All contestants buzzed with anticipation, their faces alight with eagerness. Many warrior academy students even salivated at the chance to crush a few frail mages in battle.
To Kael's slight surprise, the event's commentator was none other than that old lecher, Vesper. Holding an amplification crystal, Vesper roused the crowd with a grin: "Ladies and gentlemen, thrilling news! To kick off this first match with a bang—and to treat your eyes—we'll start with none other than the reigning champion of the last Magic-Martial Grand Tournament: Ethan!"
Ethan!
The crowd erupted in unified shock. No one had expected the tournament's opening clash to feature Ethan himself. Though his opponent remained unknown, the announcement alone electrified the arena. The deafening roar of the crowd proved Ethan's unrivaled influence as Yanhua Academy's undisputed top prodigy.
On the elevated judges' platform, Austin stroked his long white beard, chuckling nostalgically. "Ah, the vigor of youth. These youngsters radiate such vitality."
"Indeed," agreed a nobleman beside him, his attire emblazoned with the flaming lion emblem of the Kingdom of Keya's royal family. "Ethan must be Yanhua Academy's brightest star under your guidance, Grandmaster Austin."
Austin's eyes twinkled with cryptic amusement. "Perhaps not. This year… is different. If I recall correctly, someone's disciple is also competing this time, no?" He glanced meaningfully at Ethan's mentor, Zorath the Silent, seated nearby.
Austin and Zorath shared a decades-long friendship—hence why Zorath, despite his reclusive reputation, resided freely within Yanhua Academy's restricted mountain hinterlands.
"Your disciple is competing too?" The Keyan royal's interest sharpened.
"That reckless pupil of mine?" Zorath waved dismissively, though a sly smirk betrayed his pride. "His skills are passable, but far beneath Ethan's caliber!" He exchanged a knowing look with Austin, both masters maintaining an air of mystery around Kael's identity.
"It's Olleddy from the Warrior Academy…"
"What a pity for this guy."
Scattered murmurs and Finn's explanation clarified things for Kael. The unlucky soul facing Ethan was named Olleddy—a moderately renowned fighter within the Warrior Academy. Though he'd harbored hopes of ranking decently, his first-round matchup against Ethan spelled doom. No one wanted to become another's stepping stone, but reality was cruel.
Despite his sinking morale, Olleddy rallied himself. With so many eyes on this opening match, getting humiliated too quickly was unthinkable.
"Senior Ethan, your move." Olleddy straightened his posture, mustering a shred of dignity as his combat aura erupted—revealing a peak fifth-tier strength.
The cheers died abruptly, replaced by solemn silence. A peak fifth-tier warrior was no pushover; in previous tournaments, Olleddy might've contended for the top ten. But facing Ethan? Pure misfortune.
Ethan nodded, returning a casual gesture of invitation—neither dismissive nor overly cautious.
"Combatants ready!" Vesper's voice crackled through the crystal, relentless as ever. "Olleddy's shocking peak fifth-tier aura! Can he threaten the reigning champion? Stay tuned!"
Begin!
Whoosh!
Olleddy's eyes sharpened. His legs coiled and unleashed, propelling him forward with falcon-like speed. His combat aura carried a faint hint of wind element—scant but undeniable, a sign he was nearing the threshold of the sixth-tier.
He lunged the instant Vesper's signal faded, seizing what might be his only chance. As a wind-aligned warrior, his velocity was unmatched in the Warrior Academy.
His fist tore through the air, aimed squarely at Ethan with crushing momentum.
Yet Ethan remained rooted, expression unshaken. His hand rose languidly—
Slap!
The punch met no resistance, slapped into Ethan's palm with uncanny precision. The force behind Olleddy's strike—enough to shatter stone—seemed feather-light in Ethan's grasp.
Olleddy's eyes widened in disbelief. His full-powered strike—blocked so effortlessly?
The next moment, he stared dumbfounded at his chest. Ethan's counterpunch—a single, unadorned strike—landed with a dull thud. Olleddy's body hurtled backward, his combat aura nearly shattered. He crashed beyond the arena's edge, tumbling across the ground in a cloud of dust.
Silence gripped the stadium, then erupted into deafening roars.
"ETHAN! ETHAN! WARRIOR ACADEMY! WARRIOR ACADEMY!"
Even a peak fifth-tier warrior like Olleddy couldn't withstand a single blow from Ethan. This differed starkly from Kael's earlier magic-driven victory over Jack. While mages were famed for destructive spells, Ethan had felled a top-tier opponent with nothing but a casual punch.
The Mage Academy faction sat in grim silence. How could such a monstrous Ethan ever be defeated? Would this year's tournament mirror the past?
Ethan stood at the arena's center, a blade unsheathed—radiant and unyielding.
"Holy hell, that guy's a freak," Finn muttered, gulping audibly, still shaken by the display.
Kael, however, remained composed. Witnessing Ethan's power didn't deter him—it ignited his blood. The fiercer the challenge, the hotter his fighting spirit burned. There's still a chance, he told himself.
With the explosive opening match concluded, battles across other zones began. Soon, Kael's trio would take their turns.
"Head to your assigned arenas. It's time," Kael said.
Amelia and Finn nodded, steeling themselves.
Distant eyes fixed on Kael, Amelia suddenly raised a fist, her usual frost melting into a smile. "Give it your all!"
Her unexpected warmth—and the breathtaking radiance it lent her—stunned Kael. Around them, a chorus of swallowed gulps echoed from smitten onlookers.
"I will," Kael replied solemnly, ignoring Finn's exaggerated eyebrow waggling.
Kael arrived at Zone One, where the clamor of the crowd remained thunderous.
The presence of Golden Lion Eli—a top contender for the championship, though overshadowed by Ethan's dominance—drew particular attention to this arena. By the time Kael arrived, Eli's match had already concluded. His opponent had forfeited outright. Standing triumphantly on the platform, Eli roared, his majestic aura etching his name deeper into spectators' minds. A victor without combat, intimidating foes through reputation alone.
Another formidable rival—and Kael's greatest obstacle in Zone One.
Finally, Kael's turn came. He glanced at his opponent's number—35—projected on his crystal card after channeling a wisp of mana into it.
Taking his position, Kael scanned the stands. While his following paled next to Ethan's, clusters of supporters cheered—mostly Mage Academy students. Among them was Ivy, the fiery-haired girl who'd once rallied peers to defend Kael, now shouting his name hoarsely. Familiar faces like Jaxon and even his junior sect-sister Grace waved encouragingly.
Kael rubbed his nose. Not bad for a rookie's debut.
"Hey kid, you're my opponent?" A gruff voice boomed. The speaker was a thickly-built warrior with a lumbering demeanor, clad in leather armor—his build hulking, even more muscular than Golden Lion Eli. A colossal axe rested on his shoulder, exuding menace.
"Brawnox Fillet!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd as Kael's opponent was recognized.
Narrowing his eyes, Kael recalled the name. Brawnox Fillet—ranked just outside the top ten in the last tournament, rumored to carry barbarian bloodline traits granting monstrous strength. A dark horse for this year's top ten.
Gripping his Sacred Flame Scepter, Kael steadied himself. It was time to carve his name into this grand stage. Let the world see that Ethan wasn't the only force to reckon with.
Time to roar.