After the final day off, the training combat match began. I woke up 15 minutes later than usual, my body still heavy from the cold after walking in the rain yesterday. Despite taking medicine, fatigue clung to every muscle fiber. Van Phong's lightweight armor was worn carefully under the red-black uniform of Eternal Magic Academy. I prepared my electric motorbike—at 17 years old, I shouldn't trouble my parents.
Battlefield Equipment: Van Phong sent something to my parents' house called "smoke bombs." I read the attached note: "When needing to hide, gently press switch 1. NH4Cl smoke will create a 3-meter gas zone for 3 seconds." I smiled, remembering my favorite experiment: mixing HCl and NH3 to create smoke. But Van Phong had upgraded it to high-pressure gas with a compressed switch—when opened, the two gases mixed. Finally, I received three smoke bombs.
Carrying three smoke bombs, the upgraded shoes and dagger, I brought my essentials to the vehicle. The sky was overcast, no sunlight, quite pleasant. Today's arena was randomly a riverbank, but the terrain was poor: only 5km wide, created by Rock System teachers in the middle of the river, with deep river water below. While walking and analyzing, I realized: on this rocky hill terrain, if I only encountered opponents with not overly strong magic and no special abilities, I could easily achieve victory.
Cloudy Grandstand and the First Match: Arriving at the arena, I sat on the sky grandstand created from wind by the teachers. First match: Shi Jianguo ( - Rock System) versus Yun Xidu ( - Wind System).
Match Progression:
Shi Jianguo's Attack: He poured all his strength, channeling magic into his hand to create a rock fist attached to his arm. Spinning in a circle like throwing a ball far, simultaneously summoning a series of flying rocks toward Yun Xidu. If this hit directly, it would shatter flesh and bones, rupturing internal organs.
Yun Xidu's Reaction: She remained motionless until the rocks were less than 3 meters away. She unleashed a small wind creating blinding dust, covering the entire grandstand. Tactic: Controlling the dust to fly straight into Shi Jianguo's face to disorient him.
Shi Jianguo's Mistake: He created stone goggles against dust. Consequence: Blinding himself (goggles only covered eyes, not dust flying into his face), while making his hands heavy with soil and rocks.
Yun Xidu's Preparation for the Decisive Blow: Leaping into the air, using 300 wind cuts to erode the sharpest mountain peak. The peak created by a High-Level Rock System teacher was extremely hard. The sound of cracking rock echoed through the grandstand.
Executing the Attack: Turning off the whirlwind, the arena cleared, dust gradually dispersed. Using wind force to lift the already severed mountain peak high. Shi Jianguo heard the cracking sound, immediately deploying a bunker—a dome-shaped structure of earth and rock protecting his entire body. He told himself: "How can Wind System attacks break through Rock System defenses?"
Outcome: Yun Xidu used wind force to push the mountain peak fragment under the effect of gravity. Physics principle: Wind thrust + gravity = enormous collision energy. Level difference: Mountain peak created by High-Level Rock System vs. Elementary-Level Rock System defense. Result: The bunker shattered like paper. BOOM! The rock crushed Shi Jianguo. Fortunately: Teachers cast protection spells, he only lost consciousness, broke bones, and received a cut from the sharp peak. Still alive.
My Analysis: I sat there, feeling the chill from old wounds. This match wasn't a victory of elemental power, but of:
Intelligence: Yun Xidu exploited her opponent's psychology—when he was confident in his defense, she attacked his psychological weak point. Environmental Advantage: Turning dust into a weapon, the mountain peak into a fatal blow. Physics Knowledge: Perfectly applying momentum and gravity principles.
The Wind System girl had proven: "The weaker can win if they understand themselves and their opponent thoroughly."
I tightened the smoke bomb in my hand. Perhaps I too needed to find such a way—not confronting directly, but using intelligence and tools to survive. Yun Xidu's eyes when victorious swept across the grandstand, pausing briefly where I sat. A slight nod, as if acknowledging silent empathy.