Chapter 21

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Volume 2 + Chapter 21: Ranking Battle

After working so hard to earn virtue points for so long, they were all spent in a flash. Indeed, spending money is much easier and faster than earning it.

This time, Winnie invested all his virtue points into the innate bloodline skill of [Blessed Angel]. [Holy Flame Blessing] was upgraded, while [Flawless Holy Wings] was just one step away from evolving into four wings, currently at the ultimate two-wing stage. He didn’t learn any new spells.

After all, Winnie was only at the Artisan level. Whether it was [Saint Envoy] or [Armour Fortress], the offensive spells he could learn were quite limited.

Looking at the remaining 354 points in his balance, Winnie didn’t think much of it now, but back when he hadn’t awakened his bloodline, it would have been a fortune.

These virtue points were only insufficient for upgrading his innate bloodline skills, but they were more than enough for learning spells.

The problem was that at this stage, the offensive spells of [Saint Envoy] weren’t worth much, and he didn’t want to learn non-offensive spells. As for [Armour Fortress], it was even more useless, learning it would likely be a waste since he wouldn’t even use it.

Winnie searched through the virtue page for offensive spells he could learn and afford with his remaining points, but found nothing.

At the Artisan Level, it was indeed impossible to learn any spells that could enhance his offensive capabilities.

Just as Winnie was about to close the virtue page, he accidentally caught sight of a uniquely named spell.

“[Ice Steel Spell]??” This spell didn’t sound like something Vanessa could learn; it was probably a spell for his male form.

Winnie had long noticed that the spells provided by the virtue system weren’t limited to those Vanessa could learn as a [Saint Envoy] or those related to high light element affinity. It also included spells for [Armour Fortress] and those based on Winnie’s own elemental affinities.

[Ice Steel Spell]: Requires ice element affinity of excellent or above.

The requirement was quite high, but [Ice Steel Spell]? What kind of spell was this? He had heard of some famous ice element spells, but never this [Ice Steel Spell].

It was probably not a widely used spell; otherwise, why hadn’t he seen any ice element apprentices with high affinity using it?

Thinking this, Winnie concluded that the spell was likely useless, but he still patiently read through its effects.

[Ice Steel Spell]: Encase all the metal items you’re wearing or carrying in a coating of enchanted ice.

Huh? Only for metal? It was indeed a completely useless spell. What mage would wear a full suit of armor??

Just as Winnie had this thought, he paused, frowned, and reconsidered.

Wait, wasn’t this a god-tier skill for him??

For other ice element mages, this spell was indeed useless, but for him, it was different.

[Ice Steel Spell] could be used in conjunction with [Armour Fortress], coating it with magical ice that could both attack and defend.

For him, wasn’t this practically a custom-made skill??

With this thought, Winnie immediately chose the spell, glanced at the required virtue points, exactly 350.

‘Virtue points deducted: 350.’

‘Current virtue points: 4.’

‘[Ice Steel Spell] learned.’

Winnie excitedly rubbed his hands together.

His virtue points were completely depleted, dropping from over ten thousand to just 4.

But Winnie felt that he had been completely transformed, with his combat power significantly enhanced.

He was no longer the Winnie who could be easily manipulated by the destined female lead!

Now, he felt terrifyingly strong, capable of taking on ten Aesphyra!

Of course, this was just his inflated ego talking, something he only dared to think in his heart.

In the blink of an eye, it was time to return to academy.

The Holy Healing Festival was this week, and it was worth mentioning that this flu seemed particularly severe. One of Winnie’s classmates had caught a bad cold and had to go to the infirmary.

But ultimately, it was just the flu, and although it was strong, its transmission rate was low.

Very few students in the academy had caught it, and among those Winnie knew, only Fred and one or two from his class had been affected.

Aesphyra seemed very busy these days. Winnie hadn’t seen much of her after class and had no idea what she was up to. She was probably still developing her alchemical potion.

Winnie didn’t know what potion Aesphyra was brewing, nor could he ask her directly.

The Holy Healing Festival was approaching, and as agreed with the [Bronze Blood] agents planted in Carillian Academy, they would target Mirexia during the festival, working with external [Bronze Blood] forces to abduct her and smuggle her out of the academy.

Mirexia and Winnie had secretly contacted the academy authorities to arrest these pests hiding in Carillian Academy during the Holy Healing Festival.

Everything was ready. The academy authorities were prepared, and Winnie had also communicated with the [Bronze Blood].

But would everything go so smoothly??

For some reason, Winnie felt uneasy, perhaps because in the original plot, this was the point where conflicts erupted.

While advancing his studies and coordinating with the [Bronze Blood] to take them down, whether he liked it or not, Winnie seemed to be caught in the vortex of the main plot, entangled in its cause and effect.

But these days weren’t entirely uneventful, for example…

“Finally found you, Winnie! This time, I won’t let you escape!” A fiery-haired girl pointed at Winnie, shouting.

“Uh, sorry, who are you?” Winnie, who had just stepped out of the classroom, paused for a moment, rubbing his chin as he pondered.

“You! Stop pretending you don’t know me. We met just a few days ago!” The girl, with her fiery ponytail, angrily retorted.

“No, miss, have we met? Sorry, I’ve been busy these past few days, I really forgot.” Winnie was puzzled.

“You jerk! Am I really that insignificant in your eyes?!” The girl, hands on her hips, puffed up in anger. “Fine! I’ll introduce myself again. I’m Fanya Cassian!”

“Oh, I remember now. You’re that fake Holy Cross Knight from the other day?” Winnie suddenly realized.

“I’m not fake! I’ll become one eventually!” Fanya protested.

