“As for the Martial Artists and Scholars, you will also be facing off against each other. Since there exist three in each Year—one from a Class—each individual will encounter two matches.”

I instantly understood what Klaus was implying.

Assuming the three qualifiers were A, B, and C. A would have to fight B in a single match, and then proceed to fight C. The same applied to B and C too. In essence, the match was to ensure that all contestants had equal chances to fight.

“The winner will be determined if the contestant is capable of winning at least one match. Since you have two tries, it shouldn’t be too difficult, right?” Klaus announced.

‘Of course… but that only worked in theory.’

No matter how it played out, it was certain that one person would be eliminated from this round.

Usually, it could be assumed that everyone had equal chances. But, was that truly the case?

If A was capable of beating B, and B was capable of beating C, what chances would C have against A? At the end of the day, C would be disqualified. Of course, compatibility mattered a lot in battle, and it was possible that an opponent who was able to beat someone superior to you could fall when fighting you. However, I didn’t see any of that playing out here.

In a battle of pure skill, where equipment was basically of equal value and the stage prevented any lopsided advantage, it was simply the strong that would emerge victorious!

For the Scholars as well… intelligence and knowledge were something without bias. If a person didn’t know something, they couldn’t possibly win. Therefore, once an individual lost a single match, it would be difficult to make a comeback unless the next opponent was weaker. If that happened to be the case, then that opponent wouldn’t be able to win at all.

While considering all these factors, more excitement began surging from within me as I stared at the stage where everything would go down.

‘This match… will be quite interesting!’

“Now, then, we shall begin in earnest!” Klaus announced.

“The first rounds will be conducted among the First Years. I shall now call upon the contestants!”

Tension filled the air. Silence pervaded the Hall. I could sense the overwhelming expectation of the students as they awaited the call of the moderator.“Ivan Smith and Jared Leonard! Both students should come to the stage!”

The moment the call was made, my eyes sparked and I turned in the direction of my opponent.

He did the same, and we both stared at each other for a second before rising from our seats. I descended to the stage, having a small smile on my face.

‘Who would have thought I’d be fighting him in the first round…’

In no time we both stood opposite each other on the massive stage. I was certain that some of the people who watched this match would have a slight notion of what would happen.

“H-hey, this match… isn’t it a bit unfair? An Upper-Class against a Lower-Class right off the bat? This Exchange is going to be hardcore!” I noticed someone speak as I enhanced my hearing.

“Hey! Don’t say that. You don’t know who that kid Jared Leonard is, do you?”

“Yeah, back when we were still in Orientation, the boy easily beat up Ivan!”

“Oi, oi, you’re kidding, right?”

“I’m serious! You’re a Scholar, so you weren’t there.”

“Ivan… lost…?”

“Yeah. But I think it’s because he underestimated that Jared boy.”

“He’s gotten way stronger since the Orientation. I’m sure he’ll be able to win now!”

I concluded that I had heard enough from the masses, so I deactivated my hearing enhancement.

‘He’s gotten even stronger, uh? I look forward to that!’ My eyes narrowed on the target who glared at me with determination.

I could barely see any form of pride in him. It was as though the boy was resolved to fight earnestly in order to win.

‘I have always thought you had potential… now that you’ve managed to work on yourself, why don’t you show me what you can do.’

Klaus took a couple of steps back and got to the edge of the stage.“Begin!” He declared.

CLAP!

Instantly, Ivan brought both his hands together, silently casting something. I patiently waited to see what he would do. If I chose to be too hasty, I was most likely not going to see how much he had grown.

Ivan separated his hands which were already crimson and steaming, pressing them on the ground as he knelt.

Instantly, the arena ground swelled, and a form of burning light seeped into the earth, like veins. The sparkling veins swiftly began moving in my direction, closing in on our distance with frightening speed.

‘T-this is…!’

As soon as I realized what was happening, Ivan pressed his hands deeper into the ground and caused the veins to move even faster

In a flash, the crimson veins surrounded me, and a sharp beam of burning light sprang up from beneath—searing flames that ascended at least a dozen meters into the air.

BOOOOMMMM!!!

The flame pillar that grew from the ground sent heat waves dispersing in the area, but the concentration of mana was focused on the uptight burst of fire that could torch one’s body in an instant.

‘This is… an Intermediate Spell… around Middle-Tier…’

To think he would resort to this right off the bat. Ivan was certainly not messing around.

While trapped in the pillar of flames, bound to get turned into cinders, I smiled and decided to reciprocate the boy’s earnest display with a more serious action of my own.

SNAP

With the flick of my two fingers rubbing on each other, the burning pillar dispersed, as though snuffed out by the wind.

FWOOOOSHHH

The flames cleared and I stepped out of the charred area, completely unharmed.

I could hear gasps from the audience, shocked noises that clearly told me they expected me to have suffered some severe injuries while being trapped in the burning prison.

The most amusing of all was Ivan’s shocked expression that seemed to permeate his face. He had most likely gone all-out from the start, yet I once again easily turned things around.

“You’ve certainly improved, Ivan. But… you’re not the only one.” I smiled and stepped forward.

His aura of determination seemed to dwindle as my grin grew wider.

‘Allow me to show you a bit of my growth too!’