"Surrender?"
Sonia started to turn around, only for Lois to yank her back. "Don't move! You're putting on your combat outfit!"
The country girl had no choice but to straighten her posture and look ahead, asking, "They want me to surrender on my own?"
"Not surrender—it's 'a graceful exit after exhausting all options,'" Adele explained. "Thousand Stars Entertainment believes that if you're gravely injured and near death on a nationwide live broadcast, it would seriously harm your audience appeal and lower your commercial value. On the other hand, if you take the initiative to bow out after recognizing the gap, it will leave a good and lasting impression on everyone. There's only upside for you."
"Indeed," Lois said as she fastened accessories onto Sonia. "It seems there has never been a precedent of a contestant surrendering in the Meteor Tribulation finals before."
"That's because those contestants were basically all third- and fourth-years. They might only get to compete in a Meteor Tribulation final once in their lives, so how could they be satisfied without fighting until the very last moment? Besides, the Starflick Guard, Gryphon Company, and Bulwark Legion all keep a close watch on the Intercollegiate League. Forfeiting out of cowardice would seriously damage a combat sorcerer's future," Adele said. "But Sonia is different from them."
"Sonia is only a first-year. Reaching the Meteor Tribulation finals is already a miracle. Even if she bows out voluntarily, no one would look down on her in the slightest. Besides, she still has her second, third, and fourth years ahead of her. Dimi graduates next year, so it won't be too late to compete for the Meteor Tribulation then."
The country girl wore a contemplative expression. Just then, Lois pulled the corset tight, causing a shiver to run through her and making her reflexively thrust out her chest.
Looking at the swelling fullness straining against the fabric, Lois wore a puzzled look. "Did my family cut this combat outfit too small, or did you develop more?"
The combat outfit Sonia usually wore had been severely damaged in the Meteor Tribulation semifinals, and there hadn't been enough time to repair it, so she had to wear a spare.
"I've been training my body with the Sword Body sorcery spirit lately," Sonia said. "Maybe I gained muscle?"
Lois cupped and lifted it slightly. "It's not hard at all, though. It's soft and bouncy."
Adele leaned in. "Really? Let me—"
"Stop messing around," Sonia said. "So, do you agree with Thousand Stars Entertainment's proposal?"
"A few of us leading members of the Paw-Stretching Club discussed it and thought it was indeed feasible," Adele said. "Thousand Stars Entertainment is one of the top three film and culture chambers of commerce in Many Stars. If you want to develop toward becoming a screen maiden or song maiden, Thousand Stars is a fantastic choice. The contract they've offered is very generous, and they're even willing to tailor a series of dramas to make you a star—just like your idol, Daidalos!"
"However, they also made it clear that if you suffer a disastrous defeat and end up gravely wounded in the Meteor Tribulation, it won't be at this price anymore. What Thousand Stars needs isn't a battered loser scarred by the Meteor Tribulation, but a graceful, dazzling young sword sorceress who won glory even in defeat."
Ingrid voiced an objection: "People are forgiving of losers."
Adele shook her head. "People are far more forgiving of attractive losers."
"Besides," Adele paused, "if it's an unwinnable battle, isn't surrendering the rational choice? You're going to lose anyway."
"It's not the same," Ingrid said. "To a sword sorcerer, fighting while prepared to surrender and charging forward fearlessly only to fall in the end are worlds apart. The former will only rust the sword, while the latter hones the blade's edge."
"I don't understand that kind of talk—I'm not a sword sorcerer," Adele said, spreading her hands. "So make your own choice, Sonia: will you swallow the pride of a sword sorcerer and step onto the glorious path you've always yearned for, or reject Thousand Stars' advice and fight Dimi to the end?"
"Hmm..." Sonia spread her fingers, allowing Lois to slide the arm sleeve over her middle finger. "Can't I have both?"
Adele blinked. "You mean you want to get pummeled by Dimi before surrendering?"
The president of the Paw-Stretching Club gave a slight smile. "Turn down Thousand Stars Entertainment on my behalf. After all, conditions on the field change in an instant. Don't forget that besides Dimi and me, there are four powerful contestants who returned through the repechage. I might not even last until a duel alone with Dimi. Thousand Stars' scenario is far too idealistic."
Adele could tell at a glance that this wasn't her real reason, but since Sonia had said so, she could only comply.
Still, she couldn't help asking, "Sonia, aren't you afraid of losing?"
"Afraid? Of course I am. Who isn't afraid of losing? Not to mention that when the Death Prohibition miracle triggers, contestants usually end up looking awful in defeat," the country girl said. "To me, looking ugly is far worse than losing."
"Then are you planning to surrender?"
"Being afraid to lose," Sonia said, "doesn't mean surrender is the only solution."
***
The radiant stars sank, and the myriad stars took their places!
By now, the Jialesi National Coliseum was packed to capacity, buzzing with excitement. Nearly all the students from Truth University had already shifted into celebration mode, even unfurling banners to congratulate Senior Dimi on his victory in advance. The other universities were far quieter, forming a sharp contrast with Truth University.
