Chapter 296: I don't take orders from you!
The members of Team B were swiftly escorted off the battlefield, limping and bruised, their bodies bearing the marks of a grueling encounter.
Healers rushed to their side, tending to their wounds as murmurs of excitement buzzed through the crowd like electricity in the air. Now, all eyes turned to the next spectacle—the showdown that everyone had been waiting for.
The Team A face-off.
"I heard Team A consists of the strongest mages from each year," someone whispered with a tone laced with awe.
"Which means Team B were the weaker ones..."
"And if those 'weaker ones' gave us such a spectacle, imagine what the elites are about to do!"
"But the third years still have the advantage," another voice cut in. "Especially if it's their top five stepping in today."
"I wouldn't count the second years out just yet," someone else retorted. "Their Team B held their ground. Imagine what their top dogs can do."
"Oh well, only time will tell."
Suddenly, the whispers died down as Captain Amir's voice boomed through the coliseum, cutting through the noise like a blade through mist.
"Now… it's time for the battle everyone's been waiting for," Amir's deep, commanding voice echoed. "Team A of the Second Years… versus Team A of the Third Years! LET'S GO!"
The colossal iron gates groaned as they began lifting on both sides of the coliseum, the crowd erupting in cheers.
Dust swirled as the stone floors trembled under the collective footsteps of the elite mages making their entrance.
"Wait… that's Captain Amir's first son!"
"The same one who fought in the tournament last year as a second year?"
"Yeah. He held his own against Viktor… That alone makes him a monster."
"Exactly! If Viktor was a beast, then anyone who could stand toe-to-toe with him is just as dangerous."
"I'm starting to feel bad for the second years. They're walking into a slaughter."
"Agreed…"
On the second-year side, their squad strode out with unwavering focus. The weight of the crowd's doubt pressed on them like gravity, but they walked taller for it. Scarlet, with her fiery red hair fluttering in the breeze, turned to her teammates—Greg, Jay, and Arthur.
"Listen up," she said, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "The crowd already wrote us off."
Her voice cut through the tension, bold and unwavering.
"So, I have only one thing to say to you all—Go rogue."
"I was afraid you were going to tell us to be careful," Greg scoffed with a grin, striding ahead of the team and taking his position in the arena.
Across from them, the third-year Team A made their appearance—Dante, Dave, Lyra, and Charlotte.
Each radiated confidence, their eyes gleaming with experience as they moved like predators entering their domain.
Just then, two massive crystals descended from the sky, one above each team's starting zone.
As they landed, the coliseum rumbled with deep groans, cracks and scorches from the previous battle vanishing in a seamless sweep of magic. The floor healed itself, leaving behind a pristine battlefield, reborn and ready.
"You know the rules," Amir said, the floating crystal spinning slowly beside him, his gaze fierce. "Fight."
Instantly, a transparent barrier shimmered into existence around the second-years' crystal, with Arthur stepping forward like a sentinel.
"I'll protect this crystal with my life," he declared, planting his feet firmly.
"Good," Scarlet snapped. "The rest of us—move!"
She, Greg, and Jay surged forward in unison, a streak of coordinated chaos.
"They'll never break through our defenses," Dante said calmly. The ground responded to his will, rising in a wave as a thick layer of earth encased their crystal in a stone cocoon.
"Not like they'd even get close!" Dave barked, thrusting his arm forward.
A dozen gleaming metal swords manifested in the air around him and shot forward like missiles, humming with lethal intent.
"Fire Magic—Inferno!" Scarlet shouted, her hands ablaze.
A wave of fire surged from her, a scorching inferno crashing into the airborne swords. Metal hissed and melted mid-air, falling harmlessly to the ground in puddles of glowing slag.
"Lightning Magic—Thunder God!" Greg roared.
He launched into the sky, his body cloaked in crackling electricity. Thunder echoed as he descended like a wrathful god, bolts striking down from above.
But just before impact, an earth wall burst up, shielding the third-years and absorbing the brunt of the attack with a deafening crack.
"Water Magic—Water Slash!" Charlotte retaliated, her voice sharp.
Dozens of blade-like streams of water slashed through the air toward the second years.
"Water Slash!" Jay called back.
His magic collided with hers mid-air, the opposing forces canceling each other out in a spectacular splash.
"Lightning Creation Magic—Lightning Boots!" Greg yelled again.
A pair of glowing boots formed at his feet, arcs of electricity flickering around them. He vanished in a blink, reappearing in front of Dave in a burst of lightning.
His hand, surrounded by buzzing energy, punched forward with enough force to ripple the very air.
A thunderous bang echoed as his fist smashed into an earth wall that rose just in time. The impact dispelled his magic, smoke and sparks billowing outward.
"Dave, handle the rest. I've got him," Dante said, stepping forward.
With each step he took, the ground trembled. From beneath the arena, a massive earth spear erupted, which he seized in one hand like a war god.
"I don't take orders from you," Dave muttered, turning away as a metallic blade formed in his grip. Without hesitation, he dashed toward Scarlet, eyes blazing.
"But I've still got a score to settle."
"How dare you interrupt me?!" Greg snarled at Dante, electricity sparking violently from his skin. His eyes glowed a faint blue, his magic intensity rising to dangerous levels.
"Oh? An angry one. But you are forgetting that our elements are natural enemies." Dante said coolly, tapping the ground with his foot.
Dozens of razor-sharp earth spikes surged from the ground toward Greg, but with a swift sidestep, he evaded them with impossible speed.
"But I'm faster!" Greg bellowed.
With a sharp crack, he kicked off the ground, leaving a crater and afterimage in his wake as he blurred forward—a bolt of vengeance barreling toward the stunned Dante.
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{A/N}
Hey Magus Legion! Just want to check in if you all are still reading. Because this team A battle won't be like the team B battle. You all are in for a treat.
Lest I forget! Shout-out to all readers of the book and special shout-out to you all that support the book with your resources.
Nathan Sama, Arcane Sama, Charles Sama and Fenrir Sama 🙌 thank you all for your continuous support! I really appreciate them.