Chapter 136: The Black Feather Preliminaries

The third round is a team competition, designed to determine which teams will advance to the finals. The fourth round is the grand finale, where the victorious team will be crowned this year's tournament champion.

After several matches, it was finally time for Hei Yu and Ling Xiao Lei to take the stage. The power of the potion Hei Yu had absorbed was beginning to take effect, and he felt full of vigor. He leaped up and stepped onto the ring.

"Coming up next—from the Saint City Magic Academy team, the non-elemental mage, Hei Yu!"

The introduction of a "non-elemental mage" immediately sparked heated discussion among the spectators.

"Non-elemental?"
"How can you be a mage without an element?"
"Is there really such a thing as a non-elemental mage?"
"Why not just become a warrior or a fighter?"

Hei Yu remained indifferent; he had heard such comments far too often. He walked with a casual gait, still wearing his black mage robe, his trident staff shimmering with a faint luster.

The crowd’s gaze naturally converged on him, all eager to see how this "non-elemental mage" would fight.

Ever since Hei Yu stepped onto the stage, Yi Xin’s face had been etched with worry. She thought uneasily, "He cannot use dark magic, so what offensive capabilities does he have left? Hitting the enemy with his staff? I’m starting to regret agreeing to let him into the S-class. Even though his level is high, well..."

She then reconsidered, "Still, I should trust him. Even if he lacks conventional skills, he always manages to turn danger into safety at critical moments."

Immediately following this, the host's next introduction sparked another wave of commotion: "—And, also from the Saint City Magic Academy, the Dark Elf mage, Ling Xiao Lei!"

"A Dark Elf? Dark Elves are incredibly rare; I’ve never heard of a Dark Elf mage..."
"The Saint City Magic Academy actually accepted a Dark Elf mage?"
"What kind of combination is this team? Saint City really has all sorts of oddballs."

Although she was far from the spectator stands, Ling Xiao Lei clearly heard these harsh remarks. Her gaze swept coldly across the faces of the gossiping crowd. Noting their attire, she realized most were from other continents and silently made a mental note of this.

"One day, a Dark Elf mage will stand at the pinnacle of the continent's greatest mages. I will make all of you remember the power of a Dark Elf mage!"

The host continued, "Their opponents are—the duo of fighters from the Central Continent! What kind of coordination will the Saint City Magic Academy display? Let us wait and see!"

The opponents climbed onto the ring with a menacing air. Both the man and the woman were sturdy and short-statured with thick calves. As they walked, they swung their fists, executing impressive straight punches and hooks that drew rounds of applause.

Hei Yu stood at the edge of the arena, calm and composed.

"Don't worry, if you can't beat them, just hide behind me. I’ll protect you."
"What are you saying? I’m very strong!" Ling Xiao Lei retorted indignantly.

They had stood back-to-back many times, fighting off magical beasts together. But only at this moment, for some reason, did they truly feel they were on the "same side."

Thinking of this, a smile tugged at the corner of Hei Yu’s mouth. "We will win this match."
"Why?" Ling Xiao Lei asked, puzzled.

Hei Yu did not answer. Perhaps it was trust—the kind of trust forged through hundreds of battles, transcending everything else.

As the host shouted, "The match begins!"

Both sides charged at each other. Each person drew the attention of one of the fighters, and they confronted each other in the center of the ring.

Having undergone "Puppet" training, their combat skills had improved significantly. Hei Yu swung his staff skillfully: "First strike, second strike, third strike! Waltz Slash!"

He executed the strikes beautifully, though he did not use his mana—dark magic was strictly forbidden during the competition. Calling out the names of his techniques was merely a habit, one that added momentum to his swings.

Given the current strength of his body, the piercing and cutting capabilities of his trident alone, combined with the speed and precision of his angles, left the male fighter unable to parry. His agile dodges made him like a black afterimage, and the rain of fierce punches from the fighter couldn't even graze his clothes.

Ling Xiao Lei faced the female fighter. Although she was inferior in physical strength and melee technique, her heart remained as still as water, her footing steady.

Had it been the Ling Xiao Lei of the past, she surely would have been unable to fend them off. But now, she felt these punches and kicks were trivial; she could clearly see the trajectory of every move. They were nowhere near as difficult to deal with as the mana-infused puppets created by Yun Lan.

The male fighter’s fists whipped up wind, attacking Hei Yu in a dense barrage. Guided by the Eye of the Demon, Hei Yu dodged with ease. With the reach advantage of his staff, he actually seemed to have the upper hand in the close-quarters skirmish.

Ling Xiao Lei’s melee engagement with the female fighter was merely a diversion.

After blocking two waves of attacks, the staff hovering behind her had already circled the two fighters twice without them noticing. It had released powder extracted from the feathers of a Dark Raven, which now floated in the air—enough to blind the enemy.

Calculating the perfect timing, Ling Xiao Lei signaled Hei Yu to retreat. They both jumped back two large steps, and suddenly, a two-meter-high purple barrier was pushed forward, blocking their opponents.

"The mage's battle begins now!"

Ling Xiao Lei said, finally loosening her muscles. She unleashed her true power, a triumphant smirk tugging at her lips. After all, melee combat had suppressed her for too long; magic was her true specialty.

The opponents reacted immediately. Had they not been quick, they might have been pushed off the ring by the sudden appearance of the barrier. The two looked at each other, leaped up simultaneously, and vaulted over the barrier, intending to close the distance and engage in melee combat once more.

This was exactly the trap Ling Xiao Lei had laid. She snapped her fingers: "Dark Raven, Blind!"

Just as the two were mid-air, their vision suddenly plunged into darkness.

"Binding Chains, retract!"

Immediately after, several purple chains surged from the ground like lightning, crossing at the top to form a large net, ensnaring them both. Ling Xiao Lei had prepared this while distracting them with melee combat.

Hei Yu took the opportunity to jump up, delivering a flying kick into the net, sending them flying toward the edge of the ring with the net's elasticity.

"Oh no, it's a trap! What kind of magic is this?!"

For those unfamiliar with Dark Elf sorcery, this was a devastating disadvantage. The two fighters inside the net felt their bodies being violently pushed backward by an unseen force.

The female fighter realized the gravity of the situation. Using her agility, she twisted her body in mid-air, grabbed onto Ling Xiao Lei’s binding chain, and attempted to use the leverage to return to the ring.

"Thinking of coming back? Not a chance!"