Chapter 29: Long Live the Senior! The Senior is Epic—!

The first one is her!

She really went alone to apply for the team test?

Don't think you can pass just by relying on that mutated cat, okay?

She's been on a rampage lately. She doesn't come to school, has some fan club now, and is feeling proud.

When Witch Miss left her seat and walked toward the reporting point of the battle arena, some timid whispers turned into loud chatter.

Coincidentally, those chattering voices were caught by the junior sitting nearby, immersed in "the senior's walking silhouette is so dashing."

Unlike her lively and cute demeanor when facing Witch Miss, the moment she heard those words she raised an eyebrow, crossed her legs, lifted her chin, cleared her throat, and addressed the group seated in front of her,

Ah~

Let me see, who are the ones who only dare speak loudly after Bai Yan leaves?

A tall, sarcastic voice instantly silenced the chatter in the front row, and when they turned around, they saw the junior's contemptuous face mocking,

Oh? As I was saying, the one who could do such a thing is the self‑proclaimed top of the grade, the Magic Class's class beauty, Gong Xianjing.

As a die‑hard fan of Witch Miss, she fell for her number‑one fangirl the moment she saw the photos and videos; the junior that night thoroughly investigated the second and third year affairs.

Whether it was Witch Miss's personal school information, her classmates' details, or the rumors circulating outside the class.

In her view, someone like the senior—good‑looking, aloof, silent, top‑scoring, and exceptionally talented—is far too easy for these self‑proclaimed 'number one' girls to lead in ostracizing.

Seeing the slanders spread by rumor after rumor, the junior was genuinely angry.

Why, when they trash the senior as useless, don't they think about who actually leads every exam by a wide margin, occupying the top spot of the grade?

This school is, after all, a top city school, and the annual major exam uses a unified Eastern Alliance paper; where the senior's near‑perfect scores aren't worshipped is impossible!

Do they even understand the weight of high‑school written exams!

Is it that they truly don't understand, or are they selectively ignoring?

When university comes and everyone jumps straight into leveling and cultivation, where do they find idle time to leisurely study basic knowledge?

Isn't that just waiting to be out‑competed to the bottom?

Oh, perhaps they never even aimed for the top institutions.

Tsk.

The junior squinted at the group of girls glaring at her, feeling another wave of criticism inside.

Fortunately, their jealous snide remarks, even fueling class‑wide bullying, didn't harm the aloof senior in the slightest; the senior remains cool, living life her own way.

Ah~ truly worthy of the senior~ really so cool!

❀(*^▽^*)

All this time it was her rebellion, and indeed there are people like father and grandfather described—unyielding, low‑key, diligent, with exceptional talent and strength!

\（￣︶￣）/

Moreover, when she could no longer tolerate it and bluntly said 'I hate it' in the auditorium, it was so cool!

(≧∇≦)ﾉ！

"What does it mean to claim oneself the top of the grade? Gong Xianjing in our class is undeniably the number one!

She's the best at magic control in the class, and even has a rare wind spirit as a familiar!"

Listening to her followers defend her, Gong Xianjing proudly spread her lips,

"My 'first' isn't self‑appointed; it's unanimously recognized.

Besides, Bai Yan's reckless act also tarnishes our class's reputation, doesn't it?

From now on, whenever there's a test, won't other classes mention that a student from our Magic Class, ignorant and solo‑registered for the test, got a good scolding?

You're not from our class, what right do you have to interject? Are you defending Bai Yan, who makes us look down in other classes?"

When Gong Xianjing opened her mouth, she defended herself while raising the issue to the honor and disgrace of the class.

Mages in the nearby lineup, hearing Gong Xianjing's words, couldn't help but frown in displeasure.

Within the grade now, as the practical tests begin, everyone is privately debating the so‑called 'strongest profession.'

If, because of Bai Yan, they fall behind in this verbal‑and‑keyboard battle and the mages lose the high ground they had captured…

The surrounding gazes and Gong Xianjing's half‑hearted rhetoric taught the junior a lesson.

She let out a slight sigh,

Sigh.

