The system puppet seemed to sense the subtle awkwardness caused by the "extra trip" and tried to alleviate it in its own way:
"Madam, do you know which day March 7th hates the most?"
Madam Herta was looking towards the battlefield, which was beginning to change, and subconsciously replied, "Which day?"
"The answer is March 8th. Because on that day, she will'scatter' in 'eight' directions, and will no longer be whole."
Logic analysis: Separating the characters "Three," "Month," and "Seven," imagine that when the date "March 8th" arrives, "Seven" becomes "Eight," so she "scatters."
Madam Herta: "..."
Her lips twitched uncontrollably. Her violet-black eyes glanced at the system, and just as she was about to comment on the joke that was colder than absolute zero, the situation on the field had already changed.
The warm-up battle ended, and the Void Rangers were completely cleared out.
Baiheng and Jack's health bars were still full, floating above their heads, as if the previous fight was just an appetizer.
Immediately following, the main subject of this test—Anaxa—made his dazzling debut!
He was still wearing the out-of-place blue and white striped hospital gown, squatting in the center of the arena, head down, drawing lines on the ground as if counting non-existent ants.
A health bar also clearly appeared above his head, forming a subtle contrast with his seemingly harmless posture.
Madam Herta sat up straight, a serious look revealed in her violet-black eyes.
This was the first "live combat test" with a Chrysos Heir, and she was very curious about what kind of demeanor this seemingly mad Scholar would display once his combat module was activated.
Jack didn't hesitate at all.
Like a killing machine receiving orders, she gripped the baseball bat again, pushed off the ground, and shot towards Anaxa like an arrow released from a bow, the bat cutting through the air, aiming straight for the opponent's seemingly defenseless back of the head!
However, in the next second, something surprising happened!
Anaxa didn't even turn his head, but merely raised a hand seemingly casually, grasping the fiercely smashing bat firmly and with uncanny precision!
His movements were so fluid it was as if everything had been calculated in advance.
He slowly raised his head. His green eyes, which should have been full of wisdom, were now empty, reflecting Jack's expressionless face.
Jack reacted extremely quickly. Seeing her weapon restrained, she immediately spun around and delivered a fierce side kick, sweeping straight toward Anaxa's waist!
Anaxa finally moved!
The hand gripping the bat flicked it away. At the same time, his body executed a retreat step, almost like teleportation, deftly avoiding Jack's kick, instantly reappearing five meters away, standing firm.
The two sides had their first formal confrontation.
Baiheng had already drawn her longbow, an energy arrow aimed at Anaxa, but the expression on her face was one of complete shock: "A-Anaxa Sensei?! How can this be..."
Possessing Amphoreus's Remembrance, she truly couldn't connect this sharp-moving individual in front of her with the gentle, green-haired Scholar from her memories.
Jack had no such distractions. She simply gripped her bat tighter, lowered her center of gravity, and, like a predatory beast, searched for the next opportunity to attack.
Madam Herta also leaned forward slightly, watching with interest.
(Inner thoughts: Oh? Good reactions and speed. It seems this Scholar isn't completely helpless after all.)
The atmosphere in the arena suddenly grew tense.
Everyone thought that what followed would be a fierce battle between dragons and tigers.
And then... Anaxa started dancing again!
It was still that demonic Indian dance, accompanied by a divine melody that sounded louder and came from nowhere in particular. He twisted wildly on the spot, using his hands and feet, his movements exaggerated, as if performing some mysterious ritual.
Baiheng: "..."
She felt her worldview being challenged again. Her mouth was open, and she almost forgot to aim her arrow.
(Inner thoughts: Is this... is this really the knowledgeable and talented Anaxa Sensei from my memories!?)
Even Madam Herta couldn't help but rub her forehead, feeling she couldn't bear to look.
(Inner thoughts: Sure enough... is abstraction carved into his bones?)
Jack, however, was completely unaffected.
In her combat logic, an enemy exposing a weakness was the best time to attack.
Seeing Anaxa's dance, which left his entire body wide open, she charged forward again like an arrow from a bow, the bat aimed straight for his wide-open chest!
Just as the bat was about to strike him—
The dancing Anaxa's movements suddenly changed!
His body side-stepped at an incredible angle, avoiding the bat. At the same time, his right leg stomped the ground like a coiled spring, his body rotated, and his left fist drew a sharp arc from bottom to top—
Rising Dragon Fist!
"Bang!"
A solid uppercut accurately connected with her chin!
Jack was lifted into the air for a moment!
That wasn't all!
The instant Anaxa landed, his footwork slid forward nimbly like a butterfly flitting among flowers. Using both hands, a set of incredibly swift short combos rained down upon the airborne Jack, concluding with a powerful straight punch!
"Ugh!"
Jack groaned, her body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, tumbling several times on the ground before stopping. The health bar above her head instantly dropped by one-third!
The stirred-up dust slowly dispersed.
Baiheng was completely dumbfounded, the hand holding her bow trembling.
(Inner thoughts: Holy crap!! When did Anaxa Sensei get so powerful?! His combat strength is insane!)
Madam Herta also rarely widened her violet-black eyes, almost failing to maintain her elegant posture.
(Inner thoughts: Wait?! Was that... a classic move from The King of Fighters? Why would a Scholar studying Earth Beasts know that?! Did the database make a mistake somewhere!?)
At this moment, Anaxa, after finishing his combo, did not pursue. Instead, he started hopping around again, his hands adopting a standard fighting stance, swaying left and right, his eyes cautiously "scanning" the two "opponents" on the field. His posture was exactly like a fighter who had jumped out of an arcade screen, creating a devastatingly cute contrast with his hospital gown.
Jack, the construct bearing heavy Remembrance, supported herself with the bat, swaying, yet rising again with unusual determination.
She lowered her head. In her gray eyes, there was no pain or fear, only a cold will that bordered on obsession.
She gripped the bat again. Although her body might still be slightly trembling from the heavy blow, she maintained an offensive posture, ready to charge at the irrational opponent once more.
This silent, almost tragic tenacity caused a flicker of surprise to cross the eyes of Madam Herta, who was watching the battle.
(Inner thoughts: To take a blow like that and immediately stand back up... The trials of the Elysian Realm truly seem to have left a deep mark on her.)
Baiheng looked at Jack's unyielding appearance, then looked at Anaxa, who was still hopping and posing, and gritted her teeth.
(Inner thoughts: Forget it, I don't care anymore! I have to help!)
She took a deep breath, her eyes becoming focused, and the bowstring vibrated rapidly!
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Three energy arrows, forming a 'Pin' character shape (a triangle), shot accurately toward Anaxa's upper, middle, and lower sections, attempting to disrupt his movements and create an opportunity for Jack.
The battle entered a more chaotic and intense phase.
Madam Herta, seated elegantly, gently adjusted the brim of her wide witchs hat. The interest in her violet-black eyes grew stronger.
This test seemed even more "splendid" than she had anticipated.
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