"Ru! You actually won!" Rika assisted Ru who just got down from the arena. Ru was badly hurt so she needed to rest.
"Let me help her." The meek voice of Lucia was suddenly heard from the crowd. She came together with Draka and the rest of their groupmates.
Rika laid Ru on the ground as she placed Ru's head on her lap. Lucia started to cast recovery magic which slowly healed her injuries.
"By the way, Instructor Garland also wanted to talk with you." Jorak told Draka and her group.
"Ah yes. We actually just talked to him before going here. Don't worry. I didn't tell much about what happened." Draka replied, tapping Jorak's shoulder. Before separating with Vera's group, they already talked about what they would tell the instructors in order to hide the mysteries that they encountered. Cyziel told them that it was not time for some people to know about it.
"Are you also planning to take the interclass competition?" Vera asked.
"Right now? Not me. I still suck at magic. I don't know about the rest of them" Draka shrugged, looking back at her group.
Lily shook her head. "We won't also participate this time. We are just here to watch."
The two groups chatted together as they watched the succeeding matches. It didn't take long until Ortix stepped up and entered the arena himself. There was an invisible tension that surrounded the crowd. They heard of his battle with Jaza before so everyone was already anticipating what kind of show they would see.
"Oh.. Look isn't that your friend at the arena." Estelle pointed at Ortix at the stage.
Cyziel smiled. "Yes. Well, as long as he get serious then he would probably win."
"Do you think anyone can beat him here?" Vera asked.
"Oh.. If it is just purely magic then I think there is a chance. This is really not his forte." Cyziel pondered for a while. He then thought that Ortix might actually be too fast or too durable for anyone here even without magic. Of course, he excluded himself and Volus. "The chances are slim though."
"What rank do you want to challenge?" Instructor Sara asked Ortix.
"Hmm... Let me pick a random number." Ortix momentarily closed his eyes. "What about rank 13?"
*Shit! This bastard want to embarrass me!* A soft voice murmured in the crowd. Only a few people were able to hear it.
Sara smiled, thinking that this might be an interesting one. "Rank 13 Jaza. Please come up on stage."
It was already a minute but Jaza still didn't show himself. The crowd surrounding him started to distance themselves that his position was finally revealed. His two fists are shaking as he looked down on the ground.
"I surrender." Jaza said as he turned around and walked away. His groupmates also started to chase after him.
Sounds of commotion blew up in the crowd. The rumors of his defeat was now firmly proved. Some didn't want to believe due to Jaza's reputation. Others thought that the rumors were a bit exaggerated. Beating Jaza is one thing but him losing on a one sided fight is something that even the top 10 students would hardly have done.
"Do you wish to challenge anyone else?"
"Well... Let me challenge rank 72! " Ortix chuckled.
Cyziel facepalmed as he laughed.
"Why would you want to challenge a lower ranked.." Sara checked the profile of rank 72 and she saw that it was actually Volus. "Oh! I see... Well.. He does have a higher magic rank that you."
Sara is the current instructor assigned for magic on Nathan's class so the two were actually under her. She actually haven't seen Volus do anything extraordinary except during their scholarship exams but she was quite sure that the strength of Volus and Ortix are not really far apart from each other.
*This stupid guy.* Volus frowned. "I also surrender. Give him the win."
"What... Why would you surr-"
"As he surrendered, then you won." Sara interjected. She actually was dejected since she wanted to see them fight, allowing her to see the true strength of her pupils. Still, she respected their decisions. "Do you wish to challenge another one?"
"Alright! Give me Elvin!" Ortix shouted.
Everyone gasped. Elvin is the current number two in rankings. Even though he was only above by 11 ranks from Jaza, their strength are far from each other. Only Morgan and Vera was his equal.
Elvin immediately jumped up the arena. "I have already wanted to fight you after seeing your performance during the exam. Unfortunately, you are still a bit lacking so I would win this battle."
"Oh... Someone confident! I like that!" Ortix started laughing.
The two waited for the number in the screen to go down to 0 then they immediately acted.
Elvin immediately kneeled then touched the ground. "Firas Naka!" Elvin conjured multiple flaming snakes as they quickly crawled towards Ortix.
"Iara Blat!" Ortix alternatingly slashed with his two hands. Each slash would generate a wind blade bisecting the flaming snakes. He then curled his fingers as he made an X-gesture with his two arms. "Firas Hidan Blatt!" Multiple Flaming shuriken appeared at the space between his fingers. He swung his arms outwards as he threw all the shurikens towards Elvin.
