The music of the ballroom swirled around Sho as he continued observing the nobles, their hushed conversations, and careful glances. But suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes turned to Princess Arisa, who raised a hand with an almost mischievous glint in her silver-blue eyes.
"Sho," she said clearly, her voice cutting through the whispers, "I think it's time we see how capable you truly are."
Sho's brow furrowed. See how capable I am?
Before he could respond, Arisa extended her hand gracefully. A small sphere of sparkling blue mana appeared above her palm, swirling with controlled energy. "A mock battle," she announced. "No lethality, just skill and strategy. Are you prepared?"
Sho's mind raced, but his system immediately activated in anticipation. Mana pulsed around him, and the faint glow of his aura shimmered in the ballroom light.
> This isn't just a display… she's testing me, and I need to respond perfectly.
The nobles gasped, forming a wide circle around the two. Sho bowed slightly, respecting her challenge. "I accept, Your Highness."
---
The Battle Begins
Arisa struck first. With a flick of her wrist, the mana sphere exploded into a cascading torrent of arcane energy, rushing toward Sho like a flowing river of light. Sho reacted instinctively, summoning Arc Burst, creating a protective barrier that deflected the energy, the force sending a shockwave across the ballroom floor.
> Her control… precise, almost surgical, Sho thought, analyzing her movements in real-time.
Sho countered with Burst Impact, sending a concentrated beam of energy toward Arisa. She sidestepped with fluid grace, her own mana forming a shield that absorbed most of the attack. A faint smile touched her lips.
"You've improved since the Minotaur battle," she said, almost teasingly, launching a series of quick mana strikes.
Sho dodged and parried, weaving around the spells. She's fast… too fast to predict entirely. Focus on patterns. He began combining his Arc Burst and Burst Impact, experimenting with angles, creating overlapping shockwaves that tested her defenses.
---
Tactical Exchange
The ballroom became a controlled storm of magic — streams of light and energy weaving through the golden halls. Nobles ducked behind pillars, and servants peered nervously from the edges.
Sho analyzed her rhythm. "Her energy… it pulses like a heartbeat. She's reacting, not just attacking. If I can disrupt the timing…"
He released a quick Mana Bind, aiming to slow the flow of her mana. Arisa smirked, flicking a hand, and the bind dissipated harmlessly — a subtle countermeasure Sho had not anticipated.
> She's… anticipating my tactics. Incredible.
Then, Arisa concentrated, forming twin spheres of condensed energy above her palms. With a single graceful motion, she launched them in a spiral, forcing Sho to leap into the air, dodging and weaving through the arcs.
Sho responded by accelerating his movements, mana trailing behind him like streaks of lightning. He dodged, countered, and finally struck the edge of one sphere with a perfectly timed Burst Impact, causing a controlled explosion that illuminated the ballroom in dazzling light.
The crowd gasped, their eyes wide. Nobles whispered: "So young… and so skilled…"
---
Climactic Moment
Arisa and Sho faced each other mid-floor, mana crackling around them like lightning in a storm. Sweat glistened on Sho's forehead, but his mind remained sharp. She's strong… powerful… yet calm. Her movements are almost like the resonance I sensed.
Arisa's voice was calm, commanding: "Show me your strategy, Sho. Not just power."
Sho's eyes narrowed. He summoned all his focus, weaving Arc Burst and Burst Impact in rapid succession, creating overlapping patterns of energy that forced Arisa to adapt continuously. The battle became a test of wits as much as skill.
Arisa laughed softly, exhilarated. "Impressive… you've learned much."
Finally, both stopped, exhausted but smiling, their auras still shimmering faintly. Mana dissipated into sparks as they bowed to each other.
The ballroom erupted in applause. Nobles whispered in awe, amazed at the skill and precision displayed by the young boy and the princess.
> That… was incredible, Sho thought, catching his breath.
She's more powerful than anyone I've faced… and she's testing me for a reason.
Arisa extended a hand to Sho, smiling warmly. "Well done. I see potential… far beyond what I expected. The court will notice you now, not just for heroics, but for your skill and mind."
Sho took her hand and nodded. "Thank you, Your Highness. I will continue to improve."
The crowd continued to cheer, but Sho's mind was already racing, analyzing the fight, her techniques, and the resonance he had glimpsed in her energy.
> This was only a mock battle… but it feels like a warning and an opportunity. I need to be ready for what comes next.
===================================
Sho Ardenthal
Age: 15
Class: Arcane Strategist
Combat Rating: A+
Attributes
HP: 1,480 / 1,500 (took minor fatigue damage during the battle)
MP: 1,180 / 1,200 (used moderate mana during spells and counters)
Strength: 68
Agility: 74
Intelligence: 92
Endurance: 65
Luck: 50
Perception: 80
Mana Control
Current Mana: 98% (slightly improved mana efficiency due to battle experience)
Mana Efficiency: 94% (+2% improvement from combat adaptation)
Mana Flow Precision: Advanced → Advanced+ (slight refinement after controlling mana in high-stress battle)
Mana Storage Capacity: 1,500 units
Overload Resistance: Moderate → Moderate+ (adapted to handle sudden surges in energy from Arisa's attacks)
Skills & Effects
Burst Impact: Mastered timing and precision; +5% damage potential next use
Mana Bind: Can now react faster to enemy spells
Arc Burst: Improved control over AoE radius
Domination Pulse (Hidden, LOCKED): No change, remains locked
Resonance & Growth
Resonance with Arisa: 15% → minor spike from synchronizing energy in battle
Observational Analysis: Improved tactical awareness from combat patterns
Combat Insight: +2 to reaction speed for the next encounter
---
Princess Arisa Varellis — Post Mock Battle Status
Age: 15
Class: Noble Mage
Combat Rating: S+
Attributes
HP: 1,380 / 1,400 (minor fatigue from sustained spellcasting)
MP: 1,320 / 1,350 (moderate mana expenditure)
Strength: 60
Agility: 80
Intelligence: 95
Endurance: 63
Luck: 60
Perception: 88
Mana Control
Current Mana: 99% (slightly improved efficiency after battle adjustments)
Mana Efficiency: 96% → refined after responding to Sho's tactics
Mana Flow Precision: Expert → Expert+ (small growth in adaptive spell control)
Mana Storage Capacity: 1,350 units
Overload Resistance: High
Skills & Effects
Burst Arcana: Improved targeting speed
Mana Shield: Learned to counter multiple high-speed strikes simultaneously
Elemental Stream: AoE control refined
Dragon Resonance (Passive): Slightly enhanced after sensing Sho's unusual mana patterns
Resonance & Growth
Resonance spike with Sho: +2% → minor synchronization effect
Tactical Analysis: Observed Sho's adaptive strategies
Combat Insight: Improved anticipation of young but clever opponents