Chapter 76: Visiting his sister
The spatial distortion faded, and Victor appeared once more within the territory of Atlantis.
Unlike his previous visits, he did not immediately move toward the Imperial Palace or any military installation. Instead, he concealed his aura and quietly blended into the vast underwater civilization.
The war was approaching rapidly.
Within ten days, perhaps even sooner, the surface world and Atlantis would collide in a conflict that would determine the fate of both civilizations.
Yet despite everything he had done to prepare humanity, there remained one matter he could no longer ignore.
His family.
Over the past several days, Nova had gathered every piece of information she could find regarding his mother and sister.
The results had surprised him.
His mother and sister belonged to one of Atlantis’s noble bloodlines.
House Velmir.
Although the family was not among the ruling clans of the empire, it possessed considerable influence and authority. Their members occupied important positions throughout Atlantean society, and their magical lineage had produced numerous powerful elemental mages over the centuries.
His sister had inherited that talent.
According to Nova’s evaluation, her magical potential had reached an astonishing score of ten.
A perfect rating.
Even among Atlantis’s countless geniuses, such a result was exceedingly rare.
His mother, however, had not enjoyed the same treatment.
After marrying a surface human years ago, her standing within House Velmir had declined significantly.
While nobody openly persecuted her, many members of the family viewed her actions as a stain upon their bloodline.
The prejudice had never completely disappeared.
Victor stood atop a crystal pathway overlooking one of Atlantis’s central districts.
Far in the distance, he could already see the magnificent estate belonging to House Velmir.
Yet he made no attempt to approach it.
His gaze remained calm.
"I should meet her first."
His sister.
If she possessed integrity and kindness, he would visit the family.
If she had become arrogant and cruel like many noble heirs, then there was little reason to continue pursuing the matter.
Blood alone was not enough to earn his trust.
After making his decision, Victor turned and walked toward another destination.
Atlantian Magus Academy.
The academy was one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the empire. Countless talented young mages dreamed of studying there, and many future leaders of Atlantis had once trained within its walls.
Coincidentally, an academy tournament was currently underway.
The event had attracted enormous attention throughout the city.
Students competed against one another while nobles, merchants, military officers, and ordinary citizens gathered to watch.
For Atlantis, it was both a competition and a public showcase of its future generation.
Victor entered the academy grounds without difficulty.
After purchasing a spectator ticket, he took a seat among the audience.
The arena before him was enormous.
Thousands of spectators filled the surrounding stands. Excited discussions echoed from every direction while magical barriers protected the audience from stray attacks.
Victor leaned back quietly.
His attention swept across the competitors.
Most of them were around his age.
Some were slightly older.
Many possessed impressive magical foundations by Atlantis’s standards.
Yet none of them attracted his interest.
At least not initially.
Nearby, a group of spectators were engaged in an animated discussion.
"Who do you think will win this year’s tournament?" a young man asked excitedly.
His companion immediately answered.
"There are several strong contenders."
He paused before continuing.
"If this tournament only included first-year students, I would have placed all my money on the Velmir prodigy."
Several people nodded.
"Lady Noelle?"
"Of course."
"Who else could it be?"
The young man scratched his head.
"Then why are you hesitating?"
The older spectator laughed.
"Because first and second years are competing together this time."
Understanding immediately appeared on several faces.
"There are four major prodigies among the second years."
"Exactly."
"Especially Thomas Andrew."
"I heard he recently advanced again."
The surrounding spectators began discussing the competitors one after another.
Victor listened quietly.
Eventually, his gaze moved toward a group of students gathered near the preparation area.
Then he found her.
For a brief moment, he remained silent.
The girl standing among the students possessed striking silver-blonde hair that shimmered beneath the magical lights illuminating the arena.
Her features were exceptionally refined.
The distinctive characteristics of the Atlantean bloodline gave her an almost ethereal beauty.
She was tall, slender, and carried herself with quiet confidence.
Even while surrounded by numerous admirers and fellow students, she appeared remarkably composed.
Victor studied her carefully.
Then he noticed something unexpected.
Despite her status and popularity, there was no arrogance visible in her expression.
No contempt.
No superiority.
Only calm confidence.
A young female student standing beside her suddenly complained.
"Lady Noelle, this is completely unfair."
Several nearby students nodded immediately.
"You are only a first-year."
"Why should you have to compete against second-year students?"
"They have an entire extra year of training."
The complaints continued.
Noelle simply smiled.
Her expression remained relaxed.
"Whether it is fair or not does not matter."
Her voice was calm and pleasant.
"The rules have already been decided."
One of the boys frowned.
"But your chances of winning become much lower."
Noelle shrugged slightly.
"Then I will simply do my best."
The students looked at each other helplessly.
