The moment Show's blazing fist ignited against Halik's blood-forged barrier, the Arcane Academy's festival grounds transformed into a battlefield. The glow of carnival lanterns shattered, replaced by roaring flames, splashing water, crashing stones, and blinding light.
The Battle Royal had begun.
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Show vs. Halik, Hibiki, and Teach
Halik's eyes burned crimson as veins bulged unnaturally across his arms. He lifted his palm, droplets of blood floating in the air and shaping into crimson blades. Hibiki, with a blank and lifeless expression, summoned gusts of razor-sharp wind, while Teach raised his hand, his Telekinetic Transmission Spell linking both Hibiki and Halik with a surge of amplified magic.
"Boost them," Halik growled.
"Transmission initiated," Teach muttered coldly, his glowing eyes sending threads of psychic energy into their bodies. Hibiki's winds grew sharper, Halik's blood blades heavier and deadlier.
Show clenched his fists, fire wrapping around him like a second skin. "I don't care how much power you borrow… I'll break through it!"
He dashed forward, flame erupting beneath his feet. Hibiki unleashed a storm of cutting wind, halting Show's advance, while Halik slashed with blood-soaked whips. Show countered with fiery punches, flames colliding with crimson arcs, the ground erupting with every clash.
"Damn it, Hibiki! You're not yourself… but I'll knock you back to reality!" Show roared, his fist colliding against Hibiki's wind barrier. For a moment, fire overwhelmed the wind—but Teach's transmission pulsed again, boosting Hibiki and pushing Show backward into a crater.
Halik sneered. "You'll drown in your own flames, boy."
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Drake vs. Yurok and Mind-Controlled Lyra
The air turned damp and heavy. Yurok's hands glowed with Water Greser Magic, forming serpentine whips of liquid steel. Lyra, eyes vacant, rooted herself to the ground as thorny vines shot outward like chains, entangling everything in their path.
Drake summoned an icy gale, freezing the creeping roots midair. "Sorry, Lyra. You'll hate me for this later—but I'll stop you now!"
His ice sword clashed against Yurok's water blades, shards of frost flying. The battlefield became a frozen swamp, steam hissing as water and ice collided violently. For a moment, Drake had the edge—his ice freezing Yurok's whips in mid-swing.
But then Lyra's plant magic surged unnaturally, vines glowing with dark energy. Yurok smirked. "Thanks to Teach's link, even your little friend here can fight at her true limit."
Vines lashed around Drake's leg, pulling him down into the swamp. Yurok's water condensed into a giant trident, which he slammed forward. Drake raised an ice wall just in time, but cracks spread instantly under the combined assault.
"Tch—this isn't just Lyra's magic anymore… it's corrupted!" Drake spat, struggling.
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Raelyn vs. Mind-Controlled Cyrus and Akito
The ground trembled violently as Cyrus stomped down, fists glowing with raw power. Beside him, Akito's glowing cards spun like razor-sharp blades, darting through the air in unpredictable patterns.
Raelyn, bathed in radiant light, stepped forward calmly, staff in hand. "So this is how far you've fallen, Seraph… twisting friends against each other."
Cyrus charged, a meteor of muscle, swinging with terrifying force. Raelyn raised his staff, radiant magic flaring, and deflected the punch with a burst of holy light. Cards slashed toward him, but Raelyn's barrier shimmered, blocking most of them.
"You can't touch me while I'm focused," Raelyn declared. His counterattack sent beams of light that forced Cyrus back.
But then Akito's eyes glowed, and the cards multiplied—each hit striking the same spot on Raelyn's barrier. At the same time, Cyrus slammed the ground, creating a shockwave that shattered Raelyn's footing. The combined assault broke through, forcing him to his knees.
"Damn… they're synchronized… even without their will."
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Karen vs. Euclita and Mind-Controlled Lily
The battlefield blossomed with petals and poison. Euclita's Flower Sparse Magic unleashed waves of glowing pollen, while Lily—blank-eyed—unleashed powerful attraction-based magic, pulling Karen's attacks off-course.
Karen dodged elegantly, twirling through the battlefield. "Really, Lily? Controlling attraction against me? You must think you're clever." She blew a kiss, summoning a charm spell that scattered through the air.
Her aura radiated confidence, bending the battlefield with her allure. She kicked forward, heel striking Euclita across the face. "You'll need more than pollen and poison to rattle me."
But Lily's attraction spell suddenly turned against her. Each of Karen's charm spells was pulled away, redirected back at her by Lily's warped attraction field. Euclita laughed, releasing a poisonous flower explosion. Karen shielded herself with a charm barrier, but cracks spread fast.
"Ugh… you two are getting on my nerves."
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Criss vs. Arthen and Mind-Controlled Presto
The ground shook violently as Arthen's Gold Thunder Magic roared across the battlefield, golden lightning crashing like a divine storm. Presto, lifeless-eyed, unleashed bolts of thunder that synced with Arthen's, creating a devastating electric field.
Criss slammed his fists into the earth, stone pillars rising to shield him. "Thunder against stone? Let's see who lasts longer!"
Boulders shot like cannonballs, colliding with Arthen's lightning, causing explosive bursts of gold and rock. For a moment, Criss's sheer endurance overwhelmed them. He charged through, punching Arthen square in the jaw with a fist coated in granite.
But then Presto's thunder merged with Arthen's lightning—doubling its speed and ferocity. A massive golden surge shot across the battlefield, shattering Criss's stone armor and hurling him back into the rubble.
"Tch… two-on-one isn't fair, dammit…"
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The Turning Tide
All across the academy, the clashes raged. At first, the Arcane students fought valiantly, surprising their enemies with courage and creativity. But with Teach's transmission spell amplifying the enemy, and the mind-controlled first years adding perfect coordination, the tide began to shift.
Show stood panting, fire flickering around him as Hibiki's windstorm and Halik's blood blades closed in. "Damn it… everyone's being pushed back."
Seraph's voice echoed in the distance, his sinister laugh rolling over the battlefield. "So this is the power of Arcane Academy? Pathetic. With every passing moment, their strength is ours to control."
Show clenched his fist, blood dripping from his knuckles, but his fire still roared. "No… this battle isn't over yet. Not until I burn away every last chain from my friends!"
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TO BE CONTINUED…