Sorcerer’s Handbook

Chapter 516: Sword Princesss Stage (?)

“Surrender?”

Sonya was about to turn her head when Lois pulled her back: “Don’t move, you’re putting on your combat attire!”

The village girl straightened her back and asked, “Do they want me to voluntarily surrender?”

“Not surrender, it’s ‘retreat after using all your skills,’” Adelle explained. “Thousand Star Entertainment believes that if you get severely injured in a national broadcast, it will affect your audience appeal and reduce your commercial value. In contrast, if you retreat after recognizing the gap, it’ll leave a positive impression on everyone, which benefits you.”

“Indeed,” Lois said while attaching ornaments to Sonya. “There has never been a precedent for a contestant surrendering in the Meteor Trial finals.”

“That’s because most contestants are third or fourth-year students, and it might be their only chance to compete in the Meteor Trial finals. They can’t afford not to give it their all until the last moment. Moreover, the Starburst Guard, Griffin Squad, and Barrier Legion closely watch the College League. Quitting due to fear would seriously affect a battle sorcerer’s prospects,” Adelle explained. “But Sonya is different.”

“Sonya is just a first-year student, reaching the Meteor Trial finals is already a miracle. Even if she voluntarily quits, no one will look down on her. She still has her second, third, and fourth years. Next year, Dimy will graduate, and she can compete in the Meteor Trial again.”

The village girl had a thoughtful expression when Lois tightened the corset, causing her to instinctively puff out her chest.

Lois looked at the filled-out, bulging clothes with a puzzled expression: “Is my combat attire too small, or have you developed more?”

Sonya’s combat attire from the Meteor Trial semi-final was severely damaged, and there was no time to repair it, so she wore her backup.

“I’ve been training my body using the Sword Body spirit recently,” Sonya said. “Maybe I’ve gained muscle?”

Lois gave it a slight push: “It’s not hard, more like soft and bouncy.”

Adelle leaned in: “Really, let me-“

“Stop it,” Sonya said. “So, do you all support the proposal from Thousand Star Entertainment?”

“Our Stretch Paw Club leaders discussed it and agreed it’s feasible,” Adelle said. “Thousand Star Entertainment is one of the top three entertainment guilds. If you aim to become a performer or songstress, Thousand Star is a great choice. Their contract is flexible, and they’re even willing to tailor a series of TV dramas to make you famous-just like Delarose, your favorite!”

“But they made it clear if you suffer a crushing defeat and get injured in the Meteor Trial, the deal changes. Thousand Star wants not a scarred loser but a graceful young sorcerer who shines even in defeat.”

Engulite objected, “People are forgiving of failure.”

Adelle shook her head, “People are more forgiving if the failure looks good.”

“Besides,” Adelle paused, “if the battle is doomed, isn’t surrender the rational choice? You’re going to lose anyway.”

“It’s different,” Engulite said. “A battle prepared for surrender and a fierce fight ending in defeat are worlds apart for a sorcerer. The former dulls the blade, while the latter sharpens it.”

“I’m not a sorcerer, so I don’t get it,” Adelle shrugged. “Sonya, you choose-compromise the honor of a sorcerer to pursue the path of fame you’ve dreamed of, or refuse Thousand Star’s proposal and fight Dimy to the end?”

“Hmm-” Sonya opened her fingers as Lois slipped a sleeve on her middle finger. “Can I have both?”

Adelle blinked, “You mean you want to be badly beaten by Dimy and then surrender?”

The Stretch Paw Club President smiled slightly, “Please decline Thousand Star Entertainment for me. After all, a match can be unpredictable. And besides Dimy, there are four other strong contestants resurrected as losers. I might not even last to face Dimy alone. Thousand Star’s plan is too idealistic.”

Adelle noticed this wasn’t the real reason, but she had to respect Sonya’s decision.

Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “Sonya, aren’t you afraid of losing?”

“Of course, I am. Who isn’t? Especially when triggering the Death-Prevention Miracle, where losses can look particularly ugly,” the village girl replied. “For me, looking awful is much worse than losing.” ?â?????

“So, do you plan to surrender?”

“Afraid of losing,” Sonya said, “but surrender isn’t the only option.”

The luminous star sets, and the stars take their place!

At the moment, the Galaxia National Sports Arena is packed and buzzing with excitement. Truth College students are already in a celebratory mode, even unfurling banners to preemptively congratulate Senior Brother Dimy on his victory. In stark contrast, other universities remain silent.

This is quite rare-previous Meteor Trials have seen Truth College finalists, but there were often top students from other universities in the resurrection group. Sometimes, if everyone teamed up against the Truth College contestants, they might force them to exit bitterly. This happened four or five times out of ten, quite frequently.

