Survival Practical Training

Magic tournaments came in two flavors: Tournament style and Survival style.

Unlike one-on-one duels in limited ether for tournaments, survival dropped all participants into an Abyss with infinite ether, where the goal was simply to outlast everyone else.

Outlast. Meaning abyssal entities lurked that could threaten a mage's life.

Competitors hunted abyssal entities or other mages to rack up points and climb the ranks.

Just from the rules, you could tell it was a relic from the old days, blending barbarism and romance.

'Well, if I think about it, it's kinda like a controlled Abyss raid simulation.'

I huddled behind a massive boulder, drizzle pattering on my skin.

This Abyss bubble was under Monica's supervision. It was high-grade—dozens of abyssal entities swarmed right in front of me.

I checked the Abyss specs via the Abyss system.

'B25 is 25 points on B-grade.'

Pretty high-grade for junior mages.

'Actual tourney uses A-grade bubbles, so no biggie.'

I took a deep breath, recalling my prepared strategy.

'Life-or-death battlefields aren't a huge deal for me...'

But I was a bit worried about the other kids.

A quick glance at the mini hologram showed participants' points.

The kids were advancing steadily.

'Guess these peaceful-era brats don't need my worrying.'

But...

I checked the names with a disappointed frown.

'Hoped for a real challenge like Isara...'

Just Seong Jiho and Eunbyeol.

'Beat Jiho easy last time, and Eunbyeol...'

She didn't even pass the 3-level test.

Too green for big expectations.

'Might as well teach 'em a lesson...'

Maybe drop a hint on Reverse Flow.

I looked up at the dark sky and drew in ether.

'Not battle mage this time—artillery magic. Should be different.'

From this practice on, no battle mage gimmick—unleashing my real spells.

Salvo and Abyssorium out in the open. My lips twitched in anticipation.

"Let's see how shocked they'll be."

I gathered ether and fired my opening barrage.

*BOOOOM!

A massive explosion rocked the ground.

Seong Jiho spotted the blast's origin and ducked into the forest shadows.

The drizzling Abyss bubble held a mix of forests, meadows, hills, and swamps.

Jiho climbed a tree familiarly to scout.

The boom came from where Yu Eunha vanished.

'Thought she'd go executioner build as a battle mage.'

Against expectations, she brought explosive magic.

'Pioneer build then?'

Seemed like she'd gone pioneer: mass AoE to farm low-grade abyssal entities.

Jiho threw up an opaque barrier atop the tree.

Time to recalculate.

"Figured a battle mage would prep executioner for 1v1 hunts."

He furrowed his brow and bit his lip.

Survival's key wasn't infinite ether or entities—it was the 4-magic limit.

Juniors usually sharpened one sharp concept.

Impossible to flex multiple strategies with just four spells.

The top researched builds:

[Pioneer ⛏️] AoE and mobility to mine points from low-grades.

[Hunter 🏹] High firepower and defense for high-grades, big point hauls.

[Executioner 🗡️] Assassination and stealth to steal entities or ambush mages.

Survival was rock-paper-scissors: Pioneer weak to Executioner, Executioner to Hunter, Hunter to Pioneer.

'With Monica's style, she invited varied builds for experience...'

If Eunha's pioneer and he's hunter, last one's executioner.

'That timid-looking kid doing executioner?'

Jiho shook off the frail image.

'Keep all assumptions open.'

*BOOOOM!

He held his breath at the next ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blast.

'Sucks. Prepped hunter assuming she'd executioner.'

Tangling with pioneer Eunha would disadvantage him.

"One thing's clear: best avoid her in this practice."

*KABOOOM!

Jiho scowled at the barrage.

Over 200pt with just a few spells.

'Wasn't she a battle mage? What kinda magic is this...'

Eunha's farming speed was intimidating.

*Grrr—

Eunbyeol finished off a small abyssal entity and exhaled deeply.

"Good, magic's all solid."

She unwound the threads around its neck and clenched her fist.

"Practiced a ton, so no issues."

Cold-infused threads floated around her, sparkling.

"Yeah yeah, time for payback, guys...."

The 3-level test with her, Eunha, and Hong Jiyeon.

She alone failed to hit 3-level—humiliating.

The moment her self-proclaimed rival status crumbled.

'Monica called us to prove ourselves.'

Failed the test, but I'm as strong as you.

She wanted to show it.

Eunbyeol's eyes gleamed as she gathered ether.

She vanished like she'd turned transparent.

*BOOOOM!

'...North, about 500m—explosions.'

Those blasts were definitely Eunha.

'She had insane ether shots even at 1-level.'

At 3-level now? Unimaginable power.

'But I've prepped tons for battle mages.'

Eunbyeol crept toward the noise cautiously.

Not far, so careful approach.

'Eunha's sensitive to ether—disruption might not cut it.'

Hiding in brush, the sounds grew nearer.

She unraveled thin threads from her fingertips.

'Ether drain plus binding combo beats Eunha.'

90% win rate in practice games with North Sea's Park Seongwoong.

She parted bushes, hid behind a boulder—dust rose nearby.

Eunha at the epicenter.

'Ambush in one shot.'

As tense Eunbyeol stepped out, Eunha's chant rang.

Dozens of massive ether blobs rained from the sky, carpet-bombing the meadow.

One spell turned the grassy plain into scorched earth.

"Huh? N-no way..."

Eunha stood calmly, unleashing overwhelming firepower.

Not a battle mage—an artillery specialist.