༺ The Grand Festival (7) ༻

“As expected.”

Pierre sensed Isaac’s mana.

Isaac pulled up a pillar of rock from beneath his feet and shot up over the waves at high speed.

Though it was just basic elemental magic and the rock’s strength would be quite weak, Pierre knew that such skill was considered excellent at the academy.

Isaac jumped off the rock pillar at just the right moment. He and Pierre locked eyes.

Just when he thought Isaac might create another iceboard…

With a rustling sound, ice mana gathered and several large ice blocks appeared in the air.

Isaac stepped on them and leaped forward. The large ice blocks, momentarily suspended in the air, immediately fell to the ground with a slight shock from his weight.

His silhouette against the sun caught Pierre’s eye. The shadow of a man with the dazzling sunlight at his back chased him in a straight line.

Pierre stopped in his tracks and raised water mana in both hands.

Gradually, Isaac’s figure became clearer from the sunlight.

“…!!”

Then, Pierre’s eyes widened in shock.

It was then he noticed something following the mana stone attached to Zhonya’s staff.

It was a magic circle for the 5-star ice spell [Frost Explosion].

It was a magic absolutely forbidden in the race.

“Khhhh!”

A smile curled on Pierre’s lips. It was a thrilling sight.

If the magic were to be activated, Isaac would be disqualified. In other words, the man was using himself as a sacrificial pawn to eliminate Pierre, the most dangerous participant in the race.

It was a common occurrence in the Arcball race. It was a team race. Sacrificial pawns became a tactic.

Even for Pierre, with his Grade S mana, it would be impossible to withstand Isaac’s 5-star elemental magic with just basic elemental magic.

If he were to take that attack head-on, he would undoubtedly fall.

“You’re making this enjoyable…!”

The only option left was to counter, even if it meant disqualification. Isaac forced such a choice upon Pierre.

Since Isaac’s goal was to protect White and self-destruct with Pierre.

Pierre gladly accepted Isaac’s challenge.

It was when Isaac almost reached Pierre. It felt as if time was moving slowly.

Due to the delayed judgment of the situation, there was not enough time for complicated magical calculations. However, he could calculate a 5-star spell in an instant.

Pierre conjured the magic circle for a 5-star water spell, [Hydro Cannon].

Although he would be disqualified, Pierre smiled, rationalizing that it was necessary to stop Isaac.

It was then.

Isaac, perhaps surprised, widened his eyes as if he had encountered an unexpected sight.

“What?”

Pierre felt an unexpected mana from behind. He was so focused on Isaac that he noticed it too late.

Flickering flames. The warmth enveloped his back.

Pierre, startled, quickly turned around.

“…?!”

A black-haired man, drenched in water, had just reached him.

Flames made of mana flickered around the sword he held in both hands, making a whooshing sound.

“Ian Fairytale?!”

How could he not know who this black-haired man was?

Ian Fairytale. A character with the light element who the Evil God, who was sealed in the abyss, wanted to kill.

Hadn’t he been knocked unconscious?

“No.”

He must have regained consciousness quickly after being knocked out.

Pierre’s basic elemental magic had failed to keep Ian, an SSS-Class Master Fainter, knocked out for long.

Ian’s resistance to being knocked out was getting stronger, after all.

“The ones who will win are…!!”

Ian Fairytale roared as he swung his sword.

“…Us!!”

Oh, what?

Ian, who had been knocked out, had come back to life. It seemed he charged as soon as he regained consciousness.

Could it be that he had grown to the point where he could quickly regain consciousness even after being hit by one of Pierre’s waves?

“Marvelous…!”

Truly, it was a great leap forward.

Ian was holding a long sword, with his racket partially tucked into his uniform’s trousers. The red flames blending with the blade trailed behind him like a tail, it elongated as the air resisted.

Pierre kicked off the ground and hastily deployed a new magic circle towards Ian. Perhaps due to the disruption of his mana and calculations, his response towards me slackened. The magic circle for [Hydro Cannon] was distorted.

Unfortunately for him, Ian and I, who were now charging at Pierre, were considered anomalies with exceptional physical abilities, uncharacteristic of the Magic Department.

It was awkward to say it myself, but no one could avoid getting hit when Ian and I both targeted the same person simultaneously. I was confident I wouldn’t lose track of Pierre either.

The distance had already closed. Our speed surpassed that of Pierre’s casting

Whoosh!

Ian easily dodged the water spell that Pierre hastily released by swiftly twisting his body. Pierre was greatly taken aback by movement that seemingly defied the laws of physics.

Do not underestimate our protagonist.

Soon, the flaming sword drew a splendid straight line towards Pierre.

Whoosh!!

“Ugh, Aaagh!”

The strike of the fire sword engulfed Pierre and swept across the ground.

