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

　It's still a high platform.

　But the players' platform was gone.

　Furthermore, taking into account the new dueling rules, the area of ​​the high platform has been expanded by an entire circle.

　However, the size of the arena after the duel field is covered remains unchanged at 80x120.

　The size of the dueling arena is designed to limit the duelists.

　An overly spacious arena will only drag the duel into a quagmire, making it difficult to reach a conclusion.

　However, as the skill levels of both duelists rise above a certain threshold, the standard for the size of the arena should indeed be expanded.

　However, the new dueling rules are based on divine rituals, and even Principal Arte's authority cannot adjust them; they can only wait for Hermes to awaken.

　Before Hermes awakens, duelists can only grow wildly within the existing rules.

　No matter how unreasonable these new dueling rules may be, they can only adapt to the rules, not wait for the rules to adapt to them.

　However, as the event organizers, they can impose restrictions outside the venue before the rules are clearly defined.

　To increase the fairness of the competition.

　But that happened later.

　This "Academy Championship" was indeed somewhat experimental. Principal Arte and Professors Sylph and others were watching attentively.

　There are 192 pre-competition participants from eight colleges.

　The exhibition match will select duelists based on both audience and contestant preferences. This competition is different from previous ones.

　The academy set up hidden viewing platforms outside the dueling arena, allowing all the contestants to watch the battle from their seats without obstructing the view of the audience.

　When it is necessary to select duelists, the audience stands can be made visible.

　"Then, the first duel will be..." Senior Judy deliberately dragged out her words.

　On the viewing platform, within the area belonging to the War Totem Academy, an orc stood up with a cold smile.

　That was none other than the rhinoceros orc who had fought the elves in the No. 1 Duel Arena before!

　Senior Judy's eyes lit up immediately, and she said, "It seems that some contestants are itching to try. Then please welcome this rhinoceros beastman to the stage first."

　As soon as she finished speaking, a grassland elf stood up and walked out from the Elf Spell Academy area, gesturing around the rhinoceros orc's neck.

　The atmosphere of a duel between the two sides instantly intensified.

　There was no need for Judy to host; the two pre-contestants had already taken to the stage.

　The atmosphere between the two sides was extremely tense, and the audience could immediately see the animosity between them, which made them excited.

　"Let's fight! Let's fight!" "Let the blood flow like a river!" Onlookers never mind making things worse.

　Duel arenas across the mainland were abuzz with excitement.

　Especially in the orc and elven territories, the two races, who have a long-standing feud, have started exchanging insults from afar.

　"It's said that the two contestants who are about to appear have already fought once before. Let me see... Oh my god, the winner of that duel was actually the seemingly weaker grassland elf..."

　Senior Judy narrowed her eyes, a sly smile playing on her lips. Seeing the atmosphere was right, the referee immediately blew the whistle.

　The grassland elves and the rhinoceros-like beastmen immediately engaged in a duel. With the intense clash of their dueling fields, the duel commenced instantly. Despite the initial victory, neither side showed any intention of putting on a show.

　0

　However, this duel was clearly more formal in its format.

　Instead of the usual opening sequence of a magical duel, summoning circles lit up simultaneously beneath the feet of both sides, instantly conjuring magical spirits.

　Immediately afterwards, both of them accelerated at the same time, but their chanting never stopped. They managed to keep chanting while moving at high speed!

Chapter 1165 The Automatically Playing Background Music (4k)

　Mobile casting, while not a particularly advanced technique, is quite stunning for audiences accustomed to seeing duelists standing motionless on the arena casting spells.

　The magical sprite summoned by the grassland elf was an adorable flower fairy.

　It held up a small lotus leaf umbrella, spinning and hanging in the air. The moment it was summoned, a pink chain of light extended from its body and linked to the grassland spirit.

　The next second, a green glow shone from the grassland elf's body, and a small pink flower bloomed on its head, adding to its beauty.

　Despite his being a male elf, it seemed the audience didn't care about such a small matter, as there were quite a few screams coming from outside the arena.

　The grassland elf's body was filled with magic, and wind swirled around her feet, making her run even faster than before.

　At the same time.

　The ore-type elemental creature summoned by the rhinoceros orc—the "Iron Ore Monster"—melted instantly into molten iron, adhering to the rhinoceros orc's skin like armor, making his already thick skin as hard as steel. At that moment, he seemed to transform into a mechanical being, his defensive power surging—albeit at the cost of a slight loss of speed.

