Kalem wiped the blade clean, letting the dark blood drip onto the scorched ground. The salamander's body lay limp at his feet, its once-hidden form now fully visible.
He turned the short sword in his hand, observing the glistening, heat-resistant scales. Interesting material. If properly treated, it could make for excellent insulation—or even lightweight armor resistant to extreme temperatures.
But that wasn't what caught his attention.
The creature's blood was still warm.
And then… he heard it.
A faint, rhythmic tapping. Almost like—
Kalem stabbed into the air again.
A moment later, blood sprayed onto his gauntlet, and another salamander collapsed, its cloaking ability failing as it died.
"Hmm. It seems like they can only hide themselves from sight, not from other senses." Kalem sheathed the short sword, glancing down at the second body. Their illusion magic wasn't perfect. He had felt its presence through the subtle vibrations in the air, the faint shifts in heat, and the near-silent footfalls against the rock.
It was a trick of perception, but not true invisibility.
With that settled, he exhaled and turned his attention elsewhere.
The Mountain's Shadow
Kalem's gaze shifted upward, locking onto the peak in the distance. A single mountain loomed at the center of the artificial landscape, its slopes steep and jagged, partially covered in mist.
"I should reach it in some time," he murmured.
It was the only elevated terrain in the region, which made it a tactical stronghold. A perfect vantage point to study the battlefield, assess his competition, and—more importantly—test his new theories.
But there was something else.
Something beneath the surface.
Kalem closed his eyes, stretching his awareness outward, focusing on the currents of mana flowing beneath the battlefield.
The enchantment network had changed.
Dramatically.
He smirked. "Looks like the academy officials really took my interference to heart."
When he had disrupted the first round, it had been far too easy. Their enchantments had been built with stability in mind—but not security. A single, well-placed disruption had been enough to send ripples of instability through the entire battlefield, forcing eliminations en masse.
But now?
Kalem could feel it. The energy had been rerouted, the circuits reinforced.
"They restructured the entire circuit to secure the energy flow from me," he noted, dragging his crate up the rocky incline. A rushed job, but effective enough.
Still, there were cracks.
As he walked, he analyzed the network. The new enchantment matrix was stronger—but also rigid. The more intricate the web, the more difficult it was to modify without causing unintended consequences.
And the academy had done all of this in less than a day.
That alone was impressive.
"Though, I have to give them credit," Kalem mused, pausing to rest on a ledge. "Creating an entire artificial structure with a perfectly balanced energy system is no small feat."
He pulled out a canteen, drinking slowly before leaning back against his crate.
"But this is nothing compared to that."
His mind flickered to the Peak of Ash and Fire.
He had seen true mastery before. The enchantment web beneath Augury's legendary ruins had taken decades to construct, built layer by layer with precision and purpose. Every sigil, every flow of energy, was meticulously placed to ensure seamless interaction.
And yet—
"This was made in a day," Kalem muttered, shaking his head. "They're getting better. But there are always flaws in rushed work."
Testing the Network
Kalem reached a flat section of the mountain, setting down his crate and kneeling.
Just like before, he pressed his palm against the ground, focusing on the energy flow beneath.
The observation team, watching from a projection above the arena, held their breath.
One of the officials tensed. "He's doing it again."
The lead examiner narrowed their eyes. "If he collapses the field a second time, we'll have to—"
Nothing happened.
The mana circuit remained stable.
The tension eased. Some of the officials even sighed in relief.
Kalem, on the other hand, exhaled slowly. As expected.
"They blocked my previous method," he muttered. "But that just means I need to approach it differently."
He sat back on his crate and pulled out a small leather-bound journal.
A true experiment required documentation.
With a charcoal stick, he began writing.
Kalem's Observations - Tournament Round 2
Terrain Composition: The academy's artificial biomes hold together remarkably well. Each section is infused with layered mana veins, ensuring long-term stability. However, the rushed nature of this enchantment network leaves vulnerabilities in high-energy regions (volcanic zones, deep forest roots, and the water biome's depth points).
Monster Behavior: The creatures used in this round exhibit standard aggression patterns, but some—like the salamanders—have unique adaptations. The artificial biomes seem to be interfering with their natural instincts, possibly due to foreign energy saturation.
Enchantment Adjustments: The administrators strengthened the rune network significantly. The previous instability I exploited has been sealed. However, there are redundancies in the power distribution—excess mana pools in certain areas could create localized bursts of instability. Further testing required.
Competitor Activity:
Nara: Unleashed chaos in the volcanic region. Unclear if she has regained control.
Jhaeros: Has not engaged in major battles yet. Possible tracking strategy.
Notable opponents: A few have shown unconventional approaches. One used hallucinogens—alchemy specialist? Must investigate further.
Anomalies: The Chimera's bones were brittle—unnaturally so. Possible external influence. Poison? Experimental augmentation?
Kalem finished writing, closing the book.
Too many unknowns.
He could test the energy pools, but that would take time. For now, it was better to focus on a controlled disruption rather than brute force.
Setting the journal aside, he stretched his fingers.
"Alright," he said to himself. "Let's try something new."
He stood up, turning his gaze toward the peak.
The academy had reinforced their defenses.
Now it was Kalem's turn to push back.