The royal fight had passed, now it was time for two girls who, even though they didn't come from royal births, showed claw and strength, the field was restored and both fighters prepared for the fight, to give their all.
– Start the battle. – Announced the queen.
– Friend, I know you did a lot for me, but I won't hold back. – Sandy said, she was already shaking the waves of sand against Alana with the intention of hitting a rough and direct impact right away.
– I know well friend, and I also did not plan to take it easy with you, I know how strong you are. – Alana said, escaping from the sand blow and launching psionic energy bristles.
– Dancing Sand Rain! – Conjured Sandy who formed several long, thin, and pointed lozenges of sand in the sky and made them fall hunting Alana.
Alana had to move more nimbly still trying to get close to her opponent and hit her with a sequence of quick direct hits along with psionic shots. She had strong sensorial ability, so she could feel where the attacks were coming from, she was really a tough opponent.
– Let's make things more interesting... Doppler Effect. – Conjured Alana, it was a sensorial manipulation spell, Sandy now saw several Alanas on the battlefield, but the spell had not been executed perfectly, it was possible to see some flaws in the copies, but among dozens of copies it was difficult to identify the real. This was a common spell for those pretending to be respectable sensorial mages, very versatile.
– You just made things more difficult, not that I can't handle it. – laughed Sandy who controlled the sand with expertise, made a defense that was also an attack with walls of sand that surrounded it and also attacked as Alana approached, it was a difficult situation when you couldn't aim accurately.
The fight was going very well, it was a fight of intelligent mages and with strategies in mind, they would not be careless, and their families recognized their efforts.
– She's really brilliant, the Doppler Effect is an advanced spell of sensorial magic, she must have trained it just for this occasion, even if it's not perfect yet, it's a very good attempt. – Recognized Elijah who was recognized as one of the best users of this technique and who passed it on to Ethan when he was in his early third year. – Looks like she deserves a lot more credit than she had given, first she beat a tough opponent like Quasar in a phenomenal way and now she used a complex technique with partial success rate, she's good. –
– She's your granddaughter, Daddy, are you so surprised? – Dinah laughed.
– Everything she does is to honor you. – Said Jean-Paul.
– And she's showing that she's an Ivory to the last strand of hair. – Elijah said happily.
On Sandy's side, her parents were sure of their daughter's abilities, they didn't stop believing.
– By the Goddess… Sandy go there my daughter, I know you can do it! – Samira said, she was praying for her daughter, she had come so far, she would achieve this victory.
– It's going to work, our little girl will show her who she is. – Amir smiled that did not contain his enthusiasm.
The crowd was in an uproar, the young fellow mages divided and excited at the same time as they had been in practically every other fight, but the main box seemed to seek an analytical eye and realize their potential beyond just that fight.
– Doppler Effect, even if imperfect, is not a spell for the first year, but being the granddaughter of who it is, it doesn't surprise me... Elijah who taught me this spell when I was 18 years old. – Ethan commented, he remembered the training with affection. – She's good, the Kora'q will have to cut a crease there. –
– I know that Alana is a potential stealth warrior, but Sandy is not easy at all, she already uses the sands defensively and offensively at the same time with skill, in addition to a well-versed range of skills... This girl has charisma and ability to fill the field. – Margareth commented that she understood about simultaneous defensive/offensive spells.
– I dare say yes, she always stands out, she manages to manipulate the situation in her favor with surprising mastery and ease. – Commented Emiliana.
– I want to see if this will stand up to Alana's furtive and murderous urge, she's got a lot of tricks up her sleeve with her mists. – Henri said.
– Now that you commented... She already used the Doppler, is she already trying to learn the ... – Ethan began, intrigued by the thought.
– Yes sir, of course it's still rudimentary, but she should be able to make its effects in 1.5X... You don't even need to conjure the name of the technique anymore and can increase the opponents' pain by 10X, up to 50X with maximum effort... This strike is, after all, a technique common to sensorial manipulation mages. –Henri commented.
