Chương 87: Three-Way Bout

The Sixth Arena. Pale-cyan wind patterns stretched all the way to the edge of the stone platform. By the time Rowan stepped into the arena, Julian was already standing on the opposite side. The remaining candidates were still making their choices. One wind-path after another lit up across the central area, each connecting to one of the seven arenas. Soon— another line of light turned toward the Sixth Arena. Rowan glanced over. A slender young man followed the wind pattern toward them. Short light-brown hair.

Green eyes. His ears showed between the strands of hair, their tips noticeably longer and narrower than a human's. An elf. After stepping onto the platform, the newcomer looked at Julian first. Then at Rowan. A smile suddenly tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"You again." Rowan said nothing. His gaze had already shifted to Julian. Almost at the same moment, Julian turned his head as well. Their eyes met over the elf standing between them. A brief silence followed. Cassian Vier's smile faltered.

"..." He looked at Rowan again. Then Julian.

"You two actually know each other?" Rowan looked away. Julian didn't answer either. Cassian's mouth twitched. This clearly wasn't the first time he had tried something like that. Three people had stepped into the same arena. None of them knew what kind of relationship the other two might have. Sometimes, one deliberately ambiguous sentence was enough to make two strangers hesitate. Unfortunately for Cassian— this time, they really did know each other. He took half a step back. Two people who knew each other.

That made him the odd one out. But the thought had barely surfaced when he studied them again. Rowan's hand was still resting on the hilt of his blade. Julian had never truly let Rowan leave his field of view either. They knew each other, all right. But neither looked remotely ready to team up and take Cassian out first. The slight bitterness Cassian had felt immediately eased. This was a joint military exam. They already knew each other, yet were guarding against each other this carefully.

If they were from the same Abyssal Hive... then knowing each other might actually work in his favor. The smile returned to Cassian's face.

"Looks like you two don't get along all that well." In the distance, the final candidate completed his selection. All twenty-one Battle-Order Tablets lit up at once. Beside the central platform, the old instructor raised a hand after finishing his explanation of the rules. [Third Trial.] [Seven Arenas.] [Begin.] Boom— Wind curtains rose simultaneously around all seven arenas. Rowan moved. At almost the same instant— Cassian vanished.

His figure flashed once to Rowan's left, then instantly reappeared near the edge of the arena. Too fast. Not physical speed alone. A spell. Rowan had barely turned halfway when firelight flared from the other side. Julian raised a hand. The Fireball wasn't aimed at Rowan. It shot toward the spot where Cassian had just landed. Cassian seemed to have expected it. He retreated again before the spell arrived. The Fireball skimmed past his clothes and slammed into the stone. Sparks burst outward. Rowan didn't pursue.

Neither did Julian. The three spread apart again. Cassian glanced at the few sparks still burning near his feet.

"That eager?" On the surface, none of them had truly committed to an attack. In reality, all three had already tested one another. Cassian was the fastest. Julian had no intention of letting anyone establish a position on his flank without resistance. And the real problem with the Sixth Arena had already become clear. Whoever pushed too deep first— gave the untouched third person an immediate opening. Cassian obviously understood that too.

He slowly moved sideways until the three of them formed a loose triangle again.

"How about we discuss this?"

"You two fight first."

"I'll join in later." Rowan didn't even look at him. Cassian was about to say something else when— Dong—! A heavy bell rang out in the distance. The sound passed through all seven wind curtains. The entire Windward Court seemed to tremble with it. Rowan snapped his head toward the sound. Julian looked in the same direction. Cassian stopped mid-sentence. The First Arena. A figure had just been thrown off the edge of the platform. He crashed onto the stone outside and rolled twice before stopping.

Another candidate was already standing outside the arena. One hand pressed against his ribs. His expression was grim. Only one person remained on the platform. Adrian Voss. Heavy layers of gray-brown rock still covered both his hands. They extended from his knuckles to his forearms. Short, sharp stone claws encased the ends of his fingers. A deep crack had opened along the outside of his right forearm. Both lower legs were still covered in ice crystals. Around his ankles. Under his feet.

