"BAL-TA-ZAR! BAL-TA-ZAR!! BAL-TA-ZAR!!!"

As Underling Number Two, started walking menacingly into his position into the makeshift arena, created by the crowd near them. He began stroking his signature pose to lift up the audience mood and to make an impression.

The crowd instantly went silent...

They were not impressed, they looked at Underling Number Two with absolute disgust and disdain, they were about to die from second-hand embarrassment for this child, they've just pretended that they were not cringing from the inside out.

So, they've all retained a stoic expression as to not sink further down the rabbit hole that this kid dug for himself, but that reaction only proved to make the moment more embarrassing for everyone.

It's a good thing that the adult who acted as a referee was quick witted and broke the awkward silence by just starting the round.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"GO!!!"

However, in spite of what just happened, as soon as the round started, everyone's expectation towards Underling Number Two was still high. All of them anticipated on what he will do now that their opponent knows their strategy.

What kind of tricks will he show this time around? Will he be able to match his twin brother's performance? and most importantly of all, will he be able to redeem himself from what he just did earlier? Those were the thoughts that ran rampant on everyone's mind.

"Fire Ball! Fire Ball-Fire Blast!!" Underling Number Two's opponent chanted.

However, it was not even a question of whether he or his opponent will be able to land a successful magic spell, because even though his opponent long ranged attacks connected really well and had already anticipated his next moves, he dodged everything fluidly.

It didn't even matter how precise his opponent is, as compared to fighting with Philip, this is nothing but child's play.

As Underling Number Two was about to sucker punch the guy,

"W-What?!" His opponent said his final words in shock, he was sure that his attacks wouldn't miss, even if the wicks of his flame covered his vision.

...

"2!"

"1!"

"GO!!!"

Underling Number Two's next round wasn't even a question, he only used his stamina in the first round, so in the second round he let loose and used his magical element earth.

"Lightning Spark! Lightning Spark! Lightning Spark!!"

It turns out his opponent this time around awakened the strongest attacking element, lightning. It was an element made purely for offense. However,

Underling Number Two's element is mostly much more suitable for defense, so if there would be any element that is a better match up than this, it would be his element, earth.

Tiny bolts of lightning appeared and instantly flashed into Underling Number Two's three different vital points, it was faster and much more lethal than any of the other attacking elements that have been mentioned. But of course, the attack wasn't with the intention to kill or to permanently damage his opponent, as it was an unwritten rule, since this duel is just a friendly match

"Earth Wall X2!! " Underling Number Two chanted, as a doubled layer brown wall appeared in front of him.

Crackle! Crackle!! Crackle!

The collision between the two spells, created a loud thundering sound that left everyone in awe, not just by how strong the spell Underling Number

Two's opponent casted, but also by how his spell Earth Wall was able to block it.

The lightning spell then left dark spots on the wall, as it then immediately collapsed.

Crash! Crash!!

In that blink opportune moment, both fighters were left open to attacks, and the fight could go in either direction.

Promptly, both casted their spells...

"Lightning Strike! Lightning Strike!!"

"Earth Wall!"

"Earth Mud!"

However, it seemed that none of the two was willing to budge, so the fight turned into a battle of attrition.

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"Earth Wall! Earth Wall!"

"Lightning Strike! Lighting Strike!"

"Earth Wall...

The battle was close, they've both seemed to have run out of mana, as the round was coming to an end, but when it comes to determination, Underling Number Two was definitely not lacking, couple that with the fact that he had recovered some of his stamina during this battle.

Both panted, but one side was breathing harder than the other.

Huff! Huff! Huff!

Huff! Huff!

"Lightning strike!"

"Earth Wall!"

"Ligh-"

His opponent passed out in exhaustion before he could even fully cast his lightning spell and Underling number two managed to secure the win in the second round,

There was silence, but then...

"WOOOOAH!!!" "NICE FIGHT!!!!!"

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"

Everyone was cheering for the two fighters, both did their best, it was a well fought battle were either side could've won.

All of them was hyped up, maybe their shouting was a little bit much since there wasn't a lot at stake, but this is what happens when such an event rarely ever happens in a remote village.

"And now for the question, that everyone has been wondering and anticipating for-Will you continue on to the next round?" The announcer asked.

In which Underling Number Two briefly answered with, "Yes."

The crowd smiled at his response; it seemed like they've somewhat changed their opinion of him, they've gained a newfound respect for the kid.

...

"1!"

"GO!!!"

...

