The Sorcerer's Handbook

In the combat hall of Sword and Roses University.

Seeing Sonya lifted her sword and pointed it at Leona. The spectators froze. They all shared only one thought in their mind. What is she doing?

Felix, Sylvia, and even Angelica all shared the same bewilderment. And Sonya herself couldn’t escape it. What am I doing?

Leona, on the other hand, froze for a moment before covering her mouth and stomach, struggling to contain her laughter. After a long pause, she drew a deep breath, with traces of amusement still on her face, and tried to speak seriously. ”Sonya... are you serious? Are you challenging me? Leona Vikt?”

Inside, Sonya was practically screaming, It’s not real! I’m not serious! The Watcher made me do this! Watcher! You shameless little loudspeaker in a girl’s body!

Unfortunately, she couldn’t explain any of this, and she doubted the Watcher would show up again before the fight ended.

Everyone’s reaction was understandable. After all, Sonya was challenging the Leona Vikt.

At Sword and Roses University, Leona was legendary. Her talent, achievements, and endless scandals were favorite topics of gossip.

On her first day, she had bested every freshman in swordsmanship. By her second year, she had reached One-Winged Silver and became the apprentice of Nidala, the Rhythm Sword Saint. In her third year, she joined an Abyss expedition team, formed a squad with prodigies from Truth University, and returned with miracle after miracle. Even Truth University tried to recruit her. Many regarded her as a future Sword Saint and a candidate for the Sacred Realm.

Six months ago, she had started joining high-intensity Abyss expeditions, aiming to break through mid-battle and achieve her Gold Wing. That meant she had already fully developed her Silver Wing and achieved the complete One-Winged form.

By comparison, Sonya and Felix had only just entered the Virtual World a few days ago. Neither had even condensed a single silver feather. The gap between them was as wide as that between a child and an adult.

Mana only represented energy, and true combat depended on skill. Still, no one, not even Sonya, believed she had the slightest chance of winning. Leona had more spirit, had mastered Sword Class Miracles, and possessed Abyss combat experience.

The more Sonya thought about it, the more hopeless she felt. She fumed, Why did the Watcher set me up like this?. I might as well fight Lorian! Losing to him would only make people say he bullied someone weaker. But if I lose to Leona... people would think I’m arrogant, that I don’t know my place. And the way I spoke just now... It was so full of bravado!

If she lost badly, she wouldn’t even dare face Professor Trosan again. The thought made her blood boil. This was exactly like last time, when the Watcher had forced her to challenge Felix, leading to all kinds of trouble. And now he had done it again, only this time, it was Leona.

The Watcher wasn’t wrong, though. Sonya wasn’t upset, not at all. All she could think about now was strangling the Watcher later in the Virtual World.

But the words were out, and there was no taking them back. She clenched her teeth and nodded. ”That’s right.”

Leona smiled. ”Good. You have courage. As your senior in the swordsmanship department, I have no reason to refuse your challenge.

”But as a member of the Disciplinary Committee, I can’t allow a fight with such an enormous power gap on campus, so...”

She walked over to the rack and casually picked up a wooden practice sword. ”I’ll try to hold back, but anything can happen during combat. Let’s set fair conditions. If my sword touches your body even once, I lose. If your sword slips from your hand, I win. And of course, if you manage to knock my sword out of my hand, you win.”

Laughter rippled through the crowd. No one believed Sonya could make Leona drop her sword. The conditions Leona had set sounded less like rules and more like an impossible challenge.

Leona turned to Lorian and Felix. ”This rule applies to you two as well. Lorian, either defeat Felix without injuring him, or simply give up... As a third-year, don’t tell me you don’t even have that level of confidence.”

Lorian’s reply was cold. ”You can make the rules stricter if you want. I don’t mind.”

Felix remained calm. ”With such an easy victory condition, I see no reason to refuse.”