– GOOD sensorial mages, it's something complex to develop, but I don't have a monopoly on it, right? – Ethan laughed. – I'm dying to see how she will do. –
The fight was fierce, Alana had already deactivated the spell, she was trying to get past Sandy's defenses, but it was something very difficult, she would try to be stealthy.
– Smoke Mist! – Conjured Alana throwing a mist of ash to take Sandy's visibility, even if it wouldn't last long, he just needed a more substantial breach to land her serious blow.
– Sorry friend, but it won't work. – laughed Sandy who used her wind to clean the ashes.
– I just needed a little distraction… Sensitvity Amplifier. – Conjured Alana who emanated her hands with a shy multicolored energy that had the power to increase Sandy's sensitivity, currently she could deal 1.5X damage which was already enough for a first year student, something rare even. Alana then landed a series of blows with much more impact and damage than they would normally have, it was a force to offset her strength that was average compared to the physically stronger students in her class, and knowing this state of heightened sensitivity she went with everything. – Fiery Mix. –
Alana expelled the smoldering mists, but again Sandy swept them away with her sandstorm, she wouldn't let go.
– Very good trick friend, but I didn't come to lose, I'm sorry… SandyStorm. – Conjured Sandy, this was her most powerful spell and also authoral, it was simple in itself, but very powerful, she provoked a huge Sandstorm that expanded, she had no truce or forgiveness, her form varied, hurricane, tornado, cyclone, nebula, it was an out-of-control Sandstorm with phenomenal damage, the sand and wind coming together in a feat almost of nature itself, Alana couldn't go head-on with a blow like that, she was hit hard and took the damage of the blow. Finally, the storm condensed into a massive sphere of sand crushing the opponent and then unraveling in a shower of sand, but Sandy at the last second didn't let Alana crash to the ground.
– The winner has been decided, congratulations Sandy Storm. - Announced the queen.
Sandy then goes to Alana who was still conscious, even though with a lot of serious injuries and broken bones, they were friends above all that.
– It was quite a fight, my congratulations. – Alana smiled, accepting Sandy's help to get up. – "SandyStorm", really? I thought I was the self-centered one. –
– I liked the joke... Let's get you a doctor. – Sandy said with grace.
– Preferably hot and single. – Alana laughed.
The main box was satisfied with that fight, it had been an exemplary fight.
– And the list of phenomenal actions only grows, Ivory was using spells she hadn't fully mastered yet, but she demonstrated an aptitude as well as impressive battle intelligence… She knew that misting techniques would be useless against a mage with wind magic then turned to the sensorial. – Edward commented drinking his whiskey. – And the winner, that Kora'q caused a promising sandstorm, nothing compared to some we have already faced in Kora'q, but the potential to get there and even more, she deserved it. –
– Both powerful in each style there is no need to elevate each other's demerit, different styles, same skill... And the Kora'q showed a lot of control, she could have destroyed Alana's spine almost irreversibly, lucky she was the good one for both of them... Considering their potential, I wonder if there was a need for us to come back. – Laughed Otrera.
– What's 'O', you said yourself, they have talent, but you would crush them all in one battle, and I say all candidates together and you would still drag them on easy ground. – Edward said.
– Yes, but what about five, six years from now? They can be elite Paladins without a doubt, that if they continue on this path, we all know that prolonged periods of peace tend to make generations weaker than those forged in crisis, they are proving themselves an exception to the rule. – Said Otrera reflective.
– Let's hope that the day they need to fight a war like the last one never comes. – Said George.
– We all know what that was like, and we don't want our students to have to go through it either, but they are proving that they have the courage to give their best for Celestia, no matter the odds. – Emiliana commented that she knew very well what it was to lose someone dear in battle.
– That's true, but now there's only one more fight left... Artemisia and Megara, something tells me that this fight is going to be "explosive". – Edward said.
– What did you do? – Said the other two legendary mages looking at their teammate.
