Varian looked on nervously as the first match began.
He wasn't worried about the two boys that climbed onto the stage, but about the safety mechanisms.
'I hope there's no malfunction or she'll be in danger.'
Of course, the chances of such a thing happening were close to nill. But still, Varian was worried.
{First match! Neil vs Dasl}
Neil was a fire awakener while Dasl was a body awakener.
As third-year students, they were both at the peak of level 1 and on the verge of reaching level 2.
Still, they were only level 1s.
So…
"Fireball!"
"Illusory Cicada Steps!"
Neil's hands lit up with fireballs and he shot them at Dasl.
Dasl on the other hand moved erratically and avoided the fireballs.
Pa! Pa! Pa!
The white stage now had burnt marks but was otherwise fine.
"Super fireball!" Neil raised his arms and started accumulating his mana. A huge fireball began to form over his head.
Dasl kicked the ground and in an instant, covered the distance between them. Then, he punched Neil with all his strength.
"Mountain shattering fist!"
Neil hurriedly sidestepped to the side and threw the incomplete fireball.
Boom!
Dasl swirled in the last moment and managed to dodge it, but not without taking a burn on his back.
Since the combat uniform was a small grade treasure, it was intact. But it didn't reduce the damage he suffered in any way.
Thus, blood from his burnt injury dyed Dasl's shirt red.
"Arghhh!" Dasl was at an incredibly close distance to Neil. As a body awakener, the position was in his favor.
If he just punched now, Neil wouldn't be able to dodge.
But.
"It hurts!" Dasl was overwhelmed by the pain.
He grew up like a flower in the greenhouse and never experienced such pain. So, when he finally did, it hindered him greatly.
"Fuck y—" When he finally regained his senses and raised his fist out of revenge, a fireball slapped him in the chest and sent him flying.
"Arghh! It hurts!"
{Neil wins!}
"Wonderful, right?"
"Neil, right? He is awesome!"
"His fire mana must be abundant. And more importantly, he was clever enough to change his tactics according to the situation!"
"…"
Varian rolled his eyes at the enthusiastic talk around him.
'Seriously?' He leaned back in his chair and eyed the two guys who just fought. 'They're both amateurs!'
Squinting his eyes at the winner, he shook his head.
'Neil wasted too much fire mana. That super fireball was totally unnecessary and makes him vulnerable during a life and death battle. Does he think his enemy will actually give him a chance to finish off his spell?'
Then, he turned to the wailing loser.
'This guy…he's the kind I despise the most. He must be from a rich family to grow up that pampered.
The stage isn't too large. So, as a body awakener, he could've taken advantage of his superior senses and physical stats.
The moment Neil aims toward him, he should dodge and close the distance through erratic steps.
Then, feint an attack to let Neil misfire his super ball before punching Neil in the chest and knocking him off.'
Varian's combat experience was too vast that the fights that every high schooler cheered for became a child's play in his eyes.
But.
Looking at his hands, Varian smiled wryly. 'I have the experience, but I have no power.'
{Next match, Sia vs Rose!}
Varian's back straightened and his gaze intensified.
Sia and a girl with red hair walked onto the stage. From the way golden sparks emitted from her fingertips, Rose was a lightning awakener.