"Inceptetus..." Lia's hand wavered all over her bike while bestowing a high magical spell that breaks the limit of the modern speed magic accumulation. With the green magic circle acting as the foundation of the said power, she cast it without any problem. The fact that she is able to memorize the activation sequence for advanced magical spells blew the whole competition.
"What's this? What's this? A candidate that is able to cast multiple advance spells? Unbelievable yet another feat for Section C's advantage! When are they going to stop surprising us!?"
"Hey! How the hell?! When did they learn how to use advanced magical spells like that?!" David gradually flew off the hunch while questioning the event that is happening right now.
"For a mere candidate without any aptitude or talent for magic, they were able to operate it with advanced magic schemes. It looks like they really trained for this... I have to say that it is quite possible with you having around, William." Wency turned into him as he watched his students from afar.
"What do you mean? I just literally coached them without saying anything. It is the work of their hard resolve. Nothing else..." He shrugged off what Wency said and continued to observe the mechanics.
All of them are gasping around the table, they couldn't believe what just happened. Section C is known for its great talent at physical fights and short combat techniques. However, at this moment, Lia's overwhelming power blew off in an instant, surprising every single person that is watching in the whole venue.
Their eyes were fixated over one value, the votes were now aching for another victory for Section C. Other than that, the rest of the show still focused on Section B and A's performance. By simultaneously erecting a spell that can manage to flow easily, they were able to pass through Lia's inspection of her magic. The spell that they cast is simple and fast to execute, while Lia's spell is pretty much hard and takes time to complete. She was off in a little impasse.
You may be able to cast a great spell, but you wouldn't catch us if we overtook your place with our simple strategy! Section A turned over the ranking of the race and they were now setting off in the middle of the obstacle.
For the second bout, there are five routes that they need to take care of in order to give the flag to the next contestants. These routes have specific advantages and disadvantages that they can use in order to pass through. Driving through the mud is another route and it requires a lot of mana in order to let the bicycle press forward until it reaches the line.
As they reached the middle part of the 300 plus yards field, some of the commissioners as well as other magicians cast a spell that provides an eye view of the whole competition. They have created a reflecting screen on top of the field in order to watch what is going on despite the large scale of the distance from the beginning of the first bout.
"Woah, I didn't know that you can create something like that using magic..." Aran's vision was out of focus for the match but instead, he gazes upward to see the magic screen that shows the entire game. He leaned for a little bit to make a clear view of the magic skill.
"Is it your first time seeing one?" While observing, Eutara asked him. He glanced at her as he reaches his seat.
"Yes, I haven't been able to cope with magic studies lately so I don't really know if there is anything like that. But wow, it is pretty cool to build something like a screen though. You can like monitor the whole scene." He has a fading voice, thinking if it is okay for him to actually have a conversation with Eutara.
Queries have been acting up but Lia was in a constant dilemma as she finishes the spell. The Bicycle that she was riding glowed into a green color and suddenly, as she reached the first route, her speed increased, propelling herself and gaining more acceleration. The first launch of the spell put them off and the crowds roared together by this immense acceleration.
"Whoo!" Lia shouted in confidence, pedaling the bike without doing that much work is convenient. Her magical approach came into view and shook the remaining participants.
"A speed magic that can ultimately pass the limits of the physics. It was quite an astounding pressure for the rest of the sections. However, they already beat her because she is late... I take it that you are the one who taught them this right, Julia?" Jones leaned on his seat as he carefully observes the following matchups.
"Yeah, well, not really in my recommendation. I just happened to discuss various advanced magical techniques during our midterm sessions. Still though, if they are going to use that kind of magic in the competition then they must have at least a knowledge of how to operate it. The rules said that you can use any suitable magic you can as long as you don't tamper with everyone's line." She replied.
"You're pretty much cruel if you are forcing your class to handle such an intense level of modern magic. Don't you think that they are not that cut out for it?"
"The only thing that will make Section C better is by letting them experience and learn the versatility of magic. The execution will be up to them, and we're not fine-tuning their gifts... We're training their abilities that they can't adjust. That's the whole nature of this thing."
"Mm..." With that response, Jones faded away as he accepted the reply. Contrary to this was the fact that almost all of the Section C candidates were able to muster any kind of formation and strategy they could think of despite not having enough mana for the execution. Meaning to say that they will be relying more on physics and measurables accounts rather than using their own power. It is the former that will let them fight to pass the obstacle course.