– Nothing, it's just a feeling I've had since the last fight. – Edward laughed who was very anxious.
***
The last fight was there, perhaps the most awaited fight by all, an old rivalry that became a friendship, Artemisia and Megara would face each other with everything they had, the arena was all restored again, the young mages who had already recovered they were watching the fight intently, Nathan was behind Apollodro hugging him and watching the arena ready for battle; Erik was vying with Declan for the attention of Alana who had been handled by Astarte himself; Adam and Eve seemed to be exchanging tips on their battle tools; everyone was watching very attentively, after all there were the two best students in terms of first-year combat about to face each other.
– May the final fight, for the last promotion, begin! – Announced the queen, that was the last clash of the Triad Exam.
– Let's make our best... Thunder Flaming Impact! – Conjured Artemisia, on the right side she emanated thunder, on the left side emanated fire, she advanced with wit hitting several impacts with electrical and flame damage.
– Took the words out of my mouth… Kozumikkubaree (Cosmic Ballet). – Conjured Megara in Nihondess, it was a special spell, temporarily Megara's body seemed covered by a layer of cosmic energy, and then went on an offensive full of punches, kicks, knees and violent headbutts.
The fight from the beginning was being carried out with everything, the two already manifested their magic and mixed them in their blows, a succession of furious and dangerous blows, but what differentiated this fight from the previous ones between the two was the mutual respect gained between them. Artemisia also tried to launch her flame projectiles admittedly superior to those of her colleagues; Megara dodges and leaps up, kicking the ground, cracking it and releasing cosmic energy from the cracks. They would go all out, no matter the obstacles, it was win or win.
– Let's make things more interesting here, no? Cosmic Punch Party. – Conjured Megara who created thirty full-sized fists made of cosmic energy that deliver countless punches to Artemisia as if they were a violent swarm of bees, in the end the thirty fists transform into one and from above they tried to hit the opponent and succeeded.
Artemisia took that good blow, it would take a lot more to get rid of her.
– How cute, try this here… Firebreathe + Wind Gate. – Conjured Artemisia that converted her magic and elemental nature into fire that spit vigorously through the mouth passing through a magical seal of wind, passing through the seal that spit of fire that was already strong turned into a wild and uncontrolled firestorm.
The two exchanged blows and techniques at an impressive level, the form, the impact of the blows, were impressive rivals and nobody could deny that they were on the same level.
– These two have faced each other a lot before, but I feel that there is something different this time, they are more "friendly" to each other. – Yoshiro commented.
– Friends and rivals, this will only make things even more fierce... But they both proved themselves to get this far... Megara will win I feel. – Kiki said.
– And let's root for our little one. – Yoshiro said.
The Hecatrix were delighted with that combat, it was a demonstration of tremendous skill, in addition to a lot of power.
– This girl is a magical energy bomb… This battle is being too much fun, even though it is a rerun of five battles they've had in competitions before. – Daedalus said.
– It may even be, but this time it's different, they don't hate each other anymore, this is a fight between friends and rivals who will give their all. – Commented Hecuba.
– Arte is really full of vitality and tricks, since the beginning she's already gone with everything she has, but I think she still has something up her sleeve. – Tristan commented.
– I have the same impression since the last round. – Helena commented. – This girl is going to do one of the good ones. –
In the main box, the fight was living up to expectations.
– I said she was saving something for this fight… All this strength and commitment, love and hate are mixed, I understand well, but she still hasn't shown what she really came from. – Edward commented that he watched this fight more focused than all the others.
– And Hashik isn't far behind, her skills are compatible with Artê's, it's going to be a disgraceful ass. – Said Otrera with a smirk.
– These two have already faced each other in the past, feelings are always tense between them, whether friends or not while fighting. – Henri commented.
– I have no doubt that they are putting all of themselves into this fight. – Astarte stated that he had returned to the box.
– Double or no Gin bet, Hashik takes this one. – Maeve said.
– Deal! – Said Otrera without even thinking.
