--- [Grand Arena] ---
"I think I had eaten a bit too much yesterday…" Quinn sighed.
"Chill, it's not our turn yet."
"But I wonder where Elea is?" Quinn being curious.
"I don't know," I reply while lifting both of my shoulder.
"Ah, I wonder how today will went, since Eva's group is so overpowered yesterday…"
So, today is the second day of the Blade Festival. Only me and Quinn are currently here, waiting for Elea. The first match is about to start so we just take a sit at some random vacant seats. For yesterday, I knew that Lilith team succeed to win the division E round from the tournament group chat in my smartphone. Lilith's team must be strong.
"Evans, actually, since when did you nicknamed Princess Eleanor as Elea, I didn't hear anyone call her that," Quinn embarked another topic.
"Hm… since I met her at the armament shop at Azalea district," I said.
"Is that like your tenth time meeting her?" Quinn assumed.
"No, that was a second," I stated.
"Eh, just the second time and you already call her by a nickname?"
"Um… yes?"
"Wow, that's crazy!"
"Why?"
"I heard that she is quite a cold person, she's not talking to anyone in her class at all even though they went swarming to her."
"Eh, really? That's weird, she talks to me just normally…"
"I heard that she is a kind of introvert, she doesn't talk much. Her 'princess aura' is making everyone anxious to even get near her. Even every time I try to talk to her, even I can feel that anxiety you know!" Quinn exaggerated.
"Princess… aura… hahaha that's kind of accurate!"
"Yeah, I mean… you know if a royal family and the nobles talk about status and stuff, they become kind of arrogant and start ordering people around. Most of royal members that studying here pretty much fit the description, so most students like us don't want to get involved with that. But for princess Elea, it's more like she is very dutiful and 'busy-looking' all the time so people kind of don't want to annoy her or something. I have never seen he talk to another guy aside from the prince," Quinn explained.
"Oh… that makes me an exception then hehe…"
"Nah… you may even not in her list, many attractive and hot guys have tried get near her, but none have succeeded. Maybe it's just because of the tournament that she is being nice so you should not keep your hopes up Evans. Most importantly is we can't mess up this tournament, I always heard she is training extremely hard every single day since last year."
"Hm…" I reply with a nod.
But what if she likes m—
"Hey sorry, looks like I come late again!"
We both are startled by Elea voice that suddenly appeared from our backs.
"E-Elea… when did you arrive…?" I asked, a little bit surprised from her sudden emergence.
"Just now," she replied shortly while trying to catch her breath.
Princess is catching her breath after coming late. A rare sight indeed. But most importantly, we almost caught talking behind her back. Oh, thank God we just finished the topic before she heard it.
"Hey, the match is about to start!" Quinn called to us.
"HEYY EVERYONE!! WELCOME ON THE SECOND DAY OF BLADE FESTIVAL, HERO ARMAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND STAGE!!!" Carl greeted everyone in the arena.
The arena reverberating with rounds of applause and cheers from the crowds expressing how excited they are for the fight.
"So, about today's match, the higher ups, has decided to do this, I think everyone already knows it… It is, CAPTURE THE LEADER!!!" Carl announced.
"Capture the leader? Is that the same with last year?" I asked.
"Yea, they do that every year, so it's expected." Quinn replied.
Carl continued commentating the match.
"The system is the same as last year second stage, but I insist to give a briefing about it. 'Capture the Leader' is a match between two team, opposing each other with the purpose of capturing the leader and rendered the team unable to fight. Basically, that's how the match will go, maybe Hana can explain on the rules?"
"Of course, Carl, the rules are simple, any teams that successfully apprehend the leader of the opposing team is rendered as winner. If both teams are surprisingly having a great fight, the last standing will be considered as the victor!" Hana briefed.
"So simple! Looks like the second stage will be shorter that the first one, what do you think Hana?" Carl asked in curious intonation.
"Oh Carl, I can't say that yet! Why? Because all teams that succeed to reach the second stage is quite formidable than all the other contestants from yesterday match!" Hana replied looking eager at the same time.
"That is probably true! So how about the matchmaking goes?" Carl mentioned.
"Good question Carl! Actually, I have got the match-making result in my grasp from yesterday division winner! Let's see it together!"
The arena screen start displaying the matchmaking that have been created by the tournament management.
--------------------------------------
[Match-making List]
1. Team A vs Team D
2. Team B vs Team E
3. Team C vs Team F
--------------------------------------
Looks like my team is not clashed with Lilith's and Eva's team. Perhaps we will meet at the final stage. If we win.
"The team is divided by the winning team of each section from yesterday match, so basically, the winner of division A is team A and same goes for every other team," Hana elaborated.
"I guess the audience can't wait any longer right!!" Carl said in attempt to arouse the excitement and noise.
"YEAHH!!!" The crowds cheered.
"START THE MATCH ALREADY!!!" One of the audiences scream.
"This is exciting, right Evans!" Quinn is looking quite excited.
