Chapter 157: Tempting Song
Chapter 157: Tempting Song
Azure ripples spread across the vast pool as sunlight filtered through the transparent dome specially designed for the School's training arena, casting dappled shadows across the water's surface.
The protective barrier surrounding the arena shimmered with a faint glow, serving dual purposes: preventing combatants from escaping while safeguarding the spectators from stray attacks.
Inside the grandstand, every seat was occupied as apprentices from all ranks filled the circular spectator tiers, their conversations creating a steady hum of anticipation.
For those who spent their days immersed in the harsh realities of cultivation and perilous experiments, the blood arena provided one of the few opportunities for relaxation. The annual combat spectacle always drew massive crowds, with some high-ranking apprentices willing to spend precious Mana Shard Fragments just to secure prime viewing positions.
At the pool's center, a silver-haired siren with an elegant figure glided effortlessly through the water. Her elongated fish tail moved with mesmerizing grace, each stroke generating perfectly circular waves that demonstrated her exceptional control. Her silver tresses flowed like liquid silk, while her striking purplish-red eyes remained fixed on her opponent with intense focus.
Her adversary was a massive blue-scaled fishman standing over three meters tall. His upper body was protected by natural scale armor, while his lower half featured a powerful fish tail with razor-sharp fin edges. The stark size difference made them appear like creatures from completely different worlds.
The fishman wielded a rusted trident, his face twisted with malice as jagged fangs protruded from his mouth. This battle-optimized creature had been genetically enhanced, his muscular frame radiating an undeniable aura of violence. Each swish of his tail created powerful water currents that testified to his immense strength.
"That fishman's a rare specimen captured by the Deep Divers", explained an Intermediate Apprentice to his companion, his voice tinged with excitement. "They say it can tear adult demon sharks to shreds in deep-sea environments. I personally witnessed it devour a sea python in three bites during its last match. Its master reportedly spent hundreds of Mana Shard Fragments to acquire it."
"Then who's that siren? She looks like an ordinary bloodline type, and quite young at that", his companion asked with visible confusion. "This match seems too lopsided – it's practically a suicide mission."
"She belongs to Apprentice Luo En from the Backup Mage Sequence", the first apprentice whispered reverently, lowering his voice. "You know, the prodigy who advanced from Sixth Class Star to Intermediate Apprentice in under a year. What's amazing is that he rescued this siren from near-death conditions less than half a year ago..."
He paused dramatically before adding, "While the match appears unbalanced, insiders have been placing heavy bets on her. In previous elimination rounds, she's already defeated three opponents twice her size."
At the referee's signal, the battle commenced.
With a thunderous roar that rippled through the water, the fishman charged forward like an arrow, his trident carving a deadly arc through the liquid battlefield. The size difference became painfully apparent as his massive form cast a shadow large enough to engulf Daire completely.
A typical siren would have no chance to escape such an attack, likely being impaled before even realizing what happened. Yet Daire showed no fear – instead, her lips curled into a chilling smile.
At the last possible moment, her body twisted impossibly in the water, as if boneless, easily evading the lethal strike. Simultaneously, she released a haunting melody – a sound wave that traveled outward in visible ripples.
"Ha-la~"
This ancient-sounding syllable carried an enchanting quality that momentarily mesmerized its target.
"Huh?" The fishman hesitated, his movements slowing as confusion flickered through his murky eyes.
Daire swiftly maneuvered to the pool's center, beginning to circle her opponent with perfect precision. Her flowing silver hair created mesmerizing arcs, like elegant ribbons slowly ensnaring prey.
Snarling, the fishman shook his head to clear the lingering daze before raising his trident for another assault. This time, however, Daire didn't evade – she advanced straight toward him, arms spread wide in what appeared to be an embrace.
"She's insane!" someone shouted from the stands. "This is pure suicide!"
As the trident neared Daire's chest, the water erupted. Dozens of water spheres struck the fishman's joints and eyes with surgical precision. Though they appeared soft, these projectiles contained highly concentrated acid that caused searing pain on contact.
