Before Claude match, he followed Leo for his match. They held the matches at different locations but for Leo; it was head in one of the school training ground. Leo and Claude were patiently waiting for the announcement for his turn.
"Are you alright?" Claude asked
"Just a little nervous..." He replied
"How come?" He asked
Leo was pretty nervous as he answered Claude, "We-Well you see... The person I'm up next is one of the students that bullied me back then."
"Aren't you stronger than him?" he asked
Leo sighed, "I don't know..."
"Just focus on your control magic than doing physical combat at the same time stay as far away from him," Claude explained as he headed to the second floor to observe the match.
Leo did not understand what Claude was telling him. He was too nervous that he did not ponder on it any longer. He went inside the room and saw the defeated student being taken out of the room at the same time his opponent was also entering the room beside him.
"Ready to end up in the hospital loser?" he arrogantly said
Leo ignored him as he continued to enter the room, he went to the examiner and handed his id to be scan to confirm his identity. He then went to the corner and stood there as he awaits for further instructions.
"Are right you two, remember the rule. You're only allowed to cast tier 5 magic spell..." As the examiner continues to explain everything, Leo trembled more than his opponent, for he was giving him a deadly look. He tried to calm himself down as he looked at the audience on the second floor, there he notices Claude looking at him. As he was staring at Claude, he recalled what he said earlier but still didn't know what it means.
"You there, do you understand everything..." The examiner said trying to get Leo attention back in the match
"I-I'm sorry..." he replied
"You better focus on the match or you might end up getting hurt," he explained
"I'm sorry Sir, I'm fine now..." he added
"Alright, let's begin..." He said
As the match begin the room light turned red as a signal that the match is about to begin. As the count down start and the siren sounded, within a blink of an eye Leo's opponent appeared in front of him and punch him causing him to crash to the walls.
"Wow, that was quick."
"That kid is so dead, he didn't even notice his opponent was attacking him already."
Claude continues to observe the match quietly, it was indeed Leo fault for not focusing that he could not notice his opponents move.
"Still want some more?" He opponent said
Leo got back on his feet as he pulled himself up, he then cast magic onto himself boosting his strength and speed. As he tried to attack his opponent, in the end, he was unable to lay his hand on him, he was badly wounded and ended flat on the ground.
"Man this is boring..." he sighed
Leo was looking worn out and full of cuts and bruise, since he was still conscious the match still needs to continue if he does not surrender as well then so be it.
Leo continued to cast magic to himself, he then recalled what Claude said early, "Stay away from him..." He thought of what Claude was telling him, did he advised him to give some distance between them and instead attack him from afar. He stopped casting the magic onto himself and started attacking his opponent with a vast type of elemental spell.
It surprises his opponent from the sudden long-range attack, "What the f*ck are you doing?" He was so surprised that he was unable to prepare himself lucky his defense magic was strong, that he was not badly wounded.
Leo smiled as he finally understood what he needed to do in order to defeat him. At the same time, Claude smiled seeing Leo finally realized what he needed to do. He knew he was powerful than his opponent, but he just needed to know the right way to defeat his opponent.
Leo cast speed magic onto him but this time in order to give the distance from his opponent so he could keep up with the long-range attack. It annoyed his opponet that he was unable to catch up with Leo's speed. Despite he was stronger than him physically, as a caster Leo was greater than him making it challenging for him to keep up with.
It pleased Leo that he can finally come back at him. Not only for the fact they bullied him but also for causing him such horrible experience in the academy. Leo was filled with rage as he continued to cast an even stronger spell and not realize he was casting tier 4 spells already. When he noticed the spell he just cast Claude's words then flashback into his mid, "focus on your control magic."
Leo paused for a moment as he saw his opponent all wounded and bleeding, he did not expect he was casting such strong magic already and was about to end his life. He looked up to where Claude was standing and he smiled, he then looked at his opponent and focus all of his energy.
"What the f*ck is that?" He opponent tremble
"Sir isn't that illegal." He screamed
Leo was then surrounded with vast type of magic circle, it was so many that his opponent tremble in fear not knowing what to do. It surprise everyone of his sudden reaction.
"I give up."
But Leo did not stop casting the spell, his opponent quickly run to the examiner size as he hides behind him. Leo continues to focus his energy then release the spell. It surprises everyone to see the outcome of the spell to be a beautiful aurora light appeared in front of them.
"Wow, look at the lights they are so beautiful."
"Was all that spell preparation just to cast an aurora light."
The crowd upstairs laughed as they realized Leo's opponent was frightened and gave up. Yet, in the end, the spell Leo cast was just a beautiful light show.
Leo's opponent was not happy with the result, he was furious that he went and attacked Leo. But before he could lay his fit on him the examiner appeared in between them. "You have already admitted your defeat yet you dare attack a student. You are disqualified in participating at the Academy Ranking."
For those students who dream of participating in the Academy Ranking means a lot to them but to be disqualified means you don't get the opportunity to participate at all.
Leo opponent collapse on his knees after hearing the examiner words, at the same time Leo smiled as he realized he just won. As he felt his mind was about to go blank, he felt someone holding onto him. He looked up and glimpse to see how it was, he smiled seeing the person helping him. "Cla-Claude..."