[Alice POV]

  I fixed my eyes on Karla-san and Ketty-san, who were taking a stance with a majestic appearance, right in front of me.

  Those two are powerhouses. Even if I release full-power Fire Magic, they shouldn't get seriously injured. Then, what I'll use is above 《Volkna》, which is above 《Volk》. I'll compete with advanced Fire Magic.

  I thrust out both hands and took a stance. First, a shot instead of a greeting!

  Raging flames.

  《Volark》

  The released flames formed a wall and approached to wrap around the two. Its height greatly exceeded their height—not something they could jump over to dodge.

  Just when it seemed the flames would swallow them, a huge wall of sand rose around them. The flames crashed into it. There, the momentum of the flames stopped and disappeared. When the wall of sand returned to normal, the two appeared with composed expressions as if nothing happened.

  Blocked after all. Well, I didn't think this would pass easily though.

  "Returning the favor!"

  When Karla-san shouted, she shot back a 《Volark》.

  Quality and power are comparable to mine. I had no means to counter it. I'm good at Fire Magic, but not good at defending against fire.

  But this is a Tag Match. I have a reliable ally.

  "Leave it to me."

  Saying so and stepping forward, Milia unleashes Water Magic, probably the advanced 《Tiloum》.

  A raging water current was born, standing in the way before the wall of fire attacked us, extinguishing it in one breath. Enormous steam was generated by the collision of two powerful magics, fire and water. Furthermore, it rolled up the sand of the arena, worsening visibility at once.

  I can see Milia who was nearby, but I lost sight of Karla-san and Ketty-san. Kuh. It's the same for both sides, but like this, I don't know where to attack.

  Troubled unable to move, a veil of light softly covered my body. Then, to my surprise, the visibility suddenly improved.

  "I used 《Arlcumber》. A little poor visibility shouldn't be a problem."

  "Nice. Milia."

  Now I could clearly see the figures of the two moving cautiously while being wary of the surroundings. They haven't noticed us yet. Chance!

  Roar. Thunder.

  《Delsing》

  Firing two high-speed lightning strikes simultaneously, aiming accurately at their locations respectively.

  Due to the surging lightning, they seemed to notice the attack midway. But lightning magic's merit is speed. Chanting magic from now won't make it in time. You can't dodge this!

  As expected, the lightning strikes hit directly magnificently. Their screams of pain echoed in the arena.

  Alright! The preemptive attack succeeded!

  Joy wells up at the fact that we got ahead of the seniors we knew were strong. Clenching my fist tightly, I exchanged eye contact with Milia who looked back at me and shared the joy.

  However.

  Contrary to the loudness of the screams, the two only staggered a little and didn't fall.

  Hmm, no good? The magic I just released had enough power to take a life if the opponent were an ordinary person. But those with Magic Power have resistance to magic. It seems this much won't settle it.

  "You're doing pretty well!"

  Karla-san raises her voice happily.

  "Honestly, I underestimated you."

  Ketty-san said in a tone of "good grief," with a voice loud enough to be heard here, though not as loud as Karla-san. Then the two seemed to exchange a few words. This time the voice didn't reach here, and I don't know what they are saying.

  "What... is coming?" Milia asks worriedly.

  "Who knows. But the attack just now revealed we are here. We have to move quickly...!"

  At that moment, Ketty-san used some magic.

  Right near her, a sphere of darkness with a diameter about life-size appears. It was a magic I had never seen. It sucked in only the steam and rolled-up sand rapidly, clearing up the arena at once.

  Our figures are exposed. With this, the advantage no longer exists.

  Furthermore, taking advantage of the moment our attention was captured by the unidentified magic, Karla-san launched an offensive. She released Wind Magic. Those are blades of wind, small individually but pouring down like rain. Countless blades cut my clothes and skin little by little.

  "Ngh..."

  Pain runs through my whole body. In front of me, Milia was also grimacing and enduring the pain similarly.

