As Haruto stood in one corner of the arena, 29 other students regarded each other warily.
30 students had been chosen, or volunteered to take part in the tournament.
Multiple teachers stood at the sides, ready to protect the students against potentially lethal attacks.
Haruto steadied his breathing, and gripped his blade. Only 8 people would be coming out of this arena victorious, and it sure as hell was going to be him.
As the starting whistle blew, action did not immediately take place, with only a few minor skirmishes.
Most combatants circled each other warily, or some who had clearly made alliances stuck in groups.
Yet it was unsurprisingly Raiden who made the first big move, launching himself towards a group of 5.
His electricity affinity was well suited to him, allowing him to inflict devastating damage and have significant speed boosts.
Electricity was a well deserved A-Tier affinity, but Raiden wielded it much better, instantly slicing a student in half.
Many around the year gasped, but some of the second years smirked, having already seen this trick before.
The 'student' who had been sliced in half shimmered away, leaving a split log on the ground.
The panting and traumatized student reappeared beside Principal Akira, hands on his knees.
"Competitor Inoue is out! 26 competitors remain!"
Raiden, feet crackling with electricty, accurately maneuvered around the students counter-attacks, decapitating another 2 in a single strike.
Tsubasa, taking advantage of this, quickly stepped in, using her [Active Skill: Orchird Blossom] to finish off the rest of the group.
Raiden dodged the attack, quickly clashing with Tsubasa.
Haruto was surprised. Tsubasa had seemed like an airhead on their first meeting, but he realised it must have been a calculated move, letting the others underestimate her cunning.
Haruto had his own problems to deal with, as Ryuujin, leading a group of 3 other henchmen, close in on him.
"Heh, thought you could hide? You're not making it to the final 8..."
Haruto smirked at this. Through the course of his training, he had learned several new moves himself, with his affinity rank shooting up to B+.
Ryuujin hung back, allowing his cronies to tease out all the moves Haruto could pull. Ryuujin knew Haruto could probably overpower him in a straight fight, yet they didn't really know each others moves yet.
Haruto nearly laughed. What sort of pathetic test was this? Did Ryuujin think he would use his full abilities on some weak B/A-Tiers?
One of the students struck, a single blow to his midsection.
Haruto elegantly dodged it, when suddenly, what could be best described as a notification appeared in his brain.
[Heavenly Judgement activated! All stats +70%!]
Haruto immediately felt a surge of energy, and he used his [Skill: Dazzling Blade], summoning 3 swords of pure mana, shooting it towards the henchmen.
They barely had time to react before the disappeared in poofs of mist, his blades finding nothing but wood to pierce before fading.
Ryuujin snarled, closing the gap.
Haruto smirked confidently bringing his blade up to parry the strike Ryuujin sent at his shoulder.
Peeking a glance over his shoulder, the stack of logs next to the principal had severely diminished, with what he estimated was a dozen still left.
Muted screams could be heard from the other side of the arena as Tsubasa and Raiden clashed, with people foolish enough to third-party getting knocked out instantly.
[Blood Tendril has been used on you! Due to your higher affinity rank, all effects are negated!]
Haruto's sh*t-eating grin grew, as a similar notification appeared in Ryuujin's mind.
He snarled, using another skill.
[Skill: Flesh Render]
numerous whips of spiked blood appeared from Ryuujin's other hand, making Haruto use another skill.
[Skill: Seraphic Wings]
While not an offense type active skill, he could summon wings, allowing him to fly and gain increased mobility for 10 seconds.
Unfortunately, even if he was midair, the skill would de-activate normally, sending him plummeting to the ground. But it's usefulness was still undeniable.
Agilely dodging between the whips, he decided not to reveal his entire hand, deciding to go in for a kill strike.
Blitzing through the tentacles, Haruto slashed at them, cutting them into ribbons.
Yet Ryuujin was still an S-Tier, and he summoned a crude yet strong shield made of his blood mana.
Haruto's strike glanced off the shield, yet he repeatedly struck the shield, eventually shattering it.
Ryuujin's face contorted in anger.
"I'll kill you! You worthless peasant, once I tell my father, he'll slaughter you! Then I'll make your cute little sister mine to use!"
A ven throbbed in Haruto's temple. He didn't give a crap about this idiots father, but an insult against Miyuko was not to be tolerated.
Even though the Valcrus' were not his biological family, or even family from his previous world, Miyuko had been kind to him, and they viewed each other as real siblings. (He pushed all other intrusive thoughts from his mind)
This could not go unpunished.
[Heavenly Judgement has been updated! All stats +375%!]
Haruto frowned, but didn't give it much thought, using his newly enhanced powers to speed around Ryuujin.
Just as Seraphic wings was about to run out, he went in for the kill, slicing vertically into his skull, putting into use the motion he had once used against those burglars so long ago.
As his blade closed in, Haruto felt a rush, a thrill of the chase, like a cat cornering an injured bird.
There was a certain dark delight to this, and somewhere in the dark recesses of his heart, Haruto regretted that he wouldn't be able to really kill Ryuujin.
How satisfying it would feel, having his blood wet on my blade...
The log that replaced Ryuujin was neatly carved into 2, falling to the ground at his feet. He never even saw it coming.
Haruto turned to look condescendingly on the helpless anger on Ryuujin's face as he was ushered out of the arena.
Suddenly, a log flew out of the circle, a trailing scream heard from the traumatized student.
Turning around, Haruto saw an earthen pillar jutting across half the arena, cast by none other then Hiroshi.
Seeing him, Hiroshi directed a cheerful smile, and Haruto smiled in return.
Raiden's and Tsubasa's fight had proved inconclusive, as both lay battered and exhausted.
Raiden smiled up to the sky, seemingly sated for now.
"So you're pretty strong too, huh Tsubasa. This school is turning out to be plenty of fun..."
Two days of rest was given to the finalists of the tournament, Tsubasa, Raiden, Haruto, Hiroshi, and four other students, all within A-Tier.
The academy nurse came around to all the competitors afterward, administering basic treatment and healing them through her unique affinity, life heal.
By taking away the life of something, like a plant or a small animal, she could absorb their life force and heal injuries correspondingly.
That sort of affinity would've been terrifying if not for the fact the nurse could only absorb the life force of up to small animals like rabbits.
Otherwise her body couldn't handle the excess force and she would die. Ironic, really.
As she cleared up Haruto's numerous bruises, he contemplated on the tournament ahead.
He now had a better grasp on Raidens and Tsubasas abilities, his 2 main competitors.
He didn't know who to consider more of a threat, Tsubasa with her monstrous mana capacity and wiliness, or Raiden, who clearly had an insane level of mastery over his affinity.
Haruto wondered if Raidens affinity rank was maxed out at A+, though it seemed unlikely.
But as the tournament bracket came out the next morning, more bets were placed, the excited murmurs of multiple years as they anticipated the next fights to come.
Haruto was due to fight a Tadano Hiroyuki the next day, though he didn't really know who this person was.
He didn't pay much attention to his inferior classmates anyways.
Miyuko met him on the way back to Rose wing, delightedly showing off her winnings from her well-placed bets.
Haruto getting into the tournament had been 2.3:1 odds, so Miyuko proudly showed off her money pouch, where 2 silvers and 30 bronze coins clinked.
Haruto smiled good-naturedly, but he was still intent on winning this tournament, establising himself as a major power in his year.
But as he rounded a corner, seeing multiple students blocking his way, he knew it was going to be harder than he thought.
Turning on his heel, Haruto led Miyuko away, only to see another group of students striding out from behind doors to block his way out.
"I told you I would kill you and make your sister mine, didn't I, Haruto Ichika..."