In the exciting atmosphere of the academy, the announcement of the Magic Tournament sparked great interest among students from every year. It was an epic event, an opportunity to put our skills to the test and prove who was truly the strongest among us. The excitement was palpable in the air as we prepared to participate in this competition.

The news spread quickly, and the school was filled with preparations and training. Everyone wanted to showcase their worth and earn a prestigious spot in the academy's ranking. I was no exception. It was my chance to demonstrate how much I had grown as an adventurer and how powerful my bond with Argenius was, especially since I decided to enhance my familiar with my dark affinity.

The day of the tournament had arrived, and the arena was packed with students and spectators, all ready to cheer for their favorites. As I made my way to the arena, I observed the other participants with respect and curiosity. There were students from every year, each with different combat styles and abilities. It was a fascinating competition, full of surprises.

The atmosphere in the academy is electrifying as the Tournament to determine the ranking of the strongest is about to begin. Students from all years can participate, and there is fierce competition among them to showcase their magical abilities.

Ryu and I prepare for the battle with determination. Each of us has gained significant experience in monster hunting and improved our skills thanks to our familiars. We know that the competition will be tough, but we are ready to face it.

Finally, after three battles, I have to face an opponent at my level, Ryu. We will face each other in the arena to find out who is the stronger.

Damien: (focused) We've become stronger since we entered the academy, Ryu. Show me what you've learned with your Terragolem!

Ryu: (smiling) I will, Damien. But I know you've improved your skills with your dark skeleton too!

The battle begins. I use my familiar, Argenius, to launch powerful physical attacks against Ryu's mighty Terragolem while preparing some spells. The ground trembles with every blow, but Ryu's familiar stands firm without any effort.

Ryu: (determined) You tickle me with your dark familiar, Damien. My Terragolem is ready to challenge you!

Ryu's Terragolem attacks with brute force, trying to overpower my skeleton. However, Argenius and I are agile, skillfully dodging the Terragolem's strikes and counterattacking with precision.

The battle is intense, but it ends in a draw. I didn't have enough strength for a decisive attack, and the Terragolem wasn't fast enough to catch me.

Ryu: (smiling) It's time to get serious. Damien: Ready to be beaten by me.

Our swords clash in the air. Thanks to Evelyna, I have become quite skilled, but Ryu has much more experience than me. I manage to hold my ground, but in the end, Ryu wins. My climb in the ranking stops, and I'm disappointed with the result. With over 20 thousand students at the academy, only 3000 are participating in the ranking. With just 3 victories, I am at the bottom of the leaderboard.

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The atmosphere in the arena is charged with excitement as the battle between Evelyna and Serena is about to begin. Both students are talented and determined to showcase their magical abilities. Evelyna has an affinity for the element of water, while Serena specializes in using fire magic.

Evelyna: (concentrata) Serena, I'm ready for this fight. Show me what you've learned!

Serena: (smiling confidently) It'll be an honor to showcase my abilities against you, Evelyna.

The two girls face each other, and the arena fills with a magical aura. Evelyna makes a gesture with her hand, and a jet of water rises from the ground, surrounding her familiar, a graceful Naiad, who prepares to fight.

Serena responds with a fiery spell, summoning dancing flames around her familiar, a small Fire Dragon, ready to display its power.

The battle begins with a duel of spells. Evelyna casts water jets against the Fire Dragon, trying to extinguish its flames. Serena, with great skill, guides the Dragon through Evelyna's defenses, launching fireballs at the Naiad.

Evelyna: (concentrated) I must use my ability to manipulate water to my advantage!

Evelyna flows her mana with greater intensity, forming a huge water wave that crashes down on the Fire Dragon. The flames are extinguished, and Serena must focus on protecting her familiar from Evelyna's powerful attack.

Serena: (determined) If you want to play with water, let's see how you react to fire!

Serena conjures a vortex of fire that swirls around the arena, approaching Evelyna and the Naiad. Evelyna responds by creating a water shield to protect her familiar from the flames. The battle is intense, and the two girls demonstrate exceptional magical skill.

The familiars move with grace and agility, dodging enemy attacks and counterattacking with power. The arena is enveloped in a mix of fire and water, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

Evelyna: (determined) I won't give up, Serena!

Evelyna focuses her mana, creating a compressed water sphere. With a precise strike, she launches it at Serena and the Fire Dragon. Serena, ready and quick, responds with a powerful fire sphere that clashes with Evelyna's attack.

The two magical forces clash, creating an explosion of steam. When the smoke clears, Evelyna and Serena are both tired but smiling.

Serena: (smiling) You're really skilled, Evelyna. It was an exciting battle!

Evelyna: (smiling) Thank you, Serena. You're amazing with fire magic too.

The fight ends with Evelyna's victory, and the two girls shake hands as a sign of respect and friendship. Evelyna hasn't even used her strongest ability; she is a master of swordsmanship, but not many people know that she can use it to her advantage.

The tournament continues with battles that shake the academy. Even though the students are young and inexperienced, they have a talent that will allow them to face the abyssal monsters.

The tournament is over, and the ranking shows who the strongest students in the academy are. Among the top 100, there are naturally students of rank C and B, but Adam, Evelyna, and Serena are all first-year students and have still made their way into the top 200 with their talent.

The prizes for the top 10 are the most coveted, as they include the Aura Potion, which allows them to unlock the aura—a power that can only be acquired with years of training. The prizes for the top 100 are potions that permanently increase mana, while the top 200 receive a consolation prize of 1000 dollars.

And so, the first year comes to an end. I've made new friends and discovered my potential and talent. I can't wait to see what the future holds for me.