As I walked to the arena, it was filled with screaming and cheering from the fans

  Alright Suraya, you promised Dani to give your absolute best. So don't let him down

  But, that's not the only reason why I'm serious about this She thought to herself before the commentators continued

  "Alright Derek, so we have 'the prodigy mage' herself competing. So this fight should be easy for her, right? "

  "I wouldn't say so, Lander. Her opponent's ability allows him to enhance his mana, making his attacks stronger. So, I think he could stand a chance against her "

  "Well, we wouldn't know if we keep on blabbing. So everyone, give your loudest applause to one of the greatest swordsmen this era has ever seen, Renfield "

  The whole arena then filled with cheers as he slowly stepped into the arena, his eyes stared sharply at me

  Renfield eh?

  As he was staring at me, I was mumbling softly to myself, analyzing him

  "Tightened lips, hardened eyes, he's already planned on how to handle me. . . Clothes are neat, so he also cares about presentation. . . Left hand clenched rather than right hand, so he's left-handed. . . "

  ". . . What are you doing? " He asked me coldly

  "E-Eh? Did I talk too loudly? "

  "Yes "

  I then rubbed the back of my head while smiling awkwardly at him, embarrassed

  "Sorry, sorry. I'm used to analyzing my opponent-"

  As soon as I said that, he suddenly created a sword with his mana and sped towards me, swinging it at my body

  But instead, it hit something hard that had been covering my body, before the echo of the hit revealed the transparent shield around my body

  "You don't think I cast a shield before this fight, do you? " I smirked before summoning my staff and casting magic beam at his face

  He then ducked it by tilting his head before jumping back, enhancing his sword with his own mana

  He then once again sped and swung the sword at me, each swing getting faster and faster to the point he became a blur to the eyes

  "Look at him, Derek! Can you even see his movements at this point?! "

  "Well, but none of his attacks are effective, Lander. All he did was waste his mana "

  He then jumped back again and tried to catch a deep breath. But before his feet could even touch the ground, I instantly cast a few fireballs at him

  He cut through all the fireballs I shot at him while staring coldly at me, causing the fire to explode beside him instead, before pointing his sword at me

  "Well, Sir Renfield. . . Your attacks earlier were quite reckless, don't you agree? " I said, smiling softly

  "Not reckless. Testing, learning about how your shield works "

  "Oh? Then, did you get your answer? "

  His mana slowly started to change its color from blue to red before he sped towards me and swung the sword at my shield

  As soon as his sword landed on my shield, the sound of my shield slowly cracking became audible to everyone, before my shield shattered into pieces

  The scream of shock erupted in the arena, as they finally saw that this fight between us is not going to be a one-sided battle

  "Derek! He broke it! He finally broke it! " Lander said while shaking his body

  "I know, I know! Don't shake my body, please! " He said before pushing him away

  "Oh. . . Not half bad. . . " I murmured to myself softly

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  Before he could land another swing of his sword, I quickly teleported behind him and shot his back with a light beam, making him blast away and roll on the ground

  "Well, I'm also learning about you, you know? " I said softly

  He then slowly got up before looking at me dead in the eyes and summoning several swords and throwing them at me

  I blocked them with an ice wall, before he sped around the arena to my back and tried to catch me off guard.

  But before he could, I blocked his sword with my staff

  "For a mage, you sure have nice reflexes," He said, staring at my eyes

  "Thank you, but flattering will get you nowhere "

  I then pushed him away and cast ice spikes at him, with him quickly getting up and easily shattering them with a swing of his sword

  He then circled me around, still pointing his sword. His eyes are still staring at me, although they are now also filled with a slight curious expression

  "Tell me, Miss Suraya. What's the reason you're here? "

  ". . . Because of my exam? "

  "That's not what I mean "

  "O-Oh. . . You mean my personal motive? "

  He then exhaled his breath, as if mocking how slow I am, before continuing to talk in a calm, cold tone

  ". . . I'm here because of my family "

  ". . . Sorry? " I asked him softly

  ". . . For generations, my family has always raised mages. But I didn't have the talent to learn such complex spells. So, they belittle me for it "

  ". . . I. . . I'm sorry to hear that. Your family shouldn't have done that to you "

  ". . . But, that isn't the only reason why I'm here "

  ". . . ? "

  "I want to show them that a swordsman is superior to a mage. I want to crush their obsessions with this mages thing " He said, clenching the grip of the sword

  "So that means. . . "

  "Yes. To make sure I achieve it, I will win in this tournament against you" He said as his eyes sharpened

  He then created big wings behind his back with his mana, before he flew into the air and dashed towards me, faster than before

  As he gets closer to me, I immediately teleport away from him before smiling slightly at him

  "Sorry, Sir Renfield. I sympathize with you, really. But, I also have my own reasons not to lose against you "

  I then cast the gravity spell, making the gravity heavier for him and he instantly dropped to the ground before his wings slowly dissolved into particles

  He then gritted his teeth, forcing himself to get up against the gravity before swinging his sword in the air, breaking through the spell and creating a few huge waves of mana that came towards me at light speed

  I then blocked it with an ice wall which it then shatters into pieces after the waves hit the wall, before I saw him suddenly right in front of me, with his sword inches away from my face

  I then dodged it before we both circled each other, with his sword at his right hand

  Wait. . . Isn't he. . .

