Meanwhile, at House Ponton, Hayes was closely observing the situation within the secret realm.
Imora’s rapid progress left him stunned.
It was too fast!
While the others were still in the process of comprehending the rules, Imora was already preparing to invade another field. This made Hayes uneasy, especially since Nora was still in the midst of understanding the rules.
Moreover, from Imora’s movements, it was clear that her expertise lay in water magic. And the field Nora was in just happened to be the
Water Field
.
From Hayes’ perspective, if Imora decided to invade, the
Water Field
would be her easiest and most successful target.
Imora, adept at water magic, had grasped the rules of the
Earth Field
so quickly. If she entered the
Water Field
, Hayes couldn’t imagine the consequences.
If Imora successfully invaded, her proficiency with water magic would allow her to comprehend the
Water Field’s
rules even faster. At that point…
Nora would lose any advantage she had. Her only option would be to fight. But Imora? She could retreat at any time, return to the
Earth Field
, or even invade another field.
This inherent disparity would only magnify Imora’s advantage.
Fortunately, Hayes noticed one key detail: Imora seemed to be hesitating about which field to invade. This bought time, during which Nora had already awakened.
…
Within the
Water Field
, Nora had no way of knowing someone outside was debating whether to invade her domain. She was focused on searching for the treasure hidden within her field.
Though she had awakened, the situation was far from optimistic.
If Imora chose to invade the
Water Field
, there was a high chance that by the time Imora fully understood the rules, Nora would already be engaged in battle with the spell beast guarding the treasure. That would make things even worse.
Hayes kept a close watch on the scene, his expression tense.
But in the end, the result brought Hayes a sigh of relief. Imora did not choose to enter the
Water Field
. Instead, she headed for the
Fire Field
.
This decision temporarily spared Nora from immediate danger. Hayes exhaled, grateful for the reprieve.
Now, it was up to Nora to perform.
…
At Dragonscale Bank, Elise also sighed in relief. Thankfully, her sister Imora didn’t choose to enter Nora’s
Water Field
, opting for another target instead. Otherwise… Elise didn’t dare imagine the consequences.
…
In the viewing area, Daniel chuckled as he watched Nora.
“This girl… How can she be so unbothered at a time like this?”
“Father, what do you mean?” Rose asked curiously.
“Haven’t you noticed? After Nora woke up, her aura changed slightly. This girl isn’t just understanding the rules; she’s integrating them into her magic.”
To not only comprehend the rules but also incorporate them into her magic system while in a field… This wasn’t just bold; it bordered on recklessness.
Nora hadn’t even secured the
Water Field’s
treasure yet. Attempting to integrate the rules into her magic meant she was essentially upgrading and reinventing her abilities on the spot.
Such endeavors often had no clear time frame. Even Daniel couldn’t predict when she might finish. It could take the entirety of the competition—or beyond.
Yet Nora dared to attempt it, and not only that—she succeeded.
This only heightened Daniel’s expectations.
“That half-divine artifact she has seems to suit her well,” he mused. Without it, such a rapid grasp of the rules would have been impossible. Achieving this level required an extraordinary understanding and mastery of the rules.
Had Imora invaded during Nora’s comprehension process and forcibly interrupted her, it would have been devastating. But thankfully, Nora had prevailed.
As for Imora, she was undoubtedly formidable. To grasp the rules of the
Earth Field
, an environment that countered her natural element, in such a short time, was no small feat.
…
Nora continued deeper into the
Water Field
, heading toward its core. The environment grew increasingly harsh.
If the outskirts of the
Water Field
resembled a snowy landscape, this area was a frozen wasteland—an icy world of extreme cold and unforgiving conditions.
But for Nora, who had already grasped the rules, it was manageable.
As she advanced, the surrounding ice began to crack.
Massive figures emerged from the frozen ground—
ice giants
, their entire bodies made of solid ice.
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Under the unique rules of the
Water Field
, these ice giants were significantly empowered.
How would Nora face such powerful enemies?
…
The ice giants’ massive steps caused the ground to tremble. There wasn’t just one of them—there were several, each towering over the diminutive Nora.
One giant stooped down, pulling an enormous ice mountain from the ground and hurling it toward Nora.
Everyone in the viewing area watched this scene intently.
While the other participants were still comprehending their respective fields’ rules, and though Imora was moving swiftly, Nora was the only one already battling the spell beast guarding her field’s treasure. This drew nearly all the spectators’ attention.
The contrast between Nora and the colossal ice giants was striking, leaving many worried.
How could she evade such an attack?
This was an entire mountain of ice! Even the fragments from its impact would cover a vast area, making it almost impossible to avoid.
Nora would need extraordinary speed to dodge not only the mountain but also the explosion of ice shards that would follow.
…
As the massive ice mountain hurtled toward her, Nora pulled out a harp.
Plucking its strings, an invisible wave of energy erupted into the air.
The mountain shattered into countless pieces, transforming into a cascade of ice shards that rained down on the ice giants instead.
This move took everyone by surprise.
This girl—second only to Imora in comprehending the rules—had just destroyed an entire mountain in a single strike!
But the shock soon turned to unease.
The shards that rained down on the ice giants didn’t harm them. Instead, the fragments merged with their bodies, making them even larger and more formidable.
The ice giants, now even more imposing, advanced toward Nora.
One of them prepared to strike with its massive fist.
Nora, undeterred, lifted her harp again. Her slender fingers plucked the strings, and this time, a barrage of ice spikes materialized.
The spikes encircled her, then shot toward the ice giants.
…
In the viewing area, many frowned.
“This girl… Clearly, she lacks combat experience! How can she attack like this?”
“Those ice giants are made of ice. Doesn’t she realize that attacking them with ice magic will only make them stronger?”
“Didn’t she notice that the shattered mountain made the giants grow larger? This attack is just going to make things worse.”
“Ah… It seems she’s either too inexperienced or panicking after seeing the giants get too close.”
Many nodded in agreement.
To them, Nora seemed like a novice—lacking experience and composure in battle.