276 - Prelude to Victory

The vanguard kids sent out from each academy faced off against each other on both sides of the arena.

'Mana isn't something you see or hear. You have to distinguish between what already exists and what will exist, and find it yourself. Got it? Hey, why are you nodding if you don't understand?'

With a portable transmutation circle writer strapped to her wrist, Jihye repeated Nami's advice to herself as she slowly closed her eyes. She infused her aura into the tassel fluttering in the wind.

"Are you ready, participant Ma Ji-hye? If you're ready, we'll start the countdown."

Closing her eyes made her realize just how much humans relied on sight. The vast, profound flow of nature still felt like a mere breeze to young Jihye. It was a world she could barely sense, even with the help of her wand.

'I wonder what the world looks like through Nami's eyes.'

When Jihye opened her eyes again, her vision expanded infinitely. The arena, larger than a futsal court, felt as small as a grain of rice. What she saw was the underside of the world. Things that didn't exist yet but could— like the light barrier dividing the arena from the stands, or the spark of life emanating from the participant on the opposite side.

"I'm ready."

The aura hearts of these eight-year-old kids began resonating with the world. Homo sapiens sapiens, or sometimes called Homo sapiens modificator, the modern humans who became Earth's apex predators. Unlike other animals, they measured nature and acted according to its laws and principles. And the eyes of a girl who had once stood at the pinnacle of her kind spun around sharply.

A 10-second countdown appeared on the screens projecting the young participants' faces.

"Woooaaahhh!"

"Go, second-years!"

"Haru! Don't lose!"

Thunderous cheers erupted as the kids gripping their wands clashed in the center.

"You got this, kids."

Thus began the Academy Tournament, a battle for honor.

It's all too easy for internet streamers to backseat-game the participants. Telling someone who allowed too much distance that they should have kept their range, or advising a caster who overlooked timing to shorten their cast even more. When commentary boils down to hindsight analysis of past events, that's when the invasive species appeared on Twichie.

Haru, who had been pouring mana cannons from range, ditched her wand and linked up with Jihye. Nami shot up from her seat, her voice slightly agitated.

"Player Haru, cancel the friction coefficient adjustment spell and immediately morph into adiabatic expansion. The transmutation circle recycling is quick. All that daily practice paid off."

"What a brilliant call. It's disrupting the opponent's fire magic."

Professor Cheon chimed in, not holding back his praise for Haru's response.

Nothing major had happened yet.

"Alteer isn't responding properly! Just go for the direct hit— no guarding, straight in!"

The moment Nami said it, Jihye and Haru swarmed the opponent 2v1 in a flash, unleashing their full aura in a single strike.

BAM!!

The crushing impact from both sides lifted the boy's feet off the ground, and his body flopped limply to the floor.

"Phew, nice. A bit off-target, but good job."

"Nami, did you teach them that too?"

"Ah... no? Guess they picked it up mimicking me. Kids are something else."

"Up to now, Jihye's aura strikes have been more effective on that fire mage than Haru's mana cannons. With the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠particle barrier nearly gone, the opponent tried to reset distance using that 'heat transfer - friction ignition' combo we saw earlier to push Jihye back. But Haru, watching from behind, countered boldly with 'adiabatic expansion.' Lowering the temperature reduces saturation vapor pressure, and with the opponent's high humidity, it disrupted the ignition spell."

Nami cleared her throat and explained to the viewers in a calmer tone.

"I didn't mention earlier, but friction coefficient adjustment and adiabatic expansion are both 'El' series spells, so recycling the transmutation circle shortens cast time. Luring into the expanded area to pull residual mana, wrapping it around her arm— smart mana conservation. Does that make sense?"

Nami's commentary, peering three seconds into the future, continued relentlessly. Some viewers even complained about sync issues from the confusion. Excluding Jihye, who forfeited due to unstoppable nosebleeds, Sepiron Academy's remaining barriers were still solid. Last runner Seo Yuna subbed in to end the set.

"Player Seo Yuna's specialty is freely blending magic and aura. Like now, trapping the enemy with hot wind and charging... Concentrate aura on the ball of your foot to shorten and quicken strides! If you dodge the next attack!"

The student's steel-clad fist whiffed perilously past Yuna's face. Her red hair whipping, she grabbed his waist in an instant and slammed him to the ground. They rolled tangled across the floor several times. She mounted his back, choked his neck, and rained down punches. Yuna showed no mercy in her strikes. The shimmering heat haze faded naturally, and in the end, Seo Yuna stood victorious.

"Our Yuna never loses on the ground. Long limbs, taller than peers, and backed by solid strength and endurance."

The core of any duel is simple: swiftly neutralize the enemy's attacks and land yours precisely. Nami had taught them just two ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠things: understanding the meaning behind every move, and using their bodies efficiently.

"Yuna won! Woo! Our girl did it!"

"Ow, Mom, my back! Is Yuna's hand as heavy as yours?"

"Seo-maru, what're you saying! Seo Yuna rocks! Our Yuna's the best!"

"NoName, good thing you didn't enter 2nd year— total balance breaker! Hahaha!"

Yuna's family, right behind Nami, jumped up cheering shamelessly. But with Sepiron fans already standing in applause, it fit right in.

'Glad they're happy.'

Nami relaxed, settling back into her chair. The chat flooded with congratulations for Sepiron's first set win.

"Well done, Nami. First time seeing you raise your voice like that."

Professor Cheon smiled, and Nami rubbed her nose sheepishly. She truly wanted her students to win, and broadcasting harder with her guardian there played a part too.

"Winning feels good. But I bet those kids are happiest right now."

The referee's whistle signaling Sepiron's win blew, and students waiting outside rushed to the center. Despite no major crises, they huddled around exhausted Yuna and Sihu, hugging and sobbing.

The desperation of victory came not from affiliation or honor, but from the effort poured in.

"Going to congratulate them?"

"Yeah. They've followed without complaint since summer break— three and a half months. Must've been tough, especially Jihye."

To praise their efforts and share the joy, Nami hopped down from her chair. But her friends betrayed her in a way she never expected.

"First time in the Academy Tournament—what's your mindset going in, Miss Haru?"

"I have to win this match. Win no matter what and get revenge on Nami—that's my thought..."

Haru glanced sideways at Nami while making her bold statement. Nami's expression shifted by the second—trouble brewing.

"Revenge? What kind?"

"If we win and Nami loses, she promised to play baby in house for us no questions! So Alteer seniors, please beat Nami! Pretty please!"

Haru, unafraid of her sky-high seniors, cheered for Alteer Academy instead.

"..."

From higher up, NoName's face darkened rapidly.