Chapter 47: A Fight Worth Watching?

  ?

  Jessica watched as Tobias and Magnus hopped over the barricade wall of the makeshift colosseum with zero urgency.

  Leisurely. Casual.

  Like they weren’t about to participate in a combat trial that half the noble students treated like a life-or-death struggle for prestige.

  The arena had already been repaired from Lucien’s match—because apparently launching someone into a wall at lethal speeds wasn’t enough to delay the schedule.

  Jessica exhaled lightly. What a ridiculous system.

  She wasn’t particularly invested in the next fight. She expected Tobias to win.

  Of course he would win.

  He was her older brother.

  He was annoying, arrogant, and painfully overconfident.

  And he had never once lost a fight that mattered.

  But something felt off.

  Jessica shifted slightly in her seat, observing Hannelore out of the corner of her eye.

  She wasn’t just watching the match.

  She was bracing for it.

  Her hands remained poised, elegant, but her jaw was tight.

  Her shoulders—normally held with effortless composure—were a little too rigid.

  Jessica’s gaze sharpened slightly. She’s tense.

  That wasn’t normal.

  Hannelore was usually unshakable, always in control, always collected.

  Jessica knew noble girls were trained for restraint, but this was the first time she had ever seen Hannelore visibly tense.

  Jessica’s brows furrowed slightly. Is she actually afraid Tobias might lose?

  ?

  Jessica frowned slightly, still staring at the arena.

  Even if Tobias did lose... would it even matter?

  Tobias was already dominant among the second years. He had nothing to prove.

  Even if Magnus won, Tobias would still be Tobias.

  Still stronger than most upperclassmen. Still someone who spent years training in monster-infested lands, while Magnus had only just recently been recognized as the academy’s hero candidate.

  It wasn’t like losing would make Tobias weak.

  It wouldn’t erase his ability.

  So why was Hannelore nervous?

  Jessica’s thoughts turned over, processing.

  Maybe it wasn’t about Tobias losing.

  Maybe it was about what came after.

  Tobias wasn’t supposed to be fighting in the first-year bracket in the first place.

  He was only training with them because he was Magnus’s mentor.

  And Magnus had potential.

  More than potential.

  Jessica had always known Magnus was strong—he had survived his mercenary upbringing, he had a tenacity even Tobias respected—but she hadn’t really thought about how much stronger he had gotten.

  Magnus wasn’t just talented.

  Magnus had divine power.

  And divine power expanded a mana network over time.

  Jessica exhaled quietly. That meant Magnus would only keep getting stronger.

  It wasn’t just that he had two elements—earth and water.

  It was that he had access to both aura and magic.

  The more he fought, the stronger he would become.

  Jessica’s mind turned over, piecing it together. Like the old heroes of legend. The kind who thrived in adversity.

  And Tobias?

  Tobias was a powerful warrior, but he wasn’t the academy’s priority.

  He was from a backwater baron family. His strength was acknowledged, but it wasn’t nurtured.

  The only reason he was allowed to train with Magnus at all was because the school needed someone strong enough to challenge Magnus properly.

  That meant if Magnus surpassed Tobias... Tobias would likely lose that spot.

  The academy wouldn’t waste their time. They’d assign Magnus a more politically suitable mentor.

  Just like how Lucien’s instructor was probably getting replaced after nearly dying in a spar.

  Jessica tapped her finger against her knee.

  Magnus was already powerful enough to stand as Tobias’s equal.

  His expanding mana network would only make that gap wider.

  And if Magnus really believed he could win today...

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Jessica clenched her jaw slightly.

  This fight might actually be close.

  She should have been paying more attention to Magnus this whole time.

  And clearly, Hannelore already had.

  Jessica exhaled, staring at the two figures in the ring. I guess Magnus is quite strong.

  ?

  Jessica barely had time to process that thought before Zyrenia spoke.

  The little vampire princess swung her legs slightly, watching the arena with open curiosity.

  Jessica’s fingers curled against her knee.

  She suddenly felt the same tightness in her jaw that Hannelore had earlier.

