A wry smile tugged at Conrad's lips. "Such high praise. Looks like I'll have to see for myself just how amazing these kids are."

*

The two teams stood opposite each other on the stage, having just introduced themselves.

Ray was astonished to discover that their opponents were all girls. It was his first time greeting a team composed only of girls.

During their introduction, Ray had been intrigued by the near identical appearance of Ursula and Matilda. Although they were clearly twin sisters, their contrasting hair colors made for an odd sight.

Standing as the spearpoint of her team, Ursula stared at Ray with eyes that were as cold as ice and as unyielding as the plum blossom in winter. She had matured quite well; apart from being unripe, her height barely differed from that of an adult's. The West Ocean Academy's team seemed tiny in comparison.

An unfathomable feeling welled in Ursula's heart as she stared at the opposing team. Before the match, their academy's president had repeatedly warned them not to look down on their opponents today.

But she just couldn't understand how the three kids before her had an identical winning streak as theirs. Their four victories almost guaranteed that they had a place in the top sixteen.

Since there were only eight matches per group, it was nigh impossible for them to not make it into the top sixteen now.

They're so young, though, only ten years old!

Compared to Ursula's frigid demeanour, Matilda exuded liveliness. She absent-mindedly asked, "Little brother, you're already competing at such a young age?"

Ray's face couldn't help but twitch at her question. This is a competition!

"We just came here to gain experience." Despite being disgruntled, Ray beamed at her. He couldn't let his opponent notice his displeasure.

Matilda said, "How about you guys just concede? It wouldn't look good if we hurt you; people might think we're bullying children."

Ray's smiling expression stiffened. Is she even advising us to surrender?

Gu Yue couldn't bear it anymore and said in a frosty tone, "The victor hasn't been decided yet. We'll see after this match."

The referee began counting down.

Ursula glared at her younger sister before turning to Ray and nodding.

"Three, two, one, begin!"

Thus, the match between the two strongest teams in group three began.

Ray's first move was no different from the past; he immediately charged ahead, his hands forming subtle signs behind his back as he shot towards Ursula like lightning

Raziel Phoenix was right behind Ray after seeing the hand signals. His target was Margery, however, not Ursula.

In that moment, the students of Sealand Academy revealed the brilliance of their soul rings.

Ursula and Margery had three soul rings; the former had two yellow rings and one purple, while the latter's were all yellow. As for Matilda, she only had two yellow soul rings.

It's just as we had investigated. They have two Soul Elders and one Soul Grandmaster. Their cultivation is enough to crush us!

Having already confronted three-ring soul masters before, the three from class zero did not fear them. Only after they had fought would they know what their opponents truly amounted to.

Ursula stood her ground in the face of Ray's charge. She raised her right hand, her three soul rings rising in sync as a thin sleet of icy light surrounded her body. The arena's temperature dropped as waves of glacial mist rolled off her body, and her complexion slowly whitened until it was like snow.

On the other hand, Matilda's aura was different.

The two were clearly born from the same mother, were of the same age, and most likely twins, yet not only was Matilda's cultivation lower than her elder sister's, but her martial soul was also different. What appeared in her hand was not cold air, but a green ball of light bursting with vitality.

What is that?

Ray was surprised by the sight of these two martial souls. He wasn't the same ignorant kid that was newly arrived from Glorybound City anymore; after studying and battling under Alfred's guidance, his knowledge had deepened.

A single glance was all it took for him to discern that the twins were rarely seen elemental soul masters. Ursula had the ice element, specifically the Ice Spirit.

On the other hand, Matilda had the wood element; similarly, it was called Wood Spirit. However, wood-type martial souls were much rarer than ice types.

These two sisters should be twins, but their martial souls are so different. What a spectacle. It seems that their hair colors are different due to their martial souls.

*

In box one.

"Ursula and Matilda are twin sisters, but their differences were apparent from the moment they were born. Despite their parents being average commoners without soul power, their children were incredibly gifted. Ursula has innate full soul power and the Ice Spirit martial soul. She's the most gifted student we've had in many years. Matilda is a bit less gifted; she only has rank 8 innate soul power. Still, she has the even rarer wood spirit constitution. Furthermore, the sisters have the mental connection of twins." Oswin explained the background of his two star pupils.

Conrad sighed in appreciation. They really are excellent talents! No wonder Oswin was so confident in his request.

