AN: Hi, your lazy author present you chapter 44 :D, enjoy!!

PR by Bboybrian

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The results of the battle simulations account for 30% of our final grades received each month, thus they are crucial in deciding the students’ ranks. The time spent fighting, the amount of damage inflicted and received, and the tactics used were all taken into consideration. I won my 2 duels in a small amount of time without being hit once and without mindlessly relying on power, so I expected high grades.

The team battle took place near the end of the month, in 2 parts. For the first part, mages would fight each other, following the same rules as those of the duels. The second part was done in cooperation with the martial art department. Students of the martial arts department would either fight against those of the magic department, or be mixed with them depending on the teams, so physical attacks were allowed.

The teams must have 3 members for the first part, and between 3 to 5 members for the second part. The teams were randomly formed for the first 2 months, and starting with the third it was possible for the students to make their own team. It was however forbidden to be with the same team more than twice, so the team would always change at least every 3 months. The team battles were scheduled for the first 2 days of the last week of every month.

Unfortunately, for the magic team battle, I was paired with a friend of Nicholas Bauwing, Largo Hecton, and another commoner named Carl. Largo had magic affinity for darkness, mind, earth and water, while Carl had affinity for fire, water, earth and air, what people call a material mage. Our opponents were a team made exclusively of nobles, 2 guys and a girl. As far as I could tell from the little things I had observed during classes, all 3 of them were 4 elemental users.

We were in the magic training field, separated by 70m of flat ground with the occasional rock and tree that can be used for cover.

Aenthar: “Listen up you 2. I'm most likely their primary target and we will make use of that. I will go ahead, grab their attention and keep them busy as best as I can while you knock them out 1 at a time. When you target someone, Carl will create an opening for Largo to deal the finishing blow. Do you have a problem with this plan?”

Largo: “You're not my superior, don't give me orders!”

Aenthar: “This isn't an individual competition Largo, it's a team battle, meaning teamwork would be evaluated. I think this strategy plays to our strengths well. Nobody can cast spells at the same rate as me, and nobody has as much mana as me, which means I'm good at keeping multiple opponents partially busy. Or maybe you want to keep the other busy while Carl and I defeat them?”

Largo: “I don't need you; I can deal with them 1 on 1. I'll take care of my own opponent, so you'd better not mess up with yours.”

Aenthar: “... I see... So, who is your opponent, so we don't accidentally intrude on your fight?”

Largo: “I'll take care of the guy on the left. Now don't bother me.”

Aenthar: “So he says, so Carl? Want to go along with my plan? I keep them busy and you finish them.”

Carl: “Y-yes, that's fine.”

Aenthar: “Ok, so when the fight starts, I'll close the distance with the other 2 and try to keep their attention on me. I want you to try and sneak around to their flank to attack, understood?”

Carl: “Yes.”

Shortly after, Natasha walked to the field and asked if both teams were ready. When she got the confirmation, she gave the signal to start. I immediately casted speed enhancement on both Carl and me, and sprinted across the field toward the girl in the middle and the guy on the right. While moving, I poured a lot of mana into a fireball and launched it towards the right side of the girl to force her to dodge to her left and create an opening for me to get closer to the second guy.

The 3 of them had also closed enough distance to cast spells in a more cost-effective range. The moment I started to cast my fireball, their spells were already almost ready. Since I was a bit faster than them, my spell was launched before theirs’. Once the girl launched her spell, she was confronted with a huge fireball hurtling towards her. As expected, she dodged to the left. As for the other 2 spells, I used my speedy reflexes and swerved around them while advancing. Now their group was separated in 2, and the third guy was caught by surprise when he saw Largo attacking him.

But I refused to pay more attention to him. Largo wanted to deal with him alone, hence it was his problem, not mine. After firing the first fireball, I assaulted the 2 with rock throw. I usually could simultaneously cast 2-3 spells, but rock throw was so simple I could cast 4 of it, which was a bad surprise for everybody. Aside from a few gifted individual, they couldn't dual cast in combat situation yet.