This was a rare phenomenon indeed. In past Meteor Tribulations, although Truth University almost always entered the finals from the winners' side, the repechage bracket never lacked elite students from other institutions. If everyone agreed to focus their attacks on the Truth University contestant first, they could very well force them out in bitter defeat—this actually occurred four or five times out of ten tournaments, a remarkably high probability.
Consequently, the finals of past Meteor Tribulations were always uproarious. Students from the various universities never bowed to Truth University; each group was rowdier than the last, and brawls breaking out in real life were not uncommon. Before the Meteor Tribulation had even begun, the stands would often erupt into a "tribulation of stars" of their own.
Thus, the quiet among the other universities tonight indicated only one thing: nobody believed their contestant had any chance of winning in the finals.
Once the halftime performance concluded and the civil sorcerers reconstructed the arena's terrain, the announcer Arsenault's voice completely drowned out the coliseum's roar—
"A huge thank-you to the First-Week Zero Dance Troupe for their spectacular performance! Up next is the headline event of this Intercollegiate League: the Meteor Tribulation grand finals!"
"Please welcome the contestants onto the stage!" the female co-host called out. "Entering the arena now are the two top contestants who met in the grand finals as winners: from Truth University, fourth-year Dimi Vosloda, and from Sword Flower University, first-year Sonia Servais!"
Sonia stepped onto the stage focused under the starlight. The surrounding applause, while enthusiastic, lacked fervor. Of the eight giant projection screens, only one displayed Sonia's dazzling brilliance, while the other seven vied to capture Dimi from every handsome angle!
*No wonder Felix has such a bad relationship with her brother...* The thought suddenly popped into Sonia's head.
Once the four contestants from the repechage bracket stepped into the arena, the host gave the command, and the Meteor Tribulation finals officially began!
"To provide superior commentary on the match, we have invited a swordsmanship professor from Sword Flower University, the renowned 'Rhythm Sword Saint,' Lord Nidala!" Arsenault said. "Lord Nidala, how do you think this final's terrain will affect the contestants?"
"A ruined city offers ample room for movement, cover, and maneuvering. The damaged buildings divide the arena into distinct zones, making it fair for all sorcerers." Unlike his usual sharp-tongued rudeness, Nidala's commentary was well worth the hefty salary Sword Flower University paid him. "The more combat experience a sorcerer has, the better they can exploit openings in this terrain... The first contestant has already been eliminated."
"It's Contestant Connolly from Trajectory University! Unable to escape Contestant Vosloda's wave sword light in time, his chest was torn open by a slash, triggering Death Prohibition." Regret filled Arsenault's tone. "He couldn't even block a single move!"
"Fleeing was the true cause of his defeat," Nidala stated incisively. "Though Dimi's slash reached the Three-Winged tier, it was not impossible to defend against. However, anyone who only thinks of running and exposes their back has practically surrendered their right to live."
"Another elimination! The slayer is Contestant Servais!" Arsenault suddenly noticed something. "Lord Nidala, are the other contestants... running away?"
"Indeed," Nidala replied, unable to keep a hint of mockery from his tone. "A coward's clever little ploy."
"They don't dare confront Dimi head-on, so they hope he eliminates the other contestants first before facing them in the end, thereby easily improving their final standing in the Meteor Tribulation. They never intended to compete for the championship from the start; they're purely here to make up the numbers."
"Contestant Servais seems different, however," Arsenault remarked.
"Yes, she is looking forward to fighting Dimi," Nidala said. "In terms of pure technical skill, she might not necessarily measure up to the two who were eliminated, but she is truly the only one qualified to remain on this stage... Heh, and now all the obstacles have been cleared away."
While they were speaking, Sonia and Dimi had already dispatched the remaining two contestants from the repechage bracket.
Sonia leaped onto the roof of an abandoned building, looking across at Dimi on the other side. Flicking the blade of his longsword, Dimi called out clearly, "It's rare to meet a fellow wave sword sorcerer in competition. Rest assured, I will try my best to suppress my power to the Two-Winged tier."
Sonia tightened her grip on her hilt and activated the "Ten Years of Sword Sharpening" miracle to enhance her blade's slash hue, replying, "Why not suppress it to the One-Winged tier? It would be much more challenging."
"That won't do," Dimi said. "You are an opponent worthy of respect."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than both lunged toward each other, their unleashed sword qi waves clashing like colliding meteors!
"Blood Moon Shattered Lake!" Arsenault shouted in excitement. "Contestant Servais has opened right away with her original miracle, Blood Moon Shattered Lake! Ordinary defensive miracles could hardly withstand this... Huh? Contestant Vosloda easily blocked it with just a single Earth Light Wave?"
"It's a gap in faction mastery," Nidala explained. "While Blood Moon Shattered Lake is fierce and destructive, it has many weak points. Dimi's Earth Light Wave strikes directly at those weaknesses, naturally neutralizing the assault with ease."
