Alex was instantly thrust into the spotlight.
His face filled the massive projection screens encircling the stadium, his image towering above the arena—magnified dozens of times over, every detail of his uniform, posture, and expression laid bare before hundreds of thousands of eyes.
If earlier he had merely been another participant standing among many—
Now he was the center of attention.
Heat crawled up the back of his neck.
The announcer's voice rang out, smooth and deliberate.
"The sole dual-division participant of this year's Newcomers' Tournament—Alex Blanc of Star Shine Academy."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the stands.
She did not pause.
"Formerly diagnosed with mana stenosis, a condition long considered irreversible—recently treated and declared fully cured."
This time, the reaction was louder.
To hear it spoken aloud in a stadium like this was like announcing a miracle.
A mixture of reactions swept through the spectators.
Gasps spread across entire sections. Some leaned forward, eyes widening. Others exchanged sharp whispers.
Some were openly skeptical. Others were unmistakably envious.
A few noble ladies whispered behind gloved hands, glancing between the towering projection and the real figure standing on the field below.
"He's rather handsome…"
One even fanned herself lightly, her expression bright with sudden interest.
Not all reactions were favorable.
"Even if that's true," one spectator muttered, "participating in both divisions? Arrogant."
"It's not impossible," another replied, arms crossed. "A Mage can train as a Knight. A Knight can learn spells."
"Sure," came the dry response, "but not at this level."
They weren't wrong.
In the recorded history of the Nine Academy Tournament, no one had ever officially registered for both the Knight Division and the Magic Division simultaneously.
Until now.
The weight of the stadium had not yet eased when the announcer lifted her hand once more.
"Given the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the participant, Alex Blanc… the judges have requested a brief public verification."
A ripple moved through the crowd.
At the center of the arena, the polished stone split apart with a low, resonant hum.
From beneath it, a Magic Affinity Testing Pillar rose slowly into view—its surface etched with ancient runic circuits, crystal veins glowing faintly along its length.
Some anticipated a miracle.
Others anticipated embarrassment.
Alex inhaled quietly. Of course. They had expected this.
Elena had predicted it the moment his name was submitted for both divisions.
He stepped forward.
From the academy-assigned viewing chamber overlooking the arena, Elena stood with her arms folded.
Her expression remained composed.
They had prepared for scrutiny—for verification—for doubt.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Elsewhere, within the elevated VIP section, another presence had just arrived.
Alicia stepped onto the viewing platform just as Alex's enlarged image dominated the stadium screens.
A faint—almost imperceptible—smile touched her lips.
"My disciple…" she whispered softly.
Pride shimmered in her eyes. No one had the right to question him.
Then the whispers reached her. The smile vanished. Her gaze shifted toward the source of the voices.
The temperature around her began to fall.
The lady nearest to her dropped her glass, the crystal shattering against the floor.
Another spectator suddenly struggled to breathe, as though the air itself had thickened into invisible pressure.
A suffocating weight settled over the immediate vicinity.
Those within a few meters instinctively stepped back, faces paling.
They felt it clearly now.
Killing intent.
It pressed against their skin—sharp and intimate—like the edge of an unseen blade.
Someone swallowed hard.
"W-Who… who is she?"
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
On the arena floor, beneath the crushing weight of a hundred thousand gazes, Alex placed his palm against the surface of the Magic Affinity Testing Pillar.
For half a heartbeat—
Nothing.
Then a sharp crystalline pulse erupted from the base.
Light surged upward in a spiraling torrent, racing through the translucent core of the pillar. Frosted veins of mana illuminated one after another until the entire structure blazed in a brilliant icy blue.
A cold radiance washed across the arena floor.
Above, the massive holographic displays flickered and locked onto the results.
Magic Talent: S-Rank
Affinity: Ice — A-Rank
For a moment, the stadium forgot how to breathe.
Then—
Sound crashed down like an avalanche.
Gasps rippled outward. Shouts burst from scattered sections. Commentators in elevated booths leaned forward so abruptly that chairs scraped loudly against marble.
"S-Rank—"
"Impossible—"
"He was diagnosed with mana stenosis!"
On the field, Alex slowly withdrew his hand.
The glow dimmed in measured stages, the icy brilliance fading back into dormant crystal.
His expression remained calm. These results were not entirely false, but they were not entirely true either.
The mana suppression pills he had taken earlier ensured the displayed output remained within carefully calculated bounds.
