earths-greatest-magus-16091348
chapter-2257

The last day of the battle was the most anticipated of all.

After the previous four battles, the system established a ranking for each 50 participants and divided them into three tiers: the top 10, the mid-rank, and the lower rank. Losing twice would place an acolyte in the lower rank while winning both battles offered a chance to enter the prestigious top 10 rankings.

The system calculated matchups accordingly; Dillion, who was ranked 48th in the last mid-year exam, would get a chance to fight one of the weaker top 10 contenders. Shiryu, previously ranked 13th, would have a shot at facing one of the top 5 strongest. Unfortunately for Shinta, being a new entry to the gold rank and a first-year, her chances of fighting a top 10 acolyte were slim.

Despite her victory over Karel, who was ranked 26th, the system assigned Shinta yet another similar strength opponent—rank 23, Darryl Beaumont, a second-year noble from the prestigious Arcanum faction. Darryl was an Arcanum knight known for his skill with sword and shield. As he approached Shinta, his appearance was as polished as his reputation, and he greeted her with a charming smile.

"Aah, a beautiful girl. I hate to hurt such a beauty…" "That's great," Shinta replied with a playful smirk. "I don't want to get hurt either. How about you surrender instead?"

Derryl chuckled, "No, no… unfortunately, I can't disappoint all my fans."

Shinta glanced at the stands and noticed a group of female acolytes enthusiastically cheering for Derryl. The sight made her inwardly cringe, but she maintained her composure.

With a confident grin, Derryl proposed, "How about a bet? If I win… we go on a date."

Shinta's eyes narrowed, but she responded with a sweet smile, "Alright, but if I win… you owe me one!"

The battle between Shinta and Derryl was fierce and evenly matched. As a protégé of a high-grade faction, Derryl possessed a physique and divine skills that rivaled Shinta's Kemoyin transformations. His arcane spells countered her hex magic, creating a balance that neither could easily break. Their swords clashed repeatedly, each strike filled with the precision and power of seasoned warriors.

Darryl's sword whistled through the air, barely missing Shinta as she twisted away, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and focus. She responded with a swift slash of her own, her blade aiming for a gap in his defense, but Darryl was quick to raise his shield, deflecting the blow with a grunt of effort.

"You've only reached seven pillars, yet you're able to stand toe-to-toe with me on eight pillars… I like you more and more," he taunted, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and playful flirtation.

Shinta rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. She took a deep breath and asked, "So, where do you plan to take me? Because if it's not interesting, I won't go."

Her tone was light, almost teasing, but beneath it was a strategic mind at work. As she engaged in banter, Shinta subtly channeled her Khaos power, allowing it to surge through her veins. With each exchange of blows, she began to gradually push Derryl back, the force of her strikes intensifying. His arcane magic, once a formidable barrier, started to crack under the relentless pressure.

"Why? No answer? You don't seriously want to date me, do you?!... I am so disappointed" Shinta taunted, her voice carrying a playful edge as she closed in on her trapped opponent.

"I… wait… I…" Darryl stammered, his focus slipping as he tried to reform his rune formations.

But it was too late. With a final burst of power, Shinta shattered the last remnants of his arcane protection, her blade resting just inches from his throat. Darryl froze, realizing he was defeated.

"Now you owe me one…" Shinta said with a smirk, withdrawing her weapon and releasing the vines that had held him captive.

Darryl strangely did not feel disappointed at all; instead, he looked at her with newfound admiration, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I think I'm in love,"