figure leave his sight, entering the Arena, apanied by loud cheers from the spectators, making the entire stadium atmosphere lift up seeing her beautiful figure.


    {Here shees, a first-year student that came from a renowned family from Chinese; her name is Xiao Lian a first-year student}


    He shrugged his shoulders, reminding himself that he probably must do these activities two more times to relieve the other girl''s tension. Soma slightly understood because no matter what superior strength the girls possessed, they were still young and didn''t have any control over their feelings.


    Hina and Xiao Lian, both girls, were still in their first year; despite having much experience in the dungeon after staying near Soma, they still had little tolerance for fighting in front of many crowds. However, Soma could only hope that with his small encouragement, Xiao Lian, Hina, or Serafina, who would fight tomorrow, could keep calm in front of many gazes directed at them.


    Xiao Lian walked calmly toward the Arena; once she stopped in the middle, she gazed toward the front, waiting for her opponent to arrive.


    Then, a female student walked to the Arena from the other path. She was a beautiful girl with wavy blonde hair. Her green eyes were sharp like a de. With a calm atmosphere, she arrived at the Arena, smiling at Xiao Lian.


    {She is a second-year contestant named J; both contestants seemed to have arrived on the stage, Teacher Lee, please!}


    Teacher Lee descended to the stage, approached the two girls, and instructed them to get closer to each other.


    "Take out your weapon!".


    Xiao Lian and J simultaneously summoned their respective weapons, but Xiao Lian used a different spear and decided to store the Legendary Equipment. She took a spear with a ck shaft and a silver de on its tips.


    As for J, she grabbed the Longsword hilt and presented it to Lee. Both weapons had passed the test, and teacher Lee instructed them.


    "You two get ready!".


    Once they heard that they jumped at the same time and prepared their stance. Xiao Lian could feel her fingertips tremble slightly. Still, upon recalling the warmth and tight hug she had earlier, strength began to gather in her eyes, and she washed away her distress by exhaling loudly.


    On the other hand, J waspletely ready to face the match. She recalledst year''s bitter experience when She couldn''t do anything, fighting the second year. From that moment, she trained hard and vowed to herself that she would reach the finals.


    "Start!".


    As soon as themand echoed in the Arena, Xiao Lian rushed forward, which left everyone in the stadium baffled by how fast her movement was despite still being in her first year.


    J was also not an exception, but she regained her calm quickly as she saw the glimmering silver de approaching her face; then, from below, J swung her sword that struck the spear tips, deflecting its trajectory.


    J began her counter by shortening the distance between them and keeping her sword sliding through the spear shaft in defense. But Xiao Lian also didn''t stand still; she shifted her footwork changed the grip position of the shaft, and twirled the spear, attacking its dull side.


    The shaft traveled along a straight line from below, directed toward J''s hand. J, who saw iting, knit her brows before she halted her steps and lightly jumped backward, dodging the attack.


    However, thinking this was a chance, Xiao Lian began to change her approach more aggressively, switching her grip once more. She began to rain down J with her thrust, and sometimes, she added a little twist to the attack by shifting the de trajectory to the side in searching its target.


    {Woah, contestant Xiao Lian began to put pressure on J. Incredible! The fact is, she is still in her first year; I wonder what will happen when she enters her second year. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil!}


    Not just the emcee but everyone in the spectator''s spectators seats sat still, watching the match. Xiao Lian''s performance was absolutely stunning. Her precise control over distance and many variations from her attack that troubled the opponent made the entire stadium muted by her skill.


    In just a short amount of time, she trained with the others, and by watching others how to conduct oneself in martial arts, Xiao Lian''s rapid growth was truly extraordinary.


    Hina, Serafina, and Soma, who were always there practicing with her, parted their lips in satisfaction; also, as they looked at Xiao Lian''s performance, the fire in their eyes began to light up, and they couldn''t hold themselves back from participating in the match.


    J, who was being overwhelmed in terms of skill, gritted her teeth and kept desperately trying to find a chance for her to act, but one thing she missed about her opponent.


    A magical circle appeared behind J''s back, feeling something was not right. J jumped to the side and began to prepare her skill.


    However, before J reached the ground, Xiao Lian had already prepared a small block of ice as big as her fist, hidden behind her head. The ice began to fly in a straight line toward J, who was dyed by the activation of her skill.


    J threw away her n and raised her de, slicing the ice into two. But, once she sliced the ice whilending, in her sight, dozens of ice chunks flew over her ce, surrounding her from all sides.


    She began to throw away the thought of dodging the ice and lowered her stance with her sword raised, protecting her face and vital point. The ice struck J''s body at the same time, and it created a white mist that covered her entire body.


    {That was a direct hit. Is contestant J able to survive that attack?}


    The white mist surrounding J''s body dispersed, showing her current condition.


    However, to everyone''s surprise, J was only slightly hurt, with only a small scratch, but there was something strange with her sword. The sword de shone in silver light, sending shivers toward Xiao Lian''s side.


    "Sharp Edge!".


    J clenched the hilt and stood up despite slightly wobbling; with new resolve on her face, she swung the sword horizontally, creating a sonic de from thepressed mana she poured into the sword.


    Xiao Lian, who saw the approaching sh, knit her brows and decided to create manyyers of thick ice slightly far away in front of her. However, Soma, who watched the fight on the side, knit his brows in alert.


    Four thick ice walls stood in front of Xiao Lian, but when the sh reached the first wall, it cut through like there were no obstacles before its might. Xiao Lian realized it toote, and when the sh reached its fourth wall, its sharpness was unstoppable as it cut through it easily.


    Facing the sh that slightly approached her, Xiao Lian gritted her teeth, then put more strength in her feet before she leaped upward, dodging the sh.


    The sh itself began to blur, and it disappeared into thin air as Xiao Liannded on the ground. Both contestants looked toward each other''s eyes with parting lips.


    {Woah, that skill was so dangerous; both contestants began to prepare their next move and what would be the oue of this match; everyone, let''s cheer them both on!}