Curse Reply: After choosing Nawa, the cursed spirit cursed me for being cruel.

"Ask him? Jay, are you sure you remember what's written in these books?" Gojo Satoru picked up the book "A Brief Analysis of the Principles of Barrier Techniques" and flipped through it casually, muttering to himself.

"Isn't this something you can learn just by looking at it? What's so interesting about these outdated case studies in books..."

"Gojo Satoru!" Yagami Masamichi finally couldn't hold back any longer, growling as his fists clenched. "Put down your books! It's class time! And look at yourselves! Put your school uniforms on!"

"Yes, yes, yes~" Gojo Satoru replied insincerely, threw the book back on the table, then pulled over a chair next to him, sat down backwards with his chin on the back of the chair, and stared straight at Duanmu Yan with his blue eyes behind his sunglasses, instantly changing the subject.

"Hey, Duanmu, we haven't finished yesterday's fight yet! When are we going to have another one? This time I promise I'll show you something even more powerful! Oh, and by the way, can you summon your armor again today? I had a few questions about your magical power circulation mode last night..."

"Wu, you'd better stop now!" Moth's roar echoed in the classroom.

Shoko lay on the table, her dark eyes glancing at the chaotic classroom before turning away indifferently to look out the window at the distant mountains.

Ah, it seems that Ms. Moth's beautiful vision of a well-behaved student is facing a severe challenge from the very first morning.

But that's what makes it a vocational college.

The morning theory class went by very quickly.

For Moth Zhengdao, this was probably the lesson in which he felt his "value as a teacher" was most evident since he began teaching at the college.

Duanmu Yan sat upright below the podium, his black eyes fixed intently on the Night Moth, either on the blackboard he was explaining or on the notes he was quickly taking.

This attentive listening posture allowed Moth to experience the long-lost satisfaction of imparting knowledge and resolving doubts.

My back no longer aches, my legs no longer hurt, and my voice became noticeably louder as I explained things. I even became more tolerant of the white-haired guy sleeping next to me.

At least, there's still one student listening attentively!

Hopefully, this is how the moth feels right now.

After the theory class ended, Moth Masamichi reluctantly closed his lesson plan and announced that the next class would be a practical training session, to be held in the third training field.

The third training ground was larger than the one from last night, and the ground and the surrounding barriers appeared more solid.

The group arrived quickly. Ieiri Shoko, carrying a medical kit, leaned lazily against a tree in the distance, even though it might not be needed.

Gojo Satoru yawned and stretched his wrists and ankles, looking like he hadn't woken up yet.

Night Moth looked at Duanmu Yan as he walked into the arena and said in a deep voice, "Duanmu, I observed your battle yesterday. In your armored combined state, your attack, defense, and speed were all outstanding, your spell power attribute was also unique, and your combat style was mature. These advantages need to be maintained and further developed."

He changed the subject, his expression turning serious: "However, I have a question, a question that all sorcerers who rely on shikigami, cursed corpses, or some kind of external weaponry in battle must face..."

"When you don't summon that armor, does your true body have sufficient defense or ability to deal with sudden attacks?"

Chapter 17 Elemental Spirits' Defense

"Do you have sufficient defensive measures when the enemy approaches you?"

"Battles for sorcerers are ever-changing. Enemies won't always give you time to transform. There are also targets specifically designed to assassinate the sorcerer's physical form or to interfere with summoning abilities. If the physical form is too vulnerable, the consequences could be disastrous if the enemy gets close or the armor is accidentally disarmed."

What Moth Masamichi said makes sense. In the history of the sorcery world, there are many examples of people who were not very strong but became famous because of their powerful shikigami or sorcery tools, and eventually perished because their main body was ambushed.

Duanmu Yan listened without any surprise, as if he had already considered this issue.

He shook his head and said calmly, "The situation you're worried about won't happen, Moth Teacher."

"Oh?" Moth Masakazu raised an eyebrow.

Duanmu Yan turned his gaze to Gojo Satoru, who had started kicking pebbles out of boredom: "Gojo-kun."

"Hmm?" Gojo Satoru looked up.

"Please attack me."

