When Fantasy Glitches

"Oh, it looks like it’s finally starting,” Syrna said excitedly, pointing down to the center of the arena. Hearing that, Magnus pushed his thoughts and worries about the Headmistress aside, focusing on the dirt field within the arena.

Almost immediately, Magnus was caught off guard to see that the person standing before almost the entirety of the academy's student body was none other than Eredim.

Wow, I wasn’t expecting him to be the one announcing the matches during the Live Examination. How did he even get down there without me noticing?

He had been distracted by the Headmistress, but not to the point where he wouldn’t notice someone walking out into the center of the field. Still, he didn’t have time to dwell on it as Eredim seemingly cleared his throat before speaking.

“Welcome! Today marks the official start of the Live Examination, and I’m sure it is a moment of great importance to many of you, participating or not.” Eredim’s voice seemed almost omnidirectional, easily covering the distance between himself and where everyone was seated.

Hmm, I wonder if he’s using some kind of enhancement magic on his own voice. No, probably not. Enhancement magic works by multiplying a certain effect. If he used that kind of magic to the point where you could hear his voice across the entire Academy Arena, it would probably sound more like inaudible yelling.

Even though everyone could hear Eredim’s voice, it wasn’t extraordinarily loud; it simply sounded as if he was speaking to them face-to-face.

In that case, maybe it’s something similar to how elementrix magic converts mana into different elements, but instead, it’s mana being converted into sound? It’s probably not some type of uncategorized spell since they mostly deal with mana constructs, so maybe it’s some kind of sound magic? Either way, if I ever figure out how to view the formations of spells that are invisible to the naked eye, I should try to copy it; it seems useful.

Leaving his thoughts on Eredim’s magic aside, he continued to listen to the announcement.

“For the next five days, this arena will be hosting the matches of sixty-four students. For simplicity's sake, these matches will be held in a bracketed format, with each match and its participants being randomly selected,” Eredim explained.

Hearing how many students were participating, Magnus showed a brief look of surprise, a feeling that was mirrored by Sylas as he muttered, “Only sixty-four? I didn’t think so many students were eliminated.”

Magnus silently agreed with him. Even removing those at the Adept level from the equation, there had to have been hundreds of students who participated in the Live Examination, but now participants had already been whittled down to the double digits.

As Eredim finished explaining more about the Live Examination, he suddenly extended his hand, and a pale blue light, formed from condensed mana, slowly intensified in his palm.

"Now, without further ado, here's the current order of today's matches." With a casual toss, Eredim lobbed the light above his head. After traveling just a meter or so, it expanded into a multifaceted projection.

The projection grew as it rose, becoming large enough for everyone to see clearly from every angle. It displayed the bracket format for the Live Examination, along with the names of the students and their match order.

The crowd looked up at the projection, scanning for familiar names. For Luden's Faction, it didn't take long to spot one.

"Well, it looks like we'll get to see one of our own in action sooner than we thought," Luden said, smiling as he looked at the projection.

"Oh, this should be interesting," Blair added with both an excited and intrigued tone to his voice.

"Damn, I was hoping I would get to go up against him," Syrna said, slightly disappointed. On the other hand, her brother Sylas and Seraline looked on quietly, though it was obvious from their eyes that their interests had been piqued. Ever since their last meeting, each of them, except Luden, had been thinking about their mysterious faction member.

In complete contrast, Magnus was looking at the projection in disbelief.

Oh, come on, the second match!? Really!? Randomized, my ass!

Displayed in big letters on the projection for the entire arena were the listings for the second match: Cain vs. Gozif Nalan.

Magnus knew he couldn't avoid participating. However, after figuring out who the Headmistress was, he wasn't eager to immediately use his abilities in front of her. He was hoping there would be a few matches before his so he could sort out what exactly to show off during the match and what to keep hidden.

Well, there goes that idea. I guess, on the bright side, I'll at least get to see some other students fight first. Speaking of which, I think I recognize both of those names.

Reading the first match listed in the projection, Magnus saw the name Tascen Mestor, the cousin of Velis, whom he had fought in his first preliminary match. As for his opponent, although they had never met, he recognized the name Lurkam Estorga from the list Luden had distributed to him and the other members of the faction.

