Most of Team Drisil stood in the colosseum with the headmaster. Cecil had guided the other eight members here. Among the others here, their team was the only one missing their captain.

The crowd gathered and watched from above as each captain made their speeches. Of course, each captain has their own goals and desires for winning. Eventually, Chester made his way to the stage, much to the surprise of many.

Going up the stairs, he managed to trip on the last foot, falling face-first onto the hardwood. His glasses fell forward.

The fourteen-year-old boy was the youngest captain there, seemingly the smallest of them. Looking a bit awkward as he felt around for his glasses. Finding them moments later.

Adjusting his glasses, he spoke with a timidity everyone save for his teammates believed. “H-hello there. W-we of team Norn are here to do our best. Um…”

Atimn whispered from the side. “Honor.”

“Ah. And we wish to bring honor to our academy. I guess. I mean. Uh. Why?” Chester scratched his head as he seemingly forgot his lines again.

“Yeah. And that’s all.” Chester speed walked off the stage, his face in his hands as he immediately went to hide within his group.

The next to walk to the stage was a young man with navy blue hair. His loose robes left nothing to his imagination as his torso was partially revealed. However, he held a charisma that drew the eyes of everyone there.

“I, Damian, aim to be the next Sword Saint. The greatest one to ever walk the face of Imala. This tournament is but a step on the path. I appreciate learning from all of you and look forward to crossing blades. We will show you all what musicians are really capable of.” Damian left the stage.

Eventually, Sinbad walked onto the stage slowly and deliberately before speaking a simple line. “Name’s Sinbad, I don’t look forward to fighting any of you. Best wishes.” He hopped off the stage and returned to his group. Proceeding to fall asleep while standing upright.

The introductions continued longer before Drisil was called upon, and their captain still hadn’t arrived.

“Drisil captain, please come forward!”

A minute of silence passed.

“Drisil, If your captain doesn’t appear in the next thirty seconds then you’ll be deducted ten points. One.”

The seconds drove on.”

“Where's the captain?” Minah asked

“Last I heard he went to eat a large meal before arriving. He may be mid mid-food coma.” Cecil sighed.

“He doesn’t even plan on fighting for this first part. What’s he need the calories for?”

Lin seemingly realized what was up immediately. “We’re dealing with Rion. What kind of entrance would he make on a day like this?”

“Is there anything he can do to get us disqualified before the tournament begins?” Cecil asked Lin.

“So long as he doesn’t attack someone unwarranted, then we should be fine..”

“Sixteen!”

A streak of red shot through the sky, to the notice of few the first time it occurred.

“Twenty-Five!”

“Look up!” One of the students noticed the letter written in smoke.

The Vermillion Lord is here!

The speaker looked up and stared as a figure with wings of fire descended from above at a speed that was clearly not controlled and aimed.

“Twenty-Six?” The speaker said as the creature of flame seemed to scowl as the ball of fire appeared to be headed towards him.

A long-eared figure appeared and swiftly moved the speaker far away from the falling troublemaker.

The arena was fire-filled as the shirtless Vermillion-eyed Rion stood on both feet. Willing the fire around him, scorching the area around him to return. Taking a deep breath, he eyed his competition.

“I said it once, and I’ll say it until you get it through your thick skulls. I will be the one standing on the top of the heap. Your jobs will be hoping that your teams are placed as far away from mine as possible. You aren’t fighting for first place. You’re fighting for second and third. Good luck. Because you’re going to need it.” Kyrion let half his mana loose in a strong aura that forced those unsuspecting near the front. Or splash zone, as he loved to call it. To fall to a knee.

Those too weak to stand in his presence fell to their knees. One individual fell unconscious from fear alone. Those standing that close after a man covered in fire landed like that deserved to face the experience.

“Looks like some of you have already submitted. Good.” Rion hid his aura just as well as he had prior. To anyone under expert, he’d appeared as a human with little to no mana.

For his last trick, he leaped towards his group and landed soundly, with a smirk on his face.

“That was close.” Cecil stated.

“More than you know. Fell asleep while I was eating and lost track of time. Wasted all those beautiful calories on flying here and causing a scene.” Rion whispered to Cecil.

Cecil closed his eyes. “There is this thing called being punctual.”

“Punctuality is a suggestion for the strong. Unless I’m a medic, then it’s the opposite.” Rion waged his finger.

“Aren’t we supposed to be laying low?” Minah asked.

“Walk and talk.” Cecil said as he led the group away from the

“Best way to hide is in plain sight. Now let’s go. We need to get you warriors to the drawing.” Cecil explained.

“Right.”

Ander walked up to Kyrion and scowled. “I will get payback for you stealing my height.”

“Let’s settle that after the tournament.” Rion stated.

“Yeah. We’ll see about that.”

Lin led Minah, Cecil, Ander, and Tiffany toward the sign-up booth while the headmaster took the rest of their group to their viewing seats. The first few days of the solo tournament would be dull. It took an hour for the lineup to be decided.

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The lineup was quite unlucky, in Kyrion’s opinion. Ander would have to fight Damian in the first and second rounds. Which caused him to do a double-take. Ander would fight Damian in the second round. Minah had to fight Nicole in the first round as well. Cecil and Tiffany would meet in the third, which was less than optimal.

