Iria finally challenged Amelia to a duel, after taking down all those who spoke ill of her, just as she had said.
News of Iria rampaging gloriously against the third-year students spread far and wide, to the point that nobody was unaware of it.
As a result, the audience was more crowded than when Iria had dueled Sera, with an even greater number of spectators.
“Who do you think will win?”
Two people stood facing each other in the dueling arena. Both were strong individuals that couldn’t even be compared to regular students.
In truth, it wouldn’t be weird for either one to win. Even though Iria was a first-year, she had shown incredible strength until now.
“But still, don’t you think Iria will win? She’s never lost a duel before.”
“No way, she won’t win this time. She’s already had her fortieth duel today. How could she defeat the top student of the third year while being worn out?”
“She doesn’t look that tired, though.”
“It’s not about stamina, it’s about the mana difference.”
However, many were betting on Amelia’s victory over Iria.
After all, they had seen Iria’s duels. Given her matches against third-year students, it seemed nearly impossible for her to defeat Amelia.
Well, if we want to get technical, there had been one person who had managed to do just that in the past.
Iria’s current behavior resembled that of the past Ariel.
Just like Ariel, when she dominated the academy students in her first year, Iria was doing something similar.
With past examples, it wasn’t impossible.
So, could it be that Iria was a contender comparable to Ariel?
That would be decided by the outcome of this duel.
However, the odds were that it wouldn’t turn out that way. After all, Ariel was special.
“This is a fight Iria can’t win. No matter how much Amelia lost to Sera, there’s still elemental advantage between mages.”
“I feel sorry for Iria. Amelia is notorious for being brutal. I’ve heard she doesn’t hold back even against underclassmen. Last time, she almost killed someone.”
“Then it’s over. The rising first-year rookie will, in the end, be crushed by the third-year top student. Against Amelia… she might be trampled so harshly she won’t be able to show her face at the academy again.”
Students watched the duel with intrigue.
All eyes were on Iria. Would she beat Amelia and become the second Ariel, or would she be thoroughly beaten and humiliated?
One of those two options was bound to happen.
*
The two standing in the dueling arena faced off. Amelia had a confident expression, while Iria was expressionless.
Iria didn’t look so good at the moment. Despite the one-sided beatings, the traces of thirty-nine duels were etched all over her body.
Her uniform was torn, her silver hair slightly scorched, and her mana was depleted.
This was a bit different from her usual relaxed demeanor.
In reality, she felt fine, but her outward appearance told a different story.
Iria, while exuding confidence in her expression and gestures, didn’t stand out due to her disheveled look.
Even the little confidence she was showing only felt like bravado to Amelia.
“You surprised me, Iria. I had no idea that’s what you meant with what you said earlier.”
“…”
“Going around and crushing everyone who spread rumors? That’s not something an average person would do. It’s like a fantasy of a bullied student to take revenge; I didn’t think you’d actually pull it off.”
With a relaxed smile, Amelia took a step closer to Iria.
She continued speaking.
“I honestly didn’t expect you to come this far. You can take it as a point of pride, can’t you? The top student of the third year admitting they respect you, a first-year…”
“…”
“Hey!! At least listen when someone talks to you!!”
“Oh.”
Caught off guard while trying to look elsewhere, Iria scratched her cheek, having lost any tension in her face.
Looking back at Amelia after staring off, Iria muttered a short reply.
“Your words are too long.”
“Hah…”
Is this what it feels like when you’re so surprised that you can’t even speak properly?
Amelia was momentarily at a loss for words. Her emotions surged as she struggled to maintain her composure.
“Haha, right, that’s a fresh provocation. So that’s how you want to play?”
Amelia, barely holding back her rising anger, laughed in disbelief.
In fact, the duel had already begun. Amelia was just waiting to speak because she had a lot to say.
Amelia quickly released her mana from within her body.
The purple mana reacted violently around her.
The unstable mana burned away in the dueling arena. However, the magic surrounding her body was as calm as a gentle wave.
Separating unstable mana from stable mana was Amelia’s specialty.