　"It seems this orc has learned its lesson from the last duel, preferring to sacrifice speed for increased overall defense. But does it think this will protect it from a sneak attack by the grassland elves?"

　Dak sat in the spectator stand and watched intently.

　The grassland elves and rhinoceros beastmen clearly held back in their last battle of pride, but today they displayed a completely different level of skill in their very first match.

　Although the "Flower Fairy" is only a three-star creature, it can comprehensively increase the speed, mana regeneration, and health regeneration of the linked target through links, and also share 15% of the damage taken by the linked target. When using its ultimate skill, it can also additionally grant the linked target 15% damage reduction, speed boost, and pollen enchantment.

　The pollen can produce different abnormal states depending on the opponent's constitution, making it extremely difficult to defend against.

　That's an extremely rare support-type magic-type spirit.

　While the Rhinoceros Orcs' "Iron Ore Monsters" are slightly inferior in terms of enhancement, they can create "Iron Ore Minions" that can be used as sacrifices by injecting magic power.

　Another important aspect of the duels that allow mages to personally participate is their ability to replenish the magic power of their magical spirits during battle. Although the rate of replenishment is relatively limited, magical spirits can rapidly absorb magic power from the mage when certain special moves are used.

　This "Iron Ore Monster's" ultimate attack is of this type.

　The "Iron Ore Monsters" it spawns accumulate on the shoulders of the Rhinoceros Orcs, with a maximum of three, but each one is a three-star sacrifice.

　Therefore, when the rhinoceros orc was about to reach the halfway point, it suddenly took a roundabout route and began chanting a sacrificial summoning spell.

　The grassland elf narrowed its eyes, unleashed its speed, and the pollen in its right hand instantly spun and condensed into a short bow—the magic card "Flower Bow".

　Although it's a weapon, it's actually a magic card.

　The prerequisite for casting "Flower Bow" is having pollen. Different types of pollen grant different additional skills to Flower Bow. Arrows formed from different types of pollen also have additional effects, making it unpredictable and versatile.

　The moment the grassland spirit condensed the "Flower Bow," it released an arrow without mercy. The arrow, formed from the pollen of the "Flower Spirit," exploded in the air half a meter after leaving the bowstring, spreading a floral fragrance and disappearing without a trace.

　It was actually an "arrow of fragrance" formed from the scent of flowers!

　The "fragrant arrow" has no physical form; the person struck by it only feels the fragrant breeze before they are hit.

　The rhinoceros orc had just completed the sacrificial summoning when he was hit by the "Arrow of Fragrance," and his magic power instantly became sticky and difficult to circulate!

　A cold smile appeared on the face of the grassland elf. Her whole body chased after the "Arrow of Fragrance" as it was shot out. When the rhinoceros beastman stopped moving due to the magic stickiness, she suddenly pulled out the "Flower Bow" in her hand as a long weapon and struck the rhinoceros beastman directly in the back of the head!

　"boom!"

　The "Flower Bow" failed to break through the rhinoceros orc's defenses. However, the magical shockwave penetrated the skin and skull, reaching straight into the brain.

　The rhinoceros-like orc instantly became dizzy. This dizziness was extremely deadly.

　Even if it only lasts for half a minute, it will be enough for the grassland elves to completely kill the rhinoceros orcs.

　A tactical system centered on one's own combat strength is also constrained by that combat strength.

　Moreover, the human body is different from magical spirits. Unlike magical spirits, they cannot withstand unlimited injuries. The human body is far more fragile than magical spirits and cannot even withstand excessive pain.

　When the damage or pain endured exceeds the body's tolerance limit, the body's protective mechanisms will be triggered, and "fainting or fainting" is the most obvious manifestation.

　In addition, when duelists personally participate in battle, they will inevitably be unable to observe the situation and think about tactics as clearly as they do when they are in the selection area. The frequency of summoning magic cards will also be greatly reduced, and opponents will even use various methods to interrupt and restrict the summoning. These are all points that duelists must face.

　Overall, the new rules of magic duels have introduced many more ways to win. However, duelists also have to consider more factors, making the overall process more complex.

　However, the duel did not end there.

　Just as the grassland elf was about to deliver a fatal blow, a huge totem outlined in blood flames suddenly lit up behind the rhinoceros orc.