If Luden's information is right, then that guy should be a full-on Apprentice-level knight and a member of Resir’s Faction. Tascen should be around that level too, considering he could go up against Seraline. That means this might just boil down to a contest of skill.

Magnus found himself growing more and more interested as he thought about the match-up. Since he was a student of the Mage Division, his overall knowledge leaned more toward magic and mages than aura and knights. What little he knew about the latter was almost purely academic, without much real-world experience to back it up.

In fact, outside of watching Seraline fight against Tascen that one time and going up against the twins himself, he somehow ended up seeing magic more often than anything that had to do with aura, despite the fact that the latter was more common.

"Hey Seraline, weren't you and Tascen rivals in your class? Who do you think is going to win?" Syrna asked, glancing over at Seraline.

"Tascen isn't my rival; he just insists on going up against me every chance he gets," Seraline clarified before sharing her thoughts on the match.

"In any case, the Mestor Family that Tascen is a part of has a history of producing both mages and knights. However, despite that fact, in both cases, their combat styles are based on adaptability and fluid movement. They excel in terms of speed and pressuring their opponents into making mistakes. On the other hand, his opponent is the exact opposite."

Everyone turned their attention to Seraline, particularly Syrna, who was clearly surprised by the detailed response she was getting. She had asked the question mostly for fun, not expecting Seraline to be so thorough. Ignoring the gazes she was getting, Seraline continued to speak.

"Although I don’t know about Lurkam Estorga’s family, I do know about Lurkam himself. From what other students have said in their matches, he focuses on a defensive fighting style, essentially acting as a fortress that can absorb all his opponents' strikes before releasing a counterattack when they are off guard."

"I see. In that case, it’s going to come down to who can find an opening in the other’s style first. If Tascen can break through Lurkam’s defenses, then he can overwhelm him. If he can’t, then this match will be over before it even hits the one-minute mark," Sylas commented, causing Syrna to look at him strangely.

"Are we just going to act like it’s normal that she knows so much about two random students? I mean, Tascen, I can understand since he’s in her class, but she never even met Lurkam." Syrna expressed her confusion, to which Seraline responded in a flat tone and with a plain expression.

"Most of what I mentioned was stated in the leaflet that Luden gave us.” Syrna fell silent, glancing over at Luden, who simply nodded in confirmation without speaking, trying not to add to the embarrassment of the moment. Despite this, Syrna began to sink into her chair as Sylas shook his head.

"I told you you should have at least skimmed it."

"Oh, shut up," Syrna snapped back. As the two started to bicker, Magnus looked over at Seraline while thinking to himself.

Even though much of what she mentioned was in the leaflet, some of it was definitely from her own knowledge of the two.

Of course, Magnus could confirm this because he had made sure to memorize all the information in the leaflet in his spare time.

"Well, as informative as that was, you didn't really answer her question," Blair pointed out. He was right; although she had given her analysis of them, she hadn't said who she thought would win.

Seraline glanced over at him for a brief second before lowering her head, thinking to herself before answering, "I'm not sure just yet. I'll have to see them both in action first."

Hearing that, Blair shrugged.

"I see. A boring answer, but fair enough." Everyone continued talking about the upcoming match for a little longer, or almost everyone since Celia mostly listened quietly. But soon enough, it was time for the first match to begin.

Back in the center of the arena, Eredim raised one of his hands in the air, and almost immediately, all the chatter in the stands among students ceased. Then, just like before, his voice began to encompass the entirety of the Academy Arena.

"We will now begin the first match! The participants are Tascen Mestor and Lurkam Estorga! Will both competitors please step out onto the field."

Upon his announcement, everyone spotted two figures walking out from the shadows of the opposing entrances to the dirt field of the arena. Magnus recognized him right away due to his uniquely colored hair that seemed to run through his family. However, compared to when he saw him go up against Seraline, or even more recently in the underground area, he was dressed differently.

Although he still wore the standard Knight Division uniform, it was being worn underneath a set of light armor that covered every vital area of his body, along with gauntlets on his hands. The metal used in the armor could have almost been mistaken for some type of iron or steel if not for the fact it had a slightly dark tint, and runes were clearly engraved on top of each piece.

