Boiling Bubbles
Boil, boil!
The swimming pool water churned like a cauldron, bubbles the size of basketballs rising to the surface.
Plop.
This was Kua's Mana Bubble.
A terrifying Magic Art that drained mana the instant it touched you.
"Here I go!"
Kua clasped his hands together.
The bubbles surged toward Isabel all at once. But it was futile.
Bang! Pop, pop!
They grazed past her toes, her head, her legs.
The bubbles barely missed Isabel. Her movements were lighter than before—she'd invested most of her mana into strengthening her body.
Fast... so fast!
As Kua reeled in shock, Isabel slowly backed away. Seizing the moment, Kua deliberately taunted her.
"Running away?"
"What do you think?"
Her expression was far more relaxed now.
Indeed, Isabel had changed in that short time. It was only natural. Zien was right behind her.
Ice Ice Ice Water Ice
Tat-tat-tat!
Isabel dashed across the wooden walkway.
Kua didn't give chase. The pool water roiled, shoving buoys around like boats.
The massive swimming pool, evoking the Atlantic Ocean, seemed endless.
"You think I'll just let you have your way?" Tough special training.
A body reinforced with mana.
Even as she ran, Isabel's breathing stayed even.
One chance—that's all you get. You've done this before, Isabel.
Zien's voice echoed from Ragosys. Isabel paused, lost in thought.
I've already done it?
Oh, right. Something similar had happened at the mage tower.
She'd staked her life on it back then.
Failure meant death. Yet Zien and Isabel had leaped from the dizzying heights.
"Yeah. This is nothing." Isabel gradually slowed her pace.
Kua quickly caught up.
"Tired already?"
Arms crossed atop a buoy, Kua smirked. Isabel flashed an arrogant smile in return.
"No. This is your grave."
The center of the pool was littered with buoys.
To Isabel, they were stepping stones. Footing to reach Kua.
"Heh heh, this is getting fun."
Splash!
Waves crashed over the wooden walkway again.
But Isabel was faster. Ignoring the surging water, she hopped from buoy to buoy.
Astonishing balance.
Water blisters shot at where she'd ducked her head, exploding into droplets where she'd just passed.
Splash! Boom!
With every move of their hands, water and fire danced, hot steam rising from the clash of scorching heat and icy streams.
In a battle between Sabers wielding Magic Arts, one moment's lapse meant the end.
But the finisher Isabel aimed for wasn't a Magic Art.
Just a bit more! Get a little closer!
Dodging the Magic Arts, Isabel steadily closed the distance to Kua.
And the instant Kua let his guard down to cast another—
Now!
Bang!
At Zien's signal, Isabel kicked off a buoy and lunged at Kua. The timing he'd called was perfect.
A water cannon grazed Isabel's face. Blood trickled from her cheek, but she didn't stop.
"Wha—?!"
The gap had closed to point-blank.
Panicking, Kua tried to manipulate the water, but it was too late.
Crack!
Isabel had already seized his wrist.
She sneered at Kua's pale face.
"Surprised?"
"Y-You...!"
If it had been a pure martial artist, Kua wouldn't have yielded the distance. But after a prolonged ranged exchange, he'd grown careless.
And this was the result.
Kua tried to shake her off, but Isabel's grip was stronger.
"Bite down hard."
Her pale leg traced a perfect arc.
Power flowed smoothly through her thigh, calf, and foot.
Then it struck.
Crack!
Her instep slammed into Kua's face.
"Gahk!"
His head snapped back. As a mild concussion dizzied him, Isabel reset her stance.
Don't let go!
Biting her lip at Zien's words, Isabel knew this was her last chance to finish Kua and hand the turn to Zien. She recalled the techniques he'd taught her.
I have to end it here!
They were Zone 1 martial arts, stripped of flash for pure efficiency. Not enough against a true fighter, but Kua—like Isabel—was a Saber who relied mostly on Magic Arts.
His physical prowess was negligible.
Thus, Isabel's mana-enhanced ambush threw him off completely.
"Hup! If I can just create some distance—!"
Kua shoved at Isabel with both hands.
She dropped low, evading and countering with a thigh sweep. Her mana-charged leg whipped like a lash.
Snap!
"Hiiik!"
The stinging pain from below drew a shrill scream from Kua. Tears welled in his eyes from the agony.
If I can just get into the water!
His tear-streaked face twisted in desperation as he lunged for the pool.
But with his limping leg, he couldn't escape Isabel's range.
Grip.
Isabel snatched his sleeve.
