Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 335: The Tri-Academy Exchange Arc (Part-27)

His luxurious robes were soaked with blood, torn and disordered. His hair hung loose and messy, and the confidence that once filled his handsome face had been replaced by undisguised shock.

He could not believe it.

The victory he had thought was firmly within his grasp had turned into this.

Opposite him, Zora stood quietly.

Her white dress was stained with blooming patches of red, and her long black hair had slipped loose, cascading over her shoulders. Her face was pale, her breath faintly uneven.

Clearly, she was injured as well.

And yet, in that battered state, she still possessed a beauty that made people’s hearts ache. No matter the situation, nothing seemed able to erase the calm elegance that clung to her like a shadow.

For a moment, the entire venue seemed frozen.

All eyes were locked onto the two figures on the stage.

Everyone could see that both had been hurt, yet no one dared to say who had won.

Even on the high platform, the four heads could no longer maintain their composure. Their gazes were fixed on the battlefield, expressions tense. At a glance, victory and defeat were impossible to judge.

Then, Zora straightened.

Though her face was pale, her posture remained upright and unyielding. Slowly, the corner of her lips curved into a faint, cold smile.

"You... lost."

Just two words.

And Ragnor Blackstar’s expression twisted instantly.

"I won’t ad—!"

Before he could finish, his body betrayed him.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of blood burst violently from his throat. His face drained of all color, and his legs gave out beneath him. With a heavy thud, he collapsed onto the shattered stage.

The entire arena sucked in a sharp breath.

Shock spread like wildfire.

Ragnor Blackstar... had lost.

No matter how one looked at it, he had held the advantage. And yet, at the final moment, it was he who fell.

How could this be?

The Spirit Warriors of Thunderclap Academy were stunned, their minds unable to process the scene before them.

In stark contrast, an eruption of cheers broke out from the academy’s side.

Reesa and the others stared wide-eyed, then burst into uncontrollable joy.

She won.

Zora had won.

She had defeated Ragnor Blackstar in front of everyone, crushing his arrogance and avenging Raphael.

The victory they had longed for had finally arrived, so sudden and overwhelming that it felt almost unreal.

Step by step, Zora walked toward Ragnor Blackstar.

Ragnor Blackstar, sprawled on the ground and unable to rise, felt fear creep into his eyes as she drew closer.

"You... what are you trying to do?"

Her red lips slowly curved upward, forming a smile both enchanting and chilling. She moved slowly, deliberately, each step firm and heavy, as though stamping directly onto Ragnor Blackstar’s heart.

Then...

Boom!

Without a word, Zora lifted her foot and stepped down hard onto Ragnor Blackstar’s body.

The moment that foot came down, the entire venue sucked in a sharp breath.

Was she insane?

This was Ragnor Blackstar she was stepping on, a prince of Qinglan. And this was the heart of the empire, the martial platform of the Academy exchange. To humiliate him in such a way... it was simply unheard of.

Yet among the people of the Imperial academy, no fear stirred.

Only fire.

Their blood seemed to ignite all at once, every heartbeat pounding with exhilaration. This was not madness to them. This was retaliation. This was Zora returning, blow for blow, every humiliation Ragnor Blackstar had inflicted before.

Standing above him, Zora looked down coldly. Her gaze was sharp, merciless, filled with undisguised disdain. She had no intention of showing restraint. Everything Ragnor Blackstar had done, she would return in full.

She wanted him to taste what it meant to be trampled.

"You," she said calmly, her voice cutting like frost, "are nothing but trash who think he is a genius."

The words struck harder than any blow.

Ragnor Blackstar’s eyes flooded with bloodshot fury. He was a royal prince, exalted since birth. When had he ever been humiliated like this?

"Zora, you’re courting death!" he roared through clenched teeth.

This was the greatest shame of his life.

To be pressed beneath a woman’s foot, powerless to resist, stripped of dignity before countless eyes. The rage in his chest nearly tore him apart.

Zora only let out a soft laugh.

"How amusing," she said lightly. "You royals set fires at will, yet forbid others from lighting lamps. You rely on your imperial status to trample people, but once that title is stripped away, what are you? Your sister is the same. She first challenged me and then used her imperial status when I beat her up..."

Her eyes narrowed, sharp as blades.

"You are nothing more than my defeated opponent."

She lifted her foot.

The sole struck the stone with a faint sound, as if stepping on Ragnor Blackstar had soiled her shoes. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

And then Zora finished off with the final statement, "Also, the way you dealt with my friend made it clear that you might have the background of a royal family of a large Empire, Ragnor Blackstar, but you don’t have a shred of dignity of Royalty."

With that, she turned and walked off the martial platform without a second glance, leaving Ragnor Blackstar sprawled there, drowning in humiliation he could neither endure nor escape.

Humiliate others, and one day you will be humiliated in return.

Zora had repaid Raphael’s suffering in the most direct way possible.

The students of Thunderclap Academy should have been furious at such a scene, yet strangely, a suppressed sense of release stirred in their hearts. Watching Ragnor Blackstar fall, watching someone finally stand up to imperial arrogance, brought an emotion they had long forgotten.

They, too, had pride.

They, too, had their blood boiling in anger against these arrogant nobles.

Why should students of great academies live high and mighty, while others endured endless scorn and trampling?

Zora had dared to do what they never could.

"Zora, well done!" Reesa shouted, clapping hard as tears reddened her eyes.

This was for Raphael. But more than that, having a friend like Zora felt like the greatest fortune of her life.

As her applause rang out, others followed.

One pair of hands. Then another. Then many.

Soon, the sound spread like a tide. Even Spirit Warriors from Thunderclap Academy joined in, their palms striking together without hesitation.

At this moment, Zora belonged to everyone.

The applause grew louder, swelling into cheers that shook the air. A civilian had stood against royalty and won, carving out a miracle with her own strength.

On the high platform, Gerrad’s lips curved into a deep, satisfied smile. Zora had not merely met expectations; she had surpassed them, restoring the academy’s honor in the most resounding way.

Sebastian’s chest surged with emotion he could barely contain. This applause was not given out of pity or fear.

It was earned.

And every person here knew it.

Compared to the jubilation surging through the hearts of the Imperial academy’s disciples, the expressions on the high platform were grim to the point of distortion.

Cindral and Hector looked as if they had swallowed something bitter.

By all logic, with Ragnor Blackstar’s strength, this match should never have ended in defeat. Yet not only had he lost, but he had been crushed publicly, his dignity ground into the dust before countless eyes.

Worse still, recalling how Ragnor Blackstar had earlier humiliated Raphael, this outcome felt painfully justified, as though fate itself had swung back in retaliation.

And then, Cindral’s eyes shifted toward Gerrad as his words echoed in his head.

"Principal Cindral, there is no absolute talent in the world. And if a mere strength gives one arrogance and gives them the right to humiliate a weaker opponent, then they shouldn’t cry when they were at the receiving end. I hope you remember your own words now and not show hypocrisy later."

Cindral couldn’t help but clench his fists, trying his best to control his frustration.

It didn’t help as he heard the applause that was pouring from around.

This was Thunderclap Academy’s ground.

And yet, the very students of Thunderclap Academy were applauding Zora.

Applauding the enemy.

It was chaos. An utter disgrace.

For the sake of appearances and stability, they could not openly intervene, but if today’s events spread, it would become an indelible stain in Thunderclap Academy’s history. A shame that would be whispered about for years.

Malrick was no less shaken. His gaze toward Gerrad carried a complicated mix of astonishment and envy.