Then, imitating Witch Miss's cold, unflinching voice from the auditorium last time, she said,

"Honestly, I've tolerated you for a long time."

"May I ask, self‑proclaimed top Gong Xianjing, when have you ever ranked first in an exam?"

"If I recall correctly, since you all entered, the student who topped the school's exam scores has always been called Bai Yan, right? Did you change your surname to Bai?"

"And you probably don't know, senior, that universities, while valuing practical ability, also place great importance on regular test scores for long‑term cultivation."

"Practical combat is indeed important,"

"First, decision‑makers fear that written exams may bury geniuses who aren't good at studying, so they encourage well‑rounded development;"

"Second, to discover true talents—those who, even at low levels, can unleash overwhelming combat power, perfect for dungeon exploration."

"Senior, do you consider yourself such a talent?"

"Tell me, before graduation, what's the highest level you can reach? Can you enter a real dungeon before finishing high school?"

The junior's barrage of high‑level intel and sarcasm left most classmates stunned on the spot.

But it's not over yet.

To avenge Senior Bai Yan, the junior had been waiting for this day for a long time.

"Besides, your practical magic performance in class is outstanding,"

"Then, Gong Xianjing, if you're so great, why don't you join a Solo Party for a solo duel test?"

"Why? Aren't you the top student of the Magic Class?"

"It can't be because of insufficient strength, can it?"

"Oh~ No wonder—searching everywhere for lists of students from various classes who have good talent, strong power, and top rankings, it turns out you're just afraid of being the laggard and needing someone to carry you."

The junior's mocking and contempt made Gong Xianjing recall the humiliation she suffered from Bai Yan's indifference that day in the auditorium.

"You... are you just twisting arguments?!"

In the end, as a low‑level mage, Bai Yan could never have passed the test alone!

"Tsk, a frog at the bottom of a well."

Bai Yan's indifference toward you never even regarded you as a little cabbage.

A breeze fairy, can that even count as wind? Even in summer it's not enough to cool you down.

Having gotten used to small places, go see more of the world; even in this school there are far too many people who are stronger and more talented than you.

At best, you're just a bottle that's not even half‑shaken.

After the mockery, the junior suddenly glanced toward the battle arena.

She inhaled a breath of cold air, then hurried to stand, frantically grabbed her backpack, and muttered,

"Ah! This spot isn't the best viewing point! I need to move up a few rows!"

She spat out, twisted her head and left, not even giving Gong Xianjing a glance—just like Witch Miss, she was exactly the same.

This reenactment hurt Gong Xianjing even more.

In her heart, the hatred toward Witch Miss and the so‑called fan‑junior of the support group rose to an unprecedented height.

Bai Yan, just wait to pay the price for your arrogance.

I'll see how you can pass this test alone! Just because you're the laggard!

Unaware that when she left, Witch Miss, who had already finished reporting the commotion on the spectator seats, was still being repeatedly questioned by Teacher Liu Ge, one of the judges, and after she still indicated 'just stay dumb', she entered the arena and began the pre‑test preparation stage.

Unlike Cat, who constantly has the eavesdropping skill equipped, Witch Miss's yet‑undeveloped five senses have spared her from many tricks while allowing her to stay focused on her own matters.

As she walked, she said to Cat,

"Cat, could you stand on my shoulder later?"

"Meow~"

No problem~ (o´ω`o)و

As a pendant cat, sticking to your shoulder is something they are professional at.

Guaranteed to be better than both brothers, and as sticky as 502.

But Witch Miss couldn't hear Cat's guarantee; seeing Cat squint contentedly yet not seriously, she asked doubtfully,

"You can stay up there, right, Cat?"

"You won't suddenly lose balance and stretch out a paw to scratch me a few times, will you?"

…...?

And there's this way of taking revenge on you?

Witch Miss's words instantly opened Cat's train of thought.

With his head down, looking at his claws, which had become exceptionally sharp from practicing the Scattered Soul Iron Claw, Cat had many bold ideas.

Raising a cat, with hardly any scars on the body, how could one have the nerve to say they have a cat at home?

