Henry sat on the bed with his legs crossed, the room dimly lit by the soft glow of the moonlight filtering through the window. He was in deep meditation, his breathing slow and steady. The mana in his spiritual world was expanding, swirling in vibrant colors as it approached the critical threshold. This was only possible due to the cultivation stone Lukas had given him, a rare and powerful artifact that accelerated his progress.
Sweat beaded on Henry's forehead as he focused all his energy inward. He could feel the mana pushing against the boundaries of his current rank, straining to break through. "I must break through right now," he thought to himself, the determination in his heart unwavering.
He visualized his spiritual world, a vast, boundless space filled with swirling energy. The mana flowed through him, each breath drawing in more power, each exhale releasing tension. His body trembled slightly, the intensity of the moment pressing down on him.
Suddenly, there was a sharp surge, like a dam breaking. The mana exploded outward, filling every corner of his spiritual world. Henry's eyes snapped open, glowing with a fierce light as the energy coursed through him. He had done it. The size and density of his spiritual world had reached that of a rank D mage.
The room seemed to pulse with his newfound power. Henry took a deep breath, feeling the strength in every fiber of his being. He had broken through, thanks to Lukas cultivation stone and his own relentless perseverance. A triumphant smile spread across his face. The journey was far from over, but this victory was a significant milestone.
"Lukas, I did it!" Henry yelled excitedly, jolting Lukas from his sleep.
"Oh, you broke through, huh?" Lukas said while yawning. He had been sleeping, and when he woke up, he could sense the change in Henry aura. It was now denser.
"Yay! This is going to increase my chances of being chosen for the competition."
"Yeah, I hope so," Lukas said as he collapsed back on his bed.
"Not even a well done?" Henry asked, frustration evident in his voice.
"Well done," Lukas said, giving Henry a thumbs up.
"Seriously?" Henry said as he lay on his bed, feeling accomplished.
The Next Day...
In the battle arena, the magic students waited anxiously to hear their names called out by Miss Lyra. "Man, I can't wait," someone muttered. Most of them hadn't gotten enough sleep due to their anxiousness. Suddenly, they saw Miss Lyra walk in carrying a piece of paper. She walked to the front of the students and spoke authoritatively.
"The results from yesterday proved that not all of you are slacking off in your cultivation. You all passed, but only the best ten have been selected."
"Best ten? But I thought we needed five?" someone asked.
"SILENCE," she spoke in her usual tone. "The ten of you are going to face each other in one-on-one duels. The winners are whom I'll choose." She then looked at the paper and called out the names.
"Henry, Gareth, Anara, Lukas, Simon, Ellice, Leonard, Cedric, Eleanor, Parker."
The ten students lined up. Lukas looked at the boy named Gareth, recognizing him as the one whose ass he had kicked during the entrance exams.
"I'll now call the order of the duels."
"Henry vs. Simon."
"Parker vs. Ellice."
"Gareth vs. Leonard."
"Anara vs. Eleanor."
"Lukas vs. Cedric."
Henry and Simon stepped into the center of the arena. The crowd grew silent, all eyes on the two combatants. Simon was known for his aggressive combat style and taunting nature, while Henry was known for his strategic mind and precise mana control. The anticipation was palpable.
"Begin!" Miss Lyra commanded.
Simon wasted no time, summoning crackling bolts of lightning that danced around his fists. "You're going down, Henry," Simon taunted, his voice filled with confidence. "No fire mage has ever beaten me."
Henry smirked, unfazed by Simon's words. "We'll see about that."
Simon launched a barrage of lightning bolts at Henry. Henry swiftly conjured a wall of fire, absorbing the impact of the electricity and sending sparks flying in all directions. Simon's eyes narrowed as he increased the intensity of his attack, but Henry was ready. He manipulated the flames into a swirling vortex, redirecting the lightning back toward Simon.
"Is that all you've got?" Henry called out, his voice steady. "I expected more from the great Simon."
Enraged, Simon leaped into the air, his body surrounded by an aura of crackling lightning. "I'll show you real power!" he shouted, unleashing a massive bolt of lightning from above. Henry rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike. The ground where he had been standing sizzled and smoked.
Henry countered with a series of rapid-fire fireballs, forcing Simon to dodge and weave. "You talk big, but can you back it up?" Henry taunted, his eyes glinting with determination.
Simon growled, his hands crackling with electricity. "You're nothing but a weakling," he spat, launching a powerful lightning strike at Henry. Henry deflected it with a shield of fire, the two elements clashing and creating a burst of steam.
"I've trained too hard to lose to someone like you," Henry replied, his voice filled with conviction. He gathered mana into his hands, summoning a ring of fire around him. The flames roared to life, creating a barrier that Simon's lightning struggled to penetrate.
"Pathetic," Simon sneered. "Hiding behind your flames won't save you." He charged forward, lightning arcing from his body and striking the ground with each step.
Henry stood his ground, his mind racing. He knew he needed to outsmart Simon, not just overpower him. As Simon closed in, Henry suddenly dropped to the ground, his hands touching the arena floor. With a burst of mana, he channeled his fire into the earth, creating a ring of molten lava around Simon.
"Try escaping this," Henry said, his voice calm and confident.
Simon struggled, the intense heat making it difficult to concentrate. He summoned all his mana, creating a barrier of lightning around himself to block the flames. But Henry was relentless. He manipulated the lava, sending waves of molten rock crashing toward Simon.
"You're finished," Henry declared, his eyes blazing with determination.
Simon roared in frustration, his lightning shield starting to crack under the pressure. He knew he had to act fast. With a desperate burst of energy, he launched himself into the air, narrowly escaping the lava's reach. He hovered above the arena, panting heavily.
"This isn't over," Simon snarled, his eyes locked onto Henry.
Henry oversaw him, his mind racing. He knew Simon was desperate and that this was his chance to end the fight. He gathered all his remaining mana, summoning a massive fireball in his hands.
"Let's finish this," Henry said, his voice steady.
Simon summoned a bolt of lightning, the air around him crackling with energy. The two mages locked eyes, their determination unwavering. With a final shout, they unleashed their attacks simultaneously.
The fireball and lightning bolt collided in mid-air, creating a massive explosion that shook the arena. The spectators shielded their eyes from the blinding light and deafening noise. Henry and Simon were both on the ground when the smoke cleared, panting heavily.
But it was clear who the victor was. Henry slowly stood up, his body battered but still standing. Simon lay on the ground, his energy completely spent.
Miss Lyra stepped forward, her gaze shifting between the two students. "The winner is Henry," she declared, her voice echoing through the arena.