The fight was at the top of its lungs, Artemisia just didn't care for the kiss she saw between Keith and Megara, she just wanted to have a full fight and with everything against her rival, it wasn't going to be her feelings for a boy that would take her concentration off.
– Dynamic Spiral! – Conjured Artemisia using her projectile spell, she launched a comet of pure fire and thunder, fed and expanded by the wind furiously.
Megara was hit by the blow, but she wasn't going to let it stop her, her Cosmic Ballet mode was in full swing and she wasn't going to give up again to Artemisia.
– Hall Of Order. – Conjured Megara who lit up the recital with the energy of order, it was so bright, blinding and even blinding, she took advantage of this cue to land a series of vigorous blows on Artemisia, disoriented and launching her into the skies.
– Low blow, but respect! – Artemisia said that still in free fall shoots a dragon of flames vertically.
– I wasn't finished, here's my new move… Cosmic Dance. – Conjured Megara who intercepted Artemisia still in the air hitting her using her body like a living tornado towards the heavens exhaling a lot of cosmic magic energy, and from above she lands a series of blows using a cosmic energy platform as "ground" in the middle from the air as if performing a dance with cosmic blades protruding from her wrists and ankles, it was a quick, powerful, efficient jab that ended with Megara slamming Artemisia to the ground.
The Hecatrix didn't stay on the ground for long and didn't even intend to be defeated there, she would give it her all and she knew that this last spell wasn't the only new thing, she knew there was more, but she wouldn't sit there paying to see it.
– Very good this blow, but I do not give up easy friend... Bombing Fire Storm. – Conjured Artemisia who casted a violent firestorm with strategically placed air pockets inside it to intensify the spread of flames and explosions, and even more in a concentrated place, it was quite an attack that hit Megara, but it wasn't going to be the enough to defeat the mage.
The two soon returned to the fight, it was really a fight between two mages who knew the opponent, Megara's emanated blows of cosmic energy intersected with Artemisia's attacks with fire and electricity projectiles, a phenomenal clash with the right to many advantage twists, acrobatics and attempted lethal attacks, knees, kicks, headbutts and leg slashes like helicopter propellers.
– You're really giving your all in this fight. – Megara laughed who was very excited and almost breathless.
– I promised I wouldn't soften up with you just because we became friends. – Artemisia said.
They were both ready to deliver their ace techniques, they were waiting for the time and space for it, ready to give their best in one last triumphant blow that would leave them exhausted, they knew it well and the opportunity came, they backed off and prepared their blows, it was all or nothing.
– Bombing Will Of The Blazing Lion. – Conjured Artemisia, this move was her card up her sleeve, trained hard to master this move that was partly authorial and partly in honor of Edward. Her body was engulfed in flames as if a lion covered her, claws of thunder in her hands, as well as the fangs of the mouth of the lion-shaped flame cloak, and not only that, the entire field was erupting in an electrical storm that it came from above and a vigorous spread of flames below, the entire arena was on fire and for the first time the protective barrier was seen that had been made to prevent the flames from spreading out of the battlefield, each hit caused a micro-explosion of electricity and flames where it hit.
– Strike Of The Cosmic Palms. – Conjured Megara, her blow concentrated and expanded the cosmic energy around him that also temporarily improved his status, she could either launch cosmic energy palms that would grow causing monstrous impacts, as she could also hit those palms emanating pure energy to hit direct blows and temporarily damaging the target's magic flow.
The blows crossed, hit each other several times, it was something grand and violent at the same time, both were with lethal wounds, but continued to fight, after exchanges of punches, explosions and injuries in the flow of magic, they were still standing, their clothes well tattered from the battle, evident bruises, panting, and even so they continued.
– ARTÊ! – Megara shouted who ran towards her opponent to give her the final punch, she was already without her cloak, she gathered what was left of energy to empower only her fist with cosmic energy for that last blow.
