The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Diana is currently dueling with contestant number 7, Justin Wayne.

　While Dark and Emma's duel had ended, Diana and Wayne's duel seemed to have just begun, with two magical spirits on each side present.

　Wayne's magical spirits seem to be from the Knight series, one human knight and one orc knight, both of which are fighting-type magical spirits.

　Diana's team consists of "Bear Spirit" and "Earth Bear".

　With the blessing of "Bear Power", "Bear Spirit" gained extremely violent power!

　However, Wayne seemed to have used a special magic card to immobilize her, so Diana could only use "Earth Bear" to barely cope.

　However, with the summoning of the third bear, the "Earth Bear" gains 600 points in magic, attack, and defense simultaneously thanks to the "Bear Bond"!

　This allowed it to achieve a powerful stat distribution that even a three-star magical elf couldn't match, despite being only a two-star character, and successfully kill Wayne's human knight.

　Then the "Bear Spirit's" immobilization was finally lifted.

　Amidst the roars of the three bears, Wayne's hastily summoned third magical spirit also failed to achieve its purpose, being completely overwhelmed by Diana.

　The match finally entered its final stages.

　……

　And the other side.

　The students of Fool's House, who had survived until now thanks to a large number of white cards, were defeated by Sara Swati's strong attack.

　The competition has now ended, and the losers' bracket has entered its decisive stage.

　Emma, ​​who fell from the winners' bracket, will duel the winner between Diana and Sara.

　The ultimate winner will have the opportunity to challenge the winner of the bracket again – Darko Dimon!

　……

　Losers' Bracket:

　Court 1: Court 2 vs Court 9...

　Dark then discovered that his initial calculations were slightly flawed, as there would be an extra thirty-minute interval, but it was not a major issue.

　Diana became visibly nervous as she prepared for the next round of the competition.

　She seems particularly eager to make it back to the finals and compete with Darko for the championship once again.

　But Sara Swati's deck was stronger than expected, and her summoning speed was even faster than Emma and Witt, making her second only to Dark among the first-year students.

　In the duel with Dark, Sara only used a targeted deck, and she was unable to summon her powerful three-star magic cards.

　Diana's strongest combination is "Bear Spirit" + "Bear Power". Once "Bear Spirit" is restricted by "Sphinx Cat's" "Shadow Tag", her combat power will be greatly reduced.

　With both sides revealing their cards one after another, some outcomes are predictable.

　Half an hour later, the two players, having finished replenishing their mana, entered the arena.

　At this moment, apart from Professor Jones who was still acting as referee, the other three professors were free.

　They watched the duel from the sidelines, and none of them were particularly optimistic about Diana's chances.

　The results were as expected.

　Diana's journey ended there, leaving the competition in fourth place among first-year students.

　……

　Next round.

　Losers' Bracket:

　Court #1: Court #5 vs. Court #9...

　Emma Metis vs. Sara Swati!

　This match garnered just as much attention as the winners' bracket semifinals.

　Because there was only one arena, all the first-year students gathered there.

　Emma, ​​representing the Knights Academy, will face off against Sarah, representing the Magic Academy!

　The Knights Academy and the Magic Academy, which previously had little interaction, suddenly became tense and on the verge of conflict.

　Dark stood with Diana, who had recovered from her disappointment, as they watched the game as spectators.

　Emma and Sara were both knocked out of the loser's bracket by him, and neither of them was able to use all their magic cards in their duel with him, so watching this duel can also serve as information gathering before the final.

　Dak looked at it very carefully.

　Diana asked playfully, "Dark, who do you think has a better chance between the two of them?"

　Dark hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It's hard to say."

　The difference in summoning speed between the two sides is limited; although Sarah is faster, it is not fast enough to cause a qualitative change.

　Each of the magic cards has its own strengths.

　Therefore, it is really difficult to make a judgment.

　Diana pouted and said, "I think Sarah will win."

　Dark asked curiously, "Why?"

　Diana: "Because she beat me!"

　Dak tightened his lips.

