“Headmaster, are you really not going to watch Nina’s fight?” Sif asked Daniel.
She knew that deep down, Nina wanted Daniel to witness her progress.
Today marked the start of the trial, and Sif couldn’t help but wonder if Nina might be disappointed by his absence.
“No need,” Daniel replied calmly. “This is just the preliminary round. There are many more rounds ahead. I’ll watch her later performances. For now, rest assured—there’s hardly anyone in this trial who can pose a challenge to Nina.”
Daniel had closely observed Nina during her preparation over the past few days.
She had been relentless, using every spare moment to delve into the mystical realm, refining and perfecting her magic.
Moreover, thanks to the upgrades Daniel had provided through his forge, Nina’s overall abilities had reached a whole new level.
While she had only advanced by a minor tier, her comprehensive power far surpassed her peers.
Most notably, Nina had mastered spatial magic. Such an ability was undeniably overpowered among the current crop of participants.
Instantaneous spatial movement, combined with rapid spellcasting, was a nearly unbeatable combination.
Few, if any, could withstand such an assault.
“At least for the first few rounds, Nina is practically invincible,” Daniel mused.
He knew Nina’s fights would likely end in mere seconds, which left him uninterested in watching.
Instead, he preferred to spend his time studying two intriguing systems: fatecaster and bloodline warrior.
The materials he had acquired from Dragonscale Bank included books on these extraordinary paths, but Daniel hadn’t yet had the chance to fully explore them.
The fatecaster system involved a unique method of connecting with one’s fate star—a process akin to inheriting destiny from the stars.
The strength of a fatecaster was heavily reliant on innate talent, as only those with exceptional aptitude could even dream of following this path.
For those lacking the required talent, there was the alternative class of bloodline warrior.
As the name implied, this path relied on harnessing bloodlines, not necessarily through noble ancestry but via the blood and cores of spell beasts.
By infusing themselves with the essence of these magical creatures, bloodline warriors could gain a portion of their power.
This approach allowed for rapid early growth, but it came with significant limitations.
As one advanced, the requirements for stronger spell beast blood and cores grew exponentially.
Eventually, to progress further, a bloodline warrior might need to hunt creatures far beyond their capabilities, often resulting in their demise.
For some, there was another way forward: receiving blessings from Bear Prime or entering Bear Prime’s god realm.
Despite the risks, the appeal of early strength made bloodline warriors a popular choice for those unwilling to rely solely on talent.
In comparison, fatecasters had a more predictable trajectory but were limited by their natural aptitude.
Both systems had their strengths and weaknesses, offering Daniel much to study and consider. Enjoy more content from freewebnovel
“Your Excellency, I’ve brought you some additional books on fatecasters and bloodline warriors,” Ronan, the Dragonscale Bank overseer, said as he entered Daniel’s study.
“You’ve been diligent. Here is your reward,” Daniel replied, handing Ronan a peculiar fruit.
Ronan accepted it with curiosity, examining the fruit closely.
After a moment, his eyes widened in shock.
“This… could it be… a Lifeheart Fruit?” he stammered, leaning in to take a deep breath of its fragrance.
Instantly, he felt his fatigue vanish, replaced by a profound sense of vitality.
Indeed, it was the legendary Lifeheart Fruit, as described in countless texts.
Such a treasure was exceedingly rare in Winterrealm, found only in far-off lands.
“Your Excellency, are you truly giving this to me?” Ronan asked, barely able to contain his astonishment.
“Yes, it’s yours. Take it and go. The trial should have started by now, and as the Dragonscale Bank overseer, you should make an appearance,” Daniel said dismissively.
“Of course, Your Excellency. When will you grace the arena with your presence?”
“I’ll attend the finals,” Daniel replied.
“Understood. I’ll await your arrival,” Ronan said, bowing deeply before leaving.
His excitement was palpable.
…
Ronan made his way to the arena, where a seat had been reserved for him. The event’s host, Cyre, greeted him upon arrival.
“Ronan, you’re finally here! Any later, and you would’ve missed the opening!” Cyre joked.
“My apologies, I was delayed by some matters,” Ronan replied with a smile as he took his seat. Beside him was an empty chair.
“By the way, Ronan, who is this seat reserved for?” Cyre asked, glancing at the unoccupied spot.
“It’s for an esteemed guest of Dragonscale Bank,” Ronan explained. “However, they won’t be attending the earlier rounds and will only show up for the finals.”
“I see. I’ve heard about this guest,” Cyre remarked.
Rumor had it that this mysterious individual’s influence had prompted Dragonscale Bank to remove one of its own participants from the trial roster, replacing them with the guest’s protégé.
…
“Number 835 versus Number 823!”
The announcer’s voice echoed through the arena as a young girl stepped onto the platform.
She appeared nervous, her small frame seemingly out of place in the grand setting.
Her opponent, however, was a bloodline warrior infused with the essence of a bear-like spell beast.
His towering stature exuded raw power and speed—traits that made bloodline warriors notoriously difficult to counter.
Against a mage like the girl, who resembled a fatecaster, the match seemed one-sided.
“Doesn’t she know how terrifying bloodline warriors are?” Cyre muttered, shaking his head.
Bloodline warriors specialized in overwhelming their opponents before they could cast a single spell.
For most fatecasters, surrender was the only viable option in such situations.
Yet, the girl stood her ground, her determination evident despite the odds stacked against her.
The question lingered in everyone’s minds: Could this little girl possibly win?
Lord Cyre kept his eyes on the match, carefully observing both combatants.
He already knew the basic details about each participant.
In his view, this young girl named Nina had no chance of winning unless she had some hidden trump card.
The only option for her seemed to be surrender.