As each battle commenced and ended, only two contestants remained.

B'taldren: "This is the final match. Give it your all, Arx Von Azarkey, Schemn Vylrianaz, step forward.

As both of them took their stances, only one thought remained absolute, "I will deatroy you.".

B'taldren: "Begin!"

Arx and Schemn launched at each other with incredible speed, their swords clashing in a shower of sparks. Arx feinted a slash, baiting Schemn into blocking his attack.

Arx: "Sword's Dance."

Arx sidestepped behind Schemn and unleashed a series of deadly strikes. Schemn blocked the attack but received half of it, knocking him back.

Schemn: (His attacks are more powerful than they appear.)

Without missing a beat, Arx launched towards Schemn.

Schemn: (It's my turn.)

Schemn exchanged strikes with Arx. Arx increased the intensity of his attacks, his blade cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. Schemn struggled to keep up, his mind racing to find a way to turn the tide.

Schemn: (He's not giving me a chance to strike back! Think, Schemn. Think!)

Schemn summoned all his strength and launched a series of rapid strikes. Arx met him blow for blow, their swords clashing with a ferocity that sent shockwaves through the arena.

Arx: (He's good, but not good enough.)

With a burst of speed, Arx slipped past Schemn's attacks and delivered a deadly strike to his shoulder, creating a cloud of dust. When all of a sudden...

Arx: (Did I hit something?)

As the cloud started to clear, a blue light glowed behind Schemn.

Arx: (A barrier?!)

Arx leapt back, anticipating Schemn's next move.

Schemn: (If I hadn't reacted in time, I would have been done for.)

B'taldren: "Impressive. As his opponent slipped behind him, he poured his mana into the air and hardened it, creating a quick barrier."

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Arx: "I guess it's time for me to get serious, Schemn."

Schemn: (So you're telling me you're not fighting at your limits?! Just how insane are you?)

Arx's eyes gleamed with determination as he released a faint aura. The air around him seemed to hum with energy as the faint aura formed the figure of what appeared to be... a deity.

Arx: "Schemn, do you remember when we first met?"

Schemn: "What are you..."

Arx: "Emperor's Bind."

As Schemn catches his breath, an overwhelming pressure suffocates him, as if a god descended upon the land.

Arx: "You've fought well, Schemn. You may now rest."

Schemn: "(Ngh! What is this pressure...!)"

Schemn tries to resist; however, it is futile. Struggling as his consciousness fades away, the match concludes in Arx's favor.

...

Magic manifests as either Physical or Elemental. Physical magic enhances personal abilities or grants magical effects, extending influence to aid allies or affect surroundings. Elemental magic harnesses nature's forces, allowing practitioners to wield fire, water, earth, wind, light, and dark. Mastery requires deep understanding and innate connection to the elements.

Beyond these core forms are Exclusive Skills tied to seven elemental affinities. These skills, acquired from magic scrolls through rigorous study and practice, unlock hidden potential. Mastery of these spells transforms and integrates the skills into one's repertoire, marking the user as a formidable force.

However, some magic surpasses conventional forms, warp reality, bend time and space, and grant extraordinary powers, originating from the essence of a deity of authority and defying natural laws. Such spells are recognized as...

...

B'taldren: "...Incra."

The other students looked on in awe and fear, whispers spreading among them. B'taldren, standing in front of the crowd, glanced at the subdued Schemn with a hint of concern. He muttered,

B'taldren: "Impressive..."

Arx, the victor of the match, stood calmly. He let out a sigh and sheathed his sword as B'taldren announced the winner.

Not even a minute passed before fear turned into applause. B'taldren, keeping his word, rewarded Arx with the magic scroll.

B'taldren: "Well done."

Arx accepted the scroll as two of his classmates went to aid Schemn, taking him to the clinic. They headed back to their classroom, concluding the tournament.

In the dormitories later that day...

Arx: "(Today's been rough. Two weeks of training is overwork, but nonetheless, I've acquired two magic scrolls. I still can't believe I found one back in the library. Adding the one I received today, I shouldn't use them for now.)"

As he put both scrolls on the table, he noticed something.

Arx: "Hm? Comparing these two, the one I received earlier looks a little worn off. Did someone already use it? No, it wouldn't be here in the first place... I can't figure it out. I'm done for today, I should just go to sleep."

In the other room, Schemn clenched his fist, gritting his teeth. "Damn it...!" He punched the wall with a force that caused a loud thud.

Schemn: "...When I finally had the chance to use magic... I'm still too weak."

A week after the tournament...

B'taldren: "As you may know, the Blade Selection is nearing. From today onwards, I will be teaching you the three fundamental techniques of magic: Barrier, Storage, and Healing magic. One of your classmates, Schemn, performed barrier magic during the tournament. Though it was unstable, it is an achievement."

B'taldren wrote these three techniques as he continues to explain.

B'taldren: "Barrier magic allows you to create a protective shield around yourself or others, capable of deflecting attacks and providing temporary defense. Storage magic enables you to store any object within a designated space, making it easy to access and transport items without physical limitations. Healing magic, as the name suggests, lets you mend injuries and restore health, essential for recovering from battles and aiding allies in need. Mastering these techniques is crucial for your advancement."

Arx: "(Indeed. It'll be useful when I'm in combat.)"

B'taldren: "We will focus on learning these until you master every single one of them. We will start today. Good luck to everyone."

...

The instructor taught us the basics of magic. Though I am quite surprised, this is an upperclass, yet they didn't even learn the basics of magic. I guess Yribdeinos does really have some flaws. The first day was about learning the barrier technique. It wasn't as difficult as the other two since it only requires releasing mana and hardening it to create a protective barrier. Schemn mastered it on the first try. This was expected as he had already done it, but this time, it was stable.

The following day was not as straightforward. Storage magic is very complex. It requires not only a deep understanding of spatial manipulation but also precise control over mana to ensure the object is stored securely without damaging it. The process of creating and accessing a storage space was mentally exhausting, and many of us struggled to maintain the required concentration and mana flow.

On the third day, the healing technique gave me quite a hard time. Healing magic demands an intricate knowledge of the body’s anatomy and a precise flow of mana to mend wounds and restore health effectively. It was challenging to control the mana with such precision, and any slight error could lead to incomplete or ineffective healing. This technique required patience, steady hands, and a lot of practice to even begin to master. Keep in mind, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

We kept practicing these techniques for the next four months until finally, the day I've been anticipating arrived. The Blade Selection.

...