Allen arrived at the stage. His rival was a girl from another Academy. She was holding a staff and looked quite shy.
Allen looked at her with an expressionless face and waited for the match to begin.
As the two faced each other, the announcer shouted.
"Let the match... begin!"
Just as the announcer announced, the girl stretched her staff and cast.
"Ice Rain!"
Small clouds appeared in the sky and started pouring spiky ice. Those ice were sharp and pointy. If someone gets hit by it, they won't escape with mere injury."
Allen blinked his eyes at her quick reaction. He raised his hand and cast "Golden Defensive Shield" casually.
A barrier surrounded him and the ice spike hit the barrier. The ice couldn't create a dent in the barrier let alone scratch it.
But the girl was quick again. When the ice just hit the barrier, she had already cast another spell.
"Ice Spears"
Long spears of ice appeared behind her back and moved at her will. She swiped her hand and those ice zoomed at Allen.
The ice hit the barrier repeatedly which created a crack. Ren moved sideways just as his barrier broke.
Casting pyroblast, he dealt with the remaining ice spears.
The girl didn't lose her confidence.
"Freeze!"
Her body glowed. The glow transmitted into the ground. The light moved in a line and sped toward Allen.
It speed was fast and as it reached near Allen, Allen dodged it. He moved sideways using quick speed. But as he did that, the light also changed its direction and touched Allen.
With the touch, a chill spread throughout Allen's body. His body froze and ice started consuming him from his leg.
Allen blink and used pyroblast. He cast ten pyroblast and use it to melt the ice.
As the ice moved up repeatedly, the fire melt it down at the same speed. While he was busy with that, the girl had taken a deep breath.
She raised her hand and countless shards of ice hovered behind her back.
Those shards of ice zoomed toward Allen. Allen cast a golden defensive shield, but she was a tier 4 mage. So her attack easily created a crack in his barrier.
As the barrier got cracked, Allen fixed it using his mana.
And he also used a tower of fire.
Ten small towers of fire little bigger than himself surrounded him. Those ice melted the moment it touched the fire.
And those countless ice shards became useless. The tower of fire increased the temperature and the ice that was consuming him melted down to liquid.
The girl panted heavily and couldn't continue to cast spells. She tried to move, but Allen used quick speed and punched her stomach.
He punched her a little strongly.
"Gah!"
She grunted and fell unconscious on his arms.
"The winner is Allen!"
The announcer announced loudly.
"Woooooooo!"
"Yaaaaaaa!"
The crowd cheered.
They had bet on him, so naturally, they were happy when they saw him winning. Their match wasn't that flashy but it was a good one.
After that, another match started.
He had won the first round, and his next turn came after ten battles.
He easily defeated his opponent.
****************
"Our first day has come to end!" The announcer announced enthusiastically.
"The remaining battle will finish tomorrow! Our second match will be Team Battle. The top 1000 will participate in this match. Let's meet tomorrow!"
With that, the first day of the tournament ended.
The spectators left the venue. Some went with smiles on their face, some walked while laughing, while some were sad and crying.
Allen also returned to his inn and rested.
The next day, the remaining participants finished their match.
And after that day, the team battle arrived.
*******