Finally, the day of the competition arrived. Even from the window of our room, it was clear that the capital was livelier and noisier than usual this morning. We left the hotel and headed to the Magic Academy, surrounded by a colorful crowd.

  Above the academy, Light Mages had already set up four massive projections on all sides, displaying the arena itself, along with images and information about today’s participants. The “most honest” royal jury conducted the draw, selecting two teams for battle—the team from Laska Academy against the team from Matan Academy.

  Pushing through the crowd in the square, we approached the gates, where we were greeted with a low bow by the secretary we had already met. Well, look at that—how polite he’s become. Inside the academy, it was quiet and peaceful—spectators weren’t allowed in due to the limited space in the arena. The townspeople could only watch the projections in the square.

  “Crush them!”

  I ordered as my team turned toward the participants’ entrance. Meanwhile, Raman and I went up to the stands, where students from this academy and a few dozen invited guests were already seated.

  A tall, broad-shouldered man in his middle years flew into the air as soon as we sat down.

  “Honored guests, esteemed students, for those who don’t know me, I am Piran, the rector of the Capital Magic Academy! Today, I welcome you to the start of the Northern Empire’s Magic Selection Tournament! I hope the battles will be fair and that the best will win! The duel will be judged by an invited referee from the Empire, a Seventh Circle Mage, Master Kustis! Welcome him!”

  A loud round of applause erupted in the stands, and another man appeared in the air next to the rector. He looked about the same age and was dressed in a ceremonial gray magical robe.

  “I won’t bore you with long speeches,” he said. “Teams, step out and line up in the arena!”

  At his words, doors opened on opposite sides, and twenty mages stepped onto the battlefield. I checked the auras of my mages—all were calm and composed. It seemed they understood that today’s fight was nothing compared to my training. Meanwhile, their opponents’ auras wavered with strong emotions, which I recognized as anger. Heh, yesterday’s humiliation must have hit them hard.

  “Competitors, take your positions and greet each other!”

  The teams separated from the center, lined up opposite each other, and bowed.

  “I ask all participants to conduct this battle fairly, without breaking the rules! Barrier!”

  That was the command to start the fight. Less than a second after the barrier appeared, Mink cast the Grave Silence spell, and now no one could see the participants or what was happening in the arena.

  The referee frowned but did not stop the fight. People in the stands jumped to their feet, trying to understand what had happened. I smiled inwardly and observed the auras. As soon as darkness filled the space under the barrier, my team scattered, leaving the danger zone.

  Their opponents, however—likely out of confusion—remained standing in place, possibly shielding themselves with barriers.

  Second second—just as planned. Though I couldn’t see it myself, Gras began bombarding them from above with ice blades, a Third Circle spell. Judging by the fact that none of the opponents fell, they had indeed surrounded themselves with magical shields.

  Third second—all team members, except Gras and Mink, who maintained their spells, cast their Wood-element spells, overgrowing the entire area where their opponents stood. At the same time, the plants pressed against the shields to prevent them from being deactivated.

  The decisive moment was near.

  Fourth minute—all team members, except Mink, used Water and Air magic to dry out the trunks of the vines, bushes, and trees, which now formed a solid wall, trapping the opposing team. Occasionally, my teammates struck their shields with Third Circle wind blades.

  Fifth minute—the main act of this performance. Five mages cast Fire magic, while four others fanned the flames with Air magic. Mink continued holding Grave Silence over the arena. Now, all that was left was to wait—had my plan worked?

  Seventh minute—their auras started fluctuating, in my opinion—from fear. It worked! Victory! Because while mana shields could offer some protection against fire and high temperatures, they had no defense against carbon monoxide!

  Ninth minute—two auras collapsed to the ground simultaneously. Most likely, the mages had lost consciousness. One by one, the rest followed. Once the last opponent fell, my team returned to their starting positions, and Mink dispelled the Grave Silence spell.

  “Nooooo!”

  The referee and the first vice-rector of Laska Academy shouted in unison.

  The arena was still ablaze, with the bodies of ten Laska team members burning within it. Some were still conscious, screaming in agony, their ruptured eyeballs staring skyward. Their charred skin split apart, revealing bloodied muscles and blackened bones beneath the soot.

  Three of them no longer moved, though a faint aura still flickered within their bodies.

  Students in the stands began to vomit. Hah, so delicate…

  The referee cast a wind spell, instantly blowing away all the heat and ashes from the arena. Immediately, dozens of healers rushed in to begin resuscitation efforts. By the time the “barbecue team” was carried off the field, their lives were sustained only through high-level magic.

  My team still awaited the announcement of the winners. I, on the other hand, prepared to protect them in case someone in the arena lost their composure. It seemed this spectacle would be remembered in Lygot for a long time.

  “Team Matan!”

  The referee finally addressed them.

  “I cannot punish you for the atrocity you committed here—that will be up to Lygot’s royal court—but I am disqualifying you from further participation in the tournament!”

