****
Author's Note:
Knights improve physical body at novice stage as described in chapter 29. Here is a breakdown by stages:
- Flesh strengthening - first and second stages
- Viscera strengthening - third and fourth stages
- Muscle strengthening - fifth and sixth stages
- Bones strengthening - seventh - peak novice
****
"Max! Are you ready for the fight? This guy is pretty strong. He is at the peak of second stage knight and wields a family battle technique. I heard that he can send shockwaves with each punch, penetrating any armor he lands a punch on. If hit, your internal organs would be injured, maybe some will burst. His last opponent was healing for two weeks!" Asked Oliver with a slight concern shown on his face.
"I heard that from someone already. But don't worry, think of me as a cockroach. I am unkillable." Laughed Max while saying that. "Wait, that does not sound right. Oliver, forget what I just said. But thank you for checking up on me.
I might not have yet learned any battle techniques, but I am pretty good at using my staff and if worse comes to worst, who can outrun me with my wind element?"
"Sigh, did you already forget about Patricia? She has a lightning element and is a few times faster than you, with the disparity in speed only growing in the future." Calmly said Oliver, not wanting to see his friend shoot himself in the foot.
"Oliver, whose side are you on?" Asked Max with his eye twitching, clearly annoyed.
'If only you knew that I have a light element affinity, hehe, you would not be making this comment now. Just you wait, I will be traveling at the speed of light in the future, and I will ignore your requests to bring you with me.' Silently thought Max to himself.
....
Today was the day of the top 16 matches.
The academy was bathed in the golden hue of a perfect mid-spring day. A warm breeze hummed through the bustling campus, playfully rustling leaves and fluttering banners, carrying the fresh scent of blooming flowers and the faint hints of distant sea. The sun, a radiant orb in a cloudless azure sky, cast its benevolent light over the eager students, chasing away the last vestiges of winter. It was as if nature itself was a silent audience, eagerly anticipating the day's events.
Amidst this idyllic scene, the atmosphere within the grand arena was palpable, charged with nervous energy and high expectations. The remaining sixteen participants stood tall, each a beacon of talent and resilience, representing the best the academy had to offer. Yet, in this elite cohort, one figure stood out conspicuously - Max, the sole first-year student to have made it this far.
It was indeed a remarkable achievement. Every other participant hailed from either the third or fourth years, each bearing the fruits of their rigorous training and innate talent. Furthermore, each of these contestants boasted a significant background - children of noble families, scions of powerful clans, and prodigies from renowned sects. Their privileged upbringing and the resources at their disposal had provided them with a distinct head start in their journey of magic and combat, thereby explaining their presence in the top 16.
Max, however, stood as an exception to this rule. Despite being a first-year student and lacking the robust background of his peers, his talent, perseverance, and sheer determination had seen him overcome odds, even besting students far more experienced than him. The fact that he stood among these esteemed peers, ready to compete in the top 16, was testament to his extraordinary capabilities and unwavering resolve.
Among the top 16, three contestants in particular drew everyone's attention. Each of them was victorious in their respective bouts, demonstrating immense power that left their competitors in the dust, marking them as favorites among the buzzing student crowd.
First on the list was Alaric, the scion of the renowned Vance clan known for their formidable earth-based magic. In his match, he stood like an immovable mountain against his opponent, who was a skilled user of fire magic.
The flames licked at Alaric, trying to consume him, but his connection to the earth made him invulnerable. It was as though the earth itself was lending its resilience to Alaric.
With a swift movement, Alaric manipulated the earth beneath his opponent, transforming the smooth battleground into a jagged terrain. The sudden upheaval caught his adversary off-guard, and Alaric seized the opportunity to launch a massive rock spear, defeating his opponent.
His absolute command over earth magic elicited gasps of awe from the spectators, marking him as a potential champion in their conversations.
Next was the graceful Lady Giselle, the only daughter of Earl Montrose, renowned for her mastery over ice magic - a superior evolution and control of the water element.