Therefore, past Grand Finals were lively, with students from various colleges refusing to bow to Truth College, causing a commotion, and even engaging in real fighting. The Stars Trial often kicked off before the Meteor Trial even started.

Tonight’s unusual calm among other colleges suggests one thing: no one believes their contestants stand a chance of winning.

After the halftime show, the Earth sorcerer reconstructs the arena’s terrain, and host Arsenault’s voice rises above the arena’s noise-

“Thank you to First Week Zero Dance Troupe for their wonderful performance! Next up is the highlight of this year’s College League, the Meteor Trial Grand Final!”

“Let’s welcome the contestants!” the female host announced. “Entering the arena are the top finalists who have battled their way here: the fourth-year student from Truth College, Dimy Vlozrada, and the first-year student from Swordflower College, Sonya Therave!”

Sonya stepped onto the spotlighted stage, surrounded by warm yet not overly enthusiastic applause. Out of the eight giant holographic screens, only one captured Sonya’s radiant presence, while the other seven showcased various handsome angles of Dimy!

No wonder Felix and her brother don’t get along… Sonya suddenly thought.

Once the other four contestants from the resurrection group entered the arena, the Meteor Trial Final officially began at the host’s command!

“To better provide commentary on this match, we’ve invited the Swordsmanship Professor from Swordflower College, known as the ‘Rhythm Sword Saint,’ Mr. Nidhogg!” Arsenault announced. “Mr. Nidhogg, what impact do you think this battlefield has on the contestants?”

“The abandoned city terrain offers ample movement, cover, and combat space. The ruined buildings divide the arena into various sections, making it a fair layout for all sorcerers,” said Nidhogg, demonstrating the professional courtesy worthy of Swordflower College’s hefty salary. “The more practical combat experience a sorcerer has, the better they can find opportunities in such terrain… And already, the first contestant has been eliminated.”

“It’s Connolly from Trajectory College, unable to evade Vlozrada’s Vibration Sword Light, his chest was slashed open, triggering the Death-Prevention Miracle,” Arsenault lamented. “Not even able to withstand a single blow.”

“Avoidance was his real downfall,” Nidhogg pinpointed sharply. “While Dimy’s strike reached a three-wing level, it wasn’t insurmountable. Those who focus solely on fleeing leave their backs exposed, essentially giving up their right to life.”

“Another elimination! Therave is the one who attacked!” Arsenault exclaimed. “Mr. Nidhogg, are the other contestants… running away?”

“Indeed,” Nidhogg’s voice carried a hint of mockery. “Cowardly tricks from would-be strategists.”

“They dare not confront Dimy head-on, hoping he’ll eliminate the others first, leaving them for an easier final showdown to improve their Meteor Trial ranking. They had no intention of competing, only here to make up the numbers.”

Arsenault: “But Therave seems different.”

“Yes, she’s eager to face Dimy,” Nidhogg replied. “In terms of skill, she might not surpass the two who were eliminated, but she’s the only one qualified to remain on the field… Ah, now all the obstacles are cleared away.”

During their commentary, Sonya and Dimy had already defeated the remaining two contestants from the resurrection group.

Sonya jumped onto the rooftop of an abandoned building, gazing at Dimy from the other side. Dimy flicked the blade of his long sword and said loudly, “It’s rare to encounter a sorcerer skilled in Vibration Swordsmanship in a competition. I’ll try to suppress my power to the two-wings level for you.”

Gripping her sword hilt tightly, Sonya activated the Sharpen Sword for Ten Years Miracle to enhance her sword blade’s edge and said, “How about suppressing it to the one-wing level for an even greater challenge?”

“That won’t do,” Dimy replied. “You’re a worthy opponent.”

As soon as he finished speaking, they both charged at each other, their sword energy clashing like colliding meteors!

“Blood Moon Shattered Lake!” Arsenault exclaimed excitedly. “Therave has unleashed her original miracle Blood Moon Shattered Lake right from the start. Ordinary Defensive Miracles can hardly withstand it… Wait, Vlozrada countered it effortlessly with just one Earth Light Vibration?”

“The disparity in Sect Realm,” Nidhogg remarked. “While Blood Moon Shattered Lake is ferocious and brutal, it has numerous weak points. Dimy’s Earth Light Vibration precisely targets these vulnerabilities, naturally neutralizing the attack with ease.”

“Sonya’s luck is just too poor. Dimy shares the same Sect and even the same path. The miracles she uses are tricks Dimy has grown tired of. All her tactical intentions are transparent to Dimy, not to mention that Dimy can even utilize Sanctuary…- It’s like she’s facing a more powerful version of herself.”

