Quarter Finals I

|Gary|

As I made my way to the backstage area of the stadium, the air was thick with an electric excitement. The other competitors had already gathered, eagerly chatting and warming up their magical abilities, all except for Arthur who was yet to arrive.

True to form, Arthur appeared with a fashionable tardiness, earning playful teasing about his sleeping habits from the others.

Suddenly, the Director made her grand entrance onto the stage, her warm smile illuminating the entire arena as she introduced the tournament. "Welcome, one and all, to the highly-anticipated quarter-finals of this year's magical tournament! Please refer to the display artifact to check the match-ups for this round."

I shifted my gaze towards the tournament bracket, feeling a surge of adrenaline as I prepared myself for the upcoming battles.

The Director's voice boomed through the stadium, "Lucas Wykes and Gary Whiteborn, please proceed to the stage!"

I took the first step towards the stage, my mind already set on crushing my opponent. Lucas, on the other hand, was too self-assured, and I couldn't wait to teach him a lesson.

As the Director announced the start of the match, Lucas brandished his wand, appearing to rely on the same spell that had taken down Claire.

However, I wasn't planning on fighting him.

[The One]

|Third POV|

A sudden and ominous aura descended upon the stage, leaving everyone frozen in fear. Even Lucas, who was brimming with confidence just moments ago, found himself rooted to the spot.

"What is happening?" he stuttered, feeling as if a cold hand had gripped his neck.

As Gary's grey eyes met Lucas', the latter's body began to convulse uncontrollably. He gasped for air, his heart racing, sweat pouring down his back, and his eyes dilating in terror. The sight of Gary's eyes left Lucas feeling insignificant, like a mere peasant in the presence of a king.

Gary's cold voice shattered the silence, "Kneel."

Lucas, without hesitation, dropped to his knees. His mind was on the brink of collapse as he struggled to keep his gaze from meeting Gary's piercing eyes.

The Director, finally coming to her senses, called off the match before any more damage could be done. As the pressure lifted and Gary's eyes reverted to their usual amethyst colour, he smiled and acknowledged the Director.

In the aftermath, the spectators were left speechless, in awe of Gary's power. The Director, still recovering, announced Gary as the winner of the first round. Without a word, Gary made his way off the stage, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.

The terror of that moment lingered long after the match had ended. It was clear to everyone that Gary Whiteborn was not to be underestimated.

|Bairon|

As I stood on the referee stands, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer power emanating from Gary Whiteborn. It was an indescribable, yet palpable aura that left me feeling awestruck and almost terrified. Despite being only twelve years old, he exuded an air of regality and power that I had never witnessed before.

Even though I was one of the most powerful mages in Dicathen, I felt small and insignificant in his presence. I had spent time in front of the three royal families, but they were nothing compared to Gary. He was a true monarch who had achieved his position through hard work and sheer strength, not just through bloodline.

As he descended the stairs of the stage, I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, and I could barely keep my composure. I couldn't imagine what it must have felt like for Lucas, who was already trembling before Gary had even made a move.

Watching from the side, I couldn't help but think that Gary was holding back. The way he had effortlessly forced Lucas to his knees without even casting a spell was proof of his incredible power. If he had decided to unleash his full strength, even the most powerful mages in Dicathen would likely be no match for him.

Despite his youth, Gary had already achieved the pinnacle of strength, and it was clear to me that he was destined for great things. The future of Dicathen was in good hands with him at the helm. I couldn't help but feel grateful that he had spared Lucas from a more devastating defeat.

As I watched Gary exit the stage with ease, his aura slowly dissipating, I knew that I had just witnessed a glimpse of the true power of a sovereign.

|Arthur|

Gary's victory had left a heavy weight in the air, a palpable sense of dominance. It was clear that his opponent, Lucas, didn't stand a chance against him, and yet Gary hadn't even needed to use any spells.

The Director eventually regained her composure and announced the next match. I stepped up to the stage, my confidence faltering slightly as I remembered the sheer power and presence that Gary had just displayed.

