Chapter 323


    The arena fell into a hush, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop, as two thousand spectators held


    their breath in anticipation. The sh between the twobatants had escted from a tense


    standoff to a ferocious collision in what felt like only an instant, yet also seemed to stretch on for an


    eternity. However, any trace of illusion was shattered by vin''s brutal onught.


    Semar mmed hard onto the stone floor of the dueling tform. Her body felt as if it had been


    cleaved in half at the waist. A violent turmoil erupted in her chest and belly, and with a retching


    gasp, a spurt of blood burst forth as her delicate frame bent unnaturally.


    vin, swift as lightning, didn''t wait for her to fully hit the ground before his hand shot out and


    clenched her throat, hoisting her into the air with unyielding force. A dense, dark miasma invaded


    her mind, the murderous intent of the Shadowbringer!


    Semar''s screams ceased abruptly, her pupils dted, mouth agape, and body rigid. The sacred


    runes coursing through her were shattered and dispersed, and after a moment that seemed like an


    eternity, Semar''s consciousness spiraled into darkness. Her battered body was limp and lifeless in


    vin''s formidable grip, held high for all to see.


    The scene froze there as if captured in a painting. Silence persisted throughout the arena, a mix of


    terror, astonishment, confusion, and disbelief. Elite Protégés gasped, their bodies tingling as if


    struck by lightning.


    vin held Semar aloft, his brow furrowed in slight concentration, trying to recall the recent events.


    Was Semar regaining consciousness? At that moment, when all the runes had retracted into her


    body, it seemed her mind had cleared. Had the runes forcibly purged the killing intent? The


    Icebound had indeed shown its power.


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    Yet, the Shadowbringer had not disappointed vin, piercing through the Icebound and grievously


    wounding Semar. He never expected the Shadowbringer to be invincible, but this level of might was


    monstrous enough.


    The five Elders exchanged nces, seeing the gravity of the situation in each other''s eyes. The


    Shadowbringer was truly terrifying, virtually unbeatable. Even a Golden Protégé like Semar had


    been dispatched in an instant. What chance did the others stand?


    Niks and hispanions were also stunned. They had thought that both vin and Semar,


    having ascended to Advanced Mage status, wouldn''t have such a vast gap between them. But this


    was beyond even the disparity at the Novice Mage level.


    E''sughter was bright and clear. The Shadowbringer had not let her down, breaking through the


    Icebound without resistance. Semar had been arrogant, matching vin''s strongest move right


    from the start, clearly inviting defeat. Even E wouldn''t dare to challenge vin head-on.


    The atmosphere in the arena shifted rapidly to excitement as exmations and shouts filled the air.


    The crowd was deeply shocked.


    A one-hit defeat? This was aplete execution! Semar, the Golden Protégé, an idol to many, had


    been vanquished in a sh by vin!


    They had sensed that vin had changed, but not to this monstrous extent.


    vin set Semar gently back onto the dueling tform. Many Protégés rushed forward in a frenzy


    to carry her off for immediate medical attention.


    vin''s expression was calm, neither sad nor joyful, as he dispersed his Shockwave Cobra spell


    and issued a challenge to Felis and Admus. "Who''s next?"


    The faces of Admus and Felis turned sour as if they had swallowed bitter flies. They had schemed


    for this day to be their moment of glory, to step on the reputation of vin, the Shadowlord''s


    Messenger, and ascend to the pinnacle of the Organization. However, the reality was far from what


    they had envisioned.


    Semar''s Icebound crumpled like paper, and they knew they stood no chance against the


    Shadowbringer. If they went up, they would be struck down, one after the other, a humiliating


    prospect.


    How could this be? It wasn''t supposed to happen this way!


    The Icebound, gleaned from the wisdom of an ancient magical treasure, should have withstood


    vin''s killing intent. This was a hard pill to swallow!


    They had hoped to crush vin, not to further his legend.


    "What do we do, Roald?" the two asked, unable to maintain theirposure.


    Roald’s face was taut with tension. What could they do? He also wished to know. For the first time


    in his life, he felt like he had set a trap for himself.


    "Who will challenge?" vin called out again.


    "Come on, continue! Why has it ended before it even began?" someone in the crowd shouted, only


    to be silenced by stern res from other Protégés.


    Roald spoke in a grave tone, "Felis, you go. Speak inly with vin. Acknowledge the might of his


    Shadowbringer and propose an exchange of insights in other forms of Combat Magic. As long as


    vin refrains from using Shadowbringer, you have a chance to win."