Even several seconds after the referee's declaration, many spectators still hadn't fully processed what they had just witnessed. Their eyes remained fixed on the frozen battlefield, unable to reconcile the scene before them with what they believed should have happened.
Even the rabbit-kin announcer was momentarily speechless. She stared at the arena in stunned disbelief before hurriedly composing herself.
"W-Winner! Alex Blanc of Star Shine Academy has defeated the undefeated Crystal Princess!"
Her announcement was the final spark.
Cheers, screams, gasps of disbelief, and excited discussions erupted from every direction. Hundreds of thousands of voices merged into a deafening roar that shook the entire stadium.
Then someone suddenly shouted from the stands.
"How the hell is he already a Tier-7 mage?!"
"No way! He actually won!"
"That's Evelyne Crystelle! I thought she was unbeatable!"
"What kind of monster is that kid?"
The reactions spread like wildfire throughout the stands.
Everyone present knew Evelyne's reputation.
She was a genius who had begun studying magic almost from the moment she could walk. Backed by one of the Ashkart Kingdom's most prestigious families, blessed with limitless resources, and tempered by years of relentless training, her overwhelming strength had always seemed inevitable.
People could understand how someone like her had reached such heights.
But Alex? He had only awakened his magical talent recently.
No one knew the exact timeframe, but every rumor pointed toward the same conclusion. At most, he had been practicing magic for only several months.
Yet that very same person had just cast a Tier-7 spell and defeated the greatest genius of the younger generation.
If Evelyne was considered a genius—then what exactly was Alex?
The question echoed through countless minds, yet no one could find an answer.
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On Star Shine Academy's side, Elena slowly released a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Throughout the final exchange, her hands had unconsciously clenched into fists.
Unlike the overwhelming majority of spectators, she understood exactly how terrifying Evelyne's final Tier-7 spell had been. Had the arena's protective formation failed, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Yet what disturbed her even more was something else entirely. Alex had answered a Tier-7 spell with one of his own.
Her gaze never left the young man standing at the center of the arena.
'Just how many surprises are you still hiding?'
The thought lingered in her mind, but she quickly suppressed it. This wasn't the time or place to seek answers.
Without another word, Elena disappeared from her seat, her figure becoming a blur as she made her way toward the stage.
Behind her, the remaining members of Star Shine Academy reacted in their own ways.
Vivianne and Arista stood frozen for several moments, their faces filled with disbelief. Then the shock finally gave way to exhilaration, and both girls joined the thunderous cheers erupting throughout the stadium.
Cassian remained rooted to his spot, his eyes never leaving the stage. Although he had already accepted that Alex was stronger than him, witnessing someone defeat Evelyne still felt almost surreal.
Not far away, Draim silently observed the frozen battlefield.
His expression was complicated. Earlier, he had experienced Evelyne's overwhelming strength firsthand. More than anyone else on Star Shine Academy's side, he understood exactly how powerful she truly was.
Yet Alex had accomplished what none of them could.
After a long silence, Draim slowly smiled.
"So... that's the gap."
There was no jealousy in his voice, only quiet acknowledgment. Alex Blanc wasn't merely another talented student. He was a genius unlike any Draim had ever encountered.
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The smile on the silver-white-haired man's face vanished. For the first time since the tournament began, genuine shock appeared in his eyes.
He stared motionlessly at the arena below, his gaze fixed on the young man standing beside Evelyne.
The result unfolding before him was something he had never once considered possible—not even in his wildest dreams.
Evelyne... had lost. She had been defeated by someone her own age.
Even after witnessing Alex's astonishing performance throughout the match, he had remained convinced that the final victor would be his niece. No one understood her strength better than he did.
She was the greatest genius the Crystelle family had produced in generations—a prodigy whose talent surpassed countless others.
And yet, she had been defeated.
His expression stiffened further.
Even he himself couldn't cast Tier-7 magic.
The fact that Evelyne had already reached that level was known only to a select few within the Crystelle family. It had been one of their greatest secrets, a trump card never meant to be revealed before the right moment.
Yet even after exposing that hidden strength, the outcome had remained unchanged. She had still lost.
As an old noble, he had long mastered the art of concealing his emotions. Whether joy, anger, or surprise, he rarely allowed even the slightest change to appear on his face.
This time, however, the calm mask he had maintained throughout the tournament shattered completely.
His mind was in turmoil.
'Just what kind of monster has Star Shine Academy produced?'
Without another thought, he rose from his seat.
Ignoring the astonished looks directed toward him, he disappeared from the VIP section in a blur, heading straight for the arena below.
