Chapter 275: Probe

Luo De couldn't care less.

He chuckled, then turned back to the five Bahadur students ahead.

"Tell me, what did you do?"

"Dog-people?"

The five glanced at Sharon and exchanged looks.

"I want the tail—I've learned a follicle-stimulating array that requires dog-people tails," Andru led off, claiming his share.

Wilson wasn't as eager as him.

He tapped his glasses and looked toward the three junior girls behind.

The three juniors nodded politely, smiling humbly.

"You two seniors take first pick—we'll settle for whatever you leave behind. The arachnid elf is the same. But if possible, could you each spare us one limb? Our teacher's been searching for materials like these."

Wilson smiled.

"Understood. So you're hoping to make your final exam easier. But I still have to warn you: solidify your foundations first. Otherwise, like me and Andru—we're seventh-rank and still haven't finished our graduation projects."

The three juniors laughed softly.

Laughter and chatter filled the air.

It was clear: their gazes toward Sharon and Una differed entirely from those toward Luo De.

【Arrogance +18】

"Are all these people at this academy like this?"

Luo De slowly drew forth 【Sword of Devotion】.

Sharon's face was cold: "Always like this. I don't know how I made it to third year studying here."

"Then it's no surprise your dropout reason, like Dimea's, has something to do with them."

In the past, Luo De would never have pried into such matters.

But we've already fought together for five straight hours—we've seen each other's true strength. A few extra questions are natural.

"It wasn't because of them. Dimea, Daphne, and I enrolled together."

"You?"

Wilson suddenly spoke up.

Luo De thought he recognized Sharon—but then he saw Wilson's furrowed brow fixed on him.

He froze.

"Do we know each other?"

"Five months ago, in the open-air labyrinth of Blazing City. Hmph. You didn't see us—but we saw you."

Wilson sneered.

Bald Andru now stared at Luo De in surprise: "You killed Bert with one sword strike?"

They'd escaped in time back then, narrowly avoiding death.

Later, they learned everyone else present had been wiped out—even their corpses blown to dust by Blazing City's eighth-rank legendary mage. They'd been relieved.

But now it was different.

Both had advanced to seventh rank, while this man before them was merely at peak sixth.

Peak sixth?

Five months ago he was just low sixth—now peak sixth? Is that even possible??

They'd spent five full months to climb from peak sixth to seventh!

Wilson shook his head.

Even if I couldn't block that sword strike, I'm a mage—not a spiritual warrior. Why would I take it head-on?

And after he swung, he immediately collapsed. I could've crushed him then, couldn't I?

Only that arrogant fool Bert would've dared to stand his ground.

"Andru, hold that seventh-rank dog-people girl. I'll take out the spiritual warrior first, then come back to help you. Three juniors, please handle the arachnid elf—she's weak."

As he spoke, the glasses-wearing man's voice softened.

Luo De smiled.

He turned to Sharon beside him: "See? They've already assigned our roles."

Then he glanced at the adorable arachnid elf.

His voice dropped, low and gentle.

"Don't be afraid. Come to me—I'll protect you."

Una remained wary, not stepping forward.

"Did I die? You're hitting on another girl right in front of me?"

Sharon spoke bluntly, her expression dark.

Luo De spread his hands: "I'm giving you a buff."

【Painful Whipping】 cracked across the dog-people girl's buttocks.

【When used on allies, inflict moderate pain to gain temporary boosts: Physical strength +30%, Spiritual or magical strength and efficiency each +20%】

"Eh! What are you—"

Her complaint died mid-sentence as she stared in shock at her own body.

"Such an efficient spell? Where did you get this?"

Meanwhile, Wilson struck first.

A rapid incantation poured from his lips.

Threads of magic twisted forward, coalescing into a 【Strong Acid Orb】.

Luo De slashed with his longsword, cleanly splitting it in two.

The split orb suddenly exploded, spewing another thread of magic that rapidly formed an iron wall between him and Sharon.

Clearly meant to separate the spiritual warrior from the mage—their ideal combo.

"Dual-magic coordination. Old trick."

Luo De trusted Sharon completely—he didn't smash through the iron wall.

He didn't even move a step.

He simply wanted to see how strong this Bahadur seventh-ranker truly was.

Wilson snorted—he'd clearly never met a sixth-ranker as arrogant as this one.

He made no further hesitation; magic flared along his staff.

His lips moved in a rapid stream of incantations.

【Anti-Biological Field】 was essential—a highly effective barrier against melee warriors.

Bahadur had an entire class dedicated to this spell's battlefield tactics and enemy countermeasures.

Then came 【Acid Mist】.

Spiritual warriors had far higher physical defense and resistance than mages. High-intensity spells worked well—but in solo combat, casting time was critical; long incantations created openings.

At this moment, short-cast DoT spells were ideal.

Green acidic mist poured over Luo De like a flood.

It hissed and sizzled as it reacted with the bones and blood on the ground.

Wilson immediately began chanting his next spell.

But he noticed Luo De inside the mist showed no reaction—instead, he inhaled deeply, as if smoking, letting the acid fog pass through his lungs, face relaxed with pleasure.

Wilson frowned.

"Such high resistance? Magic gear?"

He swiftly changed tactics.

He hurled a 【Disintegrate Spell】.

Simultaneously, he pulled an amber from his spell satchel.

He crushed it with a gesture.

A flash of magic—and a towering, fully armored Dread Warrior materialized, crashing onto the bone-strewn ground with a thud, denting it slightly.

【Disintegrate Spell】 was a troublesome spell—it affected living beings, objects, and magical fields alike, dealing field damage with area effect.

Luo De wasn't afraid—he was worried about his gear.

He activated his long-unused 【Invisible Grace Seal】.

A spherical spiritual field formed briefly—then shattered under the disintegration, exploding outward and scattering the acid mist.

The direct impact of 【Disintegrate Spell】 on his body had already weakened drastically.

Just a faint tingling—no effect at all.

"Hmm. Spell power's weak."

Luo De's expression turned odd.

He'd overestimated him—there was a big gap compared to Amel.

He could've shrugged it off even without 【Invisible Grace Seal】.

His gear had been enhanced by 【Spiritual Growth】—it wasn't that easily destroyed.

His shirt, however, had been reduced to dust by the disintegration.

Revealing his well-built, harmonious muscles.

Meanwhile, Wilson with the glasses had now confirmed that he was wearing quite impressive resistance gear.

He continued casting, unleashing a Ray of Decay and a Sword of Darkness upon the Fearshuddering Warrior ahead.

(End of Chapter)