The following day, the quarter-finals began!
Principal Aurora’s voice echoed across the plaza, reaching everyone’s ears clearly.
“The winners from the eight zones of the Mirage Corridor are as follows.”
He unfurled a magic scroll, and golden text shimmered upon it.
“The winner of Field 1 will not be participating in the finals due to personal reasons.”
A wave of disappointed sighs rippled through the crowd.
“The winner of Field 2: Wright of Twilight Academy, Rank 2 mid-stage.”
A black-haired youth in a deep purple uniform stepped out from the crowd, gave a slight nod toward the high platform, and then stood to the side. A slender rapier hung at his waist, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s.
“The winner of Field 3: Lilith of the Holy City Magic Academy.”
Aurora paused for a moment before adding:
“Since this student utilized magic nearing the power of Rank 4 during her battle, the judging panel has officially promoted her to quasi-Rank 4.”
“Whoa...”
The crowd erupted instantly.
“Quasi-Rank 4?! She’s only been in school for a month!”
“Wasn’t she just Rank 2 before? How did she suddenly jump to quasi-Rank 4?”
“She only used one spell that was close to Rank 4 power; is that really enough to rate her as quasi-Rank 4?”
Amidst the chatter, Lilith quickly walked over from the direction of the infirmary.
“Ah... so sleepy...”
She let out a yawn, walked over to stand next to Wright, and then closed her eyes to rest.
Lilith had slept in the infirmary for an entire day and had only just woken up in time for the finals.
Principal Aurora glanced at her, his mouth twitching slightly, before continuing the announcement:
“The winner of Field 4 will not be participating in the finals due to severe injuries.”
“The winner of Field 5 will also not be participating in the finals due to severe injuries.”
The two consecutive withdrawals caused the chatter below to grow even louder.
“What’s going on? Why are there so many withdrawals?”
“I heard the matches in Field 4 and Field 5 were incredibly brutal. The winners only barely scraped by and are still lying in the infirmary...”
“Doesn’t that just make it easier for everyone else?”
“Can’t be helped. Those are the rules.”
Aurora cleared his throat.
“The winner of Field 6: Lin Yu of Starlight Academy, Rank 2 peak.”
A youth wearing a silver-white robe adorned with stars stepped forward. He looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, with a gentle smile on his face and a staff inlaid with a blue gemstone in his hand. He waved to the crowd, drawing a burst of cheers.
“Go, Senior Lin Yu!”
“Starlight Academy will surely win!”
Lin Yu nodded with a smile and then stood beside Lilith.
“Hello, I’m Lin Yu,” he said, taking the initiative to greet her.
Lilith gave a polite nod. “Hello, I’m Lilith.”
“I know,” Lin Yu said with a smile. “We watched your battle yesterday. It was truly spectacular.”
“Thank you.”
Aurora continued:
“The winner of Field 7: also from the Holy City Magic Academy, Karl, Rank 4 peak.”
Boom!
This time, the reaction from the crowd was even more intense than before.
“Rank 4 peak?! My god!”
“He broke through to Rank 4 early stage just two weeks after enrollment, and now, after another two weeks, he’s already at the peak of Rank 4?! How is that possible?!”
“Young Master Karl really is the strongest!”
“The championship is basically decided, isn’t it?”
“I could close my eyes and still tell you who’s going to win...”
Amidst the exclamations and discussions, Karl stepped out from the crowd.
He wore a magnificent deep-red noble’s robe with a golden family crest pinned to his chest. His eyes betrayed an undisguised arrogance and confidence.
He walked slowly to the very front, then turned to face the crowd, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
It was as if he were already declaring his victory.
Aurora glanced at him and continued:
“The winner of Field 8: Mo Fan of the Royal Academy.”
“During yesterday’s battle, he achieved a breakthrough and reached Rank 3 early stage.”
A youth in a gold-trimmed uniform stepped forward. He looked to be about eighteen or nineteen with a resolute face, gripping a two-handed greatsword. The aura radiating from him had indeed reached Rank 3.
He nodded to the crowd and then stood next to Karl.
“Very well.”
Aurora rolled up the scroll and swept his gaze over the crowd.
“The list of the final contestants has been announced.”
“Next...”
He raised his hand and pointed toward the center of the plaza.
There, a spatial portal even larger than the one from yesterday was slowly unfurling.
“The quarter-final knockout stage officially begins.”
“This is a grand final. These five contestants will enter the same Mirage Corridor.”
“The rules are simple.”
Aurora’s voice turned serious.
“There can be only one final winner. No draws, no ties.”
“You either win, or you lose.”
“Now...”
He looked at the five contestants.
“Please enter the Mirage Corridor and wait.”
As his words fell, Karl gave a cold snort and took the first step.
Without looking back, he walked straight into the spatial portal.
It was as if victory were already within his grasp.
Behind him, Wright, Lin Yu, and Mo Fan entered in sequence.
Lilith walked at the very back.
As she reached the spatial portal, Aurora suddenly spoke.
“Lilith.”
“What is it, Principal?” Lilith looked back.
Aurora looked at her, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said:
“Be careful.”
“Mm, thank you, Principal. I will.”
Lilith nodded with a smile and stepped into the spatial portal.
A flash of light occurred.
Her figure disappeared.
...
Inside the Mirage Corridor.
This was a space far more vast than any of the previous fields.
In the distance, towering mountain peaks and forests could be seen.
The entire space was at least ten kilometers in diameter.
Five figures appeared at different locations within the space.
Karl stood on the summit of a small hill, overlooking the entire battlefield.
At that moment, Lilith was standing at the edge of a forest.
She looked around and nodded. She opened her magic map.
The map displayed a simplified layout of the entire Mirage Corridor.
As well as...
Five points of light.
The locations of all the contestants on the field were fully marked.
“Real-time position sharing too?”
Lilith raised an eyebrow.
She looked at the map.
The light point closest to her was...
Lin Yu.
About three kilometers away, by a lake.
“Should I go have a chat with him first?”
Lilith thought for a moment and decided to go take a look.
Her figure blurred and vanished into the forest.
...
By the lake.
Lin Yu stood at the water’s edge, staff in hand, warily observing his surroundings.
He knew his position was exposed.
On the map, the other four people could definitely see his light point.
Rate on N.U.
