Konoha: Naruto will win no matter what choice he makes! Chapter 175

Despite Dark’s lowered voice, the microphone on the card table still amplified it.

Emma suddenly realized that she had been so engrossed in studying murals lately that she had neglected the most fundamental summoning practice!

Eight-second summoning, while fast enough for a junior magus of her age, was only on par with Victor Gold, far from matching Dark Demon!

By the time she completed two summons, Dark was already on the verge of completing his sacrificial summoning.

The gap in basic abilities between them was already like a chasm!

With so little skill, how could she even talk about “winning back”?

Emma felt endless shame at the opening declaration she had made, confident in her deck.

She stood on the contestant stage for quite some time.

By the time she came to her senses, the opposing contestant stage was empty.

…

As soon as Dark stepped off the stage, he was surrounded by students from the Noble House, who congratulated him on reaching the finals as the first-place winner of the winner’s bracket.

After politely responding, he led the Noble House students to Arena ②.

Diana was currently dueling against Contestant ⑦, Justin Wayne, there.

While Dark and Emma’s duel had already ended, Diana and Wayne’s duel seemed to have just begun, with both sides having two magic spirits on the field.

Wayne’s magic spirits seemed to be of the Knight series, a human knight and an orc knight, both fighting-type magic spirits.

On Diana’s field, there were [Bear Spirit] and [Earth Bear].

[Bear Spirit], under the enhancement of [Bear’s Strength], gained incredibly wild power!

However, Wayne seemed to have used a special magic card to immobilize it, so Diana could only barely cope with [Earth Bear].

But as the third bear was summoned, [Earth Bear], relying on [Bear’s Bond], simultaneously increased its magic, attack, and defense by 600 points!

This allowed it to gain powerful stats that even three-star magic spirits couldn’t have, despite being a two-star, and successfully defeated Wayne’s human knight.

Then, [Bear Spirit]’s immobilization was finally lifted.

Amidst the roars of the three bears, Wayne’s hastily summoned third magic spirit also failed to take effect, and Diana completely overwhelmed him.

The match finally entered the end phase.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side.

The Fool’s House student ⑭, who had relied on a large number of white cards to last until now, suffered defeat under Sara Swati’s strong offense.

The competition ended here, entering the decisive round of the loser’s bracket.

Emma, who had fallen from the winner’s bracket, would duel the winner between Diana and Sara.

The ultimate winner would once again challenge the champion of the winner’s bracket—Dark Demon!

…

Loser’s Bracket:

Arena ①: ② vs ⑨

…

Dark then realized that his initial calculation was slightly off; there would be an additional thirty-minute interval here, but it was harmless.

While preparing for the next round, Diana visibly tensed up.

She seemed particularly eager to fight her way back into the finals and contend for the championship with Dark again.

However, Sara Swati’s deck was stronger than imagined, and her summoning speed was even faster than Emma’s and Victor’s, making her the fastest first-year student after Dark.

In her duel with Dark, Sara had only used a targeted deck; she herself possessed powerful three-star magic cards that she hadn’t been able to summon.

And Diana’s strongest combination was [Bear Spirit] + [Bear’s Strength]; once [Bear Spirit] was restricted by [Sphinx Cat]’s “Shadow Stomp,” her combat power would be greatly reduced.

With both sides’ trump cards exposed, some outcomes were predictable.

Half an hour later, both contestants, having replenished their magic, entered the arena.

At this moment, besides Professor Jones who was still officiating, the other three professors were free.

They watched the duel from the sidelines and were not optimistic about Diana’s chances.

The result was as expected.

Diana stopped here, leaving the arena with a fourth-place finish among first-year students.

…

Next round.

Loser’s Bracket:

Arena ①: ⑤ vs ⑨

…

Emma Metis VS Sara Swati!

This match received no less attention than the winner’s bracket semifinals.

Due to there being only one arena, all first-year students gathered here.

Emma, as the representative of the Knight House, would duel Sara, the representative of the Magic House, for the decisive victory!

The Knight House and Magic House, which originally had little interaction, suddenly became tense.

Dark and Diana, who had broken free from her despondency, stood together, watching the match as spectators.

Both Emma and Sara had been defeated by him and sent to the loser’s bracket, and neither had been able to use all their magic cards in their duels with him. Therefore, watching this duel could also serve as intelligence gathering before the finals.

