4.18.

"That's.. what she said?" Leticia's expression contorted.

"Yeah."

"Do you know what she did to me in the past?"

Sequencee shook his head.

"She would watch me get beaten up with a smile. You think she's kind? She's just wearing a stupid mask. The real person behind the words is a narcissist."

'Leticia has become quite aggressive..'

"I believe you."

".. I don't know what they're up to.. don't listen to them. I don't want to even know them. Just.. stop trying. I already told you to stop getting involved in the matter between me and my brother. We're through. I don't care that we're family, my happiness matters much more than some heritage!"

Leticia heaved. Placing her hands to her chest to calm her heart, she hunched over against the table with her hands cushioning her head.

"All I need is.."

'.. All I need is you.'

Of course, Leticia could never say that.

"Pardon?'

"Don't fall for her words. She's a black woman."

"..."

"I'm sorry for being a nuisance. I'm sorry for making things difficult for everyone.."

"It's alright."

"I'm being selfish.. aren't I? I'm such a rude person to say these things.. I didn't even know I could be so crazy. I'm crazy, aren't I?" her words were muffled by her arms.

"You're fine Leticia."

"I'm crazy, I'm not fine. You also know that I'm crazy."

"..."

"I'm crazy, but you're still here with me."

'Yes I am.'

"Thank you Sequencee," she reached out a little to touch his hands.

"Stand strong."

"I will.."

– The fading plant grows new stems. Roots driven deeper into the soil; self-nourishment, to stand by oneself.

===

"Understand that it is already a big achievement that we've made it this far. While I am already satisfied with the level we are at, I believe we could go much further," Din said.

The student's ears perked up.

"Our opponent this time around will be the biggest hurdle we'll face by far. I hope that everyone is well rested, and ready to bring your best performance. We shall win."

"""Yes Mister Din!"""

"We will do our best!"

"Good luck everyone!"

"Fight on!"

Moving from the waiting room hatch to the arena, the skies opened up to them. The colours of twilight painted the world orange and purple.

Large spotlights illuminated the platform, crowds of people filled the colosseum, waiting. The barren field of dirt below, scorch marks from yesterday could still be seen.

Over on the other side, the ensemble mages from Eluive Academy could be seen walking in. Applauses rang out, anticipation rising.

["Both ensembles please ready your formations! I will begin with the random coin flip."]

Buzt.

{-Lives-

Eluive Academy: 2

Riestallia Academy: 2

}

The green lights came on for Riestallia's side. They would be going first.

"Full power," Din said, positioning his wand.

They were going to use Twelfth Starfall again.

Sequencee pointed his palm towards the skies.

The dense pool of mana condensed, creating a crushing weight on his hands. A magic circle manifested, pulsating, rippling. The winds churned, the magic circle shrilled. Lighting crackled around the magic formation as mana leaked from within.

The air surrounding the opposing team distorted– likely they would be investing a lot of energy into defending this.

Sequencee exhaled.

The white magic circle turned red.

They've got one chance to turn the battle on its head. Should they fail to blow through their defenses, Riestallia's team will be at a disadvantage.

Sequencee poured in his own mana into the spell, which wasn't against the rules. Compared to the amount supplied by the mages behind him, it wasn't much. Nevertheless, it still contributed something.

The magic circle flickered, trembled. The air of the world seemed to condense at a single point, one could feel the enormous pressure contained.

The green light at Eluive Academy's ensemble came on.

"Fire."

A roar shook the atmosphere.

The first red Starfall descended, sending a shockwave of ripping air into its surroundings.

BBBBZZTTTtt–

The clash between the projectile against the thick distorting barrier– a second red Starfall descended, stacking over the first Starfall, glowing in an increasingly intense shade of red.

Then the third, fourth, fifth–

Strong winds whipped through the crowd, feeling the exhilaration and pressure in the pits of their stomach, they held their breath in anticipation.

The defenses could be seen painfully warped.

By the tenth Starfall, the barrier began to sink inwards.

The twelfth descended with the brightest glow.

Combined with the previous eleven, the momentum of the now single projectile kept driving towards the barrier. Sparks of mana shot out like lightning.

With the barrier still intact, the light of the Starfall began to fade, marking the end.

Just when they thought Eluive had clinched the victory of the first round, the barrier broke under the strain, allowing the Starfall through. Though, the explosion when it hit the ground certainly wasn't as powerful as it would be at its normal intensity.

{-Lives-

Eluive Academy: 1

Riestallia Academy: 2

}

The crowds cheered!

["It was a successful penetration! The first round goes to Riestallia!"]

The mages on stage cheered, high fiving each other to congratulate their win.

"We'll use a small amount of mana to defend the next, then full power to end it," Din declared with a glint in his eyes.

"Yes sir!"

A strong laser was released from Eluive's side. Riestallia's defenses were easily broken through.

{-Lives-

Eluive Academy: 1

Riestallia Academy: 1

}

"Star Auger, pour as much as you can. Sequencee, stabilize it."

"Roger that."

A larger, more complicated magic circle formed in the sky. A strong pulsating dilation could be in the hearts of those witnessing.

Meanwhile, a new defensive grand spell which had not been revealed earlier was unveiled. It was a spire-like shield coloured in a thick blue colour.

A dark storm condensed at the tip of the peeking out of the magic circle, heated winds caused the temperature all around to rise due to friction.

Star Auger revealed itself.

A spinning tapered mass of black nimbus. Blue lightning crackled, the force of the spinning motion generated a cyclone that created a vacuum moving inwards. The mass continued to grow as more mana was pushed in.

The green light flashed, but Sequencee held the spell on for a few more extra seconds.

Feeling the weight of the spell in his palms, his arms trembled as cold sweat ran down his cheeks. The crushing feeling of mana coursing through his veins, in the midst of it all even his pupils glowed slightly.

The distortion disguising his horns flickered.

"Fi-re.."

VOOOoMMMM!!

A recoiling shockwave sent a gush of wind towards the spectators. Despite most of the energy being mitigated by a protective membrane, the gale sent a number of the unsuspecting audiences whirled in the air– including their snacks and drinks.

BAAAMM!!

Star Auger slammed right into the barrier, purposely angled to hit the side. The crushing weight forced many of the mages in Eluive to struggle.

The blue barrier flickered as cracks began to form. Worse was how it seemed Star Auger was growing stronger by the second. The revolutions increased, coded into the spell was the gradual reduction of the diameter.

A harrowing twenty seconds, Star Auger finally reached its final, strongest stage of its half-life. From a thick football-shape-like projectile into an elongated, thin spear.

Crack–

Star Auger screwed past the barrier..

Shatter!

.. And created a huge mushroom cloud on the other side.

{-Lives-

Eluive Academy: 0

Riestallia Academy: 1

}

["Riestallia Academy achieves another shocking win!!"]

"YEeess!!" Daizo pumped his fist into the air.

"We won! We won!!" Nynim grabbed Leticia by the shoulders and shook it hard.

The half elf's lips curled up a little, feeling the dark emotions of happiness, seeing how her hated step-sibling's team had lost.

"I'm glad we didn't pick a seat there," Schwii said, looking towards the aftermath of Star Auger's recoil to the a section of the audience nearing Riestallia's ensemble.

"We would've wasted a lot of popcorn," Quora said, tossing a couple kernels into her mouth.

"Congratulations," at the special spectators' lounge, Aaron muttered.

"Riestallia Academy is entering the finals. The plot armor for this world is really strong, isn't it?" Risa said.

"I know right.." Shiro couldn't agree more.

Amidst the cheers and tears of the victors and losers, a melancholic smile bloomed.