As Nidhogg analyzed, although Sonya continuously took the initiative to attack, Dimy easily dismantled her efforts with ease. The miracles he employed never surpassed the two-wings level, and his spellforce consumption was far lower than Sonya’s. To the untrained eye, it might appear that Sonya was the one with the upper hand in spellforce.

Given such a clear disparity in strength, what followed was a tedious display of one-sided domination. Many students in the audience chose to leave early, uninterested in watching Truth College flaunt its prowess.

However, on Swordflower College’s side, the exit passage was blocked by Professor Trozan, leaving the Swordflower students with no choice but to return and continue watching.

As time went on, the audience started to sense that something was amiss.

“Is it just me, or does Vlozrada seem… a bit overwhelmed?” Arsenault’s voice was tinged with uncertainty.

“Interesting,” Nidhogg chuckled. “Sonya is mimicking Dimy’s techniques! Dimy has messed up this time. He’s inadvertently teaching Vlozrada’s family combat arts to Sonya. As fellow sorcerers of the same Sect and path, Sonya is learning a great deal from this battle!”

“Even if Dimy decides to stop now, Sonya has already gained immensely!”

On the battlefield, Dimy suddenly asked, “Are you close with Professor Nidhogg?”

“I’m not close with him,” Sonya replied, seizing the opportunity to unleash Evil Light Vibration. “I’m close with his students.”

“He seems keen on you learning as much as possible from this battle,” Dimy said. “If you can truly grasp the essence of Vlozrada’s Vibration techniques in combat, what is there I cannot teach? Watch out!”

Dimy’s presence shifted. Although he still utilized typical two-wings Miracles, his stance turned aggressively offensive, causing Sonya to fall back repeatedly!

Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!

Sonya dared not face his sharp assaults head-on. She evaded using the ruined city’s terrain, trying to parry moves as she gradually countered. Eventually, she found opportunities to strike back from within Dimy’s Vibration Sword web!

Blood Moon Shattered Lake!

Confronted with the overwhelming blood-red sword cascade, Dimy stepped forward and countered with Evil Light Vibration, nullifying the attack. He then launched a follow-up assault, aiming to crush Sonya’s defense with relentless aggression!

At this moment, dozens of threads appeared in front of Dimy.

“Blood Moon Blossoms! Therave’s original Miracle!” Arsenault shrieked. “Will it work… Ah!”

Zing!

As the threads converged, they transformed into dozens of sword light vibrations aimed to shred Dimy. He neither dodged nor blocked but allowed the vibrations to engulf him, ripples spreading across his body.

Sanctuary!

With a single thought, a fully protective Sanctuary activated!

“So close!” Arsenault nearly growled through gritted teeth. “Therave was just a fraction away from making history!”

“Indeed, just a fraction,” Nidhogg stated calmly.

Arsenault nodded. “If Vlozrada didn’t have enough time to activate his Sanctuary-“

“No, when I said ‘just a fraction,’ I didn’t mean Dimy made a mistake,” Nidhogg interjected, staring at the duel on the battlefield. “I meant that little girl, Sonya, made the error. She was just a fraction away from defeating Dimy.”

Dimy reached up and touched his neck, finding a cut that nearly severed his throat. He was certain his Sanctuary hadn’t been delayed; the wound appeared after the Sanctuary was activated.

He looked up and saw Sonya, gripping her Wooden Sword in her right hand. Beside her right hand was a faint, almost invisible phantom hand, clutching an unseen blade.

“Dimy’s Sanctuary was utterly useless,” Nidhogg said, standing up. “Sonya used ‘The Invisible Hand’s Secret Blade,’ one of the few Miracles that can completely bypass a Sanctuary!”

Arsenault was stunned. “The Invisible Hand’s Secret Blade? But isn’t that…”

“That’s correct,” Nidhogg confirmed. “It’s the signature move of ‘the invisible sword saint,’ Trozan, who once achieved fame by defeating three Sanctuary Sorcerers in a row with this very technique.”

As Nidhogg explained, the whole audience began to recall the information about this Miracle. It was basic knowledge from compulsory courses, something every student should have learned.

But according to their information, this Miracle was supposed to be…

“Wait, I’m a bit confused,” Arsenault said. “The Invisible Hand’s Secret Blade… isn’t it a form of Spatial Swordsmanship that only Sanctuary Sorcerers can learn?”

“That’s right.”

Nidhogg’s voice echoed through the Galaxia Sports Arena, reaching every corner of the stars.

“Sonya Therave is also a Sanctuary Sorcerer.”