With the anticlimactic conclusion of the preliminary matches now behind them, at long last the curtain rose on the Olympia finals.
The audience was abuzz with excitement, anticipation—and just a touch of wistfulness.
“Finally, the finals! This tournament has truly been the greatest ever!”
“Will I ever get to enjoy a festival like this again in my lifetime?”
“Aah, is it over already…? The festivities don’t have much time left either…”
“So bittersweet. The more fun we had, the more we’ll miss it when it’s done.”
Amidst the cacophony, the all-too-familiar face of the event host ascended onto the field.
“At last, we’ve reached the end of our long journey.”
As the host began speaking in a low tone, the chattering crowd fell silent.
“The First Academy Grand Competition, Olympia! Though there were inevitably some regrets as this was our first attempt, I believe it showcased the brilliant talents that herald a bright future for the Empire!”
No one dared to voice dissent. They merely nodded their heads in agreement.
“All things must come to an end. No need to drag this out further—we’re about to bring in the competitors!”
Poom! Poom!
Fireworks erupted around the arena, raising the energy even higher.
“And here she is, someone whose name no one could possibly forget after her incredible performances so far. Further introduction isn’t needed. Let’s welcome her—Amy Helios, the fire mage from Minerva Academy!!!”
A sun-like girl with fiery red hair stepped forward, looking every bit the confident prodigy.
There was nothing particularly different about her appearance for the finals. Her usual robe still shimmered with its owl insignia, and her calm expression betrayed none of the nervousness she’d shown moments before.
“And next up, let’s quickly introduce another formidable contender. The light magic specialist said to wield powers exclusive to royalty! From Minerva Academy, Lux Stella Sirius!!!”
Lux appeared regally, her silver hair exuding an aura of untouchable elegance. Like Amy, she wore her academy robes adorned with the owl badge, but her ruby-red eyes were fixed solely on her rival.
“Indeed, these two represent the finest talent from the Empire’s premier institution. Not once do they take their eyes off each other—a testament to their incredible focus!”
An internal Minerva showdown. But neither competitor had taken an easy path to get here; both had fought fiercely through grueling battles to reach this stage.
“Let’s begin the final match of the Olympia—with great flair!!”
Commoners seeking joy amidst their weary lives, nobles taking vacation days to visit the coliseum, a certain royal sneaking away quietly, and a beloved professor watching over his students—all gazed anxiously toward the battlefield.
Waaaahh!!!
With explosive cheers, the final match commenced.
***
Once the host retreated, the two rivals faced each other silently, exchanging words.
“I knew you’d make it.”
“Really? Since when?”
“Ever since Professor Allen wagered his wish on you.”
At this, Amy blinked, momentarily confused by the relevance.
“You like him too, don’t you?”
“What?! That’s…”
Amy’s composure shattered under an unexpected line of attack. A faint blush crept across her cheeks.
“Well, not like I dislike him or anything, but I’m certainly not confessing my feelings as boldly as you seem to be!”
Why did Allen’s smile from earlier keep popping into her mind? She didn’t know. Maybe she was trying to ignore it.
“How about finally being honest with yourself? Personally, I’d appreciate your lukewarm attitude.”
“Enough useless talk. Let’s start. It’s time to settle this.”
Though clearly deflecting, Lux only smiled faintly as crimson flames began dancing at Amy’s fingertips—the nostalgic spell [Scorching Mist] from Allen’s first class.
“Fine. Words are unnecessary.”
Lux’s own fingertips glowed with multicolored light.
[Light Magic: Radiant Spear of Glory]
After locking eyes briefly, both unleashed their spells simultaneously.
BOOM!
Crimson flames clashed with the spear of light. Though initially piercing through the flames, the spear dissolved under intense heat, leaving the flames themselves extinguished shortly after. The first exchange ended in a draw.
Breaking the brief lull, Amy made the first move. Determination burned within her.
“In one shot.”
[Bloodline Liberation: Helios’ Fire Eye]
The signature technique of the Helios family activated. With blazing eyes, Amy unleashed a torrent of flames unlike anything seen before.