The fishman howled in agony, blinking furiously to clear his vision. Seizing this opportunity, Daire closed the distance. Instead of attacking directly, she began singing.
Her voice, like celestial music, created strange resonances throughout the pool. Each note carried raw mana energy, causing the entire arena to tremble. Spectators found themselves involuntarily drawn into the melody, their minds becoming hazy. Some weaker-willed intermediate apprentices even swayed slightly, as if caught in a light hypnotic trance.
This wasn't ordinary singing – it was the siren's signature "Sonic Resonance" ability capable of directly influencing spiritual states. Ancient legends spoke of ships crashing against rocks and sailors leaping into the ocean, all lured by such deadly beautiful songs.
"Amazing technique!" someone marveled. "Is this the legendary 'Tempting Song' unique to sirens? I thought only adult specimens could master it!"
"It's indeed a spell-type ability, but even more potent than normal siren effects", explained an elder high apprentice, his eyes gleaming with professional appreciation. "This level of sonic control requires incredibly pure bloodline heritage. Something extraordinary must have happened to this young siren's bloodline."
The fishman's movements grew sluggish, his expression increasingly vacant. Daire's melody wrapped around his consciousness like an invisible net, tightening its grip. His eyelids drooped, his trident slipping from weakening fingers as he drifted downward.
Completely entranced, caught between wakefulness and slumber, the fishman could only watch helplessly as Daire approached and whispered directly into his ear. The venomous melody seeped into his very being like a serpent's hiss.
"This young siren's talent is remarkable", another high apprentice observed thoughtfully. "Her innate 'Tempting Song' ability has reached levels rivaling advanced spirit system spells – something extremely rare even among adult sirens. What kind of bloodline formulation did her master perform on her?"
Just as the fishman neared complete unconsciousness, Daire's demeanor shifted. Baring her sharp teeth, she lunged forward, clamping her jaws onto his exposed neck.
"Ahhh!" The fishman snapped back to awareness, screaming in pain – but it was far too late.
Crimson bloomed in the water, forming a blood cloud. Daire's teeth dug deep into her opponent's flesh, greedily sucking the life force mana from the wound. Her eyes burned with rabid hunger, their purplish-red hue glowing ominously in the aquatic battlefield.
Gasps echoed through the stands as the cute siren revealed her terrifying predatory side. The fishman thrashed violently, desperate to dislodge the small but monstrous parasite clinging to him.
Daire refused to let go, feeding like a ravenous vampire. Each bite tore through vital areas, her precision honed like a master predator. Around her, the water began spiraling faster and faster, forming a miniature vortex.
The vortex expanded rapidly, engulfing the fishman in its deadly embrace. Blood and flesh fragments spun violently within the watery prison – a nightmarish scene straight from the depths of hell.
"Good heavens", someone whispered, their face pale with terror. "This resembles some ancient deep-sea predator's atavistic form. What kind of bloodline experiment did Luo En perform on her?"
The fishman released one final, despairing cry before being completely shredded by the vortex. His body compressed, disintegrated, and finally vanished entirely into Daire's waiting mouth.
The horrifying spectacle left the arena momentarily silent before erupting into deafening cheers. In this supernatural world governed by strength, such terrifying predatory ability had earned the crowd's respect and excitement.
"The victor – Daire, combat slave belonging to Apprentice Luo En's faction!"
At the highest tier of the grandstand, several watching mentors whispered among themselves.
"This young siren shows tremendous potential", commented Soreng Griffiths, his neatly combed hair and formal robe exuding authority. "Her bloodline purity is exceptional, and she appears capable of absorbing prey traits. Luo En's bloodline formulation techniques are advancing at an incredible pace." As this was the final elimination match and featured an apprentice he had taken special interest in, he had made a point to attend.
