From within the thicket of dense bushes, a rustling sound of leaves indicated the approach of another participant.
Azrael's decision was swift. Without a moment's hesitation, he retreated, avoiding immediate engagement, his footsteps light and purposeful as he distanced himself from the starting point.
His every movement was calculated as he sought to gain an advantageous position and gather more information about the incoming participant.
Azrael moved stealthily, his footsteps light and deliberate.
He navigated the terrain with the grace of a predator, his senses attuned to every rustle and whisper of the wind. As he sought a better vantage point, his mind was already formulating a plan.
Throughout the terrain, Azrael moved with purpose, sidestepping confrontations in favor of gathering crucial information. His traps were ingenious as his fingers worked deftly, setting traps that blended seamlessly with the environment.
A blend of elemental magic and clever placement. Hidden beneath foliage, embedded in the earth, or suspended in the air, each trap held the potential to turn the tide of battle.
In a distant corner of the field, a young man faced five opponents.
The guy had spiky, short blonde hair that contrasted against his tanned skin.
He wore a white and black futuristic outfit that was both practical and stylish, a white jacket with a Chinese dragon pattern, and pants with a yin-yang symbol.
This young and formidable man was Thant Zin.
"Young master Thant, we could discuss this—there's no need to fight," one of the participants in the group suggested, aiming to reason with him.
Another chimed in, "Yeah, we can help you lure out other contestants. Let's work together."
Thant Zin's response was swift and resolute. "I don't need a weak helper." with an air of confidence, he leaped forward and plunged into combat against them.
"Fuck! You battle maniac." cursed one of the participants.
Fluidity defined Thant Zin's attacks, a seamless blend of technique and instinct, as he engaged them in the fight. His movements were fluid and precise, a symphony of martial prowess.
The audience that watched the fight couldn't help but marvel at his technique.
"As expected from a member of the Zin family, their martial arts technique can produce such a genius." one scout remarked.
"He has the potential to rise to greatness," added another scout, intrigued by Thant Zin's skill.
Other recruiters nodded in approval, recognizing the prodigious talent before them.
"This will be his playground," Hyunwoo commented on the corner.
Elsewhere on the field, a confrontation erupted between two rival groups.
The confrontation began as an attempted ambush, with one group targeting another. Despite the initial numerical advantage of five against four, the battle took an unexpected turn.
Both groups reached a stagnant phase, neither able to gain the upper hand. A tense silence hung in the air as they sized each other up, wary of a sudden strike.
Then, a sudden shift in temperature announced a chilling transformation.
"It's getting cold. Is there an Ice Mage among them?" remarked the leader of one group, his breath forming a faint mist.
"John, above!" a mage from his group exclaimed, pointing to the sky.
High above, an enormous blue magic circle materialized.
Giving birth to countless of icy projectiles—some shaped like needles, others manifesting as ice boulders, and some took the shape of long spears.
Gasps echoed through the field as the participants looked up at the colossal magic circle that dominated the sky. Their expressions were etched with awe and dread.
In the blink of an eye, the icy onslaught was unleashed, descending upon both groups with calculated precision and sheer force.
The very earth quivered under the weight of this magic onslaught, ice shards falling like crystalline rain, leaving an unfading mark on the battleground.
Every participant within the artificial realm felt the tremors, and some even glimpsed the colossal magic circle etched against the sky from the distance.
In the aftermath, the battleground was obscured by a cloud of dust, debris, and freezing mist. Several areas were veiled by a thick layer of frost.
The participants from both groups lay motionless, their physical forms dissolving into shimmering particles of blue light, their presence erased as they were eliminated and transported back.
The audience stared in disbelief, watching the scene unfold on the monitors. The spell's power was beyond the expectations of newly awakened Magicia.
"Who is it?!" the question hung heavy in the air as the viewers struggled to grasp the astounding display. Such a feat from a new Magicia was truly remarkable.
All eyes remained on the screens, awaiting the revelation of the mastermind behind the formidable trap.
The screen moved to unveil a seemingly ordinary figure emerging from behind a tree. His demeanor was indifferent as he walked away.
Azrael continued to move, searching for his next target.
Recruiters among the audience checked their tablets, searching for his public data on the Magicia site.
Their curiosity was piqued by this unfamiliar participant. Murmurs circulated among them as they accessed the data.
"A common talent and without a class!" one recruiter remarked, surprised by Azrael's ordinary talent.
"Perhaps he's utilizing a skill scroll?" another speculated aloud.
"If that's the case, he would need at least a 5-circle magic scroll or a B-rank skill scroll. That would require a substantial investment," added another scout, contributing to the discussion.
Theo's excited voice broke through the buzz of conversation, praising his childhood friend. "As expected of you, Akki!" Beside him, Luna couldn't help but smile, a warm feeling swelling within her chest.
