"This China National Team member is too arrogant!"
"They've already won two rounds; with just one more, we'll lose completely."
"I wonder who they'll pick next."
As they spoke, the Japan National Pavilion students looked at Imai Shoji, the strongest among them.
"Don't even think about it; our chances of winning are slim," Mochizuki Chizuru said expressionlessly.
She looked towards Jiang Yuan and Ai Jiangtu on the other side: "Their vice-captain is a High-Level Space Mage. Space only awakens at High-Level, so he must have other magic systems that have also reached High-Level. In other words, their vice-captain is at least a dual-system High-Level."
"I cannot see through or sense the strength of their captain. However, to be the captain of the China National Team, his strength must be extraordinary, at least that of a High-Level Mage."
After this analysis, the Japan National Pavilion students' eyes widened in shock.
Among their group, none had advanced to High-Level so far.
If the captain and vice-captain of the China National Team entered the field, wouldn't it be a guaranteed loss?
If they lost like this, their chance of entering the National College Team would likely become even more distant.
Thinking of this, they began to panic.
"Don't panic. Just do your best later. Your task isn't to defeat them, but to gather intelligence on their strength through the sparring," Mochizuki Chizuru comforted them.
Even though she said that, they still wanted to win the match.
At this moment, someone from the China National Team stepped onto the stage.
"It's over, their captain is here."
As Jiang Yuan arrived at the dueling platform, all eyes focused on him.
Under everyone's gaze, he pointed his finger at Mochizuki Chizuru in the center of the crowd and said with a smile, "According to the rules, I choose you as my opponent."
"Me?"
Mochizuki Chizuru was stunned, and so were the others.
Fujikata Nobuko smiled and said, "You should pick someone else; Qianxun's identity is not a student."
"Oh, didn't they say I could pick anyone? I'm picking her. Is there a problem?" Jiang Yuan put on an arrogant, disdainful expression, trying to provoke Mochizuki Chizuru.
"Qianxun is our National Pavilion's combat instructor. Her strength is not on the same level as a student's. You should choose someone else," Mochizuki Meiken also came out to advise.
If news of a Japan National Pavilion instructor bullying a China National Team member spread, it would likely attract a lot of criticism internationally.
"My purpose for coming up today is not to challenge your National Pavilion students; that would be too easy for me. I will not choose anyone else; come up quickly!" Jiang Yuan affirmed.
"This…"
Fujikata Nobuko and Mochizuki Meiken exchanged glances.
Mochizuki Chizuru spoke: "Since you insist on choosing me, then I will grant your wish and come up to train with you properly. However, if I go up, this sparring match will not count towards the win-loss record, and you can choose another person to come up."
"No need, no more nonsense, let's begin!"
Jiang Yuan turned directly, not giving Mochizuki Chizuru a chance to refuse.
Mochizuki Chizuru finally couldn't hold back her anger, and no one around her could stop her from stepping onto the stage.
Today, she was going to let this China National Team captain know the consequences of being so arrogant!
The important figures watching from their seats discussed animatedly, looking at Jiang Yuan with expressions of displeasure and mockery, as if ridiculing his foolish act of choosing a National Pavilion instructor as an opponent.
"National Pavilion instructors are among the top High-Level Mages, and Miss Qianxun is an instructor specializing in combat. Her strength is far greater than that of seasoned High-Level Mages. How dare he challenge her?"
"Even in a vast and diverse land, there are bound to be some frogs at the bottom of a well. Perhaps their instructors are very weak, which is why they think they can challenge an instructor."
"Heh heh, just wait and watch Miss Qianxun make a fool of him. It's hard to imagine such a vast and rich place could produce such students, and even have one become the captain of the National College Team. Perhaps they should just give us their land…."
"..."
As the Japanese spoke, some even started placing bets, wagering on how long Jiang Yuan could last against Mochizuki Chizuru.
Most people chose less than five minutes.
The more Mo Fan and the others heard these disparaging looks and comments, the more they anticipated what would happen next.
"You are the most foolish and arrogant person I have ever seen." Mochizuki Chizuru's smile was full of superiority, looking at Jiang Yuan as if he were a mere clown.
"No more idle talk, let's begin." Jiang Yuan signaled to Fujikata Nobuko that he was ready.
"Good!" Mochizuki Chizuru's eyebrows shot up in anger at Jiang Yuan's attitude, and she also signaled that she was ready to begin.
Seeing this, Fujikata Nobuko immediately said, "Both sides are ready, you may begin!"
As her voice fell, no one moved.
Generally speaking, on a dueling platform, mages would try to seize the initiative to create a better magical environment.
Mochizuki Chizuru stood motionless, gazing proudly at Jiang Yuan, waiting for him to make the first move.
Seeing that Jiang Yuan was still not moving, she said with a scornful laugh, "You go first, otherwise some people will say that our great Japan is bullying China."
"Oh, alright."
Jiang Yuan was not polite either; a blue constellation instantly formed behind him, and he unleashed a Level 6 High-Level Water System magic.
"Raging Sea Erosion!!"
The sky suddenly split open with a massive fissure. In an instant, the entire firmament was obscured, and boundless, dark water poured down wildly, condensing into thousands of sharp water blades that whistled as they plunged towards the ground!!
As soon as the scene, akin to a natural disaster, appeared, all those on the Japan side instantly paled with shock.
"What kind of magic is this?!"
The power contained within it was already close to transcending the scope of High-Level Water System magic, with a might comparable to Super-Level magic!
"You told me to go first. Now let's see if you can block it. Good luck, Instructor Qianxun." Jiang Yuan waved his hand, saying innocently.
Although he called Mochizuki Chizuru an instructor in his words, which was usually a respectful address, at this moment, it sounded so jarring in her ears.
Jiang Yuan's Water System magic was incomparably more powerful than her own instructor's Water System magic.
It was clearly only High-Level magic, yet it possessed the power of Super-Level magic.
Is this the strength of the new generation's China National Team captain?
Mochizuki Chizuru looked up gravely. Facing the scene of a natural disaster bearing down, her heart trembled, and a sense of powerlessness she had never experienced before welled up within her.
Finally, she took a deep breath, scattering particles of Earth Seed around her body. Large, sturdy bellflower green vines and bellflowers grew forth.
Under her control, they formed a thick vine wall with no blind spots, covering 360 degrees. At the same time, a blue constellation also lit up behind her, adding another layer of defense with a High-Level Water System magic water barrier.
Before the towering waves and countless water blades of Raging Sea Erosion arrived, Mochizuki Chizuru desperately exerted all her strength to cast defenses upon herself.
Water System, Plant, and her rarely used third system, along with magic tools, magic armor, and a series of other usable methods, were all unleashed without any reservation.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Raging Sea Erosion instantly swallowed Mochizuki Chizuru in the center of the dueling platform.