Magicians

Shirley garnered attention due to her unique magic spell that easily shatters her opponent's Mana Shell. Likewise, other notable magicians were showing up as the competition started.

Cloud from Skywalker possesses original mana artifact. His Radiant Sword is a blunt short sword that has similarities in the artifact originally made by Ross.

Cohen from Phoenix Academy utilizes the Lightning element to destroy his opponents. It's fast, accurate and destructive power can easily defeat some ace students of other academies.

Kyla from Mystic Gate uses the mana artifacts made by Sheryl the Frost Queen. As expected, she uses Domain Magic to overpower her opponents. It is several leagues higher than Field Magic previously used by Michael from Leonhearts. She wasn't using the Mana Shockwave yet in her succeeding fights. It seems that she was reserving this magic spell until she fought with Shirley.

After the battle between Leonhearts and Honeysuckle, Shirley's group defeated Sacred Peak and Odrexelt Academy giving them 3 consecutive wins.

The last 2 academy they fought was in the same league with Honeysuckle. But the strategy of the Odrexelt changed as when they realized that their opponent was Leonhearts, their team captain that is supposedly positioned in the 4th and 5th occupied the vanguard position instead.

He fought toe to toe with Ray and managed to gain their only victory.

"Hey! I was told not to use that 3rd artifact!"

Ray reasoned out as he was teased by his teammates for losing the fight. Instead of lifting his mood, his friends even teased him not minding his feelings about his loss.

"Haha! I know, but why'd you have to kneel like that?"

Lina replied as the last scene of the match where Ray lost was being broadcasted and shown after their fight together with the announcement of the match-winner. This can be seen in the multiple large plasma screens placed in the arena.

Ray's Mana Shell was the first one to shatter in his brawl against the team captain of Odrexelt. Unfortunately, the last captured scene and was displayed in the plasma screen was the moment where he looked exhausted and kneeled after his Mana Shell shattered. He was even looking up to his opponent that was standing in front of him making quite a good scene to be displayed.

Although he lost, his mind was still at ease since he hadn't used the mana artifact made by Wallace yet.

'Hmph. Once I fought with either the other top 3 academies, I'm allowed to use this artifact if necessary to guarantee my win.'

They don't plan to show that mana artifact yet to avoid the top 3 academies from immediately forming a strategy to counter it. Their team felt that it was still acceptable to lose their 1st match against these weaker academies as they were confident that they could claim overall victory in their 5 matches. They'd rather lose the 1st fight than to reveal their trump card.

***

The audience suddenly cheered as Kyla entered the stage. Her battle was always dominating and everyone could feel how powerful she was.

Her Domain Magic was not only powerful but also looks beautiful insight. It exudes a charm that made the audiences even from different academies admire it.

Wallace was keen to watch her battle as he acknowledged that this student is really strong. Mystic Gate Academy is in the middle of their last battle for the day. This afternoon, each academy was scheduled to fight 4 others and will continue tomorrow morning until the afternoon.

'As expected of someone in the instructor's level. Maybe once my Divine Sense was upgraded, they won't be able to feel it's presence.'

He was contemplating the possible reward that the Pathfinder may give him once he achieved a rank in the overall ratings. He was given 3 options depending on his rank and felt that all three were good but now, he felt that it would be better to receive an upgraded potion of Divine Sense instead.

***

In an abandoned town not far away from Tanza City.

"Have you found her?"

A young man in his teens asked a question to his subordinates over the earphone he wore. His current team consisted of two more teens and two middle-aged men wearing a soldier's uniform from a magicians unit. They were even wearing bracers that are unique to a special regiment in Zairus, the Lucent Force.

"Negative." A person on the other replied as he heard the question of the young man.

"I found traces here in point B. We'll need a tracker and concealer. I think we're getting close." Luckily, another team seems to have found clues and delivered good news to the young man.

The other two young men beside him immediately felt delighted upon hearing the news.

"Aaron, let's go quickly!"

One of them couldn't wait and were hurrying Aaron to order them to go to point B.

Yes, the young man was Aaron Schmidt, the student council president of Leonhearts Academy together with his trusted friends, Garry and Humphrey from the ethics committee.

Garry nudged Aaron to move. Aaron also couldn't conceal his excitement and looked at his other two subordinates together with them.

The two older magicians accompanying them were from Lucent Force and they were assigned with a certain task that requires Aaron's presence.

A few more minutes had passed as they rendezvous with the other team who located some traces of the person they were looking for. The two other teams weren't soldiers but like a private bodyguards of Aaron.

One magician from Lucent Force immediately used some exclusive magic spell and used it to discover more clues.

After using the magic spell. He pointed his finger in a certain abandoned house.

"She's there."

Everyone looked on their east where the sun is and saw an abandoned house under a shade of a tree.

The other member of the Lucent Force nodded and decided to go first. He was strongest within the team after all.

He noticed some concealed traps and barriers placed in the surroundings of the house.

It took them almost an hour to safely remove all these and enter the abandoned house.

They saw a haggard and pale middle-aged woman with a few bruises in her body seated on the floor and leaning on the wall. She looked like resting and she was using her left hand to hold her stomach that has a wound. Traces of blood can be seen on her shirt. Her boots were full of dirt and looked like she had traversed an arduous journey. Her vest was set aside to her left full of scratches and blade marks.

She must have experienced such a difficult battle.

"Miss Tales!!"

Aaron and his group recognized the woman. She was an instructor of Leonhearts that was handling Wallace's class. However, after a week of vacation, Ms. Tales did not return and was replaced by Wallace's current instructor, Garen.

After confirming from the two members of Lucent Force that it was safe.

Aaron approached Miss Tales and gently whispered.

"You're safe now."