Chapter 294: The Mad [Lamp]
Upon seeing Xu Zhi, the senior sister immediately seemed to realize something. A trace of surprise flashed through her eyes, but she quickly understood that the test grouping wouldn’t be random. Although this junior had only displayed control and support abilities in the previous match, the fact that the instructors paired her here meant she must have undisclosed main combat capabilities.
“It seems this match won’t be easy. Junior, you should already know what my abilities are, right? Any plans?”
Xu Zhi nodded lightly, her expression not particularly tense. “Senior, don’t worry. Since I took a point from you before, now that we’re on the same team, I’ll bring one back for you.”
“As for plans… does ‘take it one step at a time’ count?”
Everyone knew that no matter how strong a student looked on paper, poor real combat performance would still affect their chances of selection. After all, this was only a 2v2—individual strength could directly determine the outcome.
“Take it one step at a time?” The senior repeated, her tone slightly raised. Seeing Xu Zhi’s calm expression, she could only sigh helplessly. “Alright.”
This junior clearly had no intention of discussing tactics in advance. Was it arrogance?
Although she appeared gentle and polite, there was an unmistakable, faint arrogance about her.
But then again, among those present, who didn’t carry a bit of arrogance?
Only a very few, perhaps, would be arrogant enough to not even discuss tactics with their teammate.
“I’ll make sure to protect myself,” the senior added.
Her self-preservation ability was strong. In fact, if the opponent targeted her first, it would be advantageous. As for offense… better not mention it.
With her on the field, the enemy faced an annoying dilemma: ignore her, and she would continuously heal her teammate; target her, and her survivability made her hard to kill quickly.
“Got it, Senior. Don’t worry—it should be fine.” Xu Zhi smiled. If the opponent were the student council president, she might need to be cautious. But if it were just other seniors… probably not a problem.
Soon, preparation time ended. Xu Zhi and the [Heart]-type senior entered the arena. However, upon seeing their opponents, Xu Zhi’s expression changed noticeably.
From slight tension… to sheer bad luck.
Xu Zhi raised an eyebrow. Her teammate’s expression grew increasingly grim, while the two opponents showed faint smiles—especially the short-haired senior with blood-red eyes. At first glance, Xu Zhi almost mistook those crimson pupils for a [Cup] attribute—they were that similar.
The smile on that senior’s face was strange—not mocking, not proud, but somewhat unhinged, tinged with madness. Just looking at her gave the unsettling impression that her mental state was questionable.
As expected, the moment the countdown ended and the battle began—also the instant Xu Zhi activated the [Eye of Secret]—the opponent made a completely unexpected move.
She stared straight at Xu Zhi, then raised her hand and gripped her own throat, crushing her larynx without hesitation.
A chilling cracking sound rang out. Xu Zhi frowned slightly, already understanding why.
Blood spurted out. The short-haired senior, seemingly devoid of pain, continued staring at Xu Zhi—and in the next moment, a trace of blood appeared at Xu Zhi’s own lips.
Xu Zhi had already seen her opponent’s attributes and abilities: [Heart] type, early [Longevity], with three abilities—each brutal, not only toward enemies, but toward herself as well.
The one she used now, Xu Zhi labeled simply as [Synchronization].
It synchronized her own condition with the opponent’s—specifically injuries caused during combat. But unlike similar abilities Xu Zhi had seen before, this was a superior version.
Once activated, any injury she inflicted on herself would be replicated on the opponent. Her own wounds would rapidly heal, while the opponent’s wounds became difficult to recover, with greatly reduced healing and halved external healing effects.
By crushing her own throat, she instantly shattered Xu Zhi’s as well, silencing her physically. Even Xu Zhi’s strong regenerative ability struggled to recover.
She had been forcibly muted.
Worse, this ability also countered other [Heart] types—especially those focused on support and healing.