While Cat gave a mischievous grin, Witch Miss began worrying about another issue.

Although, in Cat's view, this problem was still somewhat odd.

"Hey... speaking of that, I need to double‑check my hat."

She raised her hand, feeling to confirm that the safety pin in her hat was firmly fixed and wouldn't let the hat fall off during movement, then Witch Miss nodded in satisfaction.

"Hmm... that should be fine now."

(o´ω`o)و

"..."

"What are you worrying about, hey!"

Just last night you were scared of this and that, looking dazed and unable to sleep, so why are you now worrying about strange things!

"Sigh, when will you learn a water mirror, Cat?"

"So you can use it to look at yourself, right? (#`O′)!"

Every sentence from Witch Miss seemed to dance on Cat's neural pathways.

He thinks that when his brain circuitry can sync with Witch Miss, he must be seriously ill.

"Are you naturally clueless, really?"

Competition constitution? When the time comes to actually go on, you're not nervous?

But Cat had underestimated Witch Miss's ability to shift emotions; she changed from her previous lightness and frivolity, and in a deep voice said seriously to Cat,

"But, Cat."

"You must pass today's test with style."

Cat: 'Stylish', the point of that sentence is stylish, I got it. Don't worry, when I'm hanging on your shoulder I'll watch your image for you.

But, contrary to Cat's expectation, it was Witch Miss's second half of the sentence.

"I just saw Gong Xianjing on the spectator seats."

"She seemed to be arguing with the junior."

Witch Miss no longer spoke with the rapid tone she had earlier; now she paused before each sentence, clearly sorting her emotions and her thoughts.

"How should I put it... after returning victorious, I want to strike in front of her a villain‑like 'oh ho ho ho ho~' pose that mocks others."

"Or, to say it plainly, hey, even I, a useless person, can solo the test; so why can Lady Gong Xianjing, the class's top, definitely do it too?"

Your breakthrough is a little too fast, isn't it?

Listening to Witch Miss's lofty goals after passing the test, Cat couldn't help but wipe a bead of sweat.

Just a few weeks ago, she was that socially awkward, shy girl who even stumbled when talking to herself!

Heavens! What have you done to this child!

"No, no, no, I really have to hold back, or else my persona might fall apart."

"Hmm... I need to think carefully about what I should do then."

Cat, upon hearing this, gave up completely.

Even a carefree person can have a tiring day.

His own daughter's rapid growth far surpasses his ability to cope; it's his fault as an old father for being incompetent.

(*ΦωΦ*) Right now I'm just a little cat that doesn't understand anything and knows nothing.

"Cat! Don't stare at me like that, help me think together!"

(*ΦωΦ*)

In response to Witch Miss, Cat still gave her indifferent vertical pupils and a cold expression.

But…

"Aha, that expression is great, Cat! After we win, I'll look at her like that!"

(╯°Д°)╯︵ Be a bit normal, my dear big kid!

As Cat and Witch Miss interacted warmly and amicably, Witch Miss's stern mood suddenly relaxed.

Standing in the center of the arena, looking around at the teachers and classmates, she couldn't help but sigh,

"Cat, a few weeks ago, this was a scene I never dared to imagine."

"I'll work hard, watch my performance."

This is a test! Sis!

Performance?! What performance?

It's the opening performance of a great witch's awakening path, right!

Before Cat could snap and slap Witch Miss's face in frustration, the supervising teacher picked up the microphone and said solemnly,

"Contestants, please take your positions within the white circle on the field."

"Combat Dummy, take position."

"Space Seal, take position."

After the three commands, a transparent shield sealed the air above Witch Miss's battle arena.

By Cat's estimate, the height from the ground to the ceiling was about twenty meters, likely for anti‑air considerations.

After all, it's called a "Dungeon," so there shouldn't be much space for flight.

"Due to a student council application, today's and tomorrow's tests will be hosted by members of the Broadcasting Club."

After speaking, the supervising teacher handed the mic to a lively‑looking male classmate with dyed hair sitting nearby.