"Tegar Mare!" Rock armor started to cover Elvin, including his arms. He crossed his arms to protect his face. The shurikens flew in an unpredictable paths that it hit different parts of his body. The power of the shurikens immediately caused his armor to crumble. He didn't get any major injuries but only slight burns which actually angered Elvin.
"Tronus Ultas!" It was the same spell that Myla casted before but Elvin's lightning bolt was far stronger and faster. Unfortunately, his opponent was fast enough to react. Ortix side stepped and dodged the bolt by just a hair's breadth. The bolt was actually strong enough that it actually made a scratch on the arena and scattered into smaller sparks that hit Ortix but it also didn't cause him any major harm except for just a little shock.
Ortix dashed towards Elvin. His hands started to burst in black flames as he used his momentum for a final attack. "Its the end for you!" It was a flame empowered by darkness.
"You underestimate me! Tegar Ildan Firas!" Elvin created a large rock shield in front of him which then started to condense while being heated with fire. It became a small black shield made from some kind of metamorphic rock that signified its hardness.
The darkfire clashed with the black shield. The darkness element started to seep in on the shield causing cracks on it. It won't take long before it completely crumbled. Suddenly, Elvin detonated the shield. The force pushed back the two but its fragments hit the both of them. He received more damage because he was not as durable as Ortix but that instance of distraction was his chance. He ignored the splinters on his body and casted one last spell.
"Tronus Itere Laxae!" A large electric net appeared in front of Elvin and it wrapped around Ortix. "This is the difference between us. Magic is not so simple as you thought!" Elvin wanted to demoralize Ortix. He didn't understand why someone like him was suddenly able to learn up to level 4 magics. If he encountered a defeat like this then it might cause a demon in his heart which would be a great hindrance to him.
The net continued to shock Ortix. Elvin greatly expended his remaining Aether and lightning essence to cast it. It was a powerful rank 5 lightning spell which he actually prepared for Morgan.
"Is Ortix losing?" Ru asked.
"I think he did.. Well at least in terms of strategy and magic." Cyziel chuckled, wanting to see what Ortix would do next.
"Rahhhhh!!" Ortix suddenly shouted. He was in pain due to the shock produced by the net but it was nothing to him but minor injuries. He was angry that he actually got outplayed. Moreover, his opponent looked down on him. He reinforced his hand then latched at the lightning net then tore it open.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Elvin got scared. He doesn't understand what is happening. How could someone tore his spell with just a simple reinforcement art.
Ortix furiously looked at Elvin then made a fist. He was preparing to attack.
"Ortix stop! You lost!" Sara shouted but Ortix ignored her.
Ortix condensed both Aether and Nether energy in his fist as he gave a punch. He made a force punch towards Elvin. Fortunately, Larka already jumped up the arena and created a rock wall blocking the attack.
The force punch was an attack that contained the strength of the user. Force attacks are like an extension of the body. It is why it is considered a combat art. The strength of his attack crushed the rock wall and continued towards Elvin. Elvin didn't have enough essence left but since Ortix already violated the rules, he cloaked himself using reinforce body with the remaining Aether energy that he had.
Nevertheless, Elvin was hurled away towards the arena barrier and almost causing it to crack. He immediately lost consciousness. The instructors immediately came to help Elvin and the others detained Ortix. Ortix didn't fight back. He only laughed hard as he then smiled towards Cyziel and Volus.
"Since Ortix used combat arts then he is disqualified and Elvin wins this battle." Sara didn't want to amplify the issue. Injuries are normal during duels. Death would be a different thing. Although deaths outside school happened, deaths inside the campus would cause some issue. She went down the arena and spoke with Volus.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Every student around was shivering as they remembered Ortix laughing. They finally understood why Jaza was afraid of him. Even Morgan who was ranked one was clearly affected by the battle. What if it was her that was challenged? She was not far stronger than Elvin. She then unconsciously looked at Vera. Unlike the rest of the students, she didn't seemed shocked.
Furthermore, not far from Vera, she again saw the guy with instructor Larka. The guy was actually smiling while shaking his head towards Ortix. If she is correct, that guy, Ortix and the other guy named Volus was together. She suddenly remembered what she heard from her parents before. There were some evils that entered their school.