  I then turned around and shot the real him who's behind me with my magic beam, taking him by surprise before the figure in front of me dispersed into mana fragments

  "Damn it. . .!" He hissed to himself before getting up slowly

  ". . . Earlier, you asked me why I'm here, right? " I said softly

  ". . . Yes "

  "Well, I'm here also because of my family actually "

  ". . . Huh, I understand that. Family pressure is real pain in-"

  "No, not because of that "

  My answer made him fall silent, his eyes widened and he just stared at me, before I continued talking in a soft tone

  ". . . I'm here because of their support "

  ". . . "

  "Since I was little, my family has always supported me, especially my brother. He's the one who always gave me advice " I said, staring at the sky while smiling

  ". . . "

  "Although I must say, he's harsh most of the time, hehe " I giggled softly as I remembered those memories

  ". . . Ah, no wonder. Must be nice for you, huh? "

  ". . . Hmm, it is. But, that's not the only reason "

  "Huh? "

  "Well, I made a promise with someone to give my absolute best. So, I need to fulfill it "

  The silence between us lingered for a moment, before he chuckled a little and exhaled his deep breath

  "Someone huh? Is that 'someone' your boyfriend? "

  "E-Eh??!! N-No. I-I mean. . .! Sort of?? "

  ". . . Give your absolute best, huh? Perhaps that's how. . . "

  ". . . Sir Renfield?"

  "Miss Suraya, let's end this now. Cast your strongest spell "

  "You're sure? "

  "Yes. I just realized one thing, if I want to break my family obsession, I can't do things half-baked right? "

  His mana started to leak out from his body as it slowly turned its colour once again to red

  "Will you honor my request, Miss Suraya? "

  I then exhaled my breath while smiling softly, before flames erupted from my body and shaped themselves into a Phoenix figure

  He then smirked before his mana started to shape itself into a colossal, humanoid figure, matching the size of my Phoenix. Its left hand created a huge sword before swirling it and pointing the sword at me

  The screams of hype and shock filled the arena once again, before the commentators went wild once again

  "Derek! Derek! " Lander said as he shook his body again, harder

  "This is it, everyone! The final showdown! "

  "Come here, prodigy mage! " He shouted before he and his figure swung their sword

  My Phoenix spread its wings before I shot towards him, leaving a trail of fire behind

  The moment we clashed, an explosion erupted, sending debris flying, making the ground in the arena shake violently, and creating massive shockwaves through the air

  The force of our clash almost sent everyone in the arena flying out of their seats

  As the debris around the arena cleared, their views on the arena became clearer. Before they saw me standing victoriously while he was lying on the ground, defeated

  "She wins. . . She wins everyone! The prodigy mage wins! " Derek shouted before the arena filled with shouts of cheers

  As I heard their cheers for me, my eyes were a bit watery before I wiped them and smiled softly at the crowd

  ". . . I lose " I heard him say while still lying on the ground, his arms spread wide and staring at the sky calmly

  I then walked closer to him before offering him my hand, smiling at him

  "You did great, Sir Renfield "

  ". . . But not the best, apparently " He said before taking my hand, getting up slowly

  "Sir Renfield, you might not have won against me. But, you did achieve something similar to your goal "

  ". . . Huh? "

  Some of the fans then started shouting at him, cheering while others clapping their hands

  "That was great, Sir Renfield! "

  "You give her a run for her money, Sir Renfield! "

  "You're truly the greatest swordsman! "

  As his eyes opened slightly, his mouth opened slightly, as he couldn't believe the praises he got

  "You hear that, Sir Renfield? "

  "But. . . I didn't win against you. . . So why. . .? "

  "Well, you showed everyone that a swordsman could surpass a mage. And I'm sure your family also saw it "

  He didn't answer me right away, but he just let out a simple laugh

  ". . . Heh, every mage but you, you're just on another level "

  "E-Eh? That was so sudden. . . But, thank you " I said while embarrassed at the sudden praise

  I then turned around before noticing both Farah and Adam cheered loudly at me, while Dani just sat there, giving me a thumbs up with his usual calm face

  As I smiled softly at them, I couldn't help but let out soft chuckles before waving my hand at them

  Ha. . . What a great day. Hope they are also watching me at home

  "That's my little sister! " Aisyah shouted as she jumped from her couch

  Her mother was already crying in happiness on her husband's shoulder, while he just patted her back and smiled proudly at the screen

  "You indeed make us proud, Suraya. You always do " Her father says softly

  "Oh, so my lil sis wins, huh? " Syed said while sitting on a rock in outer space that is far away from the solar system, his eyes glowing yellow

  If there's anyone nearby him, they could see a reflection of Suraya in his eyes

  "Man, if I didn't have this blessing, I'm about to miss the most historical moment in my life " He smirked before getting up and stretching his body

  "Alright! I should wrap this problem up quickly. Can't miss the celebration for my lil sis "

  As soon as he finished stretching, sounds of screaming could be heard in the void, where it shouldn't be possible.

  He then turned around calmly and saw from afar, a worm-like figure can be seen approaching him, destroying planets as it hit it directly

  "Huff, so glad that those planets don't have any living beings. Space animals are seriously too wild " He sighed, exasperated at the being before summoned a metal sword into his hand

  "Let's end this quickly "