Spatial Magicians

"Yo, I'm back. You wouldn't believe who I just met, Digni!"

"Calm down and take a seat."

Shortly after the announcement, Wang Jin returned. He seemed to be in a good mood.

"So? Who'd you meet?"

"Donna Arison!"

"Oh, her? Good job, I guess?"

I was surprised that Wang Jin returned without a single scar on his body. Donna was pretty well known for inflicting terrifyingly grotesque injuries on her opponents.

Like an assassin, she'd find the best way to strike down each and every one of her enemies with her blade.

"Wait, why does it sound like you know her? Is she like, your sister?"

"Is that what it sounds like?"

"Yeah. And I know damn well you have some dirt on her the same way you have dirt on that Lorelai girl!"

"Whoa, chill. I really don't."

Wang Jin lowered his eyes at me. Am I really that untrustworthy?

"Anyway, the battle's about to start," I said, changing the subject.

The arena from earlier had been changed from a forest to the same flat platform in the first few battles.

It was barren and had no obstacles. No trees to obscure vision, no bushes to hide in. It was just a good old square platform.

Percivale was the first to head in. His small, frail stature looked like it would crumble under the watch of thousands of people.

He was always known for being a timid person, and that never really changed even as he grew older. He simply preferred staying in the shadows rather than being in the limelight.

But then again, Spatial Magic versus a girl who controls space inside an area… maybe the Academy should've drawn the lots better.

I could see Cendria Macador at the judges' table slightly raising her eyes at the sight of Percivale. Perhaps she's seen it too, the potential both Eri siblings hold.

Not that I was gonna let anyone take them from me. Sayuri's going to have to kill me first.

Anthony Wywear had the same reaction when he saw Rokas in battle. Although he was probably more on the "wanting to take him as a disciple" than Sayuri's "recruit to the guild."

Surely, the Regressor must've caught the attention of many high ranking heroes.

Oh, Donna's coming up. I could feel the sheer energy Wang Jin was displaying at the sight of her body appearing.

Hmm. She looks great. The katana in her hand seems to be an artifact too, probably in the C to B range.

"The first person to make their opponent lose consciousness or admit defeat will be declared the victor of this match."

The robot referee appeared once again and cited the rules of the match. Unlike John and Elliot's slightly modified duel, this one was just basic-basic

"Ready? Fight!"

The moment the referee's voice rang throughout the arena, both players charged toward each other.

Percivale was a little slower, due to him having a naturally weaker constitution.

Donna was the first to appear, slashing down at the shocked Percivale with her katana.

The younger Eri was able to react to it, though. With his magic, he created a small portal at an angle, allowing the blade to pass through.

He then created another portal in a location away from him, where the sword passed through.

How dexterous. Percivale can really be innovative with his magic if he puts his mind to it. Making an attack hit a different place rather than trying to stop it probably cost way less mana.

Donna was quick with her hands, too. She pulled her sword out from the portal, just in time for it to close.

Percivale was trying to cut off her hand from the sword in an attempt to disarm her but failed. I love the idea.

"Chamber."

Damn, already? She's already activated her trump card.

Better get out of there, Percivale.

The area around Donna was suddenly engulfed in a blue sphere, encompassing almost half of the arena.

It kept on expanding, trying to capture Percivale in its grasp.

While he was distracted by the Room's increasing size, Donna took advantage of his diverted attention and slashed at Percivale.

Just like the same time, she was met with opposition from the same portal, diverting her attack elsewhere.

Surprisingly enough, Percivale was able to dodge away from Donna's rapid-fire slashes, portaling away some of the hits that got too close.

But still, Donna closed the distance as best as she could.

Come to think of it, none of them are speaking. I guess that's what happens when you put two loners together in a fight. No sound will be uttered from them other than groans of pain.

"She's getting close," I muttered.

Donna was now all up in Percivale's face. Even he was finding it difficult to counter so many hits at once.

It was inevitable that he would suffer a few hits from this.

"Kick her ass, Percy!"

I looked to my right and noticed Alter cheering for Percivale in a loud voice. That's the first time I've ever seen her with a smile on her face.

As if he could hear his sister's cheers, Percivale's speed suddenly rose, and he was back to redirecting Donna's attacks again.

"Give up."

"N-never!"

Well, isn't that a sight?

In a fraction of a second, Percivale had manifested a human-sized portal that took the entirety of Donna's sword with it.

Then, he folded his hands into a gun and fired a beam of spatial energy at lightning speed.

His aim was shaky, however. The beam narrowly missed Donna's face, leaving a scar on her cheek.

"Chamber."

In an instant, Percivale was surrounded by the same blue sphere. I could see him beginning to lose control over his body.

Donna simultaneously used both her hands to make Percivale levitate and her sword float back towards her.

Percivale's lucky. If there were any other objects inside, like a chair or a table, then Donna could've flung them at him for maximum damage.

But for now, she couldn't do much besides moving his body ten or so feet off the ground.

"No, not yet!"

With a look of determination across his face, Percivale blinked away from Donna's Chamber via the portal.

Chamber magic held a fatal flaw within it. In Miss Arison's case, it was the extremely large amount of mana even required to bring the spell to life.

Plus, a refined control over mana was needed to keep it going. Considering how everything inside the Chamber was basically under her control (albeit at varying degrees), then Donna would have to expend lots of fuel to even consider lifting up a person.

At her level, she could at most use Chamber at its full power no more than three times. Any more, and she'd risk it crumbling apart.

This was her second time using it since the start of the match. She must be a bit tired now, seeing as her swings have gotten slower.

It was at this time that Percivale realized his one advantage over Donna: his range.

Unlike Miss Arison who could only affect areas within a certain distance, Percivale could conjure portals twice the size of a human if need be, and at a farther distance than his enemy could.

And although I didn't tell him, he must've seen the difference in Donna's current power output and from the start of the round. He probably surmised that she wouldn't be able to cast Chamber any more than once.

"Now's as good a time as any to go ham."

Percivale made the same gun gesture with his fingers and fired continuous blasts of spatial magic.

Each beam was no thicker than a pencil, and yet the power it carried within it surpassed even the highest damage I could inflict at the moment.

This was when Percivale's true talent as a magician would start to shine.

Now, I wonder how Donna's going to react. She's definitely not the type to give up just because she's on her last legs.

Room wasn't the only card she could play, of course.