"That girl Sonia had terrible luck. Dimi shares her faction and even her exact direction. The miracles she uses are tricks Dimi grew tired of playing with long ago. All her tactical intentions are completely transparent to him, not to mention that Dimi can deploy a Sanctuary... Dimi is practically a supercharged version of her."
Just as Nidala analyzed, though Sonia remained on the offensive, Dimi dismantled her moves with effortless ease. The miracles he deployed never exceeded the Two-Winged tier, and his sorcery power consumption was far lower than Sonia's—anyone unfamiliar with the situation might have assumed Sonia was the one with the reserve advantage.
With the disparity in strength so glaring, what followed was expected to be nothing more than a dull beatdown. Many students in the stands chose to leave early, unwilling to watch Truth University flaunt its dominance.
However, Professor Trozan blocked the exit corridor on Sword Flower University's side. Left with no choice, the Sword Flower students had to return to their seats and keep watching.
As time wore on, people gradually began to sense that something was off.
"Contestant Vosloda... does he seem..." Arsenault's voice was hesitant, "...a bit hard-pressed to keep up?"
"Fascinating," Nidala chuckled. "Sonia is mimicking Dimi's techniques! Dimi has outplayed himself this time. He's practically teaching the Vosloda family's heirloom combat arts to Sonia in person. As sorcerers sharing the same faction and path, Sonia is learning far too much from this fight!"
"Even if Dimi loses his temper and stops playing around right now, Sonia has already made a massive profit!"
On the arena floor, Dimi suddenly asked, "Are you on good terms with Professor Nidala?"
"I'm not on good terms with him," Sonia said, seizing an opening to slash out an Evil Light Wave. "I'm on good terms with his student."
"He seems very eager for you to learn more from me," Dimi said. "If you can truly comprehend the essence of the Vosloda wave arts in the midst of battle, what reason do I have not to teach you? Watch out!"
Dimi's aura shifted. Though he still used ordinary Two-Winged miracles, he transitioned into an offensive stance, his relentless wave attacks forcing Sonia back step by step!
Back! Back! Back!
Sonia didn't dare face the brunt of his strikes directly. Using the ruined city's terrain, she evaded for a while before trying to counter move by move, retreating and parrying as she went. Eventually, she even began finding opportunities to retaliate through Dimi's wave-sword web!
Blood Moon Shattered Lake!
Facing the cataclysmic crimson sword cascade, Dimi stepped forward and slashed out an Evil Light Wave to dismantle the attack, seizing the momentum to press the assault and shatter Sonia's defenses through sheer force!
Right at that moment, dozens of threads materialized before Dimi.
"Blood Blossom Water Moon! Contestant Servais's original miracle!" Arsenault screamed. "Will it work... Ah!"
*Clang!*
As the threads drew taut, they converged into dozens of sword-light waves strangling Dimi. Dimi neither dodged nor parried, allowing the waves to strike him, creating ripples across his entire body.
Sanctuary!
Manifested in a single thought, a Sanctuary offering absolute protection!
"What a shame!" Arsenault said, practically through gritted teeth. "Just an inch away, and Contestant Servais could have made history!"
"Indeed, an inch away," Nidala said flatly.
Arsenault nodded. "If Contestant Vosloda had failed to erect his Sanctuary in time—"
"No. When I say an inch away, I'm not saying Dimi made no mistake. I mean that the girl Sonia made one."
Nidala stared at the two on the arena floor and said, "She was just an inch away from defeating Dimi."
Dimi reached up and touched his neck, discovering a cut that had nearly sliced open his windpipe.
He was certain his Sanctuary had deployed without any delay; this wound had appeared after the Sanctuary was raised.
He looked up and saw that beside Sonia's right hand holding the wooden sword, there was a faint, spectral right hand. And in that phantom hand rested an invisible blade.
"The Sanctuary that kid Dimi raised was completely useless," Nidala said, standing up. "What Sonia used was the 'Secret Blade of the Hidden Hand'—one of the few lethal miracles capable of completely bypassing a Sanctuary!"
Arsenault froze. "Secret Blade of the Hidden Hand? But isn't that..."
"Indeed. That is the signature miracle that made the 'Hidden Hand Sword Saint,' Trozan, famous. She once defeated three Sanctuary Sorcerers in succession with this very technique, earning her renown in a single battle."
As Nidala explained, the students throughout the arena also recalled information about this miracle. After all, it was material taught in required courses; they couldn't possibly not have learned it.
Yet according to the knowledge in their minds, this miracle was clearly...
"Wait, I'm a bit confused," Arsenault asked. "Isn't the Secret Blade of the Hidden Hand... a spatial swordsmanship art that only a Sanctuary Sorcerer can learn?"
"That is correct."
Nidala's voice echoed above the Jialesi National Coliseum, radiating to every corner of Many Stars.
"Sonia Servais is also a Sanctuary Sorcerer."
Chapter 515