Chapter 280 : Authority of Disease
Chapter 280: Authority of Disease
As the current president of the White Ballet Shoes Club, Richard-Eva was somewhat well-known within the academy.
If others were to witness him, a third-tier witch apprentice, dueling a second-tier witch apprentice, it wouldn’t reflect well on him.
Especially since his opponent was not just any apprentice, but the most famous female apprentice in the entire White Coral Academy, and perhaps all of Arcane—should anyone witness this, Richard-Eva would undoubtedly become a subject of gossip.
“Forget it.”
Seeing Janna itching to fight, Richard-Eva sighed helplessly, then lightly tapped his toe and swiftly leapt onto the combat training field.
“I chose this place, Senior Richard, not only because it’s relatively less crowded at this hour, but also because of the self-repairing capability of the combat arena after battles,” Janna explained.
Richard-Eva nodded in agreement upon hearing that.
Although the outdoor combat training ground wasn't exactly secluded, its inherent terrain regeneration feature was quite accommodating to apprentices whose magic tended to be destructive.
Even if an apprentice from the elemental branch created a massive crater, it wouldn't take long for the field to restore itself automatically under the operation of earth-elemental magic inscriptions.
Thus, apprentices could fight freely in the combat training ground, casting various spells without concern for compensation.
“You go first.”
Believing himself to be “bullying the weak,” Richard-Eva raised his hand, giving the first move to Janna.
“Then I’ll graciously accept.”
Janna merely smiled at Richard-Eva’s current gentlemanly conduct and, without hesitation, began chanting a spell.
“Flourishing Guard—”
Seeing the familiar green shield envelop Janna, Richard-Eva smiled indifferently.
“I command you with my will—Summon—Celestial Sparrow.”
“I command you with my will—Summon—Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon.”
“I command you with my will—Summon—Thorn Flower Fairy.”
“I command you with my will—Summon—Lightning Accumulation Cloud.”
As one summoning circle after another appeared around Janna, Richard-Eva’s expression gradually turned serious.
“She actually has two Contracted Creatures already at the level of third-tier witch apprentices?”
Of the four Contracted Creatures Janna had summoned, aside from the Celestial Sparrow and Lightning Accumulation Cloud, the other two had already reached the level of third-tier witch apprentices.
Though the Celestial Sparrow and Lightning Accumulation Cloud weren’t quite there yet in strength, the mana density in their bodies was nearly at the peak of second-tier apprentices.
Overall, purely in terms of level, these four Contracted Creatures seemed to have surpassed Janna herself.
Internally amazed, Richard-Eva also began to regret his earlier promise to not use any third-tier witch apprentice abilities in the battle.
“Well, Senior Richard, if you want to take back your promise, it’s not too late now.”
“No need—for now.”
Richard-Eva’s strategy was simple: capture the leader to subdue the gang. As long as he took down Janna, a summoning-type apprentice, her Contracted Creatures would naturally collapse.
Moreover, the purpose of this duel was primarily to test each other’s Law fragments.
Among the Law Fragments Richard-Eva had mastered, his specialty was swift resolution.
“Be careful now.”
As Janna finished casting her spells, Richard-Eva finally made his move.
A pair of pitch-black bat wings unfurled from his back, stirring a violent wind as he took to the sky.
Simultaneously, numerous blood-red threads floated from his body.
“Crack—”
Seeing the attack coming from the air, the Lightning Accumulation Cloud, originally pure white, instantly turned an ominous inky black.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared as a massive electric web formed in the sky, blocking Richard-Eva.
“Disease—”
Faced with the woven electric net, Richard-Eva’s expression didn’t change much.
With the blood-red threads flowing behind him, he chanted an incantation like a command.
“So this is the Authority of Disease from the Blood Law…”
Feeling the pain transmitted from the Lightning Accumulation Cloud and hearing Richard-Eva’s chant, Janna immediately recognized that the Law Fragment he had grasped was the Blood Law Fragment once comprehended by Grace-Eva during her apprenticeship.
However, their Authorities differed.
According to gossip Richard-Eva had once shared with her, Grace-Eva’s Blood Law Fragment was aligned with the Authority of Blood Control—draining enemies dry in combat.
In contrast, Richard-Eva’s Blood Law Fragment leaned toward Blood Disease—using disease contamination to rapidly weaken foes.
Even elemental creatures without “blood” would be weakened under the Law’s influence.
“Bang—”
Just a moment ago fierce and daunting, the Lightning Accumulation Cloud instantly fell into a weakened state. Even the surrounding electric light dimmed rapidly under the affliction.
“How about that? Not bad, right?”
Having “harvested” his first Contracted Creature, Richard-Eva hovered in the sky, flapping his bat wings as he looked down at Janna.
“Indeed, not bad.”
Responding calmly, Janna immediately gave a command to the Celestial Sparrow perched on her shoulder.
“Screech—”
With a high-pitched cry, the Celestial Sparrow rapidly enlarged amid golden flames, taking the form of a splendid, slender magical bird right before Richard-Eva’s eyes.
“I didn’t expect your light-elemental sprite to have evolved too.”
Seeing the Celestial Sparrow radiating milky-white light, Richard-Eva only frowned slightly before smiling again.
“But in the face of the Law, an ordinary magical creature won’t be of much use.”
The Light of Purification, pure and white, continuously shone from the amber jewel on the Celestial Sparrow’s forehead. Under its glow, the weakened Lightning Accumulation Cloud slowly began to recover.
However, as the blood-red threads around Richard-Eva grew denser, this time not only was the Lightning Accumulation Cloud afflicted,
but also the Celestial Sparrow, Thorn Flower Fairy, and Hundred-Eyed Mirror Demon beside Janna showed symptoms of weakening due to infection.
“Janna, if you don’t use the power of the Law soon, I’m afraid this battle will end in my victory———”