Chapter 196: [196] Duel With A Second Class Mage

The magic tower’s dueling arena was filled to the brim with over a hundred mages. The arena was often used for official duels, or for testing the younger mages, but today, it was being used for another purpose.

This made it a lot more appealing.

The news of the elf that had disrespected the tower’s rising star, Tiberius, had spread through the tower like wildfire.

As the gossip moved from one mouth to the other, the story twisted until it became so juicy that there were even first class mages in attendance.

“Senior, is that the elf?” one of the novice mages asked as he settled into his chair.

The first class mage sitting next to him nodded, his hands folded across his chest as he watched the stage.

“Fighting a second class mage on your first day. And not just any second class mage…”

The novice mage stared intently at her opponent, then suddenly straightened. “Wait, that is Ariel, isn’t it?!”

The first class mage nodded. Ariel was a mage who had risen from novice to second class mage in the space of a year. An impressive feat even among prodigies.

“Any chance the wood elf, Artie, right? Any chance she will pull off an upset?” the junior mage asked.

His senior shook his head. “Ariel’s innate magic is flight. She is called the terror of the skies for a reason.”

Down on the stage, Tiberius gave Ariel a cold, disgusted stare. “Do you hear that? All these people sing your praises.”

He raised a brow. “Oh? I guess you can’t, considering your… makeup.”

“It’s funny, isn’t it?”

“A mistake such as you can still gain recognition.” He shrugged. “It must be the high elven blood in your veins, corrupted as it is, superiority will always shine forth.”

Ariel’s facial expression faltered, but she kept her head bowed low.

“You know what to do, don’t you?”

“Yes, master,” she said in a low tone. “I’ll kill her in a way that looks like a mistake.”

“Good girl.” Tiberius grabbed her jaw roughly and lifted her head to face him, a wide grin plastered on his face.

“At least unlike her, you know your place. A slave must know how to keep her head low.”

“What is going on here?” a silky smooth voice suddenly reached Tiberius’s ears, causing his back to straighten involuntarily.

A man walked onto the stage with the grace of a noble.

He was wearing a wine-coloured cloak highlighted by golden threads, his black hair had streaks of red intertwined with it, and his calm, brown eyes were filled with untold intelligence.

A Grand Mage.

Humans with great magic power tended to live longer lives. So although the man in front of Tiberius looked to be in his forties, in truth, he was over two hundred years old.

The entire arena became deathly silent the moment they noticed him.

The difference in power between the ranks of the tower was already vast. But the higher you climbed up in the ranks, the greater that gap increased.

As strong as he was, Tiberius was no match for that man. They weren’t even on the same playing field.

’What is Azarath doing here?’ he thought.

“Good morning, Grand Mage.” Tiberius bowed his head as much as his pride would allow.

“Not an answer to my question, but I guess greetings are in order.” Tiberius glanced at Ariel before fixing his gaze on the stage.

Tiberius smiled, then turned to face the stage, speaking in a calm tone.

“Grand Mage, the woman you see through her actions dared to insult the tower. I organized this duel to showcase just how powerful the tower is and punish her insolence.”

The Grand Mage laughed dryly. “So basically, you are trying to settle a petty feud you have with a newcomer?”

Tiberius stiffened a bit.

“The matter of your racial bigotry does not bother me in the slightest, Tiberius. I am a bit of a bigot myself, to be honest.”

“Dwarves, those short, dirty creatures.” Azarath frowned. “I can’t stand them, you know?”

He tapped Tiberius’ shoulder.

“Just make sure you do not shame our tower while dealing with your petty squabbles.”

Then he paused, his voice growing cold as a crazed look flashed on his face.

“Or there will be consequences.”

<•••>

Ariel stepped up to the stage, the words of her master ringing loudly in her head.

Kill her.

Her magic staff trembled in her hands, and she pulled her witch’s hat down a bit to cover her face.

She could not let anyone see the look on her face. She could not let them know that she was scared.

She was not afraid of the woman in front of her. Artie was at second class level at best, and most of her peers could hardly measure up to her.

But Ariel had never killed anyone before. Yet, as she walked to the center of the stage, she knew she had no choice.

It was kill or suffer an excruciatingly painful death. Her mind went back to a memory from the past, and she visibly trembled.

She was not the only half-elf in the past. Originally, there were three. Now all she had were the memories. The screams that she could not wipe from her mind.

“You know you don’t have to listen to him, right?” Artie’s voice brought Ariel out of her memories.

Ariel swallowed. “Easy for you to say.”

“Surrender and join me. I can’t protect you, but I know someone strong enough to.”

She shrugged. “Thankfully, he is kind to a fault, I’m sure he’ll have no problems.”

The half elf chuckled quietly. Artie was only able to talk like this because she had not seen how strong Tiberius truly was.

“I’ll pass. I’m sorry, Artie.”

Artie nodded. Strangely, even though she was the one that should be pitied, considering the unfair matchup, she looked oddly concerned for Ariel.

At the center of the stage, three magic orbs rose to the sky, the wind magic gently blowing underneath them.

