[Raul PoV]
The spectators remained in a stunned silence after witnessing the match between Valeria and Prince Vlad. They couldn't comprehend what had happened to Valeria, who had suddenly approached the Prince without a shred of defense. Her magic shot, which should have secured her victory, had missed entirely without any clear interference, allowing Vlad to turn the tables and defeat her with ease.
In the stands, the other participants were locked in a heated discussion about what had truly transpired.
"It's almost certain that was one of Prince Vlad's Profound Codices!"
"He could control Valeria's body at will... could it be telekinesis!?"
"But telekinesis is a Profound Codex exclusive to the Children of Destruction, isn't it?"
Their debate didn't even come close to the truth.
In reality, that was one of Prince Vlad's Profound Codex abilities: Assimilate. It's an ability that allows the user to synchronize their blood type with that of another person. Vlad's Blood Nature Mana allows him to manipulate his own blood at will, but it doesn't normally allow him to control others' blood because it differs from his own. With this ability, the Prince can bypass the natural limitations of his Nature Mana.
There is one specific condition for Vlad to activate Assimilate: he must ingest or lick the blood of the enemy he intends to mimic. If you recall the match, Vlad managed to wound Valeria's shoulder with his blood shuriken. He then licked the blood off the blade and activated his Codex. That is why the Prince could move Valeria's body as if he were using telekinesis.
This case serves as a prime example of why information is a critical factor in battle. Victory is guaranteed when your enemy is ignorant of your capabilities. I am certain Valeria wouldn't have lost had she known about Vlad's trick beforehand. However, one must admit that gathering intelligence on such rare Nature Mana and Profound Codices is an incredibly difficult task.
"Let us move on to the next match!"
The Promoter resumed the tournament proceedings. "Our next competitors are Brian versus Tesoro Devano!"
Ah, it's finally that guy's turn. Time to see the Hero's growth after surviving the survival exam. His opponent is a third-year student. I wonder when my turn for this first round will come? There are 16 matches scheduled for the first day; it's going to be a very long afternoon.
I glanced over at Elena. The seat beside her was empty, as Vlad was currently in the infirmary receiving treatment after his match. I approached her for a brief chat.
"Ah, Raul? You look troubled. Are you nervous about your first match?" Elena asked.
"A little," I lied. "If I lose, the Student Council's decision to cut the Lancer Club's budget will be rescinded."
"Your opponent is Senior Emilia, right? She's one of the strongest in the third year, you know," Elena said, trying to warn me.
"Don't worry, President. I wouldn't have made this wager if I wasn't sure of a win," I said, trying to ease her concerns.
"You have to win," Elena replied. "If you lose, the Student Council's reputation will be tarnished, and many other clubs might revolt against our future decisions."
That was understandable. Moreover, if I were to lose, my plan to harvest the deep resentment of the Lancer Club members would go to waste, hindering my progress in unlocking new abilities from my own Profound Codex.
Speaking of Emilia, she wasn't in the stands at the moment. If I recall correctly, a middle-aged man in formal military attire had just arrived to call for her. Was her father looking to speak with her before the match?
We turned our focus back to the arena. Brian and Senior Tesoro were already in the center of the ring, which was still slightly scarred from the previous bout between Valeria and Vlad.
"Are both participants ready?" the Promoter asked.
Both nodded, signaling their readiness.
"The third match of the Grunbelt Academy Tournament, begin!"
Both fighters immediately used Accel magic to close the gap. Both were Swordmaster-type fighters. There are generally three distinct styles of sword combat:
Sword Dancers: Martial artists who focus on Agility. Their primary role is often protecting Mages and Healers or acting as Support to assist in group combat.
Warriors: Experts in two-handed greatswords who focus on Power. In a team, they usually serve as the Executors, delivering the finishing blow to massive monsters.
Swordmasters: This type maintains a balance between Power and Agility. This style is highly popular because it lacks any significant weaknesses in a duel.
—Clang!
Brian and Tesoro began trading blows. For now, Senior Tesoro appeared to have the upper hand. This was to be expected; they were currently relying on physical magic, an area where third-year students have significantly more experience. Brian needs to take the initiative and avoid falling into Tesoro's rhythm if he wants to gain the advantage.
Back in the ring, Brian launched a combo to reclaim the flow of the battle. Tesoro managed to evade four of Brian's strikes and parried the remaining two. However, this shifted the momentum back toward the center. The Senior took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He gripped his sword with both hands and shouted a spell.
