Entering the training ground under the stares of so many onlookers, Isa and Aurora remained composed, while Celia couldn’t help but feel nervous.
Years of ingrained noble etiquette instinctively refined her every movement, even shrinking the length of her steps.
Some Heroes lining the sides were seeing the girls for the first time. They marveled at their youth and charm, yet a flicker of pity crossed their faces.
If their opponent hadn’t been a Sub-Dragon, perhaps they might have stood a chance at becoming Heroes. But now…
Meanwhile, Dorothy’s gaze briefly swept over the restrained Sub-Dragon at the center of the field. Without a word, she left Celia’s side and walked over to Sharin.
As she settled into her chair, Butler Aul, leaning on his cane nearby, asked with a chuckle, “Instructor Dorothy, do you believe the young ladies can win?”
His servants’ eyes followed her too, their smug satisfaction plain for all to see.
“They can.”
Dorothy’s calm reply made Aul narrow his eyes slightly. Despite his meticulous preparations, an unfamiliar flicker of unease stirred within him.
“Why?”
“Because I believe in them.”
“Heh. An unexpected answer. I like it.”
Aul’s laughter rang out, the unease vanishing. *Such naivety. Does she truly think belief alone guarantees victory?*
*That only happens in fairy tales.*
“But Sub-Dragons are still kin to true Dragons,” he added meaningfully. “Those unfamiliar with them tend to suffer crushing defeats.”
True Dragons were so rare that few Heroes had ever faced one, leaving knowledge of them scarce. Sub-Dragons, though slightly more common, were similarly misunderstood—most only knew their most basic traits. Defeating such an unknown beast was nearly impossible for Heroes encountering it for the first time.
“They’ve trained too hard to fail.”
“We shall see the truth soon enough.”
The Silver Blossom Sword Maiden’s words killed Aul’s interest in further conversation. This was reality. Facts would soon teach her its harshness.
Celia’s squad stood no chance against a fourth-tier Sub-Dragon!
…
On the field, Celia and her teammates scrutinized the Sub-Dragon from head to tail. Tension and pressure tightened their chests.
They hadn’t expected a rare beast like a Sub-Dragon for their trial. Their understanding of it was shallower than other monsters, carrying a sliver of risk.
Yet even if a true Dragon stood before them now, retreat was impossible.
“The trial begins!”
At the referee’s shout, the magic chains binding the Sub-Dragon shattered with a deafening crash. Celia instantly drew her sword and wrapped herself in a magic buff.
Facing a Sub-Dragon with bare strength alone was suicide.
Behind her, Aurora clasped her hands as if in prayer. A pale blue Magic Array flared beneath her feet, casting a second buff over her body.
Only with these dual buffs did Celia feel confident enough to withstand the Sub-Dragon’s assault.
Unexpectedly, the moment its chains vanished, the Sub-Dragon didn’t charge Celia’s squad. Instead, it whirled toward the spectator stands!
Its speed was terrifying. The sheer pressure sent many Heroes scrambling in panic. Some even unleashed spells, plunging the stands into chaos.
The Sub-Dragon never reached the seats. A transparent magical barrier blocked its path just as it closed in.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
The impacts echoed through the training ground. The barrier, reinforced beyond fifth-tier magic, held firm against every furious strike.
Frustrated, the beast spun around with a snarl, its slit pupils locking onto Celia’s squad.
The display of its ferocity sobered the watching Heroes. Their worry for the girls deepened. Survival itself now seemed uncertain, let alone victory.
Celia took a deep breath, gripping her sword tightly. She didn’t dare attack first. The Sub-Dragon stalked them like a lizard, then suddenly lunged!
“So fast!”
Spectators lost sight of it in a blur. By the time they spotted it again, its razor-sharp claws were already clashing against Celia’s blade!
*Ding—!*
The sharp ring cut through the air. Wind whipped Celia’s hair as the force drove her to her knees.
Yet, bolstered by her buffs, she only grunted—holding her ground without retreating a single step.
The sight nearly made the other Heroes’ eyes pop out.
*A fourth-tier Sub-Dragon’s claw strike… blocked head-on by a third-tier Hero without yielding an inch?!*
The Sub-Dragon was just as stunned. For a split second, it froze, baffled that such a slender girl could withstand its blow. Then it spread its wings, leaped back, and whipped its tail toward her!
This strike carried far more force than its claws. Even with dual buffs, taking it head-on would injure Celia.
But they’d anticipated it. A Ring Blade, gleaming silver, shot from behind Celia and slammed into the tail, halting its momentum. Celia seized the opening to dart clear.
The tail swept through empty air. The Sub-Dragon pivoted, fixing them with a glare, flames of fury burning in its slit pupils.
The seamless teamwork drew gasps from the crowd. Members of the previously failed squad flushed with shame, then sighed in resignation.
*This squad was simply on another level—coach and members alike. Only by acknowledging the gap could they hope to grow.*
Aul remained unmoved, mildly impressed at best.
*Calm. Skilled. From Celia, he glimpsed the makings of a true powerhouse.*
To reach this level in half a year—even with Demon King bloodline—owed much to the Silver Blossom Sword Maiden’s guidance.
Had a Demon Race princess been eligible to become a Hero, he might have truly considered leaving Celia under her tutelage to forge the strongest warrior.
*Such a shame.*
Still, he remained unconvinced of her victory. After all, they’d only exchanged one blow with the Sub-Dragon. What came next was anyone’s guess.
Beside him, his servant’s smug expression never wavered. In his eyes, the brilliant Butler Aul never failed. Today, Princess Celia would surely fall short.
