Shattering the Third Circle Wall
The basic mana exam proceeded in a tournament format.
To keep things balanced, each class handled their matches separately—S-Class students against S-Class, A-Class against A-Class.
If you ended up dead last here? Unless your other scores were sky-high, you'd probably get demoted to a lower class.
"…Jenella, she's okay, right?"
Adria asked in a worried tone.
Jenella's first opponent was none other than Bulria Arishion.
Talk about drawing your arch-nemesis right out of the gate.
You could call it a good thing—facing him at peak condition—but Adria had noticed Jenella's shortened hair and the faint tremble in her fingers.
"She's fine."
But Eugene, the one who'd healed her, showed no concern at all.
"She'll pull through."
"Isn't it too harsh on her? She's still just a kid."
"She insisted on doing it herself. I tried talking her out of it enough times."
Eugene rolled his sore wrist. He still hadn't fully recovered from dumping so much Divine Power into her the day before like an idiot.
"Besides, she's dead set on continuing. It'd be weird for me—a guy who's not even her parent—to just blindly oppose her."
"But if you hadn't been there yesterday…"
"Sure, she got better thanks to me, but I didn't do it to rack up some debt. She's my friend. I just wanted to save her."
Eugene glanced at Jenella. She turned her head, her purple eyes locking onto his with fierce determination—and a small smile.
"So yeah, she can do this."
"…Sigh. Whatever you say."
"More importantly, you gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, me? Even if I come last here, I can maintain my grades. I'll make up points elsewhere."
Adria shrugged and headed back to her spot.
Eugene turned to face forward.
His opponent was Yahan, who was grinning like a maniac, sword tip aimed right at him.
"It's revenge time!!! This is it—I'm taking you down!"
"At least you're better than that guy."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
Yahan, at least, didn't cross any lines. He was gunning for Eugene purely on skill and hard work.
Even if he was a bit gross and obsessive, it meant he was putting in the effort himself.
But Bulria?
"Eugene."
The punk had won by cheating, and now he was strutting around like hot shit, chin held high in arrogance.
"Wait your turn. I'll crush you soon enough."
"Think Jenella can beat him?"
"Hah. Didn't you see yesterday? That bitch should've died, but she got lucky and scraped by—"
"Feels good winning with Daddy's help, huh?"
Bulria's words cut off, his face freezing solid. Eugene smirked.
"Don't talk shit when you only won by cheating like a coward. Beat me fair and square first. Hell, at your level, you might not even take Jenella."
"…I'll kill you."
"You say that every time. You actually can?"
Eugene flipped him off.
"Go suck on some more milk, you fucking retard."
"You little…!"
Jayyan cut in at the perfect moment, raising her hand.
"Exam start!"
Time Limit: 2 Hours (Maximum)
Elimination: Professor deems combat incapacity or voluntary cry of "Surrender".
Space twisted. In an instant, the academy building vanished, replaced by a colosseum-like arena.
Before Bulria fully disappeared, Eugene gave him a casual jab.
"Win that, and maybe I'll think about facing you."
Bulria lost it, flames engulfing him as he vanished from view.
Whoosh!
Jenella calmly scanned her surroundings.
A colosseum.
Way too big for just two people. But mage battles usually involved destructive spells with massive area effects.
This size was plenty.
Roar!
Bulria's body erupted in flames, like the incarnation of fire itself. He glared at Jenella, rage unmasked.
"You dare stand in my way, you lowly bitch?"
"The only lowly thing here is that filthy mouth of yours."
She said it coolly, but cold sweat beaded on the back of her neck. Truth be told, she was scared. Just yesterday—mere hours ago—those flames had nearly charred her alive.
Scars that would've lasted a lifetime. No, a curse that should have.
But she'd overcome it—not just through her own effort, but she'd beaten it all the same.
…I can win this.
Honestly, at first, she'd felt a twinge of guilt. Was it right to take it out on him? Wasn't this just lashing out at an innocent criminal's kid?
But now? She could let it go.
He'd crossed the line. Broken taboos, tapped ancient monster power—and above all, he'd tried to kill her.
"Hoo!"
Exhaling deeply, Jenella settled into her stance.
How to handle this?
Block with a barrier like yesterday? Or just hurl a big one and end it?
Jenella. Calm down.
She closed her eyes briefly.
Before coming here, Ashy and Eugene had given her rehab and pointers.
Ashy, the mercenary vet, was a pro at interpersonal combat.
Having faced countless mages, she knew which spells shone in duels.
'Spells with less raw power but precise and fast are more efficient. Even if they're weak.'
'Why? Big area ones sweep everything nearby.'
'You think they can't dodge that? You're just wasting mana. Better to spam missiles or arrows. Assuming your control holds up.'
'Hmm…'
'And one more thing.'
Ashy flicked a bit of mana. Jenella's mana followed, pulled along.
A spark leaped from the tiny flame.
The unique trait Eugene had noticed first.
'This lightning affinity of yours? Killer against humans. Can you handle it?'
'Huh? No…'
'Doesn't matter. You'll figure it out once you get beat enough.'
'?'
'Pull an all-nighter or whatever. Cool?'
'Sleep…'
'You're good? Great.'
