The sun had started to dip below the horizon by the time the final bout came to an end.

The fifth-year students, veterans of the arena, had put on a performance that was nothing short of breathtaking, spells colliding with earth-shaking force, barriers layered over barriers, and students vanishing, and reappearing with extreme speed. But even those incredible displays eventually came to a close.

The massive arena began to settle, as the excited crowd slowly began dispersing, though the buzz in the air still lingered like the aftershock of thunder.

Then, the announcer’s voice rang out once more from above.

“All selected students! Please proceed to the southern gate of the arena and follow the instructors waiting outside.”

Arthur stood from his seat, brushing the dust off his uniform. Finn stretched his arms overhead with a loud groan.

“Finally. I thought my legs would turn into stone.”

“You were just sitting,” Leon said flatly.

“Exactly!” Finn replied. “The battle against boredom is the deadliest of all.”

Arthur and Leon chuckled at Finn’s lame joke. Then they followed the flow of students, eventually stepping out into a vast open field where the golden light of evening bathed the academy grounds in soft amber hues.

The selected students from every year were all gathered now, clumped in small clusters, talking, laughing, comparing battle scars. First years to fifth year, there were nearly a hundred students gathered there.

Arthur scanned the area. Eva and her group were nearby, and further off, Lucas Velorin stood by himself, unmoved by the buzz around him.

Principal Aldric, flanked by several instructors and elders, approached them.

Aldric stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back, his voice carrying across the open space addressing the students.

“Congratulations, all of you,” he began. “You’ve cleared the first round of the Dominion Ring. Today, you fought not just with strength, but with your heart. You displayed the best Velcrest Academy has to offer.”

The students straightened a bit at that, some puffing out their chests, others simply nodding in acknowledgement.

“And now,” the principal continued, “we will move to the real stage. The second and final round of the Dominion Ring, hosted in the capital of Stellara Kingdom.”

There was a moment of stunned silence. Several first years exchanged glances.

“Wait… we’re leaving, now?” someone whispered nearby.

“Dumbass, why do you think they asked us to prepare our luggage before the matches today.” But it was a senior who answered his question.

“Oh…” The previous student replied awkwardly while scratching the back of his head.

“But how are we getting there?” Sophia asked aloud, brows furrowed. “Isn’t Stellara weeks away by carriage?”

Arthur was about to comment when the air suddenly shifted.

A low hum pulsed through the ground, followed by a gust of wind strong enough to ruffle cloaks and send loose dirt swirling into the air.

A shadow started to loom over them.

“Uhh…” Finn looked up. “Guys look up!”

Everyone’s gaze turned skyward even before Finn completed his sentence, and a collective gasp followed soon after.

Hovering silently above them was a colossal airship, easily the size of a castle. Its underbelly gleamed with polished metal etched with glowing blue runes, pulsing softly with mana. Massive wings folded along its sides, shifting with magical propulsion that kept it suspended effortlessly above the field.

“Whoa…” Finn breathed, eyes wide. “Is that… is that a flying fortress!?”

Arthur’s eyes narrowed. It resembled a space shuttle from his world, but it didn’t run on conventional fuel, but instead on mana.

‘So this is magitech,’ he thought, fascinated. ‘This thing is powered using mana as a source. And controlled through rune arrays and embedded enchantments…’ His mind was already racing. ‘I’ll need to get my hands on one of these blueprints.’

He remembered Rhys had provided him with a communication tablet that was created through magitech, but there was only one function so he was unable to gather much data on it. This world’s magitech might not rival Earth’s technology in versatility, but it had its own kind of brilliance. 

Arthur thought, what if he merges the technology from his dimension and magitech here. He got goosebumps thinking that. ‘I need to collect materials on runes and magitech later.’

“First time seeing an airship?” Leon asked, stepping beside him.

Arthur nodded. “Yeah.”

He smirked. “You’ll get used to it.”

With a soft rumble, a ramp extended from the underside of the ship and touched down onto the field with a solid clang.

“Boarding will begin now!” one of the instructors called out. “Move in order by year group!”

They ascended in pairs and small groups, stepping into the open bay. The interior was spacious, lined with mana-lanterns lighting up the place and soft-cushioned benches. Several hallways extended deeper into the vessel, but they were guided toward a large central cabin with high ceilings and reinforced windows that gave a full view of the sky outside.

Once everyone had boarded and found a seat, the ship began to hum louder. A vibration passed through the floor as the engines powered up.

Arthur, Leon, and Finn took a corner bench, settling in beside Eva and her group. The other four first-years sat further down.

The instructor standing near the exit door raised her voice. “The journey to Stellara’s capital will take approximately two hours. Please remain seated and don’t cause trouble. You’ll be briefed on accommodations and further schedules upon landing.”

The door hissed shut, and a low whoosh signaled the ship’s lift-off. The world outside began to shrink.

Finn tapped the window excitedly. “I can see the clouds. We’re flying through clouds! Guys! Are we sure I didn’t fall asleep after the tournament and I’m dreaming all this?”

“Pretty sure you’d be snoring louder,” Leon deadpanned.

Arthur gave a small smile, his eyes still scanning the panels embedded into the walls. He was still mentally dissecting their functions. He tried to use [Technopathy], but it didn’t work. ‘Maybe I need to level up the skill more to control technology created using magitech.’

“I wonder what the next round’s gonna be,” Sophia said, breaking the silence.

“I’ve been wondering that too,” Finn chimed in. “Another battle royale? Or team fights?”

“I hope it’s not a written exam,” Natalya murmured.

