Villain's Evolution: Investing in My Minions Yields Crazy Returns!

Starlight Royal Academy, Third Arena...

What was originally supposed to be an ordinary challenge match between students had attracted a far larger audience than expected, all because of Victor’s rapidly growing reputation within the academy.

At this moment, a considerable number of students had already gathered in the spectator stands surrounding the arena. Among them were freshmen who had only recently enrolled, powerful upperclassmen, and even several instructors who had been supervising training sessions nearby. After hearing the identities of the two participants, these instructors had temporarily put aside their work and come to watch the match.

After all, a Level 23 professional challenging a Level 29 professional meant there was a difference of six entire levels between them.

Moreover, the Level 23 challenger was none other than Victor Alves, whose name had recently become the subject of countless discussions throughout the academy!

Rumor had it that during the screening in the Third Enclosed Ecological Zone a few days earlier, he had confronted a Level 45 Second Tier magical beast head-on and ultimately killed it!

Although news of that battle had already spread throughout the academy, the achievement still seemed almost unbelievable to the vast majority of students who hadn’t witnessed it personally.

A professional who was only Level 23 had actually managed to kill a Level 45 Second Tier magical beast?

There was an entire major tier separating them!

Because of this, many students believed that there must have been some special circumstances surrounding that battle. Some even speculated that Victor had simply gotten lucky and seized an opportunity to claim such an astonishing achievement.

But today, they would finally have the chance to witness for themselves just how capable this noble young master, whose reputation had recently skyrocketed, truly was!

...

At the center of the arena.

Edmund Roland had already changed into a lightweight blue combat uniform and was holding a training sword provided by the academy. His entire body radiated confidence.

When he saw Victor leisurely walking into the arena, a cold sneer immediately appeared on his face.

”I thought you wouldn’t dare show up.”

Victor glanced at him with a calm expression. ”Weren’t you the one who challenged me?”

”Hmph!” Edmund snorted coldly, tightening his grip on his sword as undisguised hostility flashed through his eyes.

”Today, I’ll make you understand that true strength isn’t something you can obtain through luck!”

Hearing those words, Victor didn’t bother arguinga as he walked over to the nearby weapon rack, casually picked up a training sword, and weighed it in his hand before giving it a couple of experimental swings to familiarize himself with its weight and balance.

Although it couldn’t compare to the weapon he normally used, it was more than sufficient for an ordinary sparring match.

As for Edmund’s earlier provocation, Victor hadn’t taken it to heart at all.

”Are both participants ready?”

The referee responsible for overseeing the match stepped between them, looking from Victor to Edmund.

”Ready whenever you are!” Edmund immediately replied.

Victor casually rotated his wrist and answered indifferently, ”Let’s begin.”

The referee nodded before raising his right hand and explaining the rules according to the academy arena’s regulations.

”Lethal attacks are prohibited in this match. Additionally, neither participant may use dangerous skills that exceed the defensive capacity of the arena’s protective barrier. If either party violates these rules, I will immediately terminate the match.”

”Understood!”

After confirming that neither participant had any objections, the referee quickly retreated toward the edge of the arena.

Buzz!

Accompanied by a faint fluctuation of mana, the protective magic formations surrounding the arena slowly activated. A translucent, pale blue barrier rose from the ground, enveloping the entire combat area in the blink of an eye.

The spectator stands, which had previously been somewhat noisy, gradually fell silent as the barrier finished forming.

Countless gazes converged on the two figures standing at the center of the arena.

Everyone was waiting for the match to begin.

”Match... Begin!”

Boom!

Almost the instant the referee’s voice fell, Edmund launched the first attack!

The mana of a Level 29 professional erupted without restraint, pale blue energy rapidly wrapping around his training sword. At the same time, his legs suddenly exerted tremendous force, propelling his entire body forward like a blue streak of lightning as he charged straight toward Victor!

Whoosh!

The sharp blade tore through the air with a piercing whistle, heading directly for Victor’s chest!

”So fast!”

A wave of surprised exclamations immediately erupted from the spectator stands.

Nobody had expected Edmund to launch such a ferocious attack right from the beginning, without even the slightest intention of testing his opponent. Clearly, he intended to rely on his level advantage to overwhelm Victor with a thunderous assault and bring the challenge match to an early conclusion!

However, faced with this aggressive sword strike, Victor’s expression remained completely unchanged.

He merely narrowed his eyes slightly.

The next moment, [Combat Intuition] silently activated!

In an instant, Edmund’s previously astonishingly fast movements suddenly became exceptionally clear in Victor’s eyes.

Whether it was the contraction of his shoulder muscles as he swung his sword, the subtle angle of his rotating wrist, or even the shifting of his center of gravity beneath his feet, every detail was rapidly captured by Victor’s perception. These seemingly insignificant movements allowed him to predict the true trajectory of the incoming sword strike before it even arrived!

’Too obvious.’

As this thought flashed through Victor’s mind, he lightly adjusted his footing, shifting his body only slightly to the side.

Whoosh!

The next second, the pale blue sword swept past his chest, missing his body by the narrowest of margins.

The attack missed!

”What?!”

Edmund’s pupils suddenly contracted.

He clearly hadn’t expected his confident opening strike to be avoided so effortlessly!

However, before he could adjust his movements, Victor’s training sword had already risen in a smooth counterattack.

Clang!

The two swords collided violently, and the crisp sound of clashing metal instantly echoed throughout the arena!

A powerful force traveled along Edmund’s sword, causing his wrist to tremble violently. The second strike he had been preparing to unleash was forcibly interrupted by Victor’s counterattack!

”You!”

Edmund’s expression changed slightly as he instinctively retreated half a step to regain his balance.

What infuriated him even more, however, was that Victor made no attempt to pursue his advantage. Instead, he remained standing in place, casually rotating the sword in his hand as though their brief exchange had been nothing more than a simple warm-up.