Still, there were two things that hadn’t seemed to have changed from when Magnus had last seen him: the short sword attached to his hip, which was in no way wooden, and the smirk on his face that exuded pure confidence.

Shifting his gaze away from Tascen, Magnus looked over at his opponent and couldn’t help it when his eyes widened slightly.

Holy shit, Seraline wasn’t kidding about the defensive style thing; that’s not a knight; that’s a fucking juggernaut.

Across the field, opposite Tascen, stood Lurkam Estorga. The only way you could tell it was him was thanks to the announcer's introduction since trying to discern any distinct features beneath his armor was pretty much impossible. The armor, a heavy ensemble of thick, gray metal, boasted plates nearly three centimeters thick in places, meticulously covering every vulnerable with the additional protection of chainmail in the gaps.

Even his face was obscured by a helmet, leaving only slits through which his sharp, copper-colored eyes glinted menacingly.

Each of his hands was occupied; one grasped a colossal war hammer that seemed impossible to wield with just one hand, and the other held a shield, nearly as tall as he was. As Seraline aptly put it, Lurkam was nothing short of an impenetrable fortress.

Tascen couldn't help but remark as he unsheathed his short sword, its blade catching the sun's rays.

"Well, this is a first."

Grinning, he added, "I've never had to pry an opponent out of their shell before. This ought to be fun."

As the atmosphere thickened with anticipation, Professor Eredim turned his attention to the two contenders and the gathered students, his voice clear and authoritative.

"Before we commence, let's revisit the rules, just to ensure there's no confusion. First and foremost, stepping outside the arena's boundaries at any point during the duel will lead to disqualification. More importantly, any attack harboring a lethal intent with the aim of taking a life will not only stop the match immediately but also bring about severe consequences. Remember, surrendering remains an option throughout. However, once we cross the fifteen-minute threshold, the duel will end regardless of how far the match has progressed. The one who has managed to deal more damage will be declared the winner. Are there any questions?"

Tascen and Lurkam remained silent, their focus on each other unbroken. Acknowledging their readiness, Eredim gave a subtle nod and slowly retreated, making space for the coming battle.

"Very well, then. Let the first match commence!"

As soon as the announcement echoed, it was unmistakably Tascen who seized the initiative. With a single step that merged his strength and agility, he catapulted from his stance, his form blurring into a swift streak that was difficult to track. Yet his approach wasn't a headlong rush, instead approaching almost like a serpent as his movements zig-zagged.

He’s fast, probably even faster than the twins when they fought me.

Magnus noted this to himself as he and the others watched the battle unfold. Tascen weaved a path toward Lurkam, streaking across the field and quickly finding himself within Lurkam’s blind spot. In one fluid motion, he launched himself forward, his blade targeting the unprotected area behind Lurkam’s knee.

But before Tascen could close the gap, Lurkam pivoted with the precision of a well-oiled machine, his shield raised in anticipation. The sharp clang of metal meeting metal resonated, Tascen’s sword grazing the seemingly impregnable barrier that had suddenly moved in front of him.

A deep, muffled retort came from behind the shield.

"You're not the first to think sheer speed could breach my defense."

Tascen, undeterred and still bearing a grin, quipped back, "Worth a try, wasn't it?"

With that, he used Lurkam’s shield as a springboard, gracefully leaping back to think to himself and reassess his opponent.

He’s someone who has honed their reflexes to their limit. Even if he can’t move very fast, he’s able to predict where I’ll strike from.

Bending his knees and crouching down low, Tascen’s gaze seemed to grow sharper, and his expression became solemn.

In that case, I’ll need to throw him off.

Like a coil, Tascen’s legs unfurled, and he became a blur, his movements generating a whirlwind of dust and debris, encircling Lurkam like a predator. Tascen's assault was relentless, targeting every conceivable vulnerability—armpits, waist, arm joints, the nape of the neck—with surgical precision.

Yet Lurkam met each strike with a swift rotation, his body and shield moving as one. With every clash, sparks flew, illuminating the air and ringing out like raindrops pelting the earth. But every dance has its final step, and their continuous clashing was no exception.

