By the fourth day of the Master Battle, several losers had emerged for failing to demonstrate abilities befitting a Mastersometimes both participants in a match at the same time.

Only two people had been awarded the rank of Master so far. First, Marquis Australo, from the Swallow Empire, known as the Mihwang for his double-length limbs. And then there was Joshua, victor of the opening match and one of Reinhardts most well-known characters.

Today there was a fight that attracted even more attention than usual.

In the designated seating for national officials, two people sat in identical brown robes. The substantially smaller person on the left spoke first.

Group As morning match is between the Force Magician and one of the Seven Magicians; in the afternoon its your turn.

Mmm. Joshua sighed and turned his attention towards the arena. This was the first time hed watched someone elses match.

He recognized the man entering the stage immediately.

Theta, Theta Around thirty years old, light green hair, cool, picturesque features. He looks familiar. Where have I seen him?

WAAAAAAA! Joshuas thoughts were interrupted by the crowds raucous cheering.

Isnt this the first time wizards have fought in the Master Battle?

Yeah! Normally the knights fights are over in the blink of an eye, but this is something else entirely!

Isnt magic beautiful? Even being able to see them outside of the Continental Magic Battle, here at Reinhardtmy goodness!

The Continental Magic Battle was a festival of wizards analogous to the Master Battle that took place in Terra every four years. The contents were slightly different to the Master Battle: only wizards were allowed to participate. Also, interest in the Magic Battle had not waned as much as it had in the Master Battle. Terra Kingdoms astute management had ensured its continued popularity.

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One thing the competitions shared, however, was their opening ceremonies.

Its starting.

Joshua watched the arena intently, sparing Iceline no reply.

The man named Theta, a polite-looking storm magician, cast an unbothered gaze at the colosseum. On the other side was a man in his forties wearing a gray robe and face that screamed I am a wizard.

The Force Magician, Astello Joshuas eyes narrowed. His gaze was laced with strange emotionsremorse, possibly? Joshua shared a unique bond with the man, though Astello didnt know it. It was more of a connection than a partnership, really.

Terra, the Magical Kingdom, stood as the apex of magic in the midst of the three great powersbut it would be annihilated within decades. Soon after Kaisers ascension to the throne, he felt the need to channel the nations attention elsewhere. Terra was his first victim. After losing, it was reduced to a tributary of Avalon.

All Joshua used to know was that Kaiser aspired to unite the entire continent. He convened the golden generation of Avalonincluding Joshuaand issued an order to wipe all traces of Terra from the land. So he murdered them. Murdered and murdered again. Not just the peopleTerra was burned to the ground, every brick of every castle.

Astella, the Force Magician, was the head magician of the royal family of Terra. He had been in their service for two decades, but after Kaisers war, he vanished from historyby Joshuas hands.

In the end, your exploding magic circle is what killed me fate is laughing at me. Joshua smiled sourly.

While he was musing, the fight was in full swing.

The brilliant magician Astello uses four spells at once. Thats beyond double- or triple-casting. The best is the best, after all.

Lets see how long you can act calm. Astello waved his hand, conjuring a Fire Lance and Ice Spear without a word. Go!

Storm Wall. A wall of solid stones rose into the sky to protect Theta and clashed with Astellos magic.

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Unphased by the tremendous explosion, Astello recited yet more magic.

Ice Fog.

Hmm? Theta tilted his head at the curtain of blue mist. Burn away and erupt: Burn Flare.

Woah

Burn Flare, a 5th-level flame-based explosive spell, violently shook the arena, engulfing it in crimson-hot flames that threatened to melt everything.

Dangerous, dangerous. Theta appeared in the corner of the area, having used Blink to flee the danger. His fleet splashed into a puddle.

What? He recoiled from the dampness. Theta looked up and grinned at Astello. Old man, cut it out! Are you planning on murdering me? This seems a little excessive for a kid!

Astello grinned back. All I see is a careless kid.

No, no, wait a minute.

I dont want to lose like that. Astello scanned the battleground.

When the icy fog and high-energy flames met, the entire arena was drenched. That meant that the Theta had nowhere to escape from Astellos next spell.

Crazy! Theta eyed sparks flying from Astellos hands.

Im not going to die, you cheeky boy.

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Ah, seriously!

Double Chain Lightning. Astello hurled the superimposed lightning at the ground, coating the entire arena in a web of electricity.

Astello opened his eyes again after a moment.

Uh, how His eyes widened.

It hurts, mister. The sparks still crackled on Thetas flesh.

Astellos spell was good. So how?

How are you fine?

You didnt see this, did you? I altered it myself. How does it look? Theta turned towards Astello, showing him a gray, transparent barrier.

Wind?

Wall-type protection magic is getting a bit of attention these days, right? However, as you noticed, this one has a very weak wind attribute. Fire wall, ice wall, rock wall Each of these spells has their advantages, depending on the situation, but wind wall is just a waste of mana. Where are you supposed to use a wind wall? Maybe to deflect arrows, but a rock wall would be better, no? It bothers me, because wind magic is my specialty. So I tweaked it. What do you think?

What a gift! Astello was surprised, but amazed. Modifying magic was an easy thing to say, but practically impossible. You had to rewrite the formula from beginning to end, with not a single mistake throughout.

I call it the Wind Shield Curtain! What are your thoughts, eh? Awesome, innit? Theta grinned, basking in the wind power around him.

Damn boy

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I remember! Joshua sat up like he was struck by lightning. That wind wrapping around Thetas body was practically his trademark. The first 8th-Class Magician of the Magic Tower Thetapirion Whitesocksthe traitor.