"Brute force can win battles, but strategy wins wars."
1. The Match Begins – Arcane Mage vs. Hybrid Fighter
The battlefield shimmered with magical energy as Joshua and Fang Zhihao stood across from each other.
✔ Fang Zhihao—a 5th-year high 4-star Arcane Mage.
✔ Known for complex spellcraft, weaving multiple enchantments at once.
✔ His fights weren't won with brute force but with superior planning and precision.
The crowd murmured in anticipation.
✔ "Joshua has been dominating so far, but this opponent is different."
✔ "Fang Zhihao doesn't fight directly—he controls the battlefield itself."
The announcer raised his hand.
"BEGIN!"
Immediately, the air around Fang Zhihao changed.
✔ Golden runes ignited along his arms, glowing with immense power.
✔ Arcane circles formed in midair, layers upon layers of enchantments unfolding.
✔ In mere seconds, the battlefield was no longer neutral—it was his domain.
Joshua's instincts flared.
"So this is how he fights."
2. Joshua's First Attack – A Quick Reality Check
✔ Joshua closed the distance instantly, moving like a shadow.
✔ His daggers gleamed with Aura, a precise slash aimed at Zhihao's defenses.
But the moment he got close—his entire body froze.
✔ A gravity field locked his movements, pressing him into the ground.
✔ The moment he entered Zhihao's range, his magic was already in effect.
Fang Zhihao smiled calmly.
"You rely on speed and reaction time. That won't work against me."
Before Joshua could move, Zhihao snapped his fingers.
✔ A barrage of compressed mana bolts fired at him from multiple angles.
✔ Each one curved midair, tracking him like homing missiles.
✔ They weren't powerful alone—but they were relentless.
Joshua clicked his tongue, barely dodging as he broke free from the gravity field.
"Tch. He's not just throwing out random spells—"
"He's already planned every step."
3. Changing the Approach – The Mind of a Strategist
Joshua exhaled, stepping back.
✔ His usual strategy of quick counters and brute adaptability wouldn't work here.
✔ Rushing in blindly was exactly what Fang Zhihao wanted.
✔ He needed a different approach.
His eyes scanned the battlefield, memorizing Zhihao's movement patterns.
Then—he smiled.
"You fight like a chess player," Joshua mused.
Fang Zhihao raised an eyebrow.
Joshua twirled his dagger.
"Let's see what happens when I flip the board."
4. Breaking the Setup – Targeting the Foundation
✔ Instead of attacking Fang Zhihao directly, Joshua targeted his spell circles.
✔ Every time Zhihao tried to layer his magic, Joshua disrupted it.
✔ His speed wasn't used for offense anymore—it was used to destabilize Zhihao's setup.
The crowd started to notice.
✔ "Wait… he's not aiming at Fang Zhihao. He's dismantling his magic formations!"
✔ "He figured out that Zhihao's strength comes from setting up his battlefield first!"
Zhihao clicked his tongue.
"You're quick to adapt."
Joshua grinned.
"You're smart, but I don't need to beat you. I just need to make sure your magic doesn't work."
5. The Finishing Blow – The Moment of Opportunity
Zhihao's magic became unstable as Joshua kept interfering.
✔ His spells lost synchronization.
✔ His enchantments flickered, no longer perfectly layered.
✔ And in that moment—Joshua struck.
✔ A perfectly-timed Phantom Blade feint.
✔ A real dagger strike enhanced with compressed Aura.
✔ A precise hit to Zhihao's shoulder, breaking his balance.
The Arcane Mage staggered.
[Victory – Joshua Lim Wins!]
The stadium erupted in shock and cheers.
✔ "He didn't overpower Fang Zhihao—he outplayed him!"
✔ "That was pure strategy!"
✔ "Joshua Lim… he can fight against any type of opponent!"
Joshua rolled his shoulders, stepping away.
Fang Zhihao let out a breath, shaking his head.
"You're even more dangerous than I expected."
Joshua smirked.
"You too. If I had rushed in without thinking, I would've lost."
For the first time, Fang Zhihao grinned.
"Tch. Next time, I'll be ready for you."
6. The Aftermath – A Growing Threat
✔ Joshua advanced to the semi-finals.
✔ The crowd, the nobles, and the elite organizations were all watching closely.
✔ Even major figures from outside the tournament were now aware of him.
From the VIP stands, Lee Sung Min watched silently.
✔ "This boy isn't just strong—he's adaptable."
✔ "He learns too fast. That makes him even more dangerous than raw talent."
And in the shadows, Yue of Dark Shadow smirked.
✔ "Joshua Lim… you might be exactly what we're looking for."