"Where do you think you're going? You think I'll let you?"
"Ugh!"
Kua shrank back in fear, but Isabel pressed on. She dropped low and burrowed in.
"G-Get off me!"
He resisted, but her technique was serpentine. She coiled around his arm, using her waist as a lever for a clean shoulder throw.
"Agh!"
Kua's body flew up with a dying screech.
Whoosh!
The world spun in circles.
The approaching deck filled Kua's vision. He squeezed his eyes shut.
Bam!
A brutal thud as he slammed face-first onto the buoy. Isabel's shoulder throw had landed perfectly. The sky wheeled above. Spread-eagled, Kua glared up at her defiantly.
I can't lose like this!
Beaten barehanded—not with sword, spear, or bow. The ultimate humiliation for Kua. To pay her back, he needed to force a Magic Art battle.
But Isabel's finisher wasn't a shoulder throw.
Thud.
Full mount, as it was called.
She straddled his stomach, then pinned his arm with her knee. As his body twisted unnaturally, terror twisted Kua's face.
Flames wrapped her fist as she murmured low.
"...Hey, didn't I tell you earlier? That I'd feel sorry when I beat you?"
A devilish smile.
The game was over.
Isabel's victory.
Amy covered her mouth with both hands, eyes misty.
"She won, sob! She won! She won!"
Amy had been fretting over various worries, but viewers welcomed Isabel's win for their own reasons.
Dodging Magic Arts with lightning speed.
A flashy combo of kicks, shoulder throws, and mounts.
Overcoming disadvantage for a comeback win—Isabel's fight captivated viewers instantly. What really set them ablaze was Zien entering next. No matter who won, the matchup between undefeated Zien and Lucia was the tournament's hottest draw.
"It's 1-on-1 now! Huh? Zien's going in! You know what that means, right?"
Relieved, Amy was floating on air.
As anticipation for Zien swelled among the 200,000 viewers, Amy cautiously broached the topic before them.
"You all know the government's allowing students into gates this time, right? Ahem, I have something to say about that..."
Building suspense, Amy paused.
But sharp-eyed viewers had already caught on.
As the chat heated up, Amy pressed a finger to her lips with a shh.
"Quiet, everyone! Hey~ why's this a promo? Don't you know about updates? Anyway! Not sure if it's 3rd or 4th rank~ but Arcana's first-years will definitely get a gate, right?"
Like a detective piecing it together, Amy muttered dramatically.
"But the strongest party gets it, right? Hmm, Arcana's strongest first-year party... Eh, that's all I'll say!"
She glanced at the chat.
Pretty blatant promo, but Amy's smooth delivery kept reactions positive.
Just like that, Amy wrapped up promo for the upcoming gate content. Cute as she looked, she was a thorough opportunist.
Now just show our provisional party leader... heh heh...
Provisional party leader.
Not official yet, but whatever. Amy grinned slyly.
"Yesss!!"
"Wooah! Arcana wins!"
Brodo and Caston, hoping for round 3, cheered. The Sky Lounge echoed.
They weren't the only ones celebrating.
"She won! Zien's up!"
"Eek! Finals time!"
In the stands, Karsen and Romina cheered.
From the VIP seats, Selphis suddenly gave a standing ovation.
Clap, clap, clap!
"Het het het! No need to watch anymore! With Zien entering, this is as good as Arcana's win!"
"Ahem! I-It’s just tied now!"
As Raymond said, the score was 1-1. "Round 3" appeared on the screen, zooming in on Zien and Lucia's faces.
Millions of spectators and viewers tuned in.
Amid their fervor, the main event took the stage.
"Alright! Time to announce the final round map vote!"
Vernon shouted gleefully.
Under Zien and Lucia's faces, the vote percentages fluctuated wildly.
48%... 49%... and 50%.
Zien and Lucia's votes converged at exactly 50% each, like magic.
"Hmm, a tie?"
As Bluma marveled, a staffer whispered to her. Nodding, she spoke.
"The final round map was randomly selected. It'll be revealed upon entry."
"For this long-awaited finale, the others shone too, but party leaders Zien Russel and Lucia Elqunes! Their names are trending in real-time searches."
"True prestige. Massive hype and skills to match."
High praise from 6th-rank Saber Bluma—practically a guarantee.
"Need I say more? Let's start the final round! But first..."
Vernon pointed calmly at the screen after his booming call.
"G Channel has an intro video ready—let's watch together!"
The finale's highlight.
A grand video for the two party leaders began on the screen.