Artificial Shadow Realm.
A strong gust of wind swept in from the distant grasslands, carrying rolling clouds that gradually thickened and drifted overhead, like a vast white curtain shrouding the ocean of the sky.
The sound of the wind across the plains instantly grew tense, as if even the plants could sense the impending storm.
After her ambush failed, Huberian landed again, a thread of magic stretching from her hand, instantly pulling back the scorpion-tailed dagger that had fallen far away.
This made Flat’s expression darken even further.
She had small, instant-cast spells that required no chanting.
But not many.
And they still had cooldowns.
If he didn’t carefully observe Huberian and Lance’s movements and deliver a fatal blow, he risked being dragged into a stalemate.
For the examinees, as long as they lasted a full thirty minutes, they would still pass.The wind howled louder, like an invisible giant hand sweeping wildly across the plains.
The green sea of grass surged under the wind’s force, forming waves. Wild grasses danced wildly, rustling like the crashing tides of the ocean.
Huberian’s slender figure flickered in and out of sight across the grasslands. Her body was taut, her center of gravity low, poised like a venomous serpent ready to strike at any moment.
At any time, she could throw that weapon in her hand again as a hidden projectile.
Flat knew well that this was an ancestral weapon from the Aransal family.
Now, it was in Huberian’s hands as her primary weapon.
But he had never imagined that one day, this weapon would actually pose a threat to him.
High-quality magic cards, even low-tier ones, were indeed troublesome.
…
Meanwhile—
At the center of the Sage Institute’s conference room, the magical screen displayed the properties of this weapon, one that could be brought into the Shadow Realm:
【Purgatory Scorpion Tail】
【Category: Equipment Card】
【Grade: Pink (Sacred)】
【Attribute: Poison / Curse】
【Tier: 3】
【Effect: Attacks have a chance to inflict Poison, Bleeding, Paralysis, Healing Reduction, and other debuffs. Consumes mana to retrieve the weapon from a distance (Cooldown: 3s). Can extract poison from a target and apply it to the weapon (Cooldown: 120s).】
【Note: A scorpion tail from the Purgatory of the Demon Realm.】
“In most cases, a freshman possessing a magic card of rare or higher grade without ever challenging the Shadow Realm means they come from a noble family.”
“A Pink (Sacred) Tier magic card that perfectly suits its wielder—such a thing is rare even across the major academies of the Southern Continent.”
The teachers in the conference room studied the weapon in Huberian’s hands, engaged in a serious discussion.
Magic cards of this quality were always priceless and rarely available for purchase.
Even among many instructors, their primary cards were merely Purple (Epic) Tier.
Ultra-high-quality magic cards could only be obtained through extraordinary achievements in a real Shadow Realm—
Or by a Card Crafter achieving a miraculous breakthrough by sheer chance.
Or perhaps, it was an ancient card that had survived history instead of vanishing with its wielder.
“Huberian possesses both high Strength and high Mana, but her Mental Energy and Physical Energy are weak. This means she can’t cast a large number of spells and is extremely fragile. So she simply converted all her Mana into physical enhancement for melee combat.”
“Apart from this weapon, Invisibility Spells and Lifesaving Cards, nearly all her remaining card slots are filled with Body Enhancement Spells. Essentially, she’s an assassin.”
“She almost landed that attack just now.”
“Not even close. Flat’s combat experience and awareness ensure she’s nowhere near threatening him.”
At various round tables, different groups of instructors were conducting teaching research based on the battle so far.
“To be honest, she would benefit more from an enhancement-type Support Mage rather than a White Mage specialized in healing.”
At the head of the conference table, Vice Dean Roan tapped his fingers against the table and commented in a deep voice.
Clearly, a glass cannon like Huberian had no need for excessive healing.
“Even if Lance were a Summoner, it would be better—since many summoned creatures provide aura buffs for the whole team.”
In general, among magic cards of the same tier:
Summoning Cards consumed the most mana,
Spell Cards had varying costs,
Equipment Cards usually required the least mana.
This was why Equipment Cards were the most popular among physical combatants in the Knight Institute.
And Lance’s high Mental Energy, which granted him a huge Mana pool, was perfect for summoning a large number of creatures.
Even if his summons were individually weak due to his low raw magic strength, he could still fill his team with aura-boosting summons, making him a strong support player.
Right now, Huberian needed exactly this kind of assistance.
“Yes, what a shame.”
“Let’s see if Lance has any game-changing spells or summons left in his remaining card slots.”
The instructors in the conference room nodded at Vice Dean Roan’s assessment.
They weren’t expecting Lance to have a high-tier, ultra-rare card like Huberian.
But considering his high Mana pool and high Mental Energy, he had to be carrying at least some powerful Spell Cards or Summoning Cards.
Otherwise, his potential would be completely wasted.
Many Sage Institute instructors were actually hoping both Huberian and Lance would pass.
Because these two freshmen had already demonstrated exceptional qualities in the face of extreme combat conditions.
Under normal circumstances, this should have been an intense chase battle—one worth watching.
However…
They were still missing too many pieces needed to truly defeat a Tier 5 opponent like Flat.
In fact, many instructors already knew Huberian’s background.
And not just them.
Certain high-ranking figures in the kingdom were also paying close attention to today’s entrance exam.
On her own, Huberian had no chance of defeating Flat, even with his chanting spells sealed.
If they wanted to win—
Their only hope lay in Lance, the unpredictable wildcard!
It was up to him to create an opening for Huberian.
The key question was:
Aside from all his healing magic… what else did Lance bring?
Other than the Silencing Spell 【Friendly Exchange】, what other cards did he have left?
Ever since Lance had revealed 【Friendly Exchange】,
Everyone in the conference room had been waiting for him—
Waiting for Lance to show his true power!
…
Eleven Great Plains, Artificial Shadow Realm.
Suspended mid-air like a god, Flat hovered with an icy gaze, surveying his surroundings.
Most of his focus had to remain on Huberian, who was both closer and far more dangerous.
Not only did he need to stay alert for the moment she would leave behind another decoy, slipping into invisibility to strike a lethal blow, but he also had to keep an eye on Lance, watching for any unexpected moves from afar.
What unsettled Flat the most was—
Lance, in the distance, remained calm and composed, completely unfazed, as if he felt no sense of danger at all.
Logically speaking, Lance was the challenger here.
And as the examiner—the absolute powerhouse—Flat should have been the one being challenged.
Yet from the start of the exam until now, something about their dynamic had shifted.
A question slowly surfaced in Flat’s mind—
Who was really challenging who?