The thin morning mist had not yet completely dispersed, and the grand gate of the Elf Academy, constructed from white marble and magic metal, shone with a cool luster in the dawn light.
Xiao Ye and A Mi waited here early. Compared to this hall symbolizing knowledge and power, they were still small, but at least their outward appearance had undergone some change.
A Mi had changed into the tight-fitting red and black attire, overlaid with a short jacket of the same color scheme. The neat tailoring made his slightly ethereal Spirit Body seem more solidified, exuding a quiet sense of Strength.
Xiao Ye, meanwhile, wore the unique dress modified from Lina’s school uniform. On the dark base fabric, crimson flame patterns flowed subtly as if alive, adding an imperceptible resilience and mystery to her timid demeanor.
Although their hearts were still fluttering nervously like caged rabbits, at least standing there now, they no longer looked so out of place; they possessed a bit of the spirit and vigor expected of Contractors who strive to stand tall.
Not long after, a side door opened, and a tall, slender male Elf, dressed in the traditional, well-tailored attire of the Elven Family, stepped out under the Guidance of an Academy attendant, walking with precise and somewhat rigid steps.
He appeared not much older than Lina, his handsome face seemingly covered in frost. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, and his jaw was habitually tilted slightly upward, carrying an air of superiority and detachment that seemed ingrained in his very bones.
‘A typical Elven Noble demeanor. He looks difficult to deal with.’ This was A Mi’s first impression of the envoy.
He noticed that the figure outlined by the envoy’s fine clothes was indeed, as rumored, almost entirely devoid of any excess flesh—lean and upright.
It had to be said that the Elven race seemed to possess a strict standard for physical form that bordered on a racial talent; members with bloated figures were rarely seen.
Lina followed half a step behind the male Elf. Today, she wore a more formal Elven long dress, her expression calm.
Upon seeing Xiao Ye and A Mi, she merely gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, signaling them with her eyes to follow, without saying much.
The male Elf’s indifferent gaze swept over Xiao Ye and A Mi like invisible scanning rays—quick and critical.
When his perception passed over A Mi and caught the energy fluctuation that still seemed “faint” in his eyes, a flicker of disdain, like ripples on water, flashed and vanished deep within his emerald eyes.
He had no intention of introducing himself, as if that would be a desecration of his status. He merely turned his head toward Lina, speaking in a tone that was businesslike and slightly impatient.
“Miss, I have seen the people. According to the standard procedure for personnel hired externally by the Family, next, I need to ‘evaluate’ their actual worth to see if they meet the most basic requirements.”
His attitude toward Lina maintained a superficially impeccable respect, but beneath that respect lay a formalized, cold distance, as if he were executing a task he was reluctant to perform.
Lina seemed to have long anticipated this attitude and was accustomed to it. She merely let out a faint ‘Mm’ from her nose, devoid of discernible emotion, as a response.
Receiving Lina’s tacit approval, the male Elf finally turned his gaze back to Xiao Ye and A Mi. The arrogance in his tone was no longer concealed, sweeping over them like a cold wind.
“As for you two… you are not qualified to know my name yet. Now, follow me. I need to see for myself what kind of Strength you possess.”
He paused, his words seeming to carry shards of ice.
“If you cannot even meet the minimum threshold set by the Family, then I regret to say, this can only prove that Miss’s judgment… is perhaps overly ‘unique.’
And our Moon Shadow Family does not engage in unprofitable business, nor do we waste resources on combinations with no potential.”
His words were sharp and direct, unceremoniously tying the outcome of this assessment to Lina’s ‘judgment,’ thus imposing heavier pressure without words.
Xiao Ye nervously clutched the corner of her dress, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force, but she made an effort to straighten her back.
A Mi remained silent, merely nodding calmly. His eyes were as still as an ancient well, as if the contemptuous words had not stirred even a ripple within him.
The group silently followed the Elven envoy, leaving the Academy grounds.
Along the way, the envoy seemed unable to suppress his dissatisfaction, his murmuring complaints drifting low, his words filled with disapproval and contempt for the combination of Xiao Ye and A Mi.
“Tsk, I wonder what’s gotten into the Miss lately, to recommend such a pair… a combination that looks utterly unremarkable. Has life at the Academy made her too comfortable?”
His gaze swept over Xiao Ye’s slender arms and A Mi’s unimposing Spirit Body, the sarcasm in his tone almost becoming tangible.
“Looking at your delicate skin and tender flesh, your appearance of having never faced hardship, I bet the biggest ‘battle’ of your lives has been swinging your fists at those pre-programmed Wooden Stakes in the Training Ground, right?
Hmph, naive little ones, real combat is not a game of make-believe. That is where blood is shed, where injuries occur, and where one can even… instantly lose their life!”
He seemed certain that the pair lacked real, life-or-death combat experience, his tone weaving together contempt and a condescending sense of ‘instruction.’
