Suddenly as if out of nowhere. Lucas appeared in front of everyone. Dusting his hands off and then rolling his shoulders to stretch them out. Everyone looked at him bewildered. Lucas just revealed a wide white toothy smile.

" See, 200 students." Ivys Vinnay said.

" That's cheating! He used invisibility magic. I thought we can only use elemental magic."

When he said that all the other students joined him in protest.

" He did not use invisibility magic. He used elemental magic to turn himself invisible."

" I don't believe it. You just want to keep him in to add variety to the pool."

Usually, Ivys Vinnay wouldn't care what the students thought. But the audience watching was taking the students side. They all thought that something was fishy.

" Ivys. Do something about this." Said an older man to Ivys Vinnay via a telepathic channel.

Ivys Vinnay sighed and then she teleported on to the field with all the other students. Everyone got a fright when she appeared out of nowhere. But at the same time many couldn't contain their excitement. Ivys Vinnay was a kind of a celebrity on campus. Many had heard of her accolades. She walked to Lucas then said, " Lucas, please show the students what you did while I explain."

Lucas nodded his head. As he realized that he had to prove his innocence.

" In order for an object to be invisible two things need to happen. Light needs to be able to bend around an object so that it so that there is no shadow. Also said object should have no reflection. Now through the control of wind Lucas was able to change the density of the air. But he also increased the temperature of said air in such a way that light bent around him. Resulting in so-called 'invisibility spell'"

Lucas did everything Ivys Vinnay said as he did before. Then he turned invisible but not fully.

" Notice, how by only using elemental magic he has disappeared. And it's not fully either. But because you guys were so wrapped up in your own problems. None of you saw him. In the beginning, I did say elemental spells are allowed and their applications. Hence, he has done nothing wrong and deserves a spot in the top 200."

Once the students saw that everything was fine and that Lucas did not cheat. They turned docile and accepted their defeat. When Ivys Vinnay saw that she had settled the issue: she looked up to one of the many luxury boxes in the Collusseum. And said via a telepathic channel, " Are you satisfied?"

The person she spoke to never replied but that was answer enough.

While Ivys Vinnay was talking to this person. Lucas felt someone was staring at him intently. So he looked at the said person. When he did he saw it was none other than Yura Ironswerth. Once Lucas saw it was Yura Ironswerth he waved at him revealing a friendly smile. Yura Ironswerth almost spat out a mouthful of blood at Lucas's nonchalant appearance. Waving at him as if they were best friends. As if Lucas didn't use him to make his life easier. As these thoughts entered Yura Ironswerths head: his rage burned brighter. And his bloodlust grew stronger.

Lucas looked again towards Yura Ironswerth because he felt someone was still staring at him. When he saw it was Yura Ironswerth he frowned and thought, " Yo bro. I don't swing that way." And decided to ignore him. If he wanted to stare at Lucas then that's his decision.

Once everything was sorted Ivys Vinnay said, " I trust you have no issues anymore." When none of the students objected she said, " Good... Congratulations to you all! You have made it to the top 200. You can be proud. Now you will get half an hour to replenish your mana, cool down and strategize etc. After that, we began the knock out rounds. This is a one on one fight. You will be pinned against one of your fellow top 200 finalists. Win and fight again. Lose and that's the end. Does everyone understand?" She looked at everyone to see if they understood and they did. Then she said, " good," And with a clap of her hands, all the students disappeared from the Arena.

Then she looked towards the spectators, " I trust that everyone is enjoying the fights. Like you heard there is a half an hour intercession. During this time you can go to the bathroom, buy drinks and food for the shows. Or just wait. The voting polls will be open again. Vote for who you think will make it to the quarterfinals. Just like before the information on everyone is on the lacrima. Voting closes as soon as the matches start. Enjoy!"

Once she finished talking the spectators applauded loudly. Then she disappeared from the Arena.

When Ivys Vinnay clapped her hands Lucas and all the students teleported from the arena. And into the Collusseum. The Collusseum had the Arena, the seats. The luxury boxes and also it had its own various departments inside the Collusseum. Lucas and the student were now in the waiting room. Once they teleported there, a few officials came in and greeted the students. They then asked if there were students that needed healing. The students that said yes were taken to the infirmary. So that they were in the best condition for the knockouts. After that, another official came and handed everyone a mana replenishment potion. It replenished 500 mana points to anyone that drank it. Lucas didn't drink his as he hardly expended anything. He was practically still full. So he put it into Thea's storage where the others were.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

15 minutes later all the matches were tabulated. And the tournament structure appeared on the lacrima in the waiting room. When they were released almost everyone raced to the screen to see who they were fighting first. After seeing there line up. Some danced around in joy. Others hung their head low. But a select few people didn't look at who they were fighting. Lucas and Brutus Maximus were apart of this group. While everyone else looked at the table. The ones that remained looked at each other. As this was the people that would most likely be in the quarter-final. Everyone was eyeing each other trying to make their own evaluations of the people. Whenever they looked at Lucas and saw his badge said E, they shook their heads and looked at him with disdain. They all thought. He was foolish and overestimated himself.

