The Spider Queen

(Hydra Star System- Planet Eleron)

(Training Field No.12- Special Arena)

A large open field covered in a thin layer of grass has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last few days.

Strange rocks had been scattered across the edges of the field with eerie runic symbols carved onto their surface that glowed a dull blue colour.

One could see faint purplish threads connected each rock to one another and creating a peculiar pentagram-like shape.

Four tiny Servies zipped around the field carefully checking the mana patterns to ensure that the formation was working properly.

Occasionally they would wave their tiny arms and small mana circles floated behind their bodies as they channeled the art of the arcane.

"Horologium contra tempus!"

"Tempus revertendi vivere!"

"Speciali tempore agri!"

Loud chants echoed through the open space as the Servies casted spells and enchantments to strengthen the formation.

Principal Malik stood quietly on a raised platform overlooking the arena with a proud smile on his face.

The battle ranking exam had been temporarily delayed by a couple of days in order to prepare a temporal reversal formation.

This particular large-scale spell required at least three archmages and an active mana field that had to be constantly maintained.

Archmage Hollystorm had generously reached out to Mer University and four archmages had been dispatched to help set up the formation.

This year's battle ranking exam would be unlike the previous years.

A temporal reversal formation was capable of turning back time within a localised zone.

What this essentially meant was that this year's battle ranking exam would have no restrictions and students would be free to go all out.

Any resulting deaths or debilitating injuries could be instantly reversed once the formation activated.

It was just a shame that this spell required days of preparation and the active zone was too small for it to be effective or practical to use on a battlefield.

Principal Malik rubbed his furry paws together in glee as he tilted his wrist upwards to check his communicator.

Most professors had already finished marking the exams and the grades had already been approved by the deans of their departments.

Principal Malik had instructed the heads of each department to send him a list of the most promising students of each grade.

The elderly Mendolesa warrior decided to check the poison cultivation major first and casually opened up the file.

There was one name that stood out in particular since her grade was eleven points higher than the second highest mark in the class.

Sophie Peterlor…

"Duke Peterlor has one talented daughter," Principal Malik muttered approvingly as he checked the information next to her profile.

Professor Macabre had described Miss Peterlor as a once in a generation talent when it came to both practical techniques and a solid grasp of the theoretical fundamentals of the poison arts.

Principal Malik bared his fangs as a satisfied grin flashed across his face.

He opened up the other files and saw more promising students from across the different majors.

This batch of first year students were truly impressive!

He couldn't remember the last time that so many students had won the approval of their professors.

Even that stubborn old man Instructor Barrett had nothing to say but praises for the mech controller students in his class.

"Good! Good! Good!" Principal Malik excitedly spoke. He was so overjoyed that he repeated the same word three times.

The next competition between the four great universities would be in a few months' time so this was fantastic news.

Although the four great universities stood at the pinnacle in terms of resources and teaching methods in the Federation…

At the end of the day, they were all competitors or to put it in a better way…

Rivals.

The winner of the competition would most certainly publish their victories across the Virtual Net.

Principal Malik was an ambitious man who was not satisfied with Zrudread University's second place finish last time.

Hopefully this talented crop of first year students would be able to win glory for the college!

He especially had high hopes for the daughter of Duke Peterlor who must surely be training desperately at this very moment!

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(Elite Student Housing Complex- Mansion 456 Y)

"Moon! I know you stole my newly baked cake that I left in the freezing unit!" Sophie roared in anger as her figure blurred and then vanished from the spot.

Her frostwing bat squeaked in terror and tried to fly away but he was no match for Sophie's enhanced speed and reflexes.

Sophie caught her naughty pet by the scruff of his furry neck and stared at him with a cold expression.

"Now… what do you have to say for yourself?" Sophie slowly growled as a crimson colour flashed across her eyes.

Moon trembled slightly and took a brief moment to gather his thoughts.

He needed to prepare an excuse to get out of this perilous situation.

Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!

(Mommy! Listen… I… I… the cake was outside… and I thought that you left it for me…)

Moon's forked tail swayed from side to side as he tilted his head and gave Sophie a puppy-eyed expression.

"Nah. Not this time mister," Sophie fiercely muttered as she leaned in closer.

"Not when I spent three hours baking the perfect dessert only to find it gone when I came downstairs!"

"You aren't going to worm your way out of this one…

Sophie's scolding was interrupted by a sleepy voice that came from the upstairs bedroom.

"Babe… when are you coming back?" Cleo's hoarse voice echoed through the mansion.

The princess stepped out of the bedroom wearing what could only be described as a loose-fitting white shirt and black silky leggings that emphasised her gorgeous figure.

Purplish hickeys covered her neck, and her face was still flushed from Sophie's previous acts of intense passion.

Cleo tried to take a few steps forward, but her legs were trembling too much to even move properly.

She weakly leaned against the frame of the door and stared at Sophie with a lustful expression.

The tense atmosphere between Moon and Sophie was instantly shattered as a faint pinkish mist began to spread from the corners of Sophie's eyes.

Moon saw that Sophie was distracted so he quickly wiggled himself out of his mommy's tight grip and flew towards his bedroom on the third floor.

Squeak! Squeak!

(Mommy! I'm sorry!)

Despite giving out an apology, Moon did not slow down his pace and soon the door to his private bedroom slammed shut.

Sophie let out a heavy sigh and shrugged her shoulders.

She wanted to punish her mischievous frostwing bat, but it seemed as though fate had other plans in mind.

The hybrid girl walked towards her girlfriend and gently scooped her up in a princess carry. She closed the bedroom door behind them as she walked inside their room.

As for what happened next….

Let's just say that Moon was grateful that Cleo had bought soundproofing materials to cover his walls.