Chapter 24

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She wanted to bring fame to her household and meet the expectations of her elders.

She has never been defeated in a hand-to-hand battle till she reached the academy where she faced off many strong villains and villainesses.

The Schultz family was a family that strictly believed in the rule of the jungle and believed weak has no use and that's also why Caroline detested losers.

'Sigh…'

"I am Caroline Schultz, a proud member of the Schultz family, what is your name?"

"I am Ellis."

"Ellis, huh, very well, I hope you will fight and challenge me with all you have got, I won't hold back either, I want to see how are the people enrolling with me in this academy."

"Okay…"

I reply half-heartedly but that seemed to satisfy her.

I was in deep trouble, there was a chance that the academy will kick me out if I lose too quickly, and seeing her with a sword ready to attack, I have a pretty slim chance of winning.

And even if the academy allowed me to stay seeing my powerful element, they would assign me to the lowest of class which will limit my access and I need to find a way to cancel this slave mark.

I could not let that happen.

'I'll have to fight with my full power.'

"Start!"

The judge shouted and Caroline immediately drew her sword and went for my throat.

Of course, with the judges there, no casualty would happen.

Grabbing the steel sword, I took before entering the match, I parried her attack.

'Fast!'

Her speed and strength were monstrous for someone her age.

She seemed surprised and immediately backed away.

But…

Instantly long sharp spikes of ice attacked flying at her with a terrifying speed.

As Caroline saw the velocity of the ice crystals, she widened her eyes in surprise. Without a moment's hesitation, she activated her yellow-hued aura, which enveloped her body. Quickly applying it to her sword, she effortlessly sliced the ice crystal in half.

She took a moment to examine her hand, feeling a vibration from the immense power she had wielded.

"That was something else. I could feel my hand shaking," she thought to herself.

With a smirk, she appraised the young woman standing before her, who appeared to be fighting for her life.

"It's been a while since I've let loose," Caroline mused, her love for battle rising to the surface.

As she walked forward, her aura grew stronger, engulfing her entire body.

Ellis, intimidated by Caroline's approach, took a step back.

Gulping nervously, Ellis summoned her magic and rapidly grew ice spikes from the ground, targeting Caroline.

However, before the spikes could reach Caroline, she vanished from her original position.

The battle maniac in Caroline was eager for a proper fight, and she wanted Ellis to show her full potential.

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In a dimly lit room, a group of esteemed professors had gathered to observe the highly anticipated battle between Ellis and Caroline. They were on the search for the perfect pupil to succeed them in the future, or to be a valuable assistant to their own pupils, if they had any. Both Ellis and Caroline were among the top students, according to the reports they had received.

As they watched the display of power, many of the professors were awestruck by the raw talent displayed by both contenders. "The girl from the Shultz family is truly as talented as the rumors suggest. With her speed and strength, she will undoubtedly make an exceptional warrior," one professor commented. "The ice mage, Ellis, is no less. I can attest to the power of those ice spikes, considering her young age," added another.

Despite their admiration, the professors remained cautious, hiding their faces and speaking in hushed tones. They did not wish to reveal their identity to the other professors present, as they could be rivals or harbor ill feelings towards each other. Such a revelation would only lead to more complications and waste precious time they could be using to secure the promising pupil they had their eyes set on.

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"What!? She disappeared…?'

'No! She's there…'

Ellis watched in disbelief as Caroline seemingly vanished before reappearing at her back and unleashing a powerful blast of aura that sent her flying. Ellis tumbled across the ground, her lips bleeding and her body scratched from the impact.

As she tried to regain her footing, she could see Caroline's typical expressionless demeanor as the other girl took note of her resilience.

"Damnit! That hit was so strong, I think I might have broken a bone in my back," Ellis muttered, wincing in pain.

But she didn't give up, and stood back up to face Caroline once again. The latter was starting to take notice of her opponent's determination, impressed by her stubbornness.

"Stubborn, huh..." Caroline whispered as she disappeared once again, reappearing at Ellis' back, ready to deliver another strike. However, she quickly backed away, her instincts warning her of danger. And indeed, there was a massive, sharp ice spike standing in her path, ready to pierce anyone who dared approach.

Determined to keep the upper hand, Caroline started to circle around Ellis, creating after-images to confuse her. The dust began to swirl, making it difficult for Ellis to focus.

But then, with a shout of "Tch… SO BE IT!", the entire ground started to freeze over as a massive ice storm descended, with Ellis at its center. Spinning around her was a tornado of ice spikes, each one capable of killing anyone who entered its path.

Caroline knew she had to use everything she had to stop the storm from reaching her, and summoned a massive yellow energy shield to fend it off. The judge, who was responsible for ensuring the safety of the students, became serious as well, ready to intervene if needed.

For a moment, Caroline managed to hold back the ice storm, but it was evident that the effort was taking a toll on her. She began to cough up blood as she knelt, still trying to maintain her shield.

Suddenly, she saw something dark and red in the heart of the storm, a black spot that seemed to be devouring everything in its path. It was the most frightening thing she had ever seen, and all she could think was that it was an unknown apocalypse, come to claim the world.

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