97 – Defeat

She wasn’t fooled?

Felicia was genuinely surprised by Teresa’s decisive response. According to common logic, having a seemingly lethal blow taken head-on should leave one shaken—questioning everything, doubting their own strength. For most new students, lacking mental fortitude, that sort of psychological disruption was almost inevitable.

As the saying goes, attacking the fortress is secondary; breaking the spirit is primary. Every battle is a contest of both body and mind. Often, mental resilience outweighs physical strength.

Yet the golden-haired girl before her was a rare exception. Her mind remained entirely unmoved. Her response was simple and direct—brutal, even—but effective.

Was it reckless bravery? Or a calculated decision?

Either way, Teresa’s charge had certainly posed a real threat.

But only a threat. Nothing more.

Charging alone into enemy lines while the Divine Child was out of action and the Priest's Divine Authority still on cooldown meant Felicia was the only functional force on their side.

She had to hold back Teresa’s assault single-handedly—but she knew nothing about Teresa’s Divine Authority or Domain.

So far, all they’d seen was that Teresa could fire light arrows and manifest blades—but the details remained unknown.

Coincidentally, that was also what Teresa was thinking.

She knew this was a rare window—Felicia, temporarily weighed down by her teammates’ buffs and limitations, was not at full mobility. The others couldn’t interfere. This wasn’t a cornered situation—it was an opportunity!

Felicia swung her massive Crown Greatsword from her shoulder, grasped it in both hands, dragging it across the ground as she faced Teresa's charge. Her hair and cloak fluttered behind her, amber eyes fixed on the girl with billowing golden locks. She raised the greatsword across her body.

Clang! Clang!

The dual Earth Blades clashed with the Crown Greatsword, sparks bursting from the collision.

Teresa was forced back a step. The sheer force of impact left her arms tingling and her knees bending under the pressure.

Close-quarters combat was the most favorable option—but as her blades met Felicia’s, Teresa realized she’d overlooked something crucial.

She had focused too much on comparing stats—and forgotten that some things didn’t show up in Divine Appraisal.

Like experience. And skill.

Before she could press her advantage, Felicia took the initiative instead. Her massive sword, with its extended reach, allowed her to strike first.

The stone-like sword came crashing down with immense weight, forcing Teresa to raise both blades to block it.

All of Felicia’s force—the sword’s heft, her strength, her full momentum—was transmitted directly into Teresa’s arms and shoulders. She was almost crushed under it.

With just a single clash, Teresa had lost the upper hand and was trapped in a deadlock.

Realizing she couldn’t win in a drawn-out duel, she tried to shift her weight, lower her stance, and absorb some of the force—but Felicia immediately saw through her intent.

Felicia pressed harder, pushing down ruthlessly. Her greatsword bore down relentlessly, as if determined to grind Teresa into paste.

Even with just these few exchanges, Felicia had sized up Teresa’s swordsmanship.

It wasn’t that Teresa was completely untrained—but she lacked real technique.

To Felicia, it was clear: Teresa knew a few moves, but didn’t know how to properly redirect force. Her understanding of swordplay was limited to swinging blades, not integrating body mechanics, movement, or timing.

Not a complete novice, but not much better either. That was Felicia’s assessment.

She tilted her body forward slightly. Her armored boots rooted into the ground, and she began applying her full body weight onto the greatsword.

Teresa’s arms began to shake. Her shoulders ached. The sword’s edge crept closer.

At the critical moment, a wave of pink light enveloped her—Wenfu’s Divine Authority.

Teresa’s strength surged. She twisted aside, evading the crushing blow just in time.

Boom!

The Crown Greatsword slammed into the ground with earth-shaking force, throwing up sand and gravel. The shockwave whipped Teresa’s golden hair into the air.

Even after escaping the clash, Teresa didn’t relent. She pressed forward, slashing at Felicia with both blades.

At this distance, the heavy greatsword couldn’t possibly parry in time.

Just as Teresa prepared to strike, a sudden burst of impact hit her stomach.

Her eyes widened.

A silver-tipped hilt jabbed hard into her abdomen—Felicia had used the sword’s hilt to strike like a spear.

Teresa was sent flying.

You can attack with the hilt too...?

Indeed. Felicia hadn’t even tried to bring the sword back. She had simply pivoted and rammed Teresa with the hilt.

Wenfu clenched her fists in silence. Even she, an outsider to melee combat, could see the difference in level—Felicia’s swordsmanship was on an entirely different plane.

Teresa landed roughly and stumbled back several paces.

Though she hadn’t suffered serious injury from the blow, her assault had ended in failure.

She heard a crisp crackling sound behind her—it was her longbow, groaning in protest from the force of that blow.

Felicia’s strength was incredible.

Teresa looked at the two blades in her hands.

Her plan had been to launch a physical attack while Felicia’s physical resistance was still at its lowest—forcing her to move and take damage in the process.

But now, she saw her oversight.

Unless she triggered the second effect of [Sanctuary of Sacred Wood], she couldn’t match Felicia in close combat.

Without forcing Felicia to move, she couldn’t hurt her.

She remembered clearly—Felicia’s Domain ability granted her complete immunity to physical damage while stationary.

And with Anna’s [Conservation Sorcery] covering her Divine Authority weakness…

If even melee attacks couldn’t shake her…

Then maybe Felicia really was invincible.

Absolutely flawless.

The second half of [Sanctuary of Sacred Wood] couldn’t be triggered by herself.

Should she… activate that?

The other effect of [Sacred Oblivion]...

As soon as the thought emerged, Teresa suppressed it.

That power was unstable. If she used it, [Sacred Oblivion] would become unusable for a long time.

She could win here. She might even defeat Felicia.

But what about Astrid?

Only those who took first place would be remembered by history.

She wasn’t aiming for bronze. Nor silver.

She had to think ahead—for the championship.

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