Chapter 85: Shadow Summoning
There were two types of curse casting: one through ritual witchcraft using a medium, and the other through incantations that inflicted short-term negative effects.
Although incantation-based curses were not as dangerous as ritual witchcraft, they had the advantage of requiring a much shorter preparation time.
With merely some suggestive dialogue or a particular scent, the spell could be cast rapidly.
However, this type of witchcraft demanded the caster to remain in a heightened emotional state throughout. If the emotional state was disrupted, the curse's effect would quickly dissipate.
As an outstanding student in the 《Basic Spellcasting》 class, Janna naturally knew how to dispel curses.
Conveniently, aside from spells that required incantations, she had also mastered a technique that only required gestures—【Soul Lash】.
Even though Janna had originally learned this spell solely to subdue rebellious Spirit Realm creatures during Contract Summoning...
She never expected that, rather than lashing contract creatures, the spell would be even more suited for forcibly interrupting spellcasting.
Accompanied by a flash of milky-white light, the Celestial Finch flapped its snow-white wings and swiftly landed on Janna's shoulder.
"Buzz—"
There was no need for Janna to say a word.
Upon seeing the situation on the field, the Celestial Finch immediately began forming a barrier.
At the same time, it fervently cast its newly comprehended 【Divine Blessing】 upon Janna, fearing its blessings wouldn’t be enough and that the "dark-skinned half-elf apprentice" across from her would exploit an opening.
"Master, she’s disappeared again."
Seeing that Janna had dispelled the 【Silencing Curse】, Bell Moonshadow, knowing she had lost the initiative, once again melted into the shadows.
Shortly after, mist gathered, and almost identically to last time, the same routine replayed in their duel.
"Aph, seal off your hearing."
Understanding Janna’s next move, the Celestial Finch instantly used its magic to block its non-existent ears.
"La la— La la la—"
The sound was as heavenly as the voice of angels, soft and whisper-like.
With the indiscriminate mental assault of the 【Siren Chanting】, even the apprentices observing from outside the arena were unknowingly charmed and dazed by the spell.
"Interesting."
As more apprentices were affected, Grace Eva, who had been closely monitoring the battlefield, gently raised her finger.
In an instant, a blood-red barrier enveloped the entire combat training field.
"What just happened? Why do I suddenly feel so dizzy?"
With the crimson barrier cutting off the mental assault from the 【Siren Chanting】, several apprentices who had only recently advanced to First Tier, and whose spirit power was relatively weak, shook their heads in confusion, looking at the mist-covered duel stage.
"Don’t make a fuss. You were just affected by Miss Janna’s witchcraft."
"Witchcraft? Are you saying I got hit by a spell?"
Still groggy, the newly advanced First Tier apprentice George was momentarily stunned upon hearing the explanation from a more capable peer.
"But we were so far away. How could her spell still affect us?"
"Isn’t that obvious? Sound-type witchcraft isn’t directional. If you don’t block your hearing in time, you’ll definitely be affected. Besides... that’s Miss Janna we’re talking about."
As that apprentice explained, it became clear—because it was Janna on the field, even an inconspicuous sound-type spell would possess such overwhelming power.
"How is there such a huge strength gap between us when we’re all First Tier apprentices?"
Looking at the blurry, slender figure within the mist, George couldn’t help but feel a pang of defeat.
"Found you!"
As the 【Siren Chanting】 continued, the mist that had filled the training ground suddenly dispersed.
Simultaneously, Bell Moonshadow, who had been hiding in the shadows, was exposed due to magical leakage caused by mental confusion.
"Vine Bind—"
With a graceful wave of her hand, seeds scattered.
The moment they touched the ground, verdant vines sprang forth like green serpents, swiftly slithering toward the shadow on the ground.
Just as the vines were about to completely entangle Bell Moonshadow, a pitch-black wolf-shaped creature, reeking of rot, launched a silent assault from behind Janna.
"Crack—"
Wolf claws pierced through, and cracks spread.
Watching as her protective barrier shattered like an eggshell, Janna made a split-second decision.
Emerald butterfly wings unfurled behind her, and with a light tap of her toes, she soared into the air just as the beast lunged.
"It’s a shadow creature?"
Failing to land its strike, the shadow beast swiftly retreated into the ground.
Meanwhile, Bell Moonshadow, who had been ensnared by the vines, vanished again during Janna’s brief distraction.
"To think she could summon a shadow creature in such a short time… no wonder she’s so confident."
Unlike the witchcraft of 【Contract Summoning】, 【Shadow Summoning】 was a distinct form of summoning spell exclusive to shadow apprentices.
Though the summoned shadow creature wouldn’t follow commands like those of a Contract Summon, it shared the same shadow-type magic and thus regarded the shadow apprentice as a kindred.
As long as others remained on the battlefield, the bloodthirsty shadow creature would first eliminate all outsiders before turning on its supposed "kin."
Therefore, unless Janna—the "outsider"—was taken down, the shadow creature wouldn’t attack Bell Moonshadow.
"Laura, hide yourself well. Don’t let the shadow creature find you."
"Hiss—"
In addition to the Celestial Finch summoned openly, the Thornflower Sprite had long since been summoned by Janna.
One operated in the open, the other in secrecy.
From the moment it was summoned, the Thornflower Sprite remained underground in bud form, awaiting Janna’s command.
"Aph, can you locate the shadow creature?"
"I can, by tracking its stench—though it's hard to pinpoint since it keeps moving."
"Keep an eye on it."
"La la— La la la—"
The ethereal chant flowed once more from Janna’s lips.
As the sound waves reverberated, she slowly descended, maintaining the 【Siren Chanting】 while scattering a large number of vine seeds across the training arena.
"It stopped! Ten o’clock direction!"
Under the continuous assault of the 【Siren Chanting】, the shadow creature weaving through the mist and darkness gradually slowed, caught in a daze.
In a flash, once the Celestial Finch had locked onto the target, a cluster of nearly one-meter-long thorny spikes shot up from the ground at the indicated location.
A shrill wolf’s cry accompanied the strike.
"Nice job, Laura!"