I managed to suppress the 2 with the simple earth spell. They were well trained and formed wards and walls to defend themselves. However, I quickly overwhelmed their defenses. Each time they tried to attack me, I would dissipate their spells with gram, or fire a rock at their own magic projectile. Because of my fast attack rate, they needed to keep 1 person on defense and the other on offense, and with that and the speed enhancement, Carl managed to successfully flank them.

The one who was defending took a rock spike in the side, making the crest glow orange and disturbing him for 2 seconds. That was when they remembered that Largo and I weren't their only opponents. Not wasting the opening, I bowled them over with wind blast, and Carl finished them off with a scorching fire wave. Seems like I was not the only one who could be tough with girls, Carl himself burned a few of her hairs. Their crests glowed red, indicating a knock-out. He went to apologize to the girl afterward, and his opponent grudgingly forgave him.

At the same time, Largo defeated his opponent with a water spear. It was a good thing that he could live up to his boasts, or I would have had to rub salt in his already wounded pride. And with that, we won the match. But the match also took a lot of my mana. I had been spamming spell after spell for dozens of seconds, and since I was still inexperienced at using gram I wasted a lot of mana. We wouldn't get the best mark for teamwork for this battle, but it shouldn’t be too bad as Carl and I had good cooperation.

The next team battle took place the following day, with members of the martial arts department. I decided to take my staff but got rid of the metal reinforcements. The protective gear for the members of the martial arts department was slightly different. The clothing was more of a tight fit, with added light armored around the chest, and gloves. The gloves and the boots had protectors on them, and the crests were positioned on the gloves, below the wrist.

For this match I was teamed up with Francisco Drega and 2 other commoners, one mage and one swordsman. As we were a team of 4 randomly assembled, I couldn't help but think of Left 4 Dead, and for a another rare moment I missed my old world entertainment. Our opponents were a team of 4 as well, 2 mages and 2 fighters. The mages were a guy and girl pair I often saw during classes. As for the fighters, they were both girls with whom I slept at night... Seeing them, I face palmed.

Francisco: “What's the matter? Don't tell me you forgot something right before the match!”

The other 2 guys looked at me worriedly.

Aenthar: “No, it's not that... The 2 fighter girls on the opposing team, they are friends of mine. We are used to fight side by side and to spar with each other. We know each other well...”

Swordsman: “Hoo? You know Kerrina and Muriem? Wait, so you're the unknown guy who taught Muriem her weird fighting style?”

Aenthar: “Yes! And no, I'm too busy; I don't have time to spare... Hey, you know, this is our first battle in opposing teams in an official match; it's different from our sparring during training. Sorry about that, but I will be focusing on them.”

As I said that, I blew a kiss towards the girls while widely grinning. That made Muriem laugh, while Kerrina just smiled. My gaze was completely fixated on them, and I swear I must have had the expression of a predator who found delicious prey. I was excited to confront them in an official match, and I think the girls were as well. They probably understood that I would be going after them. However, I wasn't sure they would go along with my wishes, which made me a bit anxious.

Swordsman: “Whoa... you look really... motivated...”

Francisco: “... You made up your mind I see... You know what; I'll help you get some private time with them. It will be like you did in your match from yesterday, you keep them busy while we deal with the rest.”

Aenthar: “I appreciate that; I'll make it up to you later!”

I flexed my legs, ready to dart toward them, spinning my staff in my right hand. Seeing this, Muriem got into a similar position, her practice halberd held firmly in front of her, a beautiful smile on her face. As the chatter between the members of the 2 teams died out, Natasha moved toward the edge of the field.

Natasha: “Are you done with your preparations?” Everyone nodded. “Ready? BEGIN!!”

Casting speed enhancement on both me and the swordsman, I flew towards the 2 beauties at top speed.

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AN: Yay!! Cliffhanger!!