The morning arrives with soothing sunlights shining across the Empire of Celestia. The streets, which are usually quiet at this time of day, are crowded with enthusiastic citizens walking in unison toward the direction of the Empire stadium

Like moths drawn to a flame, the citizens are drawn to the upcoming battle of the Empire Elite students. After all, there isn’t much going on within the empire, and the annual battles are one of the most awaited events.

As the first pair walked up onto the stage, K and Rachel met each other once again. But this time, their meeting isn’t for a friendly chat, but to win and advance.

The on-looker burst out cheering for the pair, creating a lively atmosphere. K with an Unconcerned expression casually spoke to Rachel before the battle started

“Isn’t this a unique experience, Ms. Rachel? It’s quite an honor for me to have this duel” K jokingly said as he gazed upon Rachel's reaction

Rachel replied with a casual tone, “The pleasure is all mine Mr. Davis”

Davis chimed in, “So, how is she?”

K looked at Rachel's calm expression and with a wry smile replied, “She… well for starter she seems to be in tip-top shape”

Davis sighed in annoyance, “I’m not asking about that”

K with a joyous laugh replied, “And would you like me to ask her whether or not she ate properly? Or should I take her pulse to see if she is feeling alright?”

Davis feels like his veins are about to burst with every conversation they have, with genuine frustration he asks again with twitchy eyes, “Do you think you can win? I heard that she’s a one-of-a-kind genius of this generation”

Hearing Davis's concern K's eyes shifted to Principal Wuldor came on the stage to announce the start of the battle. With a confident smile and carefree attitude, he said to Davis, “Don’t worry my dearest friend, I’ll win”

In this battle, the students are allowed to bring their weapons as long as they’re not enchanted with a magic-enhancing enchantment, laced with poison, and a weapon made from high-grade materials

Their weapon must be sent to the professor for a thorough inspection before they are allowed to be brought up to the stage. Rachel’s long sword was perfectly made for her by her family while K…

Well, he didn’t bring any weapon to the professor for an inspection so he’s given a magician staff from the storage of the Academy. Bringing his weapon out most of the professors who were spectating the battle were perplex

Seeing this Professor Wuldor almost burst out laughing but refrained from doing so and with a wave of his hand the battle began.

Rachel who had always attacked her opponent first stood with caution, after thinking about it closely most of the reports that Rachel got about Davis didn’t add up.

K using his inner voice notified Davis, “Davis, make sure you watch my battle from this point on very closely. It will help you a lot in the future during my absence”

Davis was taken aback by his words but he didn’t complain nor talk back, both his mind and eyes were focused on the battle at hand.

K looked at his magician staff again, it was nothing but an old stick attached to a low-ranking magic crystal at its tips, “Since we’ll be fighting an even more powerful opponent than her, I’ll only use low-level spells that don’t put a huge strain on your body”

After finishing his sentence, he launched a frontal attack on Rachel.

Flaming sphere*

The attack was deflected by Rachel's blade as soon as it got close to her, no longer hesitating she rushed at him with surprisingly fast speed. Clack* Rachel aimed her blade at K's neck but was stopped by his wooden staff.

“Going for the neck I see… not a bad move” K complimented her for her attack

Ice Magic: Frost spike*

Rachel sensed an attack coming from behind and jumped back a few steps creating a good distance between them.

“Not bad” K murmured to himself as he focused his attention on Rachel

Since Rachel's information about Davis's past doesn’t match up with his current self, she went for an attack that would end this battle but it was black, and after sensing an attack coming from behind, she created a distance that if it was any other magician they wouldn’t have much room to cast a high-ranking spell to attack

Rachel thought that K would try to create distance to cast an attack but her assumption was proven incorrect by K as he moved in close for a close combat

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The staff being reinforced by K's magic was far tougher than it appeared, their weapon was locked in place before K cast a spell on his palm

Fire Magic: Fireball*

Pushing Rachel backward into another spell, K thought this battle was over

Ice Magic: Frost spike*

A sharped icicle burst out of the ground aiming for Rachel’s back but was broken by the sword aura she released, watching her in awe K was attacked by Rachel's magic pushing him back a considerate distance

Wind Magic: Wind slice*

“Wind?” K thought to himself, he remembered her battle and chuckled, “What a quick learner”

Rachel used an attack that she experienced in her prior battle with K because wind magic is the attribute that has the quickest casting time and doesn’t interact with the space around it that much it caught K off-guard in his shock

“I almost forgot she could use both magic and aura” K giggled as his eyes turned serious

Rachel could tell that their time for testing one another ability is over and get ready for what’s to come

Lightning Magic: Electric strike*

A strike of electricity came at Rachel, she didn’t dodge but instead using her blade aura she absorbed it and released it back at K. The spell rushes at K even more powerfully than the one he cast

Raising his right arm into a stop gesture K cast a barrier in a hexagram shape that blocked an incoming attack, but what followed after was Rachel's blade as she swung at K relentlessly.

