Chapter 98: The Final Match (Part 1)
Kael stepped out of the infirmary.
The corridor was unusually quiet compared to the noisy atmosphere surrounding the tournament grounds.
The scent of medicine still lingered in the air as he adjusted the torn academy uniform hanging loosely from his body.
Most of the dried blood had been cleaned away, but the numerous tears in his uniform remained as proof of the battles he had fought.
As he walked down the corridor, his footsteps slowed.
Someone was sitting on one of the benches outside the infirmary.
Wrapped in fresh bandages from shoulder to waist, Zion rested with his eyes closed.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, he opened his eyes and looked toward Kael.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Wow..."
"You woke up fast."
Zion snorted.
"Well, what did you expect?"
"I’m not the one who abused Mana Emphasization."
Kael scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"I guess that’s fair."
Zion’s expression quickly became serious.
His gaze swept over Kael’s body before stopping on the injuries that still hadn’t completely healed.
"Seems like you’re planning to go into another battle without being fully healed."
Kael simply shrugged.
"Well, what can I say?"
"This fight will be tough..."
"But I don’t plan on losing."
Zion remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"Auriella Voss isn’t like the other opponents you’ve fought."
"She was created to be a perfect weapon."
"And her special eyes can see the weak points on anyone her gaze lands on."
He folded his arms.
"How do you plan on countering that?"
Kael didn’t hesitate.
"Well..."
"It’s simple."
"No one is perfect."
He gave Zion a confident smile before continuing down the hallway.
Zion watched him disappear around the corner.
Several seconds passed.
Then...
He slowly raised a hand and pressed it against his forehead.
"...Idiot."
He let out a tired sigh.
Deciding there was no point worrying about someone as stubborn as Kael, Zion stood up from the bench.
"I’ve done everything I could."
He muttered quietly before turning toward his own room to continue resting.
Meanwhile...
Kael continued walking toward the resting area prepared for the finalists.
The academy corridors had become noticeably quieter now that most students had returned to the stadium.
As he rounded a corner...
He stopped.
A familiar figure stood waiting for him.
"...Charlotte?"
Kael blinked.
"What are you doing here?"
Charlotte looked him up and down before answering.
"Well..."
"I wasn’t expecting you to get up so quickly."
"You looked even more beat up than Zion."
Her eyes drifted toward his torn academy uniform.
"And your uniform..."
She pointed toward the numerous tears scattered across it.
The fabric had been ripped apart in several places, while dried blood stained large portions of it.
Kael glanced down at himself before smiling helplessly.
"Well..."
"It still covers the important parts."
"It’s not that bad."
Charlotte couldn’t help shaking her head.
"You seriously don’t care about your appearance."
Kael laughed.
"I’ve had worse."
The two began walking together toward the stadium.
After several moments of silence...
Charlotte spoke again.
"Well..."
"About what you did..."
Kael looked at her curiously.
"What do you mean by that?"
Charlotte slowed her pace slightly.
"You do know..."
"...that you partially opened a Domain?"
Kael immediately shook his head.
"Nah."
"I really doubt that."
He lowered his gaze in thought.
The final moments of his battle against Zion had become somewhat hazy in his memory.
He only remembered continuously pushing Mana Emphasization beyond its limits.
Charlotte frowned.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Because that part of the arena is still darkened from the effects of your Mana Emphasization."
"And they also mentioned something about you using the concept of your element."
Kael suddenly stopped walking.
He turned toward Charlotte with genuine surprise.
"You’re kidding... right?"
"How did they know that?"
Charlotte answered him with nothing more than a skeptical stare.
Kael immediately sighed.
"...Okay."
"That look isn’t because of the Domain."
"It’s something else."
"So..."
"What’s going on?"
Charlotte folded her arms.
Her gaze remained fixed on Kael, making it obvious she had been waiting to ask this question.
"You said..."
"...you were going to make me strong."
Kael stared at her for a few seconds before finally remembering what she was referring to.
Realization dawned on his face.
"Is this because I never mentioned Mana Emphasization?"
Charlotte nodded immediately.
"Of course."
"You were supposed to make me strong."
"So why would you hide such a powerful technique from me?"
There wasn’t anger in her voice.
Only frustration.
Kael let out a quiet sigh before placing a hand on her shoulder.
His playful expression disappeared, replaced by a rare seriousness.
"Charlotte."
"Mana Emphasization is an incredibly powerful technique."
"It’s especially effective for people who are truly attuned to their elemental affinity."
Charlotte frowned.
"But you formed your Mana Core after I formed mine."
Kael shook his head.
"That’s irrelevant."
He continued walking, and Charlotte followed beside him.
"Ignore those minor details..."
"Mana Emphasization is an extremely dangerous technique."
"It isn’t something you learn the moment you become stronger."
"Even Magic Knights only use it with restraint."
He glanced at her.
"The technique turns your own body into a conduit for your elemental mana."
"If your body can’t withstand that burden..."
"The element begins damaging its own user."
