After a few matches, Kazuki found himself relaxing with Serena and Leo. The tournament had been thrilling, and Kazuki had advanced to the next round with relative ease. His next opponent was a mage, which made him slightly apprehensive. Magic was something he hadn't quite wrapped his head around yet, and he knew it could be unpredictable.
As they sat in the stands, enjoying some snacks from a nearby vendor, Leo glanced around, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You know, Kazuki, I think we should really try to find out more about the other competitors. There might be someone who knows something about the demon king or his generals."
Serena nodded, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Yeah, and there are so many interesting characters here. Look over there! That woman with the staff looks like she knows a thing or two."
Kazuki glanced in the direction she was pointing and noticed a tall woman with long silver hair and a flowing robe. She stood confidently, surrounded by a small group of admirers. "Maybe. But she also looks like she's really into herself."
"Come on, don't judge a book by its cover," Serena chided. "We could use allies. And besides, you might learn something valuable."
Before Kazuki could respond, the herald called out the next match. "Next up, we have Kazuki against Elyra, the Arcane Sorceress!"
Kazuki's heart sank. He stood up, bracing himself for the match against a mage. "Guess I don't have a choice. Let's see how this goes," he muttered, heading toward the arena once again.
As he stepped into the arena, Kazuki noticed Elyra already standing in her spot, her staff glowing with magical energy. The crowd buzzed with excitement, eager to see how the match would unfold. Kazuki tried to keep his composure, focusing on the task at hand.
Elyra smiled, her expression warm yet sly. "So, you're the one everyone's talking about. I've been looking forward to this."
"Is that so?" Kazuki replied, crossing his arms. "I'm just here to get it over with."
With the signal given, Elyra raised her staff and summoned a burst of flames that shot toward Kazuki. Reacting quickly, he dodged to the side, feeling the heat of the fire as it passed. He had never seen magic in action before, and he had to admit, it was both mesmerizing and terrifying.
"Not bad, but you'll need to do better than that!" Kazuki called out, trying to keep his spirits high.
Elyra grinned, summoning another spell. This time, it was a flurry of icy shards that launched toward him. Kazuki ducked and weaved, using his agility to avoid the attack. The crowd gasped, their excitement growing.
"Quick on your feet, I see," Elyra noted, her voice teasing. "But can you keep it up?"
Kazuki focused, deciding to make his move. He darted toward her, planning to close the distance and catch her off guard. As he got closer, he launched himself forward, aiming for her staff.
Elyra, however, anticipated his movement and summoned a barrier of light just in time. Kazuki crashed against it, the force reverberating through his body. He staggered back, momentarily dazed.
The crowd roared with excitement, and Kazuki could hear their cheers mixed with shouts of encouragement. "Come on, Kazuki! You can do it!"
"Let's see if you can handle this!" Elyra shouted, launching a series of fireballs that arced toward him.
Kazuki gritted his teeth and bolted to the side, narrowly avoiding the onslaught. He couldn't help but admire her skills. As a non-magic user, he was at a disadvantage, but he had something she didn't—an innate ability to think on his feet.
"Time to turn the tables!" Kazuki shouted, channeling all his strength into one powerful leap toward Elyra. He aimed to close the distance, relying on his physical abilities.
The crowd gasped again as he landed just outside the range of her spells. Kazuki threw a punch that landed squarely on her shoulder, causing her to stumble.
"Not bad!" Elyra exclaimed, clearly impressed. "But let's see how you handle this!"
With a swift motion, she spun her staff, summoning a whirlwind of magical energy around her. Kazuki felt the force pull at him, trying to drag him in.
"Whoa!" He planted his feet, bracing against the sudden gust. "This is getting intense!"
As the energy swirled, Kazuki saw an opening. With a burst of speed, he charged forward, reaching for Elyra just as the whirlwind reached its peak. He grabbed her staff, yanking it downward and disrupting her concentration.
The magic dissipated, and Elyra found herself off balance. Kazuki took advantage of the moment, delivering a final blow that sent her tumbling to the ground.
The arena erupted in cheers as the herald declared, "Kazuki wins!"
Kazuki stood over Elyra, panting slightly as he offered her a hand. "You put up a good fight. You're really strong."
Elyra grinned, accepting his help to stand. "You too. I underestimated you. I'll admit, you surprised me."
As they walked off the arena together, Kazuki felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him. He had not only won the match but also earned the respect of another competitor.