Chapter 11: End-of-Term Combat Training
The First High-Tier Magic Card!
Holding the magic card in his hand, Ye Feng finally understood the joy that card enthusiasts often spoke of.
The Scarlet Centipede King could never have imagined its life would end so absurdly. After living for so many years and finally achieving high-tier status, it hadn’t even had a chance to revel in its newfound power before being instantly obliterated.
Come to think of it, it was almost… pitiful.
Time flew, and the end-of-term exams arrived.
Unlike the midterms, which focused on internal assessments, the finals revolved around actual combat. Each class was assigned to a demon-hunting squad, which would take them to areas devoid of high-tier demon clans for field training. Afterward, the squad would score their performance.
“Demon-hunting squad?!”
Sitting in the back row, Ye Feng abruptly snapped out of his meditative state upon hearing this announcement.
Why did he suddenly have a bad feeling about this?
“Class, let us welcome the Skyhawk Demon-Hunting Squad to our classroom,” announced their homeroom teacher, Sun Lanxue, leading the applause.
With the teacher clapping, the students naturally followed suit.
As the Skyhawk Demon-Hunting Squad’s nine members entered the classroom, Ye Feng’s stiff clapping belied his inner turmoil.
The Skyhawk Demon-Hunting Squad was well-known in Peng City, a place without any high-tier demon-hunting teams. Among the mid-tier squads, the strongest was undoubtedly the Skyhawk team.
Seeing their familiar faces, Ye Feng nearly broke down on the spot.
What rotten luck.
Fortunately, he had always worn a mask during the missions he had participated in over the past six months. Otherwise, the embarrassment might have sent him flying right out of the classroom.
“Hello, students. I am Chen Zhendong, the leader of the Skyhawk Demon-Hunting Squad, and your chief instructor for the next seven days,” Chen Zhendong announced, his voice like a resounding bell that demanded respect.
“Defending our nation is never a solo endeavor. Teamwork is paramount.
When you enter the mage universities, you’ll understand the importance of comrades. Now, go home, pack your belongings, and prepare for seven days of supplies. Tomorrow, I’ll show you just how brutal the battlefield can be!”
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Chen Zhendong’s powerful words left the students stunned, unsure whether to stay or leave.
But just three seconds later, someone stood up, packed their bag, and walked out.
It was Han Yi.
Since Han Yi had already left, how could the other three not follow suit? Ye Feng, in particular, had been itching to escape.
Han Yi, Ye Feng, Li Mubai, and Wan Tianle grabbed their bags and bolted, wasting no time.
“Sigh, I knew it would be those four eccentrics,” Sun Lanxue muttered, rubbing her forehead in exasperation.
At that moment, Chen Zhendong’s voice boomed again:
“Except for those four, the rest of you have made a terrible first impression! Indecisiveness has no place on the battlefield. Remember, following orders should be second nature in combat!”
Realizing their mistake, the remaining students quickly packed up and dashed out, leaving the classroom empty in no time.
After the students left, Xu Ya, who had been serious moments ago, smiled and teased Sun Lanxue, “Why the long face, Xiaoxue?
Your students seem pretty decent to me—nowhere near as troublesome as the rumors suggest. Especially those four earlier, their decisiveness even surprised me a little.”
“I agree. Those four kids showed great potential,” Chen Zhendong chimed in.
The Skyhawk Demon-Hunting Squad was here mainly because of Sun Lanxue. Everyone in the squad owed her a great debt, as her older brother had once been their teammate. He had tragically died in action, ambushed by a demon.
“Actually, aside from those four, no one else in my class is problematic. Those four are the real headaches,” Sun Lanxue said with a sigh, piquing the curiosity of everyone present.
“Han Yi, the burly one, grew up on the battlefield. He used to attend military school and believes violence solves everything. He’s a metal mage.
“Li Mubai, the sunny one, is a light mage. Bold and opinionated, he loves stirring up trouble.
“Wan Tianle, the honest-looking one, is a summoner—specifically, a rare necromancer. He’s like clay, taking on the color of his environment. When paired with Li Mubai, their antics know no bounds, and they always seem to profit from them.
“And then there’s Ye Feng, the lazy one who looks like nothing interests him. He’s my most infuriating student—a fire mage who skyrocketed from one-star to six-star in just two months. His fire control has already reached mid-tier levels despite being a beginner. His talent is unparalleled, but he’s entirely unmotivated, content to coast through life.”
Sun Lanxue’s frustration grew as she spoke.
Hearing this, the Skyhawk team instinctively focused on Ye Feng.
With such talent, how could he shirk his duty to serve the nation and fight demons? This mindset needed correction, and they were determined to do just that.
As Sun Lanxue concluded her rant, she suddenly noticed something amiss.
“Wait… Why are there only nine of you? Weren’t you a full team of ten six months ago?”
“You mean Maple Leaf?” Xu Ya sighed before explaining. “He’s a peculiar one. He always wears a mask during missions, claiming his face is too scarred to show. He rarely interacts with us, but his strength is undeniable. He’s a genuine high-tier mage with dual attributes—lightning and fire. An elite offensive mage.”
The more Xu Ya spoke, the more curious Sun Lanxue became about this “Maple Leaf.”
“How could I not have heard of a high-tier mage? It’s impossible for someone like that to remain unknown in a small city like Peng City.”
“Not too surprising. He probably moved here after his disfigurement, adopting a low profile. His name is likely fake, too,” Xu Ya speculated, voicing the team’s consensus.
Sun Lanxue nodded, finding the explanation reasonable.
Looking at his nearly empty card collection, Ye Feng sighed. When would he ever fill it with magic cards?
Then, a thought struck him. With winter break approaching, he could finally explore. After living on Blue Star for so many years, he had yet to properly see the world.
He’d heard that big cities had amazing figurine stores and otaku havens. Visiting one to broaden his horizons didn’t seem like a bad idea at all.