Back on the arena floor, the rabbit-kin announcer raised her hand once more, voice amplified cleanly through enchanted acoustics.
"This demonstration was conducted at the request of the City Council and our honored investors, to ensure transparency and fairness."
The uproar gradually lowered to a steady hum.
"Now," she continued brightly, "let us proceed to the first event of this year's Newcomers' Division."
The holographic screens dissolved from glowing statistics into rotating three-dimensional schematics.
Complex channels. Floating platforms. Elevated lanes suspended above rapidly forming currents of luminous mana.
"The Mana Surfing Relay Race."
Excitement exploded among the younger sections of the crowd. First-years from every academy leaned forward in anticipation.
"This event will test not only magical output—but control, balance, adaptability, and teamwork."
As she spoke, the pristine stone arena began to tremble.
Deep lines split across the surface—not cracks, but deliberate formations. Segments of stone descended. Others rose. Mana conduits ignited beneath translucent flooring.
From hidden arrays beneath the stadium, controlled torrents of flowing mana surged upward like glowing rivers, twisting through the newly formed channels.
Floating platforms lifted into position, stabilizing into a winding relay course that spiraled across the transformed arena.
The stadium buzzed anew.
"All participants," the announcer called clearly, "please return to your designated preparation rooms and wait until you are called."
The arena settled as mana currents stabilized into luminous streams between elevated platforms.
As participants began moving toward the corridors, the announcer continued, her voice ringing clear and bright. "Now—let us move on to the rules and details of our first event."
The holographic displays reformed, projecting a massive three-dimensional model of the transformed field. Miniature figures rode glowing platforms across twisting lanes of liquid light.
"A team-based relay race across unstable, mana-reactive waters."
The words alone drew an excited murmur from the stands.
"Each academy will field a team of three Mages. Each participant will ride a mana-controlled board through three distinct zones."
The model zoomed into the first section.
"Zone One — Stability Zone."
Wide lanes formed across the projection, smooth and deceptively calm.
"Broad channels. Minimal external interference. This stage emphasizes foundational mana control and balance. Participants must maintain consistent output to stabilize their platforms while maximizing forward velocity."
The simulated rider accelerated—too much mana flared—
The platform wobbled violently before correcting.
"Overcompensation will destabilize your footing," she added lightly. "Underperformance will stall you."
The image shifted.
The waters darkened. Currents twisted unpredictably.
"Zone Two — Interference Zone."
Visible ripples pulsed through the projection. Illusory constructs shimmered briefly before distorting the rider's perception.
"Here, mana currents grow volatile. Crosswinds, turbulence, and environmental illusions will test reaction speed and adaptability."
A current slammed sideways in the simulation. The rider adjusted—barely.
The crowd reacted audibly to the near fall as the projection transitioned again, the final section narrowing dramatically.
"Zone Three — Pressure Zone."
The once-wide channels shrank into tight, collapsing corridors. Segments of the path flickered and vanished behind the advancing rider.
"This stage tests efficiency under exhaustion. Channels will destabilize and collapse shortly after forming. Participants must maintain optimal mana usage while navigating constrained pathways."
In the simulation, a rider hesitated. The path vanished beneath them. They dropped—
Only for a timer to flash red beside their academy crest.
"Falling incurs time penalties," the announcer clarified. "Repeated violations may result in disqualification."
The hologram reset, showing the three zones in sequence.
"Relay mechanics are simple," she continued. "At designated floating pylons between zones, the active runner must execute a synchronized mana handoff to the next teammate."
A glowing baton of condensed mana formed in the projection, transferred seamlessly from one mage to another.
"Poor synchronization, unstable transfer, or misaligned output will impose carryover penalties on the following runner."
A flicker of imbalance spread through the receiving rider's platform in the simulation.
A quiet warning: Your mistake becomes your teammate's burden.
"Teamwork," the announcer concluded, "is as vital as individual talent."
The judging criteria appeared in crisp lettering above the model:
Mana Control. Balance. Efficiency. Reaction to Interference. Team Synchronization.
"External interference is permitted only in limited, non-damaging forms—offensive spells are strictly prohibited."
The crowd buzzed with renewed excitement.
Below, the unstable waters shimmered in anticipation, currents rolling with restrained menace.
"Academies will have fifteen minutes to finalize team selection and preparation." the announcer declared. "The first matchup brackets will be displayed shortly."
Across the field, academy representatives moved quickly—huddling, calculating, adjusting plans.