Giselle was an ethereal vision on the battlefield, her body surrounded by a chilly aura, each movement elegant and precise. Her opponent, a wind mage, tried to offset her rhythm, but the more he attacked, the colder Giselle's aura seemed to grow.
With a gentle wave of her hand, she conjured an intense blizzard that swirled around her adversary, turning his wind magic against him, stirring it into a storm of her own making. Amidst the storm, she formed a spear of ice that glittered ominously. With a swift, balletic motion, she launched it through the gusty defenses of her opponent, leading to her victory.
Her flawless performance amidst the battlefield left the audience spellbound, her name echoing in whispers as a prospective winner. The chill in the air, left behind by her magic, served as a cold reminder of her chillingly beautiful power.
Finally, there was the enigmatic Zephyr, a third-year student whose background was shrouded in mystery. Unlike the others, his affinity wasn't tied to any single element, but instead, he demonstrated impressive control over multiple elements, giving credence to the rumor that he was a prodigy of a forgotten bloodline.
Zephyr's fight was against a second-stage knight, however, Zephyr manipulated the elements with such ease and versatility that his opponent was left scrambling to keep up. With swift transitions between water, fire, and wind magic, he disoriented his adversary before dealing a decisive blow, securing his victory.
The crowd watched in awe as he dismantled his opponent with an air of nonchalance, his prowess sparking intense speculation among the students.
Whispers of wagers and conjectures fluttered around the academy, each student trying to predict the top three. Alaric, with his strong clan background, Lady Giselle, the Earl's talented daughter, and Zephyr, the prodigy, were their unanimous choices. Their impressive victories and backgrounds certainly positioned them as the favorites to claim the champion title.
And then, it was Max's turn. His opponent was a peak second stage knight, resolute and imposing. The knight, identified as Frederick, was a hulking figure, albeit radiating a calm aura.
The power of his family's battle technique, known as 'Piercing Fist', was a force to be reckoned with. It created extremely fast vibrations around fists, therefore strengthening the punches and making them extremely penetrative. As the fight began, Frederick wasted no time, launching himself at Max with an incredible speed, his fist aimed directly at Max's chest.
In response, Max summoned a wind barrier, his control over the element evident in the whirlwind's precise movements. But Frederick's attack was too powerful, his shockwave punches not only broke through Max's barrier but also sent him flying backwards, crashing onto the edge of the battlefield.
The crowd gasped in shock as Max staggered up, spitting blood, the impact of the punch evident in his bruised form. Laughter echoed from Frederick's corner as he proclaimed, "Give up, first-year. You don't belong here. My punch has already damaged your internal organs, so just give up and seek treatment."
In that moment, something within Max steeled. His eyes glowed with an unyielding spirit, his determination palpable. 'No,' he thought, 'I will not back down.'
Without a word, Max stopped holding back, a sudden burst of brilliant light radiating from him, indicating his true power - a third stage mage. The sudden revelation stunned the spectators into silence, their eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
No first-year student was expected to reach this stage so early, not even those from the prestigious backgrounds. Yet, here Max was, standing in front of everyone, results of his hard training and high talent evident.
"Max... He... He is a third stage mage?" The murmurs rippled through the crowd, especially the rest of first years, the surprise evident in their voices. Many of them had underestimated Max due to his lowly background and age. But now, his sudden revelation demanded their respect and acknowledgment.
Seeing the change in Max, Frederick's previously confident expression faltered. However, he quickly composed himself, "So what, you are no match!"
Max didn't reply, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's. With renewed vigor, he leaped into action. He waved his staff, summoning a gust of wind so powerful that it kicked up dust from the battlefield, obscuring the sight.
Then, in quick succession, Max cast spells at a rapid pace that left everyone in awe. He unleashed a barrage of wind blades, each more powerful than the last, then followed it with a high-speed rush, propelling himself with the wind at his back. Frederick tried to resist, but the attacks were too swift, too relentless.
With a final surge of wind, Max slammed into Frederick, his staff aimed at the knight's chest. There was a moment of silence, then Frederick was thrown back, tumbling across the field before crashing onto the ground.
The battlefield fell silent for a moment before the audience erupted in cheers and gasps of astonishment.