"The battle for third place," the witch announced after a brief intermission for arena repairs, "Lydia Thornfield versus Sera Nightwind!"
This match provided the day's most enlightening revelation about advanced tactical thinking and tournament strategy.
Sera, who had forfeited against Ren to avoid unnecessary damage, faced off against Lydia, who had just endured a grueling fifteen-minute battle against Mirabella's overwhelming magical assault.
The difference in their respective conditions was immediately apparent and strategically decisive. Sera was fresh, rested, and operating at full magical capacity.
Lydia was exhausted, her mental reserves significantly depleted, and her defensive systems operating at reduced efficiency after the sustained bombardment she'd endured.
What followed was a methodical demonstration of how intelligent energy management could be more important than raw magical ability in tournament settings.
