The first stage of the single battle had finally ended. Luna's guess was somehow right. She guessed that the remaining new students that passed the first stage would only number about a hundred. Though she was slightly off as there were only 88 new students left in the second stage.
'This battle feels like it isn't for a new student,' Luna thought.
She began to wonder how many new students would persevere until the end because the next days would certainly be harder than their first day.
The Advanced Mages weren't wasting a single second in letting them know how hard it was to survive in the Magic Academy. There was no place for sheltered nobles and pessimistic commoners. Everyone should receive the harsh tests they were conducting before they think of graduating from the reputable Magic Academy.
The new students that passed the first stage were only given half an hour of rest. The second stage which was also the last stage of the single battle should end before nighttime. It's because the Advanced Mages wouldn't spend their magical lights on this whole arena just for the new students.
"The second stage of the single battle event shall now commence!" The vice-leader said.
After that, they didn't waste any time and picked up a number. It was also explained in the piece of paper they gave to them that the second stage was much simpler.
'The first challenger only needs to win three times and the rest that will pass should all stay inside the arena. You can team up with anyone to lessen the number on the arena. But remember that there will only be one winner.'
"Number 268 and number 55!" The Advanced mage said.
'Oh, great,' Luna thought.
As there were fewer students, it would be possible that she could finish her turn easily. The battle after this elimination round would be starting immediately so the ones who would take the last turn would be at a disadvantage.
She immediately stood up and didn't wait for the first challenger to appear at the arena.
Although her opponent showed up after her.
"Oh, the healer? It's a pity you end up as my enemy," she said.
The first challenger was a lady that was a swordswoman based on her metal longsword at the side but she wore a small black cloak on her upper body.
Luna chose to observe her first and then summoned her golden flames with a magic circle that glowed brightly upon her.
Her enemy summoned several pairs of longswords that were covered with poisoned water. The aura that began to envelop the sword was dark purple.
Luna could see it clearly through her magic.
She had the right to boast but she did it on the wrong person.
Luna had her fingers shaped into a gun, as her enemy ran towards her. The several pair of swords that the first challenger summoned floated around her as she dashed in great speed.
Her dark purple eyes seemed to show how eager she was to break Luna's healing defense.
They both attack at the same time. Luna leveled both her hands at her chest and fired towards her continuously while the swords started to cut through her body. She summoned some white flames around her to break the longswords.
Luna didn't think that her sword was so sharp that she had to increase her continuous healing spell.
'Tsk, the poison must be the cause,' Luna thought.
In this fight, she didn't hide her white flames like in the first stage. It's because she was sure that some of her previous opponents must have told it to others.
To lessen this first challenger's arrogance, Luna increased the size of small white flames into her gun-shaped hands. But the timing was slightly slower than normal.
She ran with all she could while the enemy was running towards her. The first challenger didn't expect it as it wasn't Luna's style. Her eyes showed a hint of confusion for a second.
That was enough time for Luna whose hands were pointed on the floor and was controlling the amount of fire she would release.
Their distance was so close that Luna had no choice but to target her face.
'The first challenger is running with a bent body so it's her fault,' Luna thought.
Although she first fired with only her left hand and fired the next one when the woman flew into the air. It would be a bother in the future if she came running towards her saying that it's Luna's fault that her face got ruined.
A mage's body could heal but it would certainly get longer when it was Luna's white flames that injured them.
The first challenger was now on the floor but she was still conscious. Luna could hear her grunts from the other side of the arena.
Luna walked towards her and bent her body downwards. Her eyes stared with a hint of warning even though she smiled like an innocent priestess.
"Next time, don't say such cliched lines at the start of the fight, okay?" she whispered.
Luna didn't wait for her response as she slowly stood up and walked away. The Advanced mages started to take her body outside the arena.
"The second challenger won. You will now be the first challenger. Next number is 33!" The vice-leader announced.
A man in his expensive clothes, dashing blonde hair, and yellow-green eyes walked up the stairs to the arena.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, milady," he said.
Luna suddenly shivered. Her hands felt cold. She didn't know if the woman's lines earlier were better.
'Just ignore him Luna!' she thought.
When the man dashed forward with gleaming eyes, Luna didn't choose to prolong the fight.
Her hands were just opened palms instead of the usual gun-shaped hands. Not long after, white flames appeared beneath his feet.
Both of them looked at it with widened eyes.
'Oh no,' Luna thought.
"Think hurriedly, Luna," she whispered.
The man's feet started to burn but she was sure something worse could happen.
'The man can disappear and in front of so many people!' Luna thought.
Luna lightly bit her lips and pointed her hands once again. On the surface, she looked like increasing the fire but she was only summoning some golden flames along with it to lessen the white flames' effects.
She sighed deeply and mentally wiped off her sweat. The white flames that surrounded the man earlier had disappeared along with the golden flames.
Although the man still ended up injured on the floor beneath her.
"Hmp," Luna uttered.
The Advanced Mage declared her as the winner and called for the next challenger.
"I give up," he said.
The vice-leader eyed him carefully. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," he said.
"The first challenger won! The next one I will call will be the new first challenger!" The vice-leader said.
Luna didn't expect that. Nonetheless, it's good on her part as she would be able to save some energy. She quickly walked down the arena and rested on the seat while waiting for the elimination round of the second stage to end.
'Should I team up with anyone later or not?' Luna thought.
The final battle would surely be advantageous to anyone that would team up with others from the start but it also had its downs.
Her mind once again wandered somewhere she only knew.
--To be continued--