Upon hearing this, not only was Yagami Masamichi taken aback, but even Natsumi Yuki and Shoko, who seemed to be daydreaming in the distance, looked over.

Gojo Satoru blinked, then a bright smile spread across his face: "Wow! Such an exciting invitation, Duanmu-kun, are you sure?"

"Even without using my magic, my physical skills are no joke! Even without 'infinite' acceleration, I'm still very fast!"

“Confirmed.” Duanmu Yan nodded, even relaxing his posture, letting his hands hang naturally at his sides, looking calmly at Gojo Satoru, appearing completely unguarded.

"Interesting! Then I won't be polite!" Gojo Satoru's smile vanished, and even though they were still more than ten meters apart, he casually took a step.

Gojo Satoru's figure vanished from his original spot in an instant, appearing beside Duanmu Yan as if by teleportation!

Night Moth's pupils contracted slightly, and Xia Youjie also leaned forward slightly.

However, just as Gojo Satoru's fingers were about to touch Duanmu Yan's clothes...

call!

Without warning, a semi-transparent crimson halo suddenly rose from Duanmu Yan's body!

The halo clung tightly to his skin and clothes, like a self-igniting veil of flames, yet without any heat leakage. Its appearance was extremely abrupt, without any process of condensing magical power, as if it had always existed and was only triggered at this moment.

Gojo Satoru's finger landed firmly on the crimson halo.

A clear look of surprise flashed across Gojo Satoru's eyes. He felt as if his fingers were poking into an incredibly tough, invisible armor.

Although he didn't use any spell power, the speed and power of his finger strike were enough to pierce through the steel plate, but it was completely blocked by this thin halo of light, and it couldn't even make Duanmu Yan's body sway!

He quickly withdrew his hand, took half a step back, and activated his six blue eyes at full power, filled with curiosity.

"This...this is...?!"

The crimson aura around Duanmu Yan was completely gone, as if it had never appeared.

He looked at the shocked Night Moth Zhengdao and the thoughtful Xia Youjie, and calmly explained, "The elemental spirit's automatic defense, my spell made me sign a contract with the elemental spirit that controls 'fire'."

"Even when I am not in the armor fusion state, the elemental spirit will stay by my side. When it senses an attack aimed at me, it will automatically activate an elemental shield for defense."

He paused, then added, "The defensive strength of this shield is no different from the base defense when I summon my armor; it just doesn't provide any additional strength, speed bonuses, or weapons."

Moth Master opened his mouth, then exhaled after a long while, his serious expression turning into a complex sigh: "An automatically triggered, permanent elemental shield with strength equivalent to armor... This is simply..."

He couldn't find the right words to describe it.

This ability greatly compensates for the biggest weakness of transformation-type mages, and their safety is improved by more than one level!

Xia Youjie also walked over, looking at Duanmu Yan with a gleam in his eyes: "Amazing talent... no, it should be said that the 'elemental spirit' that formed a contract with you is of extremely high status, and the protection mechanism for you is more perfect than we imagined. Duanmu-jun, your potential and uniqueness are probably even greater than we initially expected."

"Hehehe..." Gojo Satoru had already put on that overly excited smile again, circling around Duanmu Yan, his fingers itching to move.

"Automatic defense! Strength equivalent to armor! That's so cool! What's the principle behind it? What's the shield's duration, cooldown time, and maximum withstand limit? Hey, Duanmu, let me try it a few more times! Let me lightly touch it with 'Cang' and see? I promise to control the force!"

"Satoru! You better behave yourself!" Yaga Masamichi immediately snapped out of his reverie, grabbed Gojo Satoru by the back of his collar, dragged him away, and then solemnly said to Duanmu Yan:

“Very good, Duanmu. This ability is very important, but you must also be careful not to relax your training and vigilance because of it. Every defense has its limits, and your own strength is the key.”

“I understand, Teacher Nightmoth.” Duanmu Yan nodded.

Strength is fundamental, since his defense is the upper limit of the armor, and the armor's defense is related to his strength.

He didn't want to be walking along when someone suddenly stabbed him in the back.

You're right, aren't you, Gojo?

