The Southern Card Academy's visit faded to a minor footnote as Kael breezed through his next two matches—one opponent even forfeited outright.
With each victory, the anticipation for his final clash against the Golden Lion Eli in the First Combat Zone intensified. His supporters snowballed rapidly, their thunderous chants of "Kael!"now echoing at every bout.
Finn watched enviously, noting the legions of young sorceresses among Kael's fanbase.
Today's match ended swiftly. A mid Fifth Rank warrior stood no chance. Kael leapt from the arena, his mind already elsewhere.
"The moment we've all awaited is here!" Vesper's voice boomed. "Kael's next opponent is none other than the Golden Lion Eli! Their battle tomorrow will crown the First Zone's champion and decide the tournament's top eight finalists!"
The crowd roared. Tomorrow promised fireworks.
Across the arena, the Golden Lion locked eyes with Kael. Their gazes clashed, mutual resolve sparking like flint.
"At this rate, your reputation in Yanhua Academy will soon rival Ethan's!" Finn grinned. Kael's meteoric rise now positioned him alongside Dylan as the academy's brightest star.
Ethan himself had once carved his legend as a freshman, sweeping the tournament to claim victory—a feat Kael aimed to eclipse.
Confidence tempered Kael's ambition. While he believed he could challenge Ethan, victory remained uncertain. Dylan and Amelia had both reached Seventh Rank; Ethan likely matched them. Even with summoning magic as his trump card, Kael's odds were slim.
But time was his ally.
After parting ways with Amelia and Finn, Kael sought guidance from the elder mage.
"What's the rush, brat? I haven't even told anyone you're my disciple yet!" Ethan yanked Kael into a shadowed alcove, glancing around like a conspirator. For all his power, the elder mage retained a childlike mischief.
"Master, I came to seek your guidance," Kael replied earnestly.
"Guidance?" Ethan grinned, pride gleaming in his eyes. "I've watched your matches. You've done well. What could you possibly need from me?"
"Don't mock me, Master." Kael's smile turned wry. His achievements paled before a mage of Ethan's caliber.
"No mockery. For your age, you've surpassed all expectations." Ethan's tone softened with sincerity.
Kael hesitated. He'd come to address the bottleneck stifling his ascent to Seventh Rank.
Sensing his turmoil, Ethan clapped his shoulder. With a sweep of his arm, reality warped.
They stood now in a dim, formless void, wind whispering through emptiness. Beneath them swirled an abyss of shifting chaos, as if they floated in starlit space.
"This is…?" Kael breathed, awestruck.
"My magic space. Nothing to fret over." Ethan waved again, conjuring a mirror crystal at the void's heart. The crystal flickered, replaying Kael's duels against Korgoth and Cruy.
Observing his battles from this detached perspective, Kael noticed flaws invisible in the heat of combat—hesitations, redundancies, vulnerabilities.
When the footage faded, he fell silent, introspection deepening.
" How do you feel?" Ethan continued smiling as he asked.
"My magic isn't powerful enough, especially spells like Vacuum Flame Sea and Arcane Disruption—their casting speeds still lag," Kael mused, trailing off. "If I could advance to Level Seven—"
"No, you're mistaken!" Ethan shook his head, cutting him off. "Even if you reach Level Seven, won't your opponents grow stronger too? And do you think you're the only mage in this world? What if you face another Level Seven mage afterward? You'd still struggle to end battles swiftly."
Kael froze, falling silent.
He had to admit Ethan was right.
"Kael, your talent is exceptional—I've said before you might be the most gifted I've encountered." Ethan's smile faded, his tone solemn. "But talent alone isn't everything. How many prodigies have fallen prematurely? This world isn't lacking in mages whose gifts rival the Star Legend Orlando, yet there's only one Star Legend."
Kael stayed quiet, intently analyzing his spellcraft. As Ethan had pointed out, he needed deeper reflection.
Watching Kael's self-examination, Ethan nodded in approval.
When he'd taken Kael as his apprentice, talent was merely one factor. What truly mattered was the young mage's burning passion and hunger for magic. That Kael could so swiftly confront his own flaws after recent triumphs—and under sharp critique—was remarkable.
After a long silence, Kael reviewed every battle he'd fought until now. Finally, he lifted his head. "Master... there's something missing in my magic."
Ethan smiled. Kael's reflection had indeed been thorough.
"Good. Now, can you tell me what that missing element is?" he asked gently.
"I don't know," Kael replied bluntly.
The frank answer drew another chuckle from Ethan. This brat really doesn't hold back. Yet it only deepened his satisfaction—he'd always valued apprentices who embraced raw honesty over pretense.
"Then teach me, Master," Kael said. Among all those he trusted in this world, the old mage stood foremost. This time, he hadn't turned to Evelyn or others with his doubts, but straight to his mentor.
"Don't you want to figure it out yourself?" Ethan's smile carried a teasing glint, almost mischievous. "You know, insights earned through struggle leave deeper marks."
Kael shrugged at the old mage's playful grin. "I'm completely lost right now, Master. Don't toy with me."
"Ahem. Fine, I'll give you a hint—just once. Whether you grasp it depends on your luck." Ethan's tone was light, deliberately setting a challenge.
Kael nodded, eyes widening as he focused intently on Ethan's every movement.
Smiling, Ethan raised no staff. Instead, he chanted an incantation and gestured lightly toward the distance.
Boom.
The world shifted. A colossal inferno erupted from the sky, raging flames devouring air and earth alike. The stench of scorched terrain filled the air as firestormed engulfed everything—horizon to soil, all charred black.
As the flames waned, water elements surged forth. In an instant, glacial cold replaced the blaze. The seared land froze mid-crackle, ice spreading like a thousand-mile expanse of frost.
Scorched earth now shattered under dual extremes—first fire, then ice. The ground splintered into jagged crevices, crumbling where elemental forces clashed.
When the energies of flame and frost dissipated, Ethan stood calmly. "Do you understand?" he asked.
Kael scratched his head sheepishly. "Just... a flicker."
Ethan's smile deepened. "Good. The rest is yours to unravel."
With a wave, the illusionary space dissolved. Kael blinked, finding himself back on a quiet street corner of Flamecrest Academy, marveling at his mentor's mastery.
"Master, I'll take my leave now." Kael bowed, thoughts churning, and departed with Ethan's nod.
Watching his apprentice go, Ethan stroked his beard, a sly grin spreading. "Too soon to plant these seeds? Even I didn't grasp this truth until late Stage Seven... Ah, but watching this brat squirm will be delightful. Can't wait."