[Fire Magic: Solar Storm]
A hurricane of fire swept across the field, engulfing Lux in a dazzling flash of light.
“… You’ve been holding back something like this?”
Smiling faintly, Lux stood amidst the storm.
BOOOOM!
Even the reinforced protection spells crafted by royal mages trembled under the assault. As the inferno faded, a radiant angel emerged from the flames.
[Star Magic: Angelus Stellae (Angel of Stars)]
Fashioned from inexhaustible mana, Lux’s guardian shone brilliantly.
“This needs to stop…”
Under immense pressure, Amy carefully gathered her mana.
[Fire Magic: Eternal Phoenix]
Modeled after the mythical bird, a blazing crimson phoenix soared skyward, searching for weaknesses in the angel.
“Regular tactics won’t work.”
Watching the fiery birds darting everywhere, Lux smiled confidently. Having practiced extensively against similar attacks during her match with Gailen, she countered effortlessly.
[Star Magic: Fragments of Starlight]
Countless shards of starlight intercepted the fiery avians. Each new bird created was immediately destroyed—an impressive display akin to a shooting game.
“Faster… More spells…”
Driven solely by rivalry, Amy’s mind worked furiously. Her concentration peaked, unmatched in intensity.
[Fire Magic: Foxfire]
Unlike her incomplete attempt against Carlos, the fully realized blue-flamed fox charged forward with ferocious speed. Dominating the skies with its phoenix counterpart, Amy pressed further.
[Fire Magic: Mirage Dance]
Illusionary flames distorted senses, multiplying her forces exponentially. So overwhelming was her assault that Lux lost her serene demeanor.
“Still… I won’t lose!”
The angel swung its spear, dispelling the fiery phoenixes. Responding to Amy’s relentless effort, Lux pushed her mana reserves to unprecedented heights. Streams of starlight flowed from her entire body.
[Star Magic: Stellar Glow]
Explosions of light illuminated the arena, yet Amy’s flames continued undeterred. The angel crouched protectively around Lux, shielding her from endless waves of fire.
“Like this…”
Though the sheer volume overwhelmed her defenses, individual spells lacked sufficient power. If Amy persisted with this strategy, Lux could endure indefinitely—or so it seemed. Yet, Lux sensed otherwise. Beneath the chaos, Amy prepared something powerful.
“…She surpasses me in multi-casting.”
Acknowledging reality, Lux admitted defeat in one aspect. Double casting alone strained mental limits, yet Amy aimed for triple, quadruple layers—an acrobatic feat even Lux couldn’t replicate. One misstep risked catastrophic mana backlash.
“If she can do it, so can I.”
Victory consumed Lux’s thoughts. Normally, she’d pour resources into the angel’s defenses, but facing Amy demanded aggression—not passivity. Besides, showing weakness before Allen was unacceptable.
[Star Magic: Falling Star]
Maintaining minimal support for the angel, Lux readied another spell. While Angelus Judicium represented the ultimate fusion with her celestial guardian, this spell stood alone as her strongest.
A falling star.
Rivaling transcendental magic in difficulty, Lux never successfully cast it until now—not while sustaining her angel anyway. Yet, here she broke her limits.
“…Guh.”
Dizzy from sudden mana depletion, Lux swayed slightly. Even she, possessing near-limitless reserves, nearly faltered. Still, triumph gleamed in her smile—a sign of success.
Proof manifested swiftly.
“What… What is THAT?!”
“That’s… not rock. It’s… a STAR falling from the sky!”
Stunned spectators watched in disbelief as a genuine star descended upon the arena. Even Amy froze.
“Isn’t that cheating?!”
Sensing incomprehensible power, Amy trembled. Confirming the source as Lux, she hastily aborted other spells, channeling everything into her final gambit.
[Fire Magic: Sunspot Explosion]
Thankfully, desperate focus allowed her to complete the incantation in time.
“HAAAAAA!”
Condensed heat erupted violently.
…
The descending star collided with the ascending sun. Colossal explosions rocked the coliseum.
