They gave me thirty minutes to recuperate my mana but I really only needed ten. It was apparently normal for people to take at least thirty minutes to fully recover but I guess even in the recovery aspect, I was a monster.

'Did it have something to do with my strong physique or mana control?'

[Recovery speed is affected by Sleepless(Rare). Remember to eat more]

Despite the system's explanation, there was something that wasn't exactly recovering.

[Life Force: 70/110]

'Why isn't my health recovering?'

[Due to Sleepless(Rare), your body's regeneration has slowed down. Host can make a full recovery by sleeping. Sleep is a natural part of healing. Since host has lost the need for sleep, natural recovery has slowed down. Alternatives include: Healing Potion, Skills]

'What do you mean by skills?'

[Skills that can boost host's regeneration speed can be unlocked through certain conditions. Can also be learned]

Thinking it through, it made a bit more sense. The last time I actually slept was a couple months ago. I was too engrossed in training. During this time, I had almost never felt tired for some reason.

In summary, the energy gained from sleeping was replaced by the energy from eating. Since resting is also necessary for healing and I haven't actually slept, my natural healing rate has decreased drastically. I couldn't say it was a bad thing since I was in peak condition 24/7 and I was literally immune to sickness(only a conjecture).

Since my body's natural regeneration speed was lacking, I would have to supplement it with drugs.

'Buy 20 Healing Potion.'

[Received: 20 Healing Potions(Common)]

[Merit Points: 2600]

~~~~~~~~~~

Healing Potion(Common):

An herbal elixir.

1. Healing: Regenerates life force by 100.

~~~~~~~~~~

I stood up and saw Melissa waiting for me at the entrance of the giant hallway.

Leaving the Waiting Room, I could hear the cheering from the crowd.

Of course, all of them were cheering for their beloved "princess."

'I guess nothing really changes with society. Bias is everywhere...' I walked up the large stage thinking that.

Standing to the left, I met Melissa's eyes. Her heterochromatic eyes exuded an aura of determination.

'Sorry, but I will be winning this one.'

"3...2..." I shut my eyes, my hearing, and my mind. I put myself in a state of focus. The loud cheering of the audience and the annoying buzz of the speaker box disappeared. The only thing in my view was my opponent. For this match, I had to take it seriously. She wasn't an opponent I could belittle.

'Appraise.'

~~~~~~~~~~

Name: Melissa Lize

Race: Human

Title: Magic Prodigy

Class: Master of Magic(???)

Life Force: 110/110(11 years)

Strength: 41

Agility: 82

Mana: 250/240(+10)

Physique: Knight Student(Intermediate) - Lvl.4

Magic: Magus(Expert) - Lvl.8

Spells: Time - Enhanced Processing | Lvl.1 - Earth Manifestation, Wind Manifestation, Water Manifestation, Fire Manifestation, Lightning Manifestation, Ice Manifestation, Light Manifestation, Darkness Manifestation | Lvl.2 - Earth Blast, Wind Blade, Aqua Ball, Flare, Zap, Freeze, Light Orb, Smoke Bomb | Lvl.3 - Vine Bind, Wind Arrow, Summon Water, Fire Ball, Lightning Arrow, Ice Wall, Flash Bang, Blinding Curse | Lvl.4 - Mud Blast, Wind Blast, Water Implosion, Fire Blast, Shock, Ice Blast, Heal, Hearing Curse

Techniques: Mana Circulation(Rare-Lvl.3), Keen Observation(Rare-Lvl.8), Mana Body(Epic-Lvl.4), Void Absorption(Mythical-Lvl.3)

Active Skills: Magic Analysis(Supreme)

Passive Skills: Motivated(Rare), Photographic Memory(Godly), Instant Comprehension(???)

Blessing: Apostle of Arcanus(Mythical)

~~~~~~~~~~

Since the first time I saw her at the Academy, her physique had progressed by a realm. It wouldn't matter much, since this was a Magic Tournament.

I prepared my mind for what to expect.

"START!!!" I acted immediately. Like they say, the first strike determines the outcome.

Instead of my usual strategy of going head in and casting a Blinding Curse, I was going to do something a bit different.

I cast two Fire Balls toward her, all the while closing the distance with my nimble pair of legs.

I expected her to cast a spell to counter the incoming Fire Balls but instead, she tumbled over to the right exposing herself to me just like Marvin did.

Was she trying to throw the match?

I decided to take the bait and rushed at her but I fell the moment I lifted my right foot off the ground.

Looking back, there was a vine holding it down. She must have cast the level 3 Earth spell Vine Bind.

I easily burned it with Flare but she had kept the pressure going by casting a level 3 Summon Water and a level 4 Ice Blast to immobilize my movements.

Summon Water created around a couple bathtubs of water while Ice Blast was what it sounded like. When the water touched me, I found it to be extremely cold. Wasn't this water close to freezing? Did she adjust the temperature of the water with her mana control? Or was it her imagination? Since I wasn't a water magician, I had no idea of knowing, but I did know that the amount of heat my Fire Ball produced could be adjusted with my thoughts.

Seeing the Ice Blast coming closer and closer to me, I had thought it was meant to push me away from her but I was completely wrong. When the Ice met with the freezing cold water, the water started changing into ice gradually.

What the h*ll was this wombo combo? Wasn't this a combination of magic spells based off of science? How does the water turn into ice?

I recalled a certain science experiment back on Earth, where people put water bottles in the fridge and when they took it out and poured it on ice, it would also freeze. Wasn't this the same concept used in instant ice?

The spreading ice brought me back to reality and I immediately made my way out of the pool of water. I didn't know exactly how the pool of water stayed in place when there was no container but i didn't have the time to think.

Getting out of the pool, I saw a strand of horizontal lightning coming straight to me. It was the level 2 Zap spell. With how close it was, I knew it was impossible to avoid it. Not to mention the water on my body that was the perfect conductor of electricity.

'Healing Potion.'

[Healing: Life Force +100]

The next moment, I could feel the heat of the electricity coursing through my bones and touching every muscle fiber of my body.

[Life Force: 60/110]

If I had eaten that attack directly without the healing potion, I would have been eliminated. I didn't know exactly what health percentage it took for the card to activate but I wasn't willing to take any chances.

'Healing Potion.'

[Healing: Life Force +100]

[Life Force: 110/110]

Looking at Melissa, she seemed a bit surprised that I was still able to stand so firmly.

'F*ck it.'

I ran full speed ahead and as expected, she cast an Ice Wall to separate us. Fortunately, no wall could stop me.

I scaled up the wall and used the wall to propel myself through the air.

She cast another Zap spell but it wouldn't work because I had cast a Smoke Bomb while gliding through the air. With her vision blocked by the black mist, she wouldn't be able to aim properly.

Landing a metre behind her, I got close and covered her eyes.

'Blinding Curse.'

I immediately fled away since I was expecting a spell similar to what Marvin did.

She cast a Lightning Arrow behind her which was my previous location. It went all according to plan.

With her blinded, I gained the higher ground.

I cast a Fire Ball expecting her to dodge but she didn't move at all. The Fire Ball left a mark on the pure white skin of her left leg. Why wasn't she reacting?

It was answered shortly after.

A ring of magic particles were expelled from her body. What was going on?

'Appraise.'

~~~~~~~~~~

Physique: Knight Student(Intermediate) - Lvl.4

Magic: Arch-mage(Beginner) - Lvl.9

~~~~~~~~~~

'No way.'

Did she just make a breakthrough on the spot? I looked at the audience and they all seemed to be gasping. Unblocking my hearing, the annoying Crankenstein who was announcing everything was also displaying a shocked voice.