Along the edges of his shins. Jagged spikes of ice were embedded throughout. A large portion on one side had already shattered away. Yet Adrian himself still stood firmly. His breathing was steady. [First Arena.] [Concluded.] Cassian stared over there for two seconds.

"... That fast?" The wind howled around them. The echo of the first bell was still rolling through the air above Windward Court.

A few minutes earlier.

The First Arena. The three candidates had only just taken their positions. Adrian looked at the two people in front of him. The eighth-ranked candidate. And the other challenger who had chosen the First Arena. He didn't immediately take an attacking stance. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Instead, he said calmly,"You still have time to leave." The eighth-ranked candidate frowned.

"You're telling us to surrender?"

"Yeah." Adrian nodded. His tone wasn't even particularly forceful.

"Once we start, I won't hold back." The other challenger's face darkened. The eighth-ranked candidate laughed instead.

"Perfect." He had chosen the First Arena himself. He hadn't come here to listen to the top-ranked candidate tell him to leave. Adrian looked at him. His expression didn't change.

"All right." The wind curtain rose. The instant the signal to begin appeared— both challengers moved. One from the front. One from the rear flank. No one suggested working together. There was no need. The number-one candidate in the battle order was standing right there. Removing the most dangerous opponent first was the most natural choice in a three-way bout. Adrian spread his hands. Gray-brown rock surged upward along them in an instant. Palms. Wrists. Forearms.

His five fingers disappeared inside thick stone structures. At the same time, icy-white light burst from beneath his feet. Crystals climbed upward from the soles of his boots. Crack! Two ice spikes drove into the stone. The next instant— Adrian launched himself forward. No retreat. No attempt to open spellcasting distance. He charged straight into both opponents. The eighth-ranked candidate's long blade had barely started to fall when a stone claw reached in from the side. Clang—! The impact rang across the arena.

The claw didn't block the edge of the blade. It closed directly around the weapon. The eighth-ranked candidate's wrist buckled under the force. A heartbeat later— Adrian was already in front of him. Too close. Shoulder. Elbow. Knee. Almost every part of his body became a weapon. The eighth-ranked candidate immediately released one hand and pulled back. The attack from the flank arrived at the same moment. A long blade made of flame slashed toward Adrian's back. Adrian stamped down with his left foot.

An ice spike stabbed into the stone. His body, still moving at high speed, stopped in a position that should have been nearly impossible. He twisted at the waist. His right leg swept across. Bang! The earth shield the flanking challenger had just raised buckled under the kick. The man himself was knocked sideways with it. The eighth-ranked candidate seized the opening. His long blade, which had been forced aside by the stone claw, snapped back. It carved hard across Adrian's right side. Crack!

A chunk of stone armor broke away. Fragments scattered. The first genuinely effective hit. Adrian didn't even glance at his arm. His eyes remained fixed on the man in front of him. The next instant— the stone claw came down again. Bang! Bang! Bang! Heavy impacts shook the First Arena in rapid succession. It no longer looked like an ordinary fight between mages. Adrian gave neither opponent any chance to regain distance. Once he got close— he kept moving forward. Grab. Knock aside. Catch up. Hit again.

The challenger on the flank staggered back several steps. Cracks had already appeared across the surface of his defensive spell. Adrian closed in again. A stone claw hammered down from the side. The challenger's expression finally changed.

"Stop!" Adrian didn't stop. The claw scraped across the barrier. The spell-light covering the earth shield dimmed sharply.

