Chapter 404

Chapter 404: The Battle

Though Hank considered himself far from the most exceptional among the world’s many geniuses, acknowledging this truth was one matter while encountering it proved entirely different.

Surprise, hesitation, and a burgeoning fighting spirit rising in their wake.

“What does Miss Magic Rainbow think? Though your level may indeed be higher than mine as Mrs. Ada suggested, level is one thing, but actual combat is another. Once the battle commences, I won’t hold back.”

The young man fixed an intense gaze upon Magic Rainbow.

At this moment, the white-haired woman was not a beauty in his eyes, but an opponent worthy of crossing magic with.

“Naturally, I accept. Mr. Hank, please don’t hold back either. With Mrs. Ada observing from the sidelines, our safety shouldn’t be a major concern, correct?”

As she finished speaking, Magic Rainbow turned her eyes toward the middle-aged woman nearby.

Seemingly taken aback by Magic Rainbow’s composure, Ada paused briefly before a smile spread across her face.

Had they truly unearthed a treasure this time?

“Of course, neither of you should hold back… However, this is merely a spar, not a fight to the death. It would be best if both exercised restraint when necessary.”

Magic Rainbow and Hank acknowledged.

They then exited the study and proceeded to the academy’s training ground.

Though termed a training ground, it resembled Aowenduo Town’s arena—an oval field enclosed by thick stone walls, with spectator stands ascending around it.

Conversation along the way revealed this ground served not only for students’ practical training but also as the venue for faculty duels and challenges against the kingdom’s Chief Mage, Merleau.

“Now, both sides, prepare.”

Upon entering the training ground, Magic Rainbow and Hank wordlessly distanced themselves and took positions. Vice Dean Mrs. Ada waited until sufficient space separated them before speaking.

Hearing Mrs. Ada’s words, both retrieved magic wands from their Magic Backpacks.

Magic Rainbow hesitated momentarily before selecting a wand topped with four medium-grade Magic Stones—red, yellow, blue, and green—one of the artifacts from Foggy Castle’s material repository.

Though this wand ranked among the lowest quality in her Magic Backpack, presenting it aligned perfectly with her assumed identity as a mage from Aowenduo Town.

Yet its perceived inferiority was relative only to her own standards.

Upon seeing the wand, both Hank and Mrs. Ada’s eyes noticeably brightened.

“This wand is quite fine. Embedded with four elemental Magic Stones, it must enhance the power of corresponding spells. Pity they seem only medium-grade, and the magic engraving appears rather simplistic… Hmm… though high-grade stones might have overwhelmed the wand during spellcasting.”

Mrs. Ada, evidently knowledgeable about wands, murmured involuntarily upon seeing Magic Rainbow’s choice.

Magic Rainbow now observed the wand in Hank’s hand—a simpler design than her own, featuring only a single fiery red fire-type Magic Stone at its tip. Crucially, that stone was high-grade.

Equipment-wise, Magic Rainbow would clearly be at a disadvantage in a pure fire-magic duel.

“Go Auntie!”

“Take care!”

Demon One and Demon Two exchanged glances, promptly adopting expressions of concern for Magic Rainbow.

Mrs. Ada offered them brief reassurance before declaring the start of the duel.

The moment battle commenced, Hank entered combat mode instantly, his gaze sharpening with intense focus.

Yet mage combat proved direct and uncomplicated, unlike adventurers such as Army Lady who wielded close-combat weapons requiring intricate techniques, precise force application, and evasive footwork…

Typically, mage confrontations involved only magical barrages and the mutual deployment of Magic Shields, testing chiefly mastery over spells alongside their potency, variety, and quantity.

Instantly, attack spells of every description filled the training ground air, while Magic Shields materialized around both Magic Rainbow and Hank.

Countering Hank’s potent fire spells, Magic Rainbow employed water and ice magic offensively, augmenting this with wind magic to disrupt his fire spells’ accuracy and force.

Bolstered by the “Talent of Magic” and “Magic Master” skill enhancements, coupled with her inherently higher level and superior attributes… Magic Rainbow’s spells naturally surpassed Hank’s in power. Her comprehension and application of magic also far exceeded his.

Within a short time, Magic Rainbow had suppressed the young man.

Relying solely on the attributes and skills displayed on her panel, as both combatants neared Magic Value depletion, Magic Rainbow ultimately shattered Hank’s protective shield with an “Electric Finger,” piercing his wand-holding right arm…

A distinct *hiss* sounded as a moderate-sized hole appeared in the young man’s arm, blood spurting forth.

“Ah!”

A cry of pain escaped him; his magic wand clattered to the ground.

This lightning spell possessed extreme casting and projectile speed. Though Mrs. Ada recognized Hank couldn’t block it, she too failed to intercept it in time, leaving her visibly startled.

“Victory is decided!!”

The cry escaped her just before she rushed to assess the young man’s injury.

Relief washed over her upon finding only an arm wound.

Had the strike hit heart or brain, Hank might have perished instantly… and given Magic Rainbow’s demonstrated spell accuracy, she could easily have achieved that…

This realization deepened Mrs. Ada’s appreciation for Magic Rainbow’s deliberate restraint.

Her attitude toward Hank, however, turned decidedly less charitable.

She had held high hopes for him—his combat magic ranked third in the academy. Losing so decisively to a new, unaffiliated teacher… the outcome left her profoundly conflicted.

Observing the entire duel, she concluded Magic Rainbow possessed not only exceptional magical proficiency but also terrifying combat talent, detecting no other anomalies.

She seized the moment to admonish the young man.

“Hank, have you neglected your training lately? If your master sees this pitiful defeat, his reaction scarcely bears imagining!”

Mrs. Ada chided while retrieving a Life Recovery Potion from her Magic Backpack to treat him.

“I train diligently every single day…”

The young man gave a bitter smile.

“Miss Magic Rainbow is simply too formidable. No wonder she earned joint recommendations from the town lord and the Guild President. Truly…”