Chapter 52 – Retaliation After Endurance

To say Teresa was at a disadvantage on the battlefield might be putting it mildly—it would be more accurate to say she was being beaten the entire match.

In terms of speed, strength, and endurance, she was completely outclassed by Irene. Chased around the arena by a Divine Princess who hadn’t even activated her Domain or Authority, anyone with eyes could see the chasm between their abilities.

This was a match utterly devoid of suspense.

“Thud!”

Irene landed yet another whip-kick, sending Teresa staggering backward.

Attack after attack came at her from all directions, and it was honestly a wonder her small frame could still hold up under the punishment.

The mentors shook their heads as they watched. They’d only come here to witness the brilliance of newcomers like Felicia and Astrid—any other matches were just sideshows.

The students yawned and grumbled, some nearly dozing off.

“What’s the point of staying up there embarrassing herself like that?”

“She should just give up already.”

Standing beside Estel, Frand picked up on all the chatter with his sharp elf hearing and smiled in satisfaction.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

Knock her down again and again, let her struggle to get back up, then knock her down again—without finishing her off. Repeat. Humiliate her publicly. Break her pride in front of everyone.

She had only herself to blame for refusing to yield.

And since she wouldn't surrender, he’d continue to humiliate her—until she was forced to crawl and beg for mercy.

Another punch crashed into Teresa’s chest. The large cushion of soft flesh absorbed the blow, but this time she looked like she couldn't take it anymore and collapsed to the ground.

The whole match, she hadn’t fired even once. Or more accurately—she never got the chance.

Irene’s relentless assault had left her no time to aim.

“Still not ready to surrender?”

Irene smirked as she approached the gasping girl lying on the ground.

After the exchange, her own clothes were torn in places, covered in bruises and dirt, making her look grimy and battered.

“If you don’t speak up, I might just start using the whip~”

She slashed the whip down beside Teresa’s head, the sound splitting the air like flesh being torn open.

“............”

Teresa said nothing. Her breath came shallow and quiet.

“Tch. Still putting on a brave face? Let’s see how long that lasts.”

Irene raised the whip again.

And then—

The girl who had seemed barely conscious suddenly moved. Teresa seized the tip of Irene’s whip and pinned it under her body!

Irene froze in disbelief.

Teresa lifted her eyes, and for the first time, Irene truly saw her.

Those emerald eyes that had been dim and defeated moments ago now gleamed with piercing, razor-sharp brilliance.

Teresa knew—this was her only chance.

From the moment the match began, she had known that the likelihood of hitting Irene was extremely low. So rather than waste her one precious shot, she had waited—waited for the moment it would absolutely land.

And so, she’d crafted a deception from the start: acting like a girl unfamiliar with firearms, nervous, clumsy, unable to even pull the trigger properly.

She endured the pain, swallowed her pride, allowed herself to be beaten—never fighting back.

She played the role of someone who wanted to retaliate but just didn’t know how.

Sure enough, as she predicted, Irene had subconsciously accepted this as truth:

Teresa was just carrying a flintlock for show. She didn’t even know how to use it.

But that wasn’t enough.

Teresa had to look on the verge of collapse—to truly lure her in.

Her eyes turned cold and resolute.

This was her creed: Never give up. Seize the one sliver of hope. Fight back with everything.

In any normal situation, Irene would have seen it coming. But she had been thoroughly lulled by Teresa’s feigned weakness—and now, she was a step too slow.

Teresa stomped the whip down, knelt, and raised the flintlock.

“Boom!”

Powder ignited. The bullet fired.

A cloud of white smoke erupted as the bullet struck Irene—who hadn’t had time to activate her Domain—sending her flying backward.

The stands erupted into chaos. Gasps and shouts echoed everywhere.

Everyone stared at the bruised, dirtied, yet upright golden-haired girl in shock.

“She used her opponent’s arrogance against her... and struck back...”

Felicia murmured, gazing at Teresa in thought.

“This girl has a very clear understanding of her enemy’s strengths—and her own weaknesses.”

“Even a lion uses full strength when hunting a rabbit. Don’t look down on others so easily.”

Teresa wiped the dirt from the corner of her lips, tossed aside the flintlock, and drew the dagger at her waist.

The once bunny-like girl now radiated the fierce light of a lone wolf.

The shot had landed—but it wasn’t over yet.

She only had one chance. To win, she had to make sure Irene was truly down.

Teresa moved forward, dagger in hand, ready to finish it.

The audience watched in stunned silence at the sudden reversal. Drowsy spectators jolted awake, blinking in disbelief.

“She turned it around??”

“What just happened...?”

“No way... Did a Wild Divine Princess beat a regular one?”

Felicia calmly observed the turn of events, her expression unchanged.

If Teresa’s next strike landed—if she hit Irene before she could activate her Domain—it was indeed possible she’d win.

But...

Unfortunately, her opponent wasn’t just any class.

She was a Divine Princess.

Teresa lunged, blade aiming for Irene’s chest. Victory was within reach.

But at that critical instant—she felt her arm stop. It wouldn’t move.

Shocked, she found her other arm also immobilized.

What... is this?

She stared, wide-eyed, at the black vines extending from a swirling void.

“Heh... heheheh... you filthy brat... you DARED to hurt me?”

Irene’s voice came next—warped with rage.

The flintlock hadn’t even knocked her out? But Teresa had aimed for her head...

Teresa quickly activated Divine Appraisal.

Irene now wore a tight black bodysuit that hugged her curves, complete with high heels. Her hair was braided, and the sound of her whip dragging across the floor was sharp as ever. Her eyes burned with fury.

Name: Irene Cardifen

Divine Domain: [Scourging Sanctuary] LV7

Physical Resistance: 4

Magic Resistance: 3

Alchemy Resistance: 3

Divine Authority Resistance: 1.5

Effect: When wielding a whip, striking a target grants a “Pleasure” status. Stackable.

Divine Authority: [Inquisitor] LV5

Effect: Summons [Inquisitor] entities from all directions to bind the enemy. Maximum summon: 2.

Teresa had succeeded in enraging Irene—and forcing her to finally reveal her Domain and Authority.

Irene stared at the bound Teresa with a stormy, conflicted expression.

She hadn’t lost the match... but she hadn’t really won, either.

To struggle that much, to be caught off guard by a Wild Divine Princess with no Domain...

Even winning felt like losing.

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