Sapphirose was covered in blood, her clothes torn and tattered, exposing her wounded skin. Of her once-magnificent black and white wings, only a single one remained, drooping lifelessly to the ground.

She swung the long blade in her right hand, pivoting swiftly to slash at Viktor's body. The blade gleamed coldly as it cut through the air, wrapped in sharp sword energy rushing straight ahead.

Viktor's invisible wind blade continued to spin in his hand. He held it horizontally before him, blocking the fierce sword wind before quickly flicking upward to deflect the incoming cold blade.

The massive blade in Sapphirose's hand lost balance from the impact. Her body trembled, stability failing. She tried to flip around as she fell backward - Bang! Her severe injuries prevented the maneuver. Her legs gave out and she crashed onto her back.

Looking up at the bright full moon hanging in the night sky, she heard Viktor's cold voice ring out:

"Continue."

Once again enduring the excruciating pain, Sapphirose propped herself up, held the long blade before her, and launched another attack at Viktor.

To him, her simple assault was meaningless. In just a blink, he blocked that slender cold light with his invisible blade. A single strike burst forth with massive sword energy, completely forcing her back.

She was thrown heavily against a huge tree nearby. The roots trembled and branches swayed as she nearly collapsed powerlessly.

"Continue."

At his command, Sapphirose staggered to her feet once more. This time, flames ignited around her body. A crimson blaze quickly coiled along the ground, instantly burning away the weeds below as it zigzagged toward Viktor.

But these fierce flames appeared as weak as a tiny candle in his eyes. He casually waved his hand, instantly forming a magic array behind him. Even more turbulent flames spread from the array, completely entwining and devouring the weeds.

Towering flames leaped up, hot tongues of fire licking the dry air, bursting out with shock waves that made Sapphirose's fierce flames waver unsteadily.

In the next second, her unleashed flames were blocked by Viktor's intense fire wall. As if being absorbed, they coiled around the wall before gradually dissipating. With no flames blocking the way, the air violently burst into a massive wave, completely engulfing the already unsteady Sapphirose.

"Continue."

"Continue."

"Continue."

...

Sapphirose heard Viktor's countless commands, dragging her severely wounded body to continue fighting. However, the result remained unchanged each time. She fell weakly to the ground, covered in dirt and blood, no longer able to stand.

At this moment, Vega's voice softly rang by Viktor's ear:

"Viktor, don't break her completely."

Hearing these words, the wind blade in Viktor's hand gradually dispersed along with the breeze. In his eyes, Sapphirose's health had dropped to an extreme low. Just a fraction more would have meant death.

Level 41

Viktor glanced at her level and spoke slowly: "It seems you don't have enough power yet."

In the game, Sapphirose had been the final boss of Chapter Three. Viktor clearly remembered how she appeared as an unreasonable stat monster to players then - extremely deep health and mana pools, incredibly high tenacity and resistance, with defense and attack at top-tier levels, not to mention her speed.

But the current Sapphirose was far from that powerful. Viktor gave her a bland look, showing no emotion. Though this situation was normal - after all, there were still two to three years before her official storyline would begin. Enough time for her to become as powerful as her future self.

A blood-red potion materialized before Sapphirose, rolling toward her with a gurgling sound.

"Drink it."

She could barely see the potion through her blurred vision, only able to feel around based on the red blur before her eyes. Finally grasping the hard bottle, she followed his command - propping herself up, pulling the cork, and bringing it to her lips. She threw her head back, swallowing every drop.

As the bottle emptied, a green aura gradually enveloped her body. Her wounds visibly began healing at an incredible speed as her limbs regained their strength.

Seeing this, Viktor put his left hand in his pocket while the invisible wind blade reappeared in his right. His coat moved without wind.

"Good. Let's continue."

...

The moonlight cast the waterfall in silver. Sapphirose let the clear, cold water wash over her fair body. The cool streams slid down her delicate skin, flowing along her gentle curves before gathering at the spring bottom in brilliant splashes.

But now with only one wing remaining, she stood silently under the waterfall like a mute puppet as spring water mixed with blood and dirt continued to wash over her.

Viktor stood quietly before her, his indifferent voice ringing out: "If you want to live like a human, there are some things you need to know."

He casually put both hands in his pockets, gazing deeply at her. Sapphirose seemed to awaken, raising her head in a daze. His shadow reflected in her emerald snake-like eyes.

