Chapter 96: Fire and Wind

“Boom—”

A powerful sonic boom echoed.

The stage floor shattered beneath the explosion and collision of the two’s Magic.

A blue energy storm spread between them, the shockwave sending both of them stumbling back several steps.

Liyakade found it a bit harder to withstand than Sistem, barely steadying herself after a few shaky steps.

Even Field, who had been approaching from not far away, halted in place from the impact, raising her Sword in front of her to shield herself.

The Protective Array set up earlier also trembled lightly under the force.

If not for this protection, the Audience below would likely have been sent tumbling.

Even through the barrier, everyone could feel the intense wind swirling around the two.

The girls faced each other.

A gust swept through Liyakade’s hair, fluttering the hem of her skirt.

“So these are the two strongest at the Academy?”

The Audience couldn’t help but cheer for them.

“Go, Miss Liyakade!!!”

“Her Highness Sistem is the strongest!!!”

As expected, the gap in levels couldn’t be ignored.

Even if the difference was only a few, in a direct clash, Sistem still held some advantage.

Liyakade had no intention of giving Sistem a chance to chant or widen the distance.

She intended to make full use of her advantage in close combat.

The next second, Wind Element Acceleration wrapped around her feet, and Liyakade darted forward like a flash, closing the gap instantly.

Her small, Wind Element–imbued fist drove straight toward Sistem.

But her punch was stopped mid-air.

Sistem wasn’t unprepared.

The moment Liyakade moved, a blue Wind Barrier rose before Sistem.

Though she lacked close combat skills, her self-defense was solid.

Liyakade’s attack didn’t stop.

Her Wind Element–charged fist struck the Wind Barrier repeatedly, visible cracks spreading across its surface.

Yet Sistem wasn’t content with mere defense.

As Liyakade threw another punch, shattering the barrier, a blue Whirlwind surged up beside Sistem, rushing at Liyakade.

“Useless!”

Liyakade didn’t retreat.

Instead, she stepped forward, quickly forming a Wind Blade to strike back, aiming to disperse the Whirlwind.

But it was incredibly resilient.

Her Wind Blade failed to cut through.

Instead, Liyakade was pushed back again.

Still, this only delayed her assault.

It couldn’t fully defeat her.

Sistem’s eyes sharpened.

She pressed her hands downward, then thrust them forward.

The surrounding Wind Element gathered rapidly, spinning and accelerating.

Within moments, a massive Tornado formed beside her.

The storm ripped up the cracked ground, sending debris flying toward Liyakade, trying to pull her in.

At that moment, Liyakade felt her eyes stinging, a powerful suction threatening to drag her in.

Even if she tried to use her speed to escape, she’d only be sucked back, missing her chance to defend.

So, a head-on confrontation became her best option.

At that instant, Field arrived at Liyakade’s side.

“Liyakade, let’s do this together!”

Facing the terrifying energy storm, Field stood firm beside her.

Though her opponent was her own sister, and memories of childhood defeat made her feel fear and frustration, Field found courage with Liyakade at her side.

Just moments ago, with Liyakade’s help, she had already proven she could withstand Sistem’s attacks.

Now, standing together, she believed she could do anything.

“Miss Liyakade, I’ll help too!”

Alice didn’t stay idle in the rear.

Golden Light enveloped Liyakade and Field, easing the pressure on them.

“Mm, thank you, Alice.”

Liyakade turned her head slightly, nodding toward Alice, then looked at Field.

“Let’s use that move.”

“Alright.”

“Hey, what are you two whispering about? This isn’t the time for flirting!”

Sistem scowled at her sister and Liyakade’s interaction, feeling strangely annoyed.

She willed the Tornado forward with both hands, refusing to give Liyakade another chance.

The next instant, the Tornado surged, threatening to tear up the ground beneath Liyakade.

Field gripped her Sword with both hands, standing before Liyakade as Fire Element gathered.

Flames erupted along the Sword, while behind her, Liyakade pushed both hands forward, Wind Element condensing.

When flames are small, a strong wind can snuff them out.

A candle or match can be blown out with a single breath—just as Field had once been easily defeated by Sistem.

But as the flames grew, the wind would only fuel their fury, letting them rise higher and burn brighter.

Fire and wind were not rivals, but companions, just like Field and Liyakade now.

A Fire Dragon Vortex rose, swirling around them, shielding them from the storm.

The Tornado tried to consume them, but was halted by the crimson fire ring, unable to advance further.

With a slash from Field’s Sword, pillars of fire erupted from the ground, wrapping in the raging wind and forming Fire Whirlwinds that dyed Sistem’s storm with a fiery hue.

Under the constant tug and distortion, Sistem’s Tornado was gradually unraveled by the Fire Whirlwinds.

Field thrust her Sword again.

A burst of explosive force tore through, Fire Whirlwinds detonating and shattering the Tornado.

“What!? Impossible!”

Sistem felt her Magic drained, staring in shock at the two figures wreathed in flames.

If Field defending against her Storm Spear had been within her expectations, the current scene was beyond anything she could accept.

When had her little sister become so strong?

Was it because of Liyakade?

The searing heat and shockwave slammed into Sistem.

She raised her arms to shield herself, conjuring another Wind Barrier, but it shattered instantly.

She leapt back, landing lightly off the stage.

“Hmph… I’ll give it to you.”

In this situation, Sistem had no desire to keep fighting.

Reality had proven that the three working together truly had the power to defeat her.

Continuing would only drag out her inevitable loss.

Besides, the three were unusually united.

Even if they still had to compete afterward, none of them hesitated to expend all their Magic to eliminate her first.

Without knocking her out, none of them would rest.

Besides, this reward was always meant for them.

Let them divvy it up themselves.

Thus, after her Wind Barrier shattered, Sistem didn’t try to resist the heat, letting it knock her off the stage.

“Her Highness Sistem, eliminated!!!”

“I didn’t expect the first to be eliminated would be the strongest—Her Highness Sistem!”

“But to hold out so long against three opponents without falling behind is incredible.”

The Host declared Sistem’s defeat, narrating the battle to the Audience.

“Unfair! How could it be three against one? If it was one-on-one, Her Highness Sistem wouldn’t have lost!”

Some in the Audience protested on Sistem’s behalf.

“So what? It was a four-person free-for-all. Teaming up is normal, right?”

“Besides, Her Highness Sistem was the strongest on paper. It’s natural to target her first.”

“This only proves how powerful Her Highness Sistem truly is.”

“By the way, Field’s strength grew so much—this move was amazing! Our Kingdom’s Third Princess isn’t that far behind the Second Princess!”

“Princess Field is so cool!!!”

“Princess Field, go!!!”

“We…did it?”

As the flames dissipated, Field stared at the Sword in her hand in a daze, then looked toward Sistem standing offstage, realizing what had happened.

Ever since she was easily defeated by Sistem as a child, Field had dreamed of one day overcoming her.

She never imagined that day would come—especially on such a grand stage.

Though Sistem hadn’t used her full strength, and though Liyakade and Alice supported her, the fact remained: She had done it.

She had not only withstood the Storm Spear, but also driven Sistem back with a single slash.

Hearing the Audience cheer her name, Field felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy.

In truth, the opponent she wanted to defeat wasn’t Sistem, but the fear and self-doubt born from her sister.

But after spending time with Liyakade, she no longer felt that fear.

Sistem wasn’t as distant as she’d believed.

“Liyakade, I—”

“Hey! What are you doing!”

“Damn, how did I still fail to land a sneak attack?!”