“Natasha, enough with your overly cruel attacks! I know you have the skill and power to do better, so answer me. Why have you purposefully debilitated each and every one of your opponents?” Kain finally could not bear to watch the demoness torment so many innocent people with her insane antics.

The girl in question stood in the middle of the ring 4 with a twitching and smoking body laying at her feet. Her crimson hair flowing in the gentle breeze like a cape of lavish silk, trailing behind her. A corset style leather armour brought out more of her succubus like curves, enough to make even the most stalwart of men question their morals. And her lapis blue eyes, were like a looking glass into a watery paradise. Kain truly had trouble keeping his temper, but the lives of so many were ruined that he still maintained his strict and domineering presence.

As the healers came running to take care of the spasming body, they too became entranced with her otherworldly beauty. Completely forgetting about the person they came to save. Only Kain as a Demi-Sage held the mental fortitude to resist her charm. But even he was lost when she flashed a gentle smile as she turned to face him.

“Supervisor, I have only used one spell the entire examination. A low tier spell with a wide area of effect. As such it only possess enough power to stun the average Red Squire, how can I know that everyone here can't handle that much?” Natasha's devilishly sweet voice came into everyone around, making them lost in the melody her voice carried.

“D-don’t play coy with me! Either way you are forbidden from causing any serious harm to your opponents from hence forth! Failure to comply will lead to your expulsion and banishment from any Academy owned lands.” Kain stammered through his anger in a spittle filled shout.

“Very well. I will only use [Lightning Bolt] then. I take it I am at least allowed that much?” A sweet and innocent smile blossomed on Natasha's tender ivory face.

“That is acceptable. Next fight! Natasha Devol, Argan Sigmar.”

“I forfeit, and so do all the rest of us.” A broad shouldered orcish youth in chainmail answered Kain’s call for the next fight. His curly black hair was shaved on the sides and allowed to grow into a shoulder length ponytail. Sharp features carved themselves on the boy’s face. Swordlike black brows arched over his green eyes. High cheekbones coupled the dimples and stubble that shaded his cheeks. Only a slim nose tied it all together as his lips were thick and full all with his pale green skin.

“Fuck. Fine then, Natasha Devol advances to the Top 5. Do you all have any other forfeits?” Kain let out a pent up sigh as he called out the results.

“Sir the others have all forfeited to me, seeing as I am the only one unscathed by the lady.” Argan answered once again with a formal bow. Which elicited a giggle from Natasha who was cheerfully humming a tune.

“Argan Sigmar, advances with 8 wins and 1 loss. Maybe you'll also make it to the Top 5 boy, you certainly have the skill.” With that Kain began walking out of Ring 4 and over to the finalist area. Natasha and Argan dutifully followed behind the slightly bitter Demi-Sage.

“Lucifer Khan with 9 wins and 0 losses advances through to the Top 5. Evra Brotlar advances with 8 wins and 1 loss. Good job both of you.” Jas sighed as he saw the results of the round robin. Lucifer advanced with one real fight and the rest being forfeits. Evra did much the same only fighting Lucifer and the ignorant Warren Kolt who was unconscious during the fight between Lucifer and Evra. Missing the awe inspiring might of her magics and the inconceivable prowess of Lucifer, he was left completely in the dark and stuck in a foolhardy endeavor to mount or surmount the indifferent beauty.

The result was an instantaneous defeat at the mercy of [Flash Pyre], luckily Warren was an Earth Spellblade and could negate the brutal heat of the magic a bit. He still suffered severe burns till he was incapable of fighting again in the competition.

“Greetings everyone! I hope you are ready for a true demonstration of the best of Farror’s youth! I won't say much but we have eight warriors contending in this year's Quarter-Finals for the Elemental Academy’s Top New Student Title! Natasha Devol, Bael Offal, Lucifer Khan, Kasandrea Yulhan, Evra Brotlar, Argan Sigmar, Trent Cal and Cinder Oak are your Top 8! These eight students will begin a challenge round to determine the best of the best amongst them. Each one of them will face another of the group in a knockout round.

Natasha Devol VS Cinder Oak

Bael Offal VS Trent Cal

Lucifer Khan VS Argan Sigmar

Kasendrea Yulhan VS Evra Brotlar

This is your Quarter Finalist pairings!” Cried the walking obesity that was the Brotlar family's head diplomat. His superiors gave him strict instructions to oversee the finalists to spot any new talent that they could hopefully rope in while the students were young and impressionable.

“Our first match will be the Lightning Deva, Natasha Devol! Don't let her otherworldly beauty fool you, she is one of the few that advanced with a perfect record! Facing the Deva is the adorable Doe of The Forest, Cinder Oak! From the amazing Oak family of Lovita, she and her brother have both come to Muselpine for this Academy Examination! Her cute and loveable self is another side to her amazing combat prowess and control styled fighting! Now let us see which of these two beauties will take the first place in the Semi-Finals!”

Wooooooooaaaaaaah

The spectating throng cheered with such vigor that even the 800 square foot coliseum shook! The crowds had been let in to view the finale of the student's ranking tournament, this was not just Muselpine citizens but people from the various organizations across Farror attended the event. Despite their being three different examinations happening across the continent, each major power made sure to watch each one with rapt attention.

