Chapter 20: 1ST VICTORY

Then, with a simple motion, Lilith raised her hand to chest level and slashed it forward like a sword. A wind blade tore through the air with a sharp swoosh, shooting toward Hendrick like a bullet.

Hendrick stopped in his tracks, intercepting the blade with his sword. But before he could even react, three lightning spikes erupted from the ground, converging toward him in a pyramid formation.

“Whoa! Did you see that? The Starwind brat is using both air and lightning magic one after another so fast — flawlessly!”

“Yeah, man. Hendrick’s facing a beast in a child’s body. She’s only twelve and already Tier Two in all four affinities. Even Zephyr pales in comparison!”

Hendrick barely dodged the spikes, but one grazed his thigh. Blood spurted out, staining the arena floor.

He hadn’t even reached Lilith yet and was already panting, injured and rattled.

Up in the balcony, Noah Starwind watched with a calm expression. While he often wished his daughter would learn some manners, he couldn’t hide the pride in his eyes.

“Damn that brat…” Hendrick spat on the ground, his pride wounded. Being pushed back by a junior—it was humiliating.

“You’ve got strength, kid. I misjudged you,” he growled. “But this is as far as you go.”

With that, he raised his hand. Lightning crackled into the sky, then crashed down toward Lilith like a raging storm.

Lilith dodged effortlessly, gliding through the attacks like a leaf in the wind.

Then came the fireballs—launched directly from Hendrick’s sword.

“Double casting!” a spectator gasped.

The crowd erupted in awe. Whether it was Lilith or Hendrick, the speed, precision, and strategy of their spellcasting was thrilling to watch.

Lilith swatted away the fireballs with small air bombs, deflecting them easily. She continued to dodge lightning strikes as if she were simply enjoying a stroll in the park.

Despite Hendrick’s continuous dual-element attacks, she hadn’t even broken a sweat. He, on the other hand, was drenched in it—his breathing ragged, his face tense.

Finally, Lilith let out a sigh.

“Boring…”

Not because she was overwhelmed—but because it was all too easy. No thrill. No challenge. Just a waste of her time.

With a sudden surge of power, she dashed forward, a spinning vortex of lightning forming in her hand like a miniature sparkling sun.

Hendrick moved to dodge—but too late. Invisible air walls shot up, boxing him in on three sides. Only the front remained open.

Trapped.

Before he could even formulate a counterattack, Lilith’s lightning hand slammed square into his chest.

BOOM.

The explosion blasted Hendrick backward, smashing through the air walls and launching him out of the ring entirely.

“WOOOAAHHHH!!!”

The crowd went wild.

“Winner: Lilith Starwind!” the referee declared, his voice booming across the stadium.

In the second-floor balcony, both of Lilith’s parents smiled—relieved and proud. But their smiles were tinged with unease. Lilith was strong—no doubt. But her attitude was becoming dangerously overbearing.

Lilith stepped down from the stage with a calm, almost indifferent expression. As if nothing major had happened.

From his seat, Logan observed silently. The girl was his age… yet she moved and fought like a seasoned mage. She was, without a doubt, a prodigy.

The other competitors grew noticeably tense. Only Zephyr Albrecht and Prince Rowan maintained calm expressions—unfazed, perhaps even amused.

From the commentary box, the next names were announced:

“Next match, Stage one: Jack Eldros vs Cicilia Wales !”

The match started and continued for a long time before Cicilia Wales came down from the stage victorious.

The platform lit up once more as the announcer’s voice echoed across the arena:

“Next match on Stage Two—Darius Smith of House Smith vs. Michael Thomson of the Thunder Vale Academy!”

The crowd stirred with excitement. Darius was among the top favorites and also carried the prestige of the Smith family. His opponent, Michael, was less known but hailed from a reputable academy known for producing aggressive duelists.

“I’ve heard that Darius has three affinities,” someone whispered.

“Yeah—Fire, Air, and Gravity. Pretty rare combo.”

“But he’s still no match for Zephyr or Lilith, right?”

“Still, he’s not to be underestimated. The Smiths don’t send weaklings to the Young Elite Competition.”

Darius walked onto the stage with calm confidence, his deep blue cloak fluttering behind him. He spared a brief glance at the crowd, then turned his gaze to his opponent.

Michael Thomson was broader in build, with gauntlets glowing with crackling energy—likely enchanted with lightning augmentation. He cracked his neck, grinned, and raised his fists.

“I’ve heard about you, Smith boy. Let’s see if the rumors are worth anything.”

Darius didn’t respond. He simply took a stance, fingers twitching lightly, mana gathering subtly around him.

“READY!”

“THREE… TWO… ONE… BEGIN!”

Michael charged first, lightning trailing behind him in arcs as he dashed forward like a thunderbolt.

“Whoa, he’s fast!”

“He’s enhancing his legs with lightning magic—classic Thunder Vale style!”

But just as Michael reached striking distance, Darius calmly raised one hand—and a sharp gust of wind blasted forward. The air current twisted into a slicing arc, catching Michael mid-stride and forcing him to veer off.

“Air magic! Nice timing!”

“Darius just deflected his momentum!”

Michael rebounded quickly, swinging a fist crackling with electricity. Darius ducked under it, his palm lighting with crimson flames. He released a burst of fire point-blank, sending Michael skidding back.

“He’s already used two elements—air and fire! That control…”

Michael wasn’t out yet. With a snarl, he slammed his fists into the ground. A shockwave of lightning spread out in all directions, dancing across the arena floor.

Darius jumped back, flipping lightly in the air—then, without warning, raised both hands and clenched them into fists.

Suddenly, the gravity around Michael intensified. The ground beneath his feet cracked.

“What the—? He’s using gravity magic!”

“Michael’s movements are slowing!”

“He’s forcing pressure down on him!”

Michael strained, his limbs growing sluggish under the weight. But with a shout, he pushed through it, sending lightning bolts flying wildly toward Darius.

The crowd gasped as one of them grazed Darius’s shoulder, singing the fabric of his cloak.

“He landed a hit!”

“Finally, Darius isn’t invincible after all!”

Darius stared at the burn mark, expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he exhaled—and the temperature around him began to rise.

He raised his hand. A spiraling vortex of fire and air formed above his palm, swirling faster and faster.

“He’s combining elements!”

“That’s an advanced casting technique!”

“A fire cyclone! Watch out!”

Michael’s eyes widened. He crossed his arms and summoned a barrier of crackling lightning—but the moment the cyclone slammed into him, it tore through the shield with explosive force.

BOOM!

Smoke clouded the stage as flames burst upward. The crowd leaned forward.

“Did he get knocked out?”

“No way he’s still standing after that…”

As the smoke cleared, Michael lay sprawled near the edge of the ring, chest heaving, gauntlets cracked. He groaned, trying to rise—but collapsed again.

Darius stood a few meters away, barely breathing hard.

“Winner—Darius Smith!” the referee declared.

The audience roared, though a few murmurs lingered.

“He’s strong, but…”

“Did you see how he kept calm the whole time? Cold as ice.”

“He’s definitely a contender… but I don’t think he’s showed everything yet.”

High in the viewing box, Kael narrowed his eyes.

“Still holding back, huh?” he muttered.

Logan, seated with arms folded, said nothing—but his gaze lingered on Darius for a moment before drifting back to the center of the arena.

Darius left the stage, passing the still-unconscious Michael without a glance. Though his expression remained composed, there was a faint glimmer of pride in his eyes.

“That’s one win,” he thought.

“And soon… I’ll show them who truly deserves to lead the Smiths.”

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