Chapter 77: Chapter 77 : The first years vs the second year prodigies (1)

The Zenith Academy Training Grounds buzzed with tension as the first and second-year top ten cadets assembled under the searing blue sky.

The dueling platforms shimmered under the protective barrier enchantments, ready to witness a storm of talent.

Suddenly, a pink blur dashed forward with the speed of a cheetah toward Ethan. It was Ophelia Sinclair.

Alex recognized her immediately. Ophelia Sinclair, daughter of Duke Augustus Sinclair of House Sinclair, he thought.

One of the villainesses in the game. Beautiful, dangerous, and absolutely obsessed with Ethan Williams.

Because, just like a textbook hero, Ethan had saved her from being kidnapped four years ago.

And after that, well… just like all cliché romantic stories, Ophelia developed a major crush.

That crush had only deepened with time, especially as she saw the number of girls constantly surrounding Ethan—Seraphina, Charlotte, and more.

Jealousy had turned her infatuation into something… obsessive. She had even threatened noble girls trying to get close to Ethan.

And now, she had pounced.

“Ethan!~ I missed you so much!” Ophelia squealed, tackling him with a gleam in her eyes and planting a kiss on his cheek.

Ethan staggered back. “Ophelia, what are you doing?!” His voice was stern, his tone utterly unromantic.

Ophelia pouted, pressing her face against his shoulder. “But I missed you sooo much. I didn’t even get to attend the entrance ceremony! I was on a mission sent by the Academy.”

It was like the world didn’t exist around them. Ophelia only saw Ethan.

“Miss Ophelia,” came a voice like polished ice.

Seraphina stepped between them, her grey eyes narrowed. “You should behave yourself. This is the Academy, not your bedroom.”

Ophelia’s smile strained as her demeanor shifted. “And what does it matter to you, Miss Seraphina, what I do with my darling Ethan? Unless… perhaps you’re jealous?”

“Jealousy suits you more,” Seraphina said coolly. “I don’t see people as possessions.”

“Oh, that’s rich, coming from someone who hovers around him like a lapdog,” Ophelia snapped.

“Better a lapdog than a psychotic peacock,” Seraphina shot back.

The girls stepped closer, sparks flying.

“Ladies, please,” Ethan pleaded, trying to keep the peace. “This isn’t the time for this.”

From the sidelines, Alex munched on popcorn. No one knew where he got it.

“Wanna have some?” he asked Alden.

Alden took a handful. “Where did you even get that?”

“You don’t need to know that.”

A familiar voice thundered across the grounds.

“Enough! All three of you – Ethan, Seraphina, Ophelia. Back to formation or you will be punished,” Professor Alistar barked.

Ophelia huffed but obeyed, returning to her place beside the second-years.

Then Alistar’s sharp gaze fell on Alex. “No eating in my class, mr.dragonheart.”

Alex straightened like a soldier and tossed the popcorn over to Alden. “Yes, sir.”

Who elbowed his stomach in return.

Alex rubbing his stomach glanced toward Charlotte, who was shooting daggers at her older brother, Lucas Evans Avaloria – the second prince of the Avaloria Empire.

Alex chuckled inwardly. Oh, the show is on.

Lucas and Charlotte were notorious rivals for the throne. With the first prince being an idiot, Lucas had the highest chance of becoming Crown Prince.

Alistar’s voice echoed again.

“Today will be a test. First-year top cadets vs. Second-year top cadets.”

His announcement got the attention of everyone from class 1-A and 1-B making them curious and excited at the same time.

Gasps and murmurs spread across the crowd.

“Unfortunately,” Alistar continued, “one second-year cadet is on a mission. So, I’ve brought in a guest who volunteered herself– third-year Alicia von Crestvale. Also your student council president.”

Everyone was surprised at seeing Alicia here.

All first-year cadets instinctively narrowed their eyes, analyzing their older counterparts. The second-years did the same.

Lucas stepped forward with a smirk. “How have you been, Char?”

“Better than you, brother,” Charlotte replied coolly.

Lucas chuckled. “Of course. After all, I didn’t get rank five at the entrance exam.”

Charlotte’s jaw tightened. That jab hit home.

As tension surged, Alistar clapped his hands. “Alright, stop staring at each other. Time to fight. Second-years, choose your opponents.”

Alex suddenly had a bad feeling.

Alicia walked toward him.

He tried to slide away, only for her to appear right in front of him, smirking.

“Where are you going, Mr. Apex? After your little speech at the entrance ceremony, I’m eager to see your capabilities.”

Alistar joined in with a grin. “So am I. That speech was… something else.”

Alex cursed his past self. “Come on, Professor. She’s a third-year! I don’t stand a chance.”

Alistar laughed. “Exactly! That’s what makes it fun. Besides, she’s not trying to hurt you – just testing you. You should be grateful she made time to come here.”

Alex’s eyebrow twitched.

Alicia smirked as if reading his thoughts. “Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”

Laughter erupted across the grounds. Alden, Ethan, Seraphina – everyone laughed.

The second-years began selecting their opponents:

Lucas, rank 1, of course chose Charlotte.

Percival Black, rank 2, picked Ethan.

Caspian Finch, rank 3, chose Alden.

Ophelia, rank 4, chose Seraphina.

Cedric Ashford, rank 5, picked Elaria, the elven princess.

Phil Rhys, rank 6, picked Maria, the Saintess candidate.

Cordelia Harrington, rank 7, chose Lilith.

Luke Grave, rank 8, selected Thalos, the fairy prince.

Gwen Arcwright, rank 9, chose Aurelia, the fairy princess.

