Chapter 342

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Chapter 342: Arivia Huaiert

“I didn’t expect the movie to have such a plot. It’s so different from what I imagined.”

“Yes, I thought it would be a love story… I was deceived by ‘Low Score Girl’.”

“Why do they have to solve mysteries when there are obviously magical powers involved?”

“No, no, no. Why is that junior from decades ago the one who…?”

“The plot with suicide… really… wow. Watching that bowl of bone soup gave me goosebumps.”

“She’s really obsessed, it’s scary.”

Michelle and Alena were eagerly discussing the plot of the recently released movie.

They couldn’t stop talking, immediately after leaving the movie theater, so excited they felt the urge to watch it again.

By the time they stepped outside, the evening sky had descended. They grabbed a quick dinner before heading back to the school, wanting to get there before it grew too dark.

As they approached the college, Alena interrupted their conversation. “I need to hurry back before the crimson moonlight hits.”

The golden light from the golden tree offered some protection against the crimson moonlight, but for blood descendants, the moonlight at night remained a dangerous secret poison.

Michelle, however, felt quite lighthearted. As a descendant of witches, she too should be cautious of the crimson moonlight, but the Golden Engraving and the golden tree’s protection diminished the Scarlet Curse’s effect to almost nothing.

The academy, bathed in the crimson moonlight, was eerily quiet. No students or professors wandered the grounds. Most people intentionally stayed away.

Instead of heading straight to her dorm, Michelle stayed behind, walking alone through a shady grove, giving herself time to process her emotions.

Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.

She quickly turned around, spotting a streak of black light racing toward her. Reacting on instinct, she crouched, and the dark light pierced the hood of her sweatshirt.

“What kind of person is this?!” she scolded, golden light flaring behind her, illuminating the area with the Golden Engraving.

Through the trees, she saw a figure standing in the grass—a woman dressed in a black sweatshirt and hat, her face indistinct.

The woman, clearly a figure of grace, held two pebbles in her hands. With a slight toss, they transformed into dark streaks, striking the trees and leaving fist-sized dents. If those pebbles had hit a person, they would have caused grave injury, perhaps death.

Michelle quickly summoned golden magic around her arm, activating the first stage of her Blood Rush. Her speed skyrocketed as she dashed toward her opponent.

However, as she drew closer, she tripped, losing her balance and crashing to the ground. The momentum sent her tumbling several times.

Branches and vines on the ground formed ropes, causing her to stumble further.

After falling, Michelle was immediately greeted by a series of small-scale attacks. While they weren’t large spells, their focused destructive power was intense. But, at that moment, she was physically strong and unfazed by the minor injuries.

She quickly grabbed a lamppost nearby, using it to push herself up. With a swift move, she cleared the trees and branches blocking her vision. The woman in the black hoodie revealed herself as she jumped gracefully, balancing effortlessly on the lamppost like a cat.

“You…,” Michelle gritted her teeth, fury rising in her chest.

Flames erupted from her as she yelled, “Reveal yourself!”

The Golden Engraving and Blood Rush powered her Dragon’s Fire Breath, turning it into a furious display of red and gold light.

The small grove instantly lit up with flames, the person in the black hoodie being scratched. She landed gracefully, her hood falling off to reveal short gray hair. The red moonlight scattered, no longer concealed. A red glow enveloped her body, only to be suppressed by a golden shimmer from a bone pendant around her neck.

Though the hood was knocked off, her face remained hidden, partially concealed by the brim of a duckbill cap. She stood at about 165 centimeters, shorter than Michelle, her features obscured by shadows.

The woman assumed a defensive posture, beckoning Michelle with a crook of her finger, signaling for her to come closer.

Michelle, irritated by the sudden attack, wondered who this person could be. Was she a student from another school? Or perhaps someone enjoying the thrill of a challenge?

Michelle had always avoided such situations, preferring to stay out of trouble. That was why, for the past few weeks, she had declined all training match invitations, regardless of being called timid.

She wasn’t interested in fighting. She wasn’t a traditional Dragonborn, and her wish, until age ten, was to be a good wife and mother, just like her own mother—until she witnessed the brutal reality of family conflict.

But now… an attack like this? She couldn’t tolerate it.

“Let’s fight if we must!”

