Chapter 133: Encountering Reina Again

Yixin said, “Teacher, according to our previous plan, I will team up with Shenzai Guo, Hei Yu will pair with Ling Xiao Lei, and Bai Shengye will be responsible for looking after Ling Meng. This way, the boys can best protect the girls. In the first round, we must ensure everyone passes—no one can be eliminated!”

“Agreed!” everyone declared firmly.

Ling Meng cast a cold glance at Bai Shengye, who was inwardly delighted.

Yixin and Shenzai Guo were the first to approach the registration desk, handing over their information cards. The registrar repeated their details clearly:

“Yixin, fire-element magician. Shenzai Guo, warrior of the Divine Dragon clan.”

Next, Bai Shengye and Ling Meng stepped forward. The registrar announced:

“Bai Shengye, ice-snow mage and alchemist. Ling Meng, light elf and holy light mage.”

Finally, Hei Yu and Ling Xiao Lei, who had long collaborated and formed a tacit understanding, naturally were placed together.

Hei Yu passed his card to the registrar, who confirmed:

“Hei Yu, magician without elemental affinity. Ling Xiao Lei, dark elf, mutated dark magic mage.”

Ling Xiao Lei withdrew her card with a faint hint of disappointment. Among all the participants, her magic level was the lowest, having just broken into the late stage realm.

Moreover, summoning familiars was strictly forbidden in the Magical Combat Tournament, and she worried she might become a burden to the team.

Hei Yu did not look at her but said confidently, “Don’t be fooled by those towering Snow Giant clansmen or the Royal Magic Academy students—they’re all just empty shells. In the Twilight Forest and southern woods, we’ve faced every kind of beast imaginable. Why fear them? Who was it a month ago that single-handedly fought more than a dozen students and knocked them all down? Truly a heroine.”

Ling Xiao Lei stifled a laugh. “I don’t need your consolation. Even if I do hold us back, it’s your backside I’m dragging. You must make it through the first round!”

“No problem,” Hei Yu replied.

As Hei Yu and Ling Xiao Lei chatted, a commotion arose outside. Two figures in white school uniforms entered—a tall young woman with a high golden ponytail, radiating confidence, and a young man with short, pale golden hair. They bore a strong resemblance; they were Reina and Reno, siblings from the Thunder family. Behind them followed four other mages.

“Clear the way! Our team has been decided; we’re registering now!” Reina snapped impatiently.

As they entered the hall, the other contestants instinctively parted, recognizing the pair as members of the Royal Magic Academy, belonging to the prestigious Thunder family.

Hei Yu and his group at the registration desk were pushed aside. Yixin’s shoulder was rudely bumped by the pale-golden-haired boy. Just as he was about to protest, Yun Lan stepped in, waving him off to calm the situation.

“So, you’re from the Chiyan family?” Reno glanced back disdainfully, making it clear the bump was deliberate.

“Oh, Thunder family, huh?” Yixin’s tone brimmed with arrogance and challenge.

Reno laughed cockily. “See you on the battlefield—if you manage to reach the finals.”

With that, he strode forward arrogantly.

Hei Yu recalled seeing these two outside the main city gates before. At that time, Prince Lei Jue led students from the Intermediate Magic Academy training in the forest beyond the city. Hei Yu and Lin Aohun had even crossed swords with Lei Jue.

The tall young woman now stood before the registration desk. Pinching her information card between two fingers, she flicked it onto the desk and raised an eyebrow, enunciating her introduction clearly:

“Royal Magic Academy, Reina, Thunder family. Magic level… peak of the intermediate mage realm!”

“Peak realm?!”

The hall erupted in surprised murmurs. The tournament required participants to have reached at least the late stage realm. All present were elite students from various magic academies, yet none had attained the “peak realm” level.

Even the usually confident Yixin was stunned. “Peak realm? That’s the level needed to graduate from the Intermediate Magic Academy. She’s reached it in only her second year!”

The contestants whispered among themselves, careful not to speak loudly:

“As expected of the Royal Magic Academy, an institution from the Divine Domain, with abundant resources and excellent teachers. It’s no surprise their students are exceptional.”

For most who had only just broken into the late stage realm, this level was unattainable. They bowed their heads in quiet fear, praying they wouldn’t face such opponents in the first round. A whole realm’s difference meant a chasm in strength.

The registrar politely took the card and swiftly completed the registration.

Reno stepped forward, resting his arm on the desk, tossing his card down with equal arrogance, impatiently urging, “Hurry up, we’re heading to the lounge upstairs to rest—we’re exhausted from the journey.”

Before the registrar could return the card, he snatched it back and, alongside Reina, swaggered up the stairs. The other four members registered one by one: two light elf mages—a male and a female—and two others specializing in earth and water magic respectively.

The registrar then addressed the assembled contestants:

“Those who have registered should proceed to the lounges and wait. Each lounge has a screen that will automatically display the order of the first round matches and the names of the opposing teams.”

Hei Yu and the others followed Teacher Yun Lan up the stairs to the lounges on the right.

This year, there were sixteen teams competing, so only sixteen lounges were available. Each lounge featured a special transparent curved floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the arena below.

To one side of the room’s entrance hung an electronic screen, still dark with no information displayed.

There were thirty minutes remaining before the official start of the tournament.

The representatives from the Holy City Magic Academy sat on luxurious, comfortable sofas, nibbling on the complimentary fruits and snacks provided on the central coffee table. The fierce and deadly battles soon to unfold were far from their minds.

Suddenly, the screen lit up, and several people leaned in to see. It displayed the first round matchups and the order of appearance for three teams.

Teacher Yun Lan announced:

“Yixin, Shenzai Guo, your appearance order is quite early—you’re in the second group. Then Hei Yu and Ling Xiao Lei.”

Hei Yu stared at his name on the screen and murmured, “We’re facing mages from the Central Continent…”

“Finally, Bai Shengye and Ling Meng will appear at two o’clock in the afternoon.”