Volume 4 Chapter 16 – Had Enough Yet?

The dark-skinned young man shot a sidelong glance at the trembling Wenfu, spinning the hook-and-chain in his hand nonstop like someone with ADHD.

It seemed he was deliberately creating loud wind resistance to frighten Wenfu, and the mocking grin on his lips only grew more brazen.

“The first-year versus second-year practical match officially begins. Match one: Wenfu of the first-year Crowned Team, Radiant Sun and Moon, versus Camo of the second-year Crowned Team, Twilight Ash.”

“The match format is one-on-one. Both Divine Princesses may use domains and Divine Authority. Victory is decided when one side can no longer continue fighting. Surrender is allowed if overwhelmed. The winner must not pursue a defeated opponent; violators will be penalized.”

“You both understand?” The rules were addressed to both participants, but it was clearly meant more for Camo. Frankly, everyone already had a good idea of how this match would end.

Sure, both teams had won the Crown Tournament, but Twilight Ash had advanced to the second year after surviving the “Demon Realm Trial.” It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that even facing a national army, Twilight Ash wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

First-years certainly hoped Wenfu would win, and acknowledged Radiant Sun and Moon’s powerful lineup—but they also had to admit their odds were slim.

“Understood perfectly, referee.”

“Y-Yes… understood…” Wenfu clutched her wooden staff, her tail twitching wildly behind her in peak nervousness.

“Don’t worry, little miss,” Camo licked his hook with a grin. “I’ll go easy on you. I’m quite fond of delicate little flowers.”

“P-Please go easy on me…” Wenfu replied stiffly.

At the referee’s whistle, the match began.

Camo wasted no time. Spurred on by his teammates’ cheers, he excitedly swung the hook-and-chain in his hand. His gaze fixed on Wenfu like a starving wolf eyeing prey.

“Better be careful, little miss. My hook here…”

“…is laced with poison!” With a sudden flick, Camo released the hook. No longer spinning in circles, it hurtled outward in a whipping arc.

Not good.

Teresa used Divine Appraisal from the sidelines and scanned Camo’s stats. His Divine Authority was named [Voodoo Venom]—it allowed him to imbue any weapon with poison. While not fatal, the toxin dulled the victim’s reflexes and made them more vulnerable to Divine Authority attacks.

A troublesome ability.

Even worse, it wasn’t limited in usage. Camo could coat five, ten, or even more weapons with the venom simultaneously.

With this kind of ability, he remained highly effective even without teammates—essentially half a Knight-Class Divine Princess on his own.

Wenfu’s Divine Authority, by contrast, provided significant damage multipliers but lacked direct attack capability. Alone, she couldn’t share her power with others either.

As the hook flew toward her, Wenfu panicked and instinctively raised her staff to block.

With a loud clack, the chain coiled around her staff.

Camo grinned knowingly and gave it a hard tug. Wenfu’s staff flew from her hands and landed to the side.

The few tricks she’d crammed last-minute could only help so much. Her opponent wasn’t just any opponent—Camo might as well have been a Knight-Class Divine Princess himself.

Now weaponless, Wenfu’s legs turned to jelly. While it didn’t change much tactically, simply holding a weapon provided psychological comfort.

Now, even that comfort was gone.

“Oh dear~” Camo shook his head mockingly, walking slowly toward Wenfu with exaggerated steps and a twisted smile.

From the Twilight Ash team’s perspective, Camo easily securing the first win was no surprise. In fact, finishing the fight in under a minute was considered normal—anything over three minutes would be embarrassing.

Before the match began, they even made a bet: whoever couldn’t finish their opponent in under five minutes had to treat the team to dinner.

Clearly, they weren’t taking Radiant Sun and Moon seriously at all.

The entire Radiant Sun and Moon team watched nervously as Wenfu struggled in the arena. Losing to Twilight Ash was no shame, but seeing their opponents so casually indifferent—acting like they didn’t care who won—sparked their competitive drive.

Felicia clenched her fists. She had originally seen this match as just a fun activity, but now, she felt she had to reclaim their honor for Wenfu.

“Wahh!” The hook scraped past Wenfu’s feet, making the little catgirl yelp and dart around the field.

Of course, Camo missed on purpose. He was trying to scare Wenfu into surrendering, playfully swinging his weapon to tear her domain and whip at her feet.

Wenfu was terrified and covered in scrapes, but she never considered giving up.

She had always relied on her teammates and dragged them down, but no one ever blamed her.

She didn’t say it aloud, but deep down, Wenfu had pride.

She couldn’t surrender without a fight.

As the chase dragged on and Camo started to get impatient, Wenfu seized a moment of distraction to pick up her staff. She recalled the move Teresa had taught her.

Gripping her staff tightly in both hands, she charged—not away, but straight at Camo.

Camo was momentarily stunned. This demi-human girl, who’d been running helplessly all this time, actually dared to fight back?

But he didn’t panic. He retracted his hook and flung it at her again.

Hearing the incoming whoosh of the hook, Wenfu knew she didn’t have Astrid’s speed or agility—she couldn’t dodge. She had to take the hit.

She feared pain. But more than that, she feared being useless to the team. If that happened… could she still face them?

So even if it hurt, she had to push forward.

At the critical moment, Wenfu hurled her staff, now glowing with pink light—her Divine Authority activation.

The next instant, the hook slammed into her, sending her flying into the arena wall.

But Camo didn’t come out unscathed. The hook couldn’t retract in time—Wenfu’s staff hurtled toward him, rapidly enlarging in his view, and smashed directly into his face.