"Was it them? No. That is impossible. They should only be new students! Unless, they are hiding something!" Morgan started having exaggerated thoughts as she further tried to think about them. "I need to uncover the secrets that they are hiding!"
"Are you saying something Morgan?" A woman with a yellow single braided hair asked. It was actually Mara who helped Cyziel picked his clothes.
"No.. Nothing.." Morgan looked away from Cyziel, feigning ignorance.
"Wait... Isn't that Cyziel!" Mara widened her eyes with surprise as she then turned towards Morgan, smiling. "You are looking at him... Don't tell me that..."
"You know him?" Morgan asked, surprised at Mara's reaction.
"Yes. Yes of course! I helped him pick his clothes!" Mara crossed her arms, feeling proud.
"Really? Then you need to tell me more about him!" Morgan then held Mara's arm and pulled her. "Let's go somewhere quiet!"
"Wait! Wait! Don't be too excited. By the way I saw him first!" Mara protested as she got dragged away.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Outside the indoor practice area stood Jaza and his other henchmen.
"Jaza! Jaza!" A guy came running towards the group.
"What is it?" Jaza asked with an irritated tone.
"Ortix-"
"Shut up! I don't want to hear that name!" Jaza shouted, grabbing the guy's shirt.
"He beat Elvin unconscious!"
"What? He has even beat Elvin?" Jaza's body shook. "Could he have been the one to kill Tarak?"
"Tarak? Who is that?" Grozo asked.
"Nothing. Let's go back in!" Jaza thought that he won't look that bad anymore since Elvin was also defeated. He needed to know more about Ortix. Otherwise, he won't be able to cleanse his shame.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Ortix actually seemed really scary." Ru uttered as she looked at Cyziel. "Has he really been always like that?"
Cyziel scratched his head, not knowing whether to defend Ortix.
"Yes. He has always been like that. Unless he finds value in you then be careful of him." Volus interjected, as he emerged beside Cyziel.
"Please don't scare as like that!" Rika complained, not knowing whether to be scared of Volus popping up or from what he just said. "But he is a good person isn't he? He is your friend after all."
Volus smirked. "Hmph... Being good is relative but if you would ask me then no. Ortix is far from being good. Neither am I. As for Cy-"
Cyziel only smiled at Volus but it caused him to kept silent. "Is there something important you wanted to say Volus?"
"Ah yes. Instructor Sara told that if you ever plan to join the competition then you should restrain yourself."
I wonder why she didn't tell me directly? Cyziel thought. "No worries. I am really good at controlling myself."
"No! You are not!" Ru and Rika shouted.
Cyziel pondered for a bit, remembering his fight with Vera. "Hey! I already apologized for that!" He then turned towards Volus again. "What about you? Do you have no plans to challenge someone?"
"No. Maybe some other time." Unlike Ortix who liked to cause a scene and Cyziel who is really unpredictable, Volus was someone who liked keeping his skills hidden unless it was really necessary.
"Speaking of which... I think it's my time to shine!" Cyziel smiled, looking forward at the arena. "Wish me luck!"
Instructor Sara has come back up the stage and asked for the next challengers. Cyziel jumped up the stage without even asking for instructor Sara's permission. Ru cheered for him but the others didn't. After all, they know how capable he is.
"Can I volunteer myself?" Cyziel politely said, smiling at her.
Sara has been waiting for Cyziel for quite some time but at the same time, she was now scared due to what Ortix has done before. She does not know if Cyziel's smile was genuine or something sarcastic. "Since you are already on the stage then go choose what rank do you want to fight with!"
Only a few people were actually focusing at the arena. The previous fight was still rooted in everyone's mind. There were only a few people who were actually paying attention.
"Let me see.... How about rank 345?"
"Rank 345? Drobak? He is-" Sara actually wanted to say that that rank might be too low for him but suddenly a large young man jumped up the stage.
"Instructor if he wanted to fight me then I'll fight him." Drobak then turned towards Cyziel. "I'm Drobak! As you can see I am a Coryn. You are quite lucky that this is a magic competition. Otherwise, this would be a one sided fight!"
Drobak haven't had any luck for quite some time. He had always lost against those above him. He has been waiting for someone below his rank to challenge him. He didn't even checked Cyziel's rank since most challenges are against those above them.
"Nice to meet you! I am Cyziel! I hope you will learn a lot from this fight!" Cyziel smirked arrogantly.
Drobak was furious with his words and actions. He can't wait to smash Cyziel with his fist. The instant that the screen disappeared, he immediately casted rock fist as he dashed towards Cyziel.