"Section C managed to part ways with the others, are they able to withstand the power of this section?"
While kneading down into the deep parts of the road, Lia's speed didn't waver but instead, it gradually increased until she passed the two candidates that were on the first line.
"Go! Lia!"
The cheering made their way to the second bout and it was enticing enough to give more boost onto their own team. Such value is considered to be the most effective way of winning the match.
Lia's confidence backed her up but she is now losing her mana.
Just a little bit more! After ramping on the side of the road, she went through the slumps and slowed her maneuver of the bike a bit. The friction is not working in her favor anymore and it is getting in the way of her speed.
"This is bad..." Jones muttered. "Her mana is flailing inwards, the slumps on the ground is slowing her down..."
Lia's major advantage was her speed in this case, however, seeing that their bicycle is now fluttering on the road is going to be a steep driving on her part. While figuring out the way to take over, Lia jumped forward and started avoiding the slumps.
I have no idea how to get on with this thing... I have no choice but to use it! As she was heading onto the second finish line, she pressed forward and used the ramp on the side of the road.
"Ah! damn it!" Section A's contestant missed the ramp and so does Section B.
Midway through the air, Lia cut off the distance and landed straightly onto the finish line where Aine is waiting.
"Aine! Catch this!" She threw the flag at Aine. Catching it was easy since they are close.
"Start!" Lia instructed her and Aine nodded.
Aine began pedaling her bicycle and departed the second line. She didn't use any magic. Lia's performance was so well executed that it gave her some time for a head start.
"And Section C took the first place yet again for the second bout!" The cheering began to resonate around the area and the clapping grew larger.
"Yes!" Aran stood up from his seat with a large smile on his face. He then suddenly realized that he shouted very loud and took a glance at his neighbor. Eutara wore a weary smile.
"Ah– Sorry..." He returned back to his seat slowly.
"Tsk! Those bastards are literally playing their game... I think it is time to show them what we are made of..." The leader of Section A second bout sector contacted his teammates via a magic transmitter.
"Should we upgrade our mana?"
"Yeah, if they can use advanced magic, it will be a deadly disadvantage for us. However, seeing as they don't have that enough mana, it would be great to wait until they run out and start following them. But no, we're not going to use that strategy. We need some kind of way to speed up our process without losing concentration. That's why we will use it... Body enhancement and magic enhancement bestowing!"
"Yes!"
As he said, the power of Section A began to rise at the edge of the match.
No way! Are they going to use it now?! Aine flew forward and decided to use a normal magic spell that can increase her speed for a short time.
"I have no choice but to keep this up!"
It was already too late before she can even take the necessary strategy. Section A contestant used body enhancement magic to have perfect control of the bicycle plus a large portion of mana reduction to gain more speed. With a combination of speed and precision, they instantaneously reached first place, beating Aine on the road.
"And there we go! A massive completion of Section A's breakthrough! With Section C following up on the second place, Section B is now on third."
"Damn it!" Aine pedaled forward with an intense glare on the side.
"Knowing those Class A punks, they have pretty much decided to use two kinds of magic this time..." Wency said.
"W-What?! How did you know?" David was perplexed by the fact that Wency was able to see their tricks.
"Don't ridicule me, David. I know how magic works. Any slight changes or alteration is going to be easy for me to spot on. And they are probably your idea as well..."
"Well, you are right... Though it is just fair that they would be using that."
"You jest, if only the board members didn't alter the rules, that would be prohibited. Using two types of magic with alternate use is pretty much cheating." William stepped up.
"Ah, don't be such a sour dude, William. You know that your games are not entirely based on physical attributes."
"Tsk!"
This is bad, if I don't do anything, they would be able to reach Line 3 quickly. I need some way to increase my speed. Aine looked around but the obstacles are pretty much the only ones that are visible on her way. Section A managed to pass through it without any problem since they were using two kinds of spells.
At a point in the time, Section B also did its best to pass Aine.
"Oh, what is this?! Section B is now in second place with Section C in third! Another breakthrough for both sections!"
"Aine..." Emma and Penny showed a worried expressions as they see Aine having trouble.
Time has passed, Section A and B passed the flag on to the next participants. Aine came in last and she was already tired. Her bicycle managed to reach the third line but she was unable to give the flag.
"Aine..." Penny called out to her.
"Penny... I am sorry..." She was on the verge of tears. Penny tapped her shoulder and shrugged the idea of her being in the last place.
