Chapter 75: The Tournament V.

Chapter 75: The Tournament V.

Zeke and Samuel stood at opposite sides of the arena, each readying themselves for the impending fight. The anticipation was palpable, as they both signaled their readiness to the announcer.

In the moments before the start of the fight, Zeke utilized his spell to analyze Samuel. The list of Samuel's spells was a month old. Zeke had managed to acquire a fresh scan of his body before the start of the battle, however.

[Results of Analyze]

First name: Samuel. Mage name: None. Last name: Luftschloss. Age: 15. Gender: Male. Height: 1.73m. Real combat strength: 223. Strength: 10 Constitution: 9 Agility: 14 Intelligence: 10



Wind magic (Greater affinity), Rank: True Mage, Engraved spell: [Levitate].



Wind magic:

[Levitate] Active

This spell allows the caster to levitate. Control and speed in the air depend on the mastery of the spell.

[Wind Blade] Active This spell allows the caster to summon blades of wind that can strike at distant targets. [Wind Steps] Active This spell allows the caster to step on air and gives a moderate boost to movement speed with each step. [Gust] Active This spell allows the caster to send out a gust of wind, when used against a target it can destabilize a target and cause it to fall.

The referee's voice boomed out, "3, 2, 1, Go!"

At the signal, Zeke sprang forward with all his might. He barreled towards Samuel with the ferocity of a thunderbolt, eager to end the fight with a decisive strike.

Samuel, who was well aware of Zeke's tactics from observing his previous battles, took to the air. The Wind Mage used the [Levitate] spell. After his feet had left the ground, he swung both arms in a downward arc. This gesture was often associated with the [Gust] spell. Sure enough, powerful currents of wind accelerated his flight. He was attempting to gain altitude and distance from his opponent as fast as possible.

Zeke pushed himself to the limits of his abilities. He used every ounce of mastery he possessed in his [Perfect Body Control]. He could feel the fibers of his muscles strain as he raced through the air toward Samuel. He was determined to end the battle with a single strike.

Samuel's eyes widened as he realized he wouldn't be able to outrun Zeke's charge. In a desperate attempt to reverse the situation, he summoned two sharp [Wind Blades] with a sweep of his arms.

If Zeke were to dodge or evade the blades, there would be no chance of catching Samuel. Not with the speed the boy ascended. It would only be a moment until he had gained enough altitude to be safely out of range.

Samuel's grimace turned to relief as his spells flew toward Zeke. The expression turned to fear, as he realized that Zeke was neither dodging nor slowing down. Zeke's eyes were fixed on his target and nothing else. He didn't even flinch as the wind blades sliced into his chest, leaving behind trails of crimson blood.

Zeke gritted his teeth and prepared to deliver a crushing blow. He swung his staff with all his might in a diagonal swipe aimed at Samuel's rib cage. His staff whistled through the air as he swung it with all his might. The look on his face was cruel and menacing, and it sent chills down Samuel's spine.

The smile still on his face, he hoisted his staff over his shoulder. He pointed its dragon head toward the incoming Wind Mage. After a moment of concentration, he launched it like a javelin.

Samuel was stunned by this action. Why would any melee fighter toss their only weapon? But he had no time to think, as the staff hurtled toward him at breakneck speed. He aborted his attack, as he was still out of range.

Samuel redirected his spell to the side. He used the pushback of the pressurized air to dodge out of the way and avoid the incoming projectile. Despite this, Samuel was still smiling, seeming to have found the exchange worth it. After all, Zeke had lost his only weapon while he still had ample Mana for another attempt.

As Samuel was about to restart his attack, he suddenly felt an alarming sensation. It was as if the breath had been ripped from his lungs. Looking down, he saw a thick red rope wrapped tightly around his neck. Following the rope to its source, his eyes widened in horror as he saw Zeke hanging in midair. A sadistic grin had spread across Zeke's face. Samuel desperately tried to escape the chokehold. He fumbled around his throat, trying to loosen or sever his bindings. The rope held firm, revealing itself to be one of Zeke's [Blood Whips].

Despite his struggles, Samuel wasn't able to break free. He was even incapable of dragging the other boy higher into the air. Zeke had anchored himself midair with his [Air Step] spell, rendering him immovable.

Zeke's expression turned even more sinister as he reveled in Samuel's distress. A cruel smile twisted his usually cheerful features, and he began to use the Blood Whip to haul Samuel. At first, the movement was slow. But as Zeke swung Samuel in circles, he gathered momentum. He exerted all the force he could muster to build up speed. After one final revolution, he changed course.

With Samuel in tow, Zeke plummeted towards the earth. Then, just before impact, he pulled on the rope with all his might. The body of the Wind Mage overtook him in an instant. Like a cannonball, he hurled Samuel towards the ground, arresting his descent.

The referee attempted to intervene, but it was too late. Samuel slammed into the arena's dirt floor headfirst, creating a massive cloud of dust. Zeke landed lightly beside the impact crater, a relaxed smile on his face.

The referee hastened to the scene, clearing the billowing dust with a wave of his arm. Samuel lay crumpled on the ground, his head buried in the dirt. There didn't seem to be a single whole bone in his body. The man took swift action, calling over a healer to attend to Samuel's injuries.

He stood, giving Zeke a stern gaze, and spoke. "That move could have taken his life. What were you thinking?"

Zeke remained unfazed by the rebuke, responding coolly. "His [Pressure Lance] could have killed me too. I didn't see you stepping in then, and for good reasons. With all due respect, sir, this is the Elementium. We are probably the most elite academy for combat Mages in the world. I would appreciate it if you didn't treat this like a children's game. Some of us are fighting for our futures here."

The referee had no retort, for Zeke's point was valid. He only had a problem with Zeke's actions in the first place for a single reason. When the boy had his opponent restrained with a [Blood Whip], the match could have ended in his favor. But Zeke had other plans. He launched into his final attack before the referee could intervene.

The announcer studied Zeke for a long moment. Finally, he merely sighed and declared the victor.

"The winner is Ezekiel von Hohenheim!" His voice rang out, loud and clear.

Zeke walked back to Viola, who was waiting with a smile. She had no issue with how Zeke won the battle, as she was equally vindictive.

"Good job, Zeke!" she cheered, "With that, you should be able to enter the elimination round as first-ranked in your group."

Zeke nodded, happy to have finally evened the score with Samuel. Viola then pointed at the boy in question and added. "I think that's the end of the tournament for him. Even if an Arch Mage with life affinity were to heal him, he wouldn't be able to continue with a concussion and depleted core. His head will need time to clear."

Zeke's smile only grew wider at this declaration. He had feared that his win over Samuel would be meaningless in the end. The Wind Mage could have just taken the second spot to advance. Viola's words cleared up his final regrets about the fight.