　Rose teased from the side, "But Diana, Sarah was eliminated by Emma during the first in-class competition."

　Diana: "Things are different now!"

　……

　"Contestant number 5, Emma Metis, and contestant number 9, Sarah Swati, are both top performers in their respective academies. Their attitude towards learning is particularly admirable and worthy of emulation. Their success is entirely due to their hard work and the demonstration of their knowledge. I hope you understand that while mageship doesn't demand the same level of knowledge as ancient magic, it is still a highly learned profession. Contestants, please enter the arena!"

　Professor Jones's voice echoed throughout the venue.

　Emma and Sarah took their places on the contestant's platform.

　……

　"Hey, I heard you lost in just one round?"

　Sarah started the game and then said casually.

　Emma's expression changed upon hearing this; the effect was remarkable!

　Looking back, it seems she had considered Dak a rival from the very beginning of the semester. However, so far she had only been one step ahead in mural studies, and that was only when Dak was not interested in it.

　She will work hard to correct the shortcomings that she became aware of in the last round of the competition.

　But all of this has nothing to do with the woman in front of him!

　Emma responded somewhat angrily, "I lost in the second round, but didn't you lose in the third round too? After I defeat you, I will return to the final and compete against him again!"

　Sarah smiled sweetly and said, "What a coincidence, that's what I was thinking too!"

　The temperature between the two sides dropped to freezing point, and a duel was about to break out!

　……

　"Preparation Phase" [30 seconds]

　Both players draw cards at the same time!

　Emma pursed her lips.

　Sarah's lips curled up slightly.

　But in reality, both of them drew the magic cards they wanted most.

　……

　"Battle Phase" [30s]

　"Magic Summoning!"

　Sarah drew a magic card and held it high in her hand.

　Her summoning speed was faster than Emma's, giving her an overwhelming advantage in terms of presence.

　What appeared in the blue team's summoning zone was a magical spirit that was not summoned during the duel with Dark!

　→ "The Mummy of Death"!

　That was a mummy completely wrapped in snow-white bandages!

　……

　Card Name: Dead Mummy

　[Type: Spirit Card]

　【grade:】

　[Race: Undead]

　[Attribute: Dark]

　【Magic Power: 1000】

　[Attack: 100]

　[Defense: 1600]

　[Ultimate Skill: Feign Death]

　……

　The mummy was a full two meters tall, but its arms were tightly bound to its sides with bandages, and only a slit was visible on its face where its eyes were. Its feet were tightly bound together, and it could only hop with its knees bent, so it had no offensive power whatsoever.

　At the cost of only 100 attack power, the Dead Mummy gained a defense value of over 1500.

　His special move, "Feign Death," was used in previous battles.

　It is the embodiment of "dead but not stiff" - it has two lives!

　……

　They made their debut on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

　The two bandages hanging from the sides of the dead mummy began to move.

　This is its only means of attack, but its attack strength is roughly equivalent to a one-star Eevee's massage.

　In full view of everyone, the mummy actually used bandages to scoop up the floating magic ball, wrapped it around itself, and pressed it into its own abdomen.

　Its belly, which was originally bulging out, was pressed inwards with each downward thrust.

　It actually managed to push most of the magic ball into its belly!

　Wrap those two bandages around a few more times, and the magic ball will be completely fixed in place!

　then.

　It hid in a corner of the field, turned its back to the field, and crouched down with its head in its hands to defend itself!

　……

　This is another of Sara's tactical systems—the ostrich tactic!

　The two-lived mummy completely protected the magic orb.

　If the opponent cannot break through the mummy's defenses, then Sara will be invincible.

　……

　the other side.

　Emma was a little slower, but she still managed to summon her magical spirit.

　It is a golden beast that has appeared before!

　The Golden Beast's attack power was only 1300, which was not enough to penetrate the flawless mummy.

　Emma's expression darkened slightly. She didn't attack rashly, but instead silently read the CD.

　Both sides appeared very composed.

　After a few seconds.