  “Oh, really?”

  I stepped into the air as well, my aura shaking the space around me.

  “And for breaking which rule are you disqualifying my team?”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  The referee shouted, raising a Seventh Circle mana shield between us.

  “I am Aney, the captain of this team! And I repeat my question—what rule did my team break to warrant disqualification?”

  I took a step forward and shattered his mana shield so it wouldn’t get in my way.

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  The referee took several steps back and looked around.

  “I already said—excessive cruelty!”

  “Ohhh, is that an actual rule? Then name the clause number so I can be sure that the esteemed judge isn’t lying like a dog behind a fence! Otherwise, I’ll give a live demonstration of what excessive cruelty really is—by crushing your stupid skull!”

  Silence fell.

  A second later, the referee was joined by a Battle Ancestor I didn’t recognize. Then another. And another. Within a minute, eight of them had gathered.

  Feeling safe, the referee laughed.

  “So, what will you do now? You’re all alone! And you’ll answer for your disrespect toward me!”

  “Oh? Are you sure about that?”

  The Battle Ancestors slowly drew their weapons and began circling me.

  “Everyone in the arena—get out of here if you don’t want to die,” I shouted at the people on the ground.

  I pulled out my spear and waited for the spectators and my team to leave the arena. The entire capital was watching us through the four projections above. I was surrounded.

  “Do you really want this?” I asked the Ancestors.

  Eight against one. It would have been difficult if I had been alone.

  “It’s best if you don’t resist, Aney. We are the Royal Court’s guardians. The Royal Court does not wish to have problems with your teacher, but we must detain you for further investigation regarding your public disturbance and the insult you inflicted upon the invited judge from the Empire!”

  “Hahaha, I still don’t understand why everyone fears my teacher but doesn’t consider me at all. Do you think I’m weaker than Kruk?”

  “No, you’re strong, but you’re alone!”

  “Hoooo… Are you sure?”

  I retrieved fifty seventh-class puppets from my storage.

  “Surround them, and don’t let them interfere with me. But don’t kill them… for now,” I commanded.

  We all understood that if a battle broke out against this many Battle Ancestors, nearly the entire capital would be destroyed. Perhaps that was what kept them from making rash decisions. I turned back to the judge.

  “So, what exactly am I supposed to answer for?”

  The judge was terrified. Pale, trembling, he seemed convinced his death was imminent. I slowly approached him.

  “Why do Imperial mages think they’re untouchable?”

  “Master Aney! Forgive me, I made a mistake!”

  “A mistake in what?”

  “I disqualified your team unfairly. I beg you to forgive me for this disgraceful act!”

  “You want to say that’s all?”

  I took another step closer, now within arm’s reach.

  “Master Aney, I don’t understand why you’re—”

  “You don’t understand? You scum, you lied to me about a rule that allows a team to be disqualified for brutality.”

  “Master Aney, I—”

  “Tell me, how should you answer for your lie?”

  “Master Aney, what—”

  “In the eye or the jaw?”

  “What?”

  “Choose. Should I hit you in the eye or the jaw?”

  “In the ja—”

  I lightly tapped his lower jaw, shattering it into pieces, splattering me with blood and teeth.

  “Tomorrow, before the fight against Lygote’s team, you will apologize to my team and emphasize that because of your mistake, they did not receive today’s cheers and congratulations for their victory. Do you understand?”

  The judge frantically nodded, clutching his ruined face with both hands.

  “Now get out of here!”

  Watching his hunched figure retreat, I turned back to the Battle Ancestors, still surrounded by my puppets.

  “Aney, now that the problem is solved, we will return to the Royal Court as well.”

  I shook my head from side to side.

  “It’s not that simple. You drew your weapons against me… Besides, I want a fight, and the eight of you are just right for that.”

  They glanced at each other.

  “You have two choices. Either you come with me, and I fight you alone, or my puppets will start killing you right here and now, destroying the entire capital in the process.”

  I withdrew my puppets into storage and flew out of the city without waiting for their answer. A few seconds later, I sensed eight auras following me.

  For the battle, I chose a mountainous area far from the capital, where no human presence could be felt. I didn’t want unnecessary casualties just for my entertainment. The eight Ancestors stopped in front of me.

  “Two of the highest rank, two of the middle, and four of the lower… Did I get that right?”

  “Yes,” one of the high-rank Battle Ancestors replied. “Tell me, why are you doing this?”

  “I’m tired of everyone talking about Kruk while disregarding me. I think it’s time to explain a few things to the kingdom of Lygote.”

  “How do you want to fight? With restoration pills or without?”

  They began to discuss among themselves.

  “Without. With pills, this would drag on for days. If you take a pill, you’re out.”

  “Agreed. Any other rules?”

  “Yes, without deaths.”

  “You’re restricting me, but fine, I agree. Anything else?”

  “That seems to be everything.”

