"Level 5?" Even Elena, who had seen a lot, couldn't help looking shocked when she heard that.
"Yeah." The man in black nodded, his tone a bit mocking. "So, Victor choosing to fight all three of them is just plain stupid."
"Victor, you're strong." Berg twisted his sore right hand, sounding a little impressed.
"Right. Living in a backwater like this and still mastering such a high-level skill," Dean added.
"Give up now. The Awakener exam is coming soon. We don't want you getting hurt," Newman said with a smile.
The meaning from the three of them was clear: Victor wasn't their match. He should surrender early.
"Enough talking. Let's fight." Victor drew his longsword, short and to the point.
This was their own turf. How could he surrender?
If he really gave up, Dungeon 934 would become a joke across the Federation.
"Frostshatter Sky-Cleaving Slash!" Victor swung his sword, and a freezing arc slashed toward the three.
The three looked at each other and at once called up a rushing gale together.
The wind swirled around them, then slowly took shape and turned into a wall of wind.
Victor's Frostshatter Sky-Cleaving Slash hit the wind wall, and you could clearly see it turn chaotic.
Dean and the others grew a bit pale. They glanced at each other and pushed more power into the wind wall.
In the end, the wall still couldn't withstand the endless strikes of the frost blade and shattered with a bang.
But the frost blade had been worn down by the wall again and again, and there was little left of it.
When it hit the three, they felt almost no pain, yet their faces were still grim.
They hadn't taken damage, but in this clash, the three of them lost.
The wind wall they built together still couldn't hold off Xiao Yi's attack.
For the three, this was a huge humiliation.
"Dean, should we use that move?" Newman asked Dean at his side.
"That's the one we planned to show in the school arena match. You want to reveal it now, in front of all these people?" Berg asked.
Dean gritted his teeth, as if making up his mind.
After a moment, he said in a low voice, "The guy across from us is strong. If we want to win, this is the only way."
"Alright." Since Dean had spoken, Berg had nothing more to say.
At the same time, he cast Victor a pitying look.
He knew how strong that move was, and he was sure Victor couldn't possibly withstand it.
He might even end up badly hurt and in the hospital; if he was unlucky, he could miss this year's Awakener exam.
But there was no helping it. They were enemies, so mercy wasn't on the table.
The three shared a knowing look, then all launched their signature skills at the same time.
Standing at a distance, Barnes watched them cast and suddenly understood. He muttered, "To deal with a Primary Knight, they're really going to use that skill?"
At that thought, Barnes couldn't help glancing at Victor again.
Facing Victor, he couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for such talent.
After all, Victor's earlier performance was almost perfect. He fought one against three and even held his ground for a while.
But sadly, Arctic Wind Academy has its rules. They never admit students who don't have wind skills.
Otherwise, Barnes really would have signed an admission form for Victor on the spot.
"What does this mean?" Victor looked at the three casting at once and felt puzzled.
Dean used a Level 3 skill called "Phantom Storm."
Berg used a Level 3 skill called "Gale Blade."
Newman also used a Level 3 skill, called "Stormstrike."
Each of the three skills had its own traits, but casting them at the same time was definitely not a sound tactic.
For a moment, Victor couldn't figure out what the three were trying to do.
"Victor, let me make your loss clear." Lifted into the air by a tornado, Dean looked down at him and said coldly, "This is our three-man combo skill!"
At the same time, the wind blades Berg released began to cling to the tornado, giving the storm a sharper, killing edge.
And Newman rose into the air, lightning in his eyes, and slowly merged into the tornado.
"This power is probably already at Level 5," Kane shouted from beside Chris.
"Level 5 skill!" Chris burst into anger. He looked at Barnes and ground out, "Mr. Barnes, this is just a spar. No need to go this far."
Barnes knew he was in the wrong, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it.
He shrugged and said casually, "They're young. Sometimes a fight gets heated—pretty normal!"
"Bastard!" Chris rarely lost his temper.
He'd always had a good relationship with Barnes; this was the first time he'd blown up at him like this.
"Kane, watch the field. If Victor can't hold out, step in at once!" Chris ordered Kane beside him.
Kane shot a surprised look at City Lord Chris; he hadn't expected him to give that kind of order.
Everyone knew that in fights of the younger generation, having Mid-tier Awakeners like them step in was shameful.
Chris cared so much about his reputation, yet he was willing to go this far for Victor.
Chris watched Victor's condition with tense focus, and kept glancing at Erica.
He knew that if he didn't save Victor, Erica would absolutely never let him off.
At the same time, Audrey tugged at the sleeve of a woman in a blue formal gown and pleaded, "Mother, can you help Victor just this once?"
The middle-aged woman sighed and said in a low voice, "A Level 5 skill is incredibly strong. I can only make sure he isn't badly hurt. I can't do more than that."
Audrey looked toward Victor with worry and prayed for him in her heart.
In the crowd, a man in black blocked Elena's path and whispered, "Saintess, you can't step in. Arctic Wind Academy is an ally of our Bonfire Society!"
Elena's face was like ice. She gritted her teeth and said, "I don't care if they're allies. Three against one, and they're using that kind of skill--don't they feel any shame?"
The man in black lowered his head and murmured, "Saintess, it's not worth it for someone with a bit of talent."
Elena let out a cold snort, a strong icy aura rolling off her. "You don't understand. I must protect him today."
Dean looked down at Victor from above. In his eyes, Victor's every move had become a sign of fear.
It was understandable, though. Faced with a powerful Level 5 skill, anyone would tremble.
Victor was a genius, but he was still just a Primary Knight.
"Sorry, Victor. Say goodbye to your Awakener exam," Dean said to himself, then waved his hand.
In an instant, the tornado roared out like a fired bullet and blasted toward Victor.
"So fast?" Kane froze, regret flashing across his face, then rushed toward the field.
He hadn't expected Dean and the other two to trigger their skill so quickly.
"Victor!" Elena dropped the act and yelled, then sprinted toward him.
"Saintess, you can't" The man in black moved to stop her, but she sent him flying with one slap.
At the same time, worn down by Audrey's pleading, her mother cast a spell and flung a shield toward Victor.
All three sides tried to save Victor, but they were a step too late.
The tornado from Dean's trio was faster. It slammed toward Victor, and in a blink the twister blew apart, spilling thick fog.
"We're finished!" Barnes clenched his fists, regret already gnawing at him as he thought about how to get out of this.
He had only just realized Victor had strong backing.
If his students really hurt him badly, Barnes might not walk away clean.
"Victor, I'm sorry." Dean drifted down and bowed toward where Victor had been, guilt in his voice.
"You might hate us, Victor, but this is a fight," Newman said softly.
"He's not answering... could it be...?" Berg stared into the fog, a bad feeling rising in his chest.
The three shared a look, sensed trouble, and rushed in to check on Victor.
At the same time, Erica and Audrey pushed through the crowd, running to where he'd last stood.
Dozens searched the spot where the fog thinned, but found nothing.
"Did we blow him to pieces?" A dark thought hit Dean.