{Everyone, Wee to our annual Martial Artspetition}


    The cheerful voice of a female student who acts as the emcee in thispetition echoed, and it brought forth exmations from the other onlookers because of how cute and energetic she was.


    She is a girl with short brown hair who is wearing the Academy uniform. An earpiece that stretches to her lips is on her right ear.


    {In a moment, the first match will be held, and this year''s contestant will surely give your heart dance in excitement because of the intensepetition that will make your blood boil}


    The atmosphere around the stadium was shaken by a deafening cheer from the spectators, not just the students but also the visitors from outside. The female students who acted as the emcee sat on the opposite side of the VIP ce, on the spectator''s seat that had been arranged for her especially. Her white teeth spread, showing her white porcin teeth, with raised right hand.


    {Then, without further ado, we will begin the first match between third-year student contestant name Edward VS second year student Kim Ji-ho. Both participants, please get to the arena}


    Two male students of medium build wearing academy uniforms enter the arena with confident steps. Both of them have a well-defined figure and appearance that attracts much attention, whether from the students'' side or even from the outside. Their well-defined face is also the result of the Mana cirction in their bodies.


    Soma stood silently, looking toward the two figures he couldn''t recall. Then, he felt a slight tug from his sleeves and found out that Serafina had gestured for him to take a seat, which all the girls had done.


    "Thanks, Sera".


    "No, no. Let''s enjoy the match!".


    With the VIP ce they got, they received a far wider perspective, for it was ced above the others, and with the protection from the extension roof, it prevented them from getting stung by the direct light from the sun. Because the roof in the stadium has been opened to witness the clear sky, and let the sun enjoy youngsters exchange their abilities under the heavens.


    As usual, Soma was sitting in the middle, sandwiched by Hina and Xiao Lian, while Serafina was sitting beside Hina. All of them stopped their conversation and focused their attention on the arena.


    {It seemed both of you were ready, Referee, please!}


    The female emcee nced toward the other side of the arena and saw Teacher Lee, who stood on the podium beside the Arena; he is currently considered one of the strongest figures in the Academy, walking toward the arena and slightly ncing toward the two males.


    "You guys ready!".


    Both males nodded their heads and prepared their respective weapons. In today''spetition and so forth, the students can use their significant weapon, but they must first get permission from the teacher.


    Also, before the students walked toward the arena, they were given some small brooch that would prevent them from getting any harm. It was a magic item that would rece the fatal damage taken by the students and would give the referee a live-time announcement in his terminal of the match result. The official''s putting the item in their pocket chest.


    Today''s battle was sponsored by many guilds from all over the country, and sure enough, the academy side started to splurge by giving those items magic to the contestants.


    Teacher Lee began to approach them one by one and looked toward their weapons while giving some instruction on the Match.


    Soma who saw the two contestants squinted his eyes, he felt that the two students on the Arena were having some knack in their speciality.


    "This is going to be interesting!".


    The girls who identally heard Soma let a slip of those words briefly turn to his face and soon chuckle. They know well how Soma feels in this situation.


    Teacher Lee, who had finished his inspection, returned and stood at the podium beside the arena, which had been built using Earth Magic and infused with a high-level barrier that prevented him from getting involved in the fight.


    "Okay, The match starts!".


    As soon as the instruction from Lee Echoed in the stadium, a loud bang from a gong, reverberated which shook the arena, following the intense atmosphere the spectators gave by shouting.


    Edward was gripping a long ive with its sharp de that was a bit curved on its tip. On the other hand, Kim Ji-ho is clenching both of his hands, wearing only fingerless gloves, and preparing his stance by tapping his feet.


    "I see".


    Soma shrank his eyes and began to focus his attention on Kim Ji-ho. From what he observed, the person must have been trained in the martial arts of his country, but Soma still hadn''t figured out what it was. Is it traditional taekkyeon or taekwondo?


    In this match, Soma had a thought that he would reap much from the seniors.


    Kim Ji-ho, who specializes in close quarters, began to move as he shifted his footwork and positioned his center of gravity well. He cautiously approached Edward, but things were getting heated up when Edward suddenly lunged forward like a mad bull, startling Kim Ji-ho.


    A silver de sliced through horizontally, which Kim dodged by a wide margin for the sudden attack Edward unleashed. Kim Ji-ho decided to counter, but his instinct red an rm to not get impatient, so he somersaulted backward and prepared his stance once more.


    Both of them parted their lips on this rare asion. Then Kim Ji-ho exhaled and rushed forward in a straight manner. With his strong and swift feet, he closed the distance instantly, but Edward was ready with his ive.


    A diagonal sh came, and Kim Ji-ho sidestepped a bit. Edward began to do a follow-up movement. He began to swing his ive effortlessly as if it were his own limbs, and Kim Ji-ho, who had regained his calm, dealt with the de trajectory well. Kim Ji-ho dodged the de with a paper-thin margin, which heightened the tension in the stadium.


    Looking for a wide swing from Edward, Kim Ji-ho began his counter while taking a risk by shortening their distance and delivering a straight kick toward Edward''s lower jaw. Edward, who was caught off guard, couldn''t dodge it in time and got hit perfectly in the jaw.


    Edward''s gaze became hazy, and his ears started to hum because of the kick, but he gritted his teeth, clenched the ive shafts, and thrust them toward Kim Ji-ho''s abdomen, who lowered his guard.


    A blow that shook his core to numb, Kim Ji-ho sted the air that umted in his lungs and leaped back to gain his stance.


    Both of them simultaneously nce at each other while grinning in a fearless manner, then after catching some breath, both of them resume their continuous match.


    Seeing the intense battle that unfolded in front of their eyes the spectators cheered loudly and it gave the fighters in the arena a bit of stimtion to show them more.


    With Edward''s perfect distance control using his ive and Kim Ji-ho''s perseverance, the battle began to enter its peak phase.


    "Look! Silver hair. Look at the way he perfectly controlled his distance and tactics and the way he brought himself using his long weapon."


    "Mm, a bit more, and I think I can understand its essence and will implement it to my match. Thank you, Red Hair."


    Soma who caught their conversation parted his lips in happiness for their closeness. As for him, he already caught the essence of Kim Ji-ho and began to direct some of his consciousness in training the movement in his head and implementing it toward his footwork.


    The match on the Arena was heightened when both of the contestants distanced away from each other; both of them were puffing their chests out, gasping for breath, but upon closer look, Kim Ji-ho was the one who was having a hard timepared to Edward.


    In this part, it was shown how apart their based stars are in the first ce. The third year, who had more status and battle experience, was favored by the media and the scouts from the guilds. The third year is also one step away from leaving the Academy, which is why they were the ones who were sought and got more attention.


    Using this as a chance, Edward rushed forward, which prompted Kim Ji-ho to knit his brows in full alert and concentrate. Still, the exhausted state he was in couldn''t filled up the determination in his heart and Kim Ji-ho lost the match when Edward struck a heavy blow to Kim Ji-ho''s neck and made the brooch on his chest pocket shattered.


    "The match is over!".


    {Kim Ji-ho''s brooch has been shattered, and the winner is Edward!}


    Loud cheers erupted as the female emcee announced the winner of the match, and Edward, who was filled with a sense of fulfillment, raised his ive up and made the atmosphere in the stadium tremble.


    Both participants began to leave the arena with satisfied and bitter expressions on their faces. Then, the female emcee began to check the status of the arena and discussed a few things with Teacher Lee.


    {Okay, everyone, because the damage to the arena was almost none, we will resume the second match that will be held in a moment}