The Golem Mage

The first match was about to start, and the mages from academies not involved in the first match drifted out of the arena, which would soon become a battlefield in minutes.

As announced, the third round was being prepared to begin immediately, just as the presiding judge had said earlier, however; when the Witches and Wizards Academy took their positions, they fielded only six members, in stark contrast to the School of Silent Night’s full ten members which prompted a buzz of whispers in the stands.

“I can see many of you are wondering why the Witches and Wizards Academy has fewer fighters, i would explain the process to you all” the judge said.

“Before the second trial, the Witches and Wizard academy had split into two teams because they had eleven members, a privilege extended to only Northern Kingdom academies, but while the first team was able to clear their hurdle and advanced for the Third round, the second team failed to do the same and was disqualified, making them ineligible to support the rest of their team in round three, that’s why their academy is short-handed in this fight.”

With the explanation given, the judge turned to confirm readiness of both teams from both captains, on the School of Silent Night’s side, Takeda regarded the opposition as already finished opponents.

While across from him, the newly appointed captain of the Witches and Wizards looked anything but confident and being four members short from the start gnawed at him, as he started to feel if he could turn back time, he would have split his roster differently.

Now he finally saw the loophole laid for them in the instructions of the second trial.

He’d been over confident that his second squad would at least able to qualify, even with a low rating, but while he was still in the second trials and he faced the third wave of attack, he realized he’d overestimated his team, because even his top unit which was the 1st team barely scraped through.

And earlier when they had been brought back to the arena, he’d hoped that due to the fcat that his first team had passed , the other would be allowed to rejoin with them for the third round, but the word “ineligible” echoed in his head.

As he started to blame himself that he should have front-loaded all ten into the first team and sacrificed the weakest member; though it would have stung the person left out, but not as much as this gaping disadvantage they now had against the School of Silent Night.

“Begin” the judge said signaling the begin of the match.

“Finish them all,” Takeda said, with his arms crossed, clearly showing no intention of stepping in at all.

While the Vice-captain Shin Jae-Hyun moved forward with five other teammates, deliberately matching the Witches’ and Wizards’ six members on the other side.

To the Witches and Wizards captain, it wasn’t courtesy, it was an insult to him, others might call it evening the odds; but he saw a smug condescension, and the fact that Takeda himself didn’t budge to face him only deepened the sting of anger he felt.

His jaw tightened, as he summoned his spirit staff as embers flared around him, showcasing his primary element which was fire, showcasing why he had a fiery temper, as his temper manifested in sparks.

—

But the “fair” 6-v-6 everyone expected after the School Of Silent Night matched the Witches And Wizard numbers never materialized.

The whole fight took just a measly three minutes before it came to an end, which is still baffling a lot of people given the huge gap that appeared between both teams.

Immediately the battle began, the ninja mages all threw small circular balls, but not at the Witches and Wizards mages but around them, which made them relax for a moment; however, when the balls landed, they realized they were smoke bombs.

As a grey fog swallowed the area where the Witches and Wizards team stood; immediately this happened they all adjusted their masks, as all six ninjas slipped into the mist with blades drawn, only the vice-captain had chosen a kunai instead.

The next thing the spectators saw were flashes of blade-qi and loud screams from within the haze after the ninjas entered; three minutes later, the fog thinned, and the ninjas emerged, flicking their weapons to clear the blood from the steel.

Meanwhile, the Witches and Wizards mages lay on the ground in pools of their own blood, looking on the brink of death, those mages mostly followed the magician path and weren’t great at close combat, though they could usually hold space well enough not to be taken out swiftly, and be able to cast spells to counter.

However, against the ninjas of the School of Silent Night who had obstructed their vision and specialized in eliminating mages like them, they became sitting ducks for the assassins of the night.

Before the three minutes were up, every trace of smugness had left the Witches and Wizards captain as he gasped for air.

“And the winner of the first round is the School of Silent Night,” the judge announced, as he flicked his hand to the side, causing robed medics to rush to the stage to move the fallen Witches and Wizards team off the stage for healing.

And just like that, the first Northern Kingdom academy was disqualified from the Origin Tournament, drawing snickers from mages of the other kingdoms.

Because despite the northern kingdom being the host nation, they had fallen to the point where institutions from other kingdoms were clearly outperforming them, giving outside spectators from the other kingdoms fresh bragging rights over the northerns.

The second match was about to begin, and the arena fell quiet as citizens of the Northern Kingdom prayed that the Vajra Academy, who still had ten members present, could defeat the Crimson Dawn Academy.

But after the ruthless display from another Eastern academy, the School of Silent Night’s, they at least hoped that if the Crimson Dawn academy got the win then they wouldn’t win in such swift, humiliating fashion.

Both academies ascended the central arena steps to rising cheers that spilled beyond the stadium.

On one side, Raizo led his team with a cold, measured gaze, determined not to underestimate anyone after his encounter with Alec.

On the other, Yama marched in brimming with confidence, intent on restoring the Vajra Academy’s reputation after their fall in the Great Eight rankings after the last competition.