The moment both teams stepped onto the stage and faced each other, Sandra's expression grew even more strained.
"Let's leave behind a match neither of us will regret."
Claudia smiled warmly at Sandra, delivering the customary opening words with grace.
Roy, meanwhile, looked at Nina, who had practically buried her head in her chest, and thought this girl might be even more timid than Kirin. He decided not to say anything that might unsettle her further.
"...We shouldn't have been stopped here!"
Sandra's face twisted with unwillingness as she glared at Claudia, her eyes brimming with humiliation.
Their team had been sacrificed!
The Sirius Dome was the venue with the highest spectator turnout, and the first match here was also the opening match of the entire Festa. The committee undoubtedly wanted to hype up the atmosphere.
Thus, they had arranged for championship contenders to make their debut here while also selecting a mid-tier team—one that wasn't too strong but not too weak—to serve as their opponents.
Needless to say, the committee hoped the championship contenders would make a splash in their very first match, while the chosen mid-tier team would be reduced to mere fuel for the Festa's hype.
Sandra and Nina were ranked 21st and 47th respectively at Queenvail Girls' Academy. They were undeniably solid mid-tier competitors for the Phoenix Festa. Under normal circumstances, they could at least safely advance past the early rounds—maybe even make it to the main tournament.
But they had the misfortune of being handpicked by the committee, becoming sacrificial lambs to boost the Festa's excitement!
Sandra's goal had been to reach the main tournament, or at least make a name for herself to increase her value in Asterisk City. But facing championship contenders right off the bat? Sure, she'd gain recognition—but only as a laughingstock!
What would she say in job interviews after graduating?
That she got stomped by the champions?
Why did she have to be the one sacrificed?!
Claudia's smile faded slightly, but she didn't respond.
Sandra knew this situation was just bad luck—it wasn't Roy or Claudia's fault. Swallowing her bitterness, she clenched her teeth and forced herself to endure the humiliation.
"Now, both teams, take your positions!"
The four fighters moved to their respective starting points on the stage.
"Though this is already common knowledge, let me reiterate the basic rules of the Phoenix Festa: when both partners' school crests are destroyed, or if they lose consciousness, surrender, or are otherwise deemed defeated, the victor will be announced via the crests. Additionally, deliberate acts of cruelty during matches are strictly prohibited. Any such behavior will result in immediate disqualification!"
"And now, the first match of this year's Phoenix Festa is about to begin! Who will emerge victorious—Seidoukan or Queenvail? Audience, keep your eyes peeled!"
At the center of the stage, as if responding to the live broadcast, the crests on all four combatants' chests emitted a red glow, signaling the automated start of the duel.
Simultaneously, a translucent barrier of light slowly rose from the edges of the stage, encasing the entire arena like a dome. The moment the defensive shield fully enclosed the battlefield, as if triggered by the signal, the cheers from the audience erupted into a frenzy.
"Phoenix Festa, Block A, First Round, First Match—BEGIN!"
As the mechanical voice of the school emblem announced the start of the match, Sandra immediately sprang into action.
She swiftly retreated backward while shouting at the same time.
"Nina!"
"Ah... yes!"
Nina Achenwall, upon receiving the command, hurriedly raised her hands.
"G-Great King's Castle!"
Visibly, a black spade identical to a playing card appeared before her.
The spade rapidly expanded, forming a massive shield that stood between the two sides, clearly dividing the stage into two distinct parts.
Roy drew his sword-type Lux from the sheath at his waist, watching the two's preparations without fear.
Claudia, on the other hand, smiled faintly and took a few steps back.
"Oh my! Is Seidoukan Academy planning to have Roy face two ranked students from Queenvail alone?"
"Given their strength, this choice isn't entirely unreasonable. Though it may sound unfair, no matter how hard those two try, they can hardly keep up with his speed—the fastest among the Six Flowers!"
The commentator's voice rang out at just the right moment.
"Queen's Heart Bullets!"
Nina's voice sounded again. Perhaps the spade shield gave her some sense of security, as her voice finally carried a hint of confidence.
Countless heart-shaped bullets of light suddenly emerged in mid-air, densely bombarding Roy like chess pieces on a board.
Roy activated his device, and the light blade extended from it.
He took a step forward, but unlike last time when he shattered the ground with a single stomp, he now floated lightly like a feather, covering over ten meters in an instant to appear before the spade shield. The heart bullets couldn't even catch his speed and were left behind in the blink of an eye.
Boom!
With a single slash, the massive spade shield shattered like glass.
"Eek!"
Nina trembled all over from the shield's explosion, letting out a scream.
"K-King's..."
Seeing Roy right in front of her, she squeezed her eyes shut and curled into a ball, but still managed to extend a trembling hand, from which the outline of a light sword emerged.
Swish!
"Nina Achenwall, school emblem damaged!"
"Huh?"
Nina opened her eyes in confusion, only to find her school emblem already split in two on the ground.
At the same time, another gust of wind swept past.
"Sandra Segur, school emblem damaged!"
"Match over! Winners: Roy & Claudia Enfield!"
Nina turned around in a panic and saw Sandra, who was supposed to be preparing a big move in the back, also staring blankly at her shattered school emblem on the ground. Her ultimate attack hadn't even been launched—she hadn't even finished preparing it.
For a moment, the two could only look at each other in silence, overwhelmed by a flood of emotions.
The overhead screen displayed the match duration: five seconds.
Though they had known from the start that victory was nearly impossible, losing in less than ten seconds still stung their pride deeply.
Roy retracted his sword and walked toward Claudia, who greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Quite the gentleman, aren't you?"
Claudia looked at him meaningfully.
"Hmm?"
"If you had used your Prana Burst technique right from the start, that girl Nina wouldn't even have had a chance to use her ability. You could've won in three seconds at most."
Nina was a witch, and a witch's abilities were instantaneous. Although Roy was a step slower in activating his Lux, he could have knocked her out with a single punch at the start if he'd wanted to.
"She's a bit like Kirin, but far inferior to her."
Roy shrugged.
Her timid demeanor was almost identical to Kirin's, but she was much more cowardly. She looked like she was about to burst into tears as she stepped off the stage.
Well, here's hoping she toughens up soon.
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