A loud explosion of dust suddenly burst out inside the Arcane Hall.
The strong vibration echoed, like a giant drum being struck again and again. The air rushing forward felt like wave after wave crashing in.
From the spreading dust, two figures with golden and silver hair leaped out lightly.
It was Erica and Aurelian.
Magic was rapidly gathering in Erica's hands. Multicolored magic flowed out of her body like a stream, wrapping around her.
[Second-Tier Magic: Chaos Barrier]
The different colored magic twisted together completely, gradually slipping out of Erica's control.
Several strands of magic spun in the air, forming a chaotic, multicolored barrier in front of her.
A silver figure suddenly stepped out from the dust. Gwen held a silver longsword that flashed with cold light.
A crack split open in the air beneath her feet, pushing her forward in a high leap.
She raised the sword in her hand and slashed fiercely toward Erica.
Bang!
Under the heavy force of the sword, the barrier shattered instantly. Broken and chaotic fragments, along with strands of mixed magic, flew out in all directions.
Seeing the barrier she had created get completely destroyed by a single strike from Gwen, Erica could not help feeling stunned.
She felt the pressure from the flying fragments and air currents rushing toward her. Her mind instantly became extremely clear, as if lightning had run down her spine.
Aurelian also drew her sword from her waist and stepped in front of Erica.
Gwen's heavy descending blade collided with Aurelian's silver sword, but the two only held for a few seconds.
Waves of force rippled through the surrounding space from their clash.
Under the impact of their strength, the two sides separated.
Erica and Aurelian both stepped back several paces.
As for Gwen, she stood where the two had just been, her face as cold as frost.
She showed no sign of being affected by their counterattack.
Sweat showing signs of fatigue appeared on Aurelian's forehead. She turned to Erica and asked, "What exactly did you do!? Why is Instructor Gwen so angry!"
'Who just attacks like this without saying a word?'
Erica was also breathing heavily, looking tired.
This was far more exhausting than her usual training in the North.
Erica was also confused. She had only said those words to irritate Aurelian.
She never imagined that those words would be overheard by Grand Knight Gwen.
But even if she heard them, it should not have turned out like this…
In Erica's impression, although Gwen was not good with words, after spending some time with her, one would realize that Gwen was actually very gentle.
But now, Gwen's icy gaze felt like she had become a completely different person.
Erica could not help thinking about Henny earlier today.
Why did both of them seem to have changed?
At this moment, Erica thought of something and turned to look at Aurelian.
'Wait, if I got beaten for talking nonsense, fine. But why are you getting beaten too?'
Aurelian understood what Erica meant. For a moment, confusion also rose in her mind.
Why was she dragged into this for no reason?
At this time, Gwen seemed to be waiting for the two to recover. She stood quietly in place and did not take any action.
Her expression remained cold. It was as if two arrows filled with frost shot out from her eyes, able to pierce through their very bones.
She slowly raised the longsword in her hand and pointed it at them.
"Continue."
"Let me see your qualifications."
'Qualifications?'
Aurelian and Erica both froze for a moment. But in the next second, they had no time to think.
Gwen stomped hard on the ground. The surrounding air seemed to be covered in frost, becoming extremely sluggish.
A figure like flying snow tore open a vacuum crack in the air, rushing forward with a streak of colorful afterimages.
Alarm bells rang in Erica and Aurelian's minds. They quickly raised their defenses.
Erica clenched her hands, feeling magic surge within them. A complex formation rapidly formed in the air under her control.
Aurelian went all in. She aimed her sword forward as magic quickly climbed along the blade, while her other hand began drawing runes of a magic circle in the air.
At the same time, countless students crowded at the entrance of the Arcane Hall and stepped outside, watching the three continuously exchange blows.
From a distance, they looked at Gwen with slight shock.
"They say that's Professor Viktor's fiancee, Grand Knight Gwen."
"She's elegant and powerful… both her swordsmanship and her looks."