Charlotte remained silent as she listened.
Kael continued calmly.
"You saw what happened to me."
"My vision disappeared."
"My Mana Conduits were nearly destroyed."
"My nerves were pushed beyond their limits."
"And that’s after months of trying to develop the technique."
He smiled faintly.
"If someone attempts it before they’re ready..."
"They might permanently cripple themselves."
Charlotte lowered her head.
"...I understand."
Before either of them could continue—
"Well said by the one abusing the technique itself."
A familiar voice interrupted them.
Kael turned toward the source.
Stella was walking toward them with her usual composed smile.
Floating closely behind her was Lyra.
The two stopped directly in front of Kael.
Lyra looked him over from head to toe before speaking.
"Kael."
"Since you didn’t let the Healing Mages complete your recovery..."
"...don’t even try to use Mana Emphasization."
Her expression remained unusually serious.
Kael smiled reassuringly.
"Of course, Lyra."
"Do I look foolish?"
"I might actually die if I attempt it again."
He turned back toward Charlotte.
"You see?"
"Using Mana Emphasization is dangerous."
"So don’t even think about attempting it yet."
Charlotte gave a reluctant nod.
"I won’t."
Satisfied with her answer, Kael walked past the three women.
Stella remained where she stood.
Her eyes followed Kael until he disappeared farther down the corridor.
A suspicious look slowly appeared on her face.
"...He’s planning something."
She muttered quietly.
Lyra tilted her head.
"What makes you say that?"
Stella smiled knowingly.
"Because that boy only smiles like that..."
"...when he’s already figured something out."
Kael eventually arrived at the resting room prepared for the finalists.
The room was completely silent.
Only a single bench occupied the center of the room.
Kael slowly sat down and rested both elbows on his knees.
He closed his eyes.
Almost immediately, his thoughts shifted toward the battle ahead.
"Battling Auriella Voss..."
"Even for the main character..."
"...that was never an easy fight."
He quietly recalled everything he knew.
"During their first battle..."
"He was naturally at a disadvantage."
"He was only a first-year..."
"...while Auriella was already a second-year."
"Their ranks weren’t equal."
"She held every advantage."
"Even so..."
"...she still lost."
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
A determined smile spread across his face.
"I know..."
"...how to defeat her."
The repaired arena stood in perfect condition once again.
Not a single trace remained of the destruction caused by the previous battles.
Students filled every seat in the stadium, their conversations gradually fading as the officials prepared for the final match of the tournament.
On one side of the arena...
Auriella Voss stood silently.
Her silver hair reflected the afternoon sunlight as it swayed gently with the breeze.
Her expression remained as emotionless as ever.
Only the faintest trace of annoyance lingered beneath her calm exterior.
Kael...
Was an extremely unpredictable individual.
His actions throughout the tournament had defied every expectation she had formed.
His decisions changed without warning.
His methods constantly evolved in the middle of battle.
Trying to predict him had become increasingly difficult.
She quietly tightened her grip on her sword.
A few moments later...
The entrance gates opened.
Kael walked onto the arena.
His academy uniform was still torn from his previous battles, while faint traces of dried blood remained across the fabric.
Despite his battered appearance...
His steps never slowed.
He stopped several meters away from Auriella.
The two locked eyes.
Neither spoke.
The atmosphere around the arena immediately became heavy.
Everyone knew this battle would determine the strongest first-year in the academy.
The referee stepped into the center of the arena.
He looked toward both participants before raising his arm.
"The challenger for the top-ranked position..."
"Kael Draven!"
A loud cheer erupted throughout the stadium.
The referee turned toward the opposite side.
"And standing at the top-ranked position..."
"Auriella Voss!"
The cheers became even louder.
High above the arena...
Inside the VIP viewing platform...
Master Crawford slowly turned toward Madam Voss.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Would you like to make a wager..."
"...on who will win this tournament?"
Madam Voss never looked away from the arena.
Her expression remained completely stoic.
"Its obviously my daughter."
She answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
Master Crawford chuckled quietly.
"I expected nothing less."
Back inside the arena...
The referee lowered his raised arm.
"And..."
"The final battle..."
"Begins now!"
He immediately leaped backward, clearing the battlefield.
Silence.
Neither Kael nor Auriella moved immediately.
For a brief moment...
The entire stadium held its breath.
Then—
Darkness Mana erupted from Kael’s body.
It poured from his skin like black smoke, wrapping itself around his entire figure.
The pressure released by the sudden surge of mana swept across the arena.
The spectators froze.
"...Is he using it?"
One student whispered.
"Right from the beginning?"
Another muttered in disbelief.
Shock spread throughout the stadium.
Everyone watching reached the same conclusion.
Mana Emphasization.
Even Auriella’s calm eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
She hadn’t expected him to activate such a dangerous technique before the battle had truly begun.
Kael slowly lowered his center of gravity.
His crimson eyes remained fixed on Auriella.
A faint smile appeared across his face.
The final battle...
Had begun.