The Artificer Department Building – Verlyn Academy. Nearly an hour of intermission has passed. The echoes of the event committee’s voices can be heard all the way there.

  "To the semifinalists of the Verlyn Academy Battlemage Competition, please make your way to the arena, as the matches will soon continue."

  As the announcement resounds, Zeff is in one of the rooms on the fourth floor of the artificer building. His gaze turns to the window as he listens closely to the committee’s words, then shifts back into the room.

  “Zoi?”

  The red-haired girl is working before the orb-upgrading device, which glows faintly. A transparent shield, formed like an array of greenish hexagonal shapes, protects her front. Her eyes stay fixed on the device, while her fingers move with precision, fusing the magical components of a material into one of Zeff’s orbs.

  “Five more minutes.” Zoi answers Zeff’s voice, her gaze still fixed on her work. “I can definitely fuse this material into your orb—you’ll be able to move faster when you use it.”

  Zeff shows no sign of pressing her and simply lets the girl continue her work in peace.

  A young man sitting not far from Zeff clicks his tongue, commenting while digging into a ready-to-eat meal with a fork, one leg propped casually on the table.

  “Zoi worried when she heard that your next opponent is Tseryo Lavrel.”

  Yanzen Ummel takes another bite before continuing. A pair of thick glasses dangles from his neck, and his hair and clothes are a bit disheveled—like a student worn out from long hours in the workshop.

  “I once secretly watched his training with Zoi. Up until his last match leading into the semifinals, Tseryo Lavrel still hasn’t shown his full power. You’ll need to be careful in the arena, Zeff.”

  “I know he’s a tough opponent. The sooner I face him, the better. Besides, I’m more curious about who I’ll be up against in the final.”

  Zeff’s words are aimed more at Vichel, whom he firmly believes he will meet in the final stage.

  “Hey, hey, that’s not optimism anymore—that’s arrogance defying fate,” Yanzen objects.

  “My statement is based on precise calculations.”

  “Hah, your super self-confidence really is incurable.”

  Zeff smirks, laughing, “It’s not like you’re the ones fighting, so why worry so much? But it’s good the committee only banned elixirs, not orbs.”

  Yanzen pauses his meal to respond.

  “That’s because elixirs deliver immediate effects to the user. Orbs, on the other hand, depend on the user’s basic ability for their effectiveness. A noble guy like Tseryo Lavrel has probably bought an expensive orb too. But still, the orb upgraded by Zoi is the best!”

  Zoi smiles faintly, her eyes still fixed on the upgrading table as she merges the magical lines of two elemental materials.

  “Almost… there.”

  Hearing the announcer’s voice echoing, Zeff turns back to the window.

  “Let’s call up the two semifinalists for the first match. Zeff Lou Roan… and… Tseryo Lavrel!”

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  Tseryo steps onto a small platform at the edge of the arena. The arena designated for their semifinal match seems deliberately concealed behind a dark green barrier, hiding its interior. Four priests stand not far to the left and right of Tseryo.

  However, the audience and teachers grow puzzled as only Tseryo appears in the arena.

  “Has our semifinalist from Group D not arrived yet? Zeff Lou Roan, we are calling you…” the announcer hums instead.

  Grand Master Lutzer Swan frowns, turning to his aide.

  “Where is he?”

  “The committee is still looking for him, Grand Master.”

  A flicker of worry crosses Zeff’s face as he looks toward the arena building visible from the fourth-floor window. Yet he doesn’t want to disturb Zoi’s focus on her work.

  Still, Zoi knows she must hurry.

  “One… last point…”

  Yanzen speaks up again, “Be careful, Zoi—when upgrading an orb to its maximum level, merging the final point at 63% can trigger an explosion.”

  BLAAAARRR!

  A massive explosion erupts. Zoi’s body thrown violently out of the fourth-floor window. Zeff’s sharp eyes immediately scan through the billowing smoke.

  “ZOI!!”

  A flash of electro propels Zeff into an incredibly fast leap. His arm manages to catch Zoi’s body midair, and then Zeff rockets through the sky at super speed toward the arena.

  DASH!

  Making a dramatic entrance, Zeff lands perfectly on the participant platform, the force of his landing sending shockwaves around him, startling the entire committee and audience. Zoi remains cradled in his arms, while Tseryo watches calmly, expressionless.

  The announcer, brimming with excitement, shouts,

  “WOW! Our awaited semifinalist has finally arrived! But Zeff Lou Roan, no elixirs—or girlfriends—are allowed in the arena.”

  The comment spontaneously triggers loud laughter from the entire audience. The Grand Master breathes a sigh of relief. Zoi’s face flushes with embarrassment. Zeff seems unconcerned with the crowd’s reaction, more worried about his companion.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Y-yes… thank goodness I had that strong hexagon shield earlier. Here’s your orb—the upgrade worked.”

  Zoi hands the orb to him. Zeff extends his right palm, and the orb floats back into his hand. Zoi looks at Zeff and clenches both her fists.

  “You’ll definitely win!”

  Zeff responds with a warm smile, “Thanks!”

  Zoi quickly leaves the arena while the audience continues to buzz excitedly about them.

  In the artificer building room still filled with lingering smoke from the explosion, Yanzen leans against the wall, his appearance even more disheveled and grimy. Yet the young man laughs with delight.

  “If merging the final point causes an explosion, it means the orb upgrade achieved maximum results. Zoi, you really are the best!”

  Zeff clenches the orb he just received from Zoi, feeling more confident about facing Tseryo.

  “Participants and audience, this is the special arena for the semifinal battle!”

  The dark green shield around the arena begins to fade, revealing a vast battlefield scattered with rocky hills of varying heights. At the center floats a large device resembling a weapon, encircled by a magic circle, with numerous openings for firing projectiles.

  “Welcome to the arena of The Last Blood Executioner.”

  Both Tseryo and Zeff watch the arena before them with curious expressions.

  “This year’s competition committee has introduced a spectacular innovation with the help of skilled circle crafters!”

  “As you can see, at the top of the arena floats a machine capable of launching ten high-explosive magical projectiles in a single shot. The committee calls it the Executioner Machine. It will activate ten minutes after the match begins. And its target will be…”

  “The participant who takes the most damage from their opponent’s attacks.”

  Zeff and Tseryo are stunned as they hear the rules.

  “Semifinalists, do you clearly understand the rules of this arena? Within ten minutes, you must deal as much damage as possible to your opponent, then let the Executioner Machine finish them off.”

  Tseryo smiles confidently. “An interesting rule.”

  “This is a timed battle. Those who can think quickly and move efficiently will emerge as the winners.”

  Zoi sits in the spectator area, her brow furrowed with worry.

  “A dangerous arena… but Zeff will win! He’ll definitely win!”

  Tseryo and Zeff begin entering the battle arena through two gates facing each other across the field. A magical protective sheath envelops their bodies as they step inside.

  “As usual, to prevent bloodshed and fatal injuries, Carrion’s best priests will place protective sheath around the participants’ bodies. The strength of the protective sheath matches each participant’s physical power. Outside the arena, a magical screen displays the status of each participant’s protective sheath whenever they take damage from their opponent’s attacks. The protective sheath’s disappearance signifies the participant’s defeat.”