Chapter 8: (2/9)

The opportunity was finally open for Titania as Sofia’s [Circle of Protection] showed signs of getting weaker. Nevertheless, Sofia managed to step into the casting range for her [Holy Smite] spell. But before Sofia could cast it, Titania casted [Stonefist] and broke through her [Circle of Protection]. Because Titania’s [Earthquake] was still active, Sofia received tremendous injuries from it as she fell on the ground and was not able to get up. Sofia casted another [Circle of Protection] spell then casted [Major Healing] to recover all of her injuries. Sofia then casted [Health Regeneration] to automatically heal herself from any injuries for the next two minutes. Sofia casted another [Mana Regeneration] spell to slowly recover her mana pool to prevent it from being depleted.

[Health Regeneration], level 15 Light spell. This spell will slowly recover a targeted subject’s health pool for two minutes. The duration can be increased but it would cost the caster’s more mana.

Sofia has finally gained the ground to casted [Holy Smite] spell on Titania. Titania was forced to kneel on the ground by the powerful pressure of the [Holy Smite] while receiving minor injuries created by it. However, Titania quickly recovered all minor injuries due to the active healing from her Healing Tree. This boring battle went on for six more minutes and Sofia thought she was going to win this match considering her mana pool can slowly regenerate using [Mana Regeneration] which made Titania’s mana pool will be the first to depletion.

The moment Sofia has to stop maintaining the [Holy Smite] spell to give time for her mana pool to regenerate, Titania casted [Earth Blast] spell, activated [Mana Infusion], and then casted another [Earth Blast] on Sofia. The projectile rocks broke through the [Circle of Protection] and killed Sofia without giving time for Sofia to recover injuries regardless of the active healing from [Health Regeneration].

The arena announcer announced, “This match is over, Titania has won. But because of mana depletion, Titania will also be eliminated. Student Intermediate Mages of Nosh have won the final battle for this year’s tournament!”

From the audience's side, Professor Biersack and all students of Nosh cheered out loud. It has been more than six hundred thousand years, a Student Mages team from Mages’ Academy of Nosh has finally won another battle tournament.

Titania has done the right thing by activating her [Mana Infusion] and defeated Sofia using [Earth Blast] or she will probably lose. Sofia can regenerate her mana while Titania couldn’t. Earth Mage is considered great at defensive magic but Light Mage is excellent at healing magic. If it was a battle between offensive magic and healing magic. Then the result could be different. Earth Magic just doesn't have strong enough offensive spells to defeat Light Magic in an instant, particularly at the Intermediate-tier spells.

After a four minutes break, the announcer announced, “Our next final battle will be for Student Master Mages. Coming into the arena is Merlara Selorn, thirty years old, level 30 Thunder Mage, representing Mages’ Academy of Nosh. And her opponent is Githa Bersk, twenty-eight years old, level 30 Earth Mage. She is representing Mages’ Academy of Shimbermi.”

Kain opened his eyes widely but quickly calmed himself down. Kain thought, “Githa Bersk? Is she related to me in any way?” The Bersk family was originally very small. There may be two or four families bearing the last name of Bersk on the whole nation. There should be no more than sixty families carrying the last name of Bersk throughout Toria Continents. That is why Kain was surprised because it's unusual to see another magic caster to have the same last name as him.

Shimbermi is the capital city of the Cloudia Empire. It bordered to the West of Bifjorkian Theocracy and the East of the Principality of Cylatlond.

“Thunder Magic is weak against Earth Magic. Hopefully, Merlara can find a tactic to win this match.” Vincenzo quietly said to other students of Nosh.

Merlara and Githa nodded at each other to show respect. This is the final tournament battle. The winner of this match is not only going to bring glory back to their Mages’ Academy but will also be famous throughout Toria Continents. Both of them wanted to be recruited by the Mages Council or at least caught the attention of one of the famous Guild Leaders. That is the best way Student Master Mages can secure their future because scarcely twenty percent of Master Mages could successfully advance into Legend-tiers. Legend-tier magic casters will definitely get recruited by the Mages Council and can also make great money working for famous Mages Guilds or still make great money if they just simply settled down to become professors for Mages’ Academies. A Legend-tier professor gets paid more than ten times compared to a Master-tier professor.

The signal for battle to start was fired. Merlara immediately casted [Thunder Step] to improve her movement speed while Githa casted [Stone Skin] to increase her defense. Merlara got within fifty feet radius of Githa’s location and she casted [Thunder Claws] spell. Fourteen Thunder Claws were created in mid-air and flew toward Githa. Githa calmly stood still and refused to move because she knew those Thunder Claws would chase after her. Just like Githa had thought, those Thunder Claws were too weak to penetrate through her [Stone Skin]. Githa casted [Earthquake] and the ground greatly trembled that put Merlara off her feet as she fell to the ground.

While Merlara was still laying on the ground due to active [Earthquake], Githa quickly casted [Earth Blast] and numerous rock projectiles were created in mid-air then flew toward Merlara. Merlara still has her [Thunder Step] spell activated, she tried the best she could to dodge the [Earth Blast] by rolling around. Merlara received scratches all over her body that caused bleeding but at least it wasn’t life-threatening. Merlara finally rolled out of the danger zone of [Earth Blast] but the [Earthquake] still kept her off balance. Merlara activated [Supercharge] and then casted [Storm Bringer] spell. Githa knew what Merlara was planning, that was why she immediately casted two spells in her ready to cast list which are [Sandstorm] and [Earthen Hawk].

Merlara’s eyesight was reduced by the [Sandstorm] while continuously receiving damages created by it. However, she doesn’t need to see Githa in order to attack her since the [Storm Bringer] can automatically cast [Thunder Strike] spell toward any hostile subjects within fifty feet radius for the next eight minutes. As long as Merlara can get closer to Githa, she was confident that her [Storm Bringer] can break through Githa’s [Stone Skin]. Merlara paid no attention to Githa’s Earthen Hawk because she knew it would not be strong enough to withstand her [Storm Bringer] spell.