K noticed that she trying to keep him locked in close combat making it awkward for him to attack with magic, he couldn’t find any opening for him to retaliate or any way for him to create space so all he could do was shift his body to avoid her blade as well as blocking them with his staff.

His staff was fallen apart with each attack he blocked, K keeping to his word not to use any high-ranking magic during the battle came up with an idea

Creating an opening for Rachel to attack in the hope of her taking the bait and he’ll use this chance to unarm her. Unfortunately for him, she didn’t fall for it and released a powerful aura slash at him slashing him in the stomach

He fell to the ground seemingly injured by the attack the crowd's cheer was deafening. Rowan looks at K with a concerned expression, “Come on Mr. Davis, You can do it”

Walking up to him with the intent to end this battle Rachel activated an explosive trap midway but was unharmed by releasing her protective magic shield

Fusion Magic: Lightning storm*

A fusion of wind and lightning rushed toward Rachel, but K's attack was sliced in half by Rachel's aura clearing the storm only for her to meet face-to-face with a fiery flame in the shape of a bird

Fire Magic: Pheonix arrow*

Unable to dodge in time she used all her mana she cast a defensive magic barrier that helped block the attack. After the attack was dealt with she saw K's tired body language as he tried to catch his breath

She rushes at him with everything she has left, K uses many other spells to try and stop her but fails.

When she got close using all her strength she struck him in the chest, K using Davis body let go of his tiring act and swiftly shifted her body out of the way with a nonchalant smile K struck at her wrist making her drop her sword

Before the sword hit the ground Rachel's other hand grabbed onto the blade handle and with a smooth spin of her body the sword came at K and was stopped before it reached K's neck

K laughs at her desperate last move before leaning close and saying, “I win”

She noticed that the tip of the blade was stopped by a small barrier made especially to stop her blade, turning around she saw multiple lightning spheres hovering behind her

Recognizing her loss Rachel reluctantly surrendered making it K's victory by default.

Professor Wuldor walked up the stage and announced K's victory making the crowd cheer once again

Walking off stage Davis scolded him for his recklessness, K giggled at his yapping and asked, “You didn’t notice why I did it did you?”

Letting out a sigh of disappointment K started his explanation, “During our battle most of her attacks are focused on her blade and her aura. She focused more on learning and advancing her swordsmanship skill making her magical ability fall behind so not willing to let it go to waste she only learned a magic spell that helped improve her body as well as a defensive barrier”

K's words were imbued with wisdom, each piece of advice rooted in a deep understanding and insight, “I use most of my attack to drain her of her mana, and by acting like I’m tired and out of breath, I made her drop her caution and got her to come at me with all she got”

While Rachel was blindsided by the phoenix arrow spell K used his chance to cast a few lightning sphere spells that would be activated once he gave the signal, normally a low-level attack like that wouldn't work on Rachel since she could just cast a barrier.

But because K drained her of all her mana she is no longer able to be protected from the attack, and she was also out of breath and couldn’t muster up any more strength she wouldn’t be able to continue even if she were to survive another attack after the lightning magic spell

All Rachel could do at that moment was to surrender.

Davis was gobsmacked, he never would’ve come up with such a plan, and hearing K's explanation gave him a sense of self-doubt

“I couldn’t even see that, and I wanted to be the strongest mage in the continent,” Davis with a doubtful eye said

K realizing what going on reassured him with a smile, “Isn’t that why I’m here? Don’t worry I’ll make sure that your dream comes true”

As the two were talking the announcer started to announce the next pair's name causing an uproar in the stadium

Aaron and Kane walk up on stage, and finally, their long year of rivalry comes to a test.

Hearing the name K smiled delightfully as he mumbled, “Let's see who’d win… Shall we?”

K watched from the side as the 2 rivals stared each other down with savagery and conviction to prove a point.

And before long the battle between the sword and magic begins.