Although the strength of a soul master was directly tied to their soul power, quite often it was the martial soul that was more important.

A three-ringed soul master with an ordinary martial soul could never catch up to a three-ringed soul master with a peak-level martial soul—the gap was too enormous! These two girls were not ordinary by any means!

*

On the competition stage.

Ursula's gaze clashed with Ray's. She slowly pressed her right palm forward, sending a rippling wave of misted ice at him, obscuring his vision. He could just barely make out her unmoving figure within the mist.

Matilda's first soul ring lit up while a soft green light appeared on the ground. Vines grew from the light in an instant and followed her pointed finger to attack Ray.

It's Bind...

Ray didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It was simply impossible for him to not recognize it for what it was.

They were both plant-type soul masters, but Matilda's Wood Spirit was far more powerful than his Silverfalls Vine; her Bind was like an array of vines piercing toward him.

Although Ray was shaken, he quickly adapted to the situation. His purple soul ring rose from beneath his feet and commanded his own Silverfalls Vine to weave into a protective screen in the air. Ray charged ahead, his Silverfalls Vine shield slanted so that it deflected the onslaught of vines. He quickly advanced upon her

Unperturbed, Ursula activated her first soul ring.

White suddenly dominated Ray's vision; a wall of ice formed right before him.

Ursula's timing was impeccable; the wall appeared just as Ray was about to remove the screen's protection.

He would slam into it an instant later.

There was nothing else Ray could do. Although his speed was explosive, his control over it couldn't possibly compare with Raziel Phoenix.

To the Sealand Academy team's surprise, Ray didn't show any intention of slowing down; rather, he increased his speed. He raised both his arms and lowered his head, crashing straight into the ice wall.

Bang!

Ray completely shattered the ice wall and continued his charge at Ursula.

This guy...

Ursula stared dazedly at the sight. This was the first time she had seen someone break through her ice wall through sheer physical strength. Just what kind of freak is he!

Ray was just fifteen meters away from her. It would take him no more than an instant to reach her.

Matilda moved next to her sister, a sweet smile gracing her lips, contrasting with her sister's unchanging mask of indifference.

A peculiar fluctuation rippled through the air.

Matilda's first soul ring lit up as she lifted her hand. From beneath the twin sisters' feet, thick vines burst forth, wrapping tightly around their legs and waists. With a sudden tug, the vines dragged both sisters backward, opening a wide gap between them and Ray in the blink of an eye.

Ray reacted on instinct. His Silverfalls Vine shot forward as he activated Bind, his body surging after it without hesitation.

At the same time, on the flank, Raziel Phoenix had already reached Margery.

Instead of retreating, Margery stepped forward to meet him head-on. A sword materialized in her grasp, its violet blade wrapped in jagged arcs of silver lightning that crackled and hissed like living creatures.

With a casual swing, she slashed downward.

A bolt of silver lightning tore through the air toward Raziel Phoenix.

Raziel Phoenix bent his knees and launched himself skyward, narrowly evading the lightning while simultaneously closing the distance between them.

Unlike Alfred's Skyfrost Sword or Ye Xinglan's Stargod Sword, Margery's Thunderflash Sword did not fuse sword intent with the weapon itself.

Instead, it amplified lightning-attributed soul power, turning every swing into a conduit for thunder.

She raised her Thunderflash Sword high.

Lightning snakes erupted around her, writhing and coiling in a chaotic storm.

Her second soul skill—Chaotic Dance of the Silver Snakes.

From above, Margery looked down at Raziel Phoenix with calm confidence.

A ten-year-old with two soul rings was impressive, but in her eyes, it still couldn't compare to three rings. Reaching the third ring was a qualitative leap for soul masters. The third soul skill often marked a dramatic surge in combat strength.

She had unleashed Chaotic Dance of the Silver Snakes the instant Raziel Phoenix approached because it was specifically designed to restrain agility-type soul masters.

Lightning possessed both explosive force and paralysis. Against speed-based opponents, it was devastating.

The silver lightning bloomed like a radiant flower, swallowing Raziel Phoenix whole.

If this skill landed cleanly, paralysis would follow, and finishing him off would be trivial.

Margery had never lost to an agility-type soul master of similar rank. The moment they faced her, their defeat was practically sealed.

A faint smile had already appeared on her lips.

Then, it froze.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.