Chapter 277: Aroma

Tiancheng Guang and the others dismounted; some recognized them, but these people paid them no mind—those with enough strength rose straight up and rushed again toward the curtain, shouting as they ran: "Please duel me once more!"

Then, with even greater speed, he was blasted out and fell with a thud to the ground.

Yet this man seemed like a pervert—he had been struck, yet wore a vacant, foolish grin, half-reclining on the ground and chuckling.

What kind of situation is this?

Before Tiancheng Guang could comprehend it, a figure emerged from behind the curtain—a slender arm, sheathed in pure white gloves like perfect jade branches, gently pushed aside the vines, then stepped forward, emerging from the vine curtain.

The pure white thigh-high gloves, the wide blue robe, and the white stockings together formed an unignorable domain of absolute purity; her face was angelic, and the slightly furrowed brows—tired of the surrounding humans' nuisance—added a touch of delicate charm, making her truly heartrending.

Serena glanced and murmured, "So beautiful."

"Wow…" Sanze Sanze Dadi instinctively gasped, his expression one of longing.

Huh—

Tiancheng Guang raised an eyebrow.

So it's…

Aroma?

Isn't this Aroma Mage—Rosemary?

"M-Miss Rosemary, let me try again—this time I'll succeed!" A boy scrambled over to her side; Rosemary swiftly raised her staff and swung it like a bowling ball, sending him flying.

Yet the student didn't mind at all—he only chuckled again.

Tiancheng Guang glanced around.

No wonder.

Looking closer, all those nearby were boys.

"Hey, you humans—really, I've told you countless times: it's just not possible!" Rosemary sighed, yet swung her staff; as she spun, the staff gradually emitted a beautiful fragrance—powdered plant particles drifted outward, clinging to people's bodies and glowing faintly, instantly erasing their injuries and restoring them to full vitality.

"In any case, those who failed today, come back tomorrow to try again—understood?"

"Understood~~~" The boys—including the lecherous math professor—raised their heads in unison.

Then Rosemary turned to Tiancheng Guang and the others, noticing their mounts.

Warriors accompanied by spirits.

Meanwhile, the students who had been pestering the spirits also noticed Tiancheng Guang and Serena.

"It's Tiancheng Guang…"

"Hmm… Tiancheng Guang?"

Though everyone knew Tiancheng Guang opposed the Fusion Department, his slogan was far too loud—and with recent events, no one could avoid whispering.

Moreover, the girl beside him? Surely she's the legendary daughter of Professor Chi Ma Professor Chi Ma Ling Wang.

"Is he some kind of celebrity among humans?" Rosemary glanced back at the crowd, then at Tiancheng Guang.

At that moment, Sanze Sanze Dadi regained his composure, no longer wearing that idiotic grin—he sized up the three of them and felt they weren't like the previous humans; his mood lifted slightly.

"Alright, as per tradition—challengers, guess my race. Only those who guess correctly may challenge the 【Twelve-Star Duel】. You have ten seconds to think."

No discussing among yourselves. When you speak, state the exact race."

Hmm.

Tiancheng Guang felt a pang of regret.

No communication allowed.

The students and professional duelists who had stayed behind watched Tiancheng Guang's group like spectators at a show, certain they'd fail.

"Mage Race!" "Mage Race!" "Plant Race!"

After Sanze Sanze Dadi and Serena spoke, they immediately turned, eyes wide, staring at Tiancheng Guang.

"Huh?"

Many students also stared at Tiancheng Guang in shock.

They'd expected to see Tiancheng Guang's group fail and be harshly punished by Rosemary—but instead, he'd answered correctly right away!

Many students here had spent days just to learn Rosemary's true race—

Who'd ever guess a cute girl wielding a magic staff was a Plant?

"Really? That impressive?" Rosemary unconsciously covered her mouth with her right index finger.

"Whenever it involves fusion, I always know."

"F-Fusion?" Rosemary looked utterly confused.

She didn't understand.

How was that connected?

While she was still puzzled, another figure stepped out from behind the curtain; Rosemary hurried forward, excitedly pointing at Tiancheng Guang: "Sister Ma Yulan, he figured it out!"

"I heard you, Rosemary," came that sacred voice again echoing through the forest.

Then, a black mage emerged from behind the curtain.

Unlike the youthful Rosemary, she was more mature, dressed in an elegant gray dress, wearing high heels adorned with black patterns, revealing rounded thighs; the top of her black staff emitted a faint golden glow.

Aroma Mage—Ma Yulan.

On her chest, the "gx" badge marked her identity—

One of the Twelve-Star Duelists, a Six-Star Duelist—Ma Yulan!

Her appearance left not only those already present but even Sanze Sanze Dadi momentarily dazed.

Though part of it was due to their innate "aroma," Tiancheng Guang still found the scene absurd.

"Greetings, human warrior," Ma Yulan said, far more composed than Rosemary, radiating a strange holiness; her voice lingered by the ear, stirring a sweet ache.

Tiancheng Guang guessed that was precisely why the boys around her were utterly infatuated.

After all, she was beautiful, her voice sweet, fragrant, and radiating unique charm.

If you didn't treat her as a spirit but as a human, she was a top-tier beauty.

"Miss Ma Yulan!!"

"I love you, Miss Ma Yulan!!"

Ma Yulan's gentle face showed a trace of exhaustion.

Even with the kindest heart, after days like this, she was growing weary.

Yet quickly, she forcibly silenced her irritation.

As a spirit cooperating with Sea Horse Corp, she received a salary from them; compared to that, this annoyance was negligible.

"Hello, Miss Ma Yulan," Tiancheng Guang pressed his dueling disk, offering a polite greeting and introducing himself: "I am Tiancheng Guang, second-year duelist of the Duel Academy Headquarters, and head of the Fusion Department!"

A human warrior completely unaffected.

Ma Yulan studied Tiancheng Guang.

As for the "Fusion Department"?

She noticed the boys around her all flinched or looked uneasy upon hearing it.

Clearly connected to the recent incident in the human world.

"Be careful, Miss Ma Yulan!"

"Miss Ma Yulan, this guy's a wicked fusionist!"

"Extremely terrifying, Miss Ma Yulan! The Fusion Army attacked X-Dimension humans—many died!"

"Using fusion now—could that mean evil intentions?!"

Serena instinctively rolled up her sleeves.

"Watch your words!" Tiancheng Guang flung his left hand; his dueling disk clicked into place perfectly: "I am a duelist pursuing fusion—the head of the Fusion Department, Tiancheng Guang. To me, fusion is fusion!"

"And the Fusion Army's actions have nothing to do with the Fusion Department—"

"Don't shift blame, and don't you dare despise or discriminate against ordinary people who use fusion!"

"Fusion is innocent!"

"If you despise or oppose others simply because they use fusion, then YOU are the true evil!"

Tiancheng Guang's reputation and the fear of fusion silenced them—they dared not rebut, only retreated step by step.

Rosemary jumped back in shock.

What? What?

People died?

His aura was terrifying.

Are they going to fight?

"Bad bad bad bad bad, Sister Ma Yulan—"

Ma Yulan spoke calmly: "Calm down, Rosemary. Through the sacred ritual of duel, warriors' hearts will meet, revealing the true answer."

As she spoke, she lightly tapped her staff; guided by golden light, it transformed like branching limbs, finally forming a wooden dueling disk wrapped around her left arm.

"Come, human warrior."

"Then, I won't hold back, Miss Ma Yulan!"

"Duel!" x2

Aroma Mage · Ma Yulan, LP: 4000.

Fusionist · Tiancheng Guang, LP: 4000.

Chapter Two, Chapter Two

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(End of this chapter)