In this arena, with Harvey having been injured and withdrawn, and Alina also significantly wounded from her last fight, the remaining four contenders were reduced to one familiar face, Angel, who had yet to sustain any injuries. The final mage was an unknown to Dick.

"Alina, are you alright? If not, don’t push yourself. You don’t really need the prize money. Sustaining severe injuries for a match, which might require a month or two to recover, would be detrimental to your training and hardly worth it." Dick was not lacking in compassion and genuinely cared for Alina.

"You don’t understand. At the beginner mage level, the speed of training isn’t the main concern. Combat is crucial."

Fair enough, with Alina’s talents, a month’s delay in training might not be a major issue.

Training with magic crystals and gold accumulates impurities in the body. In theory, intense combat is the best way to purge these impurities.

"Liu Tiesheng!"

"Alina!"

Dick was taken aback. Hadn’t Alina mentioned Liu Tiesheng as her next opponent? Alina, too, was surprised.

Interesting. It seems even the instructors at this magic academy are not above reproach. Indeed, factions and intrigues are everywhere.

However, why would Liu Tiesheng opt to fight the more formidable Alina instead of facing Dick? Alina was injured but not gravely so. Did Liu Tiesheng have such confidence in defeating her?

Regardless of the surprise, the draw results were what they were.

Alina’s combat prowess was formidable, with the speed and power of her Wind Blade spells being quite impressive.

Damn it! The Earth Magic Shield is so resilient? Even the Wind Blade, reputed to be the sharpest of all elemental spells, cannot penetrate it?

Alina lost. In the end, Liu Tiesheng struck her with an Earth Magic boulder, leaving her bloodied and unconscious.

Dick’s understanding of magic was still quite rudimentary. The relative strengths and weaknesses of various magic types could only be truly grasped through experience. Although Alina’s defeat and severe injury were regrettable, Dick did not harbor any particular hatred towards Liu Tiesheng.

In combat, many students ended up severely wounded.

The magical instructor rarely intervened to heal Alina, but Light Magic’s restorative power was indeed impressive. Alina regained consciousness, her chest wound had stopped bleeding, and the severity of her injuries seemed reduced.

However, if the broken bones in her chest were not treated promptly, there could be long-term repercussions.

"Dick, I’ve brought your greatsword."

"Thank you, Fandik!"

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Liu Tiesheng’s Earth Magic shield was too robust. With the short sword, Dick couldn’t fully exert his martial energy; the impact was limited to about three to four hundred pounds.

This greatsword, however, was reliable. When wielded with full force, it could deliver a thousand pounds of impact.

I refuse to believe that your Earth Magic turtle shell can withstand a greatsword!

The proctor’s eyes twitched as he observed the massive sword Dick held.

Dick’s next opponent was a Fire Mage. Sticking to his old strategy, Dick began with Fireball spells, and this time, instead of swinging, he dragged the greatsword along the ground and charged rapidly.

"Boom!" With a powerful swing, Dick shattered his opponent’s magical shield.

Enraged by the Fireball spells scorching his chest, Dick finally kicked his opponent off the stage. Damn it! I’m injured, and it affects the next match.

Despite Dick’s charge mitigating most of the Fireball’s impact, the remaining fireballs still caused him considerable pain.

By the time of the top eight matches, every opponent was formidable.

"Hurry and heal. Alina left these for you." Descending from the stage with difficulty, Dick was surprised to receive two bottles of magical potions from the usually aloof Angel—one for internal use and one for external application.

"Thank you!" Regardless of anything, Angel’s magical healing potions had been a lifesaver for Dick. Without them, enduring such high-intensity battles would have made the chances of success in the next round very slim.

Magical potions are indeed extraordinary. A warm sensation coursed through Dick’s chest, and within a minute, the pain from external and internal injuries dissipated. Of course, his injuries were not very severe.

Dick did not dare to relax and continued to soothe his wounds with his own water magic.

He could no longer afford to watch other battles for entertainment; healing and recovering his magical energy were paramount.

When Dick opened his eyes again, the unfamiliar mage had either lost or withdrawn due to injury.

Angel’s battle on the stage was drawing to a close. Damn it! A First-Level Mage can usually cast six or seven Fireballs at most, but that individual unleashed eleven. Impressive! The magic academy is indeed filled with hidden talents.

All he wanted was a bit of prize money, but it’s so difficult!

A mage capable of casting eleven Fireballs faced off against the Ice Mage Angel, making for an intense battle.

"How are you... doing?" Angel, being carried off the stage, had her brother Borg attending to her. Dick felt it necessary to at least offer some words of sympathy, given Angel’s indirect assistance.

True to her nature, Angel ignored Dick’s concern, despite having regained consciousness, and was carried away by Borg.

The so-called top four had become three fighters still capable of continuing. This meant Dick had secured a top-three finish and at least ten thousand gold coins. Dick was pleased with this unexpected turn of events. Luck, too, is part of strength.

Liu Tiesheng cast a dark glance at Dick.

With only three contenders remaining, the one who had a bye was unknown to Dick. Liu Tiesheng and Dick would vie for a spot in the finals.

"Dick, I dislike you!" Liu Tiesheng spoke candidly on the stage.

"Care to explain why?" Dick remained calm, suspecting Liu Tiesheng had some hidden agenda and perhaps even support from the academy’s proctor. Dick noticed a flicker in the proctor’s eyes. Having lived two lives, Dick was no fool. Conspiracy! Damn it! My efforts are insufficient against such powerful forces.

Liu Tiesheng, who could possibly influence the academy’s mages, likely had a significant background. Dick, still weak, had no choice but to endure.

"Go to hell!" Liu Tiesheng, of course, did not provide an explanation and summoned his most proficient Earth Magic.

Damn it! The Earth Magic ‘Meteor Strike’ rained down directly on Dick. The sheer size and number of these magical meteors, resembling second-level magic, were overwhelming. Each meteor weighed several hundred pounds, and the relentless barrage was daunting.

Who can fight against this?

Whoosh! Amid the astonished gazes of Liu Tiesheng, the proctor, and hundreds of watching students, Dick swiftly leaped off the stage.

"I concede!"

The audience erupted in shock. Dick paid no mind to the scornful remarks. Surviving was the most crucial. If Liu Tiesheng’s magic had killed him, the proctor’s aid would have come too late, and Dick would have died in vain.