Because it applied healing reduction—and as a [Heart], all three of her abilities carried such effects, with two also granting bloodthirst. She was essentially the nemesis of all [Heart] users.
Realizing this, Xu Zhi’s expression turned subtle.
She almost wanted to curse foul play—but then thought again.
No, this was foul play. She was being deliberately targeted.
She had expected targeting—but not this thorough. Even her teammate was countered!
Poor senior—if she used [Sharing], the healing reduction would also affect her. Connect or not, both choices were bad.
Aside from the [Heart] opponent, the other was [Initiate] type, with a unique ability Xu Zhi dubbed [Frame Extraction]—it could disrupt actions by “removing frames,” causing mistimed movements or failed ability activations.
Even without the physical silence, this ability alone could disrupt Xu Zhi’s [Cursed Speech].
Troublesome.
Another “frame drop”—Xu Zhi nearly got hit. The blade flashed past her face, reflecting light onto her now slightly serious expression.
Retreating was no longer an option. The short-haired senior’s second ability—[Shadow Follow]—made her impossible to shake off at close range, while increasing speed, strength, and excitement with blood.
Xu Zhi decided to stop purely evading.
The solution… wasn’t difficult.
When the next strike came, Xu Zhi sidestepped one blade—but instead of dodging the second, she raised her forearm to block it directly.
—Slash.
The blade cut into flesh, then struck bone—and stopped.
The opponent’s weapon was no ordinary blade, and she had used full force. It should not have been blocked by bone—yet it was.
She didn’t know that Xu Zhi’s bones, after repeated destruction and reconstruction, had become absurdly resilient.
Still, Xu Zhi was injured.
Blood splattered across her glasses, tinting her gray eyes red.
She looked straight at her opponent and smiled—a gentle smile, but under the blood, it became chilling.
As if saying: Senior, your blade isn’t fast enough.
The opponent grew irritated and swung again—but Xu Zhi’s free hand shot up, grabbing her wrist.
Then—
Crack.
Xu Zhi crushed her wrist bone.
The blade dropped.
Though the opponent could regenerate quickly, Xu Zhi’s deep wound could not.
Still, Xu Zhi had the advantage.
The fight intensified.
Blade against fist—yet Xu Zhi grew stronger, faster, more relentless. Each punch threatened to shatter bones.
What kind of monster was this?
Blood fueled the opponent—but Xu Zhi seemed to grow more excited with every wound.
Soon, Xu Zhi was drenched in blood, her uniform nearly red.
Yet she did not slow.
To the opponent, it was horrifying.
Eventually, fatigue set in. Her hands trembled—not from fear, but exhaustion.
Xu Zhi noticed.
A kick—disarm.
Another wrist shattered.
Fear finally appeared.
Before she could react—
Xu Zhi slammed her to the ground and mounted her.
For the first time, terror filled the opponent’s eyes.
Xu Zhi’s glasses were half-covered in blood. Her smile was no longer gentle—it was exhilarated, almost insane.
She raised her fists—
And began striking.
Again. Again. Again.
Each blow echoed through the arena.
Blood dripped onto the opponent, sustaining her just enough to endure.
As if Xu Zhi was deliberately creating a durable punching bag.
Her own hands broke from the force—bones visible through torn flesh.
Yet she continued.
Until—A whistle.
Victory.
Xu Zhi paused, confused, then looked up.
The result was displayed—she had won.
Her expression shifted instantly. The madness vanished, replaced by calm.
She stepped down reluctantly, removed her bloodstained glasses, and said with slight regret:
“That’s it?”
She had just gotten into it.
On the ground, the opponent coughed violently, eyes filled with disbelief.
Xu Zhi looked down, suddenly recalling something.
Her throat had already healed.
She slapped her forehead lightly, sounding almost innocent:
“Oh—I can speak again?”
“Sorry. I was having too much fun, I forgot.”
What a lunatic.
And this person…
Was actually [Lamp]?
Did the academy make a mistake?