A Mi glanced sideways at Xiao Ye. He noticed that although she was nervous, the obvious humiliation in the envoy’s words didn't seem to leave many marks on her heart; she was more focused on the upcoming assessment itself.
Seeing Xiao Ye like this, the slight agitation A Mi had felt due to the envoy’s rudeness subsided. He decided against wasting breath arguing and instead looked into the distance, adjusting his breathing and state.
The Elven envoy led the two through streets and alleys. Their final destination was none other than the abandoned practice field where Lina had previously subjected A Mi to ‘hellish Special Training’!
A Mi looked at Xiao Ye again—both of them were desperately trying to keep the corners of their mouths from turning down, making it look like a very strenuous and difficult effort.
Fighting in a familiar venue was always a little easier than fighting on foreign ground.
Arriving at the edge of the field, the Elven envoy stopped. His gaze swept over the area, and a clear look of confusion and bewilderment finally appeared on his usually expressionless face.
The ground inside the field was more shattered than the records indicated, covered in new scorch marks and impact traces.
The stone pillars, which had only been somewhat damaged before, were now leaning haphazardly, many completely reduced to dust. The entire field looked as if it had just been savagely ravaged by a rampaging Fire Phoenix.
“Strange…” The Elven envoy frowned deeply, muttering to himself, “The extent of the damage here far exceeds the records for routine maintenance and use…
Has some combat department or research facility conducted ultra-high-intensity destructive testing here recently without reporting it? That violates regulations…”
However, his mission was not to investigate the cause of the field’s damage. After a moment of slight confusion, he quickly redirected his attention to the matter at hand.
He walked to the relatively ‘intact’ open space in the center of the field, turned to face Xiao Ye and A Mi, crossed his arms, habitually tilted his chin slightly upward, and looked down at them with those indifferent eyes.
“There’s no need for any more unnecessary nonsense.”
His voice returned to its previous coldness.
“Now, show me your so-called ‘worth.’
Let me verify with my own eyes whether you possess even a sliver of Qualification to be associated, even as the most peripheral, cheapest temporary Guard, with the name of our Moon Shadow Family.”
Before his words had fully faded, he extended a slender finger and swiftly and precisely drew a Summoning Array glowing with faint green light in the air.
As the light flowed, a vigorous figure stepped out from within—it was an Elf Armored Soldier, clad in exquisitely crafted light Rune Armor, wielding a gleaming Scimitar, with a tall and well-proportioned build.
The eyes beneath the Armored Soldier’s helmet were sharp as a blade, and a steady, capable Aura, only achieved through rigorous training, emanated from him, a scent of the battlefield subtly permeating the air.
【Elf Armored Soldier Contracted Spirit Lv. 25 | Comprehensive Rating: C 】
Xiao Ye subconsciously, almost instinctively, checked A Mi’s current status Panel—thanks to Lina’s previous ‘inhumane’ devil training, and the accumulation from accepting Commissions and constant honing over the past few days.
His Level had quietly risen to Level 22.
Level 25 versus Level 22, a 3-Level gap. In terms of Grade, the opponent was a solid C-Rank, while A Mi was still D-Rank.
The objective gap still existed clearly, like a chasm that needed to be crossed.
But… for some reason, looking at the steady-as-a-mountain, sharply honed Elf Armored Soldier opposite them, and recalling the absolute despair felt before that magnificent Fire Phoenix—a feeling like facing the might of heaven and earth, where even the thought of resistance was difficult to muster…
A thought suddenly surfaced in Xiao Ye’s mind, one that surprised even herself:
The opponent before them, although somewhat strong, didn't seem… that terrifying anymore?
At the very least, she could envision Mr. A Mi maneuvering against him, rather than facing the despair of being completely crushed unilaterally.
A Mi took a deep breath. The air seemed to still carry the scorched smell left over from the previous Special Training, a scent that strangely calmed him further.
He stepped forward, walking steadily into the center of the field, facing the Elf Armored Soldier from a distance.
He extended his hand, palm facing down. The Skill of the 【Yellow Creation Artifact 】 activated silently. The surrounding Loose Gravel and dust seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, rapidly gathering and taking shape in his hand, finally condensing into a primitive-looking stone longsword that exuded heavy Strength.
The tip of the sword pointed diagonally toward the ground. A Mi’s gaze, peering through the hair falling over his forehead, locked firmly onto his opponent.
This time, he was no longer facing a hopeless existence that he couldn't shake no matter how hard he tried.
Although the battle ahead was still tough, and the disadvantages in Level and Grade were still obvious. But, at least, he saw a sliver of…
Possibility to engage head-on, to maneuver using skill and willpower, and even to search for that tiny chance of victory.
Finally… he wouldn't just be taking hits unilaterally o(╥﹏╥)o