Chapter 199: Focus Ring

On the battle platform, the two dueling were both from the Pure White Tower. The expected intense battle did not occur; the two merely tested each other with one move, and the slightly older Butler voluntarily conceded.

"Todd, winner!"

Immediately following was the final round. In this round, Xia Duo would compete with Todd for first place, while Na Wei Ke would compete with Butler for third place.

But Xia Duo was desperately trying to recall the spellcasting details of that improvised 【Circulating Missile】 from before. When Aiboke called his name, Xia Duo voluntarily conceded on the grounds that his spells were exhausted.

In reality, even if he had gone up, the result might have been the same. It was almost impossible to replicate the result of the previous round; the last match itself was a gamble, but now there was no need for that.

Second place was enough to report back, and what needed to be shown had already been shown. As for the rewards, honor and such were empty; what was valuable were the Magic Items. The top three all had them, just of different value.

But the gap between them was not large enough to make Xia Duo give up on organizing his spells to gamble again.

Xia Duo's concession seemed normal to the many Mages, but the ordinary people watching might not have agreed. Someone booed, but no one around responded, and then there was silence.

……

The final match of this Savile Territory Arcane Competition, where Na Wei Ke and Butler competed for third place, was completely different from the top two competing for first.

Third place had a Magic Item, while fourth place did not. Besides honor, more importantly, there was practical gain. Like Butler, who only tested the waters in the previous match and then voluntarily conceded—wasn't that for this very moment?

It was not that he had no possibility of defeating Todd, but he could not win quickly and might fall into a war of attrition. Once he failed in a war of attrition and lost his spellcasting ability, he would miss out on the top three.

It was better to just concede and face the weaker Na Wei Ke to secure the top three. He was not like Xia Duo, who couldn't even beat Na Wei Ke.

At this moment, the most depressed person was Na Wei Ke. If he had won the previous match, he would have been second, but he just happened to lose to a country Mage.

Now, he had to compete with Butler for third place. As both were New Mages from the Pure White Tower within the last year, how could Na Wei Ke not know Butler?

Although the two were not under the same mentor, Butler had a reputation, and Na Wei Ke felt this time would be difficult!

The result was indeed as he expected; Butler easily defeated him.

Thinking that both he and Jin Mu had lost at the hands of Xia Duo, Na Wei Ke really did not know how to face his furious mentor after returning, or how to explain why they both lost to a country Mage!

When walking down from the battle platform, Na Wei Ke could not help but look back at Xia Duo opposite him, his expression extremely resentful and complex.

However, Xia Duo had no mind to pay attention to others' gazes at this moment; he had long since taken out his notebook and was writing furiously!

Because it was in a public place, and that 【Circulating Missile】 in the shape of a Force Sphere did indeed have some merit, Xia Duo used secret script to record it for the first time.

Of course, since he had not yet begun to study more professional secret scripts, he temporarily used pinyin as a substitute, recording only the key spellcasting elements to supplement and experiment with after returning.

……

On the other side, the Arcane Competition ended, and Aiboke also returned to his seat. The subsequent award ceremony was not his turn to perform.

The Wier Lingzhu rose from his seat, and as he walked, the Rhombus Battle Platform that had previously protruded from the ground slowly descended.

"Everyone, the winners have been produced—Todd, Xia Duo, Butler. Cheer for them!"

Not a single Spellcaster moved; only the ordinary people watching cheered in waves. The Wier Lingzhu pressed his hand down, and the crowd quieted down again.

At this time, Xia Duo had already recorded the key spellcasting elements of that spell. As for a more complete version, firstly, it might not be correct, and secondly, the time and occasion did not allow it.

Hearing the Lingzhu speak, Xia Duo hurriedly put away his notebook, straightened his clothes, and sat upright. After the Lingzhu called his name, he immediately stepped out.

Afterward, the crowd's seemingly rehearsed cheering and silence did not move him in the slightest; he just stood calmly in the field, his eyes looking straight ahead peacefully.

Beside him, Todd's breathing was already a bit rapid, while Butler was smiling happily, delighted for the prize he was about to receive.

The Wier Lingzhu took out an elegantly styled, shimmering light green robe and handed it to Todd, "Mage Todd, this is a trophy left by an ancestor—the Elf Protection Robe. It fears neither blade nor sword. I hope your path of Arcane goes smoothly!"

"Thank you, Savile Mage!" Todd excitedly took the robe and draped it over himself on the spot.

At this moment, Xia Duo took a few extra looks at him. The robe was nice, but the color was a bit ominous, especially when the hood was pulled up—that feeling—

Although he did not know where his future wife was, this color must be avoided in advance.

"Xia Duo." Just from the form of address, the Lingzhu distinguished closeness. He took out a black ring inlaid with silver patterns and handed it to Xia Duo:

"This is a Focus Ring. I hope you will act with caution on your path of Arcane!"

Xia Duo's heart tightened; he knew the Lingzhu was reminding him not to rashly use spells he could not control. Mu Yan had also said similar words.

If it weren't for relying on a good body and the possibility that the Lingzhu and Aiboke might rescue him, he would not have been so reckless. Of course, Xia Duo would humbly accept the Lingzhu's reminder.

"Thank you, Lord Lingzhu."

Next was Butler's turn. His prize was also a ring, but it was a ring capable of releasing the 3rd Circle Spell 【Fireball】.

Xia Duo was a bit envious. He could not yet see the effect of the Focus Ring, but the Fireball Ring was definitely a great killer weapon; some Intermediate Mages might not even know this spell!

However, since second and third place were distinguished, it meant that in the eyes of the Lingzhu and even those Archmages, the Fireball Ring was inferior to the Focus Ring.

Thinking this way, Xia Duo felt much more balanced. Moreover, he had already touched the Second Layer of the Magic Weave; how far could he be from learning 【Fireball】!

……

After the award ceremony, the Wier Lingzhu prepared to let the three of them return. He still had an important piece of news to announce!

This was also the final highlight!

Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by the Princess's representative—Archmage Greta, "Savile Lingzhu, wait a moment, I have something else to announce."

As she spoke, Archmage Greta rose from her seat and came into the field.

Xia Duo watched the approaching Archmage. To say he wasn't nervous would be impossible. The matter the Archmage was announcing should be related to the three winners of the Arcane Competition; otherwise, there would be no need to keep them.

An Archmage's recruitment? Xia Duo did not think his little tricks could really catch an Archmage's eye, but as a person, one must always have some ideals.

Although he knew the possibility of recruitment was slim, he still could not help but start to fantasize.

If Archmage Greta recruited him, would that mean he was clinging to the Princess? It was said the Princess was a Great Arcanist. If he could really cling to a Great Arcanist, that would be simply too wonderful!