I was still alive.
Barely.
I walked out of the ring, chest heaving, sweat running down my back, and legs made of pudding. The status window blinked again in the corner of my vision like a smug alarm clock.
⚠️ "WARNING: Predicted Death — Today."
"Oh come on!" I groaned. "I just beat a half-giant with a sword the size of a tree! Can I at least get a snack before dying?"
Apparently not.
The crowd still whispered about the last match. My name was being thrown around like I was someone important now. It felt weird. I wasn't used to attention that didn't involve someone pointing and laughing.
I sat on a bench, trying to calm my nerves. The 1v1 matches were officially done, and now it was time for the 2v2 battles. Just perfect. Another round of potential doom.
The announcer's voice rang through the arena.
"Next match! Representing Cyran Academy… Noah Drakopoulos and Liora Godfrey!"
I groaned again.
Liora walked by me, tossing her braid behind her shoulder. "Don't lose," she said flatly.
"I'll try," I mumbled, dragging myself towards the ring.
"And their opponents… Thorn Everfall and Mirielle Dawnrune of Elaris Academy!"
"Oh great," I whispered. "The magical school of floaty geniuses."
Liora smirked. "Just don't die."
We walked into the ring together. The crowd cheered. My mom waved like it was a school play. Liora's mother was there too, clapping with an elegant smile that said, "Destroy them, sweetheart."
We stood across from our opponents — two elegant students from Elaris Academy. Thorn had short white hair and eyes that glowed like stars. Mirielle, the girl beside him, looked like she walked out of a painting, with silver-white hair and a calm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"The match will begin in 10 seconds," the announcer called. "Only way to win — make your opponents surrender!"
I cracked my neck. "Ready?"
Liora didn't answer. She was already charging mana into her hands.
Figures.
"3… 2… 1—BEGIN!"
The battle exploded before I could blink.
Thorn snapped his fingers, and the air shimmered. A spiral of silver energy flew toward us like a storm of blades. I jumped to the side, but Liora stepped forward instead, casting a wide shield spell.
The shield cracked but held.
Then Mirielle waved her hand — and the world tilted.
"What the—!?" I stumbled back. It felt like the ground was slipping under me.
"Time magic!" Liora shouted. "She's trying to slow us down!"
"How is that fair?!"
Liora responded with a spell of her own. Her black lightning shot across the field, aiming for both of them. Thorn blocked it with a crystal shield. Mirielle barely moved, casting a wide time barrier around herself.
"We're not winning this!" I yelled.
"No kidding!" Liora yelled back.
The two Elaris students powered up again. Thorn summoned what looked like a constellation above his head — it shimmered and rained starlight down like magic missiles. Mirielle cast another time loop spell, trapping our movements in slow motion.
I struggled to lift my hand. "I feel like I'm swimming in peanut butter!"
Liora bit her lip. "Use your sword!"
"I can't even scratch my nose!"
Then she did something risky.
"Dark Eater!" she shouted.
Black tendrils of cursed mana erupted from her, sucking in magic around us. Thorn's spell fizzled. Mirielle's time loops cracked and shimmered.
Liora was swaying.
She was out of mana.
She dropped to one knee.
"I'm… tapped out…" she muttered.
I stepped in front of her, breathing hard. My body was shaking. My vision blurred.
"Guess it's my turn," I said.
I drew my sword — the thin, black blade with the cursed edge. I could barely hold it.
Thorn, charged at me with an astral weapon made of pure mana. We clashed — blade to blade.
Sparks flew.
He was strong. Fast. Like a spinning storm of magic and steel.
I could barely keep up.
Each strike pushed me back.
My arms hurt. My legs trembled.
I dropped to one knee.
"I'm… not done yet…" I whispered.
I looked behind me.
Liora smiled weakly and cast a small healing spell. Just enough.
I stood again.
"Let's do this," I said, raising my left hand.
I pictured it. Flames. Scales. Wings.
"Black Flaming Dragon."
The air shook.
A black dragon made of fire coiled around me like armor. It roared silently, filling the arena with heat and fear.
Thorn hesitated.
That was enough.
Liora cast one last spell.
"Thunder Shock!"
Her lightning hit my dragon aura — merging.
The fire turned electric.
The arena shook.
"Black Flaming Thunder Dragon!"
They tried to defend.
But it was too late.
A blast of black and gold magic exploded.
BOOM!
Dust and light filled the arena.
When it cleared, both of them were on the ground.
Thorn was groaning. Mirielle raised her hand.
"We surrender!" she said quickly.
"Winners: Noah Drakopoulos and Liora Godfrey!"
The crowd roared.
My mom jumped up and down in the VIP stands. Liora's mom clapped like a queen.
I fell to my knees, exhausted. Liora dropped beside me, panting.
"Not bad," she said.
"You too," I grinned. "For someone who called me dead weight."
She elbowed me.
I didn't mind.
The status window blinked again.
"Warning: Predicted Death… Still active."
"Geez," I muttered. "Can I live for five minutes without dying again?"
Liora and I limped off the stage, still covered in dust and magic sparks. I could barely feel my arms.
We made it back to our team's section. Our teammates — Selene, Aeron, Kara, and Ren — nodded at us. Some of the teachers clapped. Even the usually grumpy Professor Halwin gave us a small nod.
"That was impressive, Noah," he said.
"Honestly, I was shocked," said another teacher. "You performed well."
"Thanks," I said, flopping into my seat. "I only almost died twice."
Liora snorted beside me.
The announcer's voice returned, booming through the arena.
"Next match! Representing Nysira Academy: Ashen Ryel and Kima Solari!"
The crowd clapped politely as the two stepped into the arena.
Ashen looked calm as always — quiet, soft steps, green robes flowing behind him. He carried a staff filled with herbs and a belt full of small potion bottles.
Kima walked beside him, bold and confident, dressed in red with golden cuffs, her wild hair sparking with heat. Fire flickered from her fingertips before the fight even began.
"And their opponents… Representing Gravesend War Institute: Zarah Frostvein and Halek Groar!"
The crowd cheered loudly for Gravesend.
Zarah entered with cold eyes and silver-blue braids. Her ice magic was already forming tiny snowflakes in the air.
Beside her walked Halek Groar — a mountain of muscle wrapped in armor. He carried a massive hammer that shook the ground when he slammed it once as a greeting.
I leaned forward.
This one was going to be brutal.
"Begin!"
Zarah moved first, launching spears of ice. Kima raised a wall of fire to melt them mid-air.
Halek rushed forward, hammer raised.
Ashen calmly tossed a vial into Halek's path — it exploded into a cloud of green gas.
Halek stumbled back, coughing.
"Nice teamwork," I muttered.
Zarah narrowed her eyes. "Try this!"
She slammed her foot on the ground — a wave of ice rushed forward. The field froze over in seconds.
Kima tried to melt it with a flame wave, but Zarah froze the air around her too fast. Kima's fire dimmed. She backed up.
Ashen threw more potions, creating barriers of thick vines and smoke. But Halek smashed through them with ease.
Boom!
One swing of that hammer and Ashen flew backward, landing hard. He didn't get up.
Kima gritted her teeth. "You'll pay for that!"
She raised both hands — a massive fireball formed above her.
But Zarah wasn't done.
She hurled a frost spear — right through the center of the fireball. It shattered it instantly.
Then Halek ran straight through the smoke and hit Kima with a shoulder slam that made the ground crack.
Kima collapsed.
"Winners: Zarah Frostvein and Halek Groar — Gravesend Institute!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps.
I whistled low. "Remind me not to fight those two."
Liora nodded. "Yeah. That team is going to be trouble."