Extra Of The Magus Academy

The roar of the crowd filled the grand arena, their anticipation thick in the air as Ashfelt Zephyr and Leera of the Asura Spirit Academy faced each other across the battlefield.

The stark contrast between the two fighters was immediately evident—Ash, lean and agile, his expression carefully composed, and Leera, standing tall and unyielding, her muscular frame encased in layers of earthen armor that pulsed with latent power.

Ash could feel the weight of the fight before it even began.

Leera’s reputation preceded her; she was a walking fortress, blending raw power with endurance that seemed limitless. Unlike Fey, who had overwhelmed him with precise control and relentless ice, Leera embodied the sheer brute force of the earth itself.

"Fighters, ready!" Beatrice Lampshade’s voice boomed through the arena.

Ash took a deep breath, flexing his fingers as a soft breeze circled around him, his Medium-Grade Wind Spirit shimmering faintly at his side.

"Begin!"

BOOM!

Leera wasted no time.

The ground beneath her cracked and surged as she stomped forward, summoning a hulking stone golem that towered over Ash. Its massive fists slammed down toward him, forcing him to dodge with a sharp gust of wind.

"[Swift Step]!"

Ash moved like a shadow in the wind, gliding across the battlefield with effortless speed. He zipped around the colossus, launching rapid bursts of wind blades at its legs, but they bounced harmlessly off its dense rock exterior.

"Useless," Leera muttered under her breath, and with a flick of her hand, the golem swung at Ash again, faster than before.

Ash cursed under his breath, dodging narrowly.

’Not good. This thing’s too sturdy.’

He shot forward with a surge of wind, aiming for Leera directly. With a quick chant, he fired a concentrated burst—[Gale Lance], a sharp wind projectile that could slice through steel.

But Leera was ready.

"[Earthen Bastion]!"

The ground rose up in response, forming a thick wall of reinforced stone that absorbed the impact effortlessly.

Dust scattered everywhere, but as it settled, Leera stood unscathed behind her fortress.

"You can’t break through," she said, her eyes cold and calculating. Without warning, the earth beneath Ash rumbled, and spikes shot up in an attempt to skewer him.

Ash barely avoided them, twisting midair with an aerial maneuver before landing lightly a few meters away. His breathing grew heavier.

’She’s not just strong—she’s strategic,’ he realized. ’She’s forcing me into a battle of endurance... and I can’t win that.’

Leera advanced again, her steps causing tremors.

She clenched her fists, and layers of earth began to encase her body—her [Granite Bulwark] technique. A thick, jagged armor covered her from head to toe, making her an impenetrable juggernaut.

Ash scowled. ’My Wind Spirit is at a disadvantage here. My attacks don’t have enough force to break through her defenses.’

A low rumble echoed as Leera summoned another golem, this one smaller but faster, darting across the battlefield with surprising agility.

Ash flipped backward to avoid its charge, using his wind to stay aloft, but the golem lunged at him midair, catching him by surprise.

He barely managed to block with a barrier spell—[Aero Shield]—but the impact sent him crashing back to the ground, rolling across the dirt.

"Ugh!" Ash groaned, coughing as he pushed himself up. Leera’s relentless assault continued, golems swarming toward him while she herself charged at a steady pace.

"You’re too weak," she said simply, her voice unwavering. "Your wind is nothing against my earth. Give up."

Ash wiped the blood trickling from his lip, eyes narrowing.

"Not happening."

He quickly created a gust of wind beneath himself, propelling him into the sky again. His only advantage was mobility, but even that wouldn’t last forever. The longer the battle dragged on, the worse it would get for him.

Leera raised both hands, and multiple jagged stone pillars shot up into the air, aiming to swat him down like an insect. He twisted midair, narrowly avoiding them, but he could feel the strain.

His body was beginning to tire.

’Think, Ash… think!’ He bit his lip, feeling frustration bubble up.

Every time he tried to attack, she would block or counter him. Every attempt to wear her down only drained his own stamina.

Then it clicked.

’Wait a second… that’s it!’

With a sudden burst of wind, Ash created distance between them, landing on the far end of the battlefield.

He stood there, his chest heaving, but a smile tugging at his lips. @@novelbin@@

Leera frowned at his expression. "Why are you smiling?"

Ash straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow and staring at her with newfound confidence. "I’ve finally figured it out."

Leera’s eyes narrowed in response. "Hmph. Let’s see if your plan can withstand the weight of my power."

Ash tightened his grip, his Wind Spirit flaring with newfound energy as he prepared for his next move.

’We’re just getting started!’

BWUUUSH!!!

The battlefield was engulfed in a dense smokescreen, swirling gusts of ash and wind creating an eerie haze that swallowed the entire stage.

The spectators murmured in suspense, unable to see what was happening within the thick veil.