　"Roar!"

　Accompanied by a terrifying roar, a rhinoceros-like totem beast...

　It suddenly emerged from that blood totem!

　Caught off guard, the grassland spirit was struck hard in the chest by the rhinoceros totem beast that suddenly appeared.

　The rhinoceros totem beast's horn was essentially a sharp scimitar. Had the grassland elf not reacted at the last moment and forcibly twisted its body, it would likely have been disemboweled on the spot by that scimitar-like horn!

　Even so, the grassland spirit felt a sharp pain in its chest, its internal organs were shattered, and blood flowed from its mouth.

　The appearance of the totem beast simultaneously activated the bloodline power of the rhinoceros beastman, causing him to fully awaken from his dizzy state.

　He suddenly turned around, and his eyes, which had remained calm, suddenly blazed with a blood-red rage!

　—A six-star magical spirit, the Curved Horn Totem Beast!

　The War Totem Academy incorporates totem power into the magic alchemy process, giving the final magical spirits a slight chance of containing the "Totem Beast" field.

　The "Totem Beast" created in this way can merge with the orc's totem, allowing the orc to borrow the power of the "Totem Beast" from the totem to greatly enhance themselves.

　This totem technique, which was originally not favored by orthodox mages, is surprisingly well-suited to the current new dueling rules.

　When orcs encounter danger, "totem beasts" can react passively, emerging from their totems to defend and counterattack.

　However, without the mage's personal order, the "Totem Beast's" reaction speed is not ideal.

　It was only because the grassland elf was confident of victory that he was given the opportunity to take advantage. However, thanks to the link with the "flower elf," the grassland elf's injuries were not fatal.

　This duel, based on this, has only just begun.

　……

　"what sound"

　While most of the audience cheered for the duelists' intense battle, some perceptive individuals noticed a melody playing.

　The music had no fixed melody, but it was not chaotic; it had a unique rhythm.

　It appeared suddenly when the rhinoceros orc's totem beast suddenly emerged, and gradually grew louder as the duel continued, eventually reaching the ears of ordinary people.

　On the viewing platform.

　Dark's eyes suddenly flashed golden, as he activated the "Eye of Truth" on the spot.

　In the vision of the "Eye of Truth," wisps of light indeed appeared around the dueling arena.

　The duel begins, and the "divine forces" converge.

　The spectacular performance by the rhinoceros orcs and the grassland elves successfully attracted the attention of "God's Intention".

　Upon closer inspection, he saw that the "divine causes" had suddenly transformed into colorful "musical notes," gently dancing on the staff.

　These "notes" did not manifest and were not presented to the general public.

　Dark turned his head to look at the ring-shaped area where Principal Arte and the others were.

　Sure enough, Ergane sat beside Professor Kazel. The "Divine Cause" was presented as "musical notes," allowing those who could not see the "Divine Cause" to see and hear it.

　This is also something that needs to be tested in today's exhibition match.

　To the average person, these magical "notes" are merely "background music" for the duel on the field.

　But the duelists standing in the arena will gradually learn that the "notes" are closely related to the "divine cause".

　By observing the amplitude and frequency of the "notes" and the intensity of musical changes, one can determine the amount and level of activity of the "divine cause".

　—Participating in the dueling tournament held by St. Marian Academy will allow you to clearly identify the level of activity of "Divine Cause" during the duels, which will become St. Marian Academy's signature feature and selling point.

　Next weekend, the academy will officially launch "Notes" for the official competition, bringing a stunning background music experience to the duels of the new era!

　Even setting aside these external factors, the duels between the two sides in the arena are becoming increasingly intense.

　The rhinoceros-like beastmen and the grassland elves were evenly matched.

　Both their combat strength and magical abilities are roughly equal. Under these circumstances, neither side can afford to hold back if they want to acquire anything. To break the current stalemate, they have begun summoning high-star magical spirits.

　Fighting alongside magical spirits is a test for duelists.

　This part is specifically taught in the summer camp at St. Mary's College, and most students do very well.

　But actual combat and classroom learning are two completely different things.

　Those who can personally participate in battle while simultaneously controlling magical spirits in perfect harmony with themselves must be few and far between.

　In this respect, the rhinoceros orcs clearly outperformed the grassland elves. The duel entered the middle stage.