Electricity wrecked humans. No matter how tough, a jolt locked you up.
'Best way to take down a guy? Nut shot.'
'…Can a guy teach that?'
'Why not? You can't hit me anyway.'
'…'
I can do this. Jenella opened her eyes.
"That it?"
Bulria smirked, reaching for the sky.
Flames surged upward from his body, twisting into fiery spears.
First time she'd seen them, despair hit hard.
How to block that? And the follow-ups?
But not now.
"Take my spears!"
Ignoring his cringy line, she focused on the spears.
Just the ones aiming at me.
And she didn't have to block them outright. He made dozens, diluting their power.
Deflect to the side—that'd work.
Boom!
She swatted an incoming spear aside. The explosion rocked her nearby.
Ugh!
Another spear flew at her staggering form. Deflect again. Boom! Body shaken.
This much!
Lips bitten bloody for focus, she poured mana into her legs. Tougher than most mages, she could handle body reinforcement.
Boom!
She accelerated. Spear incoming—flames wrapped her. Barrier. As it neared, doubt flickered in her eyes.
Can I block it?
Last time, full confidence—and it pierced. Nearly burned alive.
Palms slick with fear-sweat.
But Jenella clenched her fists, grinding her teeth.
No! I can!
Even if not—block!
"Block!"
Her empowered chant hardened the barrier further.
Hiss!
The spear extinguished on contact, like water dousing flame.
"!"
Bulria's eyes bulged. How?! But Jenella was already charging, closing distance.
Up close.
Teeth gritted, fist clenched.
Remember: In a fight, first strike and unpredictability rule. Close in, they'd expect magic, right? Throw a curveball.
Fist swung. Bulria scoffed at the flame-wrapped punch, shielding himself.
Jenella's eyes widened, throbbing like they'd burst, blood trickling.
But she found it.
Gap!
Seize control of his barrier mana. Or disrupt it.
Unlike him with Daddy's help—she'd punch through solo!
Her mana exploded wildly, targeting his.
His mana reared like a snake, defending. But hers was the snake-catcher.
"…!"
His mana yielded. Affinity crushed it. Gap widened.
Panicking, Bulria tried retreating. Jenella wouldn't let go.
"Seal."
Her realm too low for normal use—but space warped. A door cracked open.
She saw the wall blocking her.
3rd Circle wall. Death once, matured mind—new path opened. Incredible talent. But Bulria's face mocking on the wall pissed her off.
"Haaah!"
Screaming, fist flew.
Crack!
Barrier shattered, fist slamming his cheek.
"Guh!!"
Teeth and blood sprayed from Bulria's mouth. Flames swirled around him. Jenella reinforced hers, blocking his out.
Crackle, zap!
Sparks flew with her punches, lightning mixing in.
Thud, zap! Thud, zap! Zzzap!
Breaking. The 3rd Circle realm that'd caged her, the enemy who'd tried to kill her—shattering together.
"Grrrrrr!"
Bulria gaped, blood-flame laser blasting.
Jenella jerked back. His kick grazed her gut.
Slight pushback. No wound. But he was wrecked.
"Looking good."
Jenella grinned, taunting.
Bulria wiped his face, staring at bloody hand.
Then his face twisted demonic, eyes slitting beast-like.
"Y-You fucking bitch, how dare a lowly thing wound me…!"
His rampaging flames bulked his body.
Jenella matched, swelling hers.
Before, outgunned in power and control. Not now.
…I
Crack, crumble.
The '3rd Circle wall' crumbled. Fragments revealed new heights.
…surpass it!
And conquer. The family head who turned her father into a mere guard dog—and Bulria, who tried to kill her!
Her heart's Duty writhed. Reacting to her will, it recognized his ancient monster aura.
Ancient monster. Ancient curse. Timeless Duty like hers. It boosted her realm growth slightly.
Roar.
Her flames dimmed—no, condensed. Not a bloated fireball, but a white-hot, compressed one.
Something awakened amid flames. Crackle, zap! Sparks like bursting fire.
…What's that?
Her affinity had been fire. Now? Fire and lightning. Dual elements coalesced above her.
A spear. Bulria stared, entranced. Massive, flame-lightning spear.
2nd Circle couldn't manage that control and power.
3rd Circle.
Pure skill, luck, talent. A pristine aura he—cheater propped by shortcuts—could never touch.
That bitch reached 3rd Circle? On raw power?
"…Impossible…!"
Why not me?! Even trash like her surpasses it! Why!
His mouth tore wider, beastly.
Body ballooned monstrous. Losing reason, he howled.
"No, no way!"
What'd he do wrong to suffer this, yet still lack that strength?! Why!
I did nothing wrong!
"…Huh?"
Grrr. Beastly growl escaped. No time to care.
A scene flashed.
Raping a maid, tossing her broken like trash. Altar. Mirror reflection.
Bloodied child—himself—grinning torn-mouthed.
Why? Why me there?
"Why, why am I there—"
Dream? Fragment?
No, past shard…
"Why am I there!!"
Sensing his distraction, Jenella clenched fists. Ideals infused, she slammed downward.
"Strike down!"
Flame-lightning spear plunged from sky like divine punishment. Thunderous boom—Bulria engulfed in explosion.
Rumble!