Meanwhile, in the most secluded corner of the stands, a tall figure cloaked in veils held a crystal orb, meticulously recording the entire battle. Since Luo En had other pressing matters to attend to, he had entrusted this duty to his disciple. Liliya remained completely focused on Daire's battle performance.
Moreover, the tree spirit couldn't stray too far from the workshop at this critical juncture.
Liliya held the crystal orb, a specialized tool Luo En had recently crafted for potion-making. Its surface bore intricate recording runes capable of capturing the delicate processes of mana flow and bloodline transformation in stunning detail.
While ordinary spectators could only see the surface-level changes, Liliya peered into the orb to witness the mesmerizing dance of Daire’s bloodline mana—its currents and transformations revealed in breathtaking clarity.
"The terrifying thing about the 'Gluttonous Appetite' Special Innate Talent", Liliya murmured to herself, her eyes gleaming with scholarly fascination, "is its ability to completely absorb every advantage from its prey."
Inside the crystal orb, motes of mana traced precise trajectories. The deep-sea adaptability, strength, endurance, and even partial water element resistance of the merman opponent were now seamlessly integrated into Daire’s bloodline.
This wasn't mere consumption—it was advanced bloodline assimilation and refinement.
Liliya gently caressed the orb, her face alight with genuine admiration. Her mentor’s bloodline formulation techniques had reached an almost unfathomable level, enabling a juvenile siren to undergo such a dramatic transformation in mere months.
"If I could master just a tenth of his skill, I’d be content", she whispered, a flicker of longing in her eyes. "Still, with my current aptitude and innate talent, there’s a long road ahead."
As the battle ended, spectators began filing out, though a few apprentices remained, buzzing about Daire’s astonishing victory. Liliya carefully returned the crystal orb to a specially designed pouch before heading toward the waiting area to retrieve Daire.
"Big sister Lily!"
Daire sprang from the pool, her silver hair glinting like liquid moonlight in the sun. "I won!"
Her youthful, innocent demeanor had fully returned, the previous bloodthirsty warrior nowhere to be seen.
"Excellent work, Daire", Liliya praised, handing her a soft towel. "Your master will be proud."
Daire beamed as she dried herself. "That big guy wasn’t tough at all! Compared to Master’s training sessions, this was a breeze. After every practice, Master gives me special 'treats'—they taste way better than today’s merman!"
Liliya smiled, pride warming her chest. This was Luo En Workshop’s hallmark—each creation surpassing ordinary expectations.
"Shall we return home now?" Daire asked, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I want to tell Master about my victory! I can’t wait to describe how I devoured that big brute!"
"Not yet", Liliya shook her head, her own eyes gleaming mysteriously. "We have another important mission—I need to complete my Elementary Apprentice qualification certification."
Daire’s eyes widened. "Big sister Lily’s becoming an apprentice too? That’s wonderful!"
Actually, this gladiatorial event had been postponed a month due to the Aolifu incident. Members of the Backup Mage Sequence were typically too occupied with their own research and tasks to attend such elimination matches, leaving their assistants to handle oversight duties.
The two walked along the stone path outside the Arena toward the School’s Central Hall. Autumn sunlight bathed them in warmth, softening the Black Mist Jungle’s usual chill.
"Why didn’t Master come?" Daire asked, her lower lip pouting adorably. "I performed so well!"
"Your master is preparing for something far more critical", Liliya explained gently but firmly. "He’s dedicating himself fully to plans that will shape our future. And he has complete confidence in your abilities—he knew you’d overcome your opponent."
Seeing Daire’s lingering disappointment, she ruffled the girl’s silver hair. "If he didn’t believe in you, why would he let you compete alone? That itself is recognition of your strength."
As they walked, Liliya continued, "Today was the final elimination match—you’ve successfully advanced. Next comes the beast battle, where all victorious combat slaves will face experimental subjects chosen by the mages."
Daire’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Liliya noticed how, whenever combat or feeding was mentioned, the young siren’s pupils would subtly elongate, betraying primal instincts.
