Chapter 87: Basic Transfiguration
Bang!
Filth spread, shadows invaded.
Just as the [Corrosive Blade] was about to pierce the deep pink flower bud, completing the shadow contamination, the petals suddenly bloomed.
A nearly two-meter-tall treant with a grotesque face abruptly appeared at the center of the bud, raising its brown bark-covered palm to block the attack of the [Corrosive Blade].
“Grotesque-Faced Tree Demon!? Could it be her third contract summon!?”
Seeing the "Grotesque-Faced Tree Demon" less than an arm's length away, Bell Moonshadow decisively abandoned her offensive, preparing to distance herself.
However, compared to Bell Moonshadow's reactive movement, the Thornflower Sprite, already poised, directly swung its thorns to tightly entangle Bell Moonshadow's limbs.
But, unlike the previous encounter, no matter how tightly the thorns constricted, Bell Moonshadow's skin seemed coated with a layer of plaster, rendering the thorny barbs incapable of piercing her skin to inject toxins.
“Stone Skin Spell?”
Observing the gray, stone-like coating on Bell Moonshadow's skin, Janna felt speechless.
She hadn't expected that in just a few weeks, the victory-driven Bell Moonshadow had practiced witchcraft entirely aimed at countering her.
“Then I hope you think carefully about how to deal with this move of mine next time.”
Watching Bell Moonshadow continuously struggle against the thorny restraints, Janna immediately canceled the [Grotesque-Faced Tree Demon] transformation and began chanting again.
“Everchanging Form.”
Her figure elongated, rapidly growing taller. Accompanied by a significant consumption of magic power, Janna perfectly utilized the three-minute time limit to swiftly complete a second transformation—the [Ogre Flower] form!
“Impossible!”
Eyes wide open, as the nearly two-meter-tall "Grotesque-Faced Tree Demon" reverted to Janna's appearance, Bell Moonshadow felt her heart skip a beat.
However, when Janna once again transformed from human form, right before Bell Moonshadow's eyes, into a bizarre red flower over two meters tall, Bell Moonshadow was so shocked that she even forgot to struggle.
A gentle breeze blew, and the mist gradually dispersed.
Since the entire duel had taken place under a dense fog, the apprentices outside, unable to see the situation within, could only wait idly for the final result.
As time passed, the once thick fog rapidly dissipated within a few breaths.
“The fog has finally cleared; it seems the result is out—”
The apprentices, previously bored, lifted their heads in unison upon seeing the outcome of the first duel about to be revealed.
“Who do you think will be the first to fall in this duel?”
“It certainly won't be Miss Janna—”
“That's not certain. This time, the arena simulates a swamp environment, which is more advantageous for Bell, who possesses the [Fog Affinity] talent...”
“But Miss Janna won the last match!”
“I'm just stating facts, not targeting anyone. You don't need to get so agitated.”
As someone with a strong fan base, Janna's supporters couldn't tolerate any unfavorable comments about her. Of course, for those apprentices merely watching for entertainment, they were more concerned about the outcome.
Although Janna had demonstrated exceptional combat talent in recent Defense Against Dark Magic classes, outdoor duels were heavily influenced by the environment.
Objectively analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of both sides, the swamp setting clearly favored Bell Moonshadow, who had the [Fog Affinity] talent.
“Whoosh—”
The wind rose again, and within a few breaths, the fog enveloping the arena completely vanished.
“What is that?”
A green flower stem, crimson petals—though the flower stood over two meters tall, from a distance, it still exuded a captivating and eerie beauty.
The source of the eeriness was the two human legs dangling beside the closed flower bud.
“Ptooey!”
The flower bud opened and closed, and with a rather human-like "spitting" motion, a limp, deeply unconscious humanoid figure was expelled from the bud.
“It's an Ogre Flower! No doubt about it! I've seen this magical plant beast in the magical creature breeding room—”
Before the sharp-eyed apprentice could finish speaking, the Ogre Flower standing on the arena rapidly shrank.
In the blink of an eye, the flower stem writhed, petals receded, and a girl, her face pale from excessive magic consumption, stood quietly in place.
Only at this moment did the stunned apprentices realize that the bizarre and terrifying Ogre Flower was actually Janna transformed!
“Unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable! That was transfiguration!?”
“It's basic transfiguration! And the target was one of the most difficult magical creatures to transform into—”
“How do you know so much?”
“Because I also attended this week's transfiguration class—”
Watching the girl on stage, her figure swaying slightly from magic overuse, a male apprentice who had attended the same transfiguration class as Janna felt a complex mix of emotions and shock that words couldn't describe.
“Looks like... there's no need for me to continue attending the next transfiguration class...”
“It's not just a waste of money but also a waste of time.”
Moreover, watching others succeed while remaining stagnant oneself can be truly disheartening.
“Cleaning Spell.”
Seeing Bell Moonshadow in a state of shock due to the Ogre Flower's neurotoxin, Janna mustered a trace of magic to cast a cleaning spell on Bell Moonshadow, who was covered in sticky flower nectar.
“That should be about right.”
As a qualified opponent, Janna had preserved Bell Moonshadow's dignity.
Of course, if others saw Bell Moonshadow's disheveled state, covered in strange mucus, Janna's efforts might seem slightly flawed.
“Do you still have magic to detoxify her?”
A sudden voice sounded from behind.
Turning slightly, Janna saw Grace Eva standing there and simply shook her head.
“If you can't detoxify her, then forget it. Remember, in future battles, don't exhaust all your magic power. Otherwise, this habit will only harm you.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Professor Eva.”
Seeing Janna's consistently humble and polite attitude, Grace Eva, who rarely offered private guidance, nodded in satisfaction.
Then, with a slight movement of her finger, accompanied by a trace of blood-colored light flowing from her fingertip, both the limp Bell Moonshadow and the staggering Janna were transported by Grace Eva back to the muddy swamp outside the combat training ground.