Chapter 3 is just like the years gone by

Sigmund and Lilian, who had originally predicted that Midi would immediately beg for mercy in fear, exchanged a glance filled with astonishment. They held themselves in high regard and had broader perspectives, but it was precisely for this reason that they could comprehend the remarkable feat the other had accomplished

Out of one hundred people, only five can withstand the scorching flames

The seemingly cumbersome puppet dashed out at a speed completely contrary to its size, like a bullet fired from a cannon, stirring up gusts of fierce wind in the air and raising clouds of dust on the ground. Eight straight lines appeared as if they were long spears, locking onto the position of Midi.

Unfazed by the petty antics of her opponents, Fina simply gazed quietly at the calm youth in the arena

The few noble youths sent by the council suddenly changed their expressions. In their view, this was undoubtedly a difficult tactic chosen by Fina to prevent spies from hindering the team, representing a violation of the noble's rules of the game. A few quick-witted individuals immediately dispatched messengers to call for reinforcements to apply pressure right away

In the next moment, he dashed out without hesitation, like an arrow released from its bow

"Aren't you going to watch anymore, Miss Fina?" Sigmund found it somewhat strange; logically speaking, such a clean and decisive evasion should have piqued the interest of the Storm Queen.

For many years, after each victory in battle, he has used this method to convey to the woman he loves most that "all is well"

This advanced puppet was instantly defeated without even having the chance to use the restoration technique from https://m.hetushu.com

Interesting, Fina whispered softly. As a student who had completed the Flame Challenge multiple times, she was well aware of the actions the puppets would take next

The relaxed sigh of the red-haired girl broke the silence among the three.

Harnessing the strength of his entire body and the inertia gained from acceleration, Midi unleashed a formidable Ghost Slash at the target, which was not very agile. Although it contained no divine power, the imposing edge of the sword effortlessly pierced through the fiery defensive shield and directly severed the fragile neck of the puppet, causing its head to separate from its body

From the very beginning, his goal was these two fluorescent cat demon dolls that could use restoration magic

In an instant, it seemed as though the earth trembled in response to that relentless stride

When the last puppet finally ceased to operate, Midi sheathed her longsword and naturally waved at the red-haired girl in the stands, then revealed a relaxed smile

Thus, this time, Midi also revealed a smile

Although it was a one-to-two situation, the movements of the level 16 puppets were somewhat stiffer than those of the mutated monsters. In the eyes of Midi, who had previously experienced a second awakening, they appeared almost motionless. Midi could easily predict each of their movements. In an instant, Midi had effortlessly grasped the rhythm of the battle, evading the puppets' two-stage attacks and closing in to nearly point-blank range.

After experiencing twenty years of ups and downs, battle has become as natural to Midi as breathing. At the moment he grasped the sword, he had completely entered a state of self-forgetfulness, no longer concerned with gains or losses, nor looking back or hesitating. What remained in his heart was solely a thirst for victory

Fina lazily leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes and pretending to doze off like a cat, no longer looking at the figure on the training ground that had brought them great shock

The joints of the steel emitted a metallic grinding sound. Facing the oncoming Midi, eight mid-level puppets uniformly lowered their center of gravity and simultaneously launched a charge attack

"There is no need, the outcome is already determined," Fina replied succinctly

His slender figure, the unremarkable longsword in his hand, coupled with a rather flimsy shield, gives the impression that a single charge from a mid-level puppet would be sufficient to send him flying.

At this moment, the youth seems to have transformed into a different person, like a sword drawn from its sheath, dazzling and impossible to look at directly

At this moment, time seems to stand still

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Midi cast aside the heavy shield and took up the sword with both hands

"Let me show you my swordsmanship, my strength, and... my determination." Midy said softly, glancing at the students in the stands, each with their own thoughts.

Humans are not machines; in the face of overwhelming pressure, who can remain unshaken?

