Chapter 28: Lost by Just a Tiny Bit

Chapter 28: Just a Hair’s Breadth from Defeat

Li Wei stood at the edge of the arena, watching Lyle.

Every spell Lyle cast took five seconds to complete—the time required for magical elements to fill the spell matrix.

In other words, Lyle’s foundational meditation technique had only reached the minor mastery stage.

A fully mastered foundational meditation technique could reduce that filling time to just two seconds.

Given the current situation, there was no possibility that Lyle was hiding his true strength.

Li Wei asked, “Master, what happens if Maple City’s Mage Tower loses this challenge?”

Guze replied, “If we lose, Frostveil City’s Mage Tower may take our insignia—proof they’ve challenged and defeated us.”

“For the next three years, Maple City’s Tower will receive ten percent fewer resources from the Mage Association. That ten percent will be transferred to Frostveil.”

“For full mages, it might not matter much. But starting next month, apprentice benefits will be halved—to compensate for the Tower’s lost cultivation resources.”

Hearing this, Li Wei inwardly cursed.

He was about to become an apprentice mage—just in time to enjoy those benefits. And now they were being slashed in half? Wasn’t this cutting straight into his flesh?

“Damn it! Doug lost too! Is there truly no one who can beat him?”

“His casting speed is too fast—no mere apprentice stands a chance!”

“There are so many of us in Maple City’s Tower, yet even with wave after wave, we’re utterly crushed. Our pride, our dignity—all trampled into the dirt. It’s humiliating!”

“Next year, I’m sending my child to train at Frostveil instead…”

Archmage El heard the murmurs around him, his heart sinking like stone.

Slowly, he rose to his feet. His lips parted slightly, as if to speak—but the words would not come.

The apprentices who had fallen to Lyle hung their heads low, unable to meet anyone’s gaze.

Lyle stood atop the stone platform, surveying his vanquished foes, a smug grin spreading across his face.

Today, he was triumphant—single-handedly dominating every mage from Maple City’s Tower.

Alan glanced at his brother El, whose face had gone ashen.

With a faint smile, he said, “Brother, if you don’t wish to say it, then allow me to take the honor.”

“Ai…” El closed his eyes, waving a hand listlessly. “I’ll do it myself.”

But when El opened his eyes again, someone had already stepped into the combat zone.

He frowned—*Who is that?*

Lyle, too, looked surprised.

Another fool coming to offer his head?

“I am Li Wei, apprentice of Maple City’s Mage Tower,” came the calm declaration.

At once, shock rippled through the crowd.

Lyle’s expression darkened. “What do you mean? An apprentice dares challenge me?”

Young John stared in disbelief. “Why is Li Wei going up there? Even Doug couldn’t beat Lyle—what hope does he have?”

Old John watched the two figures on the field in silence.

Archmage El’s brow furrowed. “Who is Li Wei?”

Alan shot a startled glance at his brother—astonished that even El didn’t know who had just stepped forward.

Guze, standing below, gaped in disbelief.

Just moments ago, he’d seen Li Wei walk away—assumed he was heading to the latrine. Never did he imagine the boy would step onto the battlefield.

Lyle studied Li Wei for a moment, then sneered.

“If you’re eager to humiliate yourself, I’ll oblige.”

“Lyle, apprentice of Frostveil City’s Mage Tower!”

The battle began!

Lyle raised his hand. Five seconds later, a small fireball formed in his palm.

He made no haste to release it, instead leisurely watching Li Wei begin his own incantation.

As flames gathered before Li Wei, Lyle’s lips curled upward—and he launched his fireball.

Whoosh!

Li Wei made no attempt to dodge. He let the fireball strike him head-on.

Boom!

The fireball exploded, engulfing him in flame.

The crowd stared at the battlefield, expecting to see the white light of defeat—but it never came.

They had assumed Lyle’s single fireball would end it. Yet as the fire cleared, Li Wei still stood.

Young John shouted, “Li Wei has a magic shield—he blocked Lyle’s fireball!”

No explanation was needed; everyone saw it for themselves.

Yet still, few believed in Li Wei’s chances.

After all, Doug had also fought behind a shield—and still lost.

Before the last embers faded, Li Wei’s own fireball shot forward.

Boom!

It struck Lyle squarely—but the shield from his previous fight with Doug still held, deflecting the attack.

Crack!

The sound of the shield shattering echoed across the arena. Eyes widened in shock.

Even Lyle stiffened, surprise flickering in his chest.

He hadn’t expected Li Wei’s fireball to break through his shield.

No longer daring to underestimate his opponent, he swiftly cast again.

The second fireball flew—hitting Li Wei dead center.

Boom!

Flames swallowed Li Wei’s form. Lyle exhaled, tension easing.

Surely it was over now?

But once more—the expected white light of defeat failed to appear.

His heart jolted. "Damn it, what kind of magic shield is this? Why is it so tough?"

Lyle hastily cast a shield on himself.

Young John watched and sighed, "Levi's casting speed is too slow. By the time he casts one spell, his opponent has already cast two. There's no way he can win!"

Just as Lyle finished reinforcing his magical barrier, Levi’s fireball finally soared forward.

Boom!

The fireball struck the shield, which shuddered violently.

Seeing his second attack blocked again, Lyle exhaled in relief.

Fighting Levi felt even more nerve-wracking than battling Doug.

His emotions surged like a rollercoaster.

"Enough mana left for two more fireballs—finish this in one go!"

Lyle launched his third fireball at Levi.

Calm and unhurried, Levi stood still, weaving his spell at a leisurely pace.

Boom!

The third fireball failed to break through Levi’s shield.

Lyle stared in disbelief.

He quickly conjured a fourth fireball.

This time, both spells reached completion simultaneously.

Lyle’s fireball shot toward Levi.

Gritting his teeth, he refused to believe Levi’s shield could withstand another hit.

Levi’s own fireball locked onto Lyle and blazed forth.

The two fireballs crossed paths midair.

Boom! Boom!

Two explosions rang out in succession, a flash of white light illuminating the arena.

Everyone wore expressions of utter shock.

"How is this possible?"

"Lyle actually lost?"

"Holy shit! Levi’s incredible!" Young John leapt to his feet, shouting.

Old John twitched an eye, swiftly pulled him back down, then glanced left and right—thankfully, no one seemed to notice the boy’s outburst.

Below, every apprentice mage gaped in disbelief.

Alan stared intently at Levi. Even he couldn’t fathom how Levi had endured four fireball strikes.

This was no ordinary zero-tier magic shield.

Guzer was stunned too. When had Levi learned this shielding spell? How had he not known?

Whose shield magic was this—and why was it so unbreakable?

"Cheating! This has to be cheating!"

(End of Chapter)