"What's wrong with you? Attack it already!"

Rabi saw the Mandala Snake freeze dead in its tracks, unmoving, and felt a flicker of panic.

The Mandala Snake hesitated, its gaping maw drooling onto the ground but refusing to strike.

Just then, Lilina finished her incantation and hurled a fireball at Rabi, who was too distracted by the snake to react.

"Danger!"

Classmates shouted in alarm.

Lilina hadn't expected Rabi to be so unprepared. That spell was her maximum-controlled effort, over a decimeter wide.

Under everyone's gaze, an earthy yellow light blocked the fireball just before it hit Rabi.

Instant spell!

Stephanie withdrew her magic and declared, "This match goes to Lilina."

"I... I won?"

Lilina couldn't believe the easy victory. She'd braced for expulsion, yet here she stood triumphant.

Lilina happily glanced at Wu Yan, only to find the Mandala Snake still frozen in place.

Wu Yan had waited for pain that never came. The Mandala Snake stood there like a fool, utterly motionless.

Wu Yan was on the verge of tears.

Bro, just give me a hint if you're biting or not! Don't scare me like this—my poor heart can't take it!

Wu Yan kept his eyes locked on the Mandala Snake, inching backward slowly.

If you won't bite, I'm leaving...

Before he retreated a few steps, a pair of hands scooped him up.

"Little Dark, we won! We won!"

Lilina pressed Wu Yan against her face, shaking him vigorously. Wu Yan was painfully (yet blissfully) dizzy from the motion.

"I... I lost? How? Why didn't the Mandala Snake obey me? That thing's just a Dark Beast—not even a low-tier Monster Beast!"

Rabi couldn't accept the result, stumbling back two steps.

Seeing Wu Yan carried away, the Mandala Snake finally moved, turning to crawl toward Rabi.

Though puzzled, Stephanie said firmly, "You made a pact. Honor your word now."

"No, impossible! I can't lose! I have a low-tier high-rank Monster Beast; Lilina only has that inferior Dark Beast. How?!"

Rabi, who'd dreamed of a bright future, couldn't face this defeat.

Stephanie's gaze turned stern.

"Rabi, are you questioning my judgment?"

"Teacher Stephanie, maybe just let it go..."

Lilina felt pity seeing Rabi's shattered state.

"No, Lilina. You don't understand. Rabi was arrogant and unprepared. In real combat, arrogance means death. This is a lesson: never underestimate any opponent."

Lilina fell silent at Stephanie's words.

Rabi's dreams shattered. She ignored Stephanie, feeling mocked by everyone. Why had weak Lilina beaten her? She vented her fury on her Contract Beast.

"Why didn't you attack? It's just a Dark Beast! Useless! Aren't you a low-tier high-rank Monster Beast? How could you lose to a mere Dark Beast!"

Stephanie shook her head. "Never doubt your Contract Beast—it's your lifelong partner. If you'd been prepared, you could've blocked Lilina's attack and won even without the Mandala Snake. Blaming it all on your beast... I'm deeply disappointed."

But Rabi was beyond listening, only blaming her beast.

The blonde girl descended from the stands. She cast a toned-down first-level Water Bolt at Rabi, just enough to jolt her awake.

"You're expelled from the academy!"

Rabi snapped back to reality at those words, feeling like she'd plunged into icy water.

Stephanie flared her Great Mage aura angrily. "How dare you expel my student without explanation?"

"President!"

The black-haired girl hurried over late.

The blonde girl met Stephanie's glare unflinchingly, unaffected by the aura. Only the black-haired girl and nearby students broke into a cold sweat.

"The Student Council has the right to expel students we deem without potential, Teacher Stephanie. You have no say."

Stephanie knew the rule. She snorted and retracted her aura.

The blonde girl turned back to Rabi, calm.

"You lack the heart to endure failure. The path to magical truth is paved with failures. If one loss breaks you, you're not worth training."

"No, please! I was wrong! I don't want to leave! I'm about to become a low-tier Mage! I have a low-tier high-rank Contract Beast, I—"

Rabi begged, trembling with fear.

"Hmph. Still clueless about your failure. Elly, throw her out of the academy!"

Elly—the black-haired girl—cast a spell to lift Rabi. To silence her sobs, she added a soundproofing barrier.

"Yes, President!"

She cast another spell to grab the Mandala Snake, then vanished swiftly before everyone's eyes.