Chapter 12: The Battle of the Crest-Bearer (Part 1)

Baili Yuan was seeing a battle between Crest Users for the first time.

Ikki and Amelica did not choose to relocate; they decided to duel right there on the lawn.

"Basic ability combat, what do you think?" Ikki asked Amelica.

"I don't mind. Either way, the outcome won't change," Amelica said, dropping her hands.

Ikki frowned.

"Kuroki, could you go wait for me on the side?" Ikki said to Kuroki.

"Be careful then, Amelica is very strong," Kuroki said, looking worried.

"Don't worry, I'm stronger!" Ikki patted his chest, firmly planting a flag.

Once Kuroki left, Ikki looked at Amelica.

Amelica scanned the crowd and looked in the direction of Baili Yuan.

"Luo'er, I need a referee. Could I trouble you?" Amelica said.

"Hee hee, no trouble at all. It’s my honor to referee for the sixth-ranked 'Brilliant Maiden'," said the white-stockinged girl standing next to Baili Yuan with a giggle.

Then, Luo'er nodded at the black-stockinged girl, winked at Baili Yuan, and stepped onto the lawn.

Baili Yuan watched Luo'er's back and tilted his head.

Is her name Luo'er?

"Luo'er is very strong. Although she isn't in the top ten, she is ranked fourteenth," the black-stockinged girl explained to Baili Yuan, while her hand quietly slid toward Baili Yuan's little belly when he wasn't paying attention.

Black-stockinged girl: So soft, so fun.

"What are the rankings for?" Baili Yuan asked curiously.

"The rankings are for the strength of students in combat-related professions. Students of every grade can participate, but generally, those at the top are upperclassmen. You challenge from a lower position to a higher one, and the gap cannot exceed ten spots. If you succeed, you take their rank, and the loser drops down one spot. If the challenger fails, they cannot initiate any challenges for a week. Only the top ten get titles; if you fall out of the top ten, the title is revoked. If you can keep the title until graduation, you receive a generous reward from the academy," the black-stockinged girl explained in an emotionless tone.

"Oh, I see. And what rank are you, big sister?" Baili Yuan asked.

"Eleventh," the black-stockinged girl said flatly.

Baili Yuan’s expression stiffened, and he couldn't help but applaud.

"What's wrong?"

"Peppa Pig on the skin, applause for the man of the world. That was a smooth flex!"

Black-stockinged girl: "???"

Baili Yuan continued to chat with the black-stockinged girl, probing for information about the Crest Academy, and also learned her name—Gokou Yue.

While chatting, Baili Yuan didn't forget to watch the battle on the lawn.

Luo'er stood in the middle of the lawn and raised a hand. Amelica and Ikki stood on either side of her at an equal distance.

At this moment, Luo'er put away her smile.

"Duel, confirmed content: basic ability combat. The winner gains the right to use the dormitory. If Amelica wins, Ikki will become her servant. Do both parties have any issues?"

Ikki and Amelica nodded, indicating no issues.

"Big sister Gokou Yue, what does basic ability combat mean?" Baili Yuan asked, looking up.

"It means fighting without using abilities that exceed your profession, and excluding high-level techniques, finishing moves, execution moves, and burst techniques. Basic techniques and combos are allowed. It’s a test of the combatants' basic abilities. The power and destruction caused are relatively small, so it’s a type of combat often used for sparring and wagering," Gokou Yue explained.

Baili Yuan nodded as if he understood. Judging by the names, he could roughly guess what these skills represented, but he didn't know the specific classifications.

"Prepare for battle!" Luo'er shouted.

Amelica extended her right hand, and the crest of a flame carved on the back of her hand lit up.

Flames erupted from the back of her hand, circling around her. Two large red crystals and countless tiny red crystals floated around her body.

On the other side, Ikki held his right hand in a hollow grip and drew a black single-edged blade from his left palm, where a crest with a sword emblem was located.

Ikki held the sword with both hands, flicked it a few times, took a stance, and stood still.

Luo'er looked left and right, and seeing that both sides were ready, she walked off the lawn and stood still.

"Countdown, 3, 2, 1... Battle start!"

As Luo'er's voice fell, Ikki and Amelica moved simultaneously.

Amelica pointed one hand forward while her body slid backward.

"Flame Shot!"

The crystals behind Amelica acted like a machine gun, firing clusters of flame arrows at Ikki.

As Amelica moved, Ikki also began to run, charging straight at her. He didn't choose to dodge her attacks but instead assumed a drawing stance.

"Hmph, ridiculous." Seeing Ikki trying to tank her attack, Amelica sneered.

Although a single flame arrow wasn't strong, the sheer volume falling like raindrops meant the power wasn't just a simple case of one plus one equals two. Furthermore, the explosive nature unique to flames made this move even more powerful.

Ikki's expression didn't change; he remained indifferent.

"Flash Combo!" Ikki shouted in a low voice.

He was then engulfed by the incoming flame arrows, causing a violent explosion that kicked up a thick cloud of smoke.

"Is it over? Why is that freshman so weak after acting so cocky earlier?" a bystander asked in confusion.

Baili Yuan, however, narrowed his eyes with a serious expression...

He couldn't see anything!

However, he noticed that Amelica hadn't relaxed; instead, she was still increasing the distance.

The smoke cleared.

Ikki stood unscathed on the scorched lawn.

"Unscathed???"

The crowd of onlookers was shocked.

"A pity," Ikki muttered, looking at Amelica, who was keeping her distance, with some regret.

"Did you think I would just wait there for you to ambush me using the smoke?" Amelica mocked.

Ikki didn't speak, but the corners of his mouth curled up.

Amelica felt a tightness in her chest and suddenly had a bad feeling.

A gust of wind struck from her side.

Amelica reflexively arched her back, but from her angle, she could see a black blade swipe past her face.

A short blade spun and landed in Ikki's left hand.

"What?! It's dual blades???" the onlookers exclaimed.

Baili Yuan also widened his eyes, looking in Amelica's direction...

If Amelica's waist hadn't been so flexible, she might have actually been cut!

Baili Yuan then looked at Ikki angrily and shouted: "How could you be so heartless??? Do you know you almost made a young girl lose her dreams just now!!!"

Baili Yuan's shout actually drowned out the discussions of the onlookers, causing the surroundings to fall silent instantly.

Ikki, who had been planning to say something cool to show off, had his words shoved back down his throat by Baili Yuan's shout, and he nearly choked to death.

"Cough, cough..."