“Fucking noisy.” Lucifer spat as he released a low growl in annoyance of the cheering mob.

“Agreed.” Commented Evra who had took her place next to him as they sat and awaited their respective matches. Even though her facade had broken earlier, the dwarven princess had already replaced it with another indifferent face.

“Drakon, who do you think will win?” Evra did her best to make small talk with the enigma that branded her, though she would never admit it.

“The Devol girl if she knows what's good for her. She owes me a match.” Lucifer snarled as his purple eye bore a hole in the red haired beauty's back.

‘What on earth happened between those two that made such a carefree guy become so vicious at the mere mention of her?’ Evra pondered as she felt the waves of anger emanating from Lucifer.

The two sat in silence as Evra could not find any words to say and Lucifer was content to simply glare at Natasha as she made her to the center of the arena with Cinder Oak trailing her.

‘Ahhhh. That draconian made it through! Finally I can see him fight! If he isn't too weak maybe I'll even get to fight myself!’ Shit! Should focus on my match. The Oak family has always sent out their best to Farror to test the waters of this land. If my Devol clan wasn't declining so much, Papa would have massacred them all. Oh well, when I take over the clan I will make sure to take over a country so that we can live in peace instead of on the run like always.

Hmm. She is short for an elf, 4’10” or 5’0”. If her Element is Wood like most elves this could be troublesome. Wood restrains my Lightning to a certain extent and that old geezer went and forbade me from using anything other than [Lightning Bolt]. Fuck.

Let's get this show on the road then. I'll just increase the heat of my spells to make up for the lack of voltage. It may take a tad more Mana but at least I should wipe the floor with this scrawny ass elf.

“Let the match begin!” Ugh. That fatty has the most annoying voice! Maybe if I strangle him with his vocal cords he would sounds better.

“[Vine Weaver]!”

Fucking Wood loving elf.

Giant tendrils of earthy green vines shot towards me as I cast my altered spell.

“[Lightning Bolt]!”

Good! The increased heat roasted those pesky vines as it travelled through them. Too bad there is no lethality to such a spell for this Oak girl. Hm? She is going to try using that bident while casting spells in medium range? Sounds like fun! I better use my [Static Guardian], it's a passive magic so this much should be fine. A sweeping slash of her bident flew over my head as I dropped down low and released my spell.

“[Static Guardian].”

“[Bark Lash]!”

We both cast our spells as I dodged her slash and she released another this time aiming to bisect me. But the layer of Lightning around me burnt the jagged saw-like spell into smithereens.

“It really sucks that I'm not allowed to use any other spells.” A mutter escaped me as began using my hands and feet to push away and fend off the saw edge of her spell. That spell of hers coats her bident in a layer of sharp and jagged bark making even a nick become a serious injury. Too bad for her my [Static Guardian] destroys it as fast as she can recast it.

“[Lightning Bolt] Barrage!”

With a palm strike, I sent out my spell at the opening she left for me. She couldn't continue recasting her spell so she had opted to try and fight me at range, as she leapt backwards her body was completely at the mercy of my Lightning.

Barrage. One of my favourite styles of casting. I can use my ridiculous amount of Mana to amplify the amount of magics I release at once. It's like sending out five separate spells but at the exact same time. I haven't seen anyone else my age capable of this, only my uncle Beel can do it with low tier spells since he is a Sage already. Papa is a Prophet so he can only barrage cast mid tier spells. Only I am special and can use barrage for all of my spells regardless of tier!

Fear appeared on the elf's face as my 10+ [Lightning Bolt]s barreled towards her mid air body. But before they could crash into her she cast another spell, a last resort barrier that all mages learn. [Mana Shield]. As a spell that uses pure Mana as its base, [Mana Shield] is extremely costly and can only last for very brief periods of time. In the caas of this tournament, if one was forced to use [Mana Shield] then that was proof enough of your defeat. Like this Natasha won her place among the Semi-Finals.

“Victory! Natasha Devol!” The fat dwarf screeched in his disgusting voice. With his announcement the crowd also went wild as they witnessed a spectacular display of magic and skill. From Natasha's amazing spell usage and display of barrage, to the abstract combination of Magus spells and spear play of Cinder. Both had phenomenal skills for ones so young, only 13 years old and both of them had the power of top class Red Apprentices!

Natasha Devol VS Cinder Oak

Bael Offal VS Trent Cal

Lucifer Khan VS Argan Sigmar

Kasendrea Yulhan VS Evra Brotlar

“Our next match is between the Mysterious Bael! A saber user who truly likes to keep his appearance hidden under that crimson cloak of his! Facing him is the son of Muselpine’s own Marshal Cal! Like his father Trent Cal wields the greatsword, and he makes it seem like a short sword with how easily he swings it! Which of these two swordsmen will join Natasha in the Semi-Finals is completely a mystery!”

“Hold up! I forfeit. I really want a nap” The red cloaked Bael called out as he lounged lazily in the waiting area.