  While we were unable to move like that, an extra-large wind pressure hit my abdomen directly. My body floats from the ground. It was an unpleasant floating sensation. Blown backward as is, I am slammed hard against the wall at the edge of the arena. Receiving a big impact on my back, my breath stops.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  When I realized, I was burying my face in the sand. A loud cheer mixed with some screams rises from the spectator seats. My head is dizzy. Bad. Seems I took quite a lot of damage.

  Looking forward, Ketty-san was closing in step by step steadily while capturing me in her vision. That face looks triumphant.

  Thinking Milia must have been blown away similarly, I look to the side. However, her figure was not there.

  Huh? Milia is not there. Where did that girl go!?

  Looking around more properly, the wall on the opposite side of the arena. Milia was down there just like me. And over there, Karla-san was approaching.

  Damn! We got played! The seniors' aim was to divide us...!

  In individual ability, we are inferior to them. But depending on teamwork, they might be forced into a hard fight. Judging so, they took a method to win surely...!

  But you know. We have also made efforts bleeding blood! Even if we became alone, we won't be beaten so easily! I'll somehow get into a posture to cooperate with Milia again, and outwit them with that technique!

  Although staggering, I stood up with spirit.

  "Heh. You have good guts."

  Ketty-san said admiringly.

  "If it's competitive spirit, I have double that of others!"

  Sphere of fire. Pierce that person!

  《Volket》

  I shoot a great fireball made of high-density flames towards Ketty-san in front of me. But just before reaching, it was blocked by an ice shield she made appear.

  "Useless."

  Dark flames were generated from Ketty-san's hand. It clings to her right arm like a snake. When she extended her right arm, the dark flames slipped away from her arm and were released towards me.

  I feel terrifying Magic Power. Intuiting that it would be bad if I took that, I try to dodge moving my staggering body desperately. It was fortunate that the trajectory was straight. The flame attacking while undulating passed right by my side without hitting.

  But the attack doesn't end there.

  Before I knew it, a layer of freezing cold air had covered the surroundings completely. When Ketty-san swung her hand down, signaling it, the cold air was compressed and approached to confine me.

  This time, I couldn't dodge completely.

  "Ouchhhh!"

  Severe pain ran through my right arm. Looking, thick ice was stuck there. Oh my god. It's completely frozen! I can't move it at all!

  Seeing me panic, Ketty-san admonished calmly.

  "For a first-year, you're doing well. But you can't fight with that arm anymore. Surrender and receive treatment."

  It was as Ketty-san said. Indeed, I can't fight properly like this anymore. Besides, if I leave this arm alone, it might involve my life as a mage. I should receive treatment immediately.

  Can't be helped, huh. Receiving those words, I—

  Didn't surrender.

  Manipulating fire with my left hand, I start melting the ice on my right arm. It can't be helped. It's rough treatment, but this is the only way to continue the match.

  "You, how reckless...!"

  Ketty-san was exasperated at the extremity. That's right. I think so too. She seems speechless with exasperation now, but she won't watch forever. I can't take much time. I'll get burned a little, but I have to go with strong fire.

  Like that, I melted all the ice on my right arm at once. Checking that it moves properly by opening and closing my hand, I pointed a finger at Ketty-san with that right hand.

  "You said it, right? That I have double the competitive spirit!"

  Suuuu, inhaling breath. With the feeling of drowning out the cheers of the arena, I shouted.

  "MILIAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

  I saw Milia, who seemed to be struggling against Karla-san in the distance, nod slightly. Apparently, it was conveyed properly. We can't fight much longer. Now is the only time to execute the strategy we planned in advance.

  Yu! I'll borrow your power now!

  Wind. Grant me that speed like a gale.

  《Falspeed》

  I accelerate using the power of wind. For a month, the three of us did special training together. Because it's convenient at that time, this magic Yu taught us thoroughly. I'll use it here now to shake off Ketty-san!

  "Wha-, fast!"

  Slipping past the surprised Ketty-san, I join Milia, who accelerated at the same timing, in the center of the arena. The audience was in an uproar at the sudden development.

  "Ready? We're doing that!"

  "That one. Understood."

  What we aim for is the maximum single blow, putting all remaining Magic Power into it. Don't think about later. In this match, exhaust everything we can put out!

