The crystalline display board pulsed with azure light as it revealed the third-round matchups, sending ripples of excitement through the packed arena. Professor Richard Lancaster adjusted his emerald robes before raising his enchanted staff to his throat, his voice booming across the colosseum.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached the third round of our freshman ranking tournament! Only twelve teams remain in contention for the prestigious Archmage's Medallion, and the battles promise even greater spectacle than what we've witnessed thus far!"
The barriers around Platform One shimmered to life as Ambrose Rothschild's team faced Jin Tao's group. Spectators who had witnessed Ambrose's previous match leaned forward in anticipation, many placing informal wagers on how quickly this confrontation would end.