Leona looked back at Sonya. In that moment, it became clear to Sonya that this wasn’t a coincidence. Leona and Lorian had planned this long ago, and the incident with Sylvia had been nothing more than a convenient pretext.

Leona was the apprentice of the Rhythm Sword Saint, while she and Felix were apprentices of the Hidden Hand Sword Saint. Is this a showdown between the two Sword Saints within Sword and Roses University? Or is Leona merely testing us?

Either way, since Leona had set such a generous rule, Sonya had no reason to back down. A faint spark of fighting spirit stirred within Sonya, tinged with the sharp sting of being looked down upon.

She inhaled deeply and gripped the wooden sword in her hand. ”I have no objection either, Senior Leona.”

”Then I declare... the match begins!”

***

In the Shattered Lake Prison of Blood Moon Kingdom.

Ashe was alone in the empty cafeteria, picking at his Braised Pork Belly. He hadn’t seen another inmate all morning and couldn’t help but wonder if today was some kind of holiday. From the Death Match Club to the central hall, the reading room, the gym, and even the media room, the prison was deserted. The only people he spotted were a few wardens, lounging lazily and idly flicking through their light screens. It was as if everyone had agreed to stay in their cells all day.

He thought, Even if the inmates were inside, they would still need to eat. It’s impossible that everyone would spend contribution points to have their meals delivered, right?

Unease settled heavily over Ashe. He felt like a farmer watching his livestock uproot their nests and flee. It was a sure sign that disaster was approaching, yet he had no way to avoid it.

Halfway through his meal, Ashe froze. A light screen popped up on its own, and a cold, red notification reflected in his pupils.

[Dear Ashe Heath, inmate number 4001623. The Shattered Lake Prison formally notifies you that you are now under supervision. Please remain calm and cooperate with your supervisor’s instructions.]

He shot to his feet and moved toward the cafeteria entrance. He stood ramrod straight like a statue, with not even a quiver in his muscles.

Moments later, seven inmates filed in one by one. Each of them moved stiffly like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. All eight of them then lined up shoulder to shoulder, leaving only a fist’s width between each other. It looked almost like a militaristic formation.

Ashe recognized them all, from the elf swordsman Varkas Uhl to the Gourmet, Ronna’s little boyfriend. Each of them had a complicated expression on their face that revealed a mix of relief, fear, despair, and resignation. Yet no matter where Ashe looked, he read the same unspoken plea. Help me.

A tall, burly warden entered the cafeteria. His pale, menacing fangs gleamed as he offered the prisoners a faint smile. ”Hello, everyone. I’m your supervisor today, Nagu Macmillan. Nice to meet you. Let’s start with introductions. State your names from left to right.”

”Archibald Harvey.”

”Varkas Uhl.”

”Ronald Wade.”

”Rudo Enfield.”

When it was Ashe’s turn, he realized he couldn’t control his mouth at all. It opened mechanically. ”Ashe Heath.”

Once all eight had spoken, Nagu nodded in satisfaction. ”Today’s schedule is simple. Finish lunch, and this afternoon I’ll take you to watch a film, then to the sea-view platform for fresh air. Mm... due to the latest proposal from the Human Rights Association, you’ll have one hour to contact people outside, such as friends or family.

”As for after dinner, the arrangements are straightforward. If you have questions or suggestions, you may ask now.”

Ashe quickly raised his hand. Nagu’s gaze settled on him. ”Go ahead.”

Finally able to speak, Ashe swallowed and asked the question that had been nagging him. ”I want to ask... after dinner... what’s the arrangement?”

Ashe had more or less guessed it, but he still clung to a shred of hope.

Warden Nagu smiled. He had seen plenty of delusional death row inmates, and he didn’t mind crushing their hopes himself. Bringing despair was both a regulator’s duty and, in its own way, a source of pleasure.

”Dear Ashe, the arrangement after dinner... is, of course, to take you all to the live broadcast of the Blood Moon Tribunal.”