“All I know is you’re not one now. What, after just a few days, you’re back to challenge me? Not crying for your mom anymore? Trying to prove something? Give up, girl, the goddess won’t like a lying kid like you.” Winnie teased.

“Tsk, you’re as despicable as the rumors say! Today, I’ll expose you, you fake who dares to impersonate the goddess’s descendant!” Fanya pointed at Winnie.

“Oh? And how do you plan to expose me?” Winnie crossed his arms, smirking nonchalantly.

“I challenge you to a duel!” Fanya lifted her chin. “You’re ranked 23rd in the academy, right? After the midterms, first-years can challenge each other. I’ll challenge you and take your rank!”

“You? Really, girl, who are you? What was your rank in the entrance exam? Did you even make the top 50? Do you have the right to challenge me?” Winnie picked at his ear, looking disdainful.

“I’m ranked 23rd in the entrance exam, meaning only 22 first-years are ahead of me. What are you? Challenging me? Get your rank into the top 50 first, then maybe I’ll consider it. Otherwise, I’m not interested in wasting time on small fry like you. Bye.” With that, Winnie turned to leave, but Fanya wasn’t about to let him go.

Winnie’s arrogant and condescending tone had Fanya fuming. She immediately stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

“Don’t look down on me! Who says I’m not in the top 50? I’m ranked 48th in the entrance exam, which means I’m qualified to challenge you! If you refuse to duel me, it’s cowardice, and I can rightfully take your rank!” Fanya snorted.

“Oh, so you’re just the 48th-ranked tailender. What’s with the attitude? You talk like you’re in the top five.” Winnie glanced at Fanya’s chest.

He often teased Aesphyra for being a petite bun, having to lower her head among the female leads, but compared to this flat-chested church girl, Aesphyra could hold her head high like a swan.

“You, this shameless impersonator of the goddess’s descendant, must have used some underhanded method to get the 23rd rank. You’re all show, with no power!” Fanya insisted.

Oh? Was it a fool’s intuition? She was partly right.

But to Winnie, this girl exuded a certain charm of being brain-dead.

“Even so, it’s not your place as the 48th-ranked to challenge me. There are over twenty people between us, and none of them have challenged me. Why are you jumping the queue? Did you ask them? Did you line up?” Winnie mocked.

“Hmph! You fake, stop looking down on people. Impersonating the goddess’s descendant and shaming the goddess and the saints will cost you! I challenge you, you who insult the goddess, to a duel!” Fanya was relentless.

“Tsk, tsk, a duel? So, the little liar is challenging the big liar?” Winnie teased.

“Only you’re the liar! Last time, you caught me on a technicality, but this time, you won’t escape!”

Oh? Had her IQ suddenly spiked? Was there someone behind her guiding her?

Winnie pondered.

This was possible. After all, every year, Carillian Academy had many students with Holy Light Church backgrounds, and the church people generally disliked him.

It wasn’t impossible that this red-haired brat had been manipulated into causing trouble for him.

“Honestly, I really don’t want to waste time with you brats. It’s meaningless.” Winnie shrugged.

“Tsk, I think you’re just scared!” At that moment, a voice filled with mockery and provocation came from his side. Winnie didn’t even need to look to know who it was, that insufferable little brat.

“Oh? Isn’t this Milian? If I recall correctly, you were my defeated opponent in our last spar.” Winnie smirked provocatively. “Honestly, Fanya from the church, if you want to challenge me, you’ll have to get past her first. This Milian, ranked in the top five of the entrance exam, she was my defeated opponent.”

“Shameless human, if it weren’t for your underhanded tricks last time, I’d have beaten you to a pulp!” Milian retorted.

“Go for it, red-haired girl! You’re absolutely right. This guy is all show, the epitome of despicableness! All he knows are underhanded tricks. Beat him up!” Milian, who had a grudge against Winnie, naturally fanned the flames, hoping more people would cause trouble for him.

Tsk, this annoying golden-haired elf brat. It seemed she hadn’t learned her lesson from last time.

“You’re free now, right?” Fanya stared at Winnie. “It’s not class time, and I’m in the top 50, so I have the right to challenge you. You can’t refuse my challenge, or your rank is mine. Hehe!”

“Fine, church girl, if you’re so eager to embarrass yourself in public, I won’t stop you. Go ahead.” Winnie shrugged.

“Hmph! Let’s go to the arena!” Fanya snorted and walked ahead, expecting Winnie to follow.

Winnie raised an eyebrow and followed.

What could he do? It was the academy’s challenge rule. Those in the top 50 could challenge anyone ranked above them, except the top five. If they won, they could take the other’s rank.

To prevent high-ranked students from stagnating and regressing, high-ranked students had to accept reasonable challenges from lower-ranked students, or else they’d lose their rank.

Carillian Academy used this method to pressure students, fostering healthy competition.

Winnie followed Fanya out of the teaching hall and into the arena.

The arena wasn’t too crowded. After explaining to the arena’s supervising teacher that this was a rank challenge, the teacher registered their names, and they took their positions on opposite sides of the arena.

Well, although it was a common and unremarkable rank challenge, there were quite a few spectators.

That golden-haired brat made no secret of wanting to see Winnie humiliated, following them to the arena and sitting in the stands, making faces and sticking out her tongue at him.

Besides her, the rank challenge attracted many onlookers, most of whom had noticed that one of the challengers was Winnie and wanted to see him fail.

Winnie glanced elsewhere and suddenly spotted a familiar black figure in a nearby arena.

It was his former fiancée, Isatia.

But she didn’t seem to notice him.