The result of the first match was decided quickly.Principal Gareth's trembling voice rang out:
— "T-The winner of the match… from Class 1/B… Lunaa!"
The stands erupted with cheers. Students leapt from their seats, clapping, whistling, shouting—turning the training grounds into a festival of noise and excitement.
Principal Gareth raised his hand to calm them down:
— "Before the next match, we'll have a ten-minute break. Stay tuned!"
Meanwhile, Selion and Isac carried the fallen Hex off the field to the infirmary. Their friends waited anxiously for him to wake when the door creaked open. Luna stepped inside with quiet footsteps.
Selion's face twisted with anger.— "What are you doing here?"
Luna lowered her head.— "I don't mean any harm… I only wanted to apologize for what I did."
Selion paused. Realizing he had misunderstood, his voice softened.— "Then I apologize as well. I'll accept your apology on Hex's behalf. I'm sure he would have done the same."
Some of the tension between them eased.
Just then, Principal Gareth's voice boomed again over the speakers:
— "For the next match, I call Yuen and Alvionna to the arena!"
The children rose from their seats and headed toward the field. Mia, however, remained by Hex's side.
— "I'll stay and wait for Hex to wake up… I'm sorry, Yuen. But I believe in you—you'll win!"
Yuen smiled faintly and nodded in response.
Step by step, they made their way down the corridor and up the stairs leading into the arena. Selion raised his hand against the blinding sunlight, scanning the roaring crowd. The overwhelming energy, the excitement, the cheers—it all stirred his fighting spirit even more. But this wasn't his turn yet… for now, it was Yuen's moment.
When Yuen and Alvionna took their places in the center of the arena, the audience held its breath. Principal Gareth called out:
— "The competitors are ready! From Class 1/A, Yuen! And from Class 1/B, Alvionna! If you are ready… you may begin!"
The match began.
Without wasting a second, Yuen focused his mana.— "Water Bullet!"
He launched a rapid volley toward Alvionna. The girl raised her arms and shouted:
— "Come forth!"
A massive robot dropped down from above, Yuen's bullets striking its enormous body.
Then, at her sides, two beams of light appeared. From them emerged metallic constructs: one with wide wings resembling a pterosaur, the other cloaked like a mage, staff in hand.
The crowd murmured in awe—no one had seen machines like these before.
The winged robot beat its wings and ascended into the air. Yuen immediately chose his target.
— "You first!"
Water bullets shot skyward, but the mage-robot raised its staff, conjuring fireballs that intercepted and evaporated the streams midair.
Yuen's eyes widened. At that moment, Alvionna shouted:
— "Bastor, forward!"
(The name of the Bastor robot)
The massive construct charged with thunderous steps. Yuen quickly shaped more mana, condensing it into larger, heavier water bullets.
— "Let's see if that iron shell can withstand this!"
He fired again. Bastor's runestone, glowing beneath its armor, flared as the barrier spell activated. But the relentless barrage smashed against it until the stone cracked and its mana was drained.
Alvionna gasped.
The barrier had fallen.
Yuen unleashed another round, the water bullets slamming into Bastor's frame, forcing the towering robot to stagger backward.
Clenching her fists, Alvionna cried out:— "Bastor, retreat!"
The giant construct lumbered back, damaged but still functional. The crowd exploded into cheers. Yuen had seized the upper hand… but the battle had only just begun.