"He's done for. He just kicked the Headmaster in the face. He's going to be expelled," one girl near Ivy murmured, her voice trembling with fear.
The ground trembled beneath Ignis's furious charge as he let out a primal scream, his rage fueling his every move. With unrelenting determination, he closed the distance between himself and Tim, his eyes blazing with an intensity that sent chills down the spines of those who watched.
Tim, battered and bruised, scrambled to his feet, his mind reeling from the sudden onslaught. Desperation etched deep lines of fear on his face as he braced himself for the inevitable clash with Ignis.
The air crackled with tension as Ignis raised his blade once more, his every movement imbued with a raw, primal energy. With a swift, fluid motion, he lashed out at Tim, his attack fueled by an overpowering surge of emotion.
With a resolute chant, Tim invoked the incantation
"Fuel En Inferno,"
unleashing a torrent of searing flames that engulfed him, searing away the shadows that bound him. The intense heat scorched his skin, leaving behind deep, painful scars, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on.
Fueled by sheer determination, Tim extended his hand, the flames dancing around his fingers as he reached for the blade. Ignis's smile widened as he watched the fiery display, his eyes glinting with anticipation.
But before Tim could grasp the blade, Ignis lunged forward with lightning speed, his foot connecting with Tim's face in a powerful kick. The force of the blow sent Tim sprawling backward, his vision swimming as he fought to regain his footing.
As the flames flickered and danced around him, Ignis watched him warily, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
As Ignis leaned back, a primal roar erupted from his lips, a scream so visceral it seemed to warp the very air around them. Tim's mind reeled, the sound distorting his senses as he struggled to maintain focus.
"Argh," Tim grunted through gritted teeth, his mind racing to comprehend Ignis's tactics. "How is he attacking without incantations? It's impossible to anticipate his moves."
Before Tim could gather his wits, Ignis was upon him once again, a blur of motion as he delivered a swift kick that sent Tim sprawling across the ground. Gasping for breath, Tim attempted to rise, but Ignis's grip was relentless as he hoisted Tim up by the collar.
With a menacing grin, Ignis ignited the blades in his hands, the flames casting an ominous glow in the dimly lit arena. Tim's eyes widened in terror as he beheld the fiery weapons, his heart pounding in his chest.
But in a desperate bid for survival, Tim summoned his own flames, channeling them into his fingertips until they burned with an intense heat. With a guttural yell, he drove his fingers into Ignis's eyes, the searing pain causing Ignis to recoil in agony.
Tim's voice trembled with fear as he taunted Ignis, his words dripping with malice. "You don't know healing magic, and I've just destroyed your eyes," he sneered. "This is what you get for messing with me. You're blind for life, hahaha..."
But Tim's laughter died in his throat as he witnessed Ignis's eyes slowly regenerating before his horrified gaze. A chill ran down Tim's spine, his mind reeling at the sight. Before he could process what was happening, Ignis seized him by the head and slammed him mercilessly into the ground, rendering him unconscious with a sickening thud.
But Ignis's rage knew no bounds. With a primal scream, he hoisted Tim's limp body and began to run, dragging him along the ground and smashing him repeatedly with bone-shattering force. Tim's form twisted and contorted with each impact, his bones cracking under the relentless assault.
Finally, Ignis spun Tim's broken body and hurled him toward the edge of the battlefield with savage force. The barrier surrounding the arena shattered upon impact, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Tim lay motionless, blood pooling around him as his life hung in the balance.
As Ignis strode toward Tim with a feral expression, the onlookers held their breath, the tension thick in the air. It seemed as though Tim's fate was sealed, his demise inevitable at the hands of his enraged opponent.
But just as Ignis raised his hand to deliver the final blow, a commanding voice cut through the chaos. "That's enough, Ignis," Headmaster's voice boomed, his presence commanding attention as he stepped forward to intervene once more.
As Headmaster's stern words hung in the air, Ignis maintained a composed demeanor, his mind racing with calculated precision. "You have raised your hand on a headmaster and you are about to kill a student as well. You think the tribunal will let this go," Headmaster reiterated, his voice laced with authority.
Ignis met Headmaster's gaze evenly, his expression unwavering. "Indeed, Headmaster, I am fully aware of my actions," he replied calmly. "And I accept full responsibility for them."
A flicker of anger flashed across Headmaster's features at Ignis's audacity. "You know you have done that," he stated, his voice tinged with frustration.
"I know, and I remember everything clearly," Ignis affirmed, his tone unapologetic. "And I must confess, I found a certain satisfaction in my actions."
The admission sent a surge of fury coursing through Headmaster, but Ignis remained unfazed. "You have raised your hand against the headmaster and almost killed a student. I have all the rights to expel you from the academy," Headmaster declared, his voice steely with resolve.
Ignis's lips curved into a sardonic smile as he calmly addressed Headmaster's assertion. "Dear Headmaster, I believe you may have overlooked a crucial detail," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Despite your esteemed position, it appears you may be growing forgetful in your old age."
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Headmaster's expression as Ignis continued to speak, his words cutting through the tension like a knife.
"According to the school rules, students are permitted to engage in combat with school staff to assess their strength," Ignis pointed out, his voice tinged with smug satisfaction.