"I surrender!" Another knee drove in. Bang! The challenger stumbled backward. Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"I said I surrender!" The arena gave no response. Neither did Adrian. The old instructor had already made the rule clear. A verbal surrender did not end the trial. Only leaving the arena or being judged unable to continue fighting by the arcane custodian would end the battle. The man still held his weapon. Mana was still circulating. And he was still standing inside the arena. As far as Adrian was concerned— the fight wasn't over. He advanced again. This time, the challenger finally stopped hesitating.

He turned and sprinted straight for the edge. One step carried him across the boundary marked by the wind patterns. [Exited the First Arena.] The moment the announcement appeared— Adrian stopped. His stone claw was less than half an arm's length from the man's back. It didn't move another inch. Adrian turned around. The eighth-ranked candidate was already there. A fist of blue-green wind was already rushing toward his face. Adrian lunged forward again. The one-on-one that followed ended quickly too.

But the eighth-ranked candidate really was strong. Adrian's right stone claw cracked again. A large section of the ice around his legs shattered. But once Adrian caught him at close range a second time— his opponent never regained control of the fight. The eighth-ranked candidate started to retreat. Adrian stamped down with his left foot. An ice spike punched into the stone. His stone claw caught the protection over his opponent's shoulder. Adrian twisted and drove with his whole body. Boom—!

The eighth-ranked candidate was wrenched off his feet. He flew out of the arena. Dong—! The first bell rang.... The Sixth Arena. The bell slowly faded into the distance. Rowan had already pulled his attention back. Adrian was strong. Obviously strong. But this wasn't the time to study the First Arena. A figure suddenly vanished at the edge of Rowan's vision. His pupils tightened. Cassian. Right side. Rowan didn't even turn. Wellspring Step activated beneath his feet first. Water burst under his boots.

His body slid sideways. Almost simultaneously— Cassian cut into the space Rowan had just occupied. A strange layer of black mist wrapped around the edge of his hand. It brushed past Rowan's shoulder. The cloth it touched immediately began to rot.

"Good reflexes." Before the words had even finished— Cassian was already retreating. A Fireball passed directly through the position he had just occupied. Julian. Cassian turned his head and suddenly shouted toward Rowan.

"Rowan, right side!" Rowan didn't turn. He checked the right side from the corner of his eye without taking his attention off Cassian. The next instant— Cassian vanished. There was nothing on the right. Instead, the air to Julian's left rippled. Cassian cut straight in. Julian shifted aside. Firelight flared beside his hand at the same time. Cassian didn't try to take it head-on. His figure flashed. He pulled away again. But before he could stabilize his footing— Rowan was already pressing in from the other side.

His blade cut toward the path Cassian would have to take. Cassian had no choice but to use his movement spell again. A flicker. Gone. In only a few seconds, the positions of all three had completely changed. No one had gained a real advantage. But Rowan had already understood something. Cassian's spell was extremely well suited to a fight like this. He didn't need to overpower either opponent head-on. As soon as the other two began fighting— he could always find a third angle. Cassian flashed again.

"Julian, watch your left." Julian didn't even glance that way. A second later— Cassian really did appear on his left. But the instant his foot touched down, a layer of water-light had already spread over the stone. His sole slipped. Cassian's expression changed slightly. Firelight flared directly in front of him. He had no choice but to twist hard and displace again. The Fireball still grazed his waist. A patch of clothing instantly blackened. Cassian reappeared on the other side.

He glanced down at the scorched fabric.

"That one was a real warning." He looked at Julian.

"You're a lot more underhanded than you look." Still no answer.

"Talking to you two is exhausting." Rowan kept one hand on his blade. Silent. Julian showed even less interest in responding. Cassian sighed.

"Fine." The next instant— all three moved at once. This time, Rowan didn't wait. Wellspring Step activated. He cut directly into one of Cassian's likely retreat paths. Cassian had just completed a short-range displacement. His landing wasn't fully stable yet. The blade was already there. He was forced to move again. A second displacement. The moment he appeared— firelight was already flaring in front of him. Julian. Cassian could only change direction again.

