The shuttle in the second dimension

　"Come out, [Capricorn's Eye Crystal]" As Lin Xuan whispered, more powerful magic power than the one used to construct the inherent barrier before overflowed from Lin Xuan's body, constantly eroding the surrounding environment.

　A blurry and huge beast shadow condensed from behind Lin Xuan. At the same time, a dreamy light began to emanate from the beast shadow.

　As Lin Xuan walked towards the prisoners, the giant beast behind him became clearer and clearer. Its body was covered in silver crystal scales, its forelimbs were translucent like wings, and its spiral horns, like those of a wild sheep, seemed to be cast from crystal, reflecting a dreamlike brilliance. It was a beautiful ichthyosaur, and it was also Lin Xuan's tenth beast - [Capricorn's Eye Crystal]...

　However, the [Capricorn Eye Crystal] summoned by Lin Xuan this time was slightly larger than the ones he summoned before, perhaps because of the [power derived from all things].

　[Capricorn's Eye Crystal] That huge body and that terrifying aura could not fail to attract the attention of the group of prisoners.

　However, Lin Xuan didn't care whether they noticed him or not, or even if they noticed him, it didn't matter to him.

　"Were you the one who brought us here?" The person who walked forward and asked, looking at Lin Xuan and the [Capricorn Eye Crystal] behind him with a serious expression.

　However, Lin Xuan did not answer him, or rather, he thought there was no need to answer.

　He glanced coldly at the group of prisoners, then the corners of his mouth slowly stretched up, and a playful and amusing light filled his scarlet eyes.

　"Let's begin - [Capricorn's Eye Crystal]" As Lin Xuan whispered indifferently, a dazzling dreamy light mixed with a huge mental power swept towards the group of prisoners released by Lin Xuan.

　When they heard Lin Xuan's words, many of the prisoners suddenly felt a palpitation, but Lin Xuan did not give them any chance to react. The dreamy light mixed with the huge spiritual power of 4.4 was like a flood that broke through the dam and directly submerged the group of prisoners.

　However, the situation before him seemed easy and simple, but it wasn't entirely so. Mind control itself was no simple matter, let alone the fact that Lin Xuan was trying to control the minds of so many people at once. Most importantly, these people weren't just ordinary people with weak mental powers; they were all imprisoned within a prison barrier. Those imprisoned within a prison barrier weren't necessarily simple individuals.

　Therefore, the burden Lin Xuan is bearing at this time is not light.

　"Fortunately, I used the [Power from All Things] to improve it before, otherwise this burden would be really unbearable~~~" Lin Xuan murmured with a slightly pale face, gritting his teeth.

　"But it's all worth it~~~~"

Chapter 136

　On the tenth day after Kurogane Ikki was taken away, the Alliance held Kurogane Ikki's eighteenth tryout match at the island nation branch. His opponent was an ordinary classmate, accompanied by Kurogane Ikki's class instructor Oreki Yuri.

　For Black Iron, even if he was in an extremely unfavorable situation, not everyone could beat him, so he won the game very easily.

　However, Kurogane Ikki's instructor, Oreki Yuri, did not think that he was doing well, because she could clearly feel how bad her student's condition was.

　With a heavy heart, Oreki Yuri returned to the campus. As soon as she came back, the anxious Shushizuku immediately ran to her and asked her about her brother.

　Facing the anxious Shizuku, Oreki Yuri did not hide anything and told her everything she had seen and heard.

　After learning this, Zhu Shizu's expression suddenly turned bad. "It's just as Lin Xuan said. Are they going to use such despicable means to drag my brother down——"

　"All we can do now is pray that Kurogane-san can get through this difficult time, alas~~~~" Seeing her student suffer like this, Oreki Yuri felt bad too, but she knew that she could not help her student at all. Even the chairman of the board of directors of this academy, Shinguji Kurono, was helpless in this matter, let alone her, a little teacher.

　"Thank you for telling me this, Mr. Oreki." After thanking Oreki Yuri, Shushizuku left with a heavy heart.

　Looking at Shizuku's back as she left, Oreki Yuri sighed.

　-

　Two weeks after Kurogane Ikki was taken away, Lin Xuan went to the chairman's office to inquire about Kurogane Ikki's news. Not to mention, he actually got a piece of news about him.

　Tomorrow afternoon, Kurogane Ikki's final selection match will be held, a battle that will gamble his future, and his opponent is none other than [Raikiri] Toudou Touka.

　[Falling Knight] Kurogane Ikki vs [Raikiri] Toudou Touka

　Although he had already known that things would develop to this point, Lin Xuan still felt a little emotional after hearing the news.