Moments later. Yura Ironswerth came back from the infirmary. He was there not because he was injured but because he wanted to see if his team was there. However, when he got there they weren't there. When Yura saw Lucas he approached him. Looking as if someone stole his milk. Lucas sighed as he realized this guy was going to disturb his peace. Once Yura got to Lucas he began complaining, " You heartless fiend. Because of you, an entire class of students died. I will have my revenge. You better pray to the gods that you don't face me. I am going to make you pay!"

When Yura said that the whole class looked at him quizzically wondering what he was going on about. He then said, " You know during test 3. When I went around recruiting people into my team. It was all this guys plan! He convinced me to make a group to take out the A rankers. Little did I know he just wanted to use me. So that he wouldn't have to fight. "

Lucas felt like he was losing brain cells by listening to this guy go on. So he said, " First of all. You were stupid enough to listen to me. Next, I didn't lose 400 people, you did. You commanded them. You should blame yourself for being dumb, for being a terrible tactician and a leader. Next, you should blame your eyes. Because you didn't realize. No one died. We are going to war soon. Do you think they will let 400 mages die? Don't be stupid. They obviously teleported them to safety before impact. Blood stinks. Especially the blood of 400 people. Yet there was no smell and no blood on the floor... Think a bit."

Yura Ironswerth started breathing heavily trying to control his fury. Then he looked at Lucas and said," I admit you have some intelligence. What are you going to do no in a one on one? Convince someone to give up. You are done for!" He laughed afterwards satisfied at the idea of Lucas being eliminated.

The rest of the students agreed with him when they saw his E rank badge. Lucas had the lowest badge of them all. The rest of them were C potential and above.

But then Lucas said something that shocked the entire room, " What do I get if I come first?"

"Huh, you come first. I'd dance around the academy naked the day that happens." A student said mockingly.

" The day that happens, I'll go to the King and demand he lend me his wife." Another said laughing.

This became a trend as more and more students chirped in.

" Haha, I'd eat grass for a whole week if you could win."

" Good one, I'd become your lackey for a whole month if you win," A noble said.

" Haha, I'd dress like a girl for a month if you won."

" I'd be your slave for a week if you won." A girl said. Making people fantasize if they had her as a slave. She was royalty after all.

When Yura Ironswerth saw how the entire group was against Lucas he smiled. He felt he had completed his job. But then Lucas said, " I never heard what I get from you though, Yura Ironwerth. Apparently, she's gonna be my slave. He is going to dance around the academy naked. I'm getting a lackey... What about you though?"

Yura Ironswerth secreted a cold sweat when he heard what Lucas said. His bottom lip began to quiver and his neck muscles tightened. He didn't want to make a bet. Not because he thought Lucas was going to win but he just didn't like betting. But when everyone saw his reluctance they gave him a strange look. So he gave into peer pressure and said, " If you win. I'd eat all the dung of all the livestock at the academy. Then I'd go to Ivys Vinnay and demand her to bare my children." He said confidently knowing that his bet would receive the praise of the students. And it did as he had put two down.

Lucas laughed and then said, " Good, good. I'll hold you all to this."

Then Yura Ironswerth said, " But what about you? We have said what we would do. But a bet requires sacrifice from both." He said smiling smugly knowing that Lucas had to make the same bet with many people. Increasing his suffering six fold.

Lucas nodded his head as this was only fair and said, " I'd do what you said you'd do."

Everyone laughed and then Yura Ironwerth said, " We will hold that against you WHEN you lose." Yura Ironwerth was already imagining Lucas eating the faeces of all the livestock. And then watching him get obliterated by Ivys Vinnay for demanding such a ludicrous demand.

It was at this moment that Brutus Maximus stepped in and said, " How about we make this official?" Brutus Maximus thrived on schadenfreude. As much as he wanted more people to suffer. He wasn't going to purposefully lose to Lucas for that. So he decided he would rather make Lucas suffer. As there was no way Lucas would beat him. Brutus Maximus loved being thorough. He loved it when his victims had no way of escaping. Suddenly a contract popped up in front of everyone. He then said, " On this contract, it stipulates that you have to do what has been stated. My dad uses them a lot in his business so there are no loopholes."

When everyone saw the contract and how it actually became real. Fear made them reconsider. And they began hesitating. It's not like they gained anything great from Lucas if he lost. On the contrary, if they lost, they lost a lot. As unplausible as it sounded for an E ranker to win. It still scared them. Brutus Maximus saw the fear and couldn't let it get in the way of his fun. So he said, " Do you really think this E ranker. This inferior scum would beat a noble like me. I have been groomed from a young age. It says in his bio he comes from outside of the walls. We all know that once in a blue moon they bare some fruit. But E rank potential is as good as it will ever get. And not just me there are others that are equally strong. Do you think he can beat them all? You only gain from this, even if just a little.'

And just like that the fear they felt moments ago washed away. As they took the contract and signed it. Even Yura Ironswerth signed it. Once everyone signed it. Lucas took up his pen. And read the contract once more. He wanted to make it seem as if now he was reconsidering since it's official.

Of course, Brutus Maximus wasn't having it, " What's the matter? Cat got your tongue. Are you afraid now? Is it all too real that you chickened out? If you can't put your money where your mouth is you shouldn't talk." He tried to rile Lucas up with his words.

Lucas acted as if it worked and he signed the contract. Inside he was smirking. This couldn't have gone any better.

Once everything was signed the contracts disappeared and they were now set in motion. Then the timer said 30 minutes had passed and it was time for the knockouts.