Fire vs. Water: The Pool of Doom
- Waaaaah!!
The audience's cheers still echoed through the arena.
The crowd's chants for Celia Academy reverberated off the walls.
'Celia takes the win, as expected?'
Vernon nodded at the fiery reaction. Compared to Celia's flawless teamwork, Chris and Isabel's performance had felt painfully brief.
The only one from Arcana with clearly proven skill was, in truth, just Zien.
Vernon gazed at the screen with a regretful expression.
'No matter how strong Zien is, weak teammates make it meaningless. It's a 3v3 tournament, after all.'
Just then, the camera swung toward him, and Vernon put on a surprised face as he spoke.
"Demona contestant! A fearsome magic tool!"
"The results are the opposite of the viewer poll. Celia Academy claims the first win."
Bluma stifled a yawn.
After Zien and Lucia's exploits, her standards had skyrocketed.
'The party members are more underwhelming than expected.'
From the perspective of a 6th-rank Saber like Bluma, Chris was simply not up to par.
'Her magic tool fizzled out midway—probably couldn't manage her mana.'
That was by top-tier standards, of course.
If she'd known Chris had been ranked 96th in her year just recently, even Bluma would've been shocked by the growth.
But not today. Bluma eyed the 2nd round lineup.
'Zien won't even get to fight, will he?'
Isabel Blitz. Kua Warnerbill.
Gloves that handled water and gloves that handled fire. Their unique magic tools had stuck in Bluma's memory.
'Fire versus water? What a terrible matchup.'
Of course, differences in mana and skill could overcome tool affinities.
But both were 1st-years from One Number academies. In 1v1 duels where tiny edges decided victory, tool matchups were crucial.
As Bluma assessed their strengths, the broadcast-savvy Vernon hyped the viewers.
"Fire versus water! Round 2 pits two famously rare elemental magic tools against each other! And right as I say that—the Kua contestant has selected the map!"
Clatter clatter!
The screen showed a roulette wheel spinning with various maps. Since Kua had picked it, this was pure showmanship.
It slowed... and stopped.
Click.
The 2nd round map was revealed, and the arena erupted once more. The pool's water gave Kua a massive edge.
Kua had already shown his power on the bridge, manipulating ocean water into a massive wave that swept away the others without resistance.
And Isabel wielded fire. A humidity-soaked pool was her nightmare.
"Kua contestant! A clever and ruthless map choice!"
Vernon sighed inwardly—he'd hoped to broadcast all the way to round 3. Bluma felt the same.
"...Before commentary, let's reveal the Blue Delmar Pool first."
Bluma's irritated voice dragged.
[View - Blue Delmar Pool]
Regardless, the screen displayed a massive pool. Blue Delmar shimmered with clear azure water dotted by colorful buoys.
It was sea-sized in scale, the largest in Zone 1—overwhelming in depth and breadth.
A virtual gate, but dazzlingly beautiful.
As the camera panned the pool, Bluma muttered off-mic.
"Sigh... Arcana's not gonna lose like this, right?"
"You think so too, senpai?"
"Tool matchup's bad, and now the map? Obvious. I wanted to see Zien versus Lucia."
Vernon thought to himself as Bluma rambled more than usual.
'Whoa... she's properly pissed.'
For the post-match party's sake, he had to play along.
"Eh, what can ya do? They're students—this won't be their last shot... Whoa, camera's coming."
But if Bluma was annoyed, the person facing real crisis from Chris's loss was someone else.
This broadcast's theme was despair.
Amy muttered at her monitor, face fully wrecked.
"Sniff sniff... We're doomed... Everything's ruined!"
Arcana's single loss.
But the situation was dire. After Chris, Isabel was now cornered by the map alone.
"No, forget that—our party leader... He has to compete in the tournament, win or not? He's so strong! I just wanna see him swing that sword once! Sob! Waaah!"
Amy had been inches from the finals. Thanks to Zien, she'd ridden a hot streak toward victory. Chris's defeat tanked it all.
Viewers just trolled Amy, uninterested in Arcana's win.
They craved entertainment. Once the scales tipped to Celia, her viewers halved.
"No wait, Isabel could still win, right?"
Even Amy predicted Isabel's loss deep down. Fire versus water.
