Combat Magicians (Part 2)

"Mystic Gate's Chloe vs Stoneheimer's Gaston"

Wallace focused on watching Mystic Gate's match. After all, this Academy is famous for its ingenious mana artifact creations. He may receive some inspiration as well in their pathway. As someone who dreams big, Wallace was keen to improve himself in any possible way.

"The 1st fighter or the vanguard is expected to make a momentum for the team. This magician must be capable of taking some pressure, as they are the first up, and their result sets the mood of the rest of the team! They must be strong if you want to show off your academy's skill!"

Felicia commented as the battle was about to start. This time, a young titled Battle Mage was together with Felicia. He is wearing a coat indicating that he is from the Ministry of Magic Education.

"Mhm. The magician who will first battle would certainly be in huge pressure but the 2nd and 3rd fighter should also be someone who can focus under pressure. If the 1st fighter loses their match, it's up to these two individual to try and make up the loss. They can be experienced or can be less experienced, it is up to the strategy of the selectors, but the pair should be good in their teamwork. Fighting in pairs can be found more difficult if there's no coordination."

Felicia nodded at this and added more.

"And if both the 1st and the 2nd matches achieved victory, the rest of the team can relax a little!"

After the two referees at the side noticed that the magicians were ready, they signal the start of battle.

The two magicians had activated their Grade 1 Mana Shell at the same time. Although the magic skill is in the Grade 1 category, it doesn't mean that the skill itself is weak. The uniqueness of this Grade 1 skill is that the Mana Shell can be sustained or strengthened as long as the caster has enough mana pool.

Chloe's mana artifact is a purple bracelet with a 4 lined blue crystal embedded on it. After activating the mana shell, she poured her mana on her bracelet to activate her piercing magic skill.

"Ice Enchant -- Arrow Assault!"

A barrage of arrows made of ice appeared in front of Chloe as they flew over Gaston who was just looking at the incoming spells.

The skill was also a Grade 1 spell, which is normal. Casting Grade 2 spells normally has long buffering time. Also, Grade 3 skills are too much for the academy's 1st-year students, even third years would have difficulty releasing Grade 3 magic even if the mana artifact is designed with such skill.

The mana artifact is just a medium to convert the magician's mana to an element that the magicians wish to control.

Releasing magic spells from the mana artifact still requires magic skill comprehension. They have to still analyze the skill to be able to release and control it. Without precise control, the magic attack can just hurt the caster himself. It wasn't as simple as triggering the mana artifact itself.

As they have about 50 meters of distance, Gaston felt he have enough space to dodge the attack and get closer to Chloe. Apparently, the best magic spells in his arsenal could be better used in a short-ranged battle.

He quickly cast auxiliary magic to boost his ability to fight using his bracer as his mana artifact.

"Wind Enchant - Haste"

"Earth Enchant - Protection"

The 1st magic that Gaston released summoned a wind magic that would enhance his speed and the 2nd had summoned a translucent wall of rock surrounding his body to protect himself and his mana shell from being easily depleted.

He easily dodged and deflected some of the ice arrow as he slowly got closer to Chloe.

After reaching about 15 meters, Gaston started his counterattack.

"Golem! Explode!"

No one knows when, but a small gray golem with a size of child just materialize beside Chloe and immediately turned red seemingly about to explode.

Chloe quickly jumped sideways as she cast another skill to protect herself from any debris after the explosion.

"Fire Enchant - Armor!"

She was covered by a thin curtain of flame and as soon as it created another concave curtain of wall as additional protection, the golem exploded.

Baaaaaammm!!

Stones, clay and some crystals were included in the explosion.

Chloe smirk at the thought of easily thwarting his opponent's scheme. She moved away from her gaze in from the golem's position and looked at Gaston. But he was no longer in his same position where he cast the last spell and disappeared on her vision.

"Where--"

She haven't completed her words before she felt someone's presence on her right, Gaston was about to complete a Grade 2 spell.

"Rock Storm!!"

Gaston activated the only Grade 2 spell that he could use. As expected of Grade 2 magic attack -- sharp and crystallized stones materialized and continuously smash Chloe's defense.

Chloe switched to a defensive stance as she tried to strengthen her armor and mana shell. She was unable to have an opening to release a spell. She looked serious and knew that it couldn't go on like this as she wasn't specialized in defensive magic skills.

She keeps her defenses up and gave Gaston a feeling that she was about to succumb in the spell. But Chloe's teammate know that she was extremely focus and waiting for an opportune time to counterattack.

After persisting on the attack, her defense spell was almost used up and her mana shell was now about to be destroyed as long as a single grade 1 spell hit her. Luckily, although Gaston released a grade 2 spell Rock Storm, his control wasn't that precise.

Gaston noticed this and felt that victory was now within his grasp. He activated one last skill aimed to finish the battle. He even felt that he could get closer and deal a heavy punch instead of her mana shell if this last spell did not work.

As he activated the spell in close proximity, this also gave Chloe a chance.

"Earth Enchant -- Earth Spi--ke! Aaarrghh!"

***

Wallace had been observing the battle in arena and felt amused about their usage of skill.

'So they still decided to use Enchant Series as magic skills. A standard magic or perhaps one of the easiest magic structure for elemental conversion. They probably used most of the magic structure for an explosive or a single complex magic spell instead.'

Since it has been a century since the creation of 5th gen, many magic structure for an elemental spell has appeared and the Enchant Series is the most basic but has a wide range of helpful spell especially for speed casting although it's on the weaker side.

Enchant Series were practical magic spells as well for magician's use as it only requires a small amount of mana.

As the battle continued and everyone felt that it was Gaston's victory, his last spell had not activated and an explosion occurred where his mana artifact is.

It shattered his mana shell and dealt some damage in his body.

"Wait! What happened there?"

"It's so quick. Did you see that?"

"I think Chloe activated a spell but it happened so quick."

Some audiences watching the fight of Mystic Gate and Stoneheimer were confused about how the table was turned.

Wallace is now looking apprehensively to Chloe. It also seems that he noticed what had just happened.

"Hmm. If all Mystic Gate's mana technician has that magic structure in their Mana Artifact then they would be able to give a good fight."