As Tascen darted towards Lurkam from behind, Lurkam began to pivot to block the incoming strike. But instead of attacking Lurkam directly, Tascen instead slashed at the ground under his feet. The unexpected move caught Lurkam off guard, and in that split second, Tascen's sword cut through the layers of earth, kicking up a massive dust cloud that enveloped Lurkam.

At that moment, his connection with the outside world was cut off.

“Dammit…”

Without hesitation, Lurkam grasped his hammer's handle and began to spin it with astonishing speed, despite only using one hand. The previously still air around him began to churn, creating a whirlwind that gathered the surrounding dust, forming a miniature tornado. And then, with one powerful downward swing, he cleared the cloud of dust, causing it to disperse in all directions.

Scanning the now-clear field, Lurkam prepared to defend against a hidden strike, his eyes darting across the dirt expanse. Yet, Tascen was nowhere to be seen.

What? Where did he-

Mid-thought, Lurkam's eyes shot upwards, just in time to catch a glimpse of a dark silhouette against the sun's glare—Tascen, taking advantage of the bright backdrop.

“Aerial Arts: Fallen Crest!” Tascen, seizing the brilliance of the sun to his benefit, invoked an aura style that looked to merge his body and blade into a singular entity, casting a silver gleam that seemed to slice through the heavens. In an instant, he shattered the bounds of terminal velocity, his descent accelerating by the second.

As he hurtled downward, Tascen’s aura unfurled, cloaking him in a vibrant emerald veil that blended seamlessly with the already-present silver light, birthing a dazzling fusion of white and green. Meanwhile, on the ground, Lurkam braced himself, lifting his shield high and anchoring his stance firmly.

“Sentinel Arts: Guardian’s Vigilance!”

Lurkam’s form took on a polished sheen, as though his metallic armor had suddenly been coated by a force shield. Unlike Tascen’s swirling aura, Lurkam’s clung to him like a second layer of skin that was hard to distinguish yet unfathomably solid.

And just a moment later, the two forces collided in a spectacular display of power. The sword and shield's impact sent a shockwave rippling across the dirt field, sweeping away the remnants of their earlier clashes. Beneath Lurkam's feet, the ground fractured from the strain, spiderweb cracks spreading out from where he stood.

Tascen's aura surged like a turbulent ocean, grinding against Lurkam's aura with relentless force. Each wave of energy brought a fresh surge of power, sending vibrations through the air that even reached the students sitting in the front row of the audience.

In the center of this assault, Lurkam managed to continue standing resiliently, yet he was gradually being driven into the ground. The earth beneath him compressed further and further, breaking down from chunks to fragments, from fragments to pebbles, and from pebbles to dust.

"It's turned into a battle of Aura Intensity," Sylas murmured, his and his sister's attention rooted in the clash at the heart of the arena. Even from their vantage point, the rush of wind displaced by the confrontation managed to sweep over them and the other students.

"A risky plan, but winning would be well worth it," Blair noted with a grin. Their conversation had caught Celia's ear and sparked her curiosity, especially after hearing such an unfamiliar term. Noticing her puzzled look, Magnus took the moment to explain without diverting his gaze from the duel.

"A mages prowess can be boiled down to three key aspects, and after reaching a certain threshold in each of those three categories, they can advance in rank. So, it’s almost guaranteed that the most powerful of the mages would also be the eldest and most knowledgeable. That’s because for mages, time is the most crucial factor in their development. Given enough of it, they are almost guaranteed to make progress," he stated.

Then Magnus paused, turning to Celia to ensure his next words were clear for her.

"Knights, however, work differently. They don't expend or accumulate aura. It permeates their being but is ultimately governed by their will. Therefore, a knight's progress isn't tied to any genetic talent, physical training, or any other factors. Willpower alone dictates the pace of their advancement as well as their strength."

That's what Aura Intensity truly was—a knight's ability to use their very will to enhance the potency of their own aura. It could be done by condensing one's aura, sharpening your focus, meditating before a battle, or a bunch of other methods. It was a concept that rendered clashes of aura to be more than a simple battle of strength but instead a battle of willpower.

And at this very moment, Tascen and Lurkam’s wills were on full display for all to see.