Character : Lilyanna Valkaria, The Name Al-Heath
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The very next day, the academy's large dome arena was filled to the brim.
"Laddiiiieeeesssss~~ aaaannndddd gentleemeeennnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome, to the final day of the first years' battle tournament!!!"
The arena announcer very-very loudly and cheerfully opened the ceremony, and every member of the crowd cheered.
The spectators' seats are completely filled. There's people wearing colorful accessories now, representing their origins for the final four who shall battle today.
Some are wearing blue headbands and wave blue flags, which I'm sure is meant to cheer for me. There's also a few with green colors to cheer for Nyssa. The gray ones I assume are for Eric, while the black ones are for Cane, the darkness origin guy.
At this beautiful noon, the weather outside is quite the cloudy one. It seemed like it is about to rain soon, and the temperature inside the dome seemed to have significantly dropped.
"It's going to rain… you gotta be kidding me." I muttered angrily after realizing the weather, and Nyssa next to me noticed I got angry for no reason.
"Why hate the weather?"
"… No reason. You remember our promise last night, right?" I turned to Nyssa next to me as we waited in the fighter's waiting area, and she nodded firmly. I nodded again at Nyssa, and she proceeded to smile weirdly.
"You two are making promises?" Next to me, Cane, the darkness origin guy said jokingly, and we both turned to him.
"It's just different when you're facing your roommate in the semifinals, you know?" I reasoned with him, and the guy only chuckled.
"It must be nice~, you two have some story to tell once this event ends." Cane said quite positively, and I do remember him being the cheerful guy.
I do hear that people with the darkness origin tend to be quite grim often, but I guess that's just overly generalizing.
"The hell is that guy doing here?" Next to Nyssa, Eric mumbled while keeping an eye on the center of the arena, and we both turned to the two people who just landed at the center.
Seeing the two, I opened my eyes widely at who they were. One of them is a guy wearing a full golden armor that was gifted to him by the King of Fiordall, and the other was a woman with teacher attires.
Why is that guy wearing armor?
It's Nathan and Frisena… what are they…
"Everyone! Welcome to the final day of the first years battle tournament. I shall be your main host for today, and I will be accompanied by one of our teachers here who just recently joined, Princess Frisena!"
Nathan said using the speaking device on his hand, and I didn't even realize the one who opened the event earlier was actually him. It looks like the female announcer isn't coming for this occasion.
"Good day, everyone. I am here to bring you updates regarding how the battles today shall be conducted." Frisena said with her usual cold tone through the speaking device as she stood in the middle of the arena next to Nathan.
Everyone turned confused as to what will be changed for today, but Frisena only lifted her hand upwards.
Instantly, a bright white barrier was lifted surrounding the arena, separating the spectators from the battle ground. Seeing the barely visible barrier getting lifted, everyone realized right away what their purpose was.
"After the battle between the Princess of Valkaria and the son of the holy knight yesterday, the academy has deduced that such a battle can genuinely harm the audience. As such, Lady Frisena here has brought us a… method that can allow us to continue the battles without risking the audience's safety."
"The barriers are made using a combination between light and wind origin. You can expect them to be not just sturdy, but also renewable. Meaning that if they do get destroyed, they will instantly recover."
"Wow! Such a technology! As expected of the smartest graduate of the academy!"
"You flatter me."
Nathan and Frisena explained the barely visible barriers separating the spectators and the arena, and everyone understood it perfectly. Yesterday's battle was so chaotic that they felt the need to protect everyone else from the battle.
"Neat. I wonder how strong these barriers are." Eric commented, and of course the first thing he's going to comment on is that.
"That shall be the only change for the battles today. And so, let us just jump straight away to the battles, shall we?" Nathan excitedly asked the crowd, and everyone began cheering names.
With the first battle starting soon, both Eric and Cane stood up. They started heading to the arena, and I caught a glimpse of Nathan facing Eric for a moment.
The two did not meet yesterday. As such, Eric definitely has a lot to say to him.
"You've been avoiding me all day, yesterday… what is up with that?" Eric asked as he got closer, and Nathan only chuckled as he turned to Cane instead.
