The Golem Mage

Seeing Alec looking so different stirred countless questions in the minds of the Royal Mage Academy team, but before anyone could voice them, the judge mage gave his response.

“A standard one-on-one elimination format, each academy team is to select five representatives, and the last person standing among any of the other five will determine which team claims victory.”

As soon as the rules were stated, mages from both sides began sizing one another up, when the Royal Mage Academy team scrutinized the War God Mage Academy’s line-up, their expressions shifted in surprise, nearly every member had reached the Tier 6 realm, surprising them.

Even Katie, who had once been just shy of that threshold, had now stepped into Tier 6. Since returning to the academy, she’d received significant support as one of the top-ranked talents on the Earth List, and it had paid off.

Only Alec appeared to remain at peak Tier 5.

Of course, none of them had the power to see through the suppressive effects of his restraint devices, so they simply assumed Alec had fallen behind his teammates.

Liam, however, found it hard to believe, he tried multiple times to probe Alec’s aura with his mental sense, hoping to uncover something that would explain the dissonance, but each attempt came back the same, Alec was registering as nothing more than a peak Tier 5 mage.

He froze for a moment.

This wasn’t what he had imagined, in Liam’s mind, today was meant to be the ultimate showdown the day he would finally defeat Alec, and erase the shame of his past loss, and prove himself to be the superior mage.

He had even planned to boast to the captains of the other Great Eight academies, telling them about how he defeated the one who had bested them all during the last inter academy competition.

But now, that vision began to crumble. Alec didn’t have the highest realm, he didn’t even seem like the leader.

“All this time, everyone thought you were some kind of once-in-a-generation genius, but who would’ve guessed you’re just a fraud,” Liam said, his voice laced with scorn as he stared at Alec.

Alec, who had already turned his back and was heading toward the resting area reserved for the War God Mage Academy beneath the arena, paused mid-step.

He turned slightly, a look of mild confusion on his face, but he didn’t shy away from responding.

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say,” Alec replied calmly, but I don’t recall ever proclaiming myself a genius. I’ve only ever fought for what’s mine, to hell with what you think.”

With that, he turned back around and continued on his way.

The rest of the War God Mage Academy team followed him toward the resting zone, after that brief round of mental probing, they had all gained a clear sense of the power levels of their upcoming opponents.

Liam stood frozen in place, struggling to find a comeback, he hadn’t expected such composed confidence from Alec, especially from someone who, by all appearances, was still stuck at peak Tier 5.

His silence wasn’t from restraint but from disbelief.

Then it hit him—Alec had always been at a realm disadvantage, even back in their last encounter.

That realization only deepened his inner turmoil.

While he stood lost in thought, a voice from the reserve teammate broke his silence.

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” the backup Royal Mage Academy members said.

“That Alec guy’s probably suffering from some hidden injury that stunted his cultivation, otherwise, how come everyone on his team advanced, and he didn’t? I’m pretty sure he’s blind too.”

“Yeah, it all makes sense, after all he’s just from a mid-rank clan, right? Probably got written off by his clan after his injuries, that would explain why all his other clan members have already surpassed him.”

Trying his best to downplay Alec while inflating Liam’s ego, the reserve team member continued his commentary with subtle jabs, and it was just exactly what Liam wanted to hear.

Gradually, he began to drop his guard, convinced that Alec no longer posed any threat.

At this point, Liam believed that even if Alec could fight above his realm, he wasn’t alone in that category—as he himself had the same capability, fuelled by ego and the support of his teammates, Liam grew confident that he had everything under control and would not lose to Alec again no matter what tricks Alec might have.

With that confidence, he turned and began walking toward the remaining prep area beneath their side of the battle ring.

Though the stage had been cleared, the brief drama that just happened hadn’t escaped the notice of the mage hovering nearby, ready to act as a judge for the match.

—

“Alright, time to pick the best five among you, go up there, finish this quickly, and win back a sliver of respect for our academy. At least we won’t have to see the king’s face afterward—he probably didn’t want to watch the team he bet on get humiliated.” The Dean of the Royal Mage Academy said.

At that remark, everyone instinctively glanced toward Alec, who was reclining in the corner as if preparing for a nap.

Despite waking from nine straight days of unconsciousness, Alec still couldn’t shake the overwhelming drowsiness pressing down on him, it made him feel like something else had been done to his body during that time he was knocked out, something he couldn’t yet explain.

Though sleep should’ve been beneath someone of his realm, however Alec wasn’t like most mages.

Coming from a different world where sleep was a necessary part of life, his instincts just craved a good sleep, and right now, those instincts were winning—he was just… really tired.

“There’s no reason to go all out or come in guns blazing. Clearly, even if we don’t fight at full strength, they still won’t be able to defeat us. As long as Lucas holds the fort, we’re likely to win this with ease,” Alec said, pausing deliberately at the most crucial part, causing those around him to hold their breath—especially the ones hoping to be selected.

“Starting for us will be Katie, followed by Agnes, then Brandon, Pale, and finally, like I said, Lucas will hold the fort,” Alec finished calmly, still not lifting his head.

At first, when Alec began listing names, Pale assumed he wouldn’t be included—so much that he didn’t even register when his name was actually called, a few seconds later, it finally clicked.

“Hell yeah!” Pale shouted, pumping his fist in excitement.

Meanwhile, the Dean nearly choked on his breath, shouting, “What the hell?!”