Then the fights began.

Ethan vs. Percival.

The stage fell into a tense hush.

On one end stood Percival Black, a second-year at Zenith Academy, known for his rare dual affinity—Wind and Space magic.

Cloaked in flowing robes enchanted with mana channels, Percival hovered slightly above the ground, air currents swirling lazily beneath his feet.

On the other end, Ethan Williams, a first-year Advanced-rank student, stood tall. His radiant blade shimmered with flickers of fire, lightning, and divine light.

“I finally get to fight you, Mr. Hero,” Percival said with an amused grin. “Truly an honor.”

Ethan smirked, eyes sharp. “The pleasure’s mine.”

From the professor’s platform, Alistar’s voice boomed.

“No lethal techniques or forbidden spells! Especially you, Percival. Keep it controlled.”

Both nodded in acknowledgment.

Then—

“PERCIVAL!!”

Ophelia’s voice sliced through the silence.

“IF ETHAN GETS EVEN A SINGLE SCAR ON HIS BEAUTIFUL AND HANDSOME FACE, I’LL ROAST YOU ALIVE!”

Percival paled. He looked nervously at Ethan.

“…Well, you heard her. Looks like she’s serious about you. I’ve never seen her like this before.”

Ethan sighed. “Please don’t mind her.”

The air shifted as Percival extended his hand.

“Wind Surge: Tempest Spiral!”

A roaring vortex shot forward, spiraling with razor-sharp air blades. Hidden within the vortex, faint ripples shimmered—space distortions meant to misdirect and disorient.

Ethan readied his blade.

“Radiant Edge!”

With a flash, his blade ignited with light and fire. He cleaved through the spiral—but as he stepped forward, space twisted around him.

“What—my step teleported me back?”

Percival grinned, floating above. “I shifted the battlefield. Good luck closing distance now, swordsman.”

“Aero Blades!”

Dozens of wind-formed daggers rained down from above.

Ethan responded.

“Prismatic Guard!”

A wheel of spinning elemental light formed around him, countering the daggers with elemental bursts.

Percival flicked his fingers. “Spatial Fold: Mirror Rift!”

Suddenly, an attack from the left emerged from Ethan’s right. He stumbled, taking a shallow cut on his side.

’He’s not just casting… he’s warping space with every spell. This isn’t a normal mage.’

Ethan charged forward, chaining steps with momentum.

“Mirage Step!”

His form blurred, appearing at Percival’s flank—only to phase through an illusion.

“Wind Shackles!”

Bands of condensed air wrapped around Ethan’s limbs mid-charge, slamming him to the ground.

“Tch! His control is on another level.”

From above, Percival summoned a vortex of crushing winds.

“Hurricane Cage.”

Ethan barely raised his blade in time.

“Severing Ray!”

A beam of condensed thunder-light blasted upward, colliding with the vortex.

BOOM!

The clash sent Ethan skidding backward, bruised and battered.muttering under his breath.

“I can’t break his rhythm… He’s controlling the field and me. Damn it.”

Percival watched with narrowed eyes.

’He’s still standing? Even after that pressure?’

“He’s not just strong—he’s adjusting mid-fight. I can’t afford to get careless.’

Ethan calmed his breath. Magic swirled around him as he focused.

“I’ve seen how he warps space. Now I just need to make him predict wrong.”

He drew from all six affinities—flames wreathed his sword, lightning sparked at his feet, wind circled his blade, and holy flames burned his sword.

“Dawnbreaker Judgement – Fifth Form: Strike of Judgement!”

Ethan vanished.

Percival instantly cast, “Spatial Flicker!”—but Ethan reappeared where Percival dodged to, blade roaring with radiant flame.

“He predicted my dodge?!”

Percival reacted fast, condensing space into a protective warp shell.

BOOM!

The clash of radiant judgment and compressed space cracked the arena stage.

Ethan skidded forward, panting, bruised, his energy dimming. The fifth-art took its toll on his body.

Percival, floating mid-air, hovered down.

“That almost hit me. And he’s still just an mid- Advanced rank?”

They faced each other, spells ready.

Both moved at once—

Ethan’s blade flashing forward—Percival’s spatial lance surging out—

FREEZE.

Alistar intervened.

Their attacks stopped—barely one inch from each other’s necks.

Alistar’s voice rang out.

“DRAW!”

The crowd went wild as they eagerly watched the top ranks in action.

Alex stood stunned.

“He fought Percival… and it ended in a draw? While being one full rank lower?”

“He really is the protagonist.”

Alistar stood up from his seat, his eyes wide for once. “Unbelievable… an Advanced (mid)-rank matching an Expert (mid)-rank like Percival. He really is the prophesied one.”

Alicia von Crestvale, arms folded and gaze sharp, smirked. “That’s the Hero of Light for you. That kid’s really something else.”

Cheers erupted from the students after a beat of stunned silence. Some screamed Ethan’s name.

Others applauded Percival’s unshakable composure and mastery of spells.

No one could believe what they had witnessed.

Ophelia cheered for Ethan like there was no tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Alex turned to Seraphina, his expression serious.

“Sera, what do you think? If I fight Ethan seriously, what are my chances of winning?”

“Of course, Ethan will also not be holding back anything.”

“You want honesty?”

Alex nodded.

“Less than 10 percent.”

“So he’d wipe the floor with me.”

“Absolutely.”

Alex didn’t even argue—he knew the reality.

So he simply nodded, determination flickering in his eyes.

’I need to grow stronger fast and awaken whatever bloodline and physique I have. ’

—–

A/N:-

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