Viktor's gaze cut like a knife across her remaining broken wing. Understanding his meaning, she slowly reached out her slender hand to tightly grab its base, then pulled hard.

Rip—

The tearing sound echoed as Sapphirose struggled to endure the intense pain, blood flowing down like a waterfall. She panted heavily, eyes bloodshot, her entire body trembling under the cold water's assault, seeming ready to collapse at any moment.

The blood quickly diluted in the clear water, gradually reddening the surface below. Viktor slowly walked before her, as if admiring her exceptionally fragile form bathed in moonlight.

The features on her gaunt face were perfectly proper, her silver hair reflecting a silvery radiance in the moonlight, appearing utterly pitiable after being washed by the flow. Without her wings, she was like an injured maiden, completely vulnerable.

"Not bad. Now, you are qualified to follow me."

Sapphirose endured the pain and raised her head. Those emerald snake-like pupils reflected Viktor's figure before she slowly bowed.

[Target Information Recorded—Viktor Kravina]

[Added to Whitelist]

...

The morning sun had just peeked over the horizon, but the Royal Magic Academy was already bustling. The matter of the academy dungeon had been fermenting since yesterday, now sparking heated discussion throughout society.

Many curious gazes focused on this practical combat assessment, the plaza outside packed with people. Although the crowd craned their necks in anticipation, a magic barrier separated them from the academy.

Due to the overwhelming numbers, the academy had issued an order - only students and parents of participating new students had the right to enter.

Under countless watching eyes, an elegant carriage slowly arrived at the academy gates. People consciously moved aside, making way. The door opened slowly as Erica stepped out.

She wore the Royal Magic Academy uniform, her golden hair lifting in the air - noble and elegant, like a perfect goddess emerging from the morning sun. Countless gazes were drawn to her appearance.

She was the royal capital's most talented young lady, last year's freshman valedictorian at the Academy. With her status as the duke's daughter, almost no one in the capital didn't know her.

But due to this year's extended assessment, several days remained until the academy opened. How did she have time to come today?

While others puzzled over this, Erica didn't enter immediately. She stood beside the carriage, quietly waiting. After a moment, Duke Levi slowly descended.

Seeing him, people's eyes widened in shock.

"That... that's Duke Levi!"

"What!? The Duke has returned to the capital?"

"The Duke is back!"

Duke Levi, absent from the capital for two months, had returned precisely when the dungeon opened for new student assessment. Could he also be here to observe Viktor's dungeon?

As people pondered this, Duke Levi smiled, nodding in greeting to the pedestrians on both sides.

Shortly after, another horse slowly rode up from behind the carriage. On its back sat a white-haired robust elder, his short sleeves and shorts revealing knotted muscles on his calves and arms.

He skillfully dismounted with a heroic leap. When Erica saw him, she bowed very politely.

"Uncle."

Seeing her show such respect, people couldn't help but wonder about this old man's identity.

Vladimir smiled and nodded to Erica before turning to examine the huge academy. Looking it up and down, he asked Levi: "This is that academy? I heard Viktor works here?"

Levi just smiled. "Why don't you go in and see for yourself?"

Vladimir leaned back, eyeing the gates ahead. "Ho, then I'll have to take a good look."

He strode directly toward them as pedestrians tried to warn him about the magical barrier preventing entry. But before they could finish, Vladimir suddenly frowned.

As if sensing something, he pressed his hand directly against the barrier. Ice crystals formed on his palm before his arm shook, frost quickly covering the entire barrier. Under the extreme cold, it suddenly shattered into countless fragments.

Everyone stared in shock as the entire magical barrier shattered. The old man seemed to have done something trivial, shaking his hand with a laugh before taking large strides inside. Levi and Erica followed, unsurprised.

The crowd was dumbfounded, unable to process the violent scene they'd witnessed. Someone had actually used brute force to shatter the academy's magical barrier!

Who was this expert?

Then some realized - with the barrier gone, wasn't this their chance to enter too?

But just as they stepped forward, Duke Levi turned back with a slight smile.

"Oh, my apologies, I forgot something."

His finger lightly touched the shattered barrier. Water immediately flew from his fingertip, wrapping up the scattered fragments and establishing a completely new water barrier that fully encased the academy.

The barrier continued to surge, and through its flowing waters the academy ahead became unclear to outside eyes. Someone curiously poked the restored barrier, only to become more frustrated - this new version was even thicker than before.