The semi-final duels finally came to an end.
The arena that had been filled with roaring cheers only moments before slowly quieted as the last injured participant was escorted away by healers. Students leaned over the railings, whispering among themselves as the results were announced.
Six names remained.
Behind the elevated viewing platform where the academy staff watched the matches, the adviser stared down at the list with a troubled expression.
"Arrrgh… it happened anyway," he groaned, pressing a hand against his forehead. "Sir, what should we do now? We can't make them duel again!"
Floating leisurely beside him, the headmaster stroked his long beard as if contemplating an extremely complex philosophical problem.
"Mmhm… yes… I do suppose this is a problem," he said slowly.
The adviser waited anxiously.
After a moment, the headmaster's eyes brightened.
"Ah! A team match should suffice."
The adviser blinked.
"But sir… wouldn't that leave us with three winners? Or maybe two?"
The headmaster nodded thoughtfully.
"Hmm… yes… that would be inconvenient."
The adviser leaned forward slightly, hoping the headmaster had already prepared a solution.
"Then we will conduct a team battle first," the headmaster continued confidently, "and afterwards… a final duel."
The adviser stared at him for several seconds.
He definitely just made that up.
But after a quiet sigh he nodded.
"…Very well, sir. Let's go with that."
A loud announcement echoed across the arena.
"Attention remaining participants."
"We will now proceed with the next round. Please form yourselves into three teams and step onto the central platform."
The six remaining students exchanged glances.
Some already had allies in mind.
Others awkwardly looked around, wondering who would choose them.
Lily quickly walked toward Olivia.
Olivia's face lit up immediately.
"Lily!"
"I was hoping we could team up," Olivia said, slightly out of breath.
"That works for me," Lily replied calmly.
The two girls stood side by side, their partnership decided almost instantly.
Not far away, Kane stood alone with his arms crossed.
Olivia glanced at him apologetically.
"Sorry, Kane…"
Lily nodded as well.
Kane's face immediately turned stiff.
"I don't need your pity! I can do fine myself."
Lily blinked.
"You still need a teammate though."
"I know that!" Kane snapped.
He paused awkwardly.
"I-I just mean… I don't need you."
His ears turned slightly red.
Lily stared at him for a moment.
Why did he get so flustered ..?
She decided not to think too deeply about it.
Kane soon approached the only remaining student who hadn't found a partner yet.
The boy looked extremely nervous.
He kept adjusting his glasses and glancing toward the other competitors.
"Y-you don't have a teammate either… right?" the boy asked cautiously.
Kane sighed.
"Yeah."
He looked the boy up and down.
The boy didn't carry a wand or a staff like most young mages. Instead, faint mana flickered around his fingers.
"You fight without a tool?" Kane asked.
The boy nodded nervously.
"I… I learned to control mana directly. My teacher said it makes casting slower at first but stronger later."
Kane shrugged.
"Fine. Let's team up."
The boy's face brightened instantly.
"T-thank you! My name's Eren!"
"Kane."
The final team stood across the arena.
The girl on that team immediately drew attention.
She wore elegant robes embroidered with silver thread and small protective enchantments. The ring on her finger glowed faintly with mana, and the wand she carried was carved from polished white wood.
Everything about her equipment screamed expensive.
Her long blonde hair flowed neatly behind her, and her expression carried a certain confidence—almost arrogance.
This was Seraphina Valcrest.
Her family was one of the noble houses known for producing powerful mages.
Standing beside her was a boy with messy dark hair holding a short staff barely longer than a wand.
At the tip of the staff was embedded a rare blue mana stone that pulsed softly with magical energy.
The boy spun the staff lazily in his hand.
"You sure you want to team up with me?" he asked casually.
Seraphina glanced at him.
"You are the only one left, who else should I choose? The professor?
The boy smirked.
"Fair enough."
His name was Darius.
Unlike Seraphina's elegant style, Darius looked more like someone who relied on instinct and experience rather than refinement.
A teacher's voice rang out again.
"When you are ready, please step onto the platform."
The three teams slowly walked toward the large circular arena at the center.
Students in the stands leaned forward eagerly.
This was the final stage before the championship.
The moment the six participants stepped onto the platform—
The ground beneath them lit up with glowing runes.
The rocky arena vanished.
In an instant the terrain shifted.
Tall trees burst from the ground.
Grass spread across the earth.
Thick bushes and scattered rocks appeared throughout the field.
Within seconds the arena had transformed into a dense forest battlefield.
The crowd gasped.
Large-scale illusion magic was not something seen every day.
Lily looked around calmly.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves above. The forest was dense enough that visibility was limited to only a few dozen meters.
Perfect for ambushes.
Then she felt something attached to her shoulder.
Both she and Olivia looked down.
A small metal nameplate had been stuck to their shoulders.
Across the field the other competitors noticed the same thing.
At that moment the announcement voice returned.
"Ah, ah—mic check."
"Good. Looks like everyone can hear me."
"You've probably noticed the nameplates on your shoulders."
"Those represent your lives."
"If your nameplate is taken or stolen, you are eliminated."
"If you receive a life-threatening or dangerous injury, you will also be removed from the match."
The voice paused briefly.
"The people who collect the most nameplates will advance."
"Oh, and an important rule."
"This is judged individually."
"You cannot take the nameplates from people on your own team."
"If two people from different teams end up holding the highest number, those two individuals will advance while their teammates are eliminated."
The announcer chuckled lightly.
"I think that's enough explanation."
"You now have five minutes to prepare."
"Good luck."
Olivia grabbed Lily's sleeve.
"Lily… what are we going to do?"
She looked worried.
"Only one of us might be able to advance."
"And even if we both do well… we might have to fight each other later."
Lily simply smiled.
"Don't worry, Olivia."
Her voice was calm and steady.
"Didn't I already say it?"
"I will win."
Olivia stared at her for a moment before letting out a nervous laugh.
"You really don't doubt yourself at all…"
Meanwhile, Kane and Eren hid behind a cluster of trees.
Eren whispered nervously.
"Do you think they'll attack us first?"
Kane shrugged.
"Probably."
He glanced toward the deeper parts of the forest.
"Especially that noble girl."
Across the forest, Seraphina stood with Darius on a large tree branch.
She observed the battlefield from above.
"The girl named Lily is the one who defeated arlen earlier," she said.
Darius leaned against the trunk lazily.
"Yeah, I saw that fight. She's good."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then we eliminate her first."
Darius grinned.
"Sounds fun."
Meanwhile Lily quietly moved through the forest.
Her footsteps were light as she studied the terrain.
She memorized tree positions, rock formations, and possible hiding spots.
So far—
No one nearby.
The forest remained silent.
Then the announcement echoed once again.
"Alright."
"The preparation time is over."
A brief pause filled the forest.
"Participants…"
"Begin."