"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the First Grinwickan Magic Showcase Tournament!
What was a yearly sport in Surgire, the land of Magic, it plans to expand its roots and just so happens - Grinwicke, the land of Beasts!"
Some people are booing at the epithet. I remember my sister told me that the reason for this epithet is due to sheer number of hostile roaming Daemons and Adherents in here. Given my... Experience, I wouldn't say it's an undeserved one; but still it's rather unflattering.
"Ahem! Silence! Magicians all over Grinwicke are given a chance to prove their power and worth! Let's all greet our contestants with ovations!"
We walk out from the quarters and I see tons of magicians all raring to have a battle. Some look pretty damn experienced, like around Virgilia's level... And—Huh?!
What are they doing here?! No, it can't be!
Argent!!!
That silver hunter in flesh!!!
What the kind of hellish business do they have here?!
And worst of all... I feel like I can feel it...
There are daemons among us.
I can't mess this up...
"We will split the contestants into two sectors! One with natural magic and other with daemonic magic. People with daemonic magic possess something impure and thus have advantage over those whose wills come naturally to them.
Contestants! Please come forth! The detection device will determine your group!
First Bracket's participants, i.e. with natural magic, upon losing a match can try their luck with Second Bracket; Second Bracket do not get such luxury due to their tainted, impure magic."
What a bogus system...
Though that device... Perhaps it'll rat out daemons?... I'm not particularly comfortable with a possible threat snowballing the competition...
You fool! You better pray that it DOESN'T work! You'll be kicked out if it blares red!
Why's that, idiot?
You're my spawn, asshole!
Tch, lusting over your own offspring... You're truly despicable.
"Aden Adler; First Bracket."
"..."
"Mr. Fortune; Second Bracket"
"..."
Separating from Aden temporarily, I see Argent take a test and...
They passed?! And to the first bracket too?!
What is going on?!
That *does* mean I won't be facing off against them, unless they lose - so it could be a blessing in disguise...
...
"First Round of 13th pairing of First Bracket!! Aden Vs Killian!!"
With his heart racing with excitement, he looks towards Fortune as he nods in encouragement. This is a big moment for him. His mind began to drift towards his previous compatriots.
~
"Indeed, such events were a big deal... I may not look the part, given my knightly nature, but I did compete in such."
~
Andor was such a nice guy, he thought; always seemed so collected and contemplative. To him he was like a big cooler brother, and from whom he modelled his behaviour after, to look out for both Émile and recently Fortune.
Well, no time to contemplate now! It'll be his first proper showing against the qualified magician!
"Tch. What is this? A fire-boy? My water magic will put out any flames you may have, little peasant."
"I'll show you!"
The crowd goes silent as the combatants assume their fighting positions.
"Start!!"
Aden bolted immediate around the arena, shooting and reloading his nails.
"What the?!"
The opponent was clearly overestimating his capabilities just because he happens to have the elemental advantage. And even if he tried to put the projectiles down... He would still be faced with the *nail* itself.
"Argh! Okay I'll play, you pansy."
Killian began to move, but it was clear even from the most unfortunate of seats that the boys are vastly differently when it comes to fitness. Killian possessed a rather weak constitution compared to Aden, an experienced adventurer, and he was defeated in no sweat: his water being unable to put down Aden's fiery spirit.
"Urgh... How are you... So strong...? Ha..."
"Beats me. I expected something better at least. Still feeling pretty pumped."
"Goddamnit..."
The crowd applauded and Aden was able to go for the next round. No ACTs have been used in this fight.
~
...
"First Round of 18th pairing of Second Bracket!! Fortune Vs Charlotta!!"
"Go get them, Fortune! I passed mine, so you definitely will! I have no doubt about it!" Aden pats my back in encouragement and I nod.
My first proper battle with the magician.
We had some bouts with other magicians in the past; however those were clearly some jobbers here for a quick and easy buck.
And on that Gloom incident - there were magicians and daemons far beyond my league. If I want to survive, I must get stronger.
"Who is this little raggedy boy over here? Are you sure you're a magician? I think someone let a hobo inside." A witch flying on a broom points at me.
"..."
I can't underestimate my opponents, I must give it my all in every battle.
We prepare our battle stances...
"Start!!!"
The witch began shooting various projectiles and in that moment I could feel my body lighten, with my steps becoming softer and softer as I duck and weave through attacks.
"Holy smokes, that child is moving at unnatural speeds! Perhaps we're seeing something special over here?" The commentator announces, which makes the witch irritated. Perhaps she expected herself to be the spotlight of the show...
"Grr! Fine! I'll use my special move!"
=SOLE ACT: SUPERNOVAE=
"Special Delivery Death Service"
All that did was to increase the density and frequency of the bullets. Though that certainly made opportunities for attacking much more rare. Can't exactly shoot my own blood needles in that state.
"HAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!"
While they're not particularly hard to dodge, it is certainly above the level of everything I had faced this far, barring Argent. It's certainly not a fight I can easily slack on...
"Stop! Moving!" The witch whines as I continue to dodge and then I hear something interesting from the commentator.
"Is this kid banking on a time-out?! While this is certainly no honorable way to win, it does demonstrate one's fortitude and focus - to be able to stand and dodge for this long takes a certain type a personal commitment!"
So those battles can go for time? Guess I can make use of that...
"Oi!!"
Yet understandably, the witch is against this approach and began flying towards me, in hopes of obliterating me. In spite of how much I'm moving, I strangely don't feel exhausted from all of this - just this odd feeling of weightless movement permeating my body.
"You can't... dodge forever, you stink!!!"
"Don't overexert yourself, dear contestants - you need that energy for the next bouts!"
"SHUT UP!!!"
The crowd watches with bated breath as we fly all around the arena. The luminant witch and the weightless underdog. There's no telling who of us could win, as it takes one minor slip up for me to get overwhelmed...
"Three!"
Just a little more...
"Two!"
"I'LL KILL YOU, YOU DAMNED MUTE IMBECILE!!!"
"Whoa?!" A stray shot almost grazed me.
I can't mess up...
"One!"
"..."
Just a little more... I can't... Mess this up...
...
...
"GAME!!! And the winner is Fortune!!!"
The witch falls onto the ground from exhaustion, breathing heavily as the crowd roars into cheers.
I too soon fall down on my knees to calm down, looking over the spectators. I can see Leonid nodding and clapping, still in that armour, huh?
The witch is taken away and I'm embraced by Aden from behind
"Buddy, you were so awesome out there! You were zipping all around the field while you're being bombarded with magical projections!!! Good job, mate!!!"
"H-Hey, you're suffocating me..."
"Oh right, sorry-sorry. Come on let's go to our rest room. I bet you'll love the taste of Virevite and how it flows through your body - you feel like a new man in no time!"
As Aden drags me away, I keep thinking about that fight.
It wasn't particularly hard... But I knew that the opponent was dead serious on besting me. It's a rather terrifying thought that I'll face many people like her in my way.
I might've won the battle, but not the war.
~
"First Round of 7th pairing of First Bracket!! Argent Vs Rina!!"
The crowd cheers...
"... So you're the fabled silver executioner...?"
"..."
Today I will not show any mercy.