Linglong stood at the edge of the arena, beginning her incantation. Fire elementals swirled rapidly around her, condensing into a formidable aura. Her opponents, unwilling to underestimate her, simultaneously chanted spells and gathered their magic. They had lingered at Level Three for years; to be bested now by a freshman would bring unbearable humiliation back at the palace.
Yet Linglong remained poised, unmoving. Even from below, Vice Dean Yin and Chief Mage Xing could sense the surging power enveloping her—an overwhelming force that, once unleashed, would lay waste indiscriminately.
The fire mage on the opposing side, however, could no longer restrain himself. Three fireballs shot forth in rapid succession. Linglong met them with calm composure, chanting a defensive spell that effortlessly intercepted each orb.
The two challengers exchanged glances, anxiety mirrored in their eyes. Their strategy had been simple: the fire mage would probe, the water mage would defend. Together, their combined power should suffice to overwhelm a novice. Yet the seemingly unassuming young woman before them radiated such an unstoppable momentum that hesitation crept into their hearts.
The water mage, unwilling to remain passive, conjured two water arrows, sending them hurtling toward her. The fire mage, now fully committed, unleashed three denser fireballs, combining with the water arrows in a coordinated assault.
And then—
Linglong's eyes glimmered with a spark of brilliance. She leapt, hurling a fireball at her feet. Upon contact with the ground, it erupted violently, and in the same instant, she formed a defensive barrier. Using the explosive recoil, she propelled herself across the stage.
The maneuver stunned the audience. Even the Chief Court Mage could not help but nod in quiet approval. Magical combat was never merely a matter of trading spell for spell—technique and strategy were decisive.
The two court mages on stage were caught completely off guard. Linglong's mobility rendered their attacks ineffective; only a single water arrow grazed her thigh. Yet she made no attempt to block, instead using the momentum to land seven paces away from her opponents.
Before they could recover from the shock, Linglong unleashed her accumulated fire element—a spell she had perfected:
Dragon's Breath!
A pillar of flame, thick as a man's arm, roared from her hands, striking the water mage squarely. Had the mage remained patient, maintaining a water shield and magical barrier, the assault might have been mitigated. But in his haste to attack, his hastily formed defenses were obliterated. He was hurled off the arena, charred and disheveled, yet ultimately unharmed thanks to the spell's overwhelming force being greater than its destructive capacity.
Vice Dean Yin signaled for the assessment to continue.
Now, a one-on-one remained. Any keen observer could tell the court mage posed no real challenge to Linglong. The true question was how much magical energy she had left. That single attack, for a freshman, had already been extraordinary—how could she possibly subdue the remaining opponent?
The court mage, equally wary, assumed she would falter. Though his own mana was depleted after casting successive fireballs, he doubted Linglong's capacity to endure.
Linglong's face remained impassive, lips barely parted. Seven fireballs coalesced before her in a dazzling display.
The audience was speechless. None could fathom a freshman possessing such magical reserves—mana comparable to that of a Level Five mage. Confronted with this, the court mage surrendered immediately, leaping from the stage. He had no hope of sustaining such a barrage.
Yet Linglong knew the truth: her apparent mana was not sheer volume, but the product of a specialized breathing technique, allowing rapid regeneration in combat. Otherwise, even with naturally abundant reserves, she would never have needed to laboriously form the Dragon's Breath spell.
The spectators, oblivious to her method, remained awestruck. The first freshman had passed the assessment with unmatched brilliance, inspiring hope for those who followed.
However, the momentum did not continue for the next two Fire Class freshmen. They quickly fell, their overestimation of personal skill evident.
Subsequent classes fared similarly: the Wind Class had only one participant for the Level Four assessment, who failed; the Water Class had none, unsurprising given the early-stage defensive nature of their spells.
At last came the Lightning Class. Linglong braced herself, for there was one competitor she had long anticipated: Zi Ling, the only one capable of challenging her.
"Level Four Mage assessment, Lightning Class—no applicants," Vice Dean Yin announced.
Impossible. Linglong's pride would never allow her to remain a mere Level Three. Could it be—?
Yin continued: "Next is the Level Five Mage assessment. Master Xing, please arrange the examiners."
The crowd erupted.
"A freshman? Level Five Mage? Did I hear that right?""The gap between individuals is astonishing."
Only a few, aware of the individual's true ability, understood the gravity. Linglong herself thought:
"Zi Ling… the gap between us is already so vast. Let's see how you manage the Level Five assessment."
Master Xing, equally stunned, confirmed with Yin before selecting two Level Four court mages for the arena.
Vice Dean Yin, seeing the pair ready, announced: "Level Five Mage assessment—applicant, Zi—"
A sharp crash interrupted him. In the center of the arena landed a poised, striking young man. Single knee bent, one hand behind him, the other pointing skyward, he struck an image of a heroic figure descending.
He rose slowly, chin lifted, hand pointing to the heavens, and bellowed:
"Ellie, screw you!"
It could only be Jody.