But a second glow had already appeared beside Julian's hand. This time— the target was Rowan. Rowan could have retreated. Instead, he kept Wellspring Step active and drove forward. Frost spread over his shoulder. Boom! Flames exploded past his body. Using the momentum, Rowan cut into Cassian's next landing point a step early. Cassian had barely materialized when the blade arrived. His expression finally changed. A third displacement. His figure vanished again.

By the time he finally managed to regain distance— some of the ease had disappeared from his face.

"You two really are..." He never finished. Rowan had already turned toward Julian. The two people who had been boxing Cassian in together only a moment earlier— became opponents without warning. Rowan's blade came down. Julian shifted aside. A curtain of water split under the edge. Firelight burst from behind it. Rowan tilted his head. The Fireball skimmed past his cheek. His blade never stopped. Julian was forced to retreat another step. Rowan used the opening to seize the center.

Julian had barely stopped moving backward when firelight gathered beside his hand again.

"Rowan." Cassian's voice came from behind and to the side.

"Watch Julian." This time, he actually wasn't lying. Firelight was forming at the edge of Rowan's vision. But Rowan never truly moved his attention away from Cassian. The next instant— Cassian cut in from behind him. At the same time, Julian's Fireball came straight from the front. The same two people who had just worked together to box Cassian in— now had Rowan trapped between them. Rowan's left hand moved backward first. Cold erupted.

The black mist around Cassian's hand had barely approached when frost began spreading from the point of contact. Cassian immediately withdrew his hand. But the black mist didn't disperse. Instead, it churned harder.

"Same trick as before." Rowan didn't answer. The frost covering his left arm thickened. Then— the black mist vanished. Cassian disappeared at the same time. It hadn't been the same trick at all. But firelight had already erupted from the other side. Julian seized the opening. Too close. No room to dodge. Rowan didn't force it. The second spell held in the auxiliary core of his mental sea snapped into readiness. The solid ice of Frost-Chill Gauntlets climbed over his left arm. Boom! Firelight exploded.

Rowan retreated two steps. Cassian reappeared behind Julian. Julian had no choice but to break off his pursuit. The three spread apart once more. Dong—! The second bell. No one knew which arena had just ended. None of the three looked away. Cassian barely had time to blink before the next exchange began. Time passed. Their positions changed so many times that Rowan stopped counting. Whenever one person managed to gain even a slight advantage— the next attack would immediately come from another direction.

No one could truly seize control of the fight. Until, after another exchange of positions— Rowan noticed something. Cassian didn't displace. He ran. He was relying purely on his own speed. Only when Julian's Fireball finally sealed the path in front of him did Cassian's figure flash again. Rowan watched him for an extra moment. He didn't rush after him. Once wasn't enough to prove anything. But soon— it happened again. Cassian could clearly have displaced immediately.

Instead, he covered part of the distance on foot first. A suspicion gradually formed in Rowan's mind. During the next exchange, he deliberately pressed one step deeper toward Julian. A small opening appeared behind and to his right. Not large. But it was exactly the kind of angle Cassian had been exploiting all fight. Cassian saw it. His body shifted toward the gap. But he still didn't displace immediately. He ran two steps first. Only when the opening was about to disappear— did mana flare.

His figure flashed into the gap. Wellspring Step erupted beneath Rowan's feet at the exact same instant. He turned. His blade was already waiting at the landing point. Cassian's pupils contracted. He had no choice but to displace again. This time, Rowan didn't pursue. That was enough. Cassian hadn't suddenly changed the way he fought. He was conserving mana.

Only now did Rowan notice that every time Cassian completed a displacement, a portion of mana remained scattered in the air, never fully drawn back under control. The spell was extremely useful. But Cassian's mastery of it clearly wasn't complete. And the displacement itself consumed a lot of mana. At this rate, he wouldn't last much longer. During the next clash, Rowan's blade cut directly toward Cassian. Cassian flashed aside. His expression barely changed.