Lucifer chuckled at the eccentric behavior of Bael, whom he had a good impression of.

Natasha on the other hand, had fear evident in her eyes as she saw the reaction of Lucifer. Thoughts of what would happen should he find out that Bael was the one who abducted Luna.

Natasha Devol VS Cinder Oak

Bael Offal VS Trent Cal

Lucifer Khan VS Argan Sigmar

Kasendrea Yulhan VS Evra Brotlar

“Well there you have it, truly a man of mystery. Bael Offal has forfeited the match. So Trent Cal will advance and face Natasha in the Semi-Finals! We will proceed with the third matching then, Lucifer Khan and Argan Sigmar. A Royal draconian facing the sole orc warrior of our Quarter Finalists. Both these warriors are enigmas to the norm, Lucifer the name of the First Angel and a descendant of the Ice Phoenix Sigmarus! Let us see which legacy will reign supreme between these two warriors!”

This draconian seems special, he has the presence of a Beast. A true warrior wouldn't have such a savage atmosphere about him but a refined aura. Beasts all over Gaies gain their savage demeanors from the unceasing slaughter of the wild, did this draconian also slaughter like a wild Beast? I better put him out of his misery before he learns the true methods of combat, it will make this turmoil ridden world at least a tad safer.

As these thoughts rushed through my brain I took into account the almost imperceptible intelligence that flashed across that purple eye of his. Maybe he wasn't a Beast given sanity but a sentient being given insanity.

“If you keep pondering over morals, you will never be able to fight me.” The Beast taunted me as the match commenced.

“Enough talk. Let's fight beast.”

“Oh, I like that name!” He laughed as he cast the basic magic Light [Elemental Spear], sending a Mana formed javelin of Light soaring towards me.

“Tssk.” I suppose I will have to put forth some effort to put this lizard down. Waiting till the spell was just before me I bent my slightly to duck under the missile of Light magic. Launching myself forward, I activated my [Frozen Rule]. A spell that my father taught me for facing tricky foes. [Frozen Rule] creates a pseudo-domain around me that slows and damages all who enter its range. It doesn't have the same strength as a true domain but it is incredibly powerful against anyone without a domain to resist it. Hoarfrost coated the ground and myself as the magic took form.

Let's see how he handles my [Frozen Rule]. Dodging another [Elemental Spear] I continued my dash towards him. Instead of backing off, Lucifer grinned and mimicked myself, rushing towards me. Oh well, he can suffer the icy pain of [Frozen Rule].

As we approached each other, he cast an odd spell. His glaive began to glow a dull golden colour around the blade. As the glow became brighter and brighter he did a pivoting spin; to build momentum, winding up a huge sweeping swing of the giant weapon.

What an idiot, I am a master of close combat! With that giant swing incoming, I stepped into Lucifer to place myself before the dangerously glowing blade and away from the majority of the damage. Lifting my arms up slightly I took the shaft of the glaive in my abdomen. Allowing my body to cushion the blow, I wrapped my arms around the glaives shaft and continued taking it counterclockwise thus negating the blunt force of the attack.

Lucifer upon noticing my actions, promptly released the weapon and cast the same golden aura spell on himself this time. As the golden light shone around him, he extended his claws and began making vicious slashes towards my now unprotected back. Luckily [Frozen Rule] slowed his attacks down or else they would have done serious damage to me. I was able to escape with only an inch deep wound down my back as I allowed my spin to take me away from Lucifer.

Chasing me down, Lucifer thrust his clawed hand towards my chest as I came full circle. Abandoning the unwieldy glaive, I brought my arms up and entered into fighting stance. As the scaled hand shot towards me, I dropped my shoulder and twisted my body narrowly avoiding the dangerous jab. Not one to waste an opening, I let my frost covered palm strike out at Lucifer's exposed ribs.

Only an inch away from making contact, my palm strike was stopped by the weird golden light from his earlier spell. As if he knew of my failure, Lucifer brought his outstretched hand down and hooked it around my neck. His talons clawing my skin even through the icy aura around me. He applied his absurd strength onto me and pushed me down towards the ground. Not before his deadly tail coiled around my back leg and yanked it from under me. With the combination of his tail and arm he had forced me to the ground in the blink of an eye.

Instead of capitalising on my position, Lucifer say termed over to his weapon I had dropped. So I jumped up and backed away from him. It was then, I noticed that he was already attacking me again. With a cleaving swing lined up, he glided through the air directly at me.

“[Glacial Rampart]!”

Unleashing my best defensive magic, I braced myself for the incoming attack. An attack that never came. Lucifer seeing my spell take form, flapped his wings and cleverly moved around the pillar of ice that stood between us.

With a spin he pirouetted around the pillar and arrived at my flank with his glaive poised to take my head. Dammit! I'll have to use that spell if I want to survive this beast of a man!

Gathering all my Mana into my Core, I released the seal that lay on me. If not for this seal I would never have been accepted here, a seal to restrict my Mana Purity. A seal to hold back my inner demon. A seal to hold back my power! Damn you Lucifer, for forcing me this far!

“[Jotun’s Asura]!”