As the two contestants stood face to face, everyone could already see how this match would end.
On one side was a seven-year-old boy, standing at 1.3 meters tall. While that height was already outstanding for a child his age, it looked utterly disproportionate compared to his opponent.
Zarek, standing straight, reached 1.9 meters, and the powerful muscles visible beneath his clothing only made the physical gap even more obvious.
If one were to say that for Mages, physical differences did not matter as much, that wouldn't be entirely wrong.
However, just by looking at the magic puppets each had brought onto the field, the audience could clearly sense the difference in their abilities as Mages.
Zarek's puppet stood over 2 meters tall. It bore a terrifying face and was draped in a black cloak that covered its entire body. From within its sleeves extended two large claws, amplifying the aura of death it carried.
In contrast, Tris's puppet looked rather simple. It was a humanoid figure about 1.5 meters tall, designed straightforwardly.
Its body was clad in light metal armor. It carried a round shield in one hand and a short sword in the other. Altogether, it resembled an ordinary gladiator—hardly something that would leave any strong impression.
The only notable feature was the mask covering its face, adding a hint of mystery. Yet keen observers could tell that the mask held no special magic—it was merely decorative.
Even so, no one mocked it, because the fact that a child could create a puppet capable of competing was already an extraordinary achievement.
"Second match—BEGIN!"
The moment the referee's voice rang out, both contestants immediately formed strands of magic from their fingertips, connecting them to their puppets.
Unlike the first match, neither moved from their position. Instead, they controlled their puppets to advance toward each other.
Both puppets moved calmly, without haste.
However, the moment they entered striking range, everything changed.
They began exchanging moves at a speed the naked eye could barely follow.
Claws, sword, and shield clashed relentlessly, producing a series of sharp, resounding impacts.
At the center of the arena, the two puppets unleashed an unending flurry of dazzling attacks, while at opposite ends, the two contestants could be seen with their hands dancing through the air in their own distinct rhythms.
Zarek's hands moved rapidly and forcefully.
On the other side, Tris's hands appeared slower—but upon closer inspection, each finger moved with remarkable precision.
* * * * * * * * * *
The entire audience erupted into thunderous cheers. No one had expected both contestants—especially Tris—to fight so brilliantly.
Facing such a powerful opponent, the boy remained calm and confident, showing no signs of being at a disadvantage. It was truly an opening no one could have imagined.
Even more than the ordinary spectators, the female referee and the three judges could see far deeper into the battle.
'What is this? Could it be that what started as a joke may turn into something real ?' - Rina felt like she might die after today—die from laughing.
'Unbelievable. Tris… the boy is actually superior to Zarek in puppet control technique.' - Veylor, the village chief's assistant, was stunned.
'Despite having the longer reach, that black puppet hasn't managed to land a single hit. Every attack is either dodged or deflected.
Not only that, the gladiator puppet is even able to counterattack instead of being forced into pure defense.
Most importantly, Tris's control method consumes far less stamina, giving him a huge advantage in a prolonged fight.
How on earth had Arven trained that boy to such a level?' - Elder Orin grew more horrified the more he analyzed.
'The warm-up phase is over. Zarek will soon escalate his attacks. Can Tris hold on?'
Having already seen Tris's control skills, Arven was not as surprised as the others.
What concerned him was the next phase of the battle—when more magic would come into play.
The gap in age and physique meant Zarek had greater stamina and magic reserves, as well as far more time to train. If the fight dragged on, it would inevitably become disadvantageous for Tris, despite his superior control.
After all, in a battle like this, every aspect of strength mattered.
* * * * * * * * * *
The one most shocked at this moment was Zarek.
Despite facing a mere child, he had no intention of holding back or prolonging the fight. From the very beginning, he aimed to end it quickly by crushing the opponent's puppet.
Yet the result was a deadlock.
"Don't get cocky, brat."
With that, he began deploying more magic through his puppet.
At the center of the arena, the battle suddenly shifted.
The black puppet's attacks became far more ferocious, increasing its offense while reducing its defense.
Its claws were now coated in magic, making each strike faster, sharper, and heavier—capable of driving the opponent back.
As a result, the gladiator puppet's shield was partially shattered.
'"Wind Blade"? And it looks like he's also using a defensive enhancement… probably "Rock Armor"?' - Tris observed and immediately responded.
Both the sword and shield of his puppet were now infused with magic, skillfully deflecting the deadly claw attacks.
The gladiator puppet moved with fluid, unpredictable footwork—dodging, closing in, circling to the side—striking from multiple angles at incredible speed.
Previously ineffective strikes now carried greater weight and sharpness, finally producing results.
They were steadily wearing down the opponent's defenses, applying pressure in return.