Soul Fusion

Frequent spellcasting left Elaina exhausted—stamina and magic draining rapidly.
Her robe was scorched in places, bangs soaked with sweat—clinging to her pale cheeks.

If she surrendered now? Only shame. No serious injury or disfigurement.

But Elaina refused.

She never wanted to hear again:
“Servants are servants—even mixed with noble blood, you can’t wash away your lowly nature.”

She stayed in the Duke’s mansion—not for luxury—but to reclaim dignity for herself and her mother.

If they told her to leave—and she did—wouldn’t that be running away?

No. She’d stay—grow stronger—surpass and crush them—legitimately claim the Duke’s inheritance!

This battle? She wouldn’t lose.
Wouldn’t waste Black’s Obsidian Nectar!

She’d bet everything!

Elaina bit her lip—stopped dodging.

She crossed her staff over her chest—then did something unexpected:
Closed her eyes.

The crowd erupted!

“Is this brat insane?! Closing her eyes at a time like this!”

Lily shrieked.

But Black’s eyes lit up: “Wait…this is…”

The tip of Elaina’s staff suddenly glowed with an eerie blue aura!

Brighter than previous ice spells—like the omen of an incoming blizzard.

Countless ice crystals floated in the air—changing trajectory, slowly orbiting her.

“This is… Ice Seal? Can a Level 20 even cast it? Such terrifying talent!”

Krystin’s mouth opened slightly—amazed, eyes filled with admiration.

Ice Seal was a spell only Level 35 Mid-Tier Sorcerers could master.

Yet Elaina—only Level 20—was casting it. Her magical talent? Exceptional.

Among those Krystin had seen—only herself and Elaina could cross such a level gap.

“But at Level 20—forcing it might cause backlash, harming herself.”

Alice, knowledgeable in sorcery, saw Elaina’s instability.

“She knows. But she still chose to bet!”

Black smiled—he believed Elaina would win.

Because—she was the novel’s protagonist.

Liz sensed danger—ordered both beasts into a pincer attack!

But just as the Flame Cat’s fireball and Ironhide Rhino’s charge neared Elaina—

She snapped open her eyes—now fully ice-blue!

Elaina whispered an ancient word: “Freeze.”

The moment she spoke—everyone felt the deck’s temperature plunge by thirty degrees!

Like winter had arrived.

A fierce cold storm erupted from her—engulfing the battlefield.

In that instant—time froze.

The Flame Cat’s fireball turned to ice sculpture mid-air.

The Ironhide Rhino—mid-charge—froze into an ice statue.

Clearly—Elaina had won her bet.

Veteran sorcerers shot up—beards trembling:
“A Level 20 achieving this?! Truly extraordinary talent!”

“Impossible!”

Liz’s face twisted with terror. She couldn’t believe—her Ironhide Rhino, which had beaten higher-level elemental mages—
Even Level 30 ones—was defeated by a newly Level 20 mage!

Lily and Marsha were dumbstruck—jaws nearly on the floor.

They never expected the girl they scorned to have such high talent.

Then—a strong sense of crisis hit them.

Their family valued strength above all. The strongest child—regardless of legitimacy—held absolute power, inherited authority.

Their father—the head—ignored Elaina’s bullying because he allowed competition.
Only the one who emerged victorious deserved to be his heir.

Now—Elaina’s talent shone—likely earning their father’s attention, special training.

Then—their future would vanish!

Realizing this—Lily and Marsha’s faces turned cruel.

They exchanged a secret glance with Liz.

“Still use that thing…?”

Liz hesitated. Using it broke rules—and carried severe side effects.

Then Lily made a hand signal below the table.

Double the reward.
200,000 gold coins.
Astronomical wealth!

“Men die for money. Birds die for food!”

Liz’s eyes flashed with ruthlessness. Under spell cover—she pulled out a crimson potion, downing it secretly.

The move was subtle—only one person saw it.

Host Duke Gran.

But he showed zero intention to expose her.

“Drinking potions? How interesting.”

Gran’s lips curled—sinister amusement.

To him—anything dramatic was good entertainment.

The moment the potion took effect—Liz’s aura exploded with terrifying magic!

“Soul Fusion!”

Liz formed ancient seals—chanting mysterious incantations.

“Indeed—using a Divine Edict.”

Alice said calmly.

Black nodded—Soul Fusion was a Summoner’s Low-Tier Divine Edict.
It merged two summoned beasts—greatly boosting power.

At once—the Flame Cat and Ironhide Rhino screamed in agony.

Shattering the ice trapping them.

Their bodies twisted—fused together.

Fire and steel intertwined—forming a never-before-seen monster.

Top half: A cat’s head burning with blue flames.
Bottom half: An Ironhide Rhino body covered in lava patterns.
Tail: A fire-spitting serpent.

“This is… Hellfire Rhino-Cat!”

Alice’s face paled—disbelief as she stared at the beast.
“It’s a Level 30+ fused spirit creature!”

Even Black was shocked. He frowned.

How could a Level 20 Summoner fuse a Level 30+ beast via Divine Edict?
Even with all her magic, max fusion was Level 25.

Unless…

Thinking the same thought—Black and Alice exchanged a glance—same conclusion.

“Potion!”

Black realized—Liz must’ve taken a magic-enhancing potion to create the Hellfire Rhino-Cat.

This was cheating—but Duke Gran clearly didn’t care.

Now Elaina was truly in trouble!