The Headmaster announced the next battle—Mary and me VS Renan and Clever.

However, since Clever didn't show up, his duo was disqualified.

I'm sorry for him, but nothing could be done.

Renan was furious. From today, they might no longer be friends.

Of course, that's unless had a solid reason to back his absence.

The next battle was my duo against Fernando and Lopes.

That name rings a bill.

Lopes was the guy I fought when I just joined school. If I remember it right, I confronted him because he was fighting Renan and I got in the middle.

He wasn't that strong. Perhaps his strength rose a little, but he's still the same shit he was.

Following the announcement, Mary and I went to the right of the battlefield and waited for them to enter.

And they did.

Lopes had a sinister smile. With a chuckle, he said ""I'll humiliate you ten times over."

Lopes was totally convinced that he could beat me.

Inwardly, I sighed. Maybe I pitied him because he's such a proud boy. But I won't take it easy on him. No matter, he's totally rotten from inside.

This makes me wonder why Fernando even agreed to partner with such person.

"Good luck." I sad, a mischievous smile on my face.

Glaring at my taunting smile, Lopes turned red with rage.

His fighting spirit soared.

Mary laughed from the side and the director already began the count down.

"3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Fight!"

Hearing that line every single time was ugh...boring, but it seemed like the pattern wouldn't change. Such a stubborn practice.

In a flash, Lopes arrived in front of me with bloodshot eyes.

'I have to humiliate him just like last time.' I decided. This guy didn't deserve a shred of my respect.

Immediately, he attacked.

"Ice arrow." he yelled and I easily dodged the arrow, much to his frustration.

"Ugh!" He growled and swung his sword at me, as if he intended to hack me to pieces.

But it was only his wishful thinking.

I dodged every attack of his sword and he looked like an idiot swinging a sword on the stage.

Soon, I was getting annoyed.

"Ice wall." a huge wall of ice rose in front of me and blocked his pathetic strikes.

'Time to end this.'

Since Lopes couldn't see me seeing, I used the full force of my legs and leaped over the wall. I saw Lopes below, madly attacking the wall.

'Now.'

I brandished my sword and plunged down at him.

But I didn't pierce him and so he stopped my sword. At that instant, with a level 4 fire magic spell, I blew him away.

Though I ended up suffering some damage from the explosion, it was nothing serious.

If there was no protection during the tournament, he would be totally dead. He was lucky, he's just unconscious.

I turned to see that Mary's battle ended with her victory. Apparently, she won with her wind magic and sword strokes as always.

Given how ridiculously weak Fernando was, there was no way I could've watched the battle. It must have ended in an instant.

"The winner is Endl and Mary duo! Congratulations."

When the director announced our victory again, the stadium exploded with applause.

It was much louder, I wonder if it was because of my attack?

I smiled and we went back to the tent again.

Everyone was looking at me in admiration.

"That was amazing Endl, you took Lopes totally by surprise" Edna said with sparkling eyes.

"Yes, that certainly was amazing." Carol nodded with a smile.

Despite their praises, to me this battle was totally normal and predictable.

"You were amazing Endl." Lily congratulated me with a bashful smile.

I was glad to see her. But she should focus. Her battle was the next!