"Yeah Quinn, it's the first match after all and moreover, in team A is—"
"Since the crowd is already excited, let's call the contestants onto the stage! From A team, I call forth Ace, Angela, and Frostbite!" Carl loud and echoing voice sank my voice beneath his through the speaker.
Team A members enter get onto the stage and walk to a marked spot on the stage after Carl called their nicknames.
"From team D team, I call upon Gray, Marcy, and Raphe!" Hana called.
Team D member enter the stage while waving at the audience. Gray and Raphe is the two guys who walk in front of the girl, most probably Marcy, go to the marked spot for them on the stage. One from each team member wear a headband signifies as the leader for the team. Eva is the leader for team A, Gray for team D, already prepared and roaring to go.
"Carl, so we already have the first match participant on the stage, look so prepared! So how about we start the match, Carl?" Hana suggested.
"Of course, we will commence it now Hana! So, everyone, let have the second stage of Hero Armament Championship—"
"BEGIN!!" Hana and Carl say it in sync.
As the match started, team D go directly towards Ace.
"Eh, they headed to Ace?" Quinn surprised by the action taken by team D.
"They may have something in plan," Elea responded.
Ace who was waiting for them to come with calm composure, holding his sword in his right hand, ready to receive the attack. In the distance, Marcy start activating a spell before followed by Raphe and Gray.
"Activate Magical Energy Surge!!" Marcy activated a spell.
[Magical Energy Surge(B-rank): Increased the magical energy of the target by 200%. Maximum number of targets is two people.]
The spell activated by the Marcy caused a light of dim yellow colour to emit from her squad's physique.
"Activate Intense Barrier!" Raphe chanted his spell.
[Intense Barrier(A-rank): Produce an exceptionally strong barrier around target.]
Magical barrier activated by Raphe instantaneously trapped Ace inside it. Ace is surprised by it and attempting to damage the barrier, but it is futile.
"Activate Anti-Magic Area!" Gray casted his spell after Raphe.
[Anti-Magic Area(A-rank): Produce a magic that negates any magic power.]
Instantly, an anti-magic area appeared inside the trap barrier, disabling Ace ability to activates any magical attacks.
"Wow, those three are high rank spell!" Quinn voiced out his amazement.
"Yea, it sure is. By locking Ace, they have sealed the most dangerous foe on the battlefield," I responded.
"But Ace can get out from that right?" Quinn asked.
"He can't," Elea who just watching the battle attentively replied out of the blue.
"Eh, why?" Quinn averted his eyes to Elea.
"If you realise, before they activate the sealing spell, one of them activate a magical energy enhancer spell, to reinforce their magic, then sealing magic activated is enhanced several times stronger than usual making it an improvised version sealing technique," Elea explained.
"That's clever," Quinn said while looking at trapped Ace trying to break the barrier with his punches and kicks.
"They knew from the moment the battle starts, Ace will be their greatest threat, so they lock him up," I sounded my opinion.
"True," Elea replied with moving her eyes.
They start attacking Eva which the leader of A team, perhaps to have a quick closure to the battle. But I don't think it will be that easy—
"Do you forget about me?" Helena shouted at the opposite team.
She raises her wand, directing it to her opponents while performing a skill.
"Wand Skill: Ice magic, Ice Pillar!"
In just one second, abundant of large ice pillars appear from the ground, rising upwards instantly, halting the movement of the enemy team.
"Angela! Ace! Plans?" Helena asked.
"I can't get out from this trap. I guess this magic can be destroyed with an extremely strong attack, but I would not recommend that cause it would injure me in the process. The other way, you must cancel the trap by defeating the caster," Ace answered.
Eva starts running swiftly forward and climb over the pillars of ice with an impressively nimble movement.
"I will cover your back, Ev… Angela!" Eva tried to cover her blurts.
"Thanks, Hele… Frostbite!" Helena replied to the same way as Angela.
Is there something wrong with saying their real name?
As Eva reached the peak of the tallest ice pillar, she shot an acceleration-type magic arrow to Marcy. The speciality of an arrow imbued with magic is the archer don't have to declare any keyword to activate it, instead the arrow will perform its own ability on moment of impact or on a set timer.
Marcy collapses.
"Marcy!" Raphe shouted while looking at his fallen teammate.
"Why did she target the girl instead of the leader?" Quinn asked with his hand touching his chin.
"Because the girl is the main support for the team, based on their formation, those guys apparently the attackers which most probably more agile than the girl. Besides, taking down the support in a battle is pretty fundamental to reduce their chance to regain a stand up after a fall," I clarified with a little hand gesture.
Elea just watching the match attentively. Just watching her serious face makes my heart racing. Ops, got to watch the match.
"I will catch you, Arrow Queen!" Gray declared his intent to Eva.
"Come get me then," Eva provoked him.
"Get Marcy to the back, Raphe!" Gray commanded.
"Got it!" Raphe replied.
Raphe carried fainted Marcy to the back of their position, further from the Eva's team. Gray is getting ready to activate his skill.
"Activate Speedster."
[Speedster(B-rank): Increase the user speed greatly for 5 minutes.]
