"Takamura Kazuki, holding the first position, is moved directly to the next round."
The host's voice echoed clearly across the arena, amplified by mana so that not a single word was missed.
A low murmur rippled through the crowd.
Kazuki remained seated, expression calm, his posture relaxed. He had expected this outcome. Still, the knowledge that his match would come later did little to ease the growing tension in the arena.
"The first match," the host continued, raising his voice, "will be between Kagayaki Aiko and Yamikage Shin."
"Contenders, please step onto the stage!"
The moment the announcement ended, two figures appeared simultaneously on the battlefield.
A young woman with radiant golden eyes and flowing silver hair stood near the center of the stage. No one had seen her move. There was no distortion of air, no mana fluctuation, no sound. Even the wind remained undisturbed.
She had arrived through pure technique—movement honed through countless repetitions until it had become instinct.
Opposite her stood a young man with dark eyes and black hair, his expression sharp and calculating. Unlike Aiko, he had used a high-level movement spell—but even then, no magical residue lingered in the air.
It was clear to everyone watching.
This match would not be ordinary.
The same instructor who had overseen the physical evaluation appeared between them, carrying two mana crystals. Without speaking, she extended them toward the contestants.
Aiko and Shin complied immediately, draining their mana completely into the crystals. The sensation was familiar—heavy, uncomfortable—but necessary.
"Will you be using any weapons or artifacts?" the instructor asked.
"A sword," Aiko replied calmly.
"Enhancement artifacts," Shin answered with a confident smirk.
"Take them out."
Aiko drew her sword in one smooth motion. The blade shimmered faintly, responding naturally to her presence.
Shin, meanwhile, revealed multiple artifacts—rings, a pendant, and reinforced armor. The instructor inspected them briefly, her expression neutral, before stepping back.
"Three…"
"Two…"
"One…"
"Start!"
The instant the match began, Aiko surged forward.
Her movements were clean, precise, and terrifyingly fast. The ground beneath her feet cracked slightly as she closed the distance, sword angled toward Shin's core.
Shin did not move.
Instead, he raised his hand calmly and activated the Aegis Pendant hanging around his neck.
A translucent mana shield expanded outward, forming a dome with a radius of five meters. The mana density was high—far beyond what an ordinary student could generate on their own.
Without hesitation, Shin pulled out a high-grade mana potion and drank it in one swift motion.
{Mana Potions}
Mana potions are refined from Manglee Berries, fruits grown on mana-rich trees. The older the tree, the denser the mana contained within the berry, resulting in more potent restorative effects. High-grade potions are rare and expensive, often reserved for noble heirs.
Aiko did not slow down.
The moment she reached the shield, she swung her sword.
If it had been a normal strike, the backlash alone would have thrown her backward. Instead, her blade was coated in an impossibly thin, perfectly controlled layer of mana.
The sword touched the shield.
And sliced through it cleanly.
Gasps erupted across the stands as the barrier collapsed like glass, shattered by sheer precision rather than brute force.
Aiko stepped directly in front of Shin.
His eyes narrowed.
[Eclipse Fall]
A Darkness Affinity spell that compresses vast quantities of darkness mana into a single point before imploding. The resulting blast incapacitates all within its range. Even if blocked, the residual effect interferes with recovery and healing, weakening those caught in its aftermath.
Shin cast the spell instantly, darkness surging outward as he used Flash Step to retreat.
Aiko reacted just as quickly.
She reinforced the mana around her body and sword and faced the explosion head-on.
BOOOOOOM!
The arena shook violently.
Dust, debris, and shattered stone blasted upward, obscuring the battlefield entirely. The impact was so intense that several spectators instinctively rose from their seats.
It looked decisive.
The instructor took a step forward—then stopped.
Her gaze flicked toward Hikari.
He shook his head once.
She stepped back.
Slowly, the dust settled.
Cracks spread outward from the epicenter of the explosion, spiderwebbing across the stage. But no one was paying attention to the damage.
All eyes were fixed on the figure standing at the center.
Aiko stood there uninjured.
A faint, translucent layer of mana enveloped her body, shimmering softly. Her breathing was steady. Her posture relaxed.
Shin stared at her in disbelief.
He had known she was strong.
She was called the Young Saint for a reason.
But he had never imagined the gap was this wide.
Gritting his teeth, Shin forced his remaining mana into one final spell.
[Nightingale]
A Darkness Affinity spell that unleashes wide, overlapping slashes of compressed dark mana. The broad attack range makes evasion difficult, and each slash is capable of piercing standard mana shields.
The slashes screamed through the air.
Aiko blocked and parried them effortlessly, her sword moving in precise arcs. Each clash sent sparks of opposing mana scattering.
Without hesitation, she sprinted forward.
This time, she poured all the mana she could gather into her next spell.
[Lightweave]
A Light Affinity spell that releases a dense wave of light mana, suppressing spellcasting and forcibly disrupting ongoing magic. It also purifies lingering negative effects and neutralizes residual affinity interference in the area.
Using her sword as a catalyst, Aiko unleashed the attack.
A crescent wave of razor-sharp light surged toward Shin.
With no room to escape, Shin poured everything he had into a final mana shield.
BOOOOM!
The shield shattered instantly.
The light wave struck his chest, sending him flying backward.
His high-level armor absorbed the worst of the impact, preventing serious injury—but the pressure crushed the air from his lungs.
Before he could recover—
Aiko was behind him.
Her sword pressed lightly against the back of his neck.
She stood perfectly still.
Ready to continue.
Shin clenched his fists, fury and frustration boiling within him.
"…I forfeit," he said through gritted teeth.
He left the stage immediately.
Aiko vanished moments later.
The host hesitated, momentarily stunned by how quickly the match had ended.
Then he recovered.
"The spar is over!" he announced.
"Winner—Kagayaki Aiko!"
The arena erupted into cheers.
And as the crowd's excitement surged, one thing became clear to everyone watching—
This tournament had only just begun.