"The two of you ready? We don't have a lot of time here, so we're rushing things." Nathan said privately to both Eric and Cane, and Cane nodded firmly.
"I'll answer your questions later~, okay?" Nathan said with a wide grin to Eric, and the guy only looked so annoyed.
"Whatever, dumbass."
"Oh!? What was that? Are you sure you can say that to this great host?"
Nathan… he secretly turned on the speaking device right when Eric mumbled. Oh, dear. Eric is definitely annoyed.
"It seems that both of our contestants are ready! Then, let us prepare for the first match of the day!
The semifinals! Eric Axwell, the best student of the year, lightning origin! Versus Cane Farmount, the best darkness origin of the year, darkness origin!"
Such a gap between levels… then again, that's the only title Nathan can give to Cane.
After announcing, Nathan and Frisena began flying away with their advanced flying jets that they have on their bodies which allows them to fly individually. I was quite surprised because that must be another one of Frisena's inventions, and I realized they are flying in this direction.
Oh? Are they going to be watching with us?
"Hey, there. Mind if we join you two?" Nathan said as he landed in front of me and Nyssa, and he turned to the referee to see if he minded.
Our P.E. teacher just shook his head, saying that he didn't mind it. Nathan grins at him as he sat down on Eric's seat while Frisena sat on Cane's seat next to me.
"How are you feeling?" Frisena asked me after she sat down, and I just chuckled.
"Very… nervous. But, I do understand that this needs to happen." I told her about how I feel, and Frisena understood that this might be a problem.
"I need you to stay calm. We cannot fumble here."
"Yes, ma'am."
"What are you two talking about?" Nyssa tilted her head forward to see both me and Frisena better, and I just smiled at her.
"It's about our battle, later! What? I can't have my own trainer?" I said while pointing my thumb to my sister, and Nyssa quickly understood.
"I see… At least your trainer is quite pretty."
"You have a trainer, Nyssa?" Nathan asked because he became curious, and I turned my gaze to Nathan to explain.
"Wait. Don't say anything…" Nyssa quickly lifted her hand to my face, but I only laughed at her.
"Sucks to be you!! You see, Nyssa and--"
"Stoppp!!!" Nyssa tried to use her body to push me, and we both ended up wrestling a little on the chairs.
In the end, Nathan didn't get to hear a thing. I would never leak such a thing considering how lewd they are, and Nyssa is my best friend, which makes me not want to spread it out even more.
Nathan proceeded to announce that the battle is starting through the speaking device, and the two standing at the arena get ready. They began charging up their limit breaks, and it is my first time seeing a darkness origin using their Limit Break.
Their hair really did not change colors at all… probably because it was originally black, and the color it turns to is an even darker black. From afar, it's just invisible, but we can still tell from the pressure he is releasing into the air.
"Cane is quite powerful, eh? I didn't even know that guy was that good." Nathan commented after he turned off the commentator device, and I chuckled because I also did not expect it.
"Between him and Zero… how far do you think the gap is?" Frisena asked a rather logical question, and I started to ponder.
"I think… Cane is only a fifth… or a fourth?"
"I think a fourth. His pressure is heavy enough to be at least a quarter of Zero." Nathan gave his perspective, and of course, that was if we compare it to only Zero.
"But if we compare it to when Zero and the headmaster combined, I'd say… a twentieth?? Right?" Nathan turned to me and Nyssa for a suggestion, and we both just nodded.
Yeah… it's definitely around there. When Zero and the headmaster joined together, it's like we're facing an actual demon. Their appearance changed, and their abilities became far stronger than before. It's nuts.
"The Harbinger of Conquest… that guy was never a normal individual." Nathan said out of the blue, which made me confused.
"Harbinger of what?"
"O-Oh. You didn't hear. I'll inform you later. The battle is starting soon." Nathan's attention was averted back to the arena, because Eric and Cane looked like they're about to begin.
BZZZTTT!!!!!!
BAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric's lightning blast was as powerful as ever. That blast alone is already one fifth the size of the whole arena. It's very large and powerful, anyone who got caught in it will surely be disabled for their whole life.
However, when the dust settles, it's clear that Cane was no longer there.
"… What?"
"Behind you!"