　To be honest, Lin Xuan was quite surprised that Kurogane Ikki would agree to fight Daohua, and even gamble his future on it. After all, in the original story, Kurogane Ikki and Daohua fought largely because Akaza Mamoru used his relationship with Stella to force Kurogane Ikki to agree. But now, Kurogane Ikki, who was just an ordinary friend with Stella, obviously wouldn't be threatened by Akaza Mamoru. I guess Akaza Mamoru found a reason that Kurogane couldn't refuse and forced him to agree.

　"Hey - Chairman, I heard that Kurogane doesn't seem to be in good condition, right?"

　"Well, it's at least pneumonia, or even worse." When she said this, Shinguji Kurono became furious. She had never expected that the people of the Kurogane family would use such despicable means to deal with their own student, Kurogane Ikki.

　"In his prime, he might have been able to fight Dongtang, but in his current state—I never expected them to go to such lengths to wipe out Black Iron's future."

　"That's pretty bad~~~The condition is actually that bad. But--" Lin Xuan raised his eyebrows slightly and continued, "--too much is as bad as too little~~~They pushed Black Iron too hard."

　"Hmm? What do you mean?" Shinguji Kurono asked, as if she had discovered the hidden meaning in Lin Xuan's words.

　"That Black Iron guy is like a spring. Since they haven't crushed him to death, they'll have to bear the consequences of his rebound."

　"That guy won't go down that easily."

　-

　After coming out of the chairman's office, Lin Xuan found Zhu Shizuku and told him all the news he heard from the chairman.

　When Zhu Shizuku heard the news, she was filled with endless anger.

　As someone who had fought against [Raikiri] Toudou Touka, she naturally knew how powerful that [Raikiri] was.

　Letting the brother who is in extremely poor condition fight against [Raikiri] in her prime, the chances of winning for the brother are very slim.

　"They are really going too far!!" Zhu Shizuku said angrily, clenching her fists tightly.

　Looking at Zhu Shizuku's angry look, Lin Xuan gently touched her head and advised, "Don't be angry. It's useless to be angry. Besides, this is also an opportunity for your brother——"

　"Opportunity!?" Zhu Shizuku asked, looking at Lin Xuan in confusion.

　"It's not that I look down on Black Iron's aptitude, but F-rank talent does limit Black Iron's progress to a great extent. If your brother hadn't been forced into a dead end, it would have taken a long time and effort to make further progress."

　"But--"

　When Zhu Shizuku wanted to say something, Lin Xuan interrupted her.

　"There's nothing to worry about. Isn't it all we can do now to trust your brother?"

　"Yeah." Although she was still worried about her brother, Zhuzhi knew that she could do nothing now. All she could do was to do as Lin Xuan said and believe in her brother.

　-

　In the afternoon, Lin Xuan, who had just finished today's exercise, met Dao Hua, who looked worried.

　"What's wrong? What's troubling our little confused boy so much?" Lin Xuan asked as he stepped forward.

　"Eh!? Lin Xuan." Dao Hua was stunned for a moment when he saw Lin Xuan suddenly appear in front of him, but he came to his senses after a while and answered Lin Xuan with a complicated expression.

　"It's because of tomorrow's tryouts."

　"And Black Iron?" After Dao Hua said this, Lin Xuan understood what was going on.

　"Huh!? How did you know?" Dao Hua asked subconsciously, looking at Lin Xuan in confusion. She had just found out that her opponent in the last selection match was replaced by Kurogane Ikki not long ago, and the news had not been announced yet. She didn't know how Lin Xuan knew it.

　"Kurotsuki has been taken away for two weeks. As a friend, it's not surprising that I would ask the chairman more about the situation."

　"Is that so~~~" Dao Hua muttered, looking worried again.

　"Hey—Lin Xuan, do you think, facing a classmate like Kurotsuchi, I can still hold my head high and march into the nationals even if I win in the end?"

Chapter 137

　"Hey - Lin Xuan, do you think that, facing a classmate like Heitie, even if I win in the end, can I still hold my head high and march into the nationals?" Dao Hua looked at Lin Xuan with a complicated expression, a little confused.

　But her confusion didn't last long, as Lin Xuan flicked his finger and the confusion on her face disappeared.

　"Dao Hua, are you underestimating Heitie?" Looking at Dao Hua, Lin Xuan's expression became slightly serious.

　"Eh!? I didn't--" Looking at Lin Xuan in confusion, Dao Hua hurriedly explained, not even caring about Lin Xuan tapping her on the forehead.

　"Then what are you doing? Are you sympathizing with him? Or are you feeling embarrassed for defeating an opponent who is in extremely poor condition?" Looking at Dao Hua's hurried explanation, Lin Xuan continued to ask.

　"I, I, I didn't." Looking at Lin Xuan's serious look, Dao Hua began to panic.