The practical lessons continued amidst the renewed enthusiasm for teaching from Noctua Masamichi and the constant curiosity of Gojo Satoru.

Duanmu Yan gained a more intuitive understanding of the training facilities at the advanced college and the combat methods between sorcerers.

Thus began my life at the vocational college.

……

One week later, at the training ground.

The dull thuds of flesh colliding were accompanied by rhythmic, rapid breathing.

On the field, two figures are moving at high speed, crossing paths, and attacking each other.

There was no burst of magical power, no strange fluctuations of spells, just a brutal physical combat, but the speed and power far exceeded those of ordinary people.

Duanmu Yan was shirtless, wearing only a pair of training shorts, and his skin was covered with fine beads of sweat that reflected the sunlight.

His eyes were sharp as he stared intently at Xia Youjie across from him. His breathing was somewhat heavy, but his movements showed no sign of slowing down.

Xia Youjie was also dressed casually, her hair tied up in a neat bun, her expression as gentle as ever, but her eyes focused.

His movements, though not as swift and unpredictable as Gojo Satoru's, were more fluid and graceful.

Duanmu Yan's powerful low sweep kick was steadily blocked by Xia Youjie's raised knee. Taking advantage of the momentum, he twisted his body and his left fist shot out from under his ribs like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Xia Youjie's abdomen!

This sudden change of tactics was extremely swift, carrying the ruthlessness honed from being repeatedly beaten over the past week.

Xia Youjie remained calm and composed, slightly contracting his abdomen. At the same time, his right hand shot out like lightning, precisely landing on Duanmu Yan's wrist joint as he threw a punch, gently pulling it to the side and back.

Duanmu Yan felt most of the force in his fist instantly dissipate, and his center of gravity involuntarily leaned forward. Xia Youjie seized this fleeting opening, silently inserting his left foot between Duanmu Yan's legs, and leaning his shoulder forward as well.

"Well!"

Duanmu Yan grunted, staggered back several steps by a clever force, and almost fell. He barely managed to steady himself by bracing himself with his hands on the ground.

"Not bad, the explosiveness and awareness of changing moves in this punch are much stronger than a few days ago."

Xia Youjie retracted his stance and commented, "But you were still too hasty. When you saw me block your sweeping leg, you immediately thought of counterattacking with your heaviest punch. Your intention was too obvious. Moreover, your lower body was not stable enough when you exerted force. I borrowed your force, and you lost your center of gravity. Naturally, you couldn't execute the subsequent combo."

Duanmu Yan gasped for breath, his chest heaving, and nodded without refuting Xia Youjie's comments.

This week, similar scenes have been repeated countless times.

Night Moth Path believed that although his armor was powerful, it relied too much on external objects, and his physical foundation had to be strengthened, otherwise, in special circumstances, the weakness would be fatal.

Therefore, in addition to theoretical classes and spell power manipulation practice, a large amount of physical sparring became his main course.

The sparring partner is usually Xia Youjie, who is more composed and has extremely superb physical skills.

Chapter 18 Emergency Situation

"Duanmu, you've made great progress."

Xia Youjie walked over to Duanmu Yan and handed him a towel. "His ability to withstand blows, his endurance, and his pain tolerance have all improved significantly. His fighting instincts are also very good. He can remember many techniques after being taught them only once and try to apply them in actual combat. What he lacks is time and more high-quality combat."

Duanmu Yan took the towel and wiped his sweat. He knew that his rapid progress was partly due to being forced to improve, and partly perhaps also due to the combat talent brought by the "Duanmu Yan" template, which allowed his body to adapt to the rhythm of combat more quickly and made learning fighting skills twice as effective.

Moreover, after several days of continuous battles with the two geniuses, Xia Youjie and Wutiao Wu, his compatibility with the Nawa Armor has reached 65%, and he is just one step away from reaching the second stage.

"Take a five-minute break, then continue." Xia Youjie glanced at the sky; it was still early.

"Today we'll focus on footwork and recovery. Your movement efficiency when dodging is still too low, and your technique for deflecting attacks is also rough, wasting your energy."

“Okay.” Duanmu Yan had no objection; he knew it was for his own good.