  “Good. My teacher once said that even two dozen of the kingdom’s Battle Ancestors wouldn’t be able to hold him back for long. Today, I’ll see how long eight Battle Ancestors can last against me! This will be a good fight!”

  The eight Ancestors began to flank me, closing in from the sides. Since this was a non-lethal fight, I couldn’t use an aura strike. Well then…

  I activated all five magic circles, drew my spear, and slashed through the space beneath me. In the air, along the spear’s trajectory, black cracks of the void flickered. Surprised by the appearance of magic seals and the power behind my strike, the Ancestors instantly broke formation and distanced themselves.

  I activated fourth-circle time magic, boosting my speed by ten percent, and third-circle magic, summoning a flaming spear in my left hand.

  “Attack!”

  The Battle Ancestors hesitated, unsettled by my magic. Annoying!

  “Well, if that’s how it is, I’ll start myself!”

  I hurled the flaming spear at a lower-rank Ancestor. He didn’t even have time to react before he became a ball of fire, crashing into the ground and taking out nearly half a mountain peak. Everyone froze at the unexpected attack.

  “Alive,” I confirmed after checking his aura. “So, who’s next?”

  I conjured another flaming spear, but before I could use it, two Ancestors attacked me at once—one of mid-rank and one of high-rank. Fast! But manageable for me.

  I parried the sword of one with my spear and dodged the other, bending at an impossible angle. My turn! In a counterattack, I struck the high-rank Ancestor’s back with the shaft of my spear, shattering his aura armor and breaking his spine. At the same moment, I impaled the mid-rank Ancestor with the flaming spear and detonated it.

  Two bodies fell like sacks to the ground. The remaining five Ancestors formed a defensive line, clearly intending to wear me down while staying on defense.

  “Boring!”

  I lunged at their formation and delivered a horizontal slash, putting my full strength into it. Their aura-enhanced shields shattered like wood. Three lower-rank Battle Ancestors were sent flying downwards, their limbs crushed from holding the shields.

  “Is that all?! This is boring!”

  The two remaining Ancestors stood shoulder to shoulder. I had broken their shields, and they didn’t bother summoning new ones, realizing their futility.

  “Come on already!” the older one shouted.

  I could hear and see the helplessness in him. It felt like kicking a dying dog… Not fun at all.

  I lowered my spear.

  “You’re boring.”

  “We concede.”

  I stowed my spear and descended to the ground. The six Ancestors had already regrouped, nearly fully recovered thanks to their pills. The two who had surrendered joined them.

  “Thank you, Aney, for keeping your word and following the rules!”

  “It’s nothing. I never break my word.”

  An awkward silence followed.

  “So, should we head back, or do you want another round?”

  “No, one was more than enough!” they answered a little too quickly.

  “Aney!” one of them called as we approached the capital. “You’re definitely not weaker than Kruk—now I’m sure of it.”

  I just waved my hand and sped up.

  I was disappointed. Maybe I had too high expectations for this fight, which left me in a bad mood. Honestly, those Ancestors held out much better than my puppets but far worse than I had hoped.

  Shaking my head, I returned to the hotel.

  The team greeted me noisily in the lobby.

  “Guys! I settled everything—the disqualification is canceled. Tomorrow, we fight against Lygote! Rector? Guys, where the hell is the rector?”

  Everyone looked around. Indeed, Raman was nowhere to be seen. I was just about to search for his aura when he walked through the door.

  “Rector, where were you? You know we have a fight tomorrow, right?”

  “Heh-heh-heh,” Raman ignored my words. “My dear students, do you know what I have here?”

  What was this old fox up to?

  “In my hands,” he raised a glass orb, “I have a recording of your captain’s fight against eight Battle Ancestors!”

  “Rector!” I groaned.

  “Whaaaaaat? Let’s watch it!” everyone shouted.

  “Just like that? Oh no, my dears… Ten gold coins per head. One showing only!”

  Damn old money-grubber!

  The team surrounded the rector and followed him upstairs. Naturally, I went after them.

  In the room, the rector carefully collected money from everyone before placing the orb in the center and casting an unfamiliar spell. A bright point of light appeared in the air, instantly transforming into a three-dimensional battle scene, complete with sound.

  “Rector,” Irgen stated, “this recording is less than a minute long, and you charged us ten gold each for it?”

  “This is the full battle recording. If you think it’s too short, take your complaints to your captain. He could have dragged it out longer… But I’m not giving any refunds!”

  Screw all of you. I left for my room.

  Late at night, Irgen came in. I was lying on the bed with my eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. I didn’t feel like talking. Besides, I had my suspicions—this long-eared schemer had probably come up with some mischief again and wanted to involve me in her plan.

  She lay down beside me and, after a while, began running her hand over my chest and stomach.

  Ah, so that was her plan.

  Fine, whatever…

  I pulled her close and kissed her.

  “I am your shadow, Captain!”