Results of the Foundation League

Suddenly, shockwaves crashed in, folding my body in half. I remembered getting swept up in Yu Eunha's magic, but when I came to, I was trapped in a massive deep sea. Instinctively sensing that the starlight raining down from above mustn't touch me, Isara scraped together ether.

First, the satellite of protection!

Bright stars flickered into existence around Isara, shining brilliantly. The deep-sea waves that had been invading her body were pushed back. But she'd barely managed to hold them off—she couldn't lift her flattened body from the ground.

Even blocking with a 4-level spell, and it's still this bad...

It was ridiculous. No, honestly, it was so frustrating tears welled up. She'd slaved away for a year to learn this 4-level defensive spell. She'd even gone to the U.S., the forefront of defensive magic, just to master Satellite of Protection. It burned her that she couldn't even overcome a single wide-area attack.

If that much ether had been focused on one person, it would've been hard to block even with a 5-level—no, 6-level spell.

She's a real monster...

The new star who'd snatched first place in the junior league while she was away, the kid who held her revered brother's staff. She absolutely couldn't lose to her.

Her brother's voice echoed in her mind.

No matter how hard you try, someone you can't beat will appear. They'll probably be holding my staff.

Even if her brother had said that...

I can't accept it.

Thinking of her brother steadied her breathing and cleared her mind.

"Whether I can win or not is something you only know after fighting. There's no such thing as a predetermined fate!"

Beyond the dark deep sea, the trajectory of an emergency teleport etched into view. Probably Seong Jiho and Hong Jiyeon.

You have no idea how hard I worked to defy that prophecy of yours, brother.

"So I'll show you."

That she too was a chosen one, no less than a guide star.

Her trembling arms screamed they'd reached their limit. Her mouth was parched, her skin burned like fire, and a headache throbbed as if her eyes might pop out. But surpassing limits had been demanded of her since birth.

Unlike her tear-filled eyes, Isara's lips curved upward in a smile. The mage floating in the air poured every ounce of strength toward a new star.

The moment the spell completed, the onrushing torrent snapped her consciousness.

*

"......"

Sounds from beside her made her head spin. She could barely tell she was lying down, not standing.

Suddenly, a warm energy enveloped her right hand.

"Sera, why'd you push yourself like that? We agreed no 5-level spells."

It was her coach's voice—the one who'd pulled all-nighters studying to teach her one more spell.

"......Hate."

Her parched throat wouldn't form words properly, so she clamped her mouth shut.

"Hate it?"

"...Relieved."

She'd given her all. For a year, she'd practiced magic without a single day off. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠She'd nearly had to amputate her arm from ether backlash, lost her vision temporarily from brain strain. Isara couldn't have worked harder. If this was the result, she had to accept it. Just let the one ahead pull further away.

But...

A surge of resentment welled up. Still, she wanted to win just once. To prove her brother's prophecy wrong.

I'm only 10. It's okay to throw a tantrum like this, right?

As she was carried out on a stretcher, she spotted Yu Eunha—the only one still standing on the hologram stage.

A 5-level spell. Did she dodge it...?

How? How do you dodge the speed of light?

Applause poured down on the victor. A handkerchief from her coach draped over Isara's sobbing face as she was carried.

"The cameras must wanna catch me crying..."

"It's fine. They'll get over it."

With her view blocked, voices reached her from the side.

"It's Isara!"

"You did amazing, Sera!!!"

"Korea's future!"

"I became your fan all over again today!"

"I'll cheer for you till I die!"

"A 5-level junior! Insane!!!"

"2nd place is still great toooooo!!"

Her right hand clenched.

"Hear that?"

"...Yeah."

"You're still the brightest shining star."

*

If that 5-level spell had the completion of Lee Han's, we might've both dropped out.

A spell that's pierced my shoulder once before. Guess this is its limit.

Good thing I'd prepped to dodge while the light gathered. It ended with just sacrificing my shoulder again.

I stared blankly at the empty air.

"It's over. Took quite long, didn't it."

Only 50 minutes had passed, but it felt like days. With the match ended, a hologram window popped up before my eyes.