“Gah!” Camo stumbled back several steps, clutching his face. Even with a domain active, that hit hurt.

“Winner: Camo of Twilight Ash.” The referee announced the result.

Camo pouted as Wenfu was carried off by medical staff.

What was the point? She could’ve just surrendered. Why fight to mutual destruction?

First-years would never beat second-years anyway. Back when they were first-years, they’d arrogantly challenged upperclassmen and got thoroughly schooled.

None of the Twilight Ash team cheered. To them, victory was expected. Still, Wenfu’s last-minute counter surprised them.

Just as Camo was about to leave the stage, he felt a sudden chill down his spine.

He turned around—and saw the four remaining members of Radiant Sun and Moon staring at him with a calm yet terrifying gaze.

What the…?

He couldn’t explain why, but it felt deeply uncomfortable. They were just a bunch of first-year girls. Why did he feel like their gazes could pierce him?

What he didn’t know was—

He had just beaten Radiant Sun and Moon’s beloved mascot.

Now, unable to take revenge directly, the others could only unleash their fury on his teammates.

***

“Match Two: Felicia, Knight-Class Divine Princess of Radiant Sun and Moon, versus Kettle, Knight-Class Divine Princess of Twilight Ash.”

“Wenfu’s been taken to the infirmary,” Yimi said. “She’s fine—her domain absorbed the blow.”

“Got it.” Felicia, gripping her greatsword, strode into the arena. “I’ll visit her after this match.”

Her opponent, Kettle, was a handsome brown-haired youth. Seeing the beautiful twin-tailed knight girl, he gave a courteous bow.

“I’ve long admired the Whiteglass Princess.”

“Mm. Likewise.” Felicia’s reply was curt and cold—clearly not interested in small talk.

Kettle blinked, then understood and didn’t press the issue. He summoned his domain.

His domain was a beast-hide battle suit and twin blades.

Teresa checked his Divine Authority: [A Thousand Cuts]—when locking onto a target, all attacks gain nearly tenfold speed.

It sounded powerful—but had a flaw.

As a Knight-Class Divine Princess, he had no Divine Authority-based offense.

Felicia summoned her knight armor and gripped her Crowned Greatsword. She wasn’t tall, but her presence was as immovable as a mountain.

“Match Two: Radiant Sun and Moon versus Twilight Ash. Begin!”

With only one enemy, Kettle’s Divine Authority naturally locked onto Felicia.

As described, he appeared before her in a flash—almost like light itself.

Felicia may have high physical resistance, but in single combat, Kettle’s Divine Authority gave him the edge.

No matter how high her defense, enough rapid attacks could wear her down—just as even the sturdiest fortress would eventually fall.

As soon as the battle began, Kettle’s eyes gleamed. His twin blades moved so fast they left afterimages. In less than a breath, he slashed Felicia over ten times.

Metallic clangs rang out like a symphony, sparks and golden light bursting from Felicia’s armor.

Seeing her stand still, unflinching, Kettle wasn’t concerned.

He assumed Felicia was stalling, waiting for him to tire.

Unfortunately, with his Divine Authority active, his stamina was near-limitless.

From refined gentleman, Kettle transformed into a berserker, unleashing a torrent of slashes.

He thought Felicia’s calm demeanor was a bluff—a psychological tactic to make him falter.

But he was no rookie. Even if each strike only did “-1,” he believed he could grind her down eventually.

“Miss Felicia, don’t force yourself! Just admit defeat!” Kettle laughed wildly.

But the laughter abruptly stopped.

Before he could finish his taunt, Felicia raised her slender arm—and grabbed Kettle by the collar. With divine strength, she lifted him into the air like a kitten.

“Ah??” Kettle’s feet dangled, but he kept slashing.

Still, he couldn’t understand—how could she remain untouched under such rapid attacks? How could she just grab him like this?

The audience was baffled, including Twilight Ash. Only Teresa smiled in silence. Yimi muttered, “Idiot.”

“Still can’t scan her?” Twilight Ash’s Divine Child, a young man in a top hat with a gentleman’s cane, frowned as he looked at Felicia.

While his teammates saw this as playing with children, he had sensed something was off from the start.

Before the match, he tried scanning Felicia, Teresa, and the others…

To his shock—he couldn’t scan five of them.

Only the catgirl was visible. The rest were a complete mystery.

What did that mean??

He’d been a Divine Child for years but had never encountered anything this absurd. From that moment, he knew this match wouldn’t be so easy. That’s why he’d been worried from the start—while the rest of his team grinned like fools.

And now, the turning point had arrived.

The next instant, Felicia slammed Kettle into the ground, then brought her massive sword down hard—so hard that cracks spread like spiderwebs around his impact point.

Twilight Ash’s members all felt a chill.

“Had enough yet?” Felicia asked, one word at a time, towering over the stunned Kettle.

“Match Two: Felicia of Radiant Sun and Moon wins!” Even the referee hesitated before finally announcing the result.

The arena erupted.

Second-years who had expected Felicia to be crushed froze in disbelief. First-years roared with excitement.

It wasn’t Felicia who got one-shotted—it was Twilight Ash’s famed Divine Princess, Kettle.

And in such a humiliating manner.

That victory lit a fire under the first-years.

As Kettle was carried away unconscious by the infirmary staff, the Twilight Ash team finally realized—something was wrong. They looked at each other and saw nothing but confusion in one another’s eyes.

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