Noah now understood why the black armor had looked so impeccably detailed and real when she first entered the arena—it wasn't just any prop. The genuine article was standing right before her.
Though she had no idea why her father had chosen to infiltrate the exam in this way, now that he was here, Noah wouldn't let such a golden opportunity slip away.
From their earlier exchanges, it was clear her dad wasn't holding back too much. He was far more serious now than during their playful games back in Sky City, like the final round of their werewolf party game. This was a real spar, and the intensity was palpable.
This was her chance—the long-awaited moment to truly test her skills against her father. She had been waiting for a day like this for what felt like forever.
Noah understood she wasn't yet at her father's legendary level, but how could she ever know her true limits without testing herself against the very master who had taught her?
.
.
"Well done. Quick adjustments mid-fight, clever and versatile," one instructor commented, making a note on his score sheet.
"She is flexible, but with her body still developing, she lacks the raw physical power needed for some of the more advanced crushing techniques. It is a shame, really," another noted analytically.
"I do not think it is a shame at all," her homeroom teacher chimed in defensively. "For someone her age to achieve this level of technical skill, even with current physical limitations, is remarkable. Think of it as a superb foundation—once her body matures, she might very quickly reach the combat strength of a Dragon King."
The instructors were unanimously impressed with Noah, showering her with quiet praise.
What they did not know, however, was that her opponent was not just any black-armored instructor—it was her father, the original "Man in Black Armor."
Leon, known as a doting yet fiercely pragmatic father, understood how critical this test was for Noah's growth. He was not the type to let his daughter win out of mere favoritism. He believed that if this trial was not challenging enough, she might leave with regrets, her potential untapped.
As her father, her first teacher, and the person who knew her fighting spirit best, he could precisely control the fight's intensity in a way that pushed her to her absolute limits without causing her real harm.
.
.
In the center of the arena, Noah watched her father's stance intently.
He had crouched slightly lower, his center of gravity dropping into a more serious, ready combat posture after her previous attacks had forced him to pay full attention.
The two stood a few meters apart, their gazes locked in a silent, understanding standoff.
"Well, if it is you, it is no surprise you would understand my attack patterns. I cannot rely on the half-hearted techniques you taught me before, Dad," Noah muttered under her breath, a sly smile touching her lips.
Beneath the helmet, Leon was already formulating his next move, a proud smirk on his own face.
"Wow, I nearly got hit by my own daughter. I guess I will need to take this a bit more seriously. Where will you strike next, Noah?"
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.
After a tense, breathless moment, Noah made the first move again. This time, however, her approach was slower, more measured, and she conspicuously refrained from channeling any crackling lightning magic.
"She is relying purely on physical techniques? Smart. Without the drain of magic, she can focus entirely on observing and predicting my movements," Leon thought, approving of her tactical shift.
As Noah closed the distance, her eyes darted, scanning for the slightest opening.
"Left? No, he is ready for that. Right? Same problem. Repeating my previous moves will not work."
She shifted her attention to her father's knees, considering using her small size to duck and attack his lower body. However, Leon's solid stance was prepared for such low attacks, making it likely she would only expose her own back in the attempt.
With the distance between them closing rapidly, the instructors held their breath, eager to see how Noah would initiate her strike.
She feinted sharply to the left, a move Leon easily sidestepped. But instead of retreating from the failed feint, Noah suddenly crouched, coiling her legs like springs before unleashing their power and leaping high into the air.
"She reached that height? Incredible explosive power! How did she manage that?" one instructor exclaimed, his notes forgotten for a moment.
"It must be some sort of advanced physical technique to temporarily enhance her leg strength. But as far as I know, we do not teach such techniques in the Young Dragons Division," another noted, puzzled.
Her homeroom teacher smiled knowingly. "True, we do not. But Noah has... exceptional parents. I would guess they taught her themselves."
"In that case, her parents must be quite remarkable individuals. I would love to meet them someday."
"You already have," her teacher replied cryptically, her eyes twinkling.
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High in the air, Noah's right hand began gathering brilliant, crackling lightning magic, the sound of the building energy echoing through the arena like fierce birdsong.
"Using the momentum from her fall to strengthen the impact of a diving attack? Clever, but predictable. Oh, silly girl." Leon was already planning his counter, his body tensing to catch and redirect her.
From the stands, some observers shook their heads.
"Jumping straight down from above? That is not a great strategy against a grounded, prepared opponent."
"She cannot adjust her posture mid-air, making her an easy target for a simple counterattack."
"Her approach feels too rushed. Even though her power is significant, it is tactically reckless."
The instructors critiqued her plan, while beneath his helmet, Leon allowed himself a small, proud smirk.
"This is too easy. All I need to do is catch her leg or kick. She has left herself completely wide open."
But just as Leon prepared to intercept her falling form, the characteristic crackling sound of the lightning magic in Noah's hand abruptly changed in pitch and intensity.
"What the—"
Before anyone could fully process the shift, the formless lightning in Noah's hand coalesced and transformed, shaping itself into the distinct, snarling head of a wolf.
An A-rank lightning spell: Thunder Wolf Breakthrough.
"What a seamless shift in spell formation! Incredible control!" Vice Principal Wilson exclaimed, leaning forward in his seat.
Principal Olette, however, remained skeptical, her eyes narrowed. "Even so, at that close distance, it will not be fast enough to hit 9527, not with a technique that requires a brief travel time like Thunder Wolf Breakthrough."
"But what if..." Wilson's voice rose in sudden excitement. "What if she is not using it to attack him directly?"
.
.
In the arena, Noah's fully formed Thunder Wolf Breakthrough wasn't aimed at Leon's armored body. Instead, at the last possible second, she twisted and launched the roaring lightning wolf downward, away from him, into the empty space beside her.
BOOM!
The resulting concussive recoil from the powerful spell kicked back against her body, violently propelling her sideways through the air and completely shifting her trajectory.
"What?!"
In an instant, the force sent Noah soaring in a sharp, unexpected arc over Leon's head. She landed gracefully and silently behind him, now in the perfect, uncontested position for a surprise attack on his undefended back.
"She is insane! She never intended to attack from above! Her target was his back all along!" an instructor shouted, leaping to his feet.
Her utterly unexpected use of the spell's recoil had turned her biggest perceived disadvantage—her committed aerial position—into a stunning strategic advantage, catching everyone, especially Leon, completely off guard.
"Bonus points! Give her all the bonus points!" another instructor roared, clapping his hands.
"You just got completely outplayed by a kid!" someone else joked, watching as Leon's armor-clad form stiffened in surprise.
The sharp, eager crackle of lightning returned, this time accompanied by the triumphant sound of singing birds, a signature of her power.
Noah's determined expression shone through the glow of her gathering magic, her silver hair swept back by the swirling energy. She looked directly at the back of her father's helmet, her voice clear and firm.
"Dad—"
"One move... to decide it all!"