  She was sure Tobias would win.

  Right?

  Jessica opened her mouth.

  And hesitated.

  Her voice came out, but it wasn’t as confident as it should have been.

  “...Tobias.”

  She wasn’t alone.

  Hannelore had also answered.

  And her voice wasn’t convincing either.

  Jessica exhaled through her nose.

  She really should have been paying more attention to Magnus this whole time.

  ?

  The moment the match began, Tobias closed the distance instantly.

  His sword slammed into Magnus’s longsword, the Moran family blade crashing down with a force that would have sent most people flying.

  Magnus held firm.

  Bracing against the impact, he used one hand on the hilt, the other on the flat of the blade to absorb the momentum.

  His feet locked into the ground, earth magic anchoring him just as Tobias expected to send him reeling.

  Jessica and Hannelore both leaned forward, completely invested now.

  Zyrenia’s legs kicked faster beneath her seat, her excitement rising.

  Then—Magnus moved.

  He used Tobias’s power against him.

  With a sharp surge of earth magic pushing from his back, he propelled himself backward, shifting the angle of his stance.

  And then—perfect timing.

  Sparta kick.

  Magnus’s boot slammed into Tobias’s stomach, capitalizing on Tobias’s own committed swing.

  Jessica inhaled sharply. That was clever.

  Tobias’s body staggered—no, he was outright sent flying.

  And Magnus was already following up.

  A torrent of water erupted from his hands, crashing into Tobias like a flood.

  Jessica clenched her jaw. Damn.

  Magnus was pushing him straight out of the ring.

  ?

  Tobias’s body was completely lifted off the ground, carried by the sheer force of the water.

  He had no footing.

  No way to anchor himself.

  Jessica saw his body tilting mid-air, shoved toward the arena’s outer boundary.

  A loss.

  If he didn’t act, he was out of bounds.

  Then—he twisted.

  Jessica’s breath hitched. He’s adjusting.

  Tobias flipped mid-air, curling his body, forcing his center of gravity into a tight angle.

  And then—

  He drove the tip of the Moran family sword straight into the ground.

  The sheer force of the impact stopped his momentum instantly, the blade sinking deep into the wet, shifting earth.

  Tobias gritted his teeth, and using pure raw strength, he pulled his body forward, completing the backflip against the force of the water.

  His boots scraped against the softened arena, sliding as he fought to find his stance.

  Earth magic rippled beneath him.

  The ground hardened just enough to give him footing.

  Jessica exhaled. That was close.

  Now—to turn this around.

  ?

  Magnus wasn’t letting up.

  The moment Tobias regained balance, Magnus propelled forward, launching himself through the remnants of his own water torrent.

  But at the same time, he forced more water into the ground.

  Jessica’s eyes narrowed. He’s turning the whole field into mud.

  Tobias tried to plant his feet, but the waterlogged earth gave no traction.

  He couldn’t push off.

  For the first time, Tobias was being pulled with the water.

  Jessica’s brows twitched. That’s bad.

  Magnus was trying to trap him in a sinkhole.

  Tobias clenched his jaw, shifting his stance. He has to clear the water.

  Then, a sharp movement.

  Tobias adjusted his heels, forcing the water out of the mud beneath him.

  The ground compressed, allowing him just enough solid footing.

  Jessica’s fingers curled slightly. That worked.

  Tobias then used the same technique on the earth in front of him, draining the excess water and creating a solid mass to redirect the torrent.

  Jessica’s exhale was slow. He can breathe again.

  But Magnus was already moving again.

  ?

  Jessica saw the instant Magnus realized his water wouldn’t work.

  Instead of pulling back, he went straight through the earth wall Tobias had created.

  Jessica’s breath hitched. He’s not stopping.

  Magnus launched himself forward, his body tearing through the debris like a projectile.

  He came in high, blade ready.

  Jessica’s eyes tracked Tobias’s reaction.

  Tobias let go of the Moran family sword.

  Jessica inhaled sharply. What?

  The sword was still embedded in the shifting earth.

  But Tobias didn’t need to hold it anymore.

