Chapter 6: Chapter 5 – Combat Trials

Following a quick registration with one of the Imperial Academy’s officials, Walter and the two Vazrael siblings parted ways. Walter joined the other spectators in the colosseum’s audience, while Asher and Kevin split up and proceeded towards their assigned arenas.

 

While the Imperial Academy was famous for educating incredibly powerful mages, very few were fortunate enough to graduate from the institution. This is due to both the school’s rigorous curriculum, as well as its demanding entry requirements.

 

What set the Academy apart from all other magic institutions across the Empire was its method of examination… While other schools may issue written exams or test critical thinking, there existed only one way of assessing candidates at the Imperial Academy: Combat trials.

 

In the view of the Academy, theory and knowledge were useless if a Mage was incapable of applying them in a practical setting. All candidates were assumed to possess the necessary knowledge before even attempting the exam… If they didn’t, there was a good chance they wouldn’t survive the ordeal anyways.

 

The combat trials consisted of three primary stages: The first was a 1-on-1 duel between two selected candidates. There are no rules for these duels and it is not uncommon for fatal injuries to be inflicted during these battles. The victor is only declared when either side is dead, unconscious, or surrendered.

 

Following the first stage, there is the second stage… In this event, a dozen of the losing candidates from the first stage are pitted against one of the winning candidates to greatly outnumber them. If the first stage victor wins against these odds once again, they then move on to the third stage. Additionally, if one of the losers defeats the victor in the second stage, they are given a second chance and granted the right to attempt the second stage themselves.

 

Attempts at the third stage are only granted once the second stage has been cleared without issue… If a candidate fails the second stage even once, they are automatically disqualified and denied entry to the Academy.

 

Then there’s the third and final stage… A 1-on-1 battle with an examiner who represents the Academy. Typically, this is one of the instructors or a contracted mage. In this trial, a challenger must do their best to impress the examiner and prove their merit. After all, it is entirely up to the examiner’s judgment to decide whether they pass or fail…

 

While Asher had carefully planned for the ordeal, it can’t be said that he wasn’t nervous. He continued to channel his mana out of habit to cope with the stress as he proceeded toward the arena.

 

“Candidate #89: Asher Vazrael, are you prepared?” A staff member asked the approaching examinee while reading his details from a paper.

 

“Yes,” Asher replied simply.

 

The staff member nodded and guided Asher to the battlegrounds. Standing across the field was a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties. While the Imperial Academy was a school, it had no regulations on the age of the candidates as anyone could attempt the combat trials to qualify for enrollment.

 

Since Asher was only 15 himself, his body and magic were still underdeveloped by comparison… Not to mention the side effects of his unique magic constitution limiting his power and potential.

 

Still, Asher didn’t panic. Just from sensing his mana, Asher could tell his opponent was a Fire Mage and his magical power was quite weak. He was likely either a commoner or a low-ranking noble based on his mana purity alone…

 

Of the Six Elemental Magic Aspects, Fire Magic is known for its raw and destructive power. It is hard to control and tends to run rampant in the hands of an inexperienced mage.

 

Light Magic, on the other hand, was the opposite… It excelled in precision and speed, with great mana control and accuracy despite lacking raw power. While Asher had far greater innate magical power due to his noble lineage, their difference in years as well as Asher’s disadvantageous dual magic aspects meant they were mostly on equal footing.

 

As Asher finished preparing a mental strategy for the incoming fight, the judge approached.

 

“The duel between candidate #89 and candidate #128 will now commence… On my mark… BEGIN!”

 

While Asher’s opponent watched carefully from afar and attempted to analyze the young boy’s movements, Asher took advantage of his hesitation to cast an area spell across the entire battleground…

 

“[Mirage Field]” Asher spoke quietly as the visible light in their surroundings bent and distorted to form an illusion similar to a house of mirrors.

 

While this also hindered Asher’s visual perception, it didn’t matter since his skilled Mana Sensitivity allowed him to easily detect his opponents without using any of his five basic senses. While this parlor trick was useless against someone like his brother or Walter, it worked perfectly against a novice who has likely never fought a Light Mage before due to the magic's rarity… 

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Sensing the man's confusion, Asher cast [Radiant Blade] and swiftly approached his opponent who was gradually becoming more distressed.

 

However, before Asher could get close, his opponent had begun to wildly cast his Fire Magic around him. Seeing his opponent lose composure, Asher calmed himself and looked for an opening…

 

He didn’t have to wait long and dashed in once more immediately after his opponent turned his back. Yet just before the sword of light pierced his opponent’s back, the Fire Mage instantly turned around and countered with his own conjured flaming sword…

 

‘Impressive reflexes…’ Asher noted, sensing the man’s wild instincts.

 

Unconfident in engaging in a direct contest of arms, Asher backed off and changed his strategy. His opponent’s Fire Magic was stronger than his Light Magic and was able to easily overpower it. For this reason, Asher knew he would always lose a direct clash of magic.

 

However, his opponent’s instincts and reflexes made launching a swift surprise attack just as difficult. Since maintaining his [Mirrage Field] was constantly draining his mana, Asher didn’t want to take too long playing with his opponent, or else he wouldn’t last during the later stages…

 

Asher knew he had to act quickly…

 

Taking a risk, Asher canceled his [Mirage Field] and rushed toward his opponent while the illusions began to fade. Quickly switching to Dark Magic, Asher silently cast [Dark Hole] and held it in front of his neck where he knew his opponent would strike.

 

Sure enough, the second he stepped behind the man, a flaming blade flew toward his neck. Unfortunately for Asher’s opponent, it never made contact… The flames and magic were absorbed into the [Dark Hole] and dissipated as if they had never been conjured.

 

Unarmed and defenseless, the man was not able to move fast enough to counter or dodge Asher’s incoming strike. With just his fists reinforced with mana, Asher struck deeply into the man’s epigastrium and knocked the wind out of him.

 

Following quickly with another jab and an uppercut, Asher knocked the man to the ground and continued beating him bloody… Fueled by rushing adrenaline, Asher continued to strike the downed man until he lost consciousness… Only then did Asher allow himself to release his tension and breath a sigh of relief…

 

A moment later, the blood-soaked adolescent rose and looked down upon his defeated foe with eyes full of hesitation.

 

“Candidate #89: Asher Vazrael, has cleared the first stage. Please proceed to the next arena.” The judge announced with indifference.

 

With only a brief nod, Asher walked away… His first trial had concluded, but Asher’s fatigue was already accumulating… Both physically, and mentally…

 

Yet as Asher walked slowly towards the exit, he could hear a loud crashing sound from the neighboring battlefield. While looking over to see the cause of the commotion, he heard a loud announcement.

 

“Candidate #90: Kevin Vazrael, has cleared the first stage. Please proceed to the next arena.” Another judge declared.

 

‘I suppose Kevin didn’t waste any time… I'll need to do better.’ Asher thought to himself with rising anticipation.

 

As Asher walked to the next stage, he was greeted by a similar battleground with twelve other mages awaiting his arrival… They all possessed bruises and injuries, likely sustained during their loss in their first-stage battles. Still, their magical power was comparable to Asher’s previous opponent… Some were even stronger.

 

Asher knew he would soon be forced into a 1-on-12 battle against them, and he frankly wasn’t confident he could win… Still, recalling his reason for coming here, and what future awaited him if he turned back now, Asher couldn’t relent…

 

He would soon be pushed to his limits by overwhelming odds… And the thought both excited and terrified Asher greatly.

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