"In the melee, you’ll need to be even more cautious", Liliya cautioned. "Other combat slaves might gang up on you—your demonstrated strength has drawn considerable attention."
She paused before adding, "After the melee, the four most outstanding combat slaves will enter the final championship. That’s when most Mentors will personally attend the matches."
Daire’s eyes sparkled. "Will the ‘Puppet Substitute’ go to the champion? Master really wants that."
"Exactly", Liliya nodded, her gaze distant. "Which means upcoming matches will grow increasingly difficult. But judging by today’s performance, I believe you can reach the end."
The young siren grinned, displaying a row of small, innocent-looking white teeth. Only Liliya knew how those seemingly harmless teeth could transform into terrifying weapons during battle.
Inside the bustling Central Hall, Liliya guided Daire through the noisy crowd toward the duty counter. A long line of apprentices handling various procedures stretched before them.
After brief waiting, a middle-aged female attendant greeted them with a warm but sharp gaze—clearly an experienced veteran.
"Name?"
The attendant asked routinely, her quill poised to record.
"Liliya, from Luo En Lalf’s Workshop", she replied respectfully, her heart inexplicably quickening.
The woman’s eyebrows lifted slightly, her quill pausing mid-air. "Luo En Lalf? The Backup Mage Sequence’s prodigy potion master?"
Liliya nodded, a mix of nerves and pride stirring within her. Her mentor’s name carried weight within the School—enough to earn special notice.
"Fascinating", the attendant’s tone shifted toward curiosity as she studied Liliya, as if trying to discern something special about this veiled girl.
Led to a testing room for spiritual energy examination, Liliya watched as the attendant deftly located her record in a massive tome of dense entries.
"Your spiritual energy test results: Mid-tier Fifth Class Star. Basic meditation requirements met. Introductory potion formulation qualified", the woman recited, her voice carrying mild approval. "Time spent in Black Mist Jungle: About half a year."
She nodded, her gaze warming. "For a Fifth Class Star candidate, advancing to Elementary Apprentice in half a year is quite remarkable. The Lalf apprentice certainly produces exceptional students."
Liliya lowered her head modestly. "All thanks to my mentor’s guidance."
"Fascinating", the attendant set down her quill, her expression nostalgic. "This reminds me of Luo En Lalf’s own path long ago."
Closing the heavy ledger, she continued, "When he arrived here, he was just a Sixth Class Star candidate apprentice. Yet within a year, he broke through to Intermediate Apprentice—an unprecedented miracle in Black Mist Jungle’s history."
Her eyes grew wistful. "I remember certifying his own Elementary Apprentice status here. Now his student shows similar potential, though your pace—while impressive for Fifth Class Star aptitude—can’t quite match his meteoric rise."
Liliya listened quietly, emotions swirling within. Being compared to Luo En was an honor, yet it brought invisible pressure.
"I still have a long journey ahead", she reminded herself. "I mustn’t let early success cloud my vision."
Still, one thought comforted her—the mention of following a path similar to her mentor’s…
"If I can persist, perhaps one day I’ll stand beside him as an equal."
This quiet determination took root in Liliya’s heart.
As they left the Central Hall, returning toward the Workshop, Liliya touched the Elementary Apprentice badge at her chest—a mixture of feelings warming her soul.
"This is just the beginning, not the destination", she silently vowed. "If I settle for this, I’ll never catch up to my master."
Meanwhile, deep within the Black Mist Jungle, an ancient tower housed Luo En in solemn meditation opposite Thompson, an elderly alchemy guardian with silver-white hair. The air carried the pungent scents of alchemical materials, ancient instruments in the corners whispering of forgotten times.
"You ask excellent questions", Thompson slowly set down his alchemy tools, his eyes gleaming with appreciation. "Combining special materials with mana insulation layers is indeed a promising direction. Few apprentices conceive such innovative combinations so early in their studies."
(End of Chapter)
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