Lightning

The Mystic Gate Academy won their last match for the day getting 4 consecutive wins. They had a very good start and it lightened their mood. Confidence was building up even if there are still strong opponents out there.

They were now ready to watch the battle between Leonhearts and Phoenix. Their academy hadn't had a chance to fight them yet and was scheduled to fight the two tomorrow. It would be a very good reference if both of them will show all their trump cards in the battle allowing them to prepare even more.

"Let's watch the battle carefully, I know they aren't using the full power of their mana artifact. We may have a chance of seeing it here."

Kyla said to her team. Everyone nodded as they also watched the previous battles of these academies and notice that they were holding back. However, since both of them are strong competitors, they will show their hands to win the match.

"I wonder if Shirley only has Ultrasonic Burst."

One member of the team muttered but Sheryl immediately shook her head.

"Impossible." She said calmly as he stared at the stage waiting for the battle to start.

"It was only because she hadn't fought someone who would force her to use other magic spells." Sheryl added her conjecture. After all, it is only normal to place other back up magic spell and Shirley has 3 mana artifacts.

Although no one knows their use. They were noticing that it always lit up whenever Shirley uses the offensive spell. It means that Ultrasonic Burst has more secrets that they weren't aware of. In the first place, they only have a vague idea about the principles of how it works but not the entire magic structure blueprint itself.

***

Wallace together with his close friends, Gilbert and others including Tracy and Ross were watching the battle of their team against Phoenix in the audience seats.

"You don't look concerned. Are you confident that they'll win?"

Ericka asked as she noticed Wallace that wasn't paying attention. The others glanced at him waiting for him to answer. Especially Tracy beside him who looked curiously on him as if wondering where did he get his confidence from.

"Huh? No. I was just thinking of something. Hmm... I think Ray and the others can do just fine."

Wallace answered awkwardly, he was checking out his mission given by Pathfinder before the competition. He was wondering if he could at least get the third place reward which is some lost technology of this world. After all, it was something that the late Aeolia Schien was searching for.

'The students from Phoenix have such high offensive power. So Ray can win this if he decided to utilize that artifact.'

They heard a cheering crowd and soon noticed that 4 magicians took the stage. The left stage would be taken over by Leonhearts and Phoenix while the right stage alongside them will be with Isolde and Neon Academy.

Of course, Wallace and the group were monitoring the left stage.

"Phoenix's Neil vs Leonhearts' Ray"

As soon as the battle started they saw the two of them being covered by their Mana Shell. Neil didn't bother to hide his strength this time as he knows that Ray is a tough one.

"Lightning Chain!"

A lightning spell immediately hit Ray's defense but he was able to hold on as he activated his defense.

"Freezing Mine Field!"

It was the field magic he always uses and everyone in the arena is already familiar with it. But there is still an auxiliary magic spell embedded in this that Ray hadn't had a chance to utilize.

After barely manipulating a block of ice to have it cover in front of him to defend against the Lighting Spell, the block immediately shattered exposing Ray. His opponent specializes in ranged spell and the field magic could only temporarily halt Neil's assault.

Maintaining field magic is also consuming to his mana pool so he has to act before he runs out of it. Of course, Ray was just looking calm about this maintaining his focus and observing Neil's movement and attack.

Neil used multiple lightning spells to attack Ray but his opponent was very patient and utilize the ice to block the attack. Ray also shoots out a petty attack that only annoys Neil.

After all, the attack was only an Ice Shard that could barely scratch his Mana Shell. Neil sometimes didn't bother to defend and let it hit his Mana Shell. He instead focused on looking at the gaps between Ray's defenses.

The field magic slowly expanded, bit by bit and surrounded Neil. It only started a few meters around Ray but as the battle goes on, he decided to expand the field every time he made a successful block against Neil's attack.

As Neil noticed this, it was already too late.

"Ice Shard Explosions!"

Booommm! Several explosions were heard. The Ice Shards that Ray was throwing about wasn't just to annoy Neil but also to control his surroundings. If Neil had focused on his surroundings instead of just looking for opportunities to strike Ray, he would have vacated his position and it would be difficult for Ray to complete his plan.

A thick mist was now in place of Neil. The audiences couldn't see if his Mana Shell was already shattered.

In the Phoenix Academy's camp, his teammates were looking worried for him. Neil is a strong magician and he wasn't even able to use all his reserve in this battle. After all, it would feel too bad if you lost while not even showing a hundred percent of your strength.

As soon as they felt that Neil already lost, a bright red light radiated within the mist and seems like it was pulsating with a strong fluctuation of power.

His teammates celebrated and saw that Neil was about to use his strongest move.

"It's Crimson Bolt!"

They were aware of this magic spell, this is Neil's trump card.

***

"That looks scary."

Tracy has a grim face as she felt the strong power coming from within the mist.

"Can Ray safely defend against that?"

Gilbert asked but everyone was silent. Only Wallace was looking at it without any expression.

"The battle is over." Wallace replied after noticing that no one answered Gilbert.

'Eh? You're giving up on Ray already?'

'Is Neil going to win or can Ray still defend against that?'

They asked the question in their mind thinking first that Wallace gave up on Ray.

***

Ray was feeling quite nervous on the stage feeling the strong mana fluctuation within the mist. If he was hit by this without any defenses, he'd see a Mage Doctor in months.

The pulsating red radiance was looking very eerily together with the mist.

But although he was nervous, he wasn't scared. He was now holding the 3rd mana artifact he has that was made from Ancient Abyssal Glass. It was called 'Mirror of Trace'.

As soon as he did this, Neil finished his preparation and a red lightning was sent to attack Ray.

"Crimson Bolt!!!"

This is a thick red bolt of lightning with the size of a man and was thrown to Ray. The latter was ready to risk everything as he relied on the mirror to help him fend off this attack.

But something unexpected happened. He saw two silhouette blocking the attack.

He then realized that the two referees had joined together to stop the bolt of lightning that was aimed at him.

"Uhmm... What happened?" He was certainly confused about this outcome.