I returned to my seat with a pleased smile ying on my face.


    It wasn’t due to the satisfaction of crushing Ivan easily, but as a result of the shocked faces the spectators made.


    A Lower-ss dreg defeating an Upper-ss elite was something most would fail toprehend, much less believe. Still, I had so one-sidedly achieved this.


    Of course, I got many stares as a result of my performance, but who cared? I followed the rules and won fair and square. There was no problem at all!


    “For the second match, we have…” us mentioned, drawing everyone’s attention back to the stage.


    If the first match for the day was that splendid, how would the second one y out?


    “… Aaron Pufferhall versus Rias Lendertale”


    I noticed the people’s anticipatory gazes widened more as the Middle-ss student was called to face yet another elite. My grin of amusement grew aide as I saw both boy and girl descend the stairs to the central arena where they would exchange magical blows.


    Aaron Pufferhall, a Middle-ss student, would be fighting the one who scored the fourth highest in our exams—Rias. It was already clear to me who would win.


    ‘That poor guy…’ My thoughts trailed.


    It wasn’t impossible for someone of a Lower ss to win against those of higher sses. I was living proof of that. But, to do that, one had to be either very knowledgeable and skilled in their use of magic, or have someone skilled enough to guide them.


    I was the former while Anabelle and Edward were thetter. However, for Aaron, he was neither. After observing his previous match, it was certain what level of skill he had.


    Even as others cheered on for the fight, I gave a bored nce at both of them,pletely predicting the results.


    It would be a boring match.


    ***************


    “Winner, Rias Lendertale!” The moderator dered.


    I nearly rolled my eyes at the predictability of the whole thing.


    So far, four people had fought, two of which had lost. As us had earlier stated, only eight students would be able to pass. We only needed a couple more matches to go.


    “Next, we have Maria Helmsworth versus Desir Selman.”


    ‘Again? Pitting a genius against another no-name?’ I smirked.


    Well, the whole thing was chosen at random, so I understood how the match-ups worked. It was also a good thing Maria didn’t get stuck with me or Ana.


    While it was uncertain how her fight with my dearpanion would go, there was absolutely no way she could win against me.


    It wouldn’t be nice if she got disqualified this early in the game.


    “Winner, Maria Helmsworth!” us announced while I was still buried in my thoughts.


    My head sharply sprang up as I looked in the direction of the stage. It was a terrifyingly amazing aight, what I feasted my eyes upon.


    Pillers of ice surrounded the target as the white most filled the air. The opponent, Desir, waspletely petrified with fear, shivering amid the coldyers that enveloped him—threatening to freeze up his entire body if he so much as took a single step forward.


    ‘E-eh…?!’ My mind rang at the sudden decisive factor of the match.


    It ended too quickly, even shorter than Kuzon’s match. I watched as she returned to her seat, noticing how she briefly looked in my direction with her usual nk expression. Her clear, smooth face was as mesmerizing as ever.


    “Next, we have… Jared Leonard versus Stefan Netherlore!”


    This announcement shook me to my foundation. I wasn’t expecting it!


    Instantly, Stefan rose to his feet and shot me a determined look before heading down for the match.


    I was uneasy for a second, but quickly pulled myself together and descended as well.


    ‘Shit! I didn’t want this to happen so soon…’


    I would have preferred it if Stefan fought someone else and we met in the Semi-finals. Why did it have to now?!


    Stefan got to the battleground before me and gave me his usual confident grin as I arrivedte.


    “Looks like we have to fight each other now. That’s good! I was getting impatient, anyway!” The boy said with enthusiasm.


    To be fair, I wasn’t in the mood.


    As much as I wanted to fight Stefan, I didn’t want someone as skilled as him to lose in the mere quarters. It would