As Vesper's voice faded, Amelia rocketed forward with lightning speed. Eric's hair stood on end as he instinctively rolled aside—the spot where he'd stood exploded into a two-meter crater, stones scattering from her combat aura's impact.
"So strong! That speed…" Eric's spine chilled. He'd barely dodged what would have been an instant elimination.
Kael stifled a chuckle from the stands. No one understood Amelia better—her velocity unnerved even him, requiring magic to counter. For Eric, a mid-tier sixth-level warrior, it was hopeless.
"Damn, I wouldn't last three moves against her!" Finn gaped, realizing the chasm between himself and Amelia/Kael.
Though her strike missed, Amelia's body twisted unnaturally mid-air, redirecting toward Eric with frost-laced aura. Cold seeped into Eric's bones—and his resolve.
Defying all warrior combat norms, Amelia had altered trajectory post-attack. Monstrous, Eric thought, fear creeping in. This petite girl rivaled even Ethan's genius!
In a blink, Amelia closed the gap. Eric, desperate, channeled all his aura into a head-on clash.
BOOM!
Metallic resonance rang out as Eric cratered the stage, his body embedded in stone. Combat aura shielded him from fatal harm, but humiliation burned.
Amelia stood at the pit's edge. As Eric struggled to rise, her aura blade pressed against his throat.
The match ended faster than Ethan's victory over Finn. Eric raised his hands in surrender, defeated.
"Astounding! Amelia not only claims the title of Warrior Academy's beauty but dominates the arena—advancing to the semifinals!" Vesper announced. Thunderous applause erupted for Amelia, whose two-move victory left the crowd breathless.
Finn wiped sweat from his brow, eyeing the composed victor. "Kael, I've got to hand it to you," he muttered. "Taming someone of Amelia's caliber… only you could pull that off."
Kael smirked. To others, Amelia seemed aloof and untouchable, but he alone knew her unguarded self. Without that softer side, even he'd struggle to match her intensity.
Amelia descended silently, standing beside Kael like a tranquil lotus amidst the chaos. Sensing her serenity, Kael instinctively grasped her hand. Her starlit eyes flickered, lashes brushing as their gazes met—a rare smile gracing her lips.
"Next up: Dylan vs. Mad Demon Andrew. Predictable outcome, but the real show begins in the semifinals," Kael remarked. This Elite Eight's lopsided brackets had made the quarterfinals a formality, heightening anticipation for the final four.
After grabbing a quick meal, the trio waited until afternoon. The coliseum swelled with spectators eager for the last quarterfinal—and the imminent semifinal announcements.
Vesper sauntered onto the stage amid roaring cheers. "Final Elite Eight match: Dylan of the Mage Academy versus Mad Demon Andrew!"
While earlier bouts lacked suspense, this clash held intrigue: Andrew, last tournament's fourth-place finisher, had once trailed only Dylan in rankings.
Andrew—sharp-jawed and ruggedly handsome—faced off against the refined Dylan. Their entrance ignited screams from female fans, both combatants radiating charisma.
"Begin!" Vesper's command ignited the tension. Dylan raised his staff—Silverstar Runes blazed to life with astral brilliance.
Silverstar Runes!
Kael narrowed his eyes. Dylan had opened with this signature spell, its incantation speed rivaling his own, power thrumming within.
"Greater Gravity!" A Tier 5 spell erupted, magnifying standard gravity's force tenfold. Andrew's body sagged, legs trembling as he struggled to move.
"His casting speed… Dylan's leveled up since last year!" Andrew growled, combat aura flaring to resist the crushing force while retreating strategically.
Unhurried, Dylan layered a defensive shield over himself and began another chant.
"Sandstorm!" Earth-toned light burst from his staff. Arena debris surged like living tendrils, lashing toward Andrew.
Hmph! Andrew's aura whirled into a barrier, deflecting the assault. Seizing momentum, he rocketed sideways at Dylan, aura spearheaded for a crippling strike.
"Earth Guardian!" Dylan's staff tapped groundward—Silverstar Runes shimmered as a Tier 6 earthen bulwark materialized.
CRASH!
Andrew's aura collided with the shield. The barrier quivered… then held firm.
"Brutal defense," Kael murmured. "Earth magic's natural resilience paired with Dylan's mastery—cracking this requires overwhelming force."
Andrew hammered the shield thrice, each strike reverberating through the arena. Yet Dylan calmly channeled mana, reinforcing the guardian spell. Futility dawned on the Mad Demon's face.
"Damn, how's anyone supposed to break through that? Dylan's defense is like a goddamn turtle shell!" Finn exclaimed.
The analogy rang true—Dylan's defensive magic was impenetrable. Even Andrew's top-tier combat aura from the Warrior Academy failed to breach it.
Throughout the match, Dylan masterfully outmaneuvered Andrew with layered shields. Each time Andrew shattered one defense, another materialized to trap him anew.
Now I get why they call him the Earth Sovereign, Kael realized. Dylan's terrifying command of earth magic had rightfully earned him the title of the Mage Academy's strongest—before Kael's arrival, at least.
After several more clashes, Andrew, pushed to his limits, left an opening. Dylan seized it, blasting him out of the arena with a concentrated earth spike.
As Dylan's supporters erupted in cheers, the Martial-Magic Tournament's final four were decided.
Vesper returned to the stage, grinning under the crowd's intent stares. All awaited his announcement of the semifinal matchups…