  Earth magic.

  Tobias shifted the ground beneath the sword, tilting it from a vertical position to a diagonal one.

  Jessica’s mind turned over the logic. He’s setting a trap.

  Magnus was too fast.

  He didn’t account for it.

  His legs caught against the tilted blade, his momentum turning against him.

  Jessica saw the briefest flash of realization in Magnus’s eyes.

  Then—he tumbled.

  His own speed made the impact brutal.

  The sharp edge of the sword cut against his lower calves, dragging across his skin before he could fully react.

  Magnus rolled hard across the arena, kicking up dust as he skidded to a stop.

  Jessica narrowed her eyes. That looked bad.

  If it weren’t for his natural durability and the low manifestation of aura protecting his body...

  That would have ended the fight.

  ?

  Magnus groaned, pushing himself up.

  Blood poured from his legs, running down his calves where the sword had cut into him.

  Jessica watched as Magnus sank his feet into the mud.

  What’s he doing?

  The mud wrapped around his wounds, dark water curling around his skin.

  Jessica’s eyes narrowed. That’s... not just earth magic.

  Then, the mud began to glow.

  A soft blue light radiated from Magnus’s legs.

  Jessica stiffened.

  Zyrenia’s jaw dropped.

  “That can’t be fair,” the little vampire blurted, offended on principle.

  Hannelore’s head snapped toward them.

  “No, it isn’t,” she said flatly.

  Jessica glanced at her. She’s tense.

  Hannelore’s voice was sharp. “Magnus is using healing magic on himself.”

  Jessica’s eyes flicked back to the arena. Healing magic...?

  Hannelore continued, her expression unreadable.

  “Not only is he a durable monster with incredible power, earth magic, and water magic,” she said, her voice measured.

  “But he can even use the sub-specialty of healing.”

  Jessica exhaled through her nose. That’s going to be a problem.

  Chapter 48: The Brightest Before the Fall

  Magnus stood still, his breath coming in slow, controlled exhales. Mud, thick with water, wrapped around his calves, sealing the gashes Tobias had carved into them. A soft blue glow pulsed beneath the surface, seeping into his skin, reinforcing his joints. His wrists and elbows were wrapped in the same healing coat, the magic reinforcing his bones, easing the strain from absorbing Tobias’s relentless buster sword swings.

  And the entire arena went still.

  Tobias’s smirk faltered just slightly. He wasn’t the only one staring. The spectators had gone silent, the instructors watching with unreadable expressions. Because this wasn’t just water magic.

  This was healing magic.

  A rare subspecialty of water magic, one that was notoriously difficult to master, and even rarer among warriors. Most healers lacked offensive magic entirely. Yet here Magnus was—wielding earth magic, weaponizing water magic, and now, casually patching himself up mid-fight.

  Tobias blinked, then let out a breathless laugh. “No way,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You—you were saving that?”

  Magnus didn’t answer. He simply flexed his fingers, letting the last of the blue glow fade as the pain dulled. The mud remained, hardening around his joints like natural braces. He tightened his grip on his sword.

  Tobias exhaled sharply, forcing himself to not react. He had to keep control of this. Magnus was already too strong. If Tobias let him start believing he was invincible, he would be.

  So he did what he always did.

  He talked shit.

  And then he attacked.

  The Last Push

  Tobias surged forward, every step a brutal calculation. He had barely enough mana left to harden the earth beneath his feet, creating a desperate, makeshift path across the unstable battlefield. The hardened ground wasn’t solid—it was floating atop the loose mud like a lily pad on water. Every movement sent ripples through the shifting terrain, and Tobias had to be careful. One misstep, and he was done.

  The moment he charged, Magnus sent a storm of jagged rocks at him, launching them from the surrounding terrain. Tobias barely managed to slow down the smaller ones before they slammed into him, but they still tore at his exposed skin. His sleeveless arms were covered in blood.

  Each impact sent fresh agony through his muscles, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop.

  Magnus raised his sword to block the incoming blow—

  CLANG.

  The impact rattled Magnus’s entire body. Tobias’s swings felt like warhammers.

