"A paladin?" Vale muttered as he realized Ceres had most likely taken the Paladin's path. It was very different from the Holy Knight's path and Divine Sorcer's path, which mostly ended in the Church or Nobilities...
The Paladin would most likely be accepted in the Order of the Untainted Sentinels like Clare and Teresa. Furthermore, since she was also a princess, choosing this path seemed to be a perfect decision.
Boom!
The clash of two different Arcane Energies reverberated throughout the coliseum.
The crowd held its breath, captivated by the display of skill of the two students. They all watched with admiration and respect, recognizing both combatants' remarkable talent and resilience.
Even if one of them was defeated now, they would certainly not underestimate them.
In a pivotal moment, Ceres launched a devastating blast of radiant light toward Avery, who deftly evaded the attack.
Sensing an opportunity, Avery closed in, his white sword arcing through the air with deadly precision. The blade sliced through the air, finding its mark, and Ceres staggered back. Her defenses were breached!
Avery wanted to end the battle, but he suddenly felt a strong fluctuation of energy as Ceres prepared a very intimidating Holy Spell!
With a resolute focus, Ceres channeled her arcane energies, blending the power of Holy Smite and Radiance Spell before releasing it to her opponent!
A wave of shock rippled through the crowd.
They realized that the power she was emitting was comparable to those 8th-year or even 9th-year students! Even the seasoned Arcanists in attendance exchanged astonished glances, realizing the extent of Ceres' hidden potential.
Avery was overwhelmed by the Holy Energy as he couldn't help but jump back.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as Ceres unleashed the devastating Spell. A torrent of holy energy surged forth, engulfing Avery and filling the arena with a blinding radiance.
The sheer force of the Spell sent shockwaves rippling through the coliseum, causing dust to scatter and the onlookers to shield their eyes.
"A Spell Fusion of Holy Smite and Radiance Spell… Sacred Light. Tsk. I didn't know she was already capable of doing this." Geraldine, one of the participants seated not too far from Vale, muttered in frustration.
'No wonder the power was too strong… So that's a Spell Fusion in action.' Vale silently thought as this was the first time he had seen such a display.
He couldn't deny that it was indeed powerful, and even if he was the receiver of the attacker, he wasn't sure whether he could safely defend against it.
The audience also realized what was going on…
"No wonder I felt like we're watching an 8th-year student's duel… She actually used a Spell Fusion."
"Incredible… She's only in her fourth year, but she managed to use such a Spell. She deserved to be the winner of this whole tournament."
"Indeed… I think no one can stop her now."
"The Summoner was also great for forcing her to release that Spell..."
They commented as they appreciated the beautiful match being unfolded.
When the light finally subsided, a stunned silence hung in the air. The crowd's eyes were fixed on the aftermath of Ceres' powerful fusion spell.
Avery, though battered and disoriented, managed to rise to his feet, his expression a mix of astonishment and admiration.
He would probably have to recuperate for months if he didn't use his Grimoire to block that attack. He then raised his hands in defeat as he believed that Ceres really deserved the win.
Ceres, visibly drained from the exertion of her extraordinary feat, stood tall amidst the remnants of her Spell.
She had revealed her hidden strength, not by choice but out of necessity, to overcome the formidable challenge that Avery posed.
'Tsk… I wanted this Spell to deal with Vale. If he forfeited in our match because of this--' Ceres thought as she shook her head, worried that Vale would be afraid to face her.
If he surrendered without fighting, she would not be able to burn Vale with her Sacred Light Spell.
Nevertheless, as soon as the referee announced the winner, the coliseum erupted in a thunderous cheer and applause, a testament to the awe and respect that the audience held for both Ceres and Avery.
***
It didn't take that long before the second match started.
Iris was now wielding a Runic Weapon in the form of a Spear because her Whip was destroyed in her last battle. It also seemed a good decision, considering her next opponent was a sword-user.
'She also changed her weapon?' Iris silently thought as her eyes locked on Geraldine, who wielded a gleaming red sword, different from the sword she used when she fought with the student of Langhorne Academy.
"Fight!"
As the referee announced the start of the battle, the two swiftly entered their Magic Zone. It was Radiant Spirit for Geraldine and Chrono Shift for Iris.
The two Magic Zones overlapped as they accessed their Spell Lights.
Without hesitation, Iris lunged forward, and her Runic Spear glowed with a mysterious light.
The surroundings pulsated with energy as she unleashed a flurry of swift and calculated strikes, each one infused with the ancient power of the runes.
'Frost?' Geraldine squinted her eyes as she realized that the Spear has the power of Ice Element.
'It seems that you really prepared it for me…'
Geraldine, with her sword in hand, met Iris head-on. With fluid movements and impeccable timing, she deflected and parried Iris' attacks, showcasing her exceptional skill in swordsmanship.
Furthermore, her red sword started emitting a heat wave that dissipated the coldness in the surroundings.
The clash of metal echoed throughout the coliseum as the two combatants engaged in a fierce dance of blades. Iris's Runic Spear glowed with frost energy, pulsating with each strike, while Geraldine's red sword gleamed with a fiery aura.
Vale carefully watched the two as he wanted to see whether his Shadowblade Dance was enough to deal with their combat style.
Their movements were a symphony of grace and precision, each anticipating the other's actions.
It was quite amazing to see that such young practitioners, who hadn't even reached their twenties, would be so talented.
It was really no wonder why they got to enter the Competition.
Regrettably, just as the battle was intensifying towards its climax, a cataclysmic event unfolded.
The very stage on which Iris and Geraldine clashed erupted in a tremendous explosion, engulfing the area in an ominous haze.
A colossal Evil Entity materialized, its ominous presence shrouding the entire battleground!
The devastating blast sent both Iris and Geraldine hurtling through the air, their fate now uncertain.
The spectators, judges, and their fellow classmates gasped in horror, realizing the dire situation that had unfolded.
The Evil Entity had disrupted the battle, leaving the fate of the courageous combatants unknown and casting a cloud of uncertainty over the entire coliseum.
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