Gray's body discharging blue colour from his body continuously, probably the Speedster spell effect. A continuous magic energy draining spell will have longer charging time than an instant spell, but the effect of instant spell is a lot more powerful. Looks like he is going to bulldoze the ice pillars and have a short-range battle with Eva.
"Aria Ultimate: Mountain Breaker!"
"An ultimate this early?!" I shocked.
When a weapon user wants to execute the strongest skill of the weapon or we called it 'Ultimate', the user needs to declare his weapon name and the keyword which is 'ultimate' itself followed by the skill name. Aria is undoubtedly the name of his sword. This is how every weapon programmed. It's quite insecure because if the weapon got stolen, thing s could get dangerous. The thief can use the weapon skill by chanting the skill name unless their body aren't able to withstand the impact, they may just be blown away by drawbacks of the skill.
"Looks like Gray is going in for the kill!!" Carl mentioned excitedly.
Gray swings his sword horizontally to the base of the ice pillars. His sword was emitting a dim brown light. In an instant, the swing unleashes an immense slash in form of crescent energy with multiple shades of brown on it followed with fierce wind force pushing out to the surrounding. The ice pillars shattered violently and blown away by the great wind force added with piercing sharp ice-breaking sounds. Eva and Helena also pushed far back from the wind force.
Fortunately, the magic impact won't reach the audience because of the magical barrier that produced around the stage even the wind force can still reach the audience. Audience just cheers, screamed over the wonderful techniques presented by both teams. They are enjoying it too much.
"What a powerful force!" Helena said while covering her face from the strong wind force. But the barrier that trapped Ace still look as sturdy and didn't break a little bit. Perhaps the direct slash itself need to hit to shattered it.
In a blink of an eye, Gray make several swift dashes towards Eva. Eva dodged the obvious strike and tried to put a distance between them.
"Frostbite! It's time, I will finish him!" Eva said while giving signs to Helena.
"Are you sure?" Helena asked with a shocked face, but Eva is too busy dealing with Gray's attacks.
Helena looked at Ace, gesturing for a confirmation. Ace nodded as a sign.
"Alright Angela! He is all yours!" Helena finally agreed to the plan.
"Don't say that! Evans will get jealous!" Eva replied unashamedly.
The crowds suddenly become rowdy with questions after hearing her mentioning my name. Why the hell she's doing that during the match…
"Hahaha, your sister really loves you right?" Elea says while carving a smile to me.
"Or she just wants to make me embarrassed," I replied while lowing my head, trying to hide from the crowds.
"Oh Evans, why are you play so hard to get?" Elea asked.
"I-I'm not though!!" I stuttered.
"Hahaha! Aw, sorry! I was just teasing you!" She giggled.
Uuu… damn she's not just cute, she's funny too! Therefore, my loves bloomed even bigger now hee… I don't mind she is teasing me because I love it when she smiles too. What I'm worried about is, this guy beside me.
"Quinn? A-are you okay?" I asked to Quinn who looked kind of down from just now.
"Uh… yes…" he replied with a terribly worn-out tone.
"Uh… you are clearly not to me though…" I responded.
"I… am… okay…." He replied with the same tone.
What a drag…
The battle continues with Gray endlessly strike upon Eva, but she is barely dodging every single strike while fired her arrows the best she can in short range battle. It looks unfavourable to her because she can't keep up to Gray's movement speed. I wonder what she has in plan. Helena looks like trying to prepare a magic but—
"I won't let you activate your magic!"
Raphe went to Helena who was unconscious of his arrival and moreover, unready to receive his attack. Helena startled and dashed backwards.
"Don't get in my way! Wand Skill: Ice magic, Ice Stalagmite!" Helena trying to protect herself.
That was the same skill she uses yesterday on the starting of the match. The ice stalagmite emerges and successfully block Raphe.
"IT'S TIME ANGELA! I'M READY!!" Helena shouted to Eva.
"ROGER!!" Eva replied to her.
Later, in attempt of activating one of her skill, Helena makes herself float several meters on the air. Her eyes are gleaming in light bluish colour. Man, that looks cool.
"Frost Warden Ultimate: North Cage!" She chanted her ultimate skill.
"AN ULTIMATE FROM FROSTBITE!!" Hana screamed.
The entire arena suddenly become chilly even with the magical barrier still functioning. The effect is just that powerful I supposed. But the skill doesn't end there, the whole stage is visibly shaking a little when an enormous wall of ice emerges from the stage floor trapping Eva and Gray within.
"What the hell…" Gray said while hugging his shivering body due to the cold temperature.
"It's an A-rank large area coverage magic. In five minutes if we don't get out of here, we will be frozen to half-dead. This place will give us hard time to walk too. It's your lost."
"My lost? Hey, don't you know what you are talking about? This is disadvantageous to both of us!" Gray replied.
"Don' t misunderstands, I did say we will have hard time to walk, but I don't think I should walk. I'm an archer after all," Eva said with her smug face.
"Damn you!!" Gray replied after realising an archer can do a better shot without moving.
Gray quickly sprints to Eva while moving carefully on the slippery ice surface.
"Let's finish this," Eva is getting ready to fire her arrow.