"So you didn't run huh? I commend your bravery!"
The prince spoke waiting in the middle of the Magical Battle Arena (MBA). He stood tall clad with a lousy full heavy armor covering his entire body from head to toe.
Must be heavy.
"Or shall I say, foolishness? Bwahahahaha!!!"
He added as he gave a loud laughter. The MBA was already swamped with the students and teachers together with people who have access and connection with the Magical Academy, filling almost the whole arena with the capacity of 10 thousand people if filled.
Guren is wearing his usual uniform. Not even covering his body with even a single metal for the battle. In his own perspective that kind of thing will only hinder his mobility. He knew that he was a speed-strength type warrior not a tank type, that's why not wearing anything heavy is the most ideal for him.
On the other side, the prince held a tall magic staff with about 5-feet almost pairing his size. Set with his armor, he was a Magical Tank type character if it was in the VLF. A rather troublesome enemy with long gouge life and a tough defensive affinity.
The shoutings filled the arena as the referee entered and went to the center—between Guren and the Prince. Guren gave a blank look at her when she gave a wink to our boy. Her purple eyes glittered and her blue hair swayed in the mid-air as the dry wind inside the arena blew.
It was the Headmaster of the academy that for some reason was going along with the fuss of the students councils scheme.
This person loves fun, and more importantly, she's also interested in Guren's still yet found skills. Thus, with their goals aligned, the setting of this battle was made for convenience and fun for both Mei Freezia and the headmaster Alice Faerie.
The cheering of the crowd even amplified the heat of the moment. Nobles betting can be seen. Students cheering either the prince and Guren sounded as well. On the stands, there also sat Ellisbeth and Mai—Chika was not there. And beside the battle area there stood Andrea, watching her master closely.
Magical transmission sounded and the voice of the headmaster was heard,
"Now, let the magical duel begin!"
The fireworks were launched and exploded splendidly in the sky signaling the start of the probably fierce fight. And with that, wasting no time, the prince started chanting, raising his staff over his head. A large purple magical circle started to surround Guren. And as it did the prince shouted,
"Striking the laws of nature, bound him in an unbreakable chain of curse. {BINDING MAGIC: CURSING CHAIN!!!}
aloud. An abysmal chains from below the surface inside the magical circle that was surrounding Guren rose and started binding his limbs one by one. Rendering his movements. Gurens' expression never changed, but it is certain that he cannot move. Eyes brimming with confidence and free from fear stared at the prince who was chanting another spell once again.
"Guardian of abyss, the warden of hell. Create fear and feed with this fools' blood and flesh!Now, KILL HIM!!! {SUMMONING MAGIC; CURSED GUARDIAN!}"
The arena started filling up a disturbing miasma, a dark mist that screamed of dread. And from that misty miasma from the abyss, a large horn started surfacing slowly on the battle ground. This sight gave a thrill to all the spectators, giving a chill to anyone who had witnessed. Accompanied with the maniacal laugh of the prince, the scene was made a rather horror of a spectacle.
Guren sighed after seeing this and whispered,
"I thought he was planning for something, seeing him with that confidence. But he went with this huh?" then moved his fingers. Meanwhile the prince was enjoying his time looking at him thinking he was completely bound with such black vine-like chains.
"Buahahaahahahaha! Serves you right, you peasant! Feel the regret of going against a royalty!"
He was still laughing his mind when Guren moved his fingers opening his palm. And said,
"Come: BRUNHILDE!"
weakly. And just like a spark of light, the staff that looks like a spear appeared in his hands. That beautifully jet-black spear, lined with thin red lines, springs surprising even the headmaster. And with a silent voice Guren said...
"{Nullifying Magic: VOID TERRITORY!}"
"Wha—?!"
...illuminating the area with BRUNHILDEs' light. Erasing all kinds of magic in the area. The binding and even the still surfacing Abyssal Demon of course. Everything was left in silence in the arena after the blinding light that came from BRUNHILDE. Astonished with their mouths hanging open, they don't even know what happened there on the battlefield.
¤
As I thought, there is something wrong here. In the first place, it is unthinkable for that narcissistic prince to wear such a lousy looking piece of metal. Also, why is there no one noticing that the prince is using black magic instead of flame magic?
If I have to guess, there is something under that armor that the prince—no, that the schemer is hiding. Most likely an artificial magic device. If my guess is true, then that stupid Prince's life is in danger.
I could care less about that, but if the prince dies here, I will be the one who will be blamed.
As I freed myself from the binding, I stood still watching the prince for his next move. Then, there was something that lit behind the face of his armors' cover, a red light most likely coming from his eyes. Are the game devs not tired of giving villainous characters red eyes? Red eyes are cool, you know.
In a little moment, the prince raised his staff, and loudly uttered.
"The endless realm! Appear before me and send this fool in the eternal depths,{Black Hole!}"
A high level magic?!