“Well… Looks like all four made it past the prelims. But this line up isn’t favorable.”

“Prelims?”

“Yeah. The tournament would take too long otherwise. One person gets an auto, while each additional member needs to challenge and defeat 2 other contestants. Two wins gets you in, two losses sends you out of the running.” Kyrion explained.

“No healing between that and the first round?” Bella seemed worried.

“It’s about resource management. If you’re the type to gauge opponents badly or waste mana on easy fights then you’re probably not going to do too well.” The headmaster added.

“The first day is long. They will only fight one set of official rounds today. Two more tomorrow and on days three and four only once as those fights tend to be more taxing.” Lin sighed.

“Then the team battles begin?” Bastion asked.

“Yeah, then the team battles begin. Wake me when Tiffany’s fight starts” Kyrion sighed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

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An announcer stood under an awning looking down on the groups below with a cherry expression. His red hair and scar are prominent. A face Kyrion recognized but couldn’t put his finger on it.

“Welcome one and all to the Academia Tournament! I your glorious host Meh-Thod, will be your announcer today. And for the first match of the day we have Tiffany of team Drisil, going up against Drew, the Captain of the school of Boom! Ha, a captain in the first round? This should be quick.” Meh-Thod shook his head and shrugged.

Tiffany arrived, her rapier nowhere to be seen, as she eyed her opponent with a cautious gaze.

“I am that which booms!” The monk wielding chains on his wrist stated.

“Yeah. You already explained that. Three times actually. You do know explaining how your powers work makes you easy to counter.”

“No one can counter the supersonic boom, it’s inevitable.” The monk stated.

“Ready? Begin!” Meh-Thod proclaimed.

The chain user immediately raised both chains high in the air, preparing to do his signature move.

Tiffany traced a symbol of light with her finger and dashed forward into the falling chain’s reach.

She evaded them both with ease as they landed silently on the ground, nothing happening.

The monk opened his mouth to say something before getting hit by a punch to the jaw containing a light blast. Sending the young monk flying through the wards. The landing did not make a single sound.

Tiffany released her spell as a surprised Captain looked up at the sky.

“What just happened?”

“A lady doesn’t reveal her secrets lightly.” Tiffany looked up at the announcer.

“Winner of the first round, by knockout, Tiffany Belfour!” Meh-Thod stated.

Tiffany looked toward the main Tetsan school with a resolute expression. She then turned and left the stage.

“Hopefully I’ll have more time for commentary in the next fight.” Meh-Thod stated as he looked about.

Tiffany hadn’t expended much mana, so she had watched the next fight from the waiting room to see who she had to fight tomorrow.

That was when an unfamiliar woman walked past her and stepped onto the stage. In her hands was a sword of black metal that seemed to whisper as it passed.

Oddly enough, the next fight ended just as quickly as the first. The woman’s opponent fell to the ground while breaking down into ugly sobs for seemingly no apparent reason.

“That’s my competition. Great.” Tiffany scowled as something itched in her mind.

----------------------------------------

Cecil walked onto the stage a white glove on his right hand and a curved wand on his right hip. Hidden in a holster on his right ankle was a mana gun that he suspected he wouldn’t use this round.

In front of him was a long eared figure with an odd eye twitch. Fire crackled and popped.

“Today we have, the Blazing Emperor, captain of team Sunburst, going up against Cecil from Drisil, apparently he has a harem. Wow. What a show off.” Meh Thod stated.

Half of the crowd booed Cecil after that statement. Most of it unwarranted as they had no idea what that meant.

“Ha. So that first girl is a member of your harem? Do the girls fight your battles for you? I’ll show you what real fire can do.” The elven boy with white hair and a deranged look in his eyes said to Cecil.

“By Imalla’s mercy, you must be a rare natural born ignoramus. My captain is a fire user and you want to show me what fire looks like?”

“Are you calling me stupid?”

“I’m calling you unique as well.”

“Oh thanks.”

“Ready? Fight!”

“Wait…:”

“Fight started. Either start fighting or start flying.” Cecil stood there his hand lingering over his hip.

Virgil began by throwing a large volatile ball of red mana into the sky above the blond boy in front of him. “No one can stop my Mega ball!”

“Lesser disperse flame.” Cecil shot the fireball with a white ball of mana that surrounded it and seemed to make it vanish like someone blew out a candle. He didn’t have to speak an incantation; it wasn’t even a lesser spell. There was only one disperse flame spell. This was a game of psychology.

“Open the Abyssal gate. 66. Ack!” A spoking C-shaped symbol hit him in the forehead knocking him out instantly.

“Nope. Seems he’s spirit broken. Standing still during incantations like that is dumb in a one on one fight.Like hell am I letting someone summon a demon either.” His curved wand emitted a glow as mana had been forced through it. Holstering it, he sighed and looked at the referee.

“He’s using a magic enhancement artifact. He’s cheating! I call for an examination! No way could your brat beat my grandson!” Yelled a white-haired man in the crowd.

