Leo took his axe and protective equipment and entered the arena already reading his magic to enhance himself.

He felt the warmth from his spell, it was relaxing for some reason. Looking at Sophie he could see that she was ready to go at any moment.

Holding his axe with both hands he got into position to make sure he could react as soon as possible. The one watching judging their fight was Mr. Etan.

“Start.” He said calmly.

Leo jumped with full force into sprint covering half of the distance between him and Sophie in less than a second. ‘Good I need to close the distance as soon as possible.’

Taking next step, he noticed three fireballs the size of basketball coming at him.

Not having other choice Leo was forced to dodge, jumping to his right. He was barely able to get out of the way. He tried to close the distance again but this time a big wall of fire, over two meters in height, was coming at him.

Dodging it to the side was impossible, he focused some more mana to his legs and jumped upward into the air. He flew above the spell but as he started to fall down next fireball caught him in the mid-air.

He had no way to avoid it, using all power he could muster Leo attacked the fireball with his axe. The fireball got dissipated but his axe gained few scorch marks. Fortunately, steelwood doesn’t catch fire too easily.

Landing on the ground no next spell followed afterward. He looked at Sophie.

“You are quite agile. Good, I expected less, to be honest.” she said. Standing ready with her saber.

“Thanks?” Leo said unsurely.

Before he could continue talking Sophie has already moved to continue her attack. She focused her flames on her weapon and moved in performing a slash at Leo.

With his physical strength, he blocked it easily, but as the flame started eating away at his weapon he was forced to disengage. Taking a step backward he wondered what his next action should be. He wondered if he could just overpower her but he was sure that would only make him get hit by her flames if he tried.

As he thought he was forced to deflect few more attacks from Sophie, his axe looked now as if it was going to break in next attack.

Not having much choice he increased the distance between them, as soon as he got further away more fireballs followed after him. He blocked one with his axe and dodged the rest.

He looked at his axe, right now it was in a state that made it look as if all it was good for was to throw it into the trash. He got an idea.

Running to the side he dodged his opponent fireballs slowly he getting the edge of the arena, he was around 16 feets away from his enemy.

“Let’s end this.” Sophie said and released a big wall of fire that left Leo with no way to run.

Leo put his axe above his head and thrown it with all the power he could, it flew through the flames and was directed directly at Sophie. She widened her eyes and, barely she was able to put her saber in the way. The battered weapon broke into two parts and went around her.

Leo in the meantime used all his strength to jump from the fence of the arena above the flame wall and was going to fall straight on top of Sophie. He turned his hand into a fist and swung it at Sophie who just noticed him after protecting herself from the axe. She gathered all mana she could and formed it into a spell.

Leo using his full power swung his fist and at the same time a fireball went out Sophie's hand. A moment later both protective devices released a beeping sound and flashed. In the source of the sound, Leo was laying on top of Sophie both breathing heavily, tired from the heavy use of mana.

“Can you get off of me?” she asked, slightly irritated.

“Ah yes! Right! Sorry!” said Leo bringing himself up, stumbling and nearly falling back at her in the process. As he got up he felt little light headed.

Sophie too got up and looked in the direction of the vice-principal. It seemed that their fight brought some attention and everyone looked in anticipation for the results.

“So, who won?” asked Mary.

“Sophie won.” said Leo, loud enough so everyone could hear. “Before I could get to her I got hit by the fireball.” His voice depressed.

“That’s right.” Said Mr. Etan. “Sophie Leonhard moves to the next round. Since in next round we have an uneven number of participants, Miss Sophie will move to the third round automatically. Next round will start in 30 minutes.”

Sophie got closer to Leo. “You are quite strong. Until next time then.” She said before moving away.

Leo looked after her. Despite the fact that she was tired from the match she still moved with dignity.

“Leo?” he was asked from behind. He looked behind and saw Mary, her hairs still a little wet.

“Yes?” he asked tiredly.

“Are you alright?” she looked worried.

“Yes, I’m quite tired though and I lost.” He said looking away.

“Knowing you, you will win next time no problem.” She said with a smile. “And had you fought Alice, I’m sure you would have won.”

Leo could only stroke the back of his head. “I don’t think it would be that easy… Every time I fight I need to get past the magic they throw at me, since I can’t counter with my own.”

“Yes, we will need to add footwork to your training program, you could have evaded most of those attacks much more easily with your speed.” said Mr. Etan standing behind them.

“I will train hard!” said Leo.

“Now Mary you should get ready for your next fight, or should I remind you who you will be fighting next?” said the vice-principal.

“Who you will be fighting?” asked Leo.