During this round, Underling Number Two was exhausted both in mana and stamina, so, everyone was already expecting him to lose, and that the best that he could do was just to tire out his enemy, so that the next representative that they would send out from their team wouldn't have much trouble fighting.

Is what they all thought on what he actually planned on doing and why he continued on to the next round.

"Wind Slash! Wind Slash!" A gust of wind formed like a blade that sliced through the falling leaves on its way to Underling Number Two.

However, Underling Number Two's plot armor kicked in and was lucky enough to face the worst member of the other faction, his aim was the worst, so it didn't even require much for him to dodge the magic spell of his opponent.

"Earth Pillar Take this!" As Underling Number Two pulled the last ounce of his mana and casted a slightly thinner but longer version of earth wall, which due to its instability fell right on top of his opponent.

Crash!

And at that moment, when Underling Number Two won, there are only words that could describe what the crowd was thinking "What a Hero!"

This was the main difference between Underling Number Two and his twin brother, because even though their talents and looks were marginally close to each other, if you would compare them. He was definitely better than him in both spirit and in will, that's why he is "The Underling Number

Two"

But of course, he forfeited his right to fight in the next round.

"Do you wish to continue on to the next round?"

"No."

...

Finally, it was time for Underling Number One to come out, the trio's leader or their vice leader right now, at least.

The crowd was still filled with excitement from the last round, so the fighters needed not to disappoint them.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

...

His opponent with her nerves getting to her thought that, 'Those twins fought earlier should be their strongest members, right?! There's no way, there is someone stronger than them aside from their leader, I'll definitely have an easy round.

Why'd you have to jinx it?! (The narrator narrated)

"...Water, in your most natural and shapeless form, begotten and come forth" Tony began chanting in an about moderately long incantation.

'Wait? has he thrown away his team's strategy knowing that it'll be ineffective?! But why does it seem like the magic circle that he's invoking seems to be getting bigger and bigger than a second-tier spell?' She thought as Tony looked at her with a cold and uninterested face.

And before she could even finish casting her second-tier spell-

"Water Tornado!" All of a sudden, the naturally occurring elements of water in the atmosphere gathered on a single focal point and whirled all around to imitate a miniature of a rarely ever seen occurring disaster, a tornado.

'A tier three spell?!' Everyone thought, they were in awe of such a spectacle, even his opponent, who couldn't believe that such a thing is happening right now. After all the tier three spells are the highest stage in magic one can reach without climbing the tower.

The tornado made of water moved slower than they had expected, however at this, point, it was not even a question of whether he will win or not, it was already guaranteed. Because the centripetal force caused by the spell was enough to paralyze her movements by being sucked in, and although the tornado was a miniature, it was big enough to cover all of her escape routes, and she didn't even thought of blocking his attack through another magic spell.

Swish! Swish!! Whirl!

With tears rolling on her eyes, she just accepted her defeat and said, "Fuck this"

The next two rounds went smoothly, Tony made his opponent eat tier three spells for breakfast, it became almost like a one shot and one kill scenario, were only a single magic spell casted was enough to end the entire round.

"2!"

"1!"

"GO!"

"Water Tornado!"

...

"1!"

"GO!"

"Water Torna-"

...

Meanwhile, the surveyor was sure that this kid was the one he wanted to recommend to the royalties. However, moments later he will soon come to realize that he judged way too early...

In the next few rounds, Tony had gotten bored, so instead of just using only his tier three spell, so he decided to fight using fists and the secondary element that he had developed, in which they mistook his actions as him running out of mana.

"Go!"

Right as the round started, Tony immediately pounced on his opponent, not giving them time to react. So right in that slip moment where his opponent casted his first-tier spells and dodge it, he took advantage of that tiny window of opening and counterattacked using a tier-two lightning spell.

"Water ball!"

Swoosh!

"Lightning Strike!" As he casted the spell, a thicker and longer version of lightning spark manifested to strike his opponent right on his chest.

In the next round Tony didn't even need to use any of his elemental magic, all he had to do was to bitch slap his opponent, just like how Philip bitch slaps him every time he acts out of line.

...

It was clear that Tony was the one who benefited the most from the trio by going under Philip. Because he did not just see him as his boss, he saw him as his rival and tried to overtake him, and during those times is where he exponentially grew and learned the most.

And as he quickly grew, it was becoming more and more apparent that he was the type to grow in rivalry and competitiveness.

Then as his sixth round came, both the teams became silent, the atmosphere all of a sudden became heavy-

Because this time one of the factions' leaders came out, Ada, she wasn't just about to let this lose streak of her team continue...