BXBX NOVEL Chapter 56
Chapter 56: Situational Analysis
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Su Ye had conducted a situational analysis using the SWOT model. He had looked at the situation in terms of his strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
Looking inward, he had a strong physique and was not bound by the traditional views of the contest. He also had the advantage in that he was being underestimated, but he wielded a large number of plans. His weaknesses lay in his lack of battle experience, his limited number of spells, and the short-range of his spells.
Looking at his external circumstances, his large staff and Andre’s traditional ways of casting spells were his opportunities, while Andre’s talent and experience posed a threat to him.
Analyzing the situation like that allowed Su Ye to get a clearer picture. He had to make use of his strengths and opportunities to their fullest extent while avoiding his weaknesses and threats and search for a breakpoint.
After he was done with his analysis, Su Ye now knew how the first match could go. His chances went up from absolute defeat to having a certain possibility of victory.
Su Ye nodded in satisfaction. He grabbed the apprentice-level staff and walked forward.
The three Mage Apprentices from the other side looked at each other. Andre walked toward Su Ye, barehanded.
The distance that spells of different levels traveled varied. For example, out of all the spells a Mage Apprentice could learn, the Wind Dagger Technique could travel the furthest. Though it could fly a distance of 20 meters, it usually started petering out at 15 meters. In the hands of a Mage Apprentice, the range of Magic Rope was only ten meters.
The two parties stopped walking when they were 15 meters apart. This was the standard distance for contests between Mage Apprentices.
“Andre, son of Phillips.” Andre looked at Su Ye.
“Su Ye. I’ve just advanced to the level of Mage Apprentice two days ago, what about you?” Su Ye asked.
Andre’s pale blonde hair rustled gently as a breeze blew past. His gray-green eyes were like dew on an autumn leaf. They hid a faint, sinister gaze.
Andre had extremely wide shoulders and a slender frame. His body formed an elegant inverted triangle. He was more elegant-looking than the average warrior but was obviously more muscular than a mage. Along with his handsome features, he looked as though all the deities had merged into one.
A few of the female students from the Plato Academy had a glimmer in their eyes when they saw Andre.
“I will advance to black iron after I win.” Andre had a friendly smile. He gently lifted his chin. He was clearly arrogant, yet no one could detest him.
“It’ll be natural if I lose, but it would be devastating should you lose.” Su Ye revealed an uncaring look.
Andre smiled. “I do not know you, though I can see that you are more exceptional than other Mage Apprentices. As long as you are willing to, mention my name and the doors of the Noble Academy would be open for you.”
Hisses came from the side of the Plato Academy.
A few of the students from the Noble Academy knitted their brows.
“Why be a dog at the Noble Academy when you can be a proper human? Why not come to the Plato Academy? Mentioning my name works here too,” Su Ye said.
Many students from the Plato Academy roared with laughter. Su Ye was too interesting.
Su Ye had intended it as a joke, but Andre’s expression suddenly turned rigid. He regained his composure a moment later and nodded with a smile. “I hope that we will have the chance to be partners in the future.”
“It is rare for nobles to have such a demeanor. Even though the two academies have always put the contest over friendship, I hope that we can reverse this and put friendship first,” Su Ye said.
The people from both academies looked at Su Ye in disbelief. No one expected such a young child to say something that reasonable.
Andre laughed, “You are indeed more exceptional than the rest. I will not injure you if you admit defeat now.”
“You can’t activate your magic device, right?” Su Ye stared at Andre.
Andre was merely a Mage Apprentice, but he was equipped with three magic rings, one magic necklace, two magic bangles, and a magic belt around his waist. Even his long robe was a type of magic device. This made Su Ye incredibly frustrated.
His entire set of equipment cost at least 10000 Gold Eagles.
“Of course, the arena prohibits all usage of magic devices. I think that the crowd cannot wait any longer. Let’s begin our preparations,” Andre said.
“Sure.”
Su Ye put on an act while he wielded the apprentice-level staff and stared at Andre.
Andre’s smile receded as he stared seriously at Su Ye.
Both their ears were raised slightly.
At this moment, the mage responsible for giving the signal walked to an area 30 meters from them. He gently squeezed the soft black trumpet flower in his hands.
Suddenly, the mage pulled his hands apart, and the black trumpet flower fell. It quickly extended, then returned to its original shape.
The moment the black trumpet flower returned to its original shape, a piercing ring spread throughout the arena.
Andre pointed at Su Ye fiercely and recited an incantation that Su Ye had never heard of before.
Su Ye was not flustered. He did not recite an incantation. Instead, he moved forward a step with his left foot. He then quickly grabbed onto the thin end of the large staff with his right hand and turned his waist to the right. He positioned the large staff behind his body before finally exerting force and tossing the large staff outward.
The large staff that was about Su Ye’s height rotated quickly as it flew outward. It was as if it was a windmill that was flying horizontally. It brought along with it a loud sound as it sliced through the air and arrived before Andre.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
“What kind of spell is that?”
Andre had not had the time to release his Wind Dagger Technique when he saw a shadow flying in front of him. He had not seen the object clearly before he felt an intense pain on his head. He then heard a loud noise, and his vision turned black. He slumped onto the ground.
Su Ye mumbled, “I sure am lucky. I was aiming for his chest.”
The teachers and students from both academies fell silent.
Wasn’t a battle between Mage Apprentices supposed to be them standing in their positions like logs and continuously casting spells? Wasn’t the loser supposed to be decided by who took the most hits and was rendered unable to battle?
Did this Su Ye regard himself as a spear thrower?
“Could that mage have a talent that dealt with rods and clubs?”
“Is he a legendary master who focuses solely on rods and clubs?”
At this moment, Andre’s unconscious body twitched slightly. Everyone who possessed Divine Power or Magic Power instinctively looked over.
Everyone could clearly sense a change in Andre’s aura.
Andre was advancing to become a Black Iron Mage while he was unconscious.
The students and teachers from the Noble Academy stood in their original positions, dazed. This was too awkward.
The people from the Plato Academy could not help but laugh. Andre’s reputation was ruined.
“A piece of iron lying on the ground?”
“Unconscious advancement!”
“Master of sleep!”
“Drooling genius?”
“A disciple of rods and clubs?”
The students from the Plato Academy started to give Andre various nicknames.
Su Ye suddenly started to pity the genius.
Sometime later, Hort suddenly shouted, “Su Ye won!”
The students from the Plato Academy came to their senses and shouted Su Ye’s name.
“Su Ye!”
“Su Ye!”
“Su Ye…”
“Silence!” A magic roar suddenly came from within the ranks of the Noble Academy. It suppressed all other sounds.
“Our side thinks that Su Ye’s actions went against the rules of the contest,” a tall, muscular teacher said.
Su Ye asked, “Do the rules of the contest prohibit students from using an apprentice-level staff?”
“This is a contest between Mage Apprentices, not Warrior Apprentices.”
“Would I not be able to do that even if we cast spells continuously and finally deplete all our Magic Power?” Su Ye asked.
The teacher on the other side fell silent.
There had been incidents like this during magic contests. In the event where both parties had depleted their Magic Power and a victor could not be determined, they would have to settle the match by brawling with each other until one party admitted defeat.
The teachers and students from the Noble Academy wanted to say that no one in the past had ever thrown their staff at the very beginning of the match.
The distance between the Mage Apprentices was very short, but it would increase as the mages advanced in level. No one would be able to settle the match by throwing their staff.
The spells used by Mage Apprentices were tricky, and most apprentices stood still to cast their magic. No one would have taken the strange alternative Su Ye took.