"Hey hey, hello everyone~ I'm Wang Yongli from Physics Class 3. Unlike the rare magic awakeners, there are way too many of us in the physics department."

But my basic magic course exam was an 89, a barely passing A~ So explaining shouldn't be a big problem."

"The first test will be conducted by Magic Class student Bai Yan, forming a solo team."

"No wonder the top student who constantly ranks first in the grade is so confident!"

After introducing himself and the witch for the first test, Wang Yongli announced the start of the test,

"Test countdown."

"Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one"

"Begin."

At the host's command, the joints of the combat dummy at the edge of the arena lit up instantly, and, according to its enhanced traits, it advanced toward Witch Miss in an orderly, swift attack.

Confirmed.

After several days of Cat's intensive training, Witch Miss now possesses a complete battle strategy system.

"Four agility boosts, three strength boosts, three durability boosts, and one... magic boost."

"All are level 3, yet the lowest HP still has 1,700 points?!"

"The durability‑enhanced dummy actually has higher HP than me, a full 6,000 points..."

"Clearly it's a dummy, not a meatball.

Ah, meatball, Cat's meatball."

"Ahem. Sensory‑wise it's far weaker than that weird creature called Pikachu, and it doesn't even have a creepy oppressive feeling."

In reality, Witch Miss's first reaction was that the pressure from these dummies standing together was less than 1%.

"Test begins, the attribute‑enhanced dummies are already advancing toward Bai Yan, but our Bai Yan hasn't taken any action.

What kind of tactical arrangement does she have?!"

The host's words instantly sparked discussion among the onlookers.

"No movement...?"

"Why not act, nor cast any spells?"

"Gave up?"

"No way, even a struggle must be a struggle."

"She cast a spell, some scattered... sparks fell around her."

As the host finished speaking, some white spherical bamboo‑drone‑like things with flaming clusters landed around Witch Miss.

The Cat, custom‑made for Witch Miss, is a bouncing bomb that comes in two versions: one that hops and one that explodes outright.

As a witch who always plans to save MP above all, Witch Miss naturally chose the castrated version.

For her, a trap bomb is already sufficient.

Just as Witch Miss finished preparing, four agility‑enhanced dummies rushed to Bai Yan's side, surrounding her from all directions; at the same time their arms emitted white light, charging a hand‑slash aimed straight at Witch Miss's chest, then accelerated toward her.

Charging… three seconds, plenty of time.

Watching the dummies leap over the bomb, sparks already crackling around them, Witch Miss released the Azure Thunder from her hand.

Boom.

With a thunderous roar, the four dummies were instantly blown into the air.

Everyone's eyes widened, staring blankly as the four dummies fell in free fall.

What… is that?

Sparks littering the ground, sudden spreading lightning… an explosion…?

"This! This! Truly shocking! Bai Yan classmate's hand rose and blade fell… hand rose, spell fell, using an astonishing method to easily blast the frontmost dummy into the air!"

"Oh my! What a powerful magic! You Magic Class, do you practice this every day?!"

The mastermind behind all this was also a little stunned.

What… is this?

When it exploded on Pikachu, it wasn't like this!

This force, when it blows them up, at most just makes them bounce on the ground, sometimes even fails.

She… only wanted to use this skill for a control…??

Can such a small amount of MP achieve something so great?

【You dealt massive magical damage to "Combat Dummy·Agility Enhancement 1"】

【HP‑500】

【You dealt … to "Combat Dummy·Agility Enhancement 2"】

【HP‑510】

No, that just reduced 500 HP?

Did she really not misread?

It wasn't 5 HP? Or maybe a 0.05 critical?

And moreover…

Why do they still have a lightning‑attachment effect, and why does the ground keep sparking?

When hitting Pikachu… wait, Pikachu…

Pikachu seems to be a lightning type!!!!

Because Pikachu is lightning‑type, does that mean there's no lightning‑attachment effect?!

That red… big guy called Gyarados, made of earth + fire elements, so also no lightning‑attachment effect?!

(ΩДΩ)!!!!!!

In an instant, with four "bang‑bang" thuds hitting the ground, the strings in Witch Miss's mind snapped.