  Magnus’s wrists burned, his bones shaking from the sheer force of Tobias’s attacks. He couldn’t parry cleanly anymore. Every time their blades clashed, the pain shot through his arms like fire. Tobias wasn’t relenting—he was pressing forward, forcing Magnus back, step by step.

  Magnus erected an earth wall, but Tobias smashed through it like it was paper. Another strike. Then another. The tenacity of the Moran family roared through every swing, an unstoppable pressure bearing down on Magnus with raw, unbreakable force.

  And Tobias looked feral.

  His arms were bruised, his skin torn from all the stone debris slamming into him, but he kept going. His entire body was drenched in mud and sweat, filthy like a rat fighting for survival.

  Magnus gritted his teeth. He needed to end this.

  The Mud Coffin.

  At first, it was droplets. Little beads of mud, swirling unnaturally in the air, forming around him like a cocoon. The moment they latched on, they pulled.

  Tobias gasped as he felt his body sink into itself, the weight increasing exponentially, the sheer pressure snapping through muscle and bone. His breath came ragged. His ribs cracked. His forearm bent at an unnatural angle.

  His vision blurred as pain and suffocation mixed into one unbearable sensation.

  ?

  From the stands, Jessica’s sharp gaze flicked across the battlefield, analyzing everything at once. The air was thick with magic, a burning tension pressing against her senses.

  Next to her, Zyrenia was nervously gripping the edge of her seat, eyes darting between Magnus and Tobias. Her fangs barely poked from under her lip as she gnawed in anxious excitement.

  But Hannelore—the Ice Queen was breaking.

  Jessica had never seen her like this. The Ice Princess, the noble girl who had kept a calm, unshakable face even when six of her classmates died in the forest, looked haunted. Her fingers trembled against the railing, and there was an unmistakable terror in her expression as she watched the mud tighten around Tobias.

  Jessica knew why. Hannelore could feel it. The way the mud constricted, the way the water pressure forced it inward—she could sense all of it with her water affinity. She knew exactly how much it was crushing him.

  And Tobias wasn’t surrendering.

  The moment his ribs cracked, the moment the mud pulled tighter, Hannelore screamed.

  “Tobias!!”

  It shattered through the air, her voice raw, frantic—so loud that Tobias, half-conscious, actually heard it through the crushing pressure.

  Jessica’s breath caught.

  She saw it. The light in his eyes snapped back into place.

  Tobias had been fading, his body functioning on bravado and instinct alone, his consciousness slipping. He had been smiling because he refused to let Magnus see him broken. But now—

  Now his mind snapped back to reality.

  Jessica reacted instantly, yelling over Hannelore’s voice.

  “He’s going supernova! This is his last spell!”

  The words hit Tobias like a shockwave. His haze cleared. Magnus was at his limit too.

  The tenacity that made the Moran family feared even by the Emperor himself ignited. Tobias would not die here.

  With the last dregs of his mana, he forced a thin earth shell inside the mud, barely keeping it from crushing his lungs. The moment he had even a sliver of leverage—

  He crashed through it.

  The battlefield turned into a brawl.

  Magnus, barely holding onto his aura, swung wildly, but Tobias—bloodied, bruised, barely standing—was simply too relentless.

  One swing. Magnus’s wrist throbbed.

  Two swings. His bones shook.

  Three swings. He could barely keep his weapon steady.

  On the fourth, Magnus raised his sword to block—

  —but it wasn’t enough.

  Tobias’s strike sent the weapon spinning out of his hands. He was completely overpowered.

  Just as the final swing came down—

  A pillar of stone caught Tobias’s sword an inch from Magnus’s face.

  Silence.

  Tobias staggered back, his breath ragged. Magnus, still frozen in shock, could barely process what had happened.

  Jessica already knew. The only one strong enough to stop that final strike.

  The Headmaster had intervened.

  Tobias, drenched in blood and mud, barely standing, looked exactly like Jessica did after surviving the monsters in the forest.

  The only thing keeping him upright—

  Was the unbreakable will of the Moran family.