Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!-Chapter 26 -: 25 Practical exam.

Julius let out a long sigh as he walked back to the waiting area.

"Haa..."

He had just finished talking to Rosalina. It was really hard to calm her down and explain everything.

She still looked at him like he was her worst enemy. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"It seems earning her affection is going to be tough," Julius muttered to himself.

"She still sees me as an enemy..."

He sat down on a bench and stared at the ground.

Just earlier, something surprising happened.

Rosalina had actually come up to him. Not because she wanted to talk to him... but because she saw Rosel with him.

"She likes cute things so much," Julius thought.

"She really wanted to meet Rosel. That’s the only reason she approached me, the guy she usually hates."

He gave a small, sad smile.

"I knew she loved cute stuff, but I never thought she would come close to me just for that. Sigh... I wonder when I’ll be able to talk to her freely, like real lovers do."

His face turned a little gloomy.

At least it wasn’t a total disaster.

If Rosalina had heard Rosel call him "Papa" and then walked away angry, things would have been really bad.

But she didn’t hear that part. She only saw the cute little girl and got excited.

"When she finally meets Rosel," Julius told himself, "I can just explain why she calls me Papa. It’ll be okay. Hopefully."

He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes for a second.

"One step at a time, Julius. One step at a time."

Meanwhile, up in the glass cabin attached to the stadium, the professors walked in and took their seats.

Dean Orin Belebright sat right in the middle.

He was still wearing his old, torn rags like always.

Professor Lucian Duskwood sat on his left, and Professor Jaya Balan sat on his right.

The other professors filled the seats around them.

Everyone’s eyes turned toward the waiting area where the students taking the practical exam were standing.

The Dean stroked his chin slowly and looked to the right side of the waiting section.

"Who do you think will win this year?" he asked in a calm voice.

Lucian answered right away. His eyes locked on a girl standing tall and proud on the right side.

"Isn’t it obvious?" he said. "It’s either Rosalina Valentina or Julius Augustus Hayes."

He leaned back a little.

"They are the biggest sensations across the three floating continents right now. No one else even comes close to their level. They’re far above all the other students."

Jaya nodded. "You’re right."

But then her gaze moved. She spotted a girl with brown hair in the middle of the waiting area.

The girl was surrounded by other students.

She was smiling and talking happily, looking relaxed and friendly.

Jaya’s voice softened a bit.

"Still... I think it’s too early to count out Alia Ruth."

She kept watching the brown-haired girl.

"She’s a commoner, but in just one year she reached the Mana Core of Bodily Ascension and the peak stage of flow. That’s crazy fast."

Jaya smiled a little.

"And she has grade-A mana affinity too. Give her a few more years... and she’ll become a real force to be reckoned with. Maybe even stronger than Rosalina one day."

Lucian shook his head with a small laugh.

"That’s a bit much, don’t you think? Surpassing those two monsters... with just hard work? It’s like trying to catch a fish with no bait at all."

He leaned forward, eyes still on Rosalina in the waiting area.

"And don’t forget, she has those legendary Rose Petal Eyes. Once she masters them? Good luck to anyone trying to fight her. No one’s standing a chance."

Lucian glanced over at Julius next.

"Then there’s the kid with the All-Seeing Eyes. From what I hear, he hasn’t mastered them yet, but he can already catch glimpses of the future."

"If he picks the Deviation path as his main focus when he hits Spirit Core... well, hardly anyone will be able to keep up with him."

He let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair.

"The heavens are really unfair, you know? But at least it’s a relief they’re human. If those two had been born as Zlycons? Total nightmare for the rest of us humans."

The Dean nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Indeed. Let’s just hope they stay on our side."

Down in the arena, the crowd went quiet as a professor strode in.

He was a big guy, rough and tough, with a shiny bald head that caught the light like a polished shield.

He scanned the students with a no-nonsense stare.

"Everyone!" His voice boomed across the hall, making a few first-years jump.

"We’re starting the practical exam now."

He crossed his arms and laid out the rules simple and clear.

"For first-years and second-years: Top 12 spots go to Star Class. Next 24 get Wolf Class. Everyone else? Ordinary Class."

The students leaned in, hanging on his every word.

"It’s one-on-one duels," he went on.

"Winners move up. Losers get ranked based on how far they go."

He paused for a beat, then pointed to a huge glowing screen on his right.

"Rankings show up there, live. No arguments."

All eyes snapped to the screen. It flickered to life, blank for now, but ready to fill with names and scores.

The waiting area exploded into whispers and chatter.

"I’m aiming for Wolf Class, at least," one guy said, pumping his fist.

"Hah! You? In Wolf? Keep dreaming," his friend shot back with a grin.

A girl nearby rolled her eyes. "Star’s where it’s at. I’m not settling for less."

The professor ignored the noise and pulled a small slip of paper from his pocket.

He unfolded it, cleared his throat, and read off the names loud and clear.

"First duel starts now. Participants: Chillin Reeve versus Brawl Sin."