'Impact Zero'
Seeing the amount of mana in Grark's axe, he decided to face it head-on. Both attacks clashed, causing destruction and tremors all around. Without giving time, Enrico created his fire bow and shot two arrows. Deflecting them with his axe, Grark advanced.
"Impact Magic: Invisible Strike"
An impact hit Enrico's back, but he didn't move and assumed his stance, charging his attack. Grark's axe approached, and Enrico punched with a red glow coming from his hand. Knocked back, Grark kneeled, trying to withstand the blow. He felt his insides aching immensely and was certain that if that attack had been any stronger, his stomach would have had a hole in it—even with his unique ability active.
"Lightning Magic: Electric Magnet"
An attack struck Enrico's shoulder. He knew what that magic was, as it had been used several times throughout history. It was a weak attack, but its true power was to make all lightning spells launched afterward home in directly on him, even if he dodged.
"He learned faster, that's good. Now he just needs some discipline and he'll be a good companion."
Three spears were created and headed toward Enrico. He didn't dodge, as it wouldn't make a difference. Covering his hand with fire, he destroyed all three spears at once with the force of impact. Using the stored momentum, he closed in on Lan, and clenching his fist, he punched him in the face, knocking out three of his teeth.
He knew people like Lan very well—unless they were completely destroyed, they wouldn't stop. Truthfully, he was almost reconsidering wanting him on his side, but he remembered his help in the story and decided to put in a bit more effort.
'If he ever crosses the line, I'll eliminate him.'
Noticing several swords approaching from behind, he decided to ignore them and let them hit because he was going to finish Lan completely now. His fist charged with fire, and a new technique was created by combining Impact Zero with stored momentum—something even stronger.
"Fire Magic: Charged Impact"
At that moment, not only did the hand vanish before everyone's eyes, but the whole arm disappeared. Striking Lan's face, Enrico saw that besides breaking his nose and jaw, Lan's whole face had almost caved in. Lying on the ground with nearly all his teeth broken, he disappeared, eliminated from the battle.
"Earth Impact"
It seemed Enrico wasn't the only one combining abilities. Seeing that, Grark decided to attempt something dangerous for a novice—combining two different magics. As a result, it failed at that very moment.
"Grark, what I combined were two abilities with the same magic, not different ones. How are you going to be my subordinate like this?"
"Sorry, human."
Seeing the two resume fighting, Elowyn decided to prepare the battlefield with some traps using her new golden magic, which could place several explosive traps. Without taking her eyes off them while she worked in secret, she launched multiple swords, spears, and arrows at Enrico.
'I can't let him find out anything.'
Clenching her fists as she saw Enrico dodge her attacks, she couldn't believe it—how had he evolved so much more than her? She couldn't accept that another prodigy had appeared above her. Even though she was one herself, there were still others better than her in the academy, just like the one standing before her.
'I will be the queen who will rule Sanos. I can't lose, especially knowing my father is watching.'
Seeing Grark being thrown into the air, she gathered mana into a single sword, which grew into a four-meter blade. Grark, upon seeing that attack, almost stepped back. Surely, if he weren't an honorable warrior or her ally, he would have fled.
"Golden Magic: Queen's Sword"
Launching her sword at Enrico, she expected the attack to confuse both him and Grark. Quickly creating a bow, Enrico made his strongest attack aimed at the middle of the sword.
"Blazing Titan"
With a spin, that golden sword was pierced, passing close to Elowyn's shoulder, dragging her with its momentum. Grark appeared behind him, but his fire clone grabbed Grark's arms with both hands, struggling to hold him.
Delivering another punch from his stance, Enrico hit Grark's stomach, almost making him vomit. With determination, Grark grabbed Enrico, and Elowyn took advantage—this was part of her plan from the beginning. She had told her subordinates that if Enrico became too strong, one of them would sacrifice themselves to deal as much damage as possible.
"Golden Spear: Piercer Mode"
This was the first technique she had truly created on her own without her father's guidance during the whole month of preparation for this fight. She would show it off for the first time to everyone. The spear had lines running from its tip to its shaft, all in a circular pattern. When thrown, it spun, distorting the air.
A golden explosion of power erupted from the spear before Enrico, surprising him. This technique was very strong—and unlike Lan—she was someone he could never consider eliminating because of her potential, even if he disliked her more than him.
Exploding his body in flames, he unleashed all he had, pushing Grark away and making him let go. Using a different stance, he spun his mana-covered hands in the same direction as the spear's rotation. With great effort, he redirected it upward toward Grark, who, for a moment, thought he would die—if not for disappearing at the last second. The spear pierced the walls before vanishing.
'If Grark was eliminated before it hit him, it was because he would have died.'
With that, Enrico noticed his rank had switched with Grark's on the board, which relieved him. It made sense, and in fact, after this was over, it was very possible he would also take Elowyn's rank, even without eliminating her.
Elowyn was bleeding from her nose, feeling frustrated—this was the first time someone had defeated her in such a way, so she must have felt humiliated. Checking her stats, Enrico saw she was at 98%, just shy of reaching the second circle.
'Let's finish this.'
"He's all yours."
Hearing Elowyn say that, Enrico jumped back, seeing that an explosion was caused only by lightning from the feet of the girl in front of him. It seemed he would now have his true battle—against Danyana Stormclaw, rank 7 of the first year.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Enrico. I hope you're not tired. If you want, I can wait."
Seeing her confident smile, Enrico also smiled confidently. It was time to see if he was at the level of the ten best students of the first year.
"I don't need rest, so you can come whenever you want."
"That's how I like it."
Danyana's smile widened as lightning and wind began swirling nonstop around her. With both of them locking eyes, the battle began in a second, the two vanishing from Elowyn's sight—as well as from Silvia's and Camila's, who had been following the fight from the start. Only Valença, beside them, seemed to know where they were, as she lifted her head, seeing the two exchanging blows above them.