Cyziel was still calm. In the crowd's surprise, he casted the most basic Earth spell. Condense rock. He casted the spell five times in an instant. The five rocks floated in front of him instead of falling in the ground. His control of its earth essence didn't stop even after finishing his spell. Before Drobak could get near, Cyziel flicked one of the rocks towards Drobak's knee. Drobak was not able to react and he immediately stopped on his track due to the pain.
Cyziel didn't stop, he flicked the next rock targeting Drobak's other knee. Drobak fell down kneeling on the floor. Drobak cannot understand how that simple rock caused him so much pain but he cannot be defeated in such a simple manner. He tried to stand up as he furiously stared at Cyziel. Unfortunately, his struggle didn't last. He saw another rock coming towards him. It hit him in his forehead, causing him to lose consciousness.
Everyone watching was shocked. Those who previously didn't pay attention didn't even get any time to understand what happened. They only noticed the reaction of the other people around them but as they looked at the arena, there was only one man standing.
Even the instructors were amazed. Unlike the students who are confused, some of the instructors were able to understand what Cyziel had done. Those stones are not simple rocks. He created some type of heavy rocks. It was only possible if he has high understanding of the earth element's fundamentals. Combined with the speed that he flicked the stones. It became similar to the bullet barrage spell.
"Did I win?" Cyziel asked rhetorically.
Sara was jolted back from her shock. "Yes. You won. Do you want to challenge someone again?"
"How about rank 234?"
Sara finally understood that Cyziel might not have been taking this seriously yet but she cannot blame her. The power she felt from him on his scholarship test was no joke. "Rank 234. Flint come up."
"I was not able to see how you have beaten the one from before but you seemed to be skilled." Flint calmly said. "Unfortunately, I am far stronger than him."
Flint was warry of Cyziel even though he was confident of himself. He didn't immediately attack when the duel started. He carefully observed Cyziel but Cyziel didn't really move. Cyziel was full of openings but his face lacked any sense of fear. He didn't want to move first because he might fall for his trap.
Cyziel finally moved. Just liked his battle with Vera, he slowly walked forward before suddenly accelerating.
Flint sensed a feeling of danger. He placed his two hands parallel to each other. It was as if he was grasping an invisible ball in front of him. A ball of flame started to blaze between his hands. "Firas Mor-"
Just in time as Flint was almost finished with his spell, Cyziel appeared in front of him. Cyziel grasped his two arms with strength that didn't allow him to struggle. He finished saying the magic word for the spell but it didn't launch. The flame sit still between his hands. Moreover, he was losing control of it. He cannot disperse the fire essences, instead more essences gathered between his hand. What was weird was that the new essences didn't came from him. Flint looked at the smiling Cyziel as if he was a monster. He cannot understand how he was doing this.
Cyziel opened his mouth. He finally started casting a spell. Wind essences condensed in his mouth. "Iara- "
"No! No!" Horror filled Flint's face as he heard Cyziel speak. He could understood what Cyziel was planning to do.
"-Lahen!" Cyziel finished his spell then blew at the flame between Flint's hand.
The simple blow that Cyziel did was very far from the rank 0 spell that they knew. It was more like a gust or a gale. It was so strong that people from outside the arena could see the barrier twinkling as the wind hit it. But the wind was not the main attraction, it was the giant flame that covered Flint. His head and torso was being burnt by his own spell. No, it was not just a simple ember spell. It was more like a flame thrower.
"Cyziel!" Sara shouted as she run towards Cyziel. The other instructors also charged towards him.
The same goes with Ru who was telling him to stop. Even the other students could tell that the fire was fatal.
Before the instructors could even get close to Cyziel, he stopped. The wind disappeared and so was the flame. He had also let go of Flint. Everyone else also stopped. They could see that Flint was unharmed even though he was full of sweat. The top of his clothes was burnt but there was no visible injury on him. The others cannot understand but he fully know what happened. He could feel some kind of energy seep on him. Cyziel casted a spell protecting him but he knew that once Cyziel let go of his two arms, he would actually be burnt to ash.
Flint stood up and bowed his head. "Thank you for taking it easy on me." He immediately jumped down and disappeared in the crowd. He do not want to take any chances and annoy Cyziel.
Cyziel turned around and faced the instructors, smiling. "Relax. That was just a wind blow. Shall we start the next challenge? "