That surprised me.
The arenas' ground was being filled with holes of slimy traps, heading in my direction. It looks really nasty, and the effect of this spell is rather troublesome, I tell you.
If you are wondering what kind of spell is this; {Black Magic's
The person behind this farce is really serious about rendering me out of commission! Did I do something that pissed someone off?! I did nothing of sorts right? Oh, but I really did pissed the prince off, though. But that is a different story.
I'll have Benjirou look at it after this. And I already have a suspect.
I jumped back and sides, as I desperately dodged those black whole that was chasing after me. Almost the whole area are filled with such. I can't use my nullifying magic right now as it has CD(Cool down count). Also, I already committed a blunder as soon as I used that spell. People know that I am a follower of de Blaze household, thus they expect me to use Fire(Blaze) Magic. So, I want to avoid using other type of magic as much as possible. Also, I am restraining my magic output and mana supply so that I won't raise any suspicion.
How troublesome!
"Hey, prince!"
I shouted as I was dodging the holes from the ground.
"You're smart, I give you that. But you are not smart enough to be controlled by someone."
As I thought, he did not even flinch with that taunt. It seems even his consciousness is being controlled.
"I think you misunderstood the concept of showing you power. Showing your power means doing your best in any situation using only the power you own! Not the power you are forced to borrow!"
I swing Brunhilde from my chest to the right.
"If you don't— no, if you can't understand what I just said. Then let me show you how it's done!"
"Don't mock me!"
The prince's angered voice escaped his armor and loudly resonated to the arena. But I paid no attention to that.
"Fire magic!{Blazing Isle!}"
From my right, I moved Brunhilde and pointed to my front. As I did, a magic circle appeared in a combination of blue light with white symbols. There, blueish-white fire flowed from the tip of my staff, as if it was a torrent of flame. And from then appeared a carpet of fire above the black holes that were chasing me. That solves the most troublesome problem of the disgusting traps.
The Prince, as if trance, was unable to move. He was as if swallowed by the wonders of Brunhilde.
But then,
"Borrowing *Kyouka's line—It's time to submit!"
I tossed Brunhilde to the air, and as I ordered, it remained floating at mid-air, pointing directly to the prince's location. And as I swept my hand in the air, Brunhilde multiplied and transformed into blueish arrows of flame.
"Grit your teeth, Prince!"
And as I snap my fingers,
"Borrowing *Yato's line—Rend!"
...the flames rushed towards the prince. And as it all landed wholefully at the prince's heavy armor, a loud voice of anguish was heard in the arena after the explosion.
"You know, wearing that piece of metal will expose you to heat. And if the heat reaches the maximum amount, it will roast you like a chicken in an oven."
Using the flame from Brunhilde, I infiltrated the inside of the armor. There, a pendant with a very bad taste of design appeared before me. It was hanging on the prince's neck. A circle pendant with a triangle in it. and in the middle of that triangle was an ominous eye of.
Creepy.
¤
The prince who was in armor never moved an inch after that blinding light and smoke from the exploding blaze. And as for Guren, he walked away casually leaving the area. And passing by the still awed Headmistress who was there right next to Mei, he whispered,
"If you don't want your prince to die, get him out of that armor and cast a healing magic that was based on ice. Also, please be careful when touching that armor... it's quite hot, you see."
...and completely left the arena with Andrea following him from behind.
"Did you see that, Andrea?"
"Yep. Splendid, Master!"
As Guren asked with a smile, Andre replied with beaming eyes.
Hurriedly the lackeys of the prince ran to the arena to check out for him since he was not giving a sign of moving at all.
One of them touched the armor carelessly as sooner as he reached the prince, and heeding not the shouted warning of the Headmaster,
"Hey, don't touch the armor!"
...his hands burned like it directly touched a strongly burning fire.
The heat from the armor can be felt for about one meter of distance, and basing from its heat, it was like an iron ready to be struck in a smiting workshop!
"Just how did he cast an elemental spell that strong?! I never expected this to happen."
Little did they know, Guren was still hiding even more terrifying secrets than they wanted to know. The people of the students council are trying to reveal everything about Guren. But seeing that goal, Guren only used magic that was necessary for this battle. The signature element of the de Blaze household.
Mei was left amazed, hunging her head, blushing for some reason. The magic she witnessed is new to her, and her mind was filled with that thought in that moment.
After casting an anti-elemental magic barrier, the armor was taken off the prince. And with that, the duel ended one sidedly with the prince's loss.
The guests and the students stared at each other with black expressions. Processing in their mind what just happened.
The duel had ended leaving everyone hanging on their own incomplete comprehension of the event.
"Just what on Fantasia did we let in, in our Academy..."
With the image of his back leaving the arena, this question was made...
...To be Continued…
*Uzen Kyouka—From Mato Seihei No Slave.
*Yatogami—From Noragami.