The plan… fell apart.

"Whoa! One wave unsettled, another rose; our dummies persisted, bypassed their wounded fallen comrades, and moved to encircle classmate Bai Yan!"

"Hmm? Classmate Bai Yan doesn't seem ready to dodge; she's still standing in place.

She's just a mage—what is she preparing? Could she be raising her staff to duel these dummies to the death?!"

If possible, I'd like that too!

The venue isn't sound‑proof; the host's words were heard by Bai Yan word for word.

She sighed, and according to the plan,

Shan Ze Lin's trace.

Accompanied by a burst of ice, Witch Miss vanished from her spot; the four power‑enhanced dummies' attacks missed, colliding with a pristine ice flower that had fallen to the ground.

While they were being frost‑bitten by the ice attached to the ground, Witch Miss, now far away, continued casting quickly—Water Impermanence Form.

Critical 【HP‑100】

Freeze, Ice‑break 【HP‑200】

Why can her water magic pierce the ice layer!!

Have I already become this strong?!

Boom!

As Witch Miss was indulging in self‑admiration, a fierce flame swept straight past her ear.

The ultra‑fast flame impact caught Witch Miss, who maintains the "I am a law‑abiding mage" setting, off guard, singeing a lock of hair.

She reached out, attached water magic, and cut off the singed hair, then looked toward the direction of the spell's release.

It was fire‑type magic cast by a magical dummy standing safely behind.

At that moment, seeing the first spell miss, it waved its hands again, a red magic circle forming with sparks, a crimson sigil gradually coalescing before it.

The same spell again…?

Moreover, the casting has latency; once released, the path can't be altered.

Witch Miss, who had been teased by the Cat, silently despised the spell's lack of intelligence, then, referencing the direction of the earlier misfired fire pillar, began running across the arena.

"Oh! Classmate Bai Yan is running!

This is her first time moving so quickly on her own legs inside the arena!

By the way, what was that just now? Everything's developing so fast, I don't even know where to interject."

After the ice‑attribute spell was released, there was a single segment, but it was immediately followed by a water‑attribute spell, which froze the dummy again?

And… I don't know if anyone has noticed! Bai Yan's casting is always done without chanting incantations!

Silent casting? Or instant‑cast magic?!

So our Physics class really doesn't know a lot of things, huh!

While Witch Miss was moving, a dummy behind her once again quickly constructed a spell; flames surged forward from behind, and the oncoming target was not Witch Miss but the power‑enhanced dummy that had just been frozen by Witch Miss.

These dummies, already imbued with ice magic, suffered double damage to body and mind when hit by their own allies' fire attacks.

"My god! What did I see!

Bai Yan, through her precise positioning, redirected the dummy's released fire magic onto its companion!"

"If the dummy had consciousness, it would surely have entered a rage state by now!"

【HP‑100】

Doubled, and it's only 100?

Witch Miss looked at the damage, and her eyebrows involuntarily knit.

She…?

This damage…?

"Oh! Bai Yan showed a serious expression, perhaps because the dummy's continuous attacks made her feel pressure!"

"Because of the earlier Fireball, the dummy, though wounded, was also released from the frozen state.

Now, due to contemplation, Bai Yan missed the optimal dodge timing, and she has been surrounded by dummies!"

How should the surrounded Bai Yan break the deadlock?

Or perhaps her test ends here?"

"Hmm…? Why is Bai Yan still standing still? Is it because she feels the massive pressure from the dummy encirclement?"

"…"

Pressure? There is none, classmate.

Actually… seems there is indeed some pressure.

It's just that I don't know what action to take.

All along, Witch Miss set her own goals as steady positioning, low damage, gradual grinding; the result…???

When an unexpected error occurs in an already running program, it simply ceases to operate.

At this moment, the melee dummies' joints again emitted the glow of skill charging, and the mage dummy behind them once more began to charge a spell.

At this point, Witch Miss stopped thinking and turned to look around.

