Chapter 28: Monster

Outside the mana testing room, Fei Xia observed the so-called “testing device” through the glass.

In the center of the room stood a massive three-meter-tall crystal, its surface swirling with golden runes.

Under the lights, the crystal gave off a precise and sacred aura.

Another decoration straight out of a fantasy story…

Fei Xia muttered inwardly.

Although she didn’t understand crystals or gemstones, this one was crystal clear, almost like glass, and clearly extremely valuable.

“Hello everyone! Since there are many new faces, as your senior I’ll give you all a demonstration!”

Amber Flowing Light had somehow already entered the room. 

She deliberately raised her voice and waved at the people outside the glass, afraid no one would notice her.

Buzz—!

Light flashed as her orange staff appeared in her hand.

“Grand Ceremony!!”

She took a deep breath and shouted with full vigor, pressing her other hand against the crystal.

The crystal quickly lit up with an orange glow, the brightness rapidly climbing until it filled more than half the crystal.

“Upper Gamma-class, approaching Beta-class!”

The staff member announced the result with clear approval in his tone.

“Hmm~ Not bad. I didn’t eat breakfast today, so my performance was average.”

Amber Flowing Light flicked her hair proudly, basking in the newbies’ gasps of amazement. 

She even threw a wink in Fei Xia’s direction before strutting out of the room like a proud little peacock.

Next up was the red rose girl.

“That’s the Southern District direct affiliate!”

Someone in the crowd recognized her and let out a cry of surprise.

She was clearly a veteran. Her steps were elegant and unhurried.

She entered the room without any extra movements, simply walking forward with a cold face and lightly placing her palm on the crystal.

Buzz—

A deep crimson light instantly filled the crystal, its brightness even surpassing Amber Flowing Light’s earlier result.

“Beta-class! Extremely high magic purity!”

The entire hall erupted in an uproar.

This was already at the level of a veteran team captain.

The red rose girl enjoyed the flattery from her lackeys. 

As she left the room, she shot a provocative glance toward Fei Xia in the corner.

The testing continued.

The results varied wildly. 

Aside from a few who reached Gamma-class, most remained at the entry-level Delta-class.

Until the girl known as White Jasmine came out looking panicked, her eyes darting around uneasily.

Finally, it was Fei Xia’s turn.

The moment the figure in the black cloak entered the testing room, the discussion in the hall instantly grew louder.

After all, this was the person Qinghai Starlight had personally guaranteed. 

Everyone wanted to see what kind of ability she had—or how she would embarrass herself.

Red Rose crossed her arms, ready to watch the show.

Fei Xia walked up to the crystal and took a deep breath while looking at the massive gem.

Let’s just get this over with. I don’t want to be stared at like a monkey anymore.

She reached out and placed her hand on the cool surface of the crystal.

Just to be safe, she deliberately controlled her mana, releasing only a thin trickle as fine as a strand of hair.

However—

There was no reaction.

The crystal didn’t light up at all. It didn’t even flicker. It was like a dead rock.

“Huh?”

Fei Xia was stunned.

Is it broken? Or did I hold back too much?

She had no idea that inside the magic formation node beneath her palm, a technique secretly planted by White Jasmine was active.

The mana she sent in was being intercepted and devoured by that technique.

“Hah? This is the person Qinghai-senpai guaranteed?”

“Why is there no reaction at all? Could she be an ordinary person with no magic power?”

“Epsilon? No, this is ‘no record found’! Hilarious!”

Unmerciful mocking laughter spread through the crowd.

Red Rose listened to the ridicule around her and frowned.

She glanced disdainfully at the people kicking someone while they were down and clicked her tongue.

“Tsk. A bunch of useless trash who can only run their mouths.”

Although she disliked the black-cloaked girl and wanted to teach her a lesson, she hadn’t wanted her to be publicly humiliated this badly. This was going too far.

“Stop it, Jasmine. That’s enough.”

Red Rose ordered in a low voice.

However, White Jasmine beside her didn’t respond.

She was gripping her magic staff tightly, her face deathly pale. 

Large beads of cold sweat rolled down her cheeks.

“I… I can’t stop…”

White Jasmine’s voice was trembling.

Fei Xia had no idea someone was sabotaging her.

She only felt that this machine was like a bottomless pit, or that it was rejecting her mana.

She frowned and loosened the “valve” in her power just a little more.

Jasmine suddenly felt a massive torrent rushing back through the connection.

Ehh?! Why did it suddenly get so much stronger?

Jasmine endured in pain. 

She tried to cut off the technique, but it had somehow slipped out of her control.

Still not enough?

Fei Xia was getting impatient. 

Since there was still no reaction, she decided to add a bit more power. 

If that didn’t work, she might as well go all out.

Boom—!

If earlier had been a small stream, now it was like opening the floodgates of the Yangtze River.

“Ugh!!!”

Outside the room, White Jasmine suddenly let out a painful groan.

That vast, violent, unfathomably deep mana flooded back through her technique.

Not only could it not be cut off, it felt like a savage beast forcing its way into her narrow mana circuits.

Monster… monster?!

She felt like an ant trying to swallow a star.

Crack.

A sharp sound rang out.

White Jasmine’s magic staff could no longer withstand the aftershock of that pressure and snapped cleanly in two!

“Ah!”

White Jasmine screamed. 

Her body went limp and collapsed.

With the medium broken, the technique was violently severed.

“Hey! What’s wrong with you?!”

Red Rose’s face paled with shock. She quickly caught Jasmine in her arms, looking extremely worried.

Before anyone could react to the sudden situation, another heart-stopping loud noise followed.

Inside the testing room.

The obstruction had vanished.

The massive amount of mana that had been accumulating was now released all at once. 

Like a wild horse breaking free, it all slammed into the crystal.

Buzz——————！！！

In a single instant.

The entire three-meter-tall crystal was filled with blinding dark red light!

The glow was so intense it almost seemed solid, as if it were about to burst out from inside the crystal.

Then—

Crack—

The first fissure appeared.

Crack crack crack crack—

Countless cracks spread like crazed vines across the crystal’s surface.

Bang!!!

Accompanied by a crisp yet deafening explosion.

The testing crystal, which was said to be able to withstand Alpha-class impacts, exploded into a sky full of crystal powder right before everyone’s eyes!

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Whether it was the smug Amber Flowing Light, the bystanders ready to mock, or Red Rose who was holding Jasmine—everyone was frozen in shock.

As the dust settled.

Fei Xia stood in the middle of a floor covered in sparkling shards, still holding her hand out.

Looking at the wreckage all around her, a crack finally appeared on her usually cold face.

I think I might have gone a bit overboard…

She tremblingly withdrew her hand, turned around somewhat stiffly toward the equally stunned staff outside the glass, and spoke in a dry, guilty voice.

“Um… I probably don’t have to pay for this, right?”