"I will do my best! Don't worry about it!" She happily said.
"Mm!" With that, they have exchanged the subject and Penny rode her bicycle while carrying the flag.
Over the last event, Section C was placed in last. The obstacle is now getting harder as it flows onto the routes. The third route was supposed to handle some kind of path that is unknown to the user. They need to take care of it in order to pass the next point.
"Now that they reach the middle part of the obstacle, it is going to get harder at this point. With Section A being placed in the first place as for the third line, Section B for the second place, and Section C in the last place. How can they surpass the overwhelming mud obstacle?!"
Penny decided to use her magic and bestowed a normal speed equalizer in order to boost her speed. She was anxious about how is she going to pass the next obstacle.
"A muddy water?"
Section A and Section B lose their speed after they reached the muddy flow of the stream. Apparently, it is a kind of obstacle that will be harder to traverse in a normal bicycle.
"Tsk! How are we even going to direct this thing!?" They complained as they push the bicycle forward. Despite their skills and magic abilities, they weren't able to provide any kind of solution to the streaming flow of the water that is stopping their resistance and friction. They reached the middle part but it is going on so slow. There was no other way other than the stream.
"They are struggling over there... What should I do?" Penny was not moving in her own position. She just casually waited on the side to see how the others will do their next move but there was no distinct difference. They are just pedaling even with the slow rate of speed.
"And there you go, my folks! The lovely muddy obstacles slow everything down. Will they be able to surpass it?! Judging from their actions, it seems like they are having trouble. Section A and B have their own pairing while Section C... Hmm... Section C is still not going over to the course. Did she give up on it?"
"Tsk! You're looking down on us!" Penny glared as she pedaled forward. As soon as she saw the streaming line, she remembered something.
Listen here, the course in the race is not entirely different from how physic works in our world. Just because it is a game for magic doesn't mean that you cannot apply real-world physics. You can still be able to use them as a guide in order to have some advantage... Now think... How will you define your performance based on facts alone?
It was the words of William explaining the reality of the game. Whether it is a game for magicians or not, applying the real properties is going to be the basis for the whole aspect of their game. Penny knew that she was under the category of thinking something that can help her pass the obstacle. Something that she could use.
"Water... Mud... Wheels... Stream..." She analyzed the whole foundation of the course and found her solution.
"Deforming Magic Spell..." She mumbled the spell.
Realizing that her solution wasn't far off, Penny quickly withdraw her speed activation sequence and started casting another magic spell. This time, it is not a spell that can increase her speed but something that will make her proceed. By straightly navigating down onto the muddy water, she stalled there for a few seconds, and then finally...
"Deforming Magic Spell: Elevated wheel! Renoactum Impureseo!" A spell that can change an object's form with the user's imagination.
After activating this, the circular wheel that was acting as the main driving point of her bicycle started reforming itself to a diagonal metallic oblate sphere. Its size is longer than the current wheel. With this new wheel, Penny started pedaling and pressed forward.
The unexpected happened, she moved seamlessly into the muddy water and the whole crowd fell into silence.
"What the?!"
"Hey! How is she doing that?!"
"There has to be something?!"
"Is she cheating?"
Numerous speculations erupted the silence. Penny didn't mind them and continued to pedal until she reached the end line of the muddy stream.
"Jones, did you see what she cast?" Julia asked.
"Yeah, A reforming magic that can shape things into the user's imagination. She purposely changed the wheel of her bicycle so it can easily traverse into the mud. She is pretty smart to think about that." He answered.
"Woah! An unexpected return to first place by Class C's representative. And look at her wheels! She moved in the mud by changing the type of wheels!"
Figuring out the trick, Penny didn't waste her time and started reshaping her wheels again to the normal state. And then she moved faster until it accelerated her own figure.
"She did it!"
Once again, the roaring converted the whole venue into an exciting monument of surprises. Section C managed to get in the first place again.
"What do you think?"
"What?"
"Section C is pretty smart, I wonder who taught them to be so clever..."
"It is probably someone... Wait... I don't think about someone that is secretive but then again, it has to be someone that is close within their section."
With the mounting presence of the cheering people, Penny landed on the fourth line without any problem.
"Emma! You're next!" She threw the flag to Emma and they all started sprinting. Section A and B were off for a few intervals placing them again in second and third place.