She glanced at those dummies whose movements seemed extraordinarily slow to her, as if in frame‑by‑frame slow motion;

She looked at the host seated on the podium with a shocked face, and the teacher beside him who showed relief, surprise, and disbelief;

She looked at the junior sister sitting in the spectator seats, whose presence was so conspicuous that a single glance could spot her;

She looked at Gong Xianjing sitting below, eyes blazing with resentment and anger, along with her little sidekicks… her own classmates.

Having taken in everything, Witch Miss inhaled deeply, suppressing the sudden surge of mixed emotions deep in her heart.

"Huh…"

What.

So I can already become the so‑called focal point.

So I can already fight with style.

So I already have the so‑called strength.

So I'm already ahead of everyone!

Then… then…

I'm going up!

"Oh, after Bai Yan dodged and pulled away from the agile‑enhanced dummy's attack, she suddenly stopped! What will she do?"

Amid everyone's astonishment, Witch Miss had figured out the final plan to end this test.

She decided to use her two most mastered skills to comprehend this battle.

To put a period on her past, and to add an exclamation mark to her future!

Release bubbles at all targets!

A blue Magic Circle, accompanied by thick mist, coalesced between the staff she wielded.

She no longer conserved mana, nor followed the so‑called plan; strings of transparent bubbles formed in the air, and as the staff swung down, they shot toward the approaching dummy like arrows released from a bow.

Pop, pop.

It was clearly just bubbles striking the dummy, but as the dummy stepped back in staggered steps, and sudden grooves appeared on its body, one couldn't help but suspect this was sand and gravel formed by some earth‑attribute magic.

Wow.

The water light vanished, replaced by a burning Fireball.

The first spell she ever successfully cast was a small Fireball.

Now, after Cat's refinement and the system's assistance, she fears she will never use the small Fireball again.

When the target is imbued with water magic, attacking with fire magic can trigger two amplification reactions.

A total of three times damage, enough to take out these dummies!

One shot, two shots, three shots; each precise hit of a Fireball will cause a dummy to collapse to the ground, breaking into pieces.

Finally, after releasing the Mountain‑Lake Unicorn Trace three times in succession, she surged forward at lightning speed toward the dummy that had been quietly casting spells, raised her staff, and Witch Miss Mimic Pikachu's steel tail, simply gathering a bit of rock‑attribute magic power onto the staff.

Bang!

As the staff swung down precisely from top to bottom, the final dummy also crashed down with a boom.

Toot—

The sound of the test ending rang out.

Everyone present was stunned.

One second, two seconds, three seconds……

「Senior! Senior, long live! Senior, awesome——! 」

As the junior girl suddenly stood up and shouted, the students below couldn't help but cheer and clap.

「My goodness! What did I just see！

Bai Yan didn't get into a predicament; instead, in under a minute, she consecutively used magic to instantly kill all the dummies! Even the final strike, she used the classic Staff Hammer Technique!!!

「Is this the strength of the Magic Class!

She did it so easily, so gracefully, as if taking a leisurely stroll and doing a warm-up exercise, she completed this test, touted as an ultra-high difficulty set by the Teaching Group!!! 」

Along with the host's shout, Bai Yan gave a smirk to the flushed-cheered junior girl on the spectator stand, and then she left noisily.

Exactly.

That's how it is.

The elegant, solo, perfect passing of the test left everyone in awe and cheering.

This is the beginning of the great witch Bai Yan's path of awakening!

(◍´꒳`◍)

「Meow! 」

Hey, do you know you just blurted out your inner thoughts?

You should be glad, because aside from me recording it, nobody else heard it!

Although it's just complaining, at this moment Cat, perched on Witch Miss's shoulder, also proudly raised his head, sharing in the honor.

That proud little expression, as he faced every person around who gazed at Witch Miss with envy and longing, he said:

See? This is my girl! I raised her! Awesome, right!

「Cat, what have you been calling out since just now? 」

「Hehe, are you celebrating because you know I passed the test? 」

「」

Oh no, I accidentally blurted out my inner thoughts.

Good thing I'm just a cat.

Good thing Witch Miss doesn't understand.

(=ﾟωﾟ)