Arthur was about to speak when a voice beside them interrupted.

“You guys are first years?”

They turned around and saw a fourth-year student, broad-shouldered with a calm gaze, sitting a few seats away. His uniform had a few scuff marks, and a faint scar ran along his jawline, which made him look rugged.

Leon nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

The older student shrugged. “Just overheard you talking. Figured I’d give you some advice.”

“Go on,” Arthur said.

The fourth-year leaned forward. “There’s no fixed format in the Dominion Ring’s second round. Last time, there were elimination trials, random duels until ten were left standing. And before that, it was a team-based strategy match on simulated terrain.”

Sophia blinked. “So… it could be anything?”

He nodded. “Basically. But one thing’s for sure, they rarely, if ever, make first years fight upperclassmen. There’s too big of a gap to make them fight each other.”

Everyone let out a collective breath.

“Thank god,” Finn sighed, slumping in relief. “I really didn’t want to get roasted by a fifth-year fire mage.”

Arthur, however, sighed for a different reason. He was hoping for a challenge, but it seems not everything would go according to one’s wish.

…

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

The gentle thrum of mana engines had become a steady background rhythm, almost soothing. Finn had dozed off at some point, head tilted sideways onto Leon’s shoulder, mouth slightly open. Leon appeared exasperated but didn’t bother moving him, as everytime he moved his head away, he would again lean on him. So he busied himself watching the skies.

As the ship began to descend, the lights inside the cabin dimmed automatically, revealing a breathtaking view from the wide windows.

Murmur of awe swept through the students as one by one, heads turned to take in the scene outside.

“Whoa…” Sophia exclaimed.

Even Arthur leaned forward slightly, his normally reserved expression softening with curiosity.

Below them lay a massive city, easily over two hundred kilometers in diameter (124.2 miles). From this height, the world looked like a living map, a glowing constellation of roads and buildings. The city thrived with life, the intricate network of magical lamplights outlining boulevards and bridges.

Clusters of buildings spread outward from the city center in layered rings, like ripples from a stone dropped in a pond. The heart of the city rose with majestic grandeur, towering spires, glimmering glass domes, and a magnificent citadel that pierced the sky, the royal palace.

“It’s so… massive,” Natalya whispered.

“Astravelle,” Eva murmured. “The capital of the Stellara kingdom.”

The ship banked slightly as it aligned with its designated landing zone. Arthur could see other ships descending as well, some sleeker, others bulkier, each bearing different colors and academy insignias.

Velcrest’s vessel hovered over a massive field. Already, several other airships had landed, some shaped like birds, others like whales or dragons, depending on the artistic sensibilities of their creators.

Arthur admired their design as they glided to rest, with a soft lurch and a hiss of stabilizing thrusters, their ship touched down.

“Alright, everyone,” an instructor called out. “Gather your things. We’re disembarking.”

Finn jerked awake, blinking. “Are we there yet?”

“You drooled on me,” Leon said dryly.

Finn looked horrified and rubbed at his face. “Lies. This is slander!”

Leon glared at him like he killed his pet and Finn closed his mouth with a zipping motion.

The doors slid open with a hiss, and cool evening air rushed inside. One by one, the students filed out of the ship and stepped onto the landing field.

Arthur looked around. Dozens of students from different academies were pouring out of their ships as well, all wearing various uniforms, some elaborate and bright, others simple and refined. The field buzzed with voices, introductions, and wide-eyed amazement.

They didn’t have much time to linger. The instructors from Velcrest quickly gathered their group and began leading them down a stone-paved road flanked by glowing lanterns lighting the way.

The group marched in relative silence, most still awestruck by their surroundings. The city around them was vibrant even at night, with floating signs, enchanted paintings shifting on walls, and magical musicians playing soft background melodies from rooftops.

Eventually, they reached a grand hotel near the inner ring of the city. It was a sprawling structure made of polished stone and glass, with a carved phoenix spiraling around one of the support pillars.

The lobby inside was even more majestic, with numerous chandeliers, and a massive reception desk made entirely of dark red colored wood.

Their instructor turned to face the group once they were all inside.

“You will be staying here for the remainder of the tournament,” she said clearly. “Your rooms have been assigned. You’ll be able to choose your roommates for now, but any misconduct will result in separation.”

She held up a tablet. “Tomorrow, you are all expected to gather in the reception hall before 6 a.m. sharp. From there we will take you to the briefing grounds, the tournament organizers will announce the format and details of the final round. Don’t be late.”

The group nodded, murmurs of acknowledgment passing through the students.

“For now,” she added, “you are free to rest, explore the city, or do whatever you want, within reason. Don’t pick fights, or cause trouble. Astravelle may be beautiful, but it has eyes everywhere.”

As the instructors began handing out room keys, students split off in smaller groups. Some immediately darted toward the elevators, eager to check out the rooms. Others began plotting a midnight food run.

Arthur turned to Leon and Finn. “Let’s take a room together.”

Leon nodded. “Works for me.”

Finn tossed an arm over both their shoulders. “Boys’ night it is.”

Eva’s group drifted over. “We’re heading out to explore the market district,” she said, glancing between them. “Want to come?”

Arthur glanced up toward one of the ornate clocks embedded into the ceiling. “There’s still time. Let’s settle in first.”

“Your loss,” Sophia said with a wink before they turned and wandered off.

As Arthur received the enchanted keycard to their suite, he couldn’t help but glance out through the lobby’s enormous glass wall.

After freshening up they decided to explore the city’s market.

***

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