Click—!

The first light, a dull amber, glowed.

’She uses lightning while I use wind.’

They were both ranged fighters, but lightning was far faster than wind. Ariel would have to dominate her using the air and strike her from her weak points.

Click—!

The second light, ocean blue, glowed.

Even first class mages found it hard to keep up with her barrage once she was airborne.

’This fight won’t take five minutes.’

Click—!

The moment the final light, violet, glowed, Artie unleashed a large burst of lightning in her direction.

Ariel released a burst of wind, blasting herself into the air, the lightning cutting past her. Before she could fall, she placed her staff between her legs, sitting atop it just before zooming through the air.

The arena around her blurred into flashing images as she cut through the wind like an arrow.

The crowd went wild, cheers roaring through the space.

Btzzzzz!

Lightning suddenly surged towards her, tearing through the space right above her head. Down on the floor, Artie had a calm gaze on her face as she pointed her staff in Ariel’s direction, mapping her path.

’So she can keep up? Not bad.’

Lightning tore through the sky, exploding against the invisible barrier protecting the crowd.

Ariel performed several impressive manoeuvres in the air, all of them too close for comfort.

’How is she this good at aiming?!’

It was almost as if she was fighting an archer instead of a mage.

She dropped down, zooming close to the floor when lightning pounded into the space right in front of her.

Everything slowed. Ariel’s eyes widened.

She could see the large chunks of rock as well as wisps of lightning cutting towards her, the dust that had shot up into the sky, obstructing her vision, the strands of hair that rushed towards her face as she desperately tried to stop….

[Wind Shield!]

A light green wall appeared in front of her, but barely in time.

Some of the rocks that had gone through sliced through her cheek, while another pounded into her shoulder, making her nearly fall off her staff.

’Damn it!’ Ariel gritted her teeth just as another gigantic streak of lightning cut past her.

She was meant to attack, but Artie was striking so fast and accurately that she had to put all her focus into dodging.

Her plan wasn’t working… it was time to try something else.

’I need to get close.’

Artie’s attacks were so explosive that she could not possibly risk using them at close range.

But Ariel, on the other hand, had perfect command of her element. She could use it to both defend and attack!

Now all she had to do was wait for her to cease her fire. Artie was not a machine, it was impossible to keep up the barrage for so long.

And just like Ariel had predicted, not long after, the cries of thunder ceased.

She stopped midair as Artie paused her barrage for the first time, then she sucked in a large breath.

[Sky Rain]

Multiple magical orbs appeared in the air behind her, and then wind arrows tore towards Artie like a hailstorm.

Artie dashed from place to place, dodging a number of them and creating shields to block those she couldn’t dodge.

[Speed Boost] [Wind Surge] Ariel summoned her spells.

The back of her staff glowed a vibrant green. The air compressed around one point, and then all at once, the entire magic was released with a thunderclap that for a second drowned all sounds in the room.

VWOOOSH!

While Artie was busy evading the strikes, a nonchalant look on her face, Ariel cut right towards her like a comet.

Swooosh!

In the space of a second, Ariel appeared right next to Artie. The tip of her staff was glowing as wild currents circled it, about to unleash a devastating attack, when—

“Lightning’s Grace,” Artie said coldly.

Her body was immediately coated with vibrant white lightning that seeped into her skin.

Ariel’s eyes widened. ’A trap?!’

The opening that she saw.

It had been a lure.

She expected some sort of hidden spell to smite her from above, but to her surprise, Artie dropped her staff.

?!?!

She grabbed Ariel’s staff, shoving it to the side with ease. The half elf was no match for her in strength.

Then to the shock of everyone present, Artie drew her hand back, just before she drove her electrified fist right towards Ariel’s gut.

Ariel immediately formed a shield around her stomach, but Artie’s empowered first tore right through it.

Bang!

Ariel felt her insides twist. Currents raced through her body, stunning her, just before she was sent slamming into the opposite wall, crumpling to the ground like a broken doll.

The entire hall grew quiet.

— Did… she just beat Ariel?

Someone’s whisper cut through the silent hall.

Standing at the highest point of the arena, a man stared down at Artie with a dark look in his eyes.

The Grand Mage, Azarath, bit his finger, drawing blood.

An unregistered mage beating one of their rising stars? Even if she was a student, there was an order to things, a natural law that must be respected.

And Azarath sorely hated when things were out of order.

Blood flowed down his lip as he breathed out calmly.

“Ahh… How unsightly.”

As Azarath licked the blood off his lips, his calm brown eyes morphed to blood red.

Down in the arena, Tiberius suddenly felt a chill and raised his gaze to meet the Grand Mage’s, drawn by the murderous aura he had sensed.

When he met his gaze, it was as though he was in the presence of a ravenous beast.

“Fix this.”

Even from this distance, Tiberius could hear him loud and clear.

They were not physical words. They were intent, forced right into his mind.

..

A/N

As funny as it sounds, I actually had more content for this Chapter. But it was alredy too long T^T

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