Whatever else could wait. His priority now was to make sure Evelyne was safe.
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Moments earlier, during the final clash...
When Alex completed
An endless tide of supernatural cold engulfed Evelyne's
Nearly ninety percent of the spell froze solid before the singularity could reach critical instability.
The catastrophic detonation everyone had feared never came.
Instead, the frozen crystal construct remained suspended in midair for only an instant before countless fractures spread across its surface. Then it shattered.
The resulting explosion of frost scattered countless glittering crystal fragments across the battlefield, transforming the devastating spell into nothing more than shimmering debris.
Even so, casting a Tier-7 spell had already exacted an enormous price.
Unlike Alex, Evelyne didn't possess limitless mana.
She had continuously maintained large-scale crystal manipulation throughout the battle, cast multiple high-tier spells, transformed the battlefield into her domain, and finally forced out a Tier-7 spell.
Her mana reserves had long since reached their limit. Forcing
Mana fatigue quickly followed. Alex sensed it immediately.
Although Evelyne remained standing, the powerful mana fluctuations surrounding her had almost completely vanished. The overwhelming pressure that had dominated the battlefield only moments earlier was fading with every passing second.
He didn't lower his guard. Against an opponent like Evelyne, assuming victory too early would have been a fatal mistake.
The instant the frozen remnants of the singularity shattered apart, Alex moved. Cold mana condensed in his hand before rapidly taking the shape of an ice sword.
He crossed the distance between them in a blur. By the time the last fragments of frost settled, the blade was already resting lightly against Evelyne's neck.
Evelyne looked at him quietly.
Her breathing had become noticeably uneven, and the overwhelming aura she had displayed throughout the match had disappeared completely.
Even standing seemed to require effort now. Her knees trembled ever so slightly.
She could no longer continue fighting.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then a faint smile appeared on Evelyne's face.
Unlike the nearly imperceptible expression her uncle had noticed earlier, this smile was unmistakable.
"I'm impressed," she said softly, meeting Alex's eyes. "You can actually use Tier-7 magic."
Alex looked at her for a moment.
Only now, after confirming her mana had been completely exhausted, did Alex lower his guard. There was no need to worry about another spell or a sudden counterattack.
He was just about to respond—
Evelyne's vision blurred.
The accumulated exhaustion finally overtook her, and her body swayed forward as consciousness slipped away.
Alex reacted almost instinctively.
Before she could collapse onto the frozen ground, he reached out with his free arm and caught her. Her weight settled lightly against him while the ice sword remained poised at her neck.
That was the exact scene the spectators witnessed once the frost finally dispersed.
Alex stood quietly at the center of the arena, supporting the unconscious Evelyne with one arm while an ice sword rested lightly against her neck.
The outcome of the match had already been decided.
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While the stadium remained consumed by excitement, two figures reached the stage almost simultaneously.
One was Elena. The other was Evelyne's uncle.
Neither paid any attention to the deafening cheers surrounding them. Their eyes were fixed solely on the two people standing at the center of the arena.
The silver-haired man's gaze immediately fell upon Evelyne.
His usually composed expression remained tense as he quickly examined her condition. Seeing no visible injuries beyond severe mana exhaustion, the knot in his chest finally loosened.
Even so, when his eyes shifted toward Alex, they carried unmistakable hostility. It wasn't hatred, nor was it anger born from injustice.
It was simply the instinctive glare of a family member toward the one who had defeated someone precious to him.
Alex met his gaze calmly without saying a word.
Neither of them moved.
The tense silence lasted only a few moments before the tournament's medical staff hurried onto the stage. They carefully lifted Evelyne from Alex's arms and placed her onto a recovery stretcher.
At that moment, Elena stepped forward, subtly positioning herself between Alex and the silver-haired man.
The man paid no attention to her.
His focus remained entirely on his unconscious niece.
Without another glance at Alex, he turned and followed alongside the medical staff as they carried Evelyne toward the treatment area.
Only after they disappeared from view did Elena turn toward Alex.
She studied him from head to toe.
Seeing that he was still standing without any obvious injuries, the tension hidden beneath her composed expression finally eased.
"Can you walk?" she asked quietly.
Alex nodded.
"I'm fine."
She held his gaze for another moment, clearly unconvinced, but chose not to press the matter here.
"There are many things I want to ask you."
Alex gave a helpless smile.
"I figured."
The two of them left the arena together.
Behind them, the cheers of hundreds of thousands of spectators continued to shake the stadium as they celebrated the crowning of the new champion of the Nine Academy Tournament.