251 Chapter 251

"What the Fuck is happening...?"

..... Geez, she's being brutal.

"I don't think you're in any position to comment," Blaze remarked.

But seriously, this isn't Mary's usual style of fighting, especially not against her own peers.

Mary glared at the fallen Cecelia, who struggled to rise, her sword proving too heavy to support her. Mary's forehead was bleeding, and her sword's blade was chipped. She seemed inexplicably furious.

This match revealed a different side of Mary to everyone present.

"Hey, why is Mary acting like this?" A whisper emanated from the second-year row.

"It's a tournament, but that was pretty intense," came another response.

I glanced at Adam, observing his shock at the unfolding events.

Neither he nor anyone else seemed to anticipate Mary's actions.

Cecelia bore bruises and swelling beyond measure. I couldn't discern what led to this confrontation, but Mary seemed uninterested in distinguishing between friends and foes; she was ferocious in her attack against Cecelia.

"That wasn't all that intense," Blaze interjected.

Well... perspectives differ, and from the arena's viewpoint, it was intense.

"Ouch," I winced as Mary tossed Cecelia off the stage, only for Cecelia to summon an earth pillar to break her fall -

Thad* -

A deafening explosion erupted as Mary, with her sheathed sword, thrust it into Cecelia's stomach.

"Mary Kleine wins!" The announcement confirmed the result.

The damn arena was a chaotic mess, buzzing with stunned silence and endless whispers trying to make sense of what went down. Some gawked in shock, while others just shook their heads in disbelief.

Mary, with her forehead smeared in blood, descended from the stage, her face a mixture of frustration and stubborn determination. Meanwhile, they hauled Cecelia off, her injuries demanding immediate attention from the healers.

And there's Adam, scurrying over to Mary like a worried pup, grabbing her shoulders with that concerned look plastered on his face. He leans in, muttering something, eyes boring into hers, seeking answers or some damn reassurance amidst this chaos.

I raised my brow as I saw Mary stare at me for a second and then looking at the stage, but...

"..." I saw her shake off Adam's hand in a hurry while she went back to her – but then Adam grabbed her by the elbow and dragged her towards the healers too for the first aid.

After a few minutes, the second match for the first year was announced.

And...

"Good luck," I said to Erik, who stood up with wobbly legs.

"P-pray for me," he said, as I chuckled at him.

He walked towards the stage, stopping at the weaponry when the host reminded him to get a weapon – he picked up a Bow.

And then...

"I forfeit the match!" The girl in front of him said.

"Eh?"

Everyone had the same reaction, including me.

"You sure?" asked the professor.

"Yes, I want to forfeit," she said as she looked towards Helga.

"Can you explain what happened here?" asked Smokeball.

Well, I would if I could, but I don't know what happened.

"Erik Weller won!" The announcement declared the quickest match in the history of the Imperial Academy's Mage's Gambit selections, which was awkward as hell.

Erik ran down the stage and sat in front of me, trying hard not to look up as he buried his face downwards.

That's gotta be embarrassing.

I tapped him on the back and said, "Well, at least you won."

He slowly turned towards me, his face red. "But... but-"

"No need to say anything, I understand," I comforted him.

"No! You don't!! You are laughing!!" His outburst made me laugh, which I was trying to control.

"Hahahaha," I lost it, Man these selections are weird.

In the arena, Isolde and Eine faced off, swords drawn and spirits high. As the signal was given, their clash erupted into a whirlwind of steel, the sharp clang of their blades echoing through the arena.

Isolde's movements were calculated and precise, a testament to her seasoned skill. With fluid grace, she weaved through Eine's strikes, countering each with strategic precision. Meanwhile, Eine fought with unyielding determination, her strikes heavy and forceful, though lacking the finesse of her opponent.

The battle was intense, each swing of the blade met with a fierce parry or nimble evasion. Isolde danced around her opponent, her footwork intricate and deliberate, always seeking an advantage. In contrast, Eine relied on sheer strength, each swing aiming to overpower her opponent.

As the duel progressed, Isolde's strategic prowess began to shine. She capitalized on openings in Eine's defense, landing calculated blows that gradually wore her opponent down. Eine fought valiantly, but Isolde's precise maneuvers and swift strikes slowly gained the upper hand.

The crowd watched in awe as Isolde's mastery of swordplay became evident. With a swift and well-timed maneuver, she disarmed Eine, sending her weapon clattering to the ground. The arena fell silent, the outcome clear.

"Isolde Holloway! Won!" The announcer's voice broke the tension, declaring Isolde the victor in a battle that showcased her finesse and strategic brilliance.

She didn't even use elements or spells... damn.

But as one thing that anyone could tell, the matches continued.

"Vexa Velcrow! Nihkar Serma!"

I rose from ground and observed the silver-haired girl making her way to the stage. Her hands glided through her long hair before she tied it neatly into a bun.

Her attire consisted of a lightweight, earth-toned tunic matched with supple leather trousers and sturdy knee-high boots, enhancing her swift agility. A fitted leather vest offered protection without impeding her graceful movements, complemented by fingerless gloves that would enhance her grip and dexterity.

"Start!"

As the match commenced, Nihkar, an elf, wielded his bow, leaping slightly into the air while pulling back the string. A mana arrow took form in the bow, and with a swift release, he shot it at Vexa.

As for Vexa-

"Fuck," I muttered, activating my elemental vision.

What I witnessed was unlike anything I'd ever seen using this vision on others. A vortex of bluish particles surrounded Vexa, indicating an exceptionally strong affinity towards water.....it was just a lot.

With a precise movement, Vexa manipulated the water particles, weaving them into a spinning string. Swiftly turning on her heels, she unleashed a torrent of water, simultaneously freezing and propelling it with another stream, which collided with Nihkar's mana arrow, resulting in a small explosion and a cloud of smoke enveloping both combatants.

The Arena fell into silence, broken only by the sight of Nihkar lying on the ground.

"Damn, I missed it," I muttered to myself, my attention now fixed on Vexa, who gazed down at Nihkar with a serene expression. Her torn glove hinted at a physical altercation – she punched him?

Pushing more mana into my eyes, I examined Nihkar's face, noticing a significant deformation on one side.

[A/N: Just a reminder! Elemental vision and Mana vision are two different skills and yes their respectively same to their name.]