"Tch."

One of the Four Heavenly Kings slipped.

Under review, so maybe he'll climb up.

Bitter taste in my mouth.

Come to think of it, Eunbyeol's name isn't here either.

It bugged me that both who'd sparred with me in practice dropped.

Guess that practice match a week ago hit hard.

Gotta be a shock for that Seong Jiho kid. Analytical desk-jockey types take losses hard. Probably bawling his eyes out outside.

"But what can you do. It's in the past now..."

A light orb floated toward me. Magic projecting footage onto the hologram stage—like a magic camera.

Grinning at its expectant hover, I struck a pose.

"I am the darkness that conquers light, the demon king who fells heroes. Pros, you're next."

But...

"......"

The camera didn't budge, leaving me awkwardly standing there. I held my demon-king-ish pose.

"......"

What now?

Keep posing?

Frowning as I approached, I finally spotted the tiny arrow under the light.

"Argh! Who makes it that tiny?!"

I hopped mad and stomped toward the arrow-marked exit.

*

The moment I stepped out the dimensional gate, flashes exploded from countless cameras. I'd emerged at the hologram stage's center, drawing every eye in the place.

Beep—

A loud alert blared, followed by the announcement echoing through the massive stadium.

The commentators' voices filled the stadium. As I stood there, staff rushed over and guided me to the center. Stairs led up to a tall podium.

Some production value.

I gave a light nod to the entire stadium and climbed. Ascending amid a standing ovation was more thrilling than I'd imagined.

Yeah... I've come a long way.

If I'd known ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in my past life this path existed, would I have chosen it? If I'd known I could become a mage and protect people.

Would I have abandoned my family's vengeance for this road?

Lost in scattered thoughts, I reached the top. The 1st-place podium had nowhere higher to go. Standing at its edge, I flashed a radiant smile.

The end of my junior era approached.

*

Eunbyeol accepted the results calmly.

"19th..."

Park Seongwoong, standing beside her, patted her head. Eunbyeol sat in the athlete waiting area, savoring the warmth.

"Sniff."

Her eyes blinked dryly, tears long since spent. They stung from all the crying.

"They say Isara used a 5-level spell."

"That's right. She cast the exact same spell as Lee Han at the end, but they need proper evaluation."

Eunbyeol stared at her callused hands.

"...So competing with geniuses feels like this. Just when I think I've caught up, they pull even farther ahead."

"......"

Seongwoong stroked her head. As they quietly reviewed the results,

A heartbreaking sob ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came from nearby. Eunbyeol cautiously asked Seongwoong.

"...Was I like that too?"

"......"

As Seongwoong turned, Eunbyeol hid her burning face. The gray-haired boy slamming the table wept bitterly, oblivious to others.

"How could this happen!"

Gone was the cool analyst; he'd tossed it aside. Eunbyeol smiled wryly at the 6th-place result.

Bless Academy's male coach frantically soothed Seong Jiho.

"Jiho, you can try again next year."

"I can't accept it! We're tied at 350 points! I even used a 4-level spell! There should be a difference in TP score!"

"Survivor priority rule, Jiho."

"Where's that from! What about my combo score? Was their point judging even verified? One point higher would've done it. Just one point!"

"Yeah, we checked everything, Jiho. I'm really sorry. If I'd tightened the score strategy just a bit more..."

"Haa..."

Seong Jiho, speechless, just let tears drip. Then—

Clang—the door to the losers' waiting area burst open as Hong Jiyeon stormed in. Bandages wrapped her battered body.

A chill swept the room, but Jiyeon ignored it, shoving her phone at Eunbyeol.

"Hey, check this quick. That damn demon king's totally nuts, lol."

Eunbyeol glanced—the winner's interview with Yu Eunha. Mid-interview, so unclear, but the scrolling subtitles gave the gist.

"Huh. What's that mean?"

Hong Jiyeon grinned excitedly.

"Whaddya think? Demon King's doin' a sword dance for us juniors and amateurs."

Her bloodshot eyes sparkled. A new era dawned in Korea's stagnant magic world, frozen for decades.