A young elven woman walked beside Meh Thod and spoke with an enthralling voice.

“A rule challenge? For those unaware, a headmaster or coordinator may speak out when they suspect that a student has cheated. False claims are heavily penalized so doing so is risky. Now Ash, what rule specifically do you believe was broken?” The elf locked eyes with the speaker.

“The one that restricts magical tools. We are fighting with our own power, not our wallets. That is clearly an expensive magic tool.”

“Any defense against this claim.”

“Ugg…Forbidden knowledge. Tournament rules.” Cecil’s glasses went black briefly as his mind processed and tore apart the rulebook he had skimmed over prior.

“Cecil. Do you have anything to say?”

“Right. Sorry. Full 16.b the rule on magical tools in combat is suspended on tools crafted by either the user or a teammate. Resource management is a variable a spirit master needs to learn. I built this item myself. It’s a prototype wand. I’m sure you wouldn’t be able to find something like this in stores.”

“Bull. No human child!” Ash started before being interrupted.

“You are the founder of Cecil’s Harem, correct?”

“Yes madam.”

“Then the matter is settled. How do you want to be compensated for this false accusation?”

Cecil thought, his brain still in overdrive and locked onto the rulebook. He knew he had three options with taking. One, the opposing school would have to pay a thirty-point penalty. The accuser would be forced to offer to pay the wronged party for either an item they desire or a favor that must be honored. Finally, he could have them earn a permanent strike. For each mark, the chances that the school wouldn’t be called back for the next tournament increased.

Cecil’s subconscious came to life in his own head.

“We always wanted an elf girl in our harem.” Said a version of Cecil that wore an obscure anime shirt.

“Didn’t we abandon that? I say we give them a mark.” But, asked a somewhat aloof version of Cecil, that was cleaning dirt out of his fingers.

“I agree with Ota; elves are known for their secrets in every world. Having one could prove rather convenient.

“Cur. While right, you have to think, if they think what we made is an all powerful item. What can they offer that we can’t already do?”

“We are in a fantasy world, that’s like the number one requirement. Why are you resisting Al?”

“Because I don’t really care.”

“No harems though. We’re done with that.”

“Right Prag we get ya. Now where’s BB?”

“He’s busy reading the rulebook.”

“Cecil, have you made a decision?” The elf above asked.

Cecil blinked a few times. “Yes. Ah right. Sorry. Ash.”

“Headmaster of Sunburst academy, boy.”

Not for long. Cecil thought to himself. He worded his claim carefully. “Yes sir. Now I have a simple proposition, as I’m building an international branch for Cecil’s Harem, would you happen to have any students who would be interested in magitech? Preferably of elven persuasion. Female would be convenient as well but that isn’t a requirement.”

“Like hell I’d consider that!”

“So you refuse the simple favor?” The elven woman looked blankly at Ash.

“Of course. Why would I agree to something like that?”

“That would be going against your punishment. Will you stand by this decision?”

“Yes?” Ash seemed to get concerned.

“That’s alI I need to know. For acting in a way unbecoming of a headmaster after making a claim accusing a student of cheating I hereby place a lock on any future entries into this tournament. For disagreeing to what most would call favorable terms and showing that you lack the ability to take responsibility for your own actions. Sunburst Academy has officially had their spot in this tournament revoked. One of the other academies will be notified that a spot has opened up.”

“He planned on enslaving one of my students!”

“Oh gods…Did you not pay attention to my words? I asked you to consider, an action that requires information gathering along with weighing the pros and cons. Had you any tact you’d have figured out that you could say yes to this now and formally deny at a later date. How did you become a headmaster in the first place anyway?” Cecil was a bit frustrated. On a cursory examination, Cecil figured that if he really wanted to, he could take this elderly man. Sadly he didn’t have to.

“You brat!” Ash lunged at him, only for Rion and the headmaster of Drisil to appear on the stage in front of him.

With a blank expression, Rion drove a hand through the expert’s chest to everyone, including his own, surprise.

“Figures. Wondered why they felt off. Can’t believe that someone let one of those things inside them.” Cecil muttered

Kyrion watched as the elderly man hit the ground, his body shifting to that of a pudgy red-skinned creature with batlike wings. “Those monsters again.”

“Rion. Explain for those who don’t understand.”

“Oh? I’m told most experts should know this. That’s a parasitic demon, a low rank monster, one that I have run into quite before.This host must have been willing to get one of these to match their affinity, as I can imagine, its resistance to flame was unparalleled. In a place that only practices flame it would be easy to reach the top while pretending to be an expert.” Kyrion held up a black heart that refused to burn no matter how much fire he put into it. So he began to squeeze, and as he did, a white worm crawled out and screamed as it was soundly crushed into a paste.

“How did you figure that out?” The elven woman tilted her head.

Kyrion scowled. “I didn’t know. My hand was poised to stop, not kill. It would not have damaged an expert. It should mostly inconvenience a practitioner as well, but like I said its defenses are focused against fire not physical strength.”

“I see. Please refrain from killing headmasters in public or in general.” The elven woman stated.

“I will be sure to do my best.” Rion said with a straight face before turning and leaving.