Chapter 317

Words : 2530 Updated : Oct 15th, 2025

Chapter 317 “Ugh...?!” A merciless punch drove deep into Jane’s abdomen, instantly disrupting her breathing; it felt as though it had clawed its way in between her organs. This is dangerous...! For someone vulnerable in close combat like her, her position spelled trouble. Realizing she could lose without even putting up a fight, Jane hastily invoked her Divine Magic. Clang! Divine mana surged from her entire body, wrapping around her like armor and sinking in deep, drastically amplifying her physical abilities. Since she had already allowed her opponent to close the distance, it was impossible for her to escape unscathed. That was why Jane just accepted that some damage was inevitable and began preparing to counterattack instead. Smack-! However, Luize had already learned the ins and outs of close combat, meaning she wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. “Gravity Boost.” BOOM! Luize hooked Jane’s ankle, grabbed her head, and slammed her into the ground. Then, once Jane’s body rebounded, Luize delivered a full-force kick to her head. Whack! Although Jane’s divine mana mitigated much of the damage, the critical part was the shock that burrowed into her mind. It made Jane falter, unable to cast her next spell. “Shadow Tentacles.” Squelch! Wasting no time, Luize cast another incantation and tentacles shot up from Jane’s shadow, wrapping tightly around her wrists and ankles. Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Swung by the tentacles in all directions, Jane’s body slammed into the ground repeatedly. And between the blows, Luize’s fists and kicks rained down, each so powerful that they seemed capable of breaking bones just from the sound. What am I watching...? Does she have a grudge against the Church or something? Despite it being a spar, Luize's unrelenting assault was blatantly brutal. It was as though she intended on taking Jane’s life. But while the spectators’ expressions were one of shock, in the commentary booth, Lan Fang’s was one of curiosity. Hmm... it seems she’s very aware of her disadvantages. At a glance, it appeared Luize had an overwhelming advantage, but it was more complicated. Despite the noise and ferocity, most of Luize’s attacks barely penetrated Jane’s divine mana. All Luize managed was to delay Jane’s Divine Magic. If she tries to throw Jane out of bounds, Jane will counterattack with her spells. And if she keeps this up, she’ll hit her limit soon. What Luize needed was a way to pierce Jane’s thick divine mana armor. However, such a feat was far from easy. The very reason Jane ranked sixth in the Hall of Martial Arts was because of that defense. In the end, the deciding factor lies elsewhere.... Oh right, I have to broadcast this. Belatedly remembering her job, Lan Fang energetically announced to the audience, “Luize Valente continues her relentless assault, preventing Jane Rose from using her Divine Magic! Will she be able to finish the match like this?!” Her booming commentary echoed across the Hall. Jane frowned in frustration. While most of the audience focused on the physical battle, with her being thrown around everywhere, the true clash between her and Luize was taking place elsewhere. Clink, clink- A white arrow spun on the ground, twisting left and right as if in a battle of its own. Jane’s stigmata, the Arrow of Guidance, was locked in a struggle for control. She shouldn’t be able to focus either.... How is she doing this...? The Arrow of Guidance was a weapon that had been crafted by the Pope specifically for Jane. Just the mere fact that Luize could contest for its control left Jane in awe. But despite her admiration for Luize’s talent, Jane was beginning to see a glimpse of a chance to counterattack. Whir! Gathering her divine mana, Jane first numbed the pain and then blocked the force of the attacks digging into her body. Just one opening. If I can create a single gap, I can reclaim the Arrow of Guidance and turn the tide. She fixed her gaze on the storm of attacks raining down. Then the perfect moment finally came. BOOM! Jane planted her left arm into the ground up to the elbow, locking her body in place mid-swing. “?!” Luize’s kick narrowly missed Jane, and Jane’s eyes flashed as she focused her divine mana on the Arrow of Guidance. “Release!” Fwoosh! Releasing a burst of golden light that flooded the arena, the white arrow transformed into dozens of massive spears, all targeting Luize. Finally...! Regaining full control over her Stigmata at last, Jane unleashed the spears toward Luize, confident of victory. “Set-” At that moment, however, Luize’s voice rang out, and a crimson magic array appeared on Jane’s body. “Division.” BOOM! Divine mana erupted across the arena, enveloping everything in a blinding golden glow. Its sheer radiance even forced spectators to shield their eyes or turn away. And when the light finally faded, the audience refocused on the arena and gasped. “Huh...?” “What just happened...?” Jane now lay outside