But just as he prepared to use Rowan's attack to angle toward Julian— a layer of water suddenly spread in from the other side. Cassian stopped. He turned toward Julian.

"..." Another flare of fire had already appeared beside Julian's hand. Cassian went silent for half a second.

"You two are making it a little obvious that you're targeting me, aren't you?" No answer. A Fireball. A Water Blade. They sealed off both sides almost simultaneously. Cassian had no choice but to displace again. The moment he landed— Rowan was already there. Cassian clenched his teeth. Another displacement. Julian had already moved around from the other side. The next retreat path was blocked too. For the first time, the constantly shifting relationship between the three stabilized.

Cassian was the one in the middle.

"Hey."

"This isn't fun anymore." Rowan kept closing in. Julian had already sealed off the other side. Cassian endured several more exchanges. Sweat finally appeared at his temples. His displacement range grew shorter and shorter. Dong—! The third bell rang. This time— Cassian retreated several steps in a row. Then raised one hand.

"Wait." Rowan didn't stop.

"I really don't have much mana left." Julian kept advancing too. Cassian's eyes never left either of them.

"Chasing me now is just burning through your reserves."

"With me like this, how am I supposed to fight for the last spot?" Rowan paused for an instant. Not because he believed him. Only because Cassian had retreated to a position where he couldn't immediately launch a surprise attack. Cassian seized the chance.

"Simple."

"Whoever stops attacking me first—""I'll help him fight the other one." He spread his hands.

"With this little mana left, I can't compete for the last spot anyway." Silence. Rowan looked toward Julian. Julian happened to look back. Their gazes met for only an instant. Cassian's eyes brightened slightly. There was still a chance. Rowan charged him. Cassian's expression froze. From the other side— Julian's Fireball was already sealing his path.

"..." Cassian's face darkened.

"No, seriously."

"I mean it this time." The blade was already there. He had no choice but to displace. The moment he appeared— another Fireball came from Julian. Cassian fled again.

"Think about it."

"Leaving me here doesn't hurt either of you." Cassian might have been telling the truth. But the fact that he still had that last bit of mana left— was exactly why they couldn't let him stay until Rowan and Julian truly began fighting each other. One displacement. That alone was enough to do plenty. Cassian gradually seemed to realize it too. Still dodging, he couldn't help saying,"If you really corner me, I've still got enough mana left to take one of you with me." Rowan pivoted. His blade cut in.

Julian didn't even slow down. Cassian opened his mouth. Then stopped talking. As though something had finally clicked. He laughed first. A little helplessly.

"Should've kept my mouth shut earlier." Rowan thought he made an excellent point. Another pincer attack. Cassian was driven all the way to the edge of the arena. His breathing had grown noticeably faster. The mana fluctuations around him had weakened to almost nothing. Rowan still didn't relax. That claim about taking one of them down with him— might not have been a bluff. Julian had clearly reached the same conclusion. Neither of them rushed too close.

Instead, they steadily closed off what little space Cassian had left. His only remaining retreat led to the edge of the arena. Cassian sighed.

"Fine."

"You win." The next instant— the remaining mana inside his body erupted. More violently than during any previous displacement. Rowan's pupils tightened. The second spell held in the auxiliary core of his mental sea instantly snapped into readiness. Firelight flared beside Julian as well. Here it came. Cassian vanished. Both of them waited for Cassian to cut in one last time. No attack came. The next moment— outside the arena— a figure suddenly stumbled into view. Cassian's legs buckled.

He almost dropped to one knee on the stone. One hand braced against his knee before he managed to straighten again. Through the wind curtain, Cassian waved at the two of them.

"You two have fun." [Cassian Vier.] [Exited the Sixth Arena.] No bell rang. The Sixth Arena wasn't over yet. Rowan tightened his grip on his blade. Across from him— the firelight beside Julian still hadn't faded. In the Sixth Arena— only two remained.