Penny did her best to go over that obstacle! I need to do my best as well! As she reached the middle part of the road, the next obstacle appeared and it is proven to be more lethal than the last one. It is a bridge hanging around in the middle and a bunch of rocks on both sides. What they need to do is to pass through the next line without having to fall on those rocks.
What a pain! They really know how to piss someone off! Since Emma is more of the aggressive type of competitor she decided to use an advanced magic spell that can make her feel lightweight in order to transcend the bridge that is about to fall down.
The magic circle began to encapsulate her, brimming with the green particles and surrounding with a portion of mana converting from words to numbers. Her body glowed and the bicycle that she was riding turned light as well with the wheels still intact in their position.
Emma's speed didn't waver, still pedaling on the opposite side of the bridge, she turned sideways in order to prevent her from falling down.
"Ah! She has great control of the Bike!"
"Section C is dominating this race! That precision and control is undeniably the best movement we have seen so far! She was able to screech her vehicle and turn around without any magic!"
"You can do it! Emma!" Nikki screamed in her line as she watches Emma closely on the bridge.
There are so many routes to take in but her confident mind drifted through the space, making her unstoppable at this point. Her cool and confident personality made its way through various classes. Some of the boys even fell in love with her vibes.
"Man, she is so amazing!"
It is given that Section C boys are probably lucky at this point.
"Come on! Let's go!" By taking the hard route, Emma eventually stumbles upon the bridge and started sliding all the way down to the bottom of the route. With her greater physical prowess and control over her vehicle, she managed to escape the rocking fort of the trap and landed on the other side of the road. A perfect drift plus a perfect drive.
She made a frivolous smile on her case and started sprinting towards the end. Nikki was waiting for them, she curled her lips and smiled all the way through. Section A and Section B passed the bridge as well but they don't have the same expression as Emma.
The final line is about to start with each leader standing on their position. Nikki grabbed the flag from Emma and she started casting a spell.
"Hmm? What is that light?" Asked David.
"That seems weird..." Wency followed.
"Miss Shimizu... Don't tell me?!" William knew what she had to do. It is a part of her training that is resembling another major instance of magic distribution.
"What is she doing?! What is that glowing light?!"
An appealing source of magic designated to her part appeared on the front row of the match. The latter had ended and Nikki started growing more intense. A piece of her mana accumulation made its way on the last line. By furiously infusing more power on her side, she closed her eyes and cast a spell that she didn't know she had. The bright luminosity of this power blinded the audience and fell into confusing confrontation.
It was a vague event that struck them harder.
"Her mana is too high, what is that?!"
"Jones! That is!"
"Yeah! There's no doubt!"
"Nikki!" Aran screamed.
It almost feels like a bomb is about to induce an explosion throughout the venue, she was powering up and gathering a lot of mana. One of the things that had caught their attention was the fact that Nikki was connecting the power of a lightning strike. Blue electricity inhabits her way of speeding and as soon as she started pedaling...
The wheels of her bicycle turned blue with glowing light energy of electricity. She burst through the road with an insane speed.
"Elemental Magic!?!?" David shouted.
"Whoops! It looks like something was awakened. Section C's last participant has shown us something different for this day!"
Exciting parts came into view as Nikki performed an extraordinary magic activation sequence. It was not a part of her daily magic training. She did it like how no one else is willing to try. William was able to confirm that she is not just a normal magician registered under Section C. She is a real magician that can imbue Elemental magic and Modern magic. The two classes of magic have been executed perfectly, combining different effects and properties.
Nikki opened her eyes... She was nothing like the ordinary Nikki they knew. She has a tremendous amount of mana and magic is overflowing on her side. The color of her eyes turned from brown into light blue.
A view of the sage of the lightning god flashed in their minds...
"Nikki..." Aran stood up with his face in utter shock. Everyone did so as well.
And then it started, Nikki showed them how the thing works. As soon as she pressed herself forward, the lightning streak coming from her wheels activated in an instant and she was able to pass through any obstacle at an insane amount of speed.
"She is from Section C, right? How did she get in there? Isn't she supposed to be on Section A?"
"Nikki... Nikki is an Elemental mage user?"
"A lightning type..."
Mahrisse and the other Section A candidates stood in awe after witnessing the change in Nikki's power. The whole shocking revelation is converting everyone's attention to her. It is definitely the most important event that happened all throughout this year's sporting festival.
And thus after striving onto the next line, Nikki swiftly finished the second race, leaving everyone's jaw dropped for the rest of the time.