Dark watched very seriously.

Diana lively said, “Dark, who do you think has a better chance between the two of them?”

Dark pondered slightly, then shook his head, “Hard to say.”

The summoning speed between the two was limited; although Sara was faster, it wasn’t a qualitative leap.

And their magic cards all had their own strengths.

Therefore, it was truly difficult to make a judgment.

Diana pouted and said, “I think Sara will win.”

Dark curiously asked, “Why?”

Diana: “Because she beat me!”

Dark tightened his lips.

Rose teased from the side, “But Diana, during the first in-class competition, Sara was eliminated by Emma.”

Diana: “Times are different now!”

…

“Contestant ⑤ Emma Metis, Contestant ⑨ Sara Swati, both of you are outstanding representatives of your respective academies, and your learning attitudes are especially worthy of everyone’s emulation. Your ability to reach this point is entirely the result of your hard work and a demonstration of your knowledge. I hope you understand that while a magus does not require as high a level of knowledge as ancient magic, it is still a scholarly profession. Please, both contestants, enter the arena!”

Professor Jones’s voice echoed through the venue.

Emma and Sara ascended their respective contestant stages.

…

“Hey, I heard you lost in just one round?”

After Sara activated the card table, she said casually.

Emma’s face changed upon hearing this, the effect was excellent!

Recalling, she seemed to have regarded Dark as a rival from the very beginning of the school year, yet so far, she had only been a step faster in mural research, and that was when he wasn’t focused on it.

The previous round’s match made her realize her flaws, which she would work hard to correct in the future.

But all of this had nothing to do with the woman in front of her!

Emma replied somewhat angrily, “I lost in the second round, but didn’t you also lose in the third round? After I defeat you, I will return to the finals and contend with him again!”

Sara, however, smiled charmingly, “Coincidentally, that’s what I was thinking too!”

The temperature between the two dropped to freezing point, and a duel was on the verge of breaking out!

…

[Preparation Phase] [ 30s]

Both simultaneously drew cards!

Emma pursed her lips.

Sara’s mouth, however, subtly curved upwards.

But in reality, both had drawn the magic cards they wanted most.

…

[Battle Phase] [ 30s]

“Magic Summon!”

Sara drew a magic card and held it high in her hand.

Her summoning speed was faster than Emma’s, creating an overwhelming momentum.

Appearing in the blue summoning zone was a magic spirit that had not been summoned in her duel with Dark!

→ [Mummy of Death]!

It was a mummy completely wrapped in white bandages!

…

[Card Name: Mummy of Death]

[Type: Spirit Card]

[Level: ✪✪✪]

[Race: Undead]

[Attribute: Dark]

[Magic: 1000]

[Attack: 100]

[Defense: 1600]

[Finishing Move: Feigned Death]

…

The Mummy of Death was a full two meters tall, but its arms were tightly bound to its sides by bandages, its face only showing a slit at the eyes, and its feet were bound together, allowing it only to hop with bent knees, possessing no attack power whatsoever.

At the cost of only 100 attack points, the Mummy of Death gained a defense value exceeding 1500.

Its finishing move, [Feigned Death], had been used in a previous battle.

It was a manifestation of “death without stiffness”—it had two lives!

…

Upon its initial appearance.

The two bandages hanging from the Mummy of Death’s abdomen began to move.

This was its only attack method, but its attack strength was roughly equivalent to a one-star Eevee’s massage.

Under the gaze of the crowd, this mummy actually used its bandages to scoop up the floating magic orb in the air, wrapped it, and pressed it into its belly.

Its belly was originally bulging, but with each downward press, it actually became concave.

More than half of the magic orb was pressed into its belly like this!

The two bandages then wrapped around a few more times, completely securing the magic orb!

Then.

It hid in the corner of the field, turned its back to the field, and squatted down with its head in its arms!

…

This was Sara’s other tactical system—the Ostrich Tactic!

With the two-lived Mummy of Death, the magic orb was completely protected.

As long as the opponent could not break through the Mummy of Death’s defense, Sara would be invincible.

…

On the other side.

Although Emma was a bit slower, she also summoned her magic spirit.

It was the Golden Beast that had appeared before!

The Golden Beast’s attack power was only 1300, completely unable to penetrate the flawless Mummy of Death.

Emma’s face darkened slightly; she didn’t attack easily, but silently readied her CD.

