As Serena's water attack rushed toward Janelle, the latter calmly stretched out her hand.
"Barrier Magic!"
A transparent barrier materialized before her.
BOOM!
The spiralling sphere of water slammed into the barrier, sending ripples across its surface. Water splashed in every direction, but the barrier remained intact, shielding Janelle from the impact.
She stood firmly in place, watching the attack dissipate.
"All right, then."
After several seconds, Janelle deactivated her barrier. She clenched her right hand, folding her fingers into a tight fist as a layer of barrier magic formed around it.
Serena's water magic gathered again, rushing toward her opponent.
Janelle didn't retreat.
Instead, she stepped forward and punched the incoming sphere head-on.
BOOM!
A sudden gust of wind spread across the battlefield.
The water sphere burst apart, scattering droplets in every direction before disappearing.
Janelle lowered her fist and exhaled.
"Was that your best?"
Without waiting for a response, she charged toward Serena.
Serena's eyes widened.
"What kind of magic is that?!"
She had expected Janelle to defend herself against the attack, not destroy it with a single punch.
"Water Magic!"
Serena swept both arms outward.
A massive wave of water emerged behind her, surging across the battlefield as she rushed toward Janelle.
The wave followed closely, its powerful current threatening to sweep everything in its path away.
Janelle glanced at the approaching water.
"Seriously?"
She extended one hand.
A transparent wall materialized directly in front of her.
The wave crashed into it, but instead of allowing the water to engulf her, Janelle angled the barrier to redirect the current. The water rushed past her on either side, continuing across the battlefield without touching her
The spectators erupted.
"LET'S GO, JANELLE!"
"THAT'S LORD ACKERMAN'S DAUGHTER!"
High above the battlefield, Lord Ackman watched with a proud smile.
"That's my daughter right there."
Janelle caught a glimpse of the cheering spectators and smirked.
I know that too well, you know.
She continued running toward Serena.
As she approached, Janelle suddenly leapt to her left, landing in a defensive stance.
Serena followed her movement with her eyes.
"Yes!"
She thrust both hands forward.
"Water Magic!"
Another powerful wave surged toward Janelle from the side.
Janelle immediately turned toward the incoming attack.
A barrier appeared directly in the wave's path.
BOOM!
The impact sent Janelle sliding backward several steps. Her feet scraped against the ground before she finally regained her balance.
She glanced at the barrier as it faded.
"Heh. I didn't expect that one coming."
She straightened up and clenched her fist again.
"Ready to take another one?"
This time, however, the magic gathering around her hand changed shape.
A blade began to form from the transparent substance, solidifying until it resembled a sword. Its surface shimmered faintly as Janelle wrapped her fingers around the hilt.
Serena's expression changed.
Janelle raised the weapon.
"Let's see how you handle this."
She charged.
Serena quickly moved to defend herself, but Janelle was already within striking distance.
Janelle swung her sword.
Serena dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade.
Janelle immediately followed with another slash.
Serena bent backward, allowing the sword to pass over her.
Before she could recover, Janelle attacked again.
The relentless assault forced Serena to retreat. She kept dodging, barely finding enough time to avoid each strike.
The spectators watched as Janelle maintained the offensive, giving her opponent almost no opportunity to launch a counterattack.
Serena gritted her teeth.
I need to create an opening!
She raised her hands.
"Water Magic!"
A thick staff of water materialized between her palms. She positioned it horizontally, attempting to block Janelle's next strike.
But Janelle's barrier sword collided with the weapon and sliced straight through it.
SLASH!
The water staff split into two, splashing across the ground.
Serena's eyes widened.
What?!
Janelle continued forward, forcing her to retreat once more.
Yet something about the fight had begun to bother Janelle.
Despite Serena's repeated attempts to defend herself, her movements seemed strangely inconsistent. Whenever Janelle's attacks threatened to land, water would appear to protect Serena, often before she could properly react.
Janelle narrowed her eyes.
Something's wrong.
She swung her sword again.
Serena barely dodged.
Janelle stepped forward, preparing another attack.
Serena tried to create a water barrier, but Janelle cut through it before it could fully form.
She's struggling to keep up with my attacks, Janelle thought. But her magic keeps protecting her at the last second.
Her eyes shifted toward Serena's hands.
Is she controlling it consciously?
As she continued attacking, a memory suddenly surfaced in her mind.
"Your Barrier Magic has an interesting property, Janelle."
Her master stood before her in the training grounds, watching as a transparent barrier hovered between them.
"Unlike magic that exists primarily as an external force, your ability can be shaped into something solid. With sufficient control, you can give your magic a form and use it as a physical object."
Janelle examined the barrier.
"So I can create weapons with it?"
"Precisely. Swords, shields, and other tools. The possibilities depend on your imagination and control."
Her master paused.
"However, craftsmanship requires energy. The more complex the object, the more demanding it becomes. You must learn to shape your magic efficiently rather than wasting energy on unnecessary details."
Janelle listened carefully.
"Remember this. A technique is not useless simply because it seems difficult to master. Its value depends on how well you understand and apply it."
Janelle returned to the present.
Her opponent was still retreating before her.
I remember when my master taught me about this.
She glanced at the barrier sword in her hand.
At the time, I thought this technique would be useless. But I didn't realize it could become one of my greatest advantages.
Janelle's expression sharpened.
If I can shape my magic into solid objects, I can do more than defend myself.