And the venue? A pool. Conditions couldn't be worse.
The viewers matched Amy's forecast. A foregone conclusion. Amy racked her brain.
'No win, but contract holds? Hell, maybe kick Chris or Isabel for the empty spot?'
Once she started imagining, it snowballed.
'I've done my part—now fill the vacancy with...'
Amy pondered deeply.
Who stays in Zien's party? More important than winning.
'Strong 1st-years can hit gates now.'
Common knowledge from news. So, strongest 1st-year?
'Zien's party, obviously.'
Reaching the battle royale finals proved it. To compete, you'd need upperclassmen clubs or student council.
Amy was meticulous about broadcasts. Airing the first 1st-year gate clear? Bigger impact than this tourney.
'Unlike today, streamers max at 4 per gate.'
Gate slots were narrow; streamers clamored. Split from Zien, and Amy lacked the fame or connections yet.
Gulp.
Amy swallowed hard, face grave.
But no matter how she crunched it, one best-case stood out.
'Isabel has to win!'
Then crisis flips to opportunity. 1v1 score builds hype, Zien enters at peak excitement.
Ratings through the roof, weekly buzz.
"Haa."
But a huge problem remained.
"Why a pool of all things?"
Amy sighed at the screen.
🗝 Info: Boasting Zone 1's maximum size, the Blue Delmar Pool...
Tap.
Isabel dismissed the hologram explanation without reading. Setup fluff wasn't her concern now.
"This... is a pool?"
Crystal-clear waves reflecting the bottom.
Endless expanse evoking the sea, under a blazing sky. Blue Delmar felt oceanic.
But footing? Just a central wooden walkway and colorful buoys.
"Absolute worst."
For water-hating Isabel, this was punishment.
Unaware or uncaring, Kua waved from the opposite buoy.
"Hi! Isabel, right?"
His blue hair gleamed in the sunlight, innocent smile adding harmless, herbivore vibes that lowered guards.
"Skip the greetings. Don't wanna feel bad kicking your ass later."
Isabel wasn't one to drop caution for smiles.
"That confident? Hate to say it, but... it's all water around us?"
"Blame's for the loser."
"Cool."
Prep time ended with Kua's reply. Their stigmata glowed, manifesting gloves—similar sans color, utterly opposed in nature.
Grind!
Isabel channeled mana. The calm pool churned, buoys shaking.
Kua did the same.
Splash! Boom!!
Massive fire lance met tidal wave.
Steam blinded, water sprayed. Isabel mana-reinforced her legs, leaped to the boardwalk, and dashed madly.
Bang bang! Pow! Pow! Pow!
Blinding speed.
Kua's water droplets hit only her wake.
'Body feels lighter than before.'
Zien's special training paying off.
Isabel backstepped a splash, hurling fireballs like a pitcher.
Flames evaporated water, hurtling at Kua.
Whoosh! Boom!
A water barrier from the pool blocked them.
"Whoa! So agile."
Kua conducted from a buoy like a maestro; the pool obeyed like a living beast.
Splash!
Tidal wave engulfed Isabel.
"Pwah! Cough! Ptoo!"
Soaked, she coughed. The pool unrelented, brewing another wave overhead.
"Ugh!"
Isabel thrust her hands desperately.
Released mana split the wave in two.
Sploooosh!
She climbed the boardwalk. Her total mana outstripped Kua's, but she had to conjure fire; he just commandeered the abundant water.
Efficiency gap too vast.
Kua marveled she'd blocked so far.
"Holding up well. Mana reserves must be huge?"
Kua grinned.
Exhausted Isabel panted raggedly.
'If I lose here...'
Isabel always won.
Even without craving victory, her talent delivered it.
But now, wanting it most, defeat loomed.
How to win? As thoughts swirled...
Crackle! Zzt!
Something in her ear buzzed.
Familiar voice.
Isabel touched her ear.
'Ah, Lagosis?'
The comm artifact from the airdrop.
'Artifact after all.'
It linked her and Zien across spaces.
Zzt.
Isabel smirked at Zien's playful tone, glaring at Kua.
"Hey."
Kua looked puzzled instead of replying, as Isabel ignited gorgeous flames over her gloves.
"Now it's 2v1."
With an S-rank coach on board.
She feared nothing now.