　Looking at Dao Hua's flustered look, Lin Xuan sighed slightly, rubbed her head, and said softly, "I know you didn't. I just want you to understand that you don't need to be confused about this matter at all."

　"Let's not talk about the fact that this matter is not something you can change. Besides, you all underestimate Kurogane Ikki."

　"Eh!?" Lin Xuan's sudden change in tone made Dao Hua stunned for a moment, but when he heard Lin Xuan's next sentence, Dao Hua was even more confused.

　"Kurogatsu Ikki is a man of great will. Honestly, I have great admiration for his seemingly unbreakable resolve. If it weren't for his utterly poor talent as a Bladebreaker, which greatly limited his progress, his strong will would still be enough to allow him to unleash unimaginable power in difficult situations."

　"Tomorrow's battle is your final selection match, but for him, it's a fight that gambles his future as a Bladebreaker. He's been pushed to the brink of death. Do you still think you'll be confused by fighting him like that? It's not even certain whether you can win~~~ Daohua."

　Dao Hua seemed to be still immersed in Lin Xuan's words. She hadn't recovered yet and was still in a daze. Looking at Dao Hua's silly and cute look, Lin Xuan couldn't help but reach out and pinch her pink and tender face.

　"Hmm!?" Dao Hua seemed to have been awakened by Lin Xuan's pinch and immediately came back to her senses. Seeing Lin Xuan's intimate gesture, Dao Hua's face flushed, and she subconsciously took a step back, speaking in a slightly flustered tone.

　"I, I understand. I won't be troubled anymore. I will do my best tomorrow. Even if Kurotsuki is betting his future on this battle, I won't have any thought of showing mercy." After saying that, Dao Hua turned around and ran away in panic.

　"This confused little kid, is he still shy?" Looking at Dao Hua's panicked back, Lin Xuan chuckled and murmured.

　"It's almost over—" Looking at Dao Hua's gradually receding figure, Lin Xuan murmured softly, "—The selection battle."

　"The plan is about to begin." As he said this, Lin Xuan turned around, with his back to Dao Hua who was gradually moving away, and murmured in a voice that only he could hear.

　"When I become your enemy, what will be your choice - Daohua."

　-

　When Lin Xuan returned to the dormitory, he saw Stella who had already returned. Ever since Lin Xuan helped Stella awaken the hidden power in her body, she had trained alone every time she trained that power, saying that she wanted to give Lin Xuan a surprise. Therefore, she almost did not train with Lin Xuan during this period.

　Although he had already known what Stella's power was, in order not to spoil Stella's interest, Lin Xuan pretended not to know.

　However, just when Lin Xuan came back, Stella asked, "Hey - what's wrong with Zhu Shizuku? When I saw her just now, her face was so gloomy." Although she tried her best to hide it, Lin Xuan could still hear the unconcealable worry in Stella's words.

　"He usually doesn't get along with Zhu Shizuku, but he still cares about her at critical moments~~~~" Lin Xuan raised his eyebrows and said with a smile.

　"Who, who cares about her? I just saw that she looked so unhappy and wanted to know the reason for her happiness." Facing Lin Xuan's teasing, Stella stubbornly gave a reason that even she herself would not believe.

　"Huh? Next time you can find a reason that you can believe." Lin Xuan said with a smile, curling his lips. Although he wanted to continue playing, for the safety of this dormitory, Lin Xuan did not continue, but directly brought the topic to the point.

　"The opponent for the final Black Iron Trial has been changed to Dao Hua. Furthermore, due to those people, he has developed some health issues. His condition is extremely poor. If he were an ordinary person, he wouldn't even be able to fight."

　"What!? They are so despicable." Although she knew from the beginning that Black Iron would be put in a very passive situation, when she really understood the situation, Stella felt that she was still too young. Those guys were far more despicable than she had imagined.

　"No wonder Zhu Shizuku's face is so gloomy." Stella whispered, and a look of displeasure appeared on her face.

　"If she wasn't afraid that her actions would implicate Kurotsuchi, Zhushiku would have gone to cause trouble for Akaza-no-mori, or even killed him." Lin Xuan said, scratching the back of his head and pouting.

　"Even I want to rush over and beat those guys up, let alone Shushizuku, who is his caring brother." Stella said with a sigh.

　"But what about tomorrow's battle? If he doesn't pass the selection battle, Kurogane won't even be eligible to enter the Seven Star Sword Dance Festival. In that case, how can he prove his strength? Wouldn't he be held back again?"

　"Repeat a grade? Do you think they will let Heitie go so easily? Tomorrow's battle will jeopardize his future as a swordsman~~~ In other words, Heitie has been forced into a desperate situation." Lin Xuan said seriously with half-closed eyes.

　Stella: "What!!!"

Chapter 1 [Raikiri] vs [Falling Knight]