- Michael -

How am I gonna do this?

I don’t know the location of Arthur or any of the other enemies. This girl looks rather skilled with a blade despite the fact that she’s a first year. I’ll have to try to defeat her here and catch the others.

If that’s the case, I’d better take the initiative.

I triggered my augmentation Algorithm and pulled my blade back to my side. I’m unsure how many students in my class know of my Magic Algorithm, but I’m sure that this person is at least partially aware of it. If not, she wouldn’t have employed such a steady approach and attacked me specifically while I was resting.

I dashed directly at her and swung my blade at her right side, which she blocked with her sword. Impressive reaction time. I threw slash after slash, all of which she blocked.

Her skill with the blade is well developed. Her family must be a Valor branch. But regardless, she can’t do this forever.

She was slowly getting pushed back, as her form was becoming unsteady. The difference between being well trained and having real experience is wide. After being overpowered by my attacks, she’s quickly losing her composure, which is in turn worsening her technique.

With a strained expression, very different from before, she blasted a gust of wind below her body to create some distance. I was pushed back slightly, while she rode the wind and hovered back a few meters.

She’s better than I thought. Most people would attempt to use vector magic on their body in panic, and end up losing their balance. She instead used wind to carefully propel herself back, while also throwing me off center.

She pointed the tip of her blade at me, pulling her arm back. I know what this is. She sharply thrusted her sword forward, and an orb of wind compressed on the base of her blade, shooting forward towards me like a bullet.

This was a result of instinct training. As far as I’m concerned, the scripting of Magic consists of two major factors: Intuition and calculation. You must accurately calculate the trajectory of an object and move it, using your senses as a basis for information and input. What this school in particular, Lyre Magic Academy, specializes in is the development of mages who can cast and control Magic at its highest potential. As such, instinct training is utilized by many combat mages in order to shorten casting time and integrate their Magic with their movements.

As the ball of high pressure wind flew toward me, I skillfully evaded it by sidestepping. I myself use Wind Magic, so being able to see it is a necessity. Of course that applies to her as well, so my Wind Blades won’t be landing any decisive blows.

I didn’t waste any time, sprinting to close the distance once more. She fired a slew of Wind Orbs at me, all of which I managed to slip past. Once I was in range, she shot her body forward, directing the tip of her blade at my face.

Damn, no remorse at all.

I dropped my body and slipped under her attack, tripping her legs directly afterward, and she fell flat on her face. She picked herself up with a remarkable tenacity and flashed a fierce expression, but was met with the blade of my sword between her eyes.

“Do you concede?” I asked.

She stared at me, desperately conflicted with her loss. But after a moment, she regained her calm.

“Yes. It is your victory.”

In this class activity, victory through surrender is completely valid. In fact, subduing or killing someone is typically discouraged, for obvious reasons. However, the possibility of death or serious injury is still prominent in this match between mages, and while there are measures to protect the student’s lives, the risks of participating exist for the purpose of simulating an actual battlefield experience.

If we waddled around avoiding getting any scratches, the experience of real combat wouldn’t get across. Better to get that experience here than on the battlefield.

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Angela got up and silently started towards the border, heading for the viewing area. I pulled up my datacard and opened a line with the main base.

“Hello, hello, Jennith, It’s Michael.”

“Beep—Yes, mister Michael?—Beep”

“I’ve defeated someone on the western side of the mid area. They’ve been disqualified.”

“Beep—Roger that, mister Michael.—Beep”

“Aren’t you having a little too much fun?”

I jammed my finger into the device’s responder.

BEEP

“Ow, watch the speaker!” She complained.

“You brought that upon yourself.”

I began rushing toward the east sections of the defense, looking for any movement between the walls.

“Michael. We received a report from Emily four minutes ago. She encountered Arthur in the east mid area and is currently stalling him. The engineer students are backing her up right now but they won’t last long.”

He’s already that close to the base? How did he push through that whole area with just a few minutes, with two mages stalling him?

What a monster. If I weren’t in the Student Council where there are even worse people, I wouldn’t have believed it.

I darted forward to the place she directed, jumping from wall to wall. These obstacles slow down other mages from navigating the area, but for me it makes moving and scouting much easier. That’s a given though, I am the one who built them.

I heard explosions reverberating in the distance. That’s probably Emily’s Magic. I hopped along toward the sound signatures. Upon reaching the area, I was met with a chaotic scene.

Explosions were erupting everywhere, as Emily ran around and threw grenade-like objects, intermittently placing mines in the ground as well. Stone darts were raining down from a sentry built into the fortress, manned by a student.

Over to my left, I finally spotted Arthur among the explosions. He was wearing simple leather armor and holding a long sword with two hands, his shield nowhere to be seen. Dodging projectiles and slicing others, he maneuvered through the minefield with skill. His Vector Armour Magic protected him from the brunt of any damage and he bulldozed through the explosions.

There’s no way I can go in there and fight him. Just one of those explosions point blank would probably put me in the hospital. Those two are giving him a hard time, but he’s steadily advancing on their position. I’ll have to find a way to completely halt his movements.

I tried sending some Wind Blades his way, integrating the casting into my movements. With all the visible projectiles coming at him, not to mention the explosions impairing his senses, he probably won’t be in the proper state of mind to see my attacks.

My prediction was correct, as the stream of slashes struck him dead center. A few of the projectiles probably missed, but as long as a few hit it’s fine. As the dust cleared, Arthur emerged from the debris, continuing to run ahead.

Of course that would be the case. Even though my attacks hit, they were not strong enough to penetrate his Vector Armor. In terms of sheer force, Wind Magic is the weakest, while Liquid and Solid Magics are more effective. Shooting more rocks at him won’t be any use here, so I’ll have to find another way to stop him.

Mines were constantly detonating under his feet, rippling through his Magic Armor. While he’s progressing quickly, his Essential pool can only be so developed. We can definitely defeat him if we stall just a bit longer.

“Stop the attacks!” I hollered. Emily noticed me from above and stopped her attacks. I jumped down from the ledge and landed a few feet from Arthur.

“Long time no see, Arthur,” I greeted.

‘It certainly feels like it’s been a long while,” He replied. “Even though we’re in the same class.”

All the attacks have stopped. It seems that Emily contacted base and told them that I’m here. Chances are, Emily and the engineer student were running low on Essence. Their assault was less effective than desired and Arthur was still holding fast. This’ll give them a chance to rest, and will also allow me to personally shake hands with Arthur.

“I suspect you defeated Angela?” He spoke.

“She was a tough opponent. It took me longer than expected.”

He chuckled, “It only took you a few minutes.”

“Enough with the pleasantries,” I interrupted.

He’s definitely stalling. This short intermission allows him to catch his breath and adjust himself, regenerating his Essence at the same time. There are still a plethora of explosive mines scattered around the battlefield. This is going to be a difficult fight, that tests our tenacity and endurance.

Arthur is well trained in the way of the sword, while my swordsmanship is haphazard and relies on my speed and intuition. In a direct test of technique and dexterity, I'll definitely lose to him.

That means I’ll have to rely on my speed and mobility. I’ll have to evade his attacks while getting hits in consistently.

Let’s see who’ll win in this battle between speed and strength.