It was a level that only she had achieved in the academy, from being the top student of the third year.
“Lightning Strike.”
The purple mana surged forth as it passed through the spell Amelia cast.
With a crackle, the lightning enveloped the arena, spreading its presence through the air.
Even from a distance, the powerful output made one feel it inside their body.
“You think you’re special just because you beat Sera? You won’t win against me. Even if we fought with your stamina intact, you’d lose. You know why?”
Amelia shaped the lightning in her hands as she formed it into a sword.
“Your elemental compatibility against me is the worst.”
Lightning magic cannot be deflected by wind. The speed at which it streaks through the air is too fast.
Attacks with no mana infused in them won’t harm Amelia. The shield of lightning that surrounds her protects her.
If she attempted a physical attack, she’d only get hurt by the exploding waves of lightning.
Iria fought using swordsmanship that employed wind magic or relied on her superhuman physical abilities.
She lacked the techniques to infuse her sword strikes with mana, nor was she able to utilize powers from other elemental magic.
The swordsmanship she possessed wasn’t at a high level, just a bit better than others in raw strength.
That being said, at this moment, Iria had no means to attack Amelia.
In the place where purple lightning enveloped the ground, Amelia wore a small smile.
“I’m also the same type of sword mage as you. Though our styles are slightly different, I’m basically your superior.”
Amelia was better at swordsmanship than Iria, had more mana, and her magic abilities were also at a higher level.
If that’s not being a superior version, what is?
From the very start, the outcome of this duel was predetermined.
The dueling arena was engulfed in lightning.
Iria’s victory over Sera came from Sera being careless, at least that’s what Amelia thought. Sera had a style built on overwhelming firepower.
Foolishly sticking to her aggressive nature, Sera had played into Iria’s strengths in close combat, and that was why she lost.
But she was different.
Amelia was someone who relentlessly pursued victory. That’s also why she was top student. It didn’t matter what underhanded means she had to use, as long as she won, that was all that mattered.
That was reality. That was the way to survive in this competitive society called the academy.
She would defeat Iria. And this time, she’d demonstrate her reputation throughout the entire academy.
She planned for this from the beginning.
That’s what she was going to do.
“Ugh!”
Once the duel officially began, Amelia clicked her tongue and stepped back.
She was firing powerful lightning from a distance, but for some reason, none of it was hitting Iria.
Iria was evading them with quick movements.
Lightning magic is the fastest among all elemental magics. It’s impossible for an ordinary human to react and dodge it with their body.
‘I can’t be seeing this with my eyes; maybe she has a keen sense for mana detection.’
But if she had a rough idea of where the lightning would strike, it wasn’t impossible to dodge.
She must be applying that knowledge. Reading the flow of mana, she could know the trajectory of the lightning.
Indeed, it was Iria. A talent worthy of attention at the academy.
Amelia didn’t think it would be easy from the very beginning.
If she was reading mana to evade…
“Do you think I’ve seen one or two kids like you?! Try dodging this!”
Using that against her, Amelia would implant a false trajectory.
Amelia twisted the flow of nearby mana with delicate manipulation. As a result, there would be an unusual phenomenon where the real position of the lightning and the mana’s trajectory would differ.
The five streaks of lightning that extended from Amelia’s left hand would curve in various directions just before hitting Iria.
If you stand still, you won’t get hit, but if you try to dodge, you’re bound to get struck no matter what direction you go.
With the mana’s trajectory still pointing straight, if Iria attempted to read it like before, she’d fall into a trap.
Amelia was sure of the lightning’s precision.
–zap zap zap, zap!
Just as the five lightning bolts ignited and shot forward, Iria stood still, doing nothing.
The lightning that had been soaring through the air merely swerved around the motionless Iria.
Amelia couldn’t believe her eyes.
“What…?”
“…?”
Iria tilted her head.
Contrary to Amelia’s expectations, Iria didn’t know how to read mana.
‘Where is she shooting?’
Iria thought Amelia’s accuracy was really poor.