Both sides appeared very calm.

A few seconds later.

Sara began to activate her second magic card.

It was a [Sphinx Cat]!

The appearance of the black hairless cat with golden eyes elicited cheers from the Magic House students who were familiar with it.

And Emma, after that, also summoned her second magic spirit.

It was not [Coin Bug], but another [ 777 Treasure Chest Monster]!

…

Unlike the common treasure chest monsters found in dungeons.

The [ 777 Treasure Chest Monster] had a lever on its side and a frame on its lid that displayed three parallel numbers.

Pulling the lever would make the numbers flip like a slot machine, from 0 to 9.

Once it landed on “ 777,” one would receive good luck.

…

[Card Name: 777 Treasure Chest Monster]

[Type: Spirit Card]

[Level: ✪✪]

[Race: Fairy]

[Attribute: Normal]

[Magic: 700]

[Attack: 700]

[Defense: 700]

[Finishing Move: 777]

…

As soon as the 777 Treasure Chest Monster appeared, it automatically pulled down the lever.

The three numbers on the treasure chest lid immediately began to flip.

Three seconds later, the lever sprang back, and the numbers stopped flipping.

→ [ 233]

The Treasure Chest Monster showed no change.

After a few seconds of silence.

It suddenly turned around and swallowed the magic orb!

The 777 Treasure Chest Monster did not possess the excellent defensive capabilities of the Mummy of Death, but it could run and jump!

…

The first round ended with the standoff of the four magic spirits.

Both sides surprisingly did not launch an attack.

But this was more like the calm before the storm.

[Second Round] [ 30s]

Draw card!

“Here it comes!”

Emma’s eyes flashed.

Among the two new cards in her hand, one was clearly [Coin Bug]!

She began to summon without hesitation.

The winged coin floated out, wobbling.

“Golden Parasite!”

Six tiny mechanical legs extended from the bottom of the Coin Bug, “clack”ing into the Golden Beast’s spine!

Then the parasitism began!

“Roar!”

Accompanied by the Golden Beast’s proud roar, liquid metal emerged from both sides of its body, forming a thicker golden armor on its body, and then a pair of golden wings suddenly spread!

[Magic: 1000→ 1300]

[Attack: 1300]

[Defense: 1500→ 1800]

The Golden Beast, suddenly spreading its wings and soaring high, with a single flap of its wings, stirred up a strong wind and instantly transformed into a golden arrow, shooting straight out!

…

Sara flicked her finger.

In her summoning zone, the newly summoned [Anubis Dog] let out a low growl, and the shadow beneath its feet immediately spread rapidly towards the Treasure Chest Monster.

Shadows first, stealth attack, that was [Shadow Hunt]!

The Anubis Dog’s body rushed forward along the shadow, and its sharp claws instantly slashed across, leaving three extremely obvious claw marks on the 777 Treasure Chest Monster’s body!

The 777 Treasure Chest’s magic value immediately dropped by about 200 points.

Only then.

The Golden Beast flew above the Mummy of Death.

But it didn’t attack with its claws, instead, it grabbed the Mummy of Death’s neck, attempting to drag it into the sky!

However, the [Sphinx Cat] arrived in a flash and stepped on the Golden Beast’s shadow!

“Shadow Stomp” activated.

The Golden Beast froze.

…

Despite this.

Emma was not flustered.

Sara’s [Sphinx Cat] had been exposed once before, and she had been prepared.

The summoning speed of both sides only differed by a little over a second.

Adding in actions like thinking, drawing cards, and the entry time of magic spirits when summoned, that small difference was almost negligible.

In the second summon of the second round, Emma used [Golden Casket]!

The Sphinx Cat was immediately attracted by the golden light emitted by the casket, and its eyes turned into the Φ symbol representing sacred coins.

For this round only.

The Sphinx Cat, under Emma’s control, interrupted “Shadow Stomp.”

The Golden Beast, now free, tore it apart with a claw!

The Sphinx Cat was left with only a sliver of health!

But a magic circle of blood suddenly appeared beneath its feet, instantly absorbing that last bit of health.

The Sphinx Cat vanished in a flash of light.

A grayish-white distorted shadow shot out from the blood magic circle, burrowing into the Golden Beast’s body.

The mechanical Golden Beast actually let out a painful wail!

…

…

Two-in-one 4100 words.