Earth's Greatest Magus

Ha Ron of Hall 33 faced Shinta of Hall 9.

The two stood across from each other, drawing more attention than most other duels in the arena. Shinta wasn't just last year's top rookie; she was a top 10 ranker. Her reputation preceded her, especially after her recent victories—first against a rank 22 spirit reader from the Albatross faction and then a rank 13 genius acolyte from Hall 1, trained by the famous Star Tower Lord.

Facing Ha Ron in her third match was unexpected. It seemed like the ranking system had recognized Ha Ron's growing power, but the pairing was seen as unfortunate for both of them. Ha Ron was up against a top-ten acolyte, an almost insurmountable challenge, while Shinta wouldn't get the chance to test her skills against someone of her own rank level.

The crowd eagerly awaited the battle, knowing it would be a clash of strength, speed, and skill between two acolytes who knew each other well.

Shinta looked at Ha Ron, her expression calm but resolute. "I'm sorry, but I need a flawless win here to get a better match"

Her words sparked irritation in Ha Ron, his brow furrowing in response. "Why are you so sure you'll win?" he replied, his voice sharp. "I've seen your training, Shinta. I know all your moves."

With that, Ha Ron raised his sword, its edge gleaming with a refined energy. Months of painstaking practice had led to this moment, revealing the sword intent that enveloped the blade. A shimmering aura wrapped around it, promising an explosive release.

Shinta, however, didn't waver. Her confidence remained unshaken. "Go ahead, then,"

Without hesitation, Shinta activated her serpent transformation. Her body glowed faintly as her features subtly shifted, Her sword flared to life, surging with the energy of Khaos.

Ha Ron matched her energy, the dark aura expanding around him. The two dashed forward in a blur of motion, their swords clashing with lightning-fast precision. The metallic clangs echoed through the arena as the two acolytes exchanged a flurry of strikes, each one trying to outmatch the other.

Ha Ron pushed hard, his blade a whirlwind of precise cuts, determined to prove himself. He managed to land a hit on Shinta, leaving a shallow slash on her shoulder. For a brief moment, he felt a surge of hope. But before he could follow through, a sharp pain lanced through his body.

Staggering, Ha Ron dropped to one knee, two deep sword wounds carved into his side. His breathing grew ragged, and when he looked up, he saw Shinta's sword hovering at his neck.

The shock hit him harder than the pain as he realized the huge gap in their strength.

"How...?" he muttered, disbelief in his voice.

Shinta leaned in slightly and whispered, "Because I also know all your moves, silly."

Shinta had always been special among the acolytes of Hall 33, someone he had strived to keep pace with. He had been so focused on catching up that he had never considered she would be watching him as well.

Ha Ron sighed deeply, "I concede," he said quietly, accepting the outcome.

For his final fight, Ha Ron was paired against a higher-ranked acolyte, the fierce rank 28. The match was grueling, but Ha Ron pushed himself harder than ever, revealing the true extent of his skills. Although he ultimately lost, it was a hard-fought battle that earned him praise.

In the end, his ranking rose from 78 to 36, two ranks higher than Blaine, making him still the number one acolyte of Hall 33.

As for Shinta, she got her wish and was matched against a rank 7 acolyte—the number one acolyte of the Mamon faction. Baleth, a pale, gaunt acolyte with a chilling, lifeless expression.

"Can't you be more horrifying?" Shinta teased with a mocking smile. "Maybe try smiling?"

Balteh didn't respond. He remained eerily still, his hollow gaze focused solely on her. What made the scene even more unnerving was the clear movement of parasites writhing beneath his skin, causing Shinta to grimace in disgust.

As soon as the match began, Baleth unleashed a shocking display of raw, terrifying power. His strength far exceeded Shinta's initial expectations, quickly outmatching her serpent transformation. His every strike was brutal, and each movement seemed almost inhuman.

Realizing she couldn't match his brute strength, Shinta was forced to adapt. She began to rely heavily on her plant-based spells, summoning vines to restrain Baleth's movements, while casting hexes to weaken his physical advantage. What started as a fast-paced battle of power turned into a grueling, tactical war of attrition. As the battle wore on, Shinta realized something unsettling—each passing minute seemed to make her opponent even stronger. Thick, dark veins began to pulse visibly across Baleth's pale skin, like tendrils of corruption spreading through his body. His movements became more erratic but increasingly powerful, forcing Shinta to reevaluate her approach.

Recognizing that brute strength would only lead to her downfall, Shinta shifted to a more defensive strategy. She studied Baleth's movements carefully, using her agility to evade his crushing blows while retreating into a tactical stance. She summoned more plants to entangle and slow him down, keeping her distance while conserving her energy.

Minutes later, at the peak of their grueling battle, something changed. The surge of power coursing through Baleth's body began to falter. His once-overwhelming strength waned suddenly, his movements becoming sluggish and uncoordinated. It was as if his body could no longer contain the monstrous power he had unleashed.

Seeing her chance, Shinta pressed forward, ready to strike. But before she could land a final blow, Baleth, now visibly weakened, raised his hand in surrender.

With her victory, Shinta's rank rose from ninth to sixth, cementing her place as one of the academy's top geniuses. The end-of-year personal exams concluded with a bang, the crowd roaring in approval as the acolytes received their rewards. Now, with little time to rest, all the acolytes began preparing for the next challenge—the group exams.

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