Chapter 103: Competition Tournament

“Th-that’s…!”

“She’s wrested control of the magic…?”

“What’s that behind her back?”

The voices of the surrounding spectators are drowned out by the whirring of the circle.

I aimed my sword at Leonis, surrounded by starlight that filled the area.

The onlookers were more astonished than Leonis, the one who had his magic stolen.

Leonis, as always, quickly regained his composure.

“Were you hiding your power?”

It was Leonis’s question.

The tightly closed lips had finally opened.

Hiding my power? It was just magic I had newly attempted here.

I wordlessly shook my head.

The reason I could form a mana circle outside, even without the medium of dragon scales, was thanks to the flow of mana I had observed inside the Magic Tower.

A law that used mana to bring the space itself under one’s control.

The preparatory stage of teleportation magic.

I applied that. Thanks to it, the mana circle floating behind me could maintain its form without dissipating.

Keeeeeeng-!

The surrounding stars shone even brighter the moment the blue circle behind me rapidly rotated.

It was a place where everything came as inspiration.

Even this moment, even Leonis’s breathing as he fought me.

Thwack!

Leonis’s approach began.

Unlike before, he didn’t use Magic Missiles.

It was as if he had used all his spare mana to enhance his body and mana shield, judging by his speed.

The moment Leonis’s body came within range, the numerous stars floating around spread out widely.

Leonis dodged the starlight, seemingly conscious of my Magic Missiles, but that wasn’t what I was aiming for.

I breathed calmly. The starlight floating around would become a barrier to protect me, a path to guide me.

It was the first time I was using this magic, but I had confidence. Just like I always had.

Starting lightly, with cautious movements. Leonis’s fierce fist began to fly towards me.

The trajectory aimed clearly at my face.

The mana gathered in his hand was also immense, so it was the right choice to avoid it.

However, I took a step forward instead. It was because I was certain that his attack wouldn’t harm me.

And that certainty soon became reality.

Just before Leonis’s fist struck my face, the space began to distort momentarily.

At the same time, the stars scattered in all directions began to flicker.

A momentary flash of light.

The next moment, my body was standing behind Leonis.

The shortest distance teleportation magic.

Blink.

It was still at a rudimentary level, so continuous use was impossible.

But it was enough for now. I wasn’t impatient because I knew I would move forward, because I knew that endless growth was my talent.

“Kuh…!”

Leonis’s pale expression was revealed as he hurriedly turned around.

He had an expression that said he couldn’t believe I could use teleportation magic.

It wasn’t easy to implement magic consisting of short lines in this world.

A clear image, imprinted in the mind, was needed.

Magic that used mana to instantly leap across space over long distances, teleportation.

I didn’t understand. Unlike fire and ice, which had clear images, spatial magic all had vague impressions.

That’s why I didn’t rely on the memories of my past life.

Why cling to those memories when the answer sheet was right in front of me?

“Teleportation…?”

“Could it be, Haven’s magic…!”

“Did she use an artifact? Or a scroll…?”

The audience’s voices, mixed with astonishment, slowly dissipated.

They were right. I had taken Haven’s magic as a reference and recreated it to suit my body.

I couldn’t move long distances instantly like Haven, but the principle was the same.

Crack!

The quickly swung sword struck Leonis’s body.

Even though the blade was sharpened, his clothes didn’t tear, and no wounds were left.

It was because the mana shield protecting his body was strong.

“Kuh-euhk!”

Leonis groaned briefly and began to retreat.

I moved the starlight towards Leonis, who was creating distance.

The twinkling starlight began to rotate and surround his body.

The space where the starlight touched was a space under my control. He couldn’t escape easily.

Keeeeeeng-!

The moment the mana circle behind me began to rotate again, I had once again moved behind Leonis.

At the same time, the star that had been twinkling behind Leonis lost its light and disappeared.

One teleport per star. The moment the star that had lost its power crumbled away, I swung my sword once more.

Seven stars rose above the long-extended blade. Immediately after, Leonis reacted.

Clang-!

The sword and fist collided.

The wind pressure from the collision of different mana exploded, pushing our bodies back with a huge repulsive force.

His reaction is faster than before.

Did he notice the approach using Blink? How?

At that moment, I could see that Leonis’s gaze was fixed on the mana circle rotating behind me.

The whirring sound, it’s the whirring sound.

To use Blink, it was necessary to rotate the mana circle to resonate the mana of the starlight that was dominating the surroundings.

Leonis must have reacted to that sound.

Even better. If he was focusing on the sound, it meant he was using mana to enhance his hearing.

As I tried to create distance, Leonis lunged into my arms.

A sprint over the shortest distance towards a target in a straight line.

Mana was released from under Leonis’s feet, further accelerating his speed.

Just before his fist flew towards me, I swung my sword and struck a star floating nearby.

Ting-!

The sword that collided with the star began to wail.

