The Grand Arena buzzed with anticipation as the tournament kicked off. The colossal structure, decorated with banners from various academies, was filled to the brim with spectators. The air was electric with excitement as everyone waited to see which young magician would rise above the rest.
Sam stood among his fellow students from Lunaris Academy, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. Unlike his nervous peers, Sam exuded a calm confidence. He knew he was in a league of his own, far beyond the capabilities of the other competitors, but he had no intention of showing his full power just yet.
Sara, Masha, and Alan were the only ones who understood Sam's true potential. They had seen glimpses of his abilities, and they knew that this tournament would be his stage to reveal just how powerful he really was. Alan, in particular, was another enigma—equally powerful and equally reserved.
The rest of the Lunaris team, however, had their doubts. Many of them still saw Sam as the last-ranked student, the underdog who was more of a liability than an asset. But all that was about to change.
The Arena: The Stage is Set
The arena was a massive coliseum, its vast space filled with the energy of the crowd. High above, the king and queen sat in their royal box, their eyes focused on the competitors below. Eren Waldivor, the commentator, surveyed the participants, his gaze lingering on Sam. Though Eren had seen a fraction of Sam's power before, he was eager to see how the young magician would fare against the best the kingdom had to offer.
"Welcome, everyone, to the first round of the Grand Tournament!" Eren's voice boomed across the arena, amplified by magic. "Today, we witness the brightest young magicians in the kingdom as they battle for glory. Remember, it's not just about winning; it's about proving your worth to the entire kingdom!"
Eren's eyes briefly locked onto Sam, and a knowing smile crossed his face. He was one of the few who suspected that Sam had far more up his sleeve than he let on.
The First Match: Sam vs. Felix
It wasn't long before Sam's name was called. His opponent was Felix, a fiery and overconfident mage from Solaris Academy. Felix was known for his mastery of fire magic and his aggressive combat style. As he approached the arena, Felix wore a smug grin, clearly underestimating the quiet boy from Lunaris.
Sam stepped into the arena with the same calm demeanor, his hands still in his pockets. Felix's grin widened; to him, this would be an easy victory.
"Ready to get scorched?" Felix taunted, flames already flickering around his fists.
Sam's response was a simple, cool smile. "Let's see what you've got."
Eren's voice echoed through the arena, filled with excitement. "And here we have Sam from Lunaris Academy facing off against Felix from Solaris Academy! Felix is known for his fierce fire magic, but let's see how Sam, a bit of an unknown, handles this heat!"
The match began with Felix launching a massive fireball at Sam, the flames roaring as they surged forward. Sam didn't flinch, waiting until the last possible second before casually stepping to the side, letting the fireball crash harmlessly into the ground.
Felix frowned, summoning another fireball, even larger than the first, and hurled it with all his might. Sam dodged again, his movements smooth and almost lazy, as if he were barely paying attention to the fight.
The crowd murmured in surprise, seeing Sam's effortless evasion. Felix's frustration grew as he conjured a stream of fire, shaping it into a ferocious dragon. The fiery beast roared as it lunged at Sam, its jaws wide open. Sam, however, simply stepped back, allowing the dragon to pass by, missing him by mere inches.
Eren's commentary added to the tension. "It seems Sam is playing it cool—literally. But how long can he keep dodging Felix's relentless assault?"
Felix, enraged by Sam's nonchalance, intensified his attacks. He unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one aimed with deadly precision. But Sam dodged them all, his movements fluid and effortless. The flames danced around him, but they never touched him.
Finally, Felix decided to end it. He summoned all his power, creating a massive flame dragon that towered over the arena. The dragon's scales shimmered with heat, its eyes glowing with molten fury. With a deafening roar, it lunged at Sam, its massive jaws snapping shut with terrifying speed.
This time, instead of dodging, Sam stood his ground. The dragon descended, and as its jaws closed around him, Sam moved. His hand, still in his pocket, flashed upward, and he caught the dragon's snout with his bare hand.