  When Milia willed strongly, a large cloud appeared slightly above the arena. One of the greatest Water Magic she has, 《Tilhine》. Magic to generate clouds with Magic Power.

  Into that, I shoot my full-power advanced Lightning Magic 《Delbart》.

  Then what is created is powerful lightning amplified by the power of the cloud. Its strength and speed are incomparable to the 《Delsing》 I shot earlier or this 《Delbart》. With 《Falspeed》, we completely caught them off guard. Impossible to dodge. With this, even those two surely!

  Gooooo! Combination Magic!

  《Delrain》!

  Extra-large lightning attacked Karla-san and Ketty-san from overhead. It reached the two in just a split second, and dazzling light covered the entire arena. I closed my eyes involuntarily.

  And I heard the sound of lightning reaching the ground.

  Then, opening my eyes fearfully—

  "Ugh..."

  In front of me, the figure of Ketty-san with charred clothes was reflected. Right next to her, the sphere of darkness used earlier to clear steam and dust was floating. It seems she judged instantly to suck in the lightning with that and reduce the power.

  Still, whether she couldn't kill the power completely in an instant, simultaneously with the sphere of darkness being released, she collapsed on the spot with a thud.

  Ketty-san is down. I am standing. What that means is.

  I did it! I did it! We won. We won! Against those two!

  Trying to share the joy of victory, I looked at Milia and Karla-san, who should have fallen similarly first.

  But Milia's expression, which should be happy, was—wrapped in astonishment.

  No wonder. Because shock ran through me too.

  A large hole opened in the sandy ground. Undoubtedly, it was due to the extra-large lightning. Just beside it—

  Karla-san was standing unscathed.

  No way. Impossible. Are you saying she dodged that!?

  Karla-san walks slowly towards us who remain stiff with surprise. That walk was dignified, making one feel even intimidation. And somehow, glittering? Or rather, murderous intent seemed to be overflowing enough to make one wonder if the atmosphere changes this much when she gets serious.

  Closing in right in front of us, Karla-san smiled fuh.

  "I'm surprised. To think you guys had grown this much."

  "Kuh!"

  "Gu...!"

  "Influence of Yu, and indirectly Argus, maybe. Aww. I really want those two in our lab."

  With eyes like a bird aiming at small insects, Karla-san looks at us.

  "And, you guys too."

  Perhaps the composure of the strong, she rotated her neck as if bored, stretched, and then continued.

  "So, what will you do? Intend to continue? Ketty fell, but handling you guys with almost no Magic Power left alone is a piece of cake for me."

  Right. This Tag Match. The rule is you don't win unless you defeat both. We, who have already exhausted our Magic Power, are no different from mere humans. In contrast, Karla-san still had plenty of power left.

  Even though I hate losing, I wasn't stupid enough to fight a battle with absolutely no chance of winning. Consulting with Milia, we decided to surrender in tears.

  "We surrender."

  "I give up."

  There, the MC Thomas shouted.

  "A quiet settlement from a dramatic climax——! The Alice & Milia team who fought bravely fell slightly short! The winner of the First Round, First Match is the Karla & Ketty Team——!"

  The arena was wrapped in huge cheers. Warm applause is sent even to us who lost. Well, certainly we lost, but we did what we could, and it wasn't a bad feeling.

  And, leaving the arena.

  "We lost."

  "Indeed..."

  Milia's face, I wonder why. Seemed somewhat brooding. I thought she wasn't simply regretting losing, but pondering something different, more like this.

  "What's wrong?"

  "It's nothing."

  "Whaat. You too have secrets?"

  "I'm sorry..."

  When Yu felt like talking about something, next is Milia? She was normal until the match started, what happened on earth.

  But even if I don't know what she's thinking, what I say was one thing. Since it's a festival, we have to enjoy it.

  "Come on, don't brood over it. Let's go. Yu is waiting."

  Milia was looking down with a gloomy face still, but eventually shook her head no no and directed an awkward smile at me.

  "That's right... I'll put it on hold for now."

  "Right, right. That's good."