They didn't stop.

Seris twisted her body mid-step and rushed in again, her movements sharper than before. Mike shifted to the side anticipating her move and drove a sharp punch straight into her stomach.

Thud.

Seris was sent flying backward, skidding across the ground before rolling to a stop.

Mike frowned slightly. "You used Manasteel on your stomach."

Seris coughed, a bit of blood slipping from the corner of her mouth. She wiped it away and scoffed.

"Did you really think only you could turn your body into Manasteel whenever you want?" she said, forcing herself upright. "I've been studying this for two years too."

Despite blocking, her insides throbbed.

Damn it… that still did this much damage, she thought, breathing heavily.

Before Mike could move, Seris slammed her hand onto the ground.

Multiple magic circles lit up at once.

The two golem knights rushed toward her instead of Mike. Their bodies broke apart mid-run, separating into dozens of enchanted components—plates, joints, cores, cables of condensed mana.

They wrapped around Seris at high speed.

Click. Clang. Thoom.

In seconds, thick enchanted armor covered her entire body. The chest core glowed bright blue, lines of mana running through the armor like veins. Her arms ended in reinforced gauntlets, her legs heavier and stronger.

"This," Seris said, her voice echoing slightly from inside the armor, "is my latest creation."

She clenched her fist, mana roaring.

"Golem Armor."

The field went silent.

Students stared, mouths open.

Mike blinked once.

…Iron Man, he thought.

But bigger. And way more fantasy.

Seris took a step forward. The ground cracked under her foot.

"Now," she said, pointing at him, "try breaking this."

Mike rolled his shoulders, calm as ever.

"…Alright," he replied. "Let's see what it can do."

Mike stepped forward slowly, eyes fixed on the armor.

Mana surged around Seris as the golem armor fully synchronized with her movements. Each step she took was heavy and precise, the ground cracking under her weight.

She moved first.

Seris lunged, her armored fist swinging toward Mike like a battering ram.

Mike didn't dodge.

He raised his forearm and hardened it with Manasteel at the last moment.

Boom.

The impact sent a shockwave across the training field. Dust flew up. Several students staggered back.

Mike slid a few steps but stayed upright.

Seris was pushed back as well.

"Hah!" she laughed from inside the armor. "So you can block it—but can you keep up?"

Mana flared again.

Jets of compressed mana burst from the armor's back, propelling her forward at high speed.

She came in with a knee strike.

Mike twisted his body, barely avoiding a direct hit, and countered with a punch to the armor's side.

Clang.

The armor dented slightly but held.

"Tough," Mike said calmly.

Seris didn't let up. She followed with a rapid series of blows—punches, elbows, kicks—each one backed by golem-level strength and mana reinforcement.

Mike blocked most of them, redirecting the rest. His arms were starting to ache.

So this is her answer to raw power, he thought. Equipment plus control.

He stopped retreating.

Mana gathered around his right hand—not spreading through his whole body, just focused, tight, controlled.

Manasteel… reinforced with Sword Saint precision.

Seris noticed the change instantly.

"—!"

Mike stepped in and drove a straight punch into the center of her chest core.

Thud.

The glowing core flickered violently.

Crack.

A sharp fracture spread across the armor's chest plate.

Seris was launched backward, skidding across the ground in her armor before crashing into a barrier at the edge of the field.

The armor locked up for a second.

Smoke rose from the cracked core.

The field was dead silent.

Mike exhaled and relaxed his hand, letting the mana fade before it caused damage.

He walked toward her.

"You improved," he said honestly. "That armor's impressive."

The armor hissed as it disengaged. Plates separated and fell away, revealing Seris kneeling on one knee, breathing hard.

She looked up at him—and laughed.

"…I lost again," she said, wiping sweat from her face. "But I forced you to get serious."

Mike gave a small nod. "Yeah. You did."

Around them, the students stared in shock.

"That armor was damn cool!"

"Yeah, I want one too!"

"I wonder if Seris will sell those."

Whispers spread quickly through the training field.

Seris heard them and smiled to herself. Most of her income already came from selling artifacts to noble students. Showing off her creations like this was better than any advertisement.

If I raise the price by ten percent, they'll still buy it, she thought smugly.

She stepped out of the remaining armor pieces and stretched her shoulders. Then she looked at Mike with sharp eyes.

"I'll win next time," she said confidently.

Mike smiled faintly. "I'll be waiting."

Seris turned and walked away, her steps light.

Next time, I'll push him into an even harder fight, she thought, eyes shining. More pressure means better testing—and better sales.

Elina finally let out a breath she'd been holding.

"…You two are insane," she said.

Mike shrugged. "You're used to it by now."

Around them, instructors began clearing the field, and students slowly returned to their own training—but the excitement didn't fade.

Word spread fast.

Within days, Seris was flooded with requests from wealthy students and noble families, all asking about the golem armor. Even professors came to inspect it. Soon enough, the headmaster herself took interest.

The headmaster examined the armor personally.

She could wear it—but it gave her no real benefit.

That was expected.

She was Rank 8, while Seris was only Rank 2. It was natural that artifacts created by someone far weaker couldn't boost her power. However, for those around Seris's rank, the golem armor offered nearly a 50 percent increase in combat performance.

That was enormous.

Because of that, the academy officially commissioned Seris to produce more golem armor units—modified versions suitable for different combat roles. The academy paid her handsomely, and Seris's status rose overnight.

She was no longer just a talented student.

She was a strategic asset.

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