With a boom, Pierre’s body burst into flames and was lifted into the air.

‘Nice!’

You’re the best, Ian!

Even amidst the fierce flames, Pierre did not lose consciousness and fired [Hydro Cannon] at me. His mental fortitude was truly admirable.

However, by then, I, who was falling, had already reached Pierre.

Releasing condensed ice mana, I extended Zhonya’s staff and activated [Frost Explosion].

Whooosh─.

Booooooom!

The ice mana exploded right in front of Pierre’s nose.

The delayed activation of [Hydro Cannon] was swallowed by [Frost Explosion]. Having been hit by Ian’s flaming sword strike and with the activation timing delayed, his mana was ultimately disrupted by [Frost Explosion].

The ice mass fiercely stretched toward the ground, turning the surroundings into an ice sheet.

I glided down on the ice mass lightly. Nearly falling at one point, I kicked off the ice mass and landed on the race track.

With his gym clothes burnt inside the ice mass, Pierre was encased as if time had stopped.

Beyond that, Ian, who had been chasing Pierre, was catching his breath.

A beeping sound came from my racket and Pierre’s racket within the ice mass. We were disqualified for using spells that exceeded 2 stars.

‘This is quite…’

It ended more easily than I thought. I expected a fierce fight with Pierre.

I never expected Ian to be such a wildcard.

Ian passed by the ice mass, looked at me with a solemn nod, and then gave me a thumbs up.

“Isaac, your determination has been properly conveyed! I’ll definitely come back in 1st place!”

“Uh… yeah. Fight on.”

I had no idea what he was talking about, but I gave him a thumbs up in response anyway.

Like a determined shounen protagonist, Ian Fairytale dashed off again along the race track.

His running speed was so fast that it kicked up dust and whipped up the wind.

Suddenly, I saw faculty members flying towards us. It seemed they were coming to fetch Pierre and I after our disqualification.

“Isaac and Pierre Flanche, after a heated battle, have been disqualified! Ian Fairytale, who joined forces with Isaac, carries on the will of his self-sacrificed comrade and dashes forward fiercely!!”

Amy’s voice and the cheers of the students echoed throughout the academy.

Amy seemed completely absorbed in the commentary, adding all sorts of odd footnotes.

It was then.

A cracking sound came from the direction of the ice mass. Scratches appeared on the ice mass.

I haven’t released the ice yet…?

Pierre’s mana surged within the ice mass. The ice mass cracked repeatedly, and streams of water spurted out from its fissures.

“…!”

I reflexively dodged to the side, avoiding the water jet that shot out like a blade.

The water jet, squeezing through the narrow cracks created by the splitting ice mass, extended like a thin sword strike, scraping the ground.

Soon, the ice mass burst apart.

Boom!

Before the ice fragments scattered in all directions, I quickly converted them into ice mana to prevent injury in consideration of the approaching faculty members.

At the same time, a massive amount of water burst forth around Pierre, like a dam breaking and causing a flood, forming a tsunami.

Whoosh!!

“Whoa!”

There was nowhere to escape. I conjured the defensive 4-star ice spell [Ice Wall], and was swept away along with the ice wall by the surging water mana.

The wave engulfed me. Thanks to [Ice Wall], I was spared from the impact, but I had to swim through the water unexpectedly for a while.

Pierre’s water magic quickly subsided into the ground.

I pushed off the ground and lifted my head straight up. Water droplets dripped from my soaking wet body.

On the race track, after shattering the ice mass and crashing down, a soaked Pierre propped himself up on the ground, coughing violently and continuously spitting out blood.

His body was not in a good condition because he had taken my [Frost Explosion] head-on.

“Pierre! Are you alright…?!”

As the faculty members approached, Pierre suddenly deployed four magic circles around himself.

A strong mana, filled with lethal intent, spread out. The faculty members hesitated for a moment and then swallowed nervously.

Their position as faculty members was just a role after all.

Being human, they couldn’t help but feel fear towards a person who ranked higher in the food chain than them.

“Pierre Flanche has been disqualified, yet he is deploying magic circles towards Isaac! This shouldn’t be happening?!”

Amy reported the situation.

It was an unexpected situation. I thought he was the most compliant with Alice’s words, and among the paladins, he was considered the most lenient.

He must know that fighting here openly would be a violation of academy rules.

“Pierre, retract your magic circles immediately!”

“You could potentially be suspended! Calm down! Fighting Isaac here will result in disciplinary action!”

The faculty members desperately tried to dissuade Pierre, but his magic circles were still emitting bright colors.

Pierre lifted his head.

The moment I saw his eyes, I guessed that it was futile to entertain any further thoughts.

His eyes, seemingly void of emotion, were fixed on me.

He was filled with the intention to harm me.