Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

In just a few minutes, the atmosphere at the scene was ignited by Prin Coco's impromptu song, spreading like wildfire. Not only the live audience but also Efnie and others standing at the peak of the bridge were struck by this momentum and sound wave, their previously accumulated courage and confidence washed away.

Deep breaths, Efnie tried to expel the emotion in her heart and return to her previous calm and rationality, but the shouting from both banks beneath the bridge occasionally poured into her ears, making it difficult for her to enter her zone.

A hand gently rested on her shoulder and then caressed her flowing blonde hair. Although no words were spoken, Efnie's emotions slowly stabilized.

"Thank you, Tilan," she murmured, head bowed. Then, she looked up, opened her eyes, stepped forward, and grasped the standing microphone.

The performance for Edith Academy had begun.

The strings were gently plucked, and then the clear and gentle voice began to rise. In response to Prin Coco's fiery opening, Edith Academy did not clash head-on but chose a more extended, affectionate ballad.

The way "The Path"

Even amidst the crowd, I feel alone

Every face, every pair of tired eyes

They are not for me

I wonder how my life would continue?

Many chances I had once met

But they won't come again

...

How desperately I wanted to wait for this moment

There's no more room for hope for me

And things are different now

Some times are tough for me

But everyone still pursues what they want

Don't you know?

All the good days have left me

No storms will cease to stop

...

I will always stay by your side

Compared to Prin Coco's performance, which was like battlefields ablaze with flames, this song was like a small boat quietly sliding across the water at night, the water reflecting the moon in the sky, and people seeing in this moonlit water scenes from the past, unforgettable memories, cherished emotions, and faces they wanted to remember forever.

Although the lyrics were not impassioned nor was there a constantly escalating rhythm, beneath this gently flowing river, a carefree yet resolute will emerged, soothing the heat and clamor brought by Prin Coco's performance one by one, allowing the audience to slowly step out of the prior influence and return to the plain and simple reality.

"Although I did not feel much impact or amazement, this sense of tranquility and simplicity seems good, too?" someone commented after listening to the ballad.

"The beauty of ordinary and peace."

"Efnie is a very gentle person indeed."

The performance gradually reached its conclusion, and afterwards, the venue erupted in applause. While many thought it was not as good as Prin Coco's, considering the song and performance alone, Efnie's showing was not bad—it was just bad luck to meet a rare opponent endowed with the talent of a Songstress.

"Performance 9 points, Infection 8 points, Innovation 9 points, a total of 26 points."

The judges' scores were announced shortly after, and with that, the First Stage came to an end.

After the First Stage comparison, Swarm's Reign Academy scored 30 points, which is 30/3=10, allowing for an additional 10 combat members to enter the fray, plus the guaranteed two, making it 12 combat members in total. Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire

The girls in white and coffee-colored dresses took their places on one side of the bridge, some armed with White Fang Electromagnetic Guns, others wielding heavy hammers, while still others held thick shields in front of the band members.

On Edith Academy's side, due to scoring 26 points, which is 26/3≈9, they could bring an additional 9 combat members, along with the guaranteed two, totaling 11 combat members.

Although slightly disadvantageous, it was not significant, which was also due to the scoring system having a maximum of 30 points. Without a cap, the judges would probably have awarded Prin Coco 36 points.

On the other side, the members of Edith Academy, clad in black and blue uniforms, also stepped onto their side of the bridge, with members from both sides looking across the broken bridge and the night breeze at each other.

"Now! The Second Stage begins, please have the captains from both sides draw lots!"

With that, two discs weaving through the air fell from the high sky, entwining and spinning around each other, displaying a myriad of colorful patterns on their surface. They first dove close to the river's surface, stirring up waves, before rising again, arriving in front of the captains of both teams.

As countless words and images flashed on the spinning discs, projection buttons appeared before both of them.

"Now, please press the buttons five times to select your themes," the host's enthusiastic voice raised the audience's anticipation.

"What themes will it be?"

"Suddenly looking forward to it."

Efnie and Prin, under the watchful eyes of their teammates, stepped forward and pressed the flashing buttons. The pointer stopped time after time, and the disc spat out shimmering fragments time after time.

"Fairies" × "Paradise"

"Sweetness" × "War"

"Shining" × "Advance"

"Pitch-Black" × "Hill"

"Holy" × "Dance"

The fragments chosen by the two teams interlocked with their counterparts to form complete themes. These would be the song-related themes for the following five duels.

The duels were one-on-one, but the band members were able to bestow various statuses and boosts to their own team members through their performances. The winning side would gain a Resonance Amplifying Crystal, which could be used in the Third Stage to enhance their performance effects.

Such duels were highly random and tested the accumulation of both bands. If they encountered an unfamiliar theme and couldn't come up with a suitable song at the moment, they would miss the chance to enhance their own team members, putting them at a significant disadvantage in the fight.

"Now, let the first duel commence!"

As the host shouted, the two spinning color discs flew up again, interlocking in the air before plunging into the depths of the water. Shortly thereafter, a majestic ice pillar slowly rose from beneath the surface, breaking through the mighty river, gradually reaching the same height as the bridge and standing in the gap at the severed bridge.

Looking at the stage already set in front of them, a member from each team stepped forward and then leaped down from the bridge, landing on the stage that emitted a chill mist.

"Edith Academy, Bennett, Slashing Blade Sequence 5 · Swift Flash Walker."

"Swarm's Reign Academy, Dan Ke, Dragon Sequence 5 · Crimson Claw Songstress."

Clothed in a combat uniform predominantly black with dark blue accents, Bennett gazed at the red-haired girl across from him, clenching one hand on the sheath before slowly drawing the long, slightly curved blade. The back of the blade was a matte black material, while the edge glowed with a phosphorescent green light, particularly conspicuous in the night. The light that traveled along it, if magnified, revealed branding patterns like the finest circuitry.'

Seeking a swift victory and knowing his own side's disadvantage, Bennett did not wait for his band members' empowerment nor did he give the opponent time to gain boosts. Almost in the instant he stepped onto the stage, he charged forward.

The faint glow of the blade flew in a slash, and the surging Magic Power operated at full throttle, condensing into nearly invisible fine lines, arriving in an instant like fluttering butterflies, seemingly fragile yet so deadly and lethal.