"Water Dragon Current!"
A flow of water erupted around Tesoro's body, enveloping his blade. It seemed he was getting serious.
"Justice Spirit!"
Not to be outdone, Brian activated his own magic. A golden light shrouded his body and his sword. Both lunged at each other once more to resume the fight.
***
[Emilia PoV]
The cheers of the crowd grew louder, and I could hear several explosions coming from the arena. It seemed the match between Tesoro and that student named Brian was intensifying. I trust Tesoro will win; he is one of the best in the third year.
Currently, I am heading toward the VIP stands for the nobles and military officials. One of my father's aides had summoned me to see him. Upon arriving, I saw my father watching the match alongside other nobles. His aide approached him and whispered something in his ear.
My father looked back and smiled at me. He rose from his seat and walked toward me.
"Emilia, I'm sorry we couldn't talk much yesterday," my father said gently. "I had to speak with several other nobles at the time."
"It's alright, Father," I replied. "I hope this can be quick, as I need to prepare for my match."
I could already guess what he wanted to talk about. He likely wanted to discuss my desire to join the Calvatra Knight Order after graduation. Given that I am ranked in the top ten of the academy, I would normally be able to enter the Empire's strongest knight unit without any conditions.
By joining this Order, I would be one step closer to my lifelong dream: becoming one of the Grand Espada—the seven strongest knights in the Empire. Only those with the rank of Master from the Calvatra Order can challenge a Grand Espada to take their title.
"Ah, regarding the match, who is your opponent for the first round?" Father asked.
"Raul de Garcia—son of Duke Alvaro," I answered.
Why was he asking me this? Hadn't all the guests been provided with the tournament brackets by Headmaster William?
"Raul de Garcia, huh...?" Father murmured softly.
"Are you here to stop me from joining the Knight Order, Father?" I asked point-blank.
"Of course, Emilia," Father replied casually. "You are my only child. I want you to focus on managing our territory after your graduation."
"Haven't I told you? I want to pursue my dream of becoming a Grand Espada," I stated firmly.
One of the requirements for being a Grand Espada is that you must always be ready near the Emperor to receive his commands. I couldn't possibly do that if I had to remain at home managing our family's lands.
"Why don't you just have your subordinates manage the territory, as some of the other Grand Espada do?" I asked him earnestly.
Hearing my words, Father simply sighed. "You know why, Emilia. You are a woman," he said seriously. "The military men in our territory will look down on you if you don't establish your authority there."
The Cataluna territory is a small city on the Empire's northeast border. Because it borders two other nations, the Empire turned our city into a fortress to serve as the main headquarters for troops in the northeast region. Ten thousand soldiers live in the city, not including their families. Two-thirds of our population consists of soldiers; the rest are native citizens.
Currently, women are often sidelined from military leadership positions because the soldiers dislike being led into battle by us. That is why my father insists I stay home and blend in with the troops so I can control them when I eventually succeed him.
However, I want to chase my dream. With my skills and talent, I believe I have the chance to become the second woman to earn a Grand Espada position after Liana de Grantz.
"Very well, I won't force you anymore after this, Emilia," Father said, seemingly having made a decision. "But on one condition..."
"What condition do you want, Father?"
"I want you to at least reach the finals of this tournament," Father replied coldly. "If you cannot do this, then it is clear you have no talent to become a Grand Espada, and you must follow my words. Understood?"
The finals, huh? I believe I can reach them.
"It's a deal," I told him. "I believe in my abilities. That's why I won't give up on my dream!"
Father simply nodded in response.
—Bomb!
Suddenly, a loud explosion thundered from the direction of the arena. My father and I rushed to the stands to see what had happened, and I was shocked by the sight in the arena.
"The winner of the third match of this tournament is Brian!" the Promoter announced.
It's impossible! Tesoro was defeated by a second-year student!? What is going on? Two third-year students have already lost to them. Are our juniors truly that strong now!?
"The next match will be Emilia de Cataluna versus Raul de Garcia!"
As soon as the Promoter made the announcement, a thunderous cheer erupted from one of the stands. A group of Lancer Club members was shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Finally, President Emilia is going to fight that rotten noble!"
"If she wins, our budget won't be cut!"
It seemed everyone was here to support me in defeating that man. Seeing this, I smiled at their conspicuous behavior. I cannot fail; all the club members are counting on me. If I lose, not only will my dreams end, but the future of my juniors at the academy next year will be incredibly grim.
"Raul de Garcia, I will defeat you!"