– MEG! – yelled Artemisia who ran towards her opponent for one last punch, she was already without the cover of fire and lightning, concentrated all the energy she had left for one last flaming punch.
The two hit each other mutually throwing themselves to the ground, they had given their all in that battle, the victory would be for whoever could get up after all that. Atemisia and Megara were gathering whatever was left for them to rise, but at the last moment Megara collapsed from fatigue and injuries, Artemisia rose to her feet.
– The winner has been decided, congratulations Artemisia Hecatrix, you are the winner of the last battle. – Announced the queen who applauded with vigor and admiration, that battle had been intense and they gave their all.
Soon everyone applauded them too, everyone was impressed, that battle had been an absurd demonstration of power, they went to the end, literally to their last strength, they had proven what it was to be a Belladona Academy mage, what it was to carry the "Spirit of Celestia" in the chest. Panting Artemisia was taken by a medical team there along with Megara, they had to retrieve them soon for the awards ceremony. In the main box the master mages were still impressed with that fight.
– I said she had something up her sleeve... That last blow could have put this whole place to the ground, burned everything to ash, she's a Hecatrix after all... Looks like the Astarte team isn't just talk after all, they want to be like us. – Edward said, he was proud of Artemisia's performance, he had even given her the hint.
– Their talent is undeniable, the three passed in the end, what I call closing with a flourish... And thinking that they are first-year students. – Said Otrera admired.
– They still have a lot to learn, but the potential is undeniable. – Morrigan commented with an analytical look. – And Hashik also surprised me, that cosmic palms blow, it could have unleashed a very dangerous destructive energy, the blows were equivalent. –
– She was saving it precisely for Artemisia, she was sure of victory this time. – Said Henri.
– And she almost didn't win… They still have a lot to learn, but they already have a very good foundation, it is undeniable that their place, and of all competitors in this exam of the triad, is in Belladona. – Said Astarte.
– It was an examination full of revelations, impressive blows, spells difficult to execute, our future is in good hands. – Said the queen.
– In a little while we will do the delivery ceremony, I can't believe it's over. – Margareth said.
– Next year there's more. – Commented Anitta.
– I doubt that will be as remarkable as this one, I don't see an exciting exam like this one like 22 years ago. – Margareth said.
***
It was time to praise the winners, everyone was already properly healed, night was almost falling on him, but the lighting in the arena was excellent, in the center of the arena were the five qualified: Apollodro, Nathan, Artemisia, Eve and Sandy. All deserving, were now wearing their Belladona academy uniforms, as well as all their other colleagues, facing the five were the twelve master mages, Emma, Valtor and Aria, in the queen's hands had a case with five gold brooches on the shaped like an elongated beta, she puts on each one with delicacy and care, especially Nathan's.
– Today you accomplished extraordinary feats for first-year students, demonstrated your determination and determination, demonstrated kindness, companionship and compassion... You are the future of Celestia and I am very proud of what you did today, including all those who lost , just by getting this far, they're already winners... As a queen I couldn't be more proud. – Aria said emotionally.
– I ratify everything the queen said, we saw each fight, analyzed your performance and proved that you are here on your merits, that it is you and not the fame of your parents or your past, it is young people from the Belladona Academy of the Royal Guard who showed their value... However, I urge you not to let this go to your heads, remember there is a lot to do, learn, study, improve, just think of it as a real beginning... Furthermore, we have obviously prepared festivities in the region of gardens and lakes after so many confrontations and almost unthinkable tests, you deserve it. – Said Otrera managing to be tender, serious, austere and kind all at the same time, life had taught her to value the well-being of others around her and their safety.
– Before you go party, I would like to remind the promoted students that you will be charged much more, you must be model students, serve as an inspiration to others, as well as being selectable for missions more difficult than the others, it is not just one title, it's a burden. – Margareth said.
Everyone was reflective about it now, it had been a difficult test, but everyone gave their best, they really needed to party a little, but they wouldn't forget the headmistress' words. Everyone saluted the authorities and now it was time for the party.