Both of them were well aware of his capabilities, their trust in him unwavering and unspoken.
In a corner, the Kim siblings engaged in conversation as the event unfolded before them.
"Do you recognize that person, Oppa?" Yerin asked.
"No, but to devise such a transparent trap in mid-air requires extensive knowledge of magic," Hyunwoo analyzed, utilizing his right eye to dissect the details. "What's your take on it as an ice mage?"
"Clearly, he didn't use inner mana, as there's no trace of mana emanating from his body. That means either he uses a magic scroll or he uses mana weave manipulation technique. If it was the latter part, it meant his body sensitivity toward mana was high and he had superior technique in mana weave manipulation," Yerin deduced it from her experience.
"It seems the test is becoming more interesting," Hyunwoo noted, a smile playing on his lips.
In the monitoring room, Sable's admiration was evident.
Sable's fascination grew. 'That's an impressively efficient trap,' she mused, entranced by the display. "Provide me with his detailed information," she ordered the monitoring staff.
The National Magicia Academy had a close relationship with the government, essentially operating as its vassal in this context. This proximity allowed them easy access to specific government intelligence data.
Azrael's profile appeared on the monitoring screen, accompanied by his age, height, place of birth, and his talent.
"Despite his common talent, his movements resemble those of an experienced Magicia," Sable praised his performance.
A picture displayed on the screen showcased Azrael alongside Luna and Theo from their previous school.
"There's a close connection between him and cadets, Luna and Theo."
"A relationship with such exceptional talents is intriguing. What else?"
"He also has connections to an underworld gang involved in illegal magic weapon trade."
"Which gang is that?"
A picture of Azrael and Joe's meeting was presented on the screen.
"It's Silent Whisperer. Should we expel him?" a staff member inquired.
Sable gazed at Azrael on the screen, his figure atop a hill, surveying the other participants like a poised predator.
"Is there concrete evidence of his involvement in their dealings?"
"We couldn't find any in the database."
"Then we shall let him be. I'm curious to see how far he can push his limits," Sable declared.
Her curiosity piqued. Azrael's potential as a common talent held her interest—his ability to execute such powerful magic suggested he either had a helping tool or he was an innate genius.
Over the course of several hours, Azrael adeptly ambushed many unsuspecting individuals and groups that had let down their guard. Gradually, accumulated his points.
"I'm going to rest," Jing Qiáng informed Azrael. His conscious stamina had been stretched thin from weeks of wakefulness.
A few more hours passed, and more than half of the participants had been eliminated.
On the large screen, attention shifted to three individuals, each carving their own path amidst the chaos—Thant Zin, a formidable member of the Zin martial arts family, his presence exuding a mix of tradition and power; Zephyr Galeheart, a rare-tier talent whose already in Aero Swiftblade class; and Azrael Akki, an enigmatic contender whose sudden appearance had piqued the curiosity of many.
As the focus shifted to Zephyr Galeheart, he stood confidently in a different corner of the field.
His silver armor gleamed under the sun's rays, adding the striking contrast of his vibrant green hair against his handsome features projecting an adventurous and rebellious spirit.
Having accomplished the impressive feat of converting into the Aero Swiftblade class within a mere two months, Zephyr was regarded as a prodigious genius by those familiar with the arduous process of class specialization.
The Aero Swiftblade melded wind elemental magic with weapon-based techniques, bestowing upon its wielder the ability to move with the swiftness of the wind itself, delivering slashes and stabs that rivaled the velocity of a typhoon.
Zephyr pointed his needle-like rapier at the trio before him.
Feeling a bit tired from many previous battles, his voice cut through the tension, challenging the trio. "You should bring more people if you want to challenge me."
In the blink of an eye, Zephyr blurred into motion, his rapid strikes leaving an afterimage. His rapier swiftly gliding through the air multiplied his strikes—two, four, eight, sixteen—stabbed them with ferocity.
The tank among his opponents hurriedly raised a colossal shield, his voice erupting in a battle cry as he activated his taunt skill, "Taunt Master—"
But, before the last syllable left the tank's lips, Zephyr vanished from his line of sight, reappearing beside him in a seamless display of speed and precision.
The rapier found its mark beneath the tank's raised armpit, and with a swift utterance, "Whirlwind Assault." escaped Zephyr's lips.
A vortex of wind enveloped the tank, lifting the tank from the ground and propelling him skyward.
The air spiraled into a maelstrom, cutting through the tank's armor and flesh alike. The tank becomes a helpless target amidst the ravages of the storm.
The sequence of events unfolded in an instant, leaving the support and fighter in a state of stunned disbelief, their minds struggling to process the rapid turn of events.
Turning his gaze toward the remaining opponents, a cocky grin played across Zephyr's lips. "You two, next."