Kael had won.
As Ethan slumped bonelessly to the ground, victory crystallized. The arena still shimmered with residual magic—flames licking at frost-encrusted stones, the duel's aftermath casting every spectator's awe or dismay in sharp relief.
"Remarkable. A breakthrough born of desperation?" Austin murmured, the first to rise. His solitary claps multiplied as the crowd followed, applause sparse as raindrops before swelling into thunderous acclaim.
"Unbelievable! That final composite spell—perfection!" A veteran mage glared at Ethan, who lay motionless nearby. "Damn you, Ethan! Hoarding such a gem of a disciple!" Had they known Kael's potential earlier, every academy would have fought to claim him.
Composite magic. For a newly minted Level 7 mage to wield it with such proficiency—not mastery, but undeniable fluency—defied convention. Most only grasped such techniques on the cusp of becoming Archmages.
Yet there Ethan lay, grinning shamelessly as ever, the old rogue reveling in his pupil's triumph.
Kael stood at the epicenter of the Magic Academy's roaring jubilation. For years, Ethan had been their immovable mountain—three consecutive victories at the Arcane-Martial Tournament, three years of the Magic Academy's decline. Students averted their eyes from warrior peers, burdened by inferiority.
Ethan was Yanhua Academy's legend, an unassailable titan since his debut victory. None imagined his reign ending before graduation.
Until Kael.
The Magic Academy's frenzy was justified. This victory wasn't just personal—it toppled the mountain crushing their collective spirit. Three years of bottled frustration erupted in screams that shredded throats. Kael hadn't just won; he'd rewritten history.
Ethan's era had ended. From this day forward, Yanhua's apex belonged to Kael—a new legend had risen.
"Holy hell—they've lost their minds!"
The tidal wave of elated mage students swallowed commentator Vesper mid-sentence and surged toward Kael. A sea of flushed faces encircled the victor before hoisting him skyward.
"Kael! Kael! Kael!"
Chants reverberated as he soared above the crowd.
"Did we… actually win?!" Finn, a rare warrior-academy loyalist to Kael, pinched his arm raw. Pain confirmed reality. Around him, fellow warrior students stood statue-still, faces ashen. Their proximity to Ethan's dominance made the defeat incomprehensible.
How? The invincible Golden Lion, felled?
Yet the evidence lay before them—Ethan motionless, Kael triumphant.
The cacophony intensified. Mage students screamed themselves hoarse, voices fraying into gravelly rasps. Chaos redefined itself.
Among the veteran faculty, Austin exchanged wry smiles with colleagues. Decades of stifling tradition had ruptured into vibrant chaos. Surreal, yet undeniably real.
"Attention." Austin's magically amplified voice sliced through the bedlam. The crowd stilled as if spellbound.
"This year's Arcane-Martial Tournament concludes with an announcement." He paused, ensuring every gaze locked onto him. "Ethan's exceptional performance earns him Yanhua Academy's Merit Medal."
A collective gasp followed. The Medal wasn't mere decoration—it granted access to Yanhua's millennia-hoarded archives, a treasure trove reserved for prodigies marked for greatness. The academy had chosen its next investment.
Austin continued, "Kael, for representing Yanhua Academy in defeating the Nanka Academy exchange team and now claiming first place as a freshman, you are hereby appointed as the Academic Enforcer—empowered to oversee all students' training."
The crowd erupted anew. The Academic Enforcer role was tantamount to a student emperor, wielding authority surpassing even some instructors. Yanhua had left this position vacant for years; even Ethan, at his peak, hadn't earned it. Yet Kael…
Magic Academy students roared with savage glee. Austin departed swiftly, leaving the pandemonium to its course.
Evelyn and fellow Magic Academy mentors exited with knowing smiles. Their faction's resurgence had restored their pride, vindicated at last.
The arena became a jubilant storm. Most warrior students retreated glumly while Kael endured endless airborne tosses, his cheeks flushing at the fervor.
When the frenzy finally subsided, Kael landed, fatigue dulled by potions and residual adrenaline.
"Treat everyone, Kael! You beat Ethan—feast's on you!" Finn bounded over, more exhilarated than the victor himself.
Kael sighed. "Fine."
"Finally! Time to bleed Kael dry!" Finn crowed.
Grace sidled up, eyes gleaming. "I'm joining!" The princess, unaccustomed to such rowdy revelry, looked thrilled.
Kael shrugged. What's one more?
Nearby, Amelia lingered quietly. Kael caught her gaze. "The third-place match is next—you versus Dylan."
For most students and mentors, the Arcane-Martial Tournament had concluded. Only a select few—like Kael—understood the true weight of the top three rankings.
It meant access to the Ancient Relics.
The Sacred Assembly and Sanctum recruited only the elite, and Yanhua Academy's benchmark was clear: this year's tournament finalists.
"Dylan's here, but his injuries aren't fully healed. I should manage," Amelia said with her trademark poise—unchanged since Kael first met her.
Kael spotted Dylan in a corner, pallid but resolute. Though the championship was decided, tradition demanded the third-place match. Most crowds had dispersed, buzzing about Kael's victory, leaving only a sparse audience for Amelia and Dylan's duel.
Vesper announced the bout. Amelia dominated from the start, her strikes precise. Dylan, still favoring his wounded side, faltered. A final sword sweep infused with Aura Burst sealed his defeat.
Amelia had held back—sparing Dylan further harm.
With that, the tournament closed: 1st Kael, 2nd Ethan, 3rd Amelia. The Sacred Assembly's envoys would soon summon them.
Kael, of course, already knew.
Amelia descended the stage, victory effortless.
"Amelia won! Time to celebrate!" Finn whooped. "Kael's buying—and we're hitting the priciest tavern in town!"
"Wait—I thought we agreed on a modest inn?" Kael protested half-heartedly.
Laughter trailed them into the night.