Clang! Clang! Clang!

The knight’s sword gleamed with an otherworldly light as it deftly parried the strikes of the demonic being’s black sword. Each blow reverberated through the air, sending shockwaves of power in all directions.

Ceres watched in awe as the battle unfolded before her. The knight fought with a grace and precision that spoke of years of training and battle experience. She had no idea who this knight was, but he was probably at the level of a Grand Knight.

With every swing of his sword, the knight’s strikes grew more powerful, each blow pushing the demonic being further back. The clash of steel echoed throughout the chamber, accompanied by bursts of magical energy and the occasional roar of the demon.

However, Ceres could feel that the demonic being wasn’t being injured. The knight was putting pressure, but the enemy was still filled with malevolent energy that she could feel even from where she was standing.

It was as if the goat-head being was only waiting for the right chance to counter.

‘Tsk… Do I have to use my other amulet?’ Ceres considered for a moment as soon as she noticed the gaze of the creature.

The creature was actually looking at her while fighting the white knight!

“Y-you…”

This had certainly startled Ceres as she used her cloak to hide her presence immediately… Among the five Mystical Items she brought inside, two of them were the Amulets that could help her summon a special being, and the other three were support-type Mystical Items.

One of them was the cloak that hides her presence. The other was a reading glass that helped her with all the traps and Formation Circles, and finally, it was her ring that increased her Holy Energy Recovery by 100%.

Thanks to all her Mystical Items, she was able to conquer all the lower floors easily.

‘Whew~ I’m now invisible from that demonic being… I hope my knight can kill it in time.’ Ceres thought as she knew that the amulet she used as a sacrifice could only last for 7 minutes since she summoned an impressive white knight.

Perhaps if she was a bit stronger and could help in the battle, she could summon a skilled swordsman or an expert archer, and they could last for more than 20 minutes.

However, she could tell just from a glance that she’d die in a few seconds if she relied on her physical strength to fight. Although she was confident with her strength, there was no way she’d overestimate herself.

As the battle raged on, Ceres realized that she had to do something to help the white knight.

She stood firm, her eyes locked on the fierce contest, ready to provide support or intervene if necessary.

The struggle between the knight and the demonic being reached its climax, each combatant pushing themselves to the limits of their strength and skill. 𝘪𝑟.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Soon, she found an opportunity to cast her Spell.

Holy Smite!

She doesn’t have many offensive spells, but each one of them could be devastating against a creature with an evil nature.

The Holy Smite drained almost all of her Holy Energy reserves as she used the Spell without limit.

The White Knight seemed to have recognized his summoner’s assistance and used this as an opportunity.

The knight gathered its strength and swung the sword with all his might…

Then, with a resounding strike, the knight’s sword found its mark, piercing through the heart of the goat-headed demon.

A deafening roar filled the chamber as the demonic being dissipated into a cloud of dark energy, vanquished.

Thud!

The black sword dropped to the ground. It remained on the floor, unlike the goat-headed being that had dissipated.

Ceres let out a breath as she confirmed that she won the battle.

‘Is this the reward for clearing the floor?’ Ceres muttered as she approached the giant black sword. She doubted that she could carry it with her.

Then, she watched as the white-armored knight, victorious but weary, slowly turned to face her.

The knight’s visor lifted, revealing piercing blue eyes filled with gratitude. With a nod of acknowledgment, the knight faded away, returning to the ethereal realm from whence it came.

“Cool… I hope my brother could give me more of these amulets.” Ceres muttered as she recalled the face of the White Knight. She couldn’t help but blush just by imagining the knight’s full appearance behind his armor.

***

Outside the Roaring Summit.

As the Twelve Academies Competition unfolded, another group, consisting of merchants and Arcanists as bodyguards and their caravan, embarked on their journey towards the Summit.

Unfortunately, they encountered a sinister and formidable adversary.

Without warning, the peaceful journey of the merchants was abruptly interrupted by the appearance of a unique undead being. This undead being, armed with a sword, exhibited a level of intelligence and strategy that surpassed that of the average mindless undead.

It engaged in combat with the Arcanists hired by the merchants, exploiting their weaknesses and emerging victorious. To their disbelief, the second-class Arcanists, despite their training in Elemental Arts and Combat Arts, were unable to overcome this lone undead opponent.

“Impossible…” The head of the group was stunned as he saw the people he hired started dying one by one. 𝒃𝙖.𝙘

With a final swing of its sword, the undead swiftly dispatched the remaining Arcanists, leaving only the trembling merchants in its wake.

The head of the caravan, his voice quivering with fear, mustered the courage to confront the undead, asking, “W-what is it that you want?”

To their surprise, the undead spoke, its voice cold and devoid of emotion. “Take me to the city where the Competition is being held…” The undead demanded.

“Competition? The Twelve Academies Competition?”

The undead nodded.

The merchant, realizing the dire consequences of resistance, complied with the undead’s request.

He wasted no time in organizing a carriage and instructing his servants to make the necessary arrangements. He delegated the task of transporting the undead to the Roaring Summit to two capable coachmen, emphasizing the importance of working together to ensure a safe and swift journey.

As the carriage started moving, a chilling smile crept across the undead’s face, relishing in the ease with which it had dispatched the Arcanists.

Its voice, barely above a whisper, betrayed a deep-rooted animosity as it muttered… “I will have my revenge soon… Vale, this time, I will not fail to end you.”

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