Her mood, once cheerful, turned to anger. Blood Rush kicked in, and she charged forward with fervor, throwing punches.

Most mages are more theoretical, while Dragonborns prefer close combat. Michelle had suffered her share of beatings in the past but had little actual combat experience. She relied on overpowering opponents and using hidden tactics. Every strike she threw was powerful, landing critical hits.

But as the fight wore on, it became clear: Michelle was outmatched. She only knew basic military boxing, no match for her opponent’s agility and skill.

After being thrown seven or eight times, Michelle kept charging forward, like a wild bear.

But did she lack sense? Not entirely.

Before being thrown again, she grabbed her opponent’s wrist, twisted in mid-air, flipped, and landed. She then grabbed the woman’s collar, delivering a powerful headbutt.

The collision sounded like two large pots clashing together.

The woman stumbled back, holding her forehead, gasping. “Ouch…”

“It hurts a little… Hasn’t your teacher ever told you not to fight?”

Michelle leaned against a tree, struggling to keep her balance. “I don’t know how to fight!”

“If you’re going to do that, you need to be more careful,” the woman replied. “Too much force can hurt both you and the other person.”

“Are you serious? You attacked me from behind!” Michelle retorted, her gaze locking on the woman’s face.

But as she looked up, her eyes widened in shock. “You, you… you’re—”

The woman bent down, picking up her baseball cap and dusting it off. “Do you recognize me?” she asked.

Michelle blinked, realizing. “Arivia Huaiert… I’ve been collecting your posters.”

“I never expected to have a fan like you,” Arivia said, smiling.

Michelle, stunned, saw the outfit Arivia wore—a perfect replica of her movie character’s attire.

“Is it really you?!” Michelle exclaimed.

“It’s me, but please, speak more quietly…” Arivia said, walking over and grabbing Michelle’s hand. “Let’s find another place to talk.”

Michelle hesitated, her face showing concern. “Wait. You’re not going to fight me again, are you? I really don’t want to get hurt. Can we stop now?”

Arivia smiled. “No more fighting. I’ve already tested your skills and formed a rough judgment. Let’s go. I’ll treat you to milk tea as an apology.”

Michelle frowned, “You almost sent me to the hospital!”

“How could that be? You defeated the skilled fighters of Ming Country, Arivia!” Arivia said cheerfully. “With your Golden Engraving and Dragon Blood Secret technique, not to mention spatial magic, these little tricks couldn’t touch you.”

Michelle froze, pulling her hand away, her eyes wary.

“What’s the matter?” Arivia asked.

“The Golden Engraving is easy enough to understand, but…” Michelle narrowed her gaze. “How did you know about the Dragon Blood Secret technique?”

Michelle had never shared that secret with anyone, except for the perceptive Earth Dragon Monk. And when she used her final move, was it really spatial magic Arivia had detected?

“You’re not Arivia,” Michelle said, a growing suspicion in her voice.

“I am. Do you need proof?” Arivia asked, a playful smile on her lips.

“Even if you are, I don’t want anything to do with you. I need to go back to my dorm.”

Michelle’s instincts screamed. She was more concerned about keeping her secrets safe than meeting the famous actress. She had made a pact with Mr. Devil, and she wasn’t about to betray him now.

When beauty appears, it often tests sincerity and conscience. Michelle never imagined she would have to face such a test herself.

“You can’t leave,” Arivia said firmly.

As Michelle tried to walk away, Arivia suddenly spoke up. “I came to find you, to investigate some things. Until everything is explained, you can’t leave.”

Michelle countered, “But you’re not from the Knights Order or the police. I don’t have to cooperate, do I?”

Arivia raised her hand, tossing a stick into the ground. It pierced the earth, and the grassy field shattered in an instant.

“Do you remember?” she asked.

Michelle shook her head.

“This is called Spiral Arrow,” Arivia said. “Only those who have reached the Holy Domain can master spatial magic, and Spiral Arrow is one of the few spells that manipulates space before reaching that level. It’s kept secret and never shared due to its extreme danger. It’s been passed down through generations in our lineage and never learned by outsiders.”

“You may have the blood of a witch, but you’re not one of us, the ‘Black Rose.'”

Michelle stood frozen, the realization hitting her hard. “Miss Michelle Hope… can I ask how you learned it?”