569 Chapter 569: Skeletal Vulture (1/2)
Even from this distance, just seeing the fearsome carrion bird sent chills down my spine, a cold that was as deep as the grave itself. With a flap of its massive wings, it soared above Wang Chui Niu, who stood arrogantly in the center of the stage, waiting for his opponents.
Glancing at the holographic screen, I saw that we had defeated a total of 40 students so far. Still less than half of the intended target. To prevent that number from shrinking a group of seven mages had strode forward to challenge Wang Chui Niu and his Skeletal Vulture.
While they fought, the spectators murmured amongst themselves.
”Don't the summoning students have to defeat 100 students from the other departments, or their resources will get divided up between the students from the best performing departments?”
”Yeah, I heard something like that.”
”It's true. I heard this firsthand from Professor Di.”
”Then we have to do something! There's no way we'll pass up such a chance!”
”…nah. No deal.” One of the spectators gestured lazily toward the arena, where the seven mages were ripped to shreds by the Skeletal Vulture, their lives preserved only by the boundary field. ”Just look at that! That Skeletal Vulture is going to get them to a hundred all by itself. It's literally steamrolling over the seven-man team.”
”Yeah…they never stood a chance.”
The Skeletal Vulture swooped down, raking its talons across a fire mage who was desperately casting fireballs at it, tearing him from shoulder to hip. He went down, blood spurting from his torso in a grisly display.
Xing Er Song suddenly broke into their conversation, placing a hand on one of the speakers' shoulder.
”Wait, what did you say?” he demanded. ”Are you telling me that the summoning students are given a target to meet? And if we prevent them from reaching their target, their resources will be allocated to us students from the earth magic department instead?”
”Yeah!” the guy confirmed, glancing back at the chubby fella.
”Heh.” Xing Er Song chuckled and straightened up, adjusting his jacket. ”You don't have to thank me later.”
”Huh?” the group of earth magic students watched as the chubby earth mage walk down the aisle and toward the bottom of the stadium. ”Thank you? Why would we want to thank you?”
Their conversation did not go unheard by the professors. His uncle Li shook his head in disapproval.
He turned to Dean Xiao, looking a bit anxious.
”Uh, Dean Xiao, is this okay?”
”Why wouldn't it be?” the bald dean grinned. ”He's considered a new student too. Let him in.”
”But his abilities…”
”So what if he's stronger than the other new students? The rules never prohibited intermediate mages from participating.”
”I see…” Uncle Li felt a drop of sweat run down his face, but he seemed pleased. Perhaps this was a good chance for Xing Er Song to display his abilities and show off to everyone.
”Next group!” Zhang ordered impatiently, but the group of mages outside the battle cage were hesitating. They seemed apprehensive of entering the arena, especially after what they saw the Skeletal Vulture do to the last few opponents.
”You want to try?”
”No way!”
”Then who's going to fight?”
”Why are you asking me?”
”Hah!” Xing Er Song scoffed when he recognized one of the students among the group. ”The Song family's dog, eh? Get out of my way!”
”You!” the Song family's subordinate growled when he caught sight of the chubby Xing Er Song. His friend held up a hand to stop him.
”Forget it. Let him go instead.”
”But he…!”
”So what? You want to fight the Skeletal Vulture?”
That shut him up. While the Song family's subordinate stepped back, allowing his friends to pull him away, Xing Er Song haughtily stepped into the cage.
”Oh?” the equally arrogant Wang Chui Niu sneered when he caught sight of his new opponent, his Skeletal Vulture hovering above him. His lips curled in a condescending manner. ”Another fresh meat for the grinder, eh?”
”Ha ha ha!” Xing Er Song chuckled. ”Please allow me to apologize to you in advance.”
I glanced up at the holographic screen, keeping track of the score. Currently, Wang Chui Niu had defeated seven people, which brought our tally up to forty-seven. Still less than half. Shaking my head, I sighed in exasperation.
”So that's it then. Wang Chui Niu is going to lose here.”
”Huh?! What are you talking about?!” Wang Chui Niu's two flunkies turned on me, fury in their eyes. ”Don't talk nonsense!”
”Just watch,” I muttered. At the same time, Xing Er Song was grinning.
”The summoning students' resources will belong to the earth magic students!”
”Quit your bragging,” Wang Chui Niu scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. He then smirked. ”My Skeletal Vulture enjoys eating fat people like you!”
”You may laugh at us…but fat people are best at throwing their weight around!” Xing Er Song raised a hand. ”And your poor beast will only bite off more than it can chew.”
”Huh?” Wang Chui Niu looked perplexed, then he snorted. ”Whatever! Skeletal Vulture! Crush that fatty!”
With a deafening caw, the Skeletal Vulture swooped down on the stationary Xing Er Song, who didn't seem to panic. He stood his ground and gathered azure mana into his fingers. From my seat, I shook my head and sighed again.
”It's over.”
”Your poor beast is going to die, you know?” Xing Er Song said as he threw up a hand and finished casting his spell.
”!!”
While the Skeletal Vulture dove toward him, ice chains appeared all around the earth and ice mage. The frozen chains whipped out and surged toward the air, snaking toward the huge flying beast, which tried to skid to a stop with a desperate flap of its wings.