the ring, while Luize stood calmly within the boundaries. “Jane Rose, out of bounds! Luize Valente wins!!!” With Lan Fang’s declaration of the winner, the delayed applause and cheers from the audience finally erupted, though many still struggled to understand how the ending came to be. The spears were clearly flying towards Luize.... How did Jane end up out of bounds? Did she use some kind of redirection magic? While the crowd murmured in confusion, Jane, still lying outside the arena, stared at Luize with disbelief. No way.... Was this what she was aiming for all along? Jane had assumed Luize’s relentless attacks were merely Luize exploiting her weakness in close combat, but in actuality, each strike had been subtly infusing her body with mana. She then used that mana to deceive the Arrow of Guidance... At the last moment, Luize’s incantation activated the mana imbued in Jane, causing the arrow to target both of them mistakenly. As a result, the Arrow of Guidance’s attack also hit Jane herself, pushing her out of bounds. She must have tampered with the Arrow of Guidance.... I was playing into her hands from the start. Bitterly acknowledging her undeniable defeat, Jane managed a wry smile before bowing her head slightly. “I’ve learned a lot from this, thanks.” “You fought well,” Luize replied politely. The two competitors then exchanged a brief nod and promptly departed through the corridors they had entered from. But that made Lan Fan, who was watching from above, scratch her head awkwardly. “Ah... It seems neither competitor plans to give an interview. In that case, we’ll repair the arena quickly and move on to the next match...” *** Back in the waiting room, Luize slumped into a chair and let out a deep sigh. “Haaaa... That was a close one...” She had intended to either steal complete control of Jane’s arrow or infuse mana directly into Jane’s diving mana armor to disable it forcefully. However, both attempts had failed. Jane’s skill was definitely a factor, but the bigger obstacle had been that she was using divine mana. Compared to mana, it’s harder to synchronize with... If she had been able to use divine mana herself, perhaps the battle would have ended more decisively. Didn’t someone say I had a talent for divine mana? Back then, she’d also been told to hide it to avoid complications with Apostate, but now that he had been dealt with, perhaps it wasn’t an issue anymore. At the thought, Luize began seriously considering whether to learn how to harness divine mana. Knock knock. “Interview time.” Then, without waiting, the door opened to reveal Se-Hoon. “If you’re going to barge in anyway, why bother knocking?” Luize quipped. “You do the same thing sometimes, so stop complaining,” Se-Hoon replied with a smirk, ignoring her retort as he made himself comfortable on the sofa across from her. “Things are getting crazy out there,” he said casually. “...Really?” Though Luize tried to feign indifference, she couldn’t hide the curiosity in her voice. She had gained some fame as the honor student of her department during the first semester, but it was nothing compared to the fame of the youngest archbishop of the Pilgrimage Church. To dominate such an opponent and secure victory? Naturally, it would be the talk of the academy. Clearing her throat, Luize tried her best to be nonchalant. “So... what are they saying?” “That you fight dirty as hell.” “...What?” Hearing something unexpected, Luize glared at Se-Hoon, who chuckled at her reaction. “Stuff like, ‘She’s gone crazy just for a sparring match,’ and ‘Does she have a vendetta against the Church?’ Mostly though, they’re just saying you were downright ruthless.” “...” “And honestly, from a typical audience’s perspective, it was a bit much.” To ordinary onlookers who weren’t able to see the struggle for control over the arrow, it simply looked like Luize had treated Jane like a punching bag, slamming her all over the arena before throwing her out of bounds. However, thanks to Lan Fang’s commentary, the audience now understood some of the nuance. Still, the brutal visuals left an impression. “Ugh...” Luize groaned, her expression twisting in frustration. While she typically didn’t care about the opinions of others, the “fighting dirty” label made her victory feel undeserved. I didn’t even use any real dirty tricks... If she’d actually employed the underhanded tactics Se-Hoon had used against her during sparring sessions, she could’ve ended the match far more easily. Left feeling oddly indignant, Luize brooded over it. And not long later, Se-Hoon spoke up, giving her a satisfied smile. “But for what it’s worth, I thought you did a great job.” “...What?” “You’ve been training hard, haven’t you? It really shows. I thought you’d struggle more, but you handled it well. Nice work.” “...” Luize stared at him silently, pursing her lips a moment later. “...Technically, it’s your fault I’m getting called dirty. You’re the one who taught me all those weird tricks...” she muttered. “But better that than losing, right?” “Well... yeah, I guess.” She was giving her agreement so begrudgingly that Se-Hoon laughed. “Honestly, you adhered to the rules too much. Your close-quarters combat could use work. Start by focusing on—” Waaaah-! A roar of excitement from the arena echoed faintly into the waiting room, cutting him off. Exchanging glances, Luize then grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. 