Leera stood in the middle of the battlefield, her ears straining to catch any hint of movement within the oppressive fog. Her granite-clad body was a fortress, impervious to Ash’s relentless wind-based attacks.

She clenched her fists.

"This won’t help you," she muttered under her breath, sending a silent command to her golems.

The hulking figures of stone rushed into the smoke with heavy, earth-shaking strides. The ground quaked beneath their weight as they vanished into the thick cloud. The crowd held their breath, waiting for the inevitable clash.

And then—

THUD. THUD.

Two stone heads rolled out from the smokescreen, crashing onto the arena floor with a resounding thump. Leera’s eyes widened, her jaw tightening. The golems she had sent in were dismantled with such speed that she hadn’t even sensed Ash’s presence near them.

’What... what happened in there?’ she thought, unease creeping into her usually steadfast demeanor.

But she quickly shook off the feeling.

If Ash thought he could intimidate her with tricks, he was mistaken.

"Enough of this," she said, raising both hands high.

The ground trembled violently as she channeled her Spirit Art to its maximum output. A massive golem, nearly twice the size of any she had summoned before, erupted from the earth, its towering form casting a shadow over the battlefield.

"[Titan’s Hand]!" Leera commanded.

With a mighty swipe, the golem’s massive arm surged forward, dispersing the thick smokescreen in one powerful motion.

Dust and debris scattered into the air, revealing Ashfelt Zephyr on one knee, panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face.

His Wind Spirit hovered faintly beside him, flickering with exhaustion.

No one knew when it was that he activated [Externalization], but it had to be during the attack of the Golems. However, with his energy now spent, and his Spirit on the verge of disappearance, he was at his wits end.

Leera smirked. "You’re done, Zephyr."

She advanced toward him cautiously, her earthen armor shifting with each step.

Even with his cunning tricks, she held the advantage.

Her defenses were impenetrable, and her towering golem stood ready to crush any last-ditch effort from Ash. Step by step, she closed the distance, her piercing eyes watching for any sign of deception.

Ash didn’t move, only breathing heavily, his hands gripping the ground as if trying to stay upright.

As she drew closer, her instincts screamed at her to be cautious—but it was too late.

Suddenly—

The solid ground beneath her feet vanished.

"What?!" Leera gasped in shock as her body lurched forward. Before she could react, she found herself falling off the edge of the stage, her hands reaching out in vain to grasp onto something—anything—but the illusionary floor beneath her had betrayed her senses completely.

With a hard thud, she landed outside the arena boundary. Your journey continues with NovelBin.Côm

The crowd exploded in gasps and cheers.

Still standing on the stage, Ash wiped the sweat from his brow and forced a small, tired smile.

"Looks like... you fell for it."

Leera stared up at him from below, her face a mixture of disbelief and confusion. "But... you’re still standing there... How? I didn’t sense any mirages..."

Ash chuckled weakly. "It wasn’t me that was an illusion... It was the ground itself."

Realization dawned on Leera’s face as she pieced it together.

Ash hadn’t used a simple illusion spell to trick her sight; he had altered the perception of the battlefield, making the solid arena floor appear continuous when, in reality, it wasn’t. She had unknowingly walked straight off the stage, her confidence in her defenses blinding her to the trick.

"You manipulated the terrain…?" she murmured, still in shock.

Ash exhaled deeply. "Yeah. Wind and illusion spells together can make for a nasty combo... I just needed to tire you out and wait for the right moment."

Beatrice’s voice happily rang through the air.

"Winner: Ashfelt Zephyr of the Akashic Magus Academy!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, but Ash could barely enjoy it. His legs buckled slightly as he steadied himself, exhaustion threatening to take over. Despite his victory, he had been pushed to his absolute limits.

Leera clenched her fists from outside the ring, her expression hard.

"Tch... I underestimated you."

Ash smiled tiredly. "Don’t worry. You’re not the first."

With that, he turned and walked toward the waiting area, each step feeling heavier than the last. The next fight wouldn’t be any easier, and despite his victory, doubt gnawed at the back of his mind.

’If I had to push myself this far against Leera... how will I handle what’s next?’

He cast his gaze on a particular person who stood in a corner, preparing for the next match that would take place—Seth Zephyr.

’Can I possibly win against him?’

*********

’Brother… you’ve really gotten strong.’ Seth thought to himself as he climbed on the stage to face his next opponent.

The boy from the Nirvana Gate Academy had a pompous expression on his face, almost as if he didn’t think there was any chance for him to lose.

However, Seth wasn’t particularly focused on the lad.

His thoughts were on Ash.

’You can already use [Externalization], and true to your words… you made it to the finals.’

Seth felt his lips curl up into a smile as he had the thought.

’I’ll be sure to see you there!’