The testing field fell silent as the examiner lowered his hand, signaling the start of the match. Lincon and Asta locked eyes for a brief moment before springing into action.
Asta was the first to move. With a determined shout, he charged forward, brandishing his massive anti-magic sword. Each step kicked up dust as he closed the distance with surprising speed, even without the aid of mana.
— "Let's see what you're made of, Lincon!" — Asta exclaimed, a confident smile on his face.
Lincon, on the other hand, remained calm. His chains began to whirl around him like living serpents, ready to strike. With a subtle gesture, he murmured:
— "Chain Magic: Spinning Defense!"
The chains intertwined rapidly, forming a circular barrier that intercepted Asta's strike. The impact was powerful, sending sparks flying as the black sword sliced through the reinforced chains.
— "Not bad..." — Lincon thought, leaping backward to gain distance. — "That sword really nullifies magic. But I expected as much."
Without hesitation, Lincon used his chains like Hisoka's Bungee Gum — for mobility. He shot a chain toward a nearby tree and pulled himself upward, dodging Asta's second attack.
— "Chain Magic: Lightning Rush!"
From above, Lincon fired three chains at high speed. Asta, with his trained reflexes, rolled to the side, barely escaping. However, one chain ricocheted off a rock and wrapped around his ankle, yanking him to the ground.
— "Got you!" — Lincon exclaimed, pulling hard.
However, Asta wasn't someone who could be easily captured. He raised his sword and cut the chain with a single swing, freeing himself.
The spectators watched in absolute silence, captivated by the intensity of the fight. In the captains' stand, Yami grinned, watching with interest.
— "These two... solid sprouts. Maybe I should bring them into my squad." — Yami muttered, blowing out a puff of smoke.
Meanwhile, Gueldre Poizot observed with a furrowed brow. Lincon's skill with chains continued to unsettle him. It was like watching a younger, more refined version of Revchi, but with greater tactical intelligence.
— "If he's really connected to the old Revchi, this could become a serious problem for me." — Gueldre thought, clenching his fists.
Back in the arena, Lincon decided to change tactics. Instead of relying solely on visible chains, he activated a new spell, spreading several small chains across the ground as extensions of his will.
— "Let's see how you handle this, Asta."
Asta charged again, unaware of the traps around him. Just as he was about to strike, his feet were suddenly bound by multiple small chains that swiftly entwined around his legs.
— "What?!" — Asta shouted, struggling to break free.
Lincon smiled, preparing another chain to finish the fight. However, Asta, fueled by sheer strength, yanked the chains so hard that they tore from the ground, allowing him to advance even while partially restrained.
— "You think this will stop me?!" — Asta roared, slashing through the last bindings with a powerful swing of his sword.
Lincon barely had time to react before Asta was upon him, the black blade descending in a swift arc. Thinking quickly, Lincon used his chains to propel himself backward, narrowly escaping the blow.
— "This guy is a monster..." — Lincon thought, panting but still focused.
Not wanting to prolong the battle and risk further, Lincon raised his hand and activated his final spell:
— "Chain Magic: Triple Prison!"
Three sets of chains erupted from the ground, binding Asta's arms and legs simultaneously. Even with his immense strength, Asta couldn't break free immediately, giving Lincon enough time to aim his hand toward him.
— "You're strong, Asta. But for now, this fight is mine."
Before Lincon could finish, Asta roared, breaking one of the chains through sheer physical power. Seeing his advantage slip away, Lincon decided to use the technique he had developed during his six months of training—a unique spell newly written into his grimoire:
— "Chain Magic: Binding Link!"
Chains shot out from Lincon's shadow, connecting to Asta's shadow. Immediately, Asta's body stiffened, his movements mirroring Lincon's as if he were a puppet under control.
— "This technique... it's like Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu." — Lincon thought, stepping forward.
Asta, unable to resist, was forced to mimic the movement. Lincon raised his empty hand, and Asta, against his will, lifted his anti-magic sword. In one controlled motion, Lincon maneuvered Asta's own blade to his throat.
— "Game over, Asta." — Lincon said, exhaling deeply.
Asta's eyes widened, shocked to have his own weapon turned against him. Even with all his physical strength, he couldn't break the magical chain's control in time.
The examiner raised his hand.
— "Enough! The match is over! Lincon is the winner!"
Lincon sighed, relaxing the chains and releasing Asta. The boy grinned, despite being sweaty and out of breath.
— "Man, you're really incredible!" — Asta said, extending his hand.
Lincon smiled and clasped it.
— "You too, Asta. I expected nothing less from you."
The examiners exchanged glances, clearly impressed. Up above, the captains discussed among themselves.
— "That Lincon… he's no ordinary candidate." — Fuegoleon commented. — "And Asta… fighting without mana and getting this far? These two have the potential to change a lot of things."
Gueldre, however, remained silent, already plotting how to uncover more about Lincon. Meanwhile, Lincon left the field, deep in thought.
If this was only the entrance exam, the path to the top will be even more challenging. But I didn't come here to stay in the shadows. I came to conquer.
With renewed determination, Lincon walked away, ready for the next step in his journey.