What had been a faint noise amplified its presence as it absorbed the surrounding mana.

[Krrrr…]

Leonis’s body stiffened at the wailing sound coming from the sword.

But Leonis didn’t fall. Instead, he started moving again, as if whipping his stopped body.

With a momentary braking, I could see his expression turning pale.

He wouldn’t have felt comfortable. I swung my sword again and struck a new star.

Tang-! Ttang-!

Continuous reverberations spread out.

The dragon’s wailing, which began to echo from all directions, interlocked and began to resonate.

“Cough-!”

At that moment, Leonis spat out a stream of blood from his mouth.

He staggered as if he couldn’t properly support his body, and the mana shield that had been covering him, protecting him, had also become faint.

Leonis, with a pale face, rummaged through his chest with a hurried expression.

Just like an old habit. He was clearly trying to take out an artifact, just like when he fought me before.

But it wouldn’t come out. Due to the rules of the competition, mages were not allowed to bring anything other than their staff.

Leonis stopped his actions as if he had realized that fact as well.

As if sensing his end. When his calmly lowered gaze reached me.

My body had moved in front of him with the twinkling starlight.

When the mana of the starlight wrapped around my long-extended arm, Leonis’s mouth opened faster than my hand.

“I forfeit.”

The movement came to a sudden halt. I had no choice but to scatter the starlight gathered in my palm.

It was because Leonis had closed his eyes, raising both hands slightly as if he had lost his will to fight.

“Winner! Seris of the Tower of Dawn!!!”

It was a slightly anticlimactic ending, but I gained a lot during the match.

I sheathed the sword I was holding.

At the same time, the mana circle behind me shattered, and the starlight that had filled the surroundings disappeared in an instant.

“Was Haven’s magic like that…?”

“Haven’s magic is static. It’s like a quietly approaching wind. It’s not that flashy.”

“Then whose magic is it? I’ve lived in the Magic Tower my whole life, and I’ve never seen magic like that…?”

“Beautiful.”

“I’m going crazy… Where do I go to change affiliations?”

The voices of the audience gradually grew louder as I descended from the ring.

I could spot Rain’s gaze among the murmuring voices.

I waved my hand lightly and ran towards Rain.

It goes without saying, but winning against Leonis didn’t mean I had won the competition.

After that, large and small matches were held in succession, and I was able to defeat all opponents and reach the finals.

So now, it’s the arena where the final match is about to begin.

As it was the final match, most of the mages belonging to the Magic Tower had gathered here.

“Who do you think will win?”

“I bet my magic stone on the Starlight of Dawn…”

“Seris is a skilled newcomer, but still, against Klaus…”

I slowly moved my steps, leaving behind the voices and gazes of the audience.

The referee acknowledged me and nodded as I approached the ring.

“Tower of Dawn! Seris!”

Upon hearing my name called and stepping onto the ring, the name of my opponent was called.

“Klaus of the White Tower!”

At the referee’s call, my opponent began to ascend from the opposite side.

The man wearing a white robe was holding a staff that looked heavy.

A calmly lowered gaze flew towards me through the gray hair. He opened his mouth, looking at me.

“I will go all out.”

I nodded faintly. I was also planning to engage in the battle with all my strength from the beginning.

Klaus, a name that had been heard throughout the competition.

The person closest to the Tower Lord at present. A genius unlike any other.

It was the first time I was facing him directly.

I swallowed hard. Klaus was a typical mage who preferred long-range bombardment.

He began to prepare his magic, using the preparation time.

Kugugugugu-!

A huge mana began to surge, and a white radiance began to gather inside the staff.

“Crazy…”

I sweated as I watched the scene. If this wasn’t a competition, I would have rushed in and swung my sword before he could concentrate his mana.

It was clearly a short preparation time, but why did it feel so long? I bit my lip and looked at the referee’s mouth.

The moment a fleeting time like eternity passed, the referee’s mouth opened.

“Start…!”

Before he could finish speaking, I was already moving.

My body, running quickly, was moving by the emotion of urgency, and the circle of my heart rapidly rotated, drawing out mana.

It was just as I was about to draw the sword from behind and swing it.

Thud-!

The moment Klaus’s staff strongly struck the floor. A pure white light burst out.

His mana began to cover the surroundings.

The mages who had filled the surroundings disappeared, and a pure white sky rose.

At the same time, a high wall rose along with the endless land stretching out in white.

The space itself was overwritten with another’s world.

I blankly stared at my opponent in front of me, feeling the mana that had suddenly stopped moving.

Slowly, very slowly, Klaus’s mouth opened.

Inner World Manifestation

White Citadel

The moment the white light filled my vision.

I was outside the ring.

“Huh…?”

The foolish voice flowing from my mouth slowly dissipated. At the same time, the referee’s voice burst out.

“Winner!!! Klaus of the White Tower!!!”