None of them seemed capable of changing her mind.
Victor observed the interaction from a distance.
A faint nod appeared.
"Oh?"
His impression of her improved slightly.
At the very least, her mentality seemed solid.
She did not appear spoiled despite her talent and background.
That alone distinguished her from many noble descendants.
The arena lights suddenly brightened.
A powerful voice echoed throughout the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
The crowd instantly erupted into cheers.
The tournament host stepped onto the central platform.
"Welcome to the annual Atlantis Academy Prodigy Tournament!"
Thunderous applause filled the arena.
The host smiled broadly.
"This year’s competition will feature the strongest first and second-year students in the academy."
The excitement among the audience increased further.
Many spectators stood from their seats.
Others began shouting the names of their favorite competitors.
Victor remained seated quietly while observing everything.
The host continued speaking for several minutes before finally announcing the opening match.
The magical barriers surrounding the arena activated.
Powerful runes illuminated the battlefield.
Two competitors entered.
The crowd immediately became energized.
Victor watched the battle unfold.
Although the contestants possessed respectable talent, their combat techniques were riddled with flaws.
Their spell combinations lacked efficiency.
Their reactions were predictable.
Their understanding of mana control remained crude.
To the audience, the battle appeared impressive.
To Victor, it looked more like children practicing.
Still, he continued watching patiently.
His purpose was not the tournament itself.
His purpose was Noelle.
One match ended.
Then another.
Time passed steadily.
Eventually, a new announcement echoed throughout the arena.
"For the next battle..."
The host’s voice rose dramatically.
"Please welcome the pride of House Velmir!"
The audience immediately erupted.
Cheers echoed from every direction.
Many spectators stood to their feet.
Noelle calmly walked toward the battlefield.
Her expression remained composed despite the attention focused upon her.
Victor watched silently.
Across from her, a tall young man stepped onto the arena.
Unlike Noelle, he was a second-year student.
The magical fluctuations surrounding his body were noticeably stronger.
The audience quickly recognized him.
"It’s Darren Holt."
"He is ranked eighth among the second years."
"That is a difficult first match."
Many people began discussing the outcome.
Most believed Noelle possessed the talent advantage.
However, Darren possessed greater experience and cultivation.
The result was uncertain.
The referee stepped between them.
After confirming both competitors were ready, he raised his hand.
The arena fell silent.
Victor leaned forward slightly.
For the first time since arriving, genuine interest appeared in his eyes.
The match had finally begun.
The arena fell into a tense silence as the referee’s hand descended. Magical barriers flared across the battlefield, sealing the space and stabilizing the mana density within. Noelle stood at one end, calm and composed, her gaze fixed on her opponent without hesitation or doubt.
Across from her stood Darren Holt, a second-year student whose aura already pressed outward with the weight of a Novice Rank mage. His presence alone distorted the air around him, signaling a clear advantage in raw realm cultivation. By comparison, Noelle remained at the Apprentice Rank, a full stage beneath him in formal classification.
Yet her expression did not change.
The moment the signal was given, Darren moved first. His hand lifted, and dense fire mana gathered rapidly into a spear of blazing energy. It launched forward with explosive force, tearing through the air toward Noelle with lethal precision.
Noelle responded instantly.
She raised her hand, and light condensed above her palm without hesitation. Unlike a basic spell of her realm, the energy she gathered carried the structure of a higher tier technique, something belonging to the Novice Rank itself.
A faint golden circle formed in the air above her.
Then it split.
Dozens of luminous blades of light descended like a silent storm. The audience barely had time to process what was happening before the sky above the arena filled with radiance.
Light Sword Rain.
Each blade fell with surgical accuracy, cutting through Darren’s fire spear before it could even reach its target. The flames scattered into sparks of dissipating mana, swallowed entirely by the overwhelming purity of the light attribute.
Darren attempted to reinforce his defenses, but the spell had already entered its second phase. The rain of light shifted direction midair, converging on him from every angle.
The barrier of fire he raised shattered instantly.
The impact was not loud. There was no dramatic explosion. Only a clean, overwhelming suppression of force that ended the fight before it could properly begin.
Darren staggered backward, his body forced onto one knee as the remaining light dissolved around him. His expression was one of disbelief, as if he could not comprehend what had just occurred.
A silence followed.
Then the arena erupted.
The spectators rose to their feet almost simultaneously, shouting in shock and excitement as the realization spread through the crowd. A first-year Apprentice Rank mage had defeated a Novice Rank opponent using a technique that clearly surpassed her formal cultivation level.
Noelle lowered her hand calmly, as if the outcome had been expected from the beginning.
Across the stands, Victor observed without moving.
His gaze narrowed slightly, not in surprise, but in confirmation.
The girl was not ordinary.
Not at all.