But I couldn't let that intimidate me. I took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. Rachel Glidesburn was a formidable opponent, but I was determined to give it my all and come out victorious.

"Assume your positions!" The Director's voice boomed across the arena as she raised her hands into the air, signaling the start of the battle.

Rachel and I stood facing each other, both determined to give our all in this magical showdown. The tension in the air was palpable as we awaited the Director's command.

"Begin!" she finally announced, and the battle began in earnest.

Without a moment's hesitation, Rachel unleashed her Spirit Dive and Undine appeared by her side, ready for action. With a swift flick of her wrist, she cast her domain spell, creating a giant serpent made of water that encircled the stage.

[Sea Serpent's Realm]

Undeterred, I charged at her with my trusty teal blade, infusing it with blue flames. But my attack was met with a protective barrier of water that surrounded Rachel, shielding her from harm.

Before I knew it, I was submerged in a sphere of water, unable to move due to the mana strings that bound me. But I was not defeated yet. With lightning-fast reflexes, I activated my Realmheart, using the motes of spatium to form a bridge and teleport out of Rachel's spell.

The look of shock on Rachel's face was priceless as she stammered, "H-how did you do that?"

I grinned in response, feeling the adrenaline pumping through my veins. This battle was far from over, and I was ready for whatever Rachel had in store for me next.

Rachel wasted no time recovering from her initial shock and immediately launched powerful water spells at me. I took a deep breath, focusing on my swordplay and using my Realmheart to sense her attacks before cutting them down with precision.

But then, Rachel changed her strategy, unleashing a barrage of erratic water spells that left me struggling to react. Even with my Realmheart, I was in danger of being hit and paying the price.

But I had one last trick up my sleeve.

With a sudden burst of power, I invoked the [Static Void], pausing time around me and allowing me to move and dodge the incoming spells with ease. I unpaused time just as suddenly, watching with satisfaction as the spells missed me completely.

As Rachel scrambled to react to my sudden move, I prepared to launch a powerful counterattack. I conjured a giant spear of black lightning, coating it with frostfire and sending it hurtling towards her at hypersonic speeds.

But Rachel was not one to be caught off guard twice. With lightning reflexes, she conjured a giant serpent of water to meet my attack head-on, the two spells colliding in a fierce clash of magic.

With the aftermath of our spells still echoing through the arena, Rachel and I both stood our ground, panting and sweating from the exertion of our magical battle. The Director watched intently from the sidelines, her eyes flickering with excitement as she waited to see who would emerge victorious.

But it was clear to me that the battle was far from over. With a fierce determination, I summoned all of my magical strength and charged at Rachel once again, my teal blade glinting in the sunlight as I charged it with blue flames.

Rachel countered with a powerful water spell, but I was ready for her this time. I used my Realmheart to sense where she was creating her attacks from, allowing me to react instantly and counter her spells with ease.

With each passing moment, I could feel myself gaining the upper hand. My attacks were landing with more precision, and Rachel was struggling to keep up with my lightning-fast movements.

And then, in a sudden burst of inspiration, I realized what I needed to do to win this battle once and for all.

Gathering all of the magical energy at my disposal, I conjured a massive ball of lightning, imbuing it with the power of the elements.

I stopped time once again, feeling the burden of using Static Void on my body.

However, I simply grunted and accepted the weight. I used aether to coat my mana attack, finding a weakness in Rachel's defence before launching the ball at Rachel with all the force I could muster, watching as it hurtled towards her at breakneck speed.

Rachel tried to counter with another water spell, but it was too late. The ball of lightning struck her square in the chest, breaking her Spirit Dive and sending her flying across the arena with a resounding crash.

For a moment, everything was silent. Rachel lay on the ground, motionless, while I stood with a triumphant expression on my face. And then, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, as the Director declared me the winner of the battle.

'I won!' I thought before exiting Realmheart, feeling the burden on my body.

However, I just gritted my teeth and remained standing, determined to not fall in front of the audience.