"And as for the matter of student safety within the battle arena, the rules explicitly state that individuals are responsible for their own well-being, absolving any party of culpability for injuries sustained during such engagements."
Ignis's pointed words reverberated through the silent chamber, the weight of his argument hanging heavily in the air. With a taunting smile, he challenged Headmaster's authority, daring him to refute the established regulations.
Headmaster's gaze darted nervously around the room, sensing the murmurs of agreement among the students. Ignis had cleverly leveraged the school's own rules to his advantage, leaving Headmaster with little recourse but to concede defeat.
As Headmaster turned to address the gathered students, his words hanging heavy in the charged atmosphere, Ignis seized the moment, his movements swift and decisive. With a sudden surge of speed, he closed the distance between himself and Tim in a blur of motion, his intent clear.
Before Headmaster could react, Ignis's fist connected with lethal force, striking Tim's head with a resounding crack. The impact was swift and brutal, leaving Tim motionless on the ground, a silent testament to Ignis's newfound strength.
A stunned silence fell over the onlookers, their eyes wide with disbelief at the sudden turn of events. Ignis, who had struggled to harness even the simplest of magical abilities mere days ago, had now dealt a fatal blow with chilling efficiency.
Headmaster's voice cut through the stunned silence, his tone tinged with both grief and fury. "Ignis, you know I do not like to mix my personal and professional life," he began, his words heavy with emotion. "But you have crossed a line that cannot be ignored. You have killed my son before my very eyes, a grave disrespect that cannot go unpunished."
The challenge hung in the air, the weight of Headmaster's words echoing through the chamber. Ignis stood before him, his gaze unwavering, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of his actions.
With a heavy heart and a resolve born of necessity, Headmaster issued his ultimatum. "Fight me here and now, or face expulsion from this school," he declared, his voice resonating with authority. The choice was clear, a confrontation that would test both their strength and their resolve.
--
As Ivy observed the unfolding events with a mix of shock and confusion, a nagging thought tugged at the edges of her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, that the rules governing the battle arena were being twisted in an unprecedented manner.
"Wait a minute," she mused silently to herself, her brow furrowing in contemplation. "Isn't it true that those who perish within the confines of the battle arena are resurrected after a few hours? Then why is the Headmaster, a figure of such authority and stature, engaging in combat with a student from the lower echelons of the academy?"
The incongruity of the situation gnawed at Ivy's thoughts, stirring a sense of unease within her. It seemed unfathomable that such a drastic course of action would be taken, especially against a student of lesser standing within the school hierarchy.
--
The tension in the air was palpable as Headmaster and Ignis squared off in the center of the battle arena, their gazes locked in a silent exchange of determination and resolve. The students watched in hushed anticipation, their eyes darting between the two figures, awaiting the imminent clash of wills.
Headmaster, his expression a mask of stern authority tinged with simmering anger, stood tall and imposing, his presence commanding the attention of all who beheld him. Ignis, undaunted by the formidable figure before him, met Headmaster's gaze with steely resolve, his jaw set in determination as he prepared to face the ultimate test of his abilities.
With a sudden surge of energy, Headmaster raised his hand, the air around him crackling with arcane power. Ignis braced himself for the onslaught, his muscles tensed and his senses honed to a razor-sharp edge.
"Wand"
The air crackled and a Wand appeared in Headmaster"s hand.
The wand wielded by the Headmaster was no ordinary instrument of magic. Carved from the sacred wood of the magical world tree of the elf race, it stood an impressive six feet tall, its length imposing and formidable. The wood, imbued with ancient enchantments and imbued with the essence of the elves' mystical homeland, radiated a faint, ethereal glow that seemed to pulse with the very heartbeat of the forest.
At the top of the wand, a intricate design was etched into the wood, depicting swirling patterns reminiscent of ancient runes and arcane symbols. Each line and curve seemed to dance and shimmer in the light, shifting and changing with an otherworldly grace. The design appeared to hold a hidden significance, a testament to the deep connection between the wand and the magic it wielded.
As the Headmaster grasped the wand in his hand, he could feel the power coursing through its ancient wood, a potent reminder of the legacy of the elf race and their mastery of magic. With each movement, the wand seemed to respond to his will, channeling his energy into spells of unparalleled potency.
As the tension in the arena reached its peak, a suffocating red aura descended upon everyone present, causing even the Headmaster and Ignis to falter in their resolve. Confusion rippled through the crowd as they searched in vain for the source of the ominous energy.
Suddenly, the air itself seemed to fracture and split open, revealing the arrival of an enigmatic figure. Clad in the tattered robes of a monk and shrouded in an aura of ancient power, the newcomer exuded an aura of authority and mystery.
"Old Monk!!" the Headmaster's voice trembled with reverence as he knelt before the newcomer. The students gasped in disbelief at the sight of their esteemed Headmaster bowing before the figure.
Ignoring the stunned whispers around him, Ignis addressed the newcomer with a mixture of familiarity and respect. "Old Monk, is that you? You old rascal, you never did know when to make an appearance."
The Old Monk regarded Ignis with a wise smile, his eyes twinkling with hidden knowledge. "Ah, Ignis, always the firebrand," he chuckled softly. "I come bearing news of great importance. But first, let us see this battle to its conclusion."