-1571- The extent of it

As time slowly passed, the match finally began.

The arena was packed with spectators, and cameras were all set, broadcasting the match live across the globe, allowing everyone around the world to witness it.

The first match today was between Team Vebel and Team Falcion.

Team Vebel needed no introduction. Led by Yamier Kaiser, they had collected all the orbs on the first day of the survival competition and were considered the favorites to win the championship.

Although Team Falcion had been defeated by Rozen and his group, as Rozen had predicted earlier, they had already gathered enough orbs to challenge them, leading to their qualification as one of the teams that advanced.

Both sides stepped into the first match of the day, and once the Wizard Field was activated, the battle officially began.

The result...

"Huff... Huff..."

In the arena, Noel knelt on one knee, holding a combat knife. Her entire body looked as if it had been scorched, and she was panting heavily, with an expression of disbelief.

"Ugh..."

"Ah..."

A closer look revealed that around Noel, the members of Team Falcion had all collapsed on the ground, groaning in pain but unable to get up, signaling their defeat.

Seeing her fallen comrades, Noel endured the pain and lifted her head to look forward.

"Is this the best you can do?"

A voice filled with disappointment echoed through the air.

On the opposite side stood Yamier Kaiser, holding a flaming longsword.

Flames flickered and surged from various parts of Yamier's body, causing her clothes to flutter as they danced in the heat.

Centered around Yamier, the entire arena had turned into a sea of flames.

The moment the match began, Yamier unleashed her full mana, summoning terrifying flames that engulfed the entire field, sending the members of Team Falcion flying.

With just that single strike, the entire Team Falcion was incapacitated.

Noel, sensing the impending danger, had quickly deployed a magic barrier, narrowly escaping the full brunt of the attack, but she still suffered severe burns.

As for the rest of Team Vebel, they hadn't even lifted a finger, merely standing back and watching coldly.

In other words, the entire Team Falcion was on the verge of annihilation from Yamier's attack alone.

The spectators in the stands erupted in loud exclamations upon witnessing this scene.

In the VIP seating area, Annerose, Emilie, Cris, and River wore solemn expressions.

Only Zeth remained unfazed, watching the scene with a look of inevitability.

Even though Yamier hadn't used Collapse Force or jutsuryoku, relying solely on regular mana, Zeth had never doubted her overwhelming power.

After all, Yamier could rival both him and Kirsty Vermilion in strength. She was the princess of the Kaiser family.

In a world where even her father had turned into an Armored Beetle, this young girl bore the heavy burden of the Kaiser family on her shoulders. Even with only basic mana, she remained an indomitable force.

"I thought I'd get a warm-up before the final showdown with Rorelai Arneet," Yamier remarked with boredom. "I didn't expect you to be so useless."

As she spoke, Yamier raised her flaming longsword and slashed downward.

"Boom—!"

A scorching wave of flames surged forth, expanding like a tsunami of fire towards Noel.

The flames were so intense and violent that the entire Wizard Field trembled, and the sea of flames shook as if a volcano was erupting.

Faced with this overwhelming power, Noel's figure was instantly swallowed by the flames, causing the crowd to gasp in shock.

However...

"Battle Skill—Spiral Dragon Gale Breaker!"

Accompanied by a sharp cry, a surge of compressed mana erupted from within the sea of flames.

"Boom—!"

A spiraling vortex of air burst forth, tearing through the approaching heatwave and cutting through the sea of flames, scattering the violent fire.

"Hah... Hah..."

Noel, maintaining her sword stance, was panting even harder, her body emanating waves of compressed mana while her eyes revealed signs of exhaustion.

But thanks to her strongest battle skill, Noel had once again avoided being instantly defeated by Yamier.

"You blocked it?"

Yamier seemed surprised at this outcome, showing a hint of surprise.

But soon after, Yamier's expression changed to one of interest.

"It seems I underestimated you. The others aside, you're somewhat interesting."

Clearly, Noel's performance had piqued Yamier's interest in battle.

Watching Yamier, Noel realized that her opponent had yet to go all out.

Just like that man, this woman before her was an opponent she had no chance of defeating—her power was unfathomable.

"What a monster...!"

Noel clicked her tongue in frustration.

In response, Yamier only looked indifferent.

"Well then, it's time for you to exit."

Yamier raised her sword high again.

"Goodbye, you interesting human."

With those words, Yamier swung her sword once more.

A torrent of flames erupted again, like a fiery red flood, swallowing Noel in an instant.

This time, with her mana exhausted, Noel could no longer defend herself. She could only watch helplessly as the sea of flames engulfed her, consuming her entirely.

Not long after, the match was over.

The victor—Team Vebel.

...

"So, we lost."

In the waiting room, upon hearing the announcement of the match's end and the victor, Kanata muttered quietly.

"Even the combat-skilled Sky Wizards of Falcion couldn't stand a chance against a Collapse Force user?"

Chloe held a handheld device, her expression serious as she watched the match replay.

"Yamier Kaiser..."

Mena repeatedly whispered the name.

"She's really strong..."

Yuri couldn't hide the nervousness on her face.

Rozen, too, had been watching the match, his gaze fixed on the scene of Noel being consumed by flames, showing no emotional reaction.

"This outcome was within expectations," Rozen remarked.

With Falcion's strength, they couldn't pose any threat to Vebel's humanoid Armored Beetles.

Against Collapse Force users, humans with only basic mana were simply too weak.

Of course...

"That's about the extent of it."

Rozen smirked, clearly not viewing Yamier as a threat.

In fact, there wasn't anyone in this world who could be considered a threat to him.

Next...

"It's our turn."

Rozen stood up and looked at his team.

"Let's proceed as we discussed."

At his words, the team members nodded one by one.

"The next match is between Team Korai and Team Mistgun."

The referee's voice echoed in their ears.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

With that, Rozen led his S128 Special Task Force onto the battlefield.