「This is the match everyone has been waiting for! For three years, the undefeated number one of the Hall of Martial Arts! But facing them today is the second-place challenger who’s been sharpening their blade for two years!」 The camera panned over a confident blonde woman with a radiant smile before moving and focusing on a dark-haired young man, calm and shadowed, exuding a quiet intensity. Their contrasting presences drew thunderous cheers from the audience; their excitement then further flamed by Lan Fang. 「Fourth-year honor student Ariaaaaaa Myers! And her opponent, third-year honor student Inoue Reeeeeeeen! Let the match... BEGIN!」 The air buzzed with anticipation as the two drew their weapons—a rapier for Aria and folding fans for Ren—and dashed into action. Boom! Golden sword aura slashed wildly as Aria attacked, while Ren, with a black serpent wrapped around his body, countered by summoning a crimson giant and a sapphire giant to his side. Boom! Each clash of power shook the arena, making it look like it was about to collapse. Watching the spectacle, Luize’s eyes flared with recognition. “Wait, that guy... he’s that brat’s brother, isn’t he?” “Brat? You mean he’s your brother?” Se-Hoon replied, smirking. Immediately, Luize shot him a glare and raised her fist in mock threat, prompting a quiet laugh as he nodded. “Yeah, he’s Erika’s brother. Why?” “Tsk...” Luize turned her attention back to the screen. Swinging its axe, the crimson giant, Red Oni, unleashed fiery explosions with each strike, while the sapphire giant, Blue Oni, created waves of water and frost with sweeping motions. And between them, Black Serpent slithered, striking silently and forcing Aria to tread carefully. I guess they are from prestigious families, all right... For a moment, Luize couldn’t help but wonder if the match would essentially decide the tournament winner. However, she quickly shook her head to banish the thought. No. I’ll be the one to claim the winning prize. Glancing beside her, she saw Se-Hoon watching the screen with an unenthused expression, catching her attention. “What’s with that look? Bored already?” “Kind of,” Se-Hoon replied flatly. “Why? They’re both fighting pretty intensely.” Although it seemed like they were still feeling each other out, surely the intensity would ramp up soon. But Se-Hoon just glanced at Ren and stated, “Because the results have already been decided.” Crash! As soon as he finished his sentence, Aria surged forward, her rapier glowing with golden light as she launched herself at Ren in an explosive burst. Slash! A cross-shaped fissure now split the arena, Aria’s rapier poised just inches from Ren’s neck. 「...I yield.」 Ren gave a wry smile, raising his hands in surrender, and Aria, saying nothing, just withdrew her blade. Realizing the match had ended in the blink of an eye, the audience erupted into cheers and applause at the dazzling display. Unlike the audience, however, Luize’s brow furrowed in annoyance. “...What’s that guy doing?” Luize grumbled. Ren clearly had time to react, yet he’d chosen to concede. “Did he intentionally throw the match because he didn’t want to show his actual strength?” she asked, turning to Se-Hoon for confirmation. “Partly. Ren knew that even if he had gone all out, he probably couldn’t win. So he just wrapped it up neatly.” In a public match, there was no reason to reveal one’s hidden techniques, especially when losing wouldn’t harm their reputation. Ren had likely made that pragmatic decision. “Tsk. Then why bother signing up at all?” Luize scoffed, irritated by the anti-climactic end. While she was dissatisfied, though, the energy in the stadium rose endlessly. Then, just as Luize was wishing for the next match to begin quickly, Aria gave a subtle wave toward the commentary box from the stage. 「Ah! It seems Aria has something to say. Let’s hear from her!」 Despite winning, Aria remained in the arena, surrounded by the spectators buzzing with excitement. And soon, her amplified voice filled the Hall as she smiled at the crowd. 「Thank you all for coming to watch our matches this weekend. I hope you’ll enjoy the finals tomorrow.」 Her words were standard fare for such events. Scanning the crowd, she suddenly locked eyes with the camera. 「And to Lee Se-Hoon, who crafted this incredible sword of mine, I’ll deliver the winner’s bouquet to you, personally.」 With a bold smile, she declared her intent to win to all, reigniting the arena’s cheers. In contrast, the waiting room turned icy. “...Funny.” Luize let out a frosty laugh, clearly unimpressed.

Chapter 317

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