The arena fell silent. The flames roared around Sam, but he remained unharmed. Felix's eyes widened in disbelief as his most powerful attack was halted with such ease.
Sam's calm demeanor cracked just enough to show a hint of the power he was holding back. "Is that all you've got?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying through the arena.
Enraged, Felix pushed his power to the limit, pouring more energy into the dragon. The flames grew hotter, but Sam didn't budge. With a sudden burst of strength, he tightened his grip on the dragon's snout. The crowd watched in awe as Sam crushed the fiery construct, shattering it into a thousand sparks.
Felix staggered back, his confidence shattered. But he wasn't ready to give up. He charged at Sam, his fists ablaze, determined to land a blow. This time, Sam allowed Felix to connect, the flames searing his clothes.
But Sam didn't flinch. The flames licked at his skin, but they did no damage. Felix's eyes widened in horror as he realized that Sam had taken the hit without so much as a scratch.
"You're out of your league," Sam said, his voice cold. With that, he finally pulled his other hand out of his pocket and delivered a punch. It wasn't just any punch; it was a punch infused with the full force of Sam's power.
His fist stopped inches from Felix's face, but the impact was devastating. A shockwave rippled through the air, and Felix's flame dragon was obliterated in an instant. The force of the punch sent Felix skidding across the arena floor, his flames extinguished.
Felix lay on the ground, stunned and defeated. Sam straightened up, his hands once again finding their way back into his pockets. The crowd erupted into cheers, their earlier doubts about Sam now shattered.
Eren's voice was filled with awe as he announced the outcome. "An incredible display from Sam of Lunaris Academy! Felix's flames were no match for Sam's calm and collected power. It looks like we've been underestimating him all along!"
Reactions from the Audience
In the royal box, the queen smiled slightly, clearly impressed. "He's more than just a student."
The king nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. There's something special about him."
Masha, in the stands, could barely contain her excitement. "Did you see that? He didn't even break a sweat! I knew he was strong, but that was on a whole other level!"
Sara allowed herself a small smile, knowing that Sam had only shown a fraction of his true power. "This is just the beginning," she whispered to herself.
Alan: The Quiet Power
After Sam's match, Alan was called for his own. His opponent was Marina from Aqualis Academy, a skilled water mage with a reputation for being unbeatable. Like Sam, Alan had kept his power hidden, but now was the time to reveal just what he was capable of.
Marina wasted no time, summoning a massive wave of water that surged toward Alan with incredible speed. But Alan didn't move. With a simple gesture, the wave froze in mid-air, suspended by his power. The crowd gasped in shock, and Marina's confidence wavered.
Before she could react, Alan unleashed a powerful energy wave that sent Marina crashing to the ground. The match was over in an instant, leaving the audience in stunned silence.
Eren's voice broke through the hush, filled with excitement. "It looks like Lunaris Academy has another powerhouse in their ranks! Alan, usually so reserved, just demonstrated his incredible abilities. What else is he hiding?"
The Tournament Continues
As the tournament progressed, Sam and Alan's victories set the tone. The rest of the competitors, who had once underestimated Lunaris Academy, now watched the two with a mixture of fear and respect.
Sam and Alan, however, remained cool and composed. They knew that the tournament was just beginning and that their true challenge lay ahead. But for now, they were content to let the world see a glimpse of what they could do—just enough to keep everyone guessing.
As they walked off the arena floor, Masha and Sara joined them, their expressions a mix of excitement and pride.
"You two are unstoppable!" Masha exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration.
Sara nodded, a small smile on her lips. "This tournament is going to be interesting."
Sam and Alan exchanged a glance, understanding that the real fight was yet to come. But for now, they would continue to play the game, letting their power speak for itself.
The crowd cheered, the tension in the arena rising as the next match was called. But in the back of everyone's minds, one thought lingered: Just how powerful were these two students from Lunaris Academy?
As the day wore on, Sam knew that the tournament had only just begun. The true test would come later, and when it did, he would be ready.