The crowd erupted in applause, cheering for Henry's hard-fought victory. Simon, though disappointed, extended a hand to Henry.
"Good fight," Simon said, his voice begrudgingly respectful.
Henry replied with a faint smile on his lips. "You too, Simon. You pushed me to my limits."
As they walked off the battlefield, the other students watched in awe. Henry had proven himself not just as a powerful mage, but as a strategist who could adapt and overcome any challenge thrown his way.
Lukas, standing among the spectators, couldn't help but feel proud of his friend. He knew how much Henry had trained and sacrificed to get to this point. With this victory, Henry had not only secured his place in the tournament but also earned the respect of his peers.
Back in the locker room, Henry sat down, wiping sweat from his brow. Lukas approached him, a grin on his face.
"Congrats, Henry," Lukas said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You were amazing out there."
"Thanks, Lukas," Henry replied, still catching his breath. "I couldn't have done it without your support and that cultivation stone you gave me."
Lukas nodded. "You deserved it. Now let's get ready for the next round. We still have a lot to prove."
Henry looked around at his fellow competitors, each preparing for their own battles. The road ahead was still long and challenging, but with friends like Lukas by his side, Henry knew he could face anything.
The day's events had only strengthened his resolve. He was determined to become stronger, to push beyond his limits, and to make a name for himself in the world of magic. And with each battle, he would get one step closer to achieving his dreams.
Next up, we have Parker vs. Ellice.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric as the students gathered to watch the next duel. Lukas stood among the spectators, his eyes fixed on the battlefield. He couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for Ellice, the ice goddess. She was up against Parker, a student known for his incredible physical strength and speed. Unlike most mages, Parker relied solely on his physical abilities to overwhelm his opponents.
Ellice, on the other hand, was a formidable ice mage, known for her control over her element and her strategic mind. Despite his confidence in her abilities, Lukas couldn't shake the unease he felt about this match-up. He had heard stories about Parker's strength, and he knew that this duel would be unlike any other Ellice had faced.
Miss Lyra's voice cut through the chatter of the crowd, calling the duel to order. "Ellice vs. Parker. Step forward."
Ellice walked gracefully to the center of the arena, her icy blue eyes scanning her opponent. Parker, a towering figure with muscles rippling under his shirt, cracked his knuckles and gave her a calm, measured nod.
"Ready?" Miss Lyra asked, looking between them.
Both nodded without a word.
"Begin!" Miss Lyra commanded.
Parker didn't waste a second. He dashed toward Ellice with blinding speed, his fists raised to strike. Ellice swiftly conjured a barrier of ice, but Parker's fist shattered it with a single punch, sending shards of ice flying.
Lukas watched with bated breath as Ellice leaped back, summoning a flurry of ice shards and launching them at Parker. He dodged with ease, his movements a blur. He closed the distance between them in an instant, swinging his powerful fist at Ellice. She barely managed to create an ice shield in time to deflect the blow, the force of the impact pushing her back.
Ellice knew she couldn't rely solely on her ice magic. Parker's speed and strength were too much for her defenses. She needed to find a way to slow him down. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a thick fog of icy mist, obscuring Parker's vision.
Parker continued his approach, unperturbed by the mist. His calm demeanor and precise movements unnerved Ellice. He moved as though the fog wasn't even there, his senses keenly attuned to her presence.
He lunged toward the last place he saw Ellice, but she had already moved. She used the mist to her advantage, slipping around him and sending a blast of freezing wind at his back. Parker grunted as the cold bit into his skin, slowing his movements slightly.
"You can't hide forever," Parker's voice was calm and steady.
Ellice knew she needed to immobilize him, at least temporarily. She concentrated her mana, forming intricate ice patterns on the ground around Parker. As he stepped forward, the ice surged up, encasing his legs in a solid block.
Parker's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly smashed the ice with a powerful kick. Ellice was already in motion, sending a wave of ice spikes toward him. He deflected them with his arms, the ice shattering against his skin.
"He's tough," Ellice thought, her voice calm but strained. "But I'm not done yet."
She summoned a massive ice golem, towering over Parker. The golem swung its icy fist at him, but Parker dodged and countered with a powerful uppercut, shattering the golem into pieces.
Lukas observed the fight with keen interest. Despite Parker's overwhelming strength, he sensed that Parker was holding back. It was as if Parker was testing Ellice, gauging her abilities without revealing his true power.
Ellice's eyes glinted with determination. She conjured an ice sword, its blade shimmering with frost. She dashed toward Parker, engaging him in close combat. Parker met her strike with his bare hands, his movements precise and controlled. He deflected her blows with ease, his strength and speed keeping her at bay.
Their clash sent shockwaves through the arena, the sound of ice meeting flesh echoing around them. Ellice's strikes grew more desperate as she realized Parker was still holding back. She needed to push him to reveal his true power.
With a burst of mana, she created a swirling vortex of ice around them, the temperature dropping rapidly. Frost formed on Parker's skin as he continued to deflect her attacks. His calm demeanor remained unchanged, even as the cold intensified.
Lukas's worry deepened. "Why is he holding back?" he wondered. "What is he waiting for?"
Ellice's breaths came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself to her limits. She knew she couldn't keep this up forever. She needed to find a way to break through Parker's defenses. Summoning every ounce of her strength, she channeled her mana into a final, desperate attack.
"Blizzard!" she cried, her voice echoing through the arena.
A massive storm of ice and snow erupted from her, engulfing Parker in a whirlwind of frost. The temperature plummeted, and the spectators gasped as the arena turned into a frozen wasteland. Parker's figure was barely visible through the blinding blizzard, but Ellice didn't relent. She poured all her mana into the storm, determined to overwhelm him.
Minutes passed, and the blizzard began to subside. Ellice stood panting, her mana nearly depleted. She peered through the remnants of the storm, hoping to see Parker defeated. But as the snow cleared, Parker emerged, his body covered in a thin layer of frost but otherwise unharmed.
He shook off the ice and met her gaze with those calm, piercing eyes. "You're strong, Ellice," he said, his voice steady. "But you can't win."
Before she could react, he moved. In a blur of motion, he closed the distance between them, his fist striking with the force of a hammer. Ellice's ice sword shattered as she was sent flying across the arena, crashing into the ground with a gasp.
Lukas's heart raced as he watched Parker approach Ellice. "Is this it?" he thought, his worry intensifying.
Ellice struggled to her feet, her body trembling from the exertion. She summoned the last of her strength, forming an ice barrier around herself. But Parker's next strike shattered it effortlessly, sending her sprawling once more.
He stood over her, his expression calm and composed. "Yield," he said quietly. "You fought well."
Ellice's pride flared, and she tried to rise again, but her body refused to cooperate. She looked up at Parker, realizing he had been holding back the entire time. He had measured her, tested her, and now he stood victorious.
Miss Lyra stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tense silence. "The duel is over. Parker wins."
The spectators erupted in cheers and applause, but Lukas's worry only deepened. He watched as Parker extended a hand to Ellice, helping her to her feet.
"You have great potential," Parker said, his tone respectful. "But sometimes, strength isn't enough."
"Hmph, I was holding back, that's all," Ellice said as she walked away.
Parker smiled, a rare expression of warmth. "If you say so."
As the two combatants left the arena, Lukas couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Parker than met the eye. His curiosity about the enigmatic student grew, along with his concern for Ellice. He resolved to keep a closer watch on Parker, determined to understand the true extent of his power.