Chapter 130: Emily and Bianca
Higher physique was not the only advantage Vlad possessed. Even a golem could be brought down by a human wielding less than half its strength if proper technique was used. This fundamental principle was precisely what set Vlad apart from his peers. Although he had poor aptitude for storing, utilising, and channelling mana, he had honed his sword skills for ten years without a single day’s break. In terms of fighting experience and physical prowess, none of the second years could compare to him. This was also the reason he managed not only to keep up with his peers—all prodigies from various corners of the continent—but to actually prove himself a worthy challenge for them.
Thanks to the two months he had spent on the first floor of Ascension Dungeon, he had also closed the gap between himself and the lower-ranked students from the second year, against whom he was currently engaged in duels to reach the top fifty. In the next match following Jack’s elimination, Vlad had already unsheathed his sword before the duel even began. It was also the first time he had drawn his weapon throughout the tournament, sending a clear message that he was fighting seriously from now on, or at least that was what the other competitors believed.
He was still barely using mana, fighting most of the duel with his unmatched sword skills, only employing Mana Blade at a decisive moment to end the battle. Thanks to the passive skill of the Eclair, his instincts and movements were sharper than ever, allowing him to dominate the matches with an almost effortless grace that belied the intensity of his concentration.
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"The winner is Vlad," the referee declared as one more opponent was sent tumbling out of the stage, landing with a grunt on the hard stone floor.
Although Vlad’s breathing remained even, sweat was trickling down his temple. The intervals between his duels were decreasing after each match as his ranking rose, giving him lesser and lesser time to catch his breath.
’Tch, even after barely using any mana, my reserves are already at half,’ Vlad muttered inwardly as he walked down from the stage with a frown etched across his features. He settled on the floor beside the stage, and took out his phone, opening the Arena Rankings option.
[Arena Ranking]
#01. Seraphina Cendral
#02. Felix Lancaster
#03. Hugo D’Souza
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#09. Raphael Starveil
#10. Gareth
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#60. Vlad Lumberjack.
"No doubt that Sera is at the top," Vlad murmured, reading through the rankings with a mixture of admiration and determination. "The more I know about her, the more I realise how incredible she really is." His eyes shifted to his own rank as he scrolled further down the list. ’I have reached sixteeth rank from over two hundred in half a day. Should I stop here for today?’
The thought had only crossed his mind when his phone vibrated with a notification.
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Max: Yo bro, I just saw that you reached 60th rank. Keep rising and give those seniors a run for their life.
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His wasn’t the only message he had received. There were messages from his other friends as well.
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Chloe: I will treat you with my favourite dish. Keep fighting : )
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Seraphina: Good luck, commoner. Do not forget the promise you made.
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’Guess I can’t stop just here,’ Vlad chuckled, a smile forming on his lips. After reading their messages, he felt as if his exhaustion had been washed away, replaced by a renewed surge of energy.
While he was scrolling through his phone, leaning against the neighbouring stage, two girls had their eyes fixed on him from across the arena, standing against the opposite stage. One was shorter with sea-green hair styled in two short braids, her head resting comfortably on the shoulder of the taller one with short and curly tangerine hair. Their gazes were intensely predatory, as they observed Vlad with curiousity.
"What do you think, Emily?" Bianca, the shorter one, asked, her tone laced with curiosity. "Could you defeat that junior?"
"If what he has shown till now is the extent of his abilities, defeating him will not be any issue," Emily said, her auburn eyes never leaving Vlad’s face. She licked her upper lip in a slow, deliberate motion as she continued, "Despite being a lowly commoner, he certainly has looks. What I want is not to defeat him but to crush him completely and make him my slave."
"Oho~ is that the reason why you are not going to the big stage despite being at fifty-first rank?" Bianca asked with a playful smile, although she knew the reason already. Her fingers traced idle patterns on Emily’s shoulder as she waited for her companion’s response.
"Hehe~ you know me well, my lovely Bianca," Emily said, her hand brushing her shoulder and back in a way that made her giggle with delight. "Men are meant to be crushed and turned into slaves." Her eyes never strayed from Vlad’s form, sizing him up like a predator evaluating its prey.
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"What’s wrong with them?" Vlad muttered, feeling creeped out just from the gaze of the two girls.
He rose to his feet as his name was called again from the stage. He gave the girls a brief disgusted look that kept making him feel uncomfortable before turning his focus to the platform where his next opponent awaited. The crowd’s murmurs faded into background noise as he centred himself for the upcoming battle.
"Begin the duel!" The referee declared with a wave of his hand.
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"Th-this bastard," Emily gasped, her eyebrows rising sharply, the corner of her lips twitching in exasperation. "How dare he look down at me? That is it. I am going to make him beg for his life on the stage." Her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
"Oh~ you look so hot when you are angry, Emily," Bianca cooed. It was now her hand brushing on the back of Emily. "I cannot wait to see him crawling like a dog at your feet."