Earth's Greatest Magus

One month remained before the end of the academy year and the final exams. When Shinta returned to her hall, she confidently sought out Lucius, requesting a reward for defeating his top-five-ranked acolytes. Amused by her boldness, Lucius, the Golden Wolf, agreed.

"30,000 points for each one you defeat. Reach rank 1 today, and I'll give you an extra 300,000," Lucius said, tempting her to showcase her strength.

"Agreed," Shinta replied without hesitation.

She stood once again in the Hall 9 Arena, where all 50 half-blood acolytes watched as she prepared to challenge the top five rankers. Among them was Rajh, the Tiger bloodline acolyte who had climbed to third place.

"I guess I'll start with you, number five," Shinta declared confidently.

Shinta pointed at her first target, a gray-skinned, muscular shark half-blood named Nanu. His broad, toothy grin, filled with rows of sharp, jagged teeth, exuded confidence. Nanu, a third-year who had ranked 90th in the last tournament, knew of Shinta's abilities from six weeks prior and quickly prepared himself. With a swift movement, he summoned his water element, turning the entire arena into an aquatic sphere, a strategy that maximized his strength.

But Shinta remained unfazed. She stood her ground, her expression calm and focused. As Nanu launched his attacks, Shinta effortlessly blocked each one, barely moving as she let her poison seep into the water. The once formidable shark half-blood began to slow, his strength sapped by the spreading toxin.

Sensing the moment was right, Shinta struck with precision, delivering a single, powerful blow that sent Nanu crashing to the ground.

"Shinta wins!" instructor Beatrice declared, as the crowd watched in awe.

Next in line was Kaelin, the fourth-ranked acolyte, a fierce half-blood from a bird bloodline, specifically a wind harpy eagle. Her eyes glinted like molten gold, and her two pairs of wings, shaded in deep crimson and gold, gave her an imposing presence. Kaelin was highly skilled in wind elements, making her a more challenging opponent. Her swift movements and gusts of wind created a daunting battlefield, but Shinta remained focused.

Shinta countered Kaelin's aerial assaults with her [Verdant Vines] and [Duskvine Hex], spells perfectly tailored to fight a speedster like her. The battle was intense, with Kaelin darting through the air, trying to outmaneuver Shinta's relentless vines. But Shinta's deep concentration and precision paid off as she finally ensnared Kaelin, binding her with the cursed vines. Realizing she was caught with no way out, Kaelin was forced to admit defeat.

The crowd of half-blood acolytes watched with growing excitement, knowing the next match would be a much-anticipated rematch against Rajh, the Tempest Tiger. "Let's settle this once and for all!" Rajh growled, his voice echoing through the arena.

Having faced Rajh before, Shinta was well-prepared for the fierce tiger's combat style. She wasted no time and immediately revealed her newly enhanced strength by activating her Shaman Form. The battle between Shinta and Rajh was intense from the start. Shinta wielded her sword with precision, while Rajh relied on his formidable hand blades, each strike resonating with raw power. The two first-year acolytes clashed in a high-speed duel of strength and agility, their movements almost too fast for the eye to follow.

Rajh tapped into his innate ability, charging his battle power twice to keep up with Shinta's relentless assault. For 15 minutes, they pushed each other to the limit, but it was clear that Shinta's growth over the last six weeks had given her the upper hand. Her two-stage breakthrough had not only increased her strength but also deepened her spirit pool, allowing her to sustain her attacks far longer.

As the battle wore on, Rajh found himself increasingly on the defensive, his stamina waning under Shinta's relentless pressure. In the end, the difference in their growth became apparent. Rajh, despite his best efforts, was forced to admit defeat.

The crowd erupted in cheers as they witnessed the thrilling conclusion of the match. Rajh, unable to accept the defeat, stormed out of the arena, his resolve to grow even stronger evident in his determined expression.

Just as the spectators thought Shinta might be done after such an intense battle, she surprised everyone. She turned to the next opponent with a fierce gaze.

"You, senior Crocs, your turn," The next opponent was Suno, known as the Crocodile Prince, a formidable half-blood who had earned the title of last year's strongest junior and ranked 39th in the tournament. Suno, a rare and powerful variant of the serpent bloodline, fought with a heavy mace and a sturdy shield, embodying a near-impenetrable defense.

As Shinta squared off against him, it didn't take long for her to understand why Rajh had struggled to overcome this formidable opponent. Suno's transformation was impressive; his skin hardened to a level comparable to tier 5 weapons—the maximum strength allowed within the academy.

His natural resilience, coupled with his mastery of defensive techniques, made him a nearly indomitable force. Shinta's usual tactics of poison and hex spells seemed ineffective against Suno's natural armor. Despite weakening his strength, she found herself unable to break through his defenses.

"You should give up; you cannot defeat me," Suno taunted, confident in his near-invincible defense.

But Shinta remained calm, her mind racing as she considered her options. She knew that conventional attacks wouldn't work, so she decided to employ a technique she had only recently mastered—[Spirit Devour]. This technique, utilizing her claws and fangs, allowed her to bypass Suno's tough exterior and directly drain his strength.

Shinta began to siphon Suno's energy bit by bit. Each strike weakened him further, his formidable defenses slowly crumbling and his confidence began to waver before he finally fell to his knees, unable to continue the fight. "Shinta wins!"

The arena echoed with chants of "Shinta! Shinta! Shinta!" and "Shiryu! Shiryu! Shiryu!" as the final showdown approached.

Only one opponent remained—Shiryu, the formidable dragon half-blood, ranked 18th in the top 100. The tension was palpable as the two acolytes clashed repeatedly, each strike met with equal force. However, after a dozen intense exchanges, Shinta stepped back, raising her hand in surrender.

"I give up... I'm too tired," she admitted, her breath ragged from the grueling battles. Despite her fatigue, Shinta made sure to voice her displeasure, accusing the head instructor of trying to wear her down by forcing her to fight all five top-ranking opponents in a single day.

With a clever mix of persuasion and rallying the other acolytes behind her, Shinta managed to negotiate and secure half of the grand reward for her victories. She gracefully accepted her position as the second-strongest acolyte in Hall 9.

What the others didn't know was that Shinta had deliberately held back in the final match. She had the skill and strength to push harder but chose not to, preferring to avoid the burden of leadership that would come with being the top-ranked acolyte.

With her position secured and her strength recognized, Shinta spent the following weeks focusing on team training and preparing for the coming final exam.

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