“Jerry…” she said.

Leo opened his eyes wide. “I will cheer for you.”

“I would rather give up, but I will do my best.” she said without motivation.

“I’m sure it will be hard, but I’m sure you have a chance!”

Mary looked unconvinced but nodded.

The break passed fast and next fourteen fighters were already standing in their areas.

Mary stood in front of Jerry at the other side of the arena. She knew that getting up close would be dangerous so the fight would be decided early in whatever she would be able to get hit before it got to that.

“Start!”

Jerry jumped with amazing speed, literally riding on a wind. Mary responded quickly shooting ice cones at him in quick succession. He redirected some of them with his wind magic and dodged the rest moving lightly around them.

Moving forward he stepped on the ice and his foot slipped he was starting to fall. Mary focused. “Tsk! This won’t get me!” Using wind push on himself he repositioned himself.

As he stood up Mary was already beside him gathering all mana she could muster she released a big ice wave hoping to freeze her enemy. The white fog calmed down and the arena was covered in small amount of snow.

“That was a nice attack.” said Jerry. He was alright and the area around him was the only snowless place. At last second he focused the wind around himself to create a powerful windshield. “Want to continue?”

Mary looked at Jerry in astonishment. “No, I don’t have any mana left. I give up!” she said.

“The winner is Jerry Wind!” the judge shouted.

Leo went over to her. “You did good, that last spell was amazing! The whole arena is covered in snow.”

“I practiced it a lot. I hoped to win with it but I lacked the power.” She said.

“Leo! I saw your fight. You did great, sad we won’t get to fight together in the finals.” said Jerry. “You are the only one that wants to fight with me up close.”

“Sorry.” said Leo.

“No don’t worry about it. You will get stronger easily. I know it for myself. I’m going to get ready for my next fight. Now that your girlfriend is out I’m sure you can watch me fight.” He said jokingly.

Mary simply looked at him while Leo blushed. “You know we are friends.”

“You say that.” He said waving as he went away.

“He always says that.” complained Leo.

“That’s just mean we are close in his eyes.” she said smiling a little. “You don’t like it?”

“Eh, no, I mean I never thought about this.” He said. All he had in his head was fighting.

“And you don’t need to. Just be yourself.” She said before moving away. Leo tried to follow behind her but was cut off. “I’m going to the showers.”

Leo reddened and stopped himself in his tracks before looking away.

-*-

In the end, the duels were exciting and went just as fast. It was time for the finals between Jerry and Sophie.

Sophie use of mana was amazing. It looked as if she had a bottomless amount of it but maybe it’s just part of her willpower.

Both contestants were ready for confrontation, there seemed to be a constant pressure in the air. Everyone was excited to see this. Most people here were battle maniacs after all.

“Start.” said Mr. Etan.

Both contestants moved at the same time. Sophie released the biggest fireball she had till now, it looked as if it was going to engulf Jerry whole. It seemed she wanted to end it as soon as possible.

The boy smiled and focused wind mana around his axe releasing a wind slash that cut the fireball in half and moved forward.

Sophie continued releasing fire magic but it seemed to be mostly ineffective. In the end, it came to the close combat. She focused her magic around her blade and slashed with it.

Jerry blocked it easily but a moment later a fireball come aimed at his head. He was forced to disengage and jumped backward and send a wind push at his enemy making Sophie lose her balance.

She regained it quickly and used all fire mana she had left to create a big fire surge and launched it at her opponent.

Leo looked at Jerry, he was smiling. Standing firmly a Jerry focused his mana and responded in common with a spell of his own.

Wind and a Fire clashed turning into enormous fire tornado in the middle of the arena touching the top of absorption field dome making it shine in the blue intensive light.

In the meantime, Jerry already got into action using the remaining mana he had and used it to shield himself from the flames and jumped at his enemy.

He attacked with a downward strike that Sophie tried to parry but she made a mistake caused by tiredness and lost her weapon. Next strike landed second later on her shoulder.

The raging spells already absorbed by the shield.

“The winner is Jerry Wind.” said the vice-principal.

Sophie was frustrated but in the end, she could only sigh and congratulate her opponent.

At the end, all Jerry got was congratulation from the principal and a lengthy speech since there was no real reward other than satisfaction. Everyone looked tired listening to the principal, some even fell asleep making others laugh.

After Mr. Alexander congratulated everyone on their hard work the tournament ended. Slowly everyone was going back home. Mary already left some time ago during the speech.

Leo was getting ready to leave to but before he could go Jerry spoke up to him. “Before you go do you want to have one last fight with me?”