She adjusted her grip on the sword.
I can control the battlefield.
Serena suddenly raised her hands again.
"Water Magic!"
A stream of water rushed toward Janelle.
Janelle moved aside, allowing the attack to pass her before stepping forward again.
Serena attempted to summon another defensive barrier, but Janelle struck before it could fully form.
Her opponent stumbled backward.
Damn it! Serena thought. I can't keep letting her dictate the pace!
Janelle saw the hesitation in her movements.
Then, instead of launching another direct attack, she deliberately left an opening.
Serena noticed it.
There!
She moved forward, preparing to take advantage of the opportunity.
But Janelle had already anticipated her response.
She shifted her weight, dropped low, and feinted with her upper body.
Serena reacted to the movement, losing her balance for a brief moment.
Janelle immediately dropped to one knee and swept her leg across the ground.
Serena's feet were knocked out from under her.
Before she could hit the ground, however, water surged upward beneath her body.
The current lifted her into the air and carried her away from Janelle, depositing her several metres farther across the battlefield.
Serena landed and slid backward before finally stopping herself.
Janelle rose slowly.
"You've got some guts, I'll give you that."
She extended one hand.
Several solidified barrier weapons materialized beside her, their transparent forms catching the light.
With a forward motion of her arm, she launched them toward Serena.
Serena's eyes widened.
"Water Magic!"
A wall of water rose before her.
The barrier weapons struck the wall, but instead of stopping completely, they pierced through the flowing water and continued toward her.
"Damn it!"
Serena raised her arms defensively.
At the last moment, the water shifted and struck the incoming weapons from the side, knocking them off course.
They flew past Serena and crashed into the ground.
Janelle's eyes narrowed.
There it is again.
She lowered her hand.
She isn't deliberately directing every defensive movement. Her magic seems to react whenever she's in danger.
Serena lowered her arms, breathing heavily.
Janelle straightened.
"All right, then."
She began walking toward her opponent.
Serena watched her cautiously.
Janelle continued forward, her steps unhurried.
Then she suddenly broke into a run.
Serena reacted immediately.
Water began gathering around her.
Janelle slowed down just before reaching her opponent and extended her hand.
"Barrier Magic."
A transparent barrier materialized directly in front of her.
Rather than attacking Serena, Janelle placed her palm against the barrier and pushed it forward.
The movement appeared to leave her vulnerable.
Serena's water magic reacted instantly, rushing between the two contestants to protect her.
But Janelle had already moved.
She slipped to the side as the water surged toward the barrier, disappearing from Serena's immediate line of sight.
Serena turned her head.
"Where—?"
Her eyes widened as she noticed Janelle standing beside her.
She saw right through me!
Janelle smirked.
"This isn't the real deal."
Before Serena could react, several solidified barrier weapons struck her from behind.
They pierced through the fabric at her back, delivering enough force to disrupt her balance as blood splashes out.
Serena staggered forward.
Her defensive water magic weakened as she struggled to regain her footing.
Janelle immediately took advantage of the opening.
"Now!"
She gripped her barrier sword firmly and rushed forward.
Serena tried to summon another wave, but the water gathered too slowly.
Janelle dropped low and slid across the ground, sweeping Serena's feet out from under her.
Serena fell backward.
THUD!
Her head struck the ground, and she lost consciousness.
The battlefield fell silent for a brief moment.
Janelle remained in her crouched position before slowly rising to her feet.
She looked down at her defeated opponent, then exhaled.
"Finally."
The announcer immediately stepped forward.
"SERENA VALE HAS BEEN DEFEATED! THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH IS JANELLE ACKMAN!"
The coliseum erupted with cheers.
"JANELLE!"
"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"
"LORD ACKMAN'S DAUGHTER IS AMAZING!"
Several medical personnel rushed onto the battlefield to attend to Serena.
Janelle walked away as the spectators continued celebrating.
High above the arena, Lord Ackman smiled proudly.
She's grown a lot more than I expected.
He watched his daughter leave the battlefield.
Her mentor has done an excellent job.
Elsewhere, Duke smirked.
"Impressive."
From his seat, Mason watched Janelle with renewed interest.
"Wow. That's really Lord Ackman's daughter."
He leaned back slightly.
"She's strong. I've got to give her that."
The cheering continued as Janelle returned to her designated seat.
She dropped into the space beside Duke and looked at him expectantly.
"Well? How did I do?"
Duke glanced at her.
"Not impressive."
Janelle's expression immediately changed.
"HEY!"
She leaned toward him, raising her voice.
"Don't talk to me like that! I bet you can't even do something like that!"
Duke blinked, momentarily surprised by her reaction.
"Whoa. Calm your voice down a bit, you know?"
"Don't tell me what to do, you insignificant Moran!"
Duke stared at her.
For a moment, he seemed unsure whether she was joking or genuinely angry.
Nearby, Mason grinned.
Duke… that's Duke Mighty, if I'm not mistaken.
Before he could think further about it, the announcer's voice rang throughout the coliseum.
"All right! Let us move on to our next matchup!"
The spectators gradually quieted down.
"Our next contestants are…"
The announcer called out two more names, introducing the next pair of apprentices.
The two contestants made their way onto the battlefield, taking their positions opposite each other.
The announcer stepped back.
"Are you ready?"
Both apprentices nodded.
The announcer raised his hand.
"BEGIN!"
The next match was officially underway.