Chapter 3

When the "Flame Challenge" consisting of a magic puppet, two superior puppets, and eight intermediate puppets appeared on the training ground, it immediately caused a stir among the spectators. Many of the students thought they were about to witness the Storm Queen herself take action.

However, the figure that walked into the training ground was not the one with the bright red hair, but a black-haired, black-eyed youth.

His slender figure, the unremarkable longsword in his hand, and the flimsy shield made it seem as though a single charge from an intermediate puppet would be enough to send him flying.

The faces of the noble students from the council faction immediately changed. They believed this was undoubtedly a method chosen by Fina to avoid having a lagging spy in the team, a disruption of the noble game rules. A few of the quicker thinkers immediately sent people out to spread the word, preparing to call for reinforcements to apply pressure.

Fina paid no attention to the small actions of her opponents; she simply watched the quiet youth in the field.

At this moment, the youth seemed like a completely different person, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, dazzling and impossible to look at directly.

After twenty years of ups and downs, for Mide, battle was as natural as breathing. The moment he gripped the sword, he entered a state of complete self-forgetfulness, no longer calculating gains and losses, no longer hesitating. All that remained in his heart was the desire for victory.

"Let me show you my swordsmanship, my strength, and... my determination." Mide glanced at the students on the stands, each with their own thoughts, and spoke softly.

The eleven puppets in front of him were well-coordinated, with clear roles and distinct levels.

Among them, the eight intermediate puppets served as tanks, adjusted to the combat style of minotaur vanguards, possessing skills for charging attacks and high mobility.

The two superior puppets had dual characteristics of support and protection. On one hand, they inherited the agility of the luminescent cat demons, and their two-stage claw attack was a headache even for experienced fighters. On the other hand, and most terrifyingly, these formidable close-combat puppets not only had healing skills but could also heal each other.

As for the magic puppet, it was modeled after a mutated flame creature, possessing the skill of fire meteor. This magic attack had a long range, great power, and a fire splash effect, which for the current Mide, could be a one-hit kill.

Facing this combination head-on, even a class changer would find it challenging. Even in the heyday of the Magic Academy, it was said that less than five percent of the students could complete this challenge before the trial.

Out of a hundred, only five could withstand the scorching flames.

But precisely because of this, it was worth the challenge.

Amid the astonished gazes of the crowd, Mide discarded the heavy shield and switched to a two-handed grip on the sword.

In the next instant, he charged out without hesitation, like an arrow released from a bow!

"What, in this situation, this guy actually initiates an attack?"

The crowd exclaimed in surprise. Although the puppets could stop moving immediately, inertia could not be stopped. In Mide's current state, if he were hit by a charge attack, the best outcome would be a broken bone. This battle could no longer be considered safe.

"Even without a shield, is he trying to commit suicide?" Liliann snorted, glancing at Siegmund, but the blond gunner only shrugged, clearly unable to discern Mide's intentions.

"Interesting." Fina murmured softly. As a student who had completed the Flame Challenge multiple times, she knew very well what actions the puppets would take next.

So, how would this boy who initiated the attack respond?

Unconsciously, the Storm Queen's gaze could no longer be diverted.

The metal joints of the puppets creaked as they faced the charging Mide. The eight intermediate puppets lowered their centers of gravity in unison and simultaneously launched their charge attacks.

The seemingly cumbersome puppets moved at a speed completely contrary to their size, like cannonballs out of the barrel, stirring up fierce winds in the air and raising high clouds of dust on the ground. Eight straight lines, like long spears, locked onto Mide's position.

In an instant, the earth seemed to tremble from the relentless advance.

If it were anyone else, they would have been panic-stricken in the face of this overwhelming charge, like a surging wave. However, Mide's expression remained calm, as if the eight steel puppets charging at him were nothing more than a cold winter wind.

Not only did he not slow down, but he further burst into speed, charging head-on toward the eight puppets. Just as they were about to collide, Mide suddenly shifted his feet, like a flash of white light, making a slight turn.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still.

When the crowd came to their senses, the black-haired youth they thought would be smashed to pieces was unscathed, having slipped through the gaps in the charge of the eight puppets!

Siegmund and Liliann, who had expected Mide to beg for mercy, exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock. They were highly confident and had high standards, but precisely because of this, they could understand just how remarkable the feat was.

After all, Mide's technique was not complicated. The charge attack was indeed fast, and for non-class changers below level 20, it was impossible to dodge. However, it had a weakness—once initiated, it could not change direction and could only move in a straight line. As long as one predicted the trajectory of the puppets' advance at the moment they initiated the skill, it was easy to dodge, or even better, stand in a position where one would not be affected.

But this was only a theoretical response. In actual combat, the raised sand and dust, the number of enemies, various noises and shouts, and inner fear and unease all influenced the outcome.

Humans are not machines; in the face of overwhelming attacks, who could remain completely unshaken?

But the rumored playboy not only managed to do it but did it beautifully.

"Phew..." The red-haired girl's relaxed sigh broke the silence among the three.

Fina lazily leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes like a cat, no longer watching the figure on the training ground that had given them such a great shock.

"Not going to watch anymore, Miss Fina?" Siegmund was a bit puzzled. Logically, such a clean and decisive dodge should have piqued the Storm Queen's interest.

"No need, the outcome is already decided." Fina replied simply.

As Fina said, Mide's dodge not only avoided the strongest combined attack of the eight intermediate puppets but also directly broke through the tank line and easily reached the core of the formation, where the two superior puppets were located.

From the beginning, his target was the two luminescent cat demon puppets that could use healing spells.

Despite being outnumbered two to one, the actions of the level 16 puppets were slightly more rigid than those of mutated monsters. To Mide, who had experienced a second awakening, they were like static, and he could easily predict their every move. In an instant, Mide had easily grasped the rhythm of the battle, avoiding the puppets' two-stage attacks and closing in to almost point-blank range.

As he passed by one of the puppets, he reversed the grip on his longsword, not even turning back, and with pinpoint accuracy, thrust the blade into the gap between the puppet's arm and body, piercing all the way through and destroying the core mechanism.

The superior puppet did not even have the chance to use its healing spell before being instantly killed.

In less than twenty seconds, the second superior puppet also fell to the ground, a crack in the center of its forehead continuously emitting sparks.

Without the protection of the tanks and the agile guards, the magic puppet, unable to maintain distance, found it difficult to launch powerful fire meteor attacks and was not considered a threat.

Mide, combining his full strength and the inertia from his acceleration, unleashed a powerful slash on the not-so-agile target. Although it did not contain any ghostly power, the imposing blade easily broke through the flame defense shield and cleanly severed the puppet's fragile neck, decapitating it.

With the dull thud of the steel head hitting the ground, the battle was completely without doubt.

When the last puppet finally stopped moving, Mide sheathed his sword and naturally waved to the red-haired girl on the stands, then smiled in relief.

There was no special meaning behind this; it was purely out of habit.

For years, after every victory in battle, he used this method to reassure the woman he loved that everything was fine.

So this time, Mide also smiled.

Just as he did back then.