Chapter 7: (3/9)

Kain smiled and asked, "Surprise?"

"How? There was no way that Eagle Man can be fast enough to save you on time."

"It was very easy. My Ice Gargoyle flew up high when you casted [Ice Nova] and I simply switched places with it using [Warp Infusion]. Right after that, Finwe caught me and here I am."

"You gave me your word. That Eagle Man would not interfere in our battle."

"Yeah, I was lying. Finwe, attack!"

Finwe drew his sword and flew toward Aber. Aber smirked as he activated [Mana Infusion] and then casted [Ice Nova] again. This time it only takes a second for the explosion to take place. The explosion was much louder and much more powerful compared to the last one. The audience could feel that the magical barriers helped protect the audience’s side were about to break. All the arena masters who stand guards have to infuse their mana into the magical barriers to keep it from breaking.

"Scary!" Everyone in the audience thought to themselves while waiting for the [Ice Nova] to clear up.

After all the mists were cleared, everyone could see Kain and Finwe were frozen to death while Aber was breathing heavily.

"This is it! This match is over and I hereby declared Aber Hardy as the winner. Unfortunately, due to his mana being depleted, Aber will also be eliminated." The announcer quickly declared Aber as the winner while one of the arena masters slowly took her time coming down to revive Kain using [Resurrection].

One minute after being killed by the [Ice Nova], Finwe was automatically banished from Toria Continents back into his realm. After Kain was revived, he opened his eyes and saw Aber was smiling at him. Aber said, "I told you, Kain Almos, that I will defeat you. I am much stronger than you in every way you can imagine. I have predicted you will use [Warp Infusion] to avoid my first [Ice Nova]. That was why I chanted [Ice Nova] twice before using it. Next, my last teammate will eliminate your pathetic team leader. My mana pool will fully recover in three hours. Tomorrow I will be able to fight again. My team will definitely win in the final. You, Kain Almos. You are going to be useless for a month. I hope you will enjoy my performance in the final battle tomorrow as an audience. Hah!" Aber walked out from the arena with his head held high as the victor of this match.

"Aber Hardy sure has the advantage of a level 30 Mage huh."

"Are you disappointed in Kain, Lord Clerico?"

"A little, but I know he did his best. If Kain was also a level 30 Mage, he can revive himself using [Second Life]. Aber would lose that match since his mana pool was depleted, and Kain will move on to the next opponent."

"Too bad, Kain is still just a level 25 Mage."

"At nineteen years old, that is not bad at all. David, let's leave. We will come back tomorrow to see Arthur fight in the final. If Arthur can't win the final tomorrow, then I'm gonna be really pissed. You know what happens when I'm mad, right David?"

"Yes, Lord Clerico." David humbly answered while escorting Noe out of the arena.

Kain walked out of the arena and was met with all Student Mages of Nosh, as well as Professor Biersack.

Kain laughed while scratching his head and said, "Haha… sorry. I lost."

"You took out two Student Master Mages of Flumen, that is something not anybody can do. Kain, you have done well." Vincenzo patted Kain on the head as he said that.

"Hey Kain, how does it feel to be a loser?" Arthur made fun of Kain while they were walking side by side together.

"Screw you, weakling. Hey, good luck with your match tomorrow."

"I'm gonna win the final tomorrow."

"Yeah... Professor Biersack, you have never mentioned anything about the winning prize for this tournament."

"Yes, I did." Vincenzo answered while looking at Kain's in confusion.

"Oh? Sorry, I must have missed that."

"Each member of the Novice team that wins this tournament will get one hundred gold coins and one Magical Elemental Stone based on what Elemental Souls they possessed. Each member of the Intermediate team that wins will get five hundred gold coins and four Magical Elemental Stones. Each member-"

"Ay, I know about the Master team already. Thank you for explaining again, Professor Biersack."

Kain walked together with them to the audience side where they could observe Merlara's battle with Raven. Jaane was about to ask Kain something but Sofia pulled his arm away to go faster.

The arena announcer announced, "The next match will be between Merlara Selorn of Nosh versus Raven Agosto of Flumen."

Merlara and Raven walked into the arena after being introduced by the arena announcer. Merlara and Raven were both level 30 Mages. Merlara is a Thunder Mage and Raven is a Wind Mage. Naturally, Merlara had an advantage against Raven. But Raven is much stronger compared to the other level 30 Wind Mages that Merlara has fought in this tournament. Aber was watching the battle as well, and he did not doubt that Raven would win. Raven trained very hard for this tournament, and she won't disappoint him, as well as, other Student Master Mages of Flumen.

Too bad, Aber underestimated Merlara too much. Merlara was also trained very hard for this tournament. Ten years ago, Merlara didn't even get chosen to attend the last tournament when she was a Student Intermediate Mage. Merlara promised to herself that she will make the people who look down on her before that they will have to look at her with different eyes after she brings victory back to Mages' Academy of Nosh.

After seven minutes of battle, Merlara successfully grasped Raven using [Shocking Grasp]. Raven was stunned for two seconds and could not cast any other spell. Merlara took this opportunity to activate [Mana Infusion] and then casted [Thunder Claws] spell when Raven was brought in front of her by the [Shocking Grasp]. Raven managed to break out of the [Shocking Grasp] on time to casted [Warding Wind] spell. Even so, four out of twenty-six Thunder Claws penetrated through Raven's [Warding Wind] and electrocuted her to death. The other twenty-two Thunder Claws were reflected but faded away before it could reach Merlara.

[Thunder Claws], level 15 Thunder spell. This spell will create numerous Thunder Claws that chase after a targeted subject for fifty feet. The Thunder Claws will fade away if it could not reach the targeted subject after traveling for fifty feet. The number of Thunder Claws going to be created will depend on how much mana the caster is willing to spend.

"Haha… In your face, shit head!" Kain laughed out loud as he saw Merlara killed Raven.

The announcer didn't declare Merlara as the winner right away because he wanted to see if Raven could get up after receiving numerous injuries from the Thunder Claws. Even though everyone knew she was dead. Ten seconds passed, the announcer finally did his job and declared, "Merlara Selorn won. Mages' Academy of Nosh will advance into the final battle of tomorrow." One of the arena masters ran in and revived Raven then carried her out of the arena.