Their eyes were full of admiration. Gwen became the center of attention.
On her cold and stern face were delicate features. Her indifferent aura was like a flag fluttering in the cold wind, giving every onlooker an unexplainable sense of authority.
Even her coldness carried a charm that was hard to describe.
Even the girls were captivated.
At this time, among the students, someone said, "Are Erica and Her Highness the Princess struggling a bit? Hiss… there won't be any danger, right?"
The others looked at the speaker like he was an idiot.
How could that be?
Erica was the daughter of a duke, and Aurelian was even more important.
She was a princess, the emperor's daughter.
How could they possibly be in danger? Would Gwen really have killing intent?
Although they were also confused about why Grand Knight Gwen suddenly attacked the two without a word.
But then they thought about it. Aurelian called Gwen her teacher.
Suddenly, everything made sense.
Professor Viktor was the princess's magic teacher, and Grand Knight Gwen was her swordsmanship teacher.
So it was obvious that Gwen must be training the two of them.
The students outside crowded together, trying to see Gwen "training" the two inside the Arcane Hall, afraid of missing any detail.
After all, they were mages. It was rare for them to see a knight fight.
This was far more exciting than normal classes.
And what reassured them most was not Erica and Aurelian's identities.
Because there was someone even stronger present.
In front of the students stood a sturdy white-haired old man.
He crossed his arms and watched the three fight in the distance.
Although Erica and Aurelian were indeed being pushed back step by step by Gwen, Vladimir felt appreciation in his heart.
There was no doubt that the two girls were outstanding.
Erica had trained with spellcasters for a period of time, but she leaned more toward elemental magic.
Aurelian was more diverse. Perhaps because she had learned swordsmanship from Gwen, she often fought with a longsword.
She was similar to a magic swordsman, but not quite one.
Because magic swordsmen relied on both magical tools and physical strength at the same time.
So their magic reserves were actually not very high.
But Aurelian was different. Not only had her magic reached the level of a normal mage, but her close combat ability was also excellent.
And she was the only one in the academy who used this kind of combat style that combined swordsmanship and magic.
No one knew how she had been taught.
Vladimir watched the battle with interest.
When he looked at Gwen, he also felt admiration.
Compared to when she was in the North, she seemed to have become even stronger.
In her fight with Erica and Aurelian, she used no flashy moves. With just technique and powerful strength, she already put great pressure on them.
Her movements were smooth and sharp, like cold water in winter.
That was why Vladimir did not step in to stop Gwen when he saw her fighting the two.
There was no need.
He had been on battlefields for years. He could clearly tell whether there was killing intent in a fight.
When Gwen fought the two, it felt more like guidance.
As if she was trying to teach them something.
Stopping at the right point.
Moreover, Vladimir shifted his gaze to the other sword at Gwen's waist.
That greatsword seemed as if it were completely swallowed by flames, releasing an extremely violent aura even while sheathed, like a fierce fire hidden inside ice, not yet released.
Even from a distance, Vladimir could tell that sword was anything but simple.
If Gwen used her full strength, the two girls would definitely not be able to withstand it.
So he did not interfere.
Magic surged again in Erica's hands. Several blazing streaks of starlight turned into straight white arrows and shot toward Gwen.
But while flying, those arrows faded from sight, leaving only faint, sharp magic continuing forward.
[Second-Tier Magic: Starlight Arrows]
Under the dense and invisible barrage of arrows, Gwen remained calm.
She focused and sensed that the arrows had completely merged with the surrounding air.
But under Gwen's gaze, it was as if coldness turned into a blade cutting through the air. The white arrows still revealed their forms before her eyes.
Gwen slightly lowered her body and weaved through the rain of blades, appearing in front of Erica with her sword in hand.
Aurelian rushed forward with her sword, the magic-coated blade slashing toward Gwen.
Gwen slightly turned her body and gently struck with her elbow. The blade glowing with magic did not even get the chance to collide with Gwen's sword before it flew out of Aurelian's grip.
[Second-Tier Magic: Dazzling Fire Rope]
Aurelian cast another spell with a backhand motion. A red rotating rope shot out from her magic circle, wrapping tightly around Gwen's body and binding her.
Gwen's expression did not change. Her body trembled slightly as pressure burst out from within, ripping the red rope away. She stepped on it and twisted hard until it gradually dissipated.
She lightly rammed forward with her body. Before Aurelian and Erica could react, they were already knocked back dozens of meters.
By now, the two were running out of stamina.
But Gwen still looked relaxed.
She straightened her body, withdrew her hand, and looked at Aurelian and Erica.
"It seems your qualifications are still not enough."
"I'll give you a simple lesson."
Then she raised her sword above her head again. A cold light flashed in her eyes.
"Foolish…"
"Stray cats."
Thick killing intent burst out, the smell of something burning like flames drifting into Vladimir's nose.
He sensed something was wrong and his eyes widened.
But Gwen had already lifted her sword and shattered the ground beneath her feet.
Stone slabs cracked and flew as she turned into a blurred phantom and rushed in front of the two.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, black feathers spilled down from the air.
Like dark night snow, they covered Viktor's figure.
He stood steadily in front of Gwen. A wooden vine wrapped around his palm, forming a wooden sword with patterns.
Bang!
A dull collision mixed with the trembling sound of metal. Gwen and Viktor's hands holding their weapons vibrated from the fierce impact.
Yet neither of their arms moved an inch.
Seeing this scene, the students crowding at the entrance were all stunned.
Vladimir also widened his eyes and leaned forward.
Before he could even finish being shocked, he could not look away.
Honestly, he had never seen Viktor fight in person.
Watching him hold a sword and block Gwen's attack without hesitation, he suddenly understood who had taught the princess her current fighting style.
Gwen's voice was as cold as winter icicles.
"You finally came."
Viktor looked at Gwen with an expressionless face.
"It's time to stop, Gwen."
At this moment, the Gwen in front of him gave him a deep sense of familiarity.
Like ice buried thousands of miles beneath the extreme north, unimaginably cold.
Just from her gaze, he could feel the abnormal chill flowing through his veins.
Just like when he had been a player, facing Gwen again and again.
Just like now, completely devoid of emotion.
In this state, once Gwen decided something, her thoughts would not change in the slightest.
She would not listen to anyone.
Gwen remained indifferent. She lifted her sword slightly and stepped back.
Her body lowered gradually. Holding the sword tightly in front of her chest, she charged at Viktor.
The surrounding air seemed to explode, leaving only roaring sounds.
Like a lion fighting for its life.
Viktor knew that if he resisted forcefully now, Gwen would definitely get hurt.
So he had already set up a spell.
If attacked, it would automatically repel the force.
But at that moment, Gwen, holding her sword, was already right in front of him.
Normally, Viktor's magic would trigger and immediately push Gwen away.
But…
Viktor froze.
'Did the magic fail?'
'Or was it that Gwen did not intend to…'
At that moment, with a clang, the silver-white sword fell to the ground.
It bounced a few times and then lay still.
Countless eyes were drawn to the fallen sword. In the blink of an eye, they saw Gwen.
At some unknown time, she had stepped into Viktor's arms.
Her arms wrapped around his neck.
And she kissed him.
At that moment, countless eyes widened.
Aurelian and Erica were breathing heavily. Whether from exhaustion or from the scene in front of them, they stared in shock.
The world seemed to fall silent for a moment.
After a long while, the two lips pressed tightly together slowly parted.
Gwen looked at Viktor, whose expression had clearly changed, yet her own face remained cold.
Like frost, sharp and chilling.
She held Viktor's face with both hands and looked at him directly with cold eyes.
Her cool voice slowly echoed through the entire academy.
"You are mine."
"I will not give you to anyone."