However, this is merely a theoretical response. In actual combat, the raised dust, the number of enemies, various noises and shouts, and the inner fear and anxiety, among other factors, will all influence the true outcome

Ultimately, Midi's technique is not complicated. The skill "Charge Attack" is indeed very fast, making it impossible for non-transcended players below level 20 to evade. However, it also has a weakness—once activated, it cannot change direction and can only move in a straight line. As long as one predicts the trajectory of the puppets at the moment they activate their skill, it becomes easy to dodge; in fact, there is no need to dodge at all, as one only needs to stand in a position that will not be affected.

Among them, eight intermediate puppets served as meat shields. They were adjusted to the combat style of the Minotaur vanguard, possessing skills for charge attacks and exhibiting extremely high mobility

The eleven puppets before him are well-coordinated, with clear layers and distinct roles for each

In the moment he brushed past a puppet, he reversed his grip on the longsword in his hand, and without even turning back, he precisely drove the blade into the gap where the puppet's arm connected to its body, piercing it all the way through and directly destroying the puppet's core mechanism

As for that magical puppet, it was created based on the mutated flame creature and possesses the skill of fire meteorite. This type of magical attack has a long range, great power, and includes a flame splash effect, making it a one-hit kill for the current Midi

At the moment when everyone regained their senses, the black-haired youth and the bookish boy, who they had thought were mangled beyond recognition, surprisingly passed through the gaps between the eight charging figures unscathed

However, the one who walked into the training ground was not the figure with vibrant red hair, but a boy with black hair and black eyes

Without the protection of a meat shield and the flexibility of close guards, it is very difficult for the magic puppets to cast powerful meteor fire attacks when they cannot create distance, which is hardly considered dangerous

So, how should one respond to this proactive attacker

He not only did not slow down, but instead further accelerated, charging headlong towards the eight figures. At the moment of imminent collision, Midi suddenly shifted his footing sharply, like a flash of white light, bending slightly.

Confronting this combination head-on is quite challenging, even for those who have undergone a career change. It is said that during the peak years of the Magic Academy, less than 5% of the students were able to complete this challenge before the trials.

The two superior puppets possess dual characteristics of assistance and protection. On one hand, they inherit the agility of the fluorescent cat demon, and their two-stage claw attack can be quite troublesome even for seasoned veterans. On the other hand, the most terrifying aspect is that these formidable melee fighters not only possess healing abilities, but they can also heal each other.

With the dull sound of the steel head hitting the ground, the battle has completely lost all suspense

"Not even a shield? Is this a desire for suicide?" Lilian snorted and glanced at Sigmund, but the blonde gunslinger merely shrugged, clearly unable to discern Midi's intentions

However, that rumored dandy not only achieved it, but did so quite beautifully

What, in this situation, is this guy actually taking the initiative?

Everyone exclaimed in surprise. Although the puppet can immediately cease its movements, inertia cannot be halted. Given Midy's current condition, if struck by a sudden attack, the best outcome would be a fracture. This battle can no longer be considered safe

However, it is precisely for this reason that there is value in taking on the challenge

Unknowingly, the gaze of the Storm Queen has become fixed and cannot be diverted

There is nothing particularly meaningful about this; it is purely a matter of habit

As Fina stated, Midi's evasion this time not only avoided the strongest attack launched by the eight intermediate puppets working together, but also effectively broke through the defense line of the meat shields, effortlessly reaching the heart of the formation, where the two advanced puppets were located

When the "Flame Challenge," consisting of one magic puppet, two superior puppets, and eight intermediate puppets, appeared in the training ground, it immediately caused quite a commotion in the stands. Many students believed that they would soon witness the prowess of the Storm Queen in action.

In less than twenty seconds, the second advanced puppet also fell to the ground, with the crack in the center of its forehead continuously emitting sparks outward with a crackling sound

Just like in those years

If it were someone else, they would likely have been thrown into a panic in the face of such a surging and overwhelming charge, akin to a colossal wave. However, Midi's expression remained as calm as ever, as if what was rushing towards her were not eight iron figures, but merely a gust of cold winter wind