The next day, the notice board at Central Magic Academy posted the lineup for the Five Academies Grand Competition, along with each student’s current location. They had to stay there at least six hours daily.

This was Central Academy’s tradition. The preliminary list wasn’t final—anyone could challenge them within a week. After that, the nine holders of the number tags would represent the academy.

The current nine were:

“Number One: Yan Yi, location: Fifth Floor of the Central Academy Library.

Number Two: Sigu Du, location: Central Academy Simulation Training Ground · Thunder Zone.

Number Three: Lilith Patrick, location: Central Academy Street · Snack District.

Number Four: Shan Keduo, location: Central Academy Magic Research Institute.

Number Five: Lala Dor, location: Central Academy Park.

Number Six: Doxin Alva, location: ?

Number Seven: Sia Jiu Luo, location: Central Academy Sword Dojo.

Number Eight: Locke, location: Central Academy Dueling Arena.

Number Nine: Tian Ruo, location: Central Academy Hillside.”

The moment this list went up, it caused a huge uproar. Forget students aiming for spots—even Number One being on the Fifth Floor meant Central had a Class A this time! (Though there wasn’t.)

“Number One’s so strong—Class A!”

“Never heard of them. A freshman? Stronger than senior Sigu? Guess Central won’t come last this year.”

“Sigh, Doxin’s still missing. Who knows—he might be right beside us.”

…

Students chattered wildly. But a few had strange expressions—Yan Yi’s classmates, especially Luris and Interle. They knew him far better than others.

“How’d that jerk get Number One? Pulling strings?”

“Who knows? Maybe he accidentally trapped himself.”

Interle’s guess was spot-on. But it put Luris in a tough spot.

She’d planned to cheer for Juben at the Five Academies Grand Competition. She didn’t know Central students well, and her loyalty to the academy was weak. But if Yan Yi competed…

A little maneuvering, and Central could win. Cheering for Juben would be pointless—he couldn’t win anyway.

“Alright, Interle! Let’s go grab those number tags!”

“Huh?”

Luris had decided: forget the West. She’d join Central’s winning team. Interle nearly choked on the sudden shift. What about supporting Juben? He’d cry, seriously! But… this sounded fun. Hehe.

“Fine. But who do we take down? Not Yan Yi—we can’t reach the Fifth Floor anyway. Without him, Central’s hopeless. I don’t know the others well.”

Luris gave her a “you’re an idiot” look. Interle bristled. Since when did you look down on my IQ?

“The academy already set it up for us. Numbers Eight and Nine must be the weakest. Take them down.”

Luris, with her Water Affinity, wasn’t Class A—but close. Her affinity was overpowered; it boosted water magic so much that same-tier Lightning and Wood spells couldn’t beat her.

She wasn’t wrong.

“You make sense. I can’t argue.”

Interle had to admit it. Luris nodded, pleased. “Good girl.”

“Okay, let’s head to Central Academy Hillside first. Can we team up? Easier that way.”

“Sure. Cheating’s easy—but is it still cheating if you brag about it?”

Interle deadpanned. Luris chuckled awkwardly, saying nothing more.

They didn’t rush to the hillside. They strolled calmly. Interle figured challengers would tire each other out first. She’d finish them off later.

“You’re shameless. But even if we grab it, how do we keep it?”

“We go to the library. We don’t need the A-tier floor. If anyone fights on the B-tier floor, Yan Yi will hear. And if he ignores it? Even better.”

Luris sweat-dropped, watching Interle’s sweet smile. She mourned for Yan Yi in silence.

“Which number do you want?”

“Eight.”

“Why? My rating’s higher than yours.”

Luris was annoyed. She thought Interle hid her mana to play weak. Wouldn’t Nine be better?

“Huh? Nine’s fine too. But numbers like Nine and One get targeted—they have ‘extreme’ labels. If I’m Eight with a C+ rating, they’ll test me through Nine first to gauge my strength.”

“So Nine gets double trouble! No way!”

Luris refused flatly. Interle sighed, a hint of fondness in her eyes—but her words…

“Fine. For the team duel, we can’t weaken the academy too much. So not Seven. I’ll take Nine. Sigh… but if I’m targeted, who knows what I might do? Hurt a contestant? Or their family? Not my fault, right?”

Whose fault would it be?!

“Okay, okay! I’ll take Nine! Senior Interle, please go easy on me!”

Luris gave in fast. You couldn’t reason with a demon. Interle patted her head.

“Good girl. That’s my Luris.”

The pet name brought zero warmth. Luris could only smile bitterly.

Central Academy Hillside was flanked by forests, as if intentional. Only this thirty-degree slope was clear. A dozen people lay scattered across it.

All Class B. They’d challenged the girl at the top—and lost.

Tian Ruo stood there. Black cropped hair. No uniform—just a tank top and shorts. She radiated energetic vibes.

“So weak.”

None had even touched her. Tian Ruo worried for Central’s future. Then two girls arrived.

“Ugh, here we go again. Think Nine’s an easy target, huh?”

She muttered, ready to fight.

Below, the pair didn’t flinch at the fallen bodies. One snapped her fingers. Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping the losers and tossing them aside.

“All clear, Luris! Go get ‘em!”

“Of course. I’m not the same as before.”

Luris stepped up the slope. Mist from the forest gathered around her. She didn’t just conjure water—every drop in the air became her weapon.

Tian Ruo felt pressure. This girl’s mana was weaker, yet her aura matched Class A!

“Multiple—Water Arrows!”

Arrows formed instantly, dense as steel. They shot forward!

Tian Ruo couldn’t cast fast enough. For the first time, she dodged—a flip barely avoiding the blast. The spot where she’d stood exploded.

“Damn it—Telekinesis!”

Shattered rocks and loose stones floated around her. Telekinesis had no tiers; it relied purely on mana. Few controlled it as smoothly as Tian Ruo.

“So she earned that tag for a reason.”

“Telekinesis · Stonehenge!”

Huge boulders ripped from the ground, slamming toward Luris. Tian Ruo panicked. If she didn’t strike first, the battle would turn dangerous—and her opponent was barely Class B!

Luris eyed the rocks. Compared to bone spikes, these were nothing.

I’ve grown stronger. I’m not that girl who ran away anymore.

Feeling the mist surge, she smiled.

“Those two years? You ruined me. Now—Raging Torrent, Whirlpool!”

A water tornado, wider than the boulders, roared to life. Trees around the hillside trembled, roots tearing loose.

If Interle hadn’t bound herself and the losers with vines, it’d be a massacre.

Tian Ruo froze. The whirlpool swallowed the rocks whole. She’d never seen such a powerful Raging Torrent Whirlpool—let alone cast without incantation!

It charged at her. She shielded herself with floating stones. They shattered like glass.

Her scalp prickled. She’d never faced a Class B this terrifying. Yet the whirlpool stopped half a meter from her face.

“Senior Tian Ruo… surrender?”

Tian Ruo’s eyes widened. She’d braced for injury.

Such precise control! Hidden teachers gaped. They felt it—the whirlpool’s raging water had halted in an instant. Impossible!

Tian Ruo swallowed hard. “I… surrender.” What choice did she have? This girl dominated her.

Hearing it, Luris spun to Interle, grinning.

“Hehe! Interle, how was that? I’m strong now, right?”

Even Interle was stunned. She’d heard Luris mastered her Unique Magic at Class B—but this? Some fresh Class A students might lose to her.

“Yeah, Luris. You surprised me. Guess we won’t need the library to keep our tags.”

Interle smiled. She gave Luris a title—and she deserved it: Invincible below Class A!