Eric also won his fourth-round match, of course.
Next, it was Milia versus Raymond.
“Milia, see how far your power can take you,” I whispered to her.
“Yeah. You better keep your eyes on me, cause I’m going to give it my all.”
Raymond Blancard, the president of the Student Council. He expertly wielded that longsword of his, leaving no openings. He’d won his first three matches without using a single skill or offensive spell. Raymond was the real deal when it came to strength.
“Milia Rondo. I’ve heard rumors about you. I applaud your ability to make it this far as a first-year student, and being from a non-noble background as well. As your upperclassman, I will give you the opportunity to strike first,” he said.
“Thank you, Raymond. I’ve heard a lot about you since I’m close with your sister. Thank you for letting me fight someone as strong as you. I intend to do my best.”
“You’re friends with Sasha? She does seem to be enjoying her time at the Academy. But it doesn’t matter who I’m against; I won’t be holding back.”
“I know. I’d prefer you to give me everything you have as well. Strengthen! Haste!” Milia cast a series of support spells. “Shining Arrow!”
She moved quickly while simultaneously casting. Raymond attempted to fly into the sky to evade the attack, but the arrows of light changed trajectory to follow him. Despite that, they disappeared the moment before hitting him. He’d silently cast Dispel.
Milia leapt into the air to follow him as well.
“Flashing Blade!”
She activated a skill and struck with a chain of blows. Raymond guarded against them all with his sword while countering faster than she was moving.
Milia quickly dodged and blocked the attacks with her shield. She wasn’t able to defend against them all, however, as one struck her shoulder.
She flew backward to put distance between them, but there were already more than 100 points displayed over her head.
“I’m amazed a first year can keep up with me like that,” remarked Raymond.
“Thank you. But you’re not actually trying yet, are you? Heal!”
When Milia cast the healing spell, the points displayed by the Special Barrier disappeared.
“I see. Since you’re skilled with Light spells, you’re also able to use healing spells. I suppose I won’t hold back then,” Raymond said.
This time, he was the one to close the distance between them. He was the faster of the two.
“Shining Arrow! Flashing Blade!”
She dealt with his advance, but he made the arrows of light disappear with a silent cast of Dispel, which left his attack one beat slower than it would have been.
Milia used her mana manipulation to increase the speed of her sword even more and struck at Raymond, but he blocked all her attacks.
She continued to make good use of both magic and skills. If she took damage, she healed it and continued fighting, but her MP was going to run out eventually with this continuous stream of spells and skills. Despite that, Raymond hadn’t taken damage even once.
“I heard there were a lot of strong first years this year, but, Milia, I can tell you’re familiar with combat, and your power is nothing to sniff at. That’s why I’ll go all-out now. Crossed Sword of the Stars!”
Raymond activated a skill, and speckles of light encased his sword. Moving even faster, he unleashed a horizontal slash, which flowed into a downward strike.
Milia couldn’t keep up with him now that he was moving even faster. Her Special Barrier shattered.
“That was incredible… Thank you, Raymond!” she proclaimed. Despite her utter defeat, she bowed to him before leaving the arena.
“Arius, I knew I’d lose, but still…” She hung her head, looking like she would cry.
“I know you did everything you could. Don’t forget how you feel and train even more. You’ll get stronger,” I said.
“Yeah. I’m going to work even harder.”
Sophia then cheered Milia up. Sophia had also learned something from this tournament, and I was going to continue supporting their growth.
Next were the semifinals.
Eric had a perfect win. I was matched against Raymond Blancard.
“Arius Gilberto. I’ve watched your matches. You’re far stronger than your normal first year,” Raymond started, looking straight into my eyes. “Normally, I’d think it was the duty of the upperclassman to allow the lowerclassman the first attack, but I don’t think I can allow that with you and still win. I’m taking this seriously from the start. Crossed Sword of the Stars!”
There was a buzz from the students since Raymond started immediately with a skill. Raymond wasn’t the kind of guy to underestimate my strength.
He quickly closed the distance between us and attacked with the same chain of horizontal then vertical slashes that he’d used to finish off Milia. I dodged his attack by a hair’s breadth.
He moved even closer and unleashed a series of attacks. I dodged them all by the same tiny margin.
“It seems my Crossed Sword of the Stars isn’t effective against you. You’re not even trying, are you?”
“If anyone could tell, it’d be you. It doesn’t mean I’m looking down on your strength or that I’m holding a grudge against you for defeating Zeke, Vern, and Milia. But I am thinking I should finish this match quickly. I assume you don’t mind.”
“No. I’d like to see a glimpse of your strength. Exploding Gale Strike!”
He cast a tier-six combined-elemental spell. It seemed even he couldn’t silent cast a tier-six spell. Exploding Gale Strike surrounded the target with fierce winds while subjecting them to explosions from all directions. It was definitely far more powerful than what you’d expect a student to be using.
Before he cast the spell, I dodged, then struck him faster than he could react. His Special Barrier broke before it could display damage.
The arena fell silent because Raymond, who had just shown them overwhelming power, had been defeated by me, a first-year student who hadn’t used any spells or skills.
“This…is an utter defeat on my part,” he relented. “You moved so fast I couldn’t even see you.”
Raymond held out his hand for a handshake, which I accepted, and the spectators burst into cheers as if they’d only just remembered. Even though Vern did handshakes the same way, Raymond’s didn’t feel as unpleasantly friendly.
I returned to my seat, and Milia and Sophia rushed over.
“I knew you’d win, Arius, but I can’t believe you completely overpowered Raymond…” Milia muttered.
“You’re on a completely different scale. Next will be the final between you and Prince Eric, but I’ll be cheering for you both,” said Sophia.
“I’m looking forward to it too. This is the first time I’ve ever fought Eric.”
Vern and Zeke came over as well.
“I expected no less of my best friend!” claimed Vern.
“You are seriously incredible, Arius,” stated Zeke.
Their reactions were different, but it seemed Zeke was also happy I’d won.
There was a short break before the final started, which I spent chatting with the others.
I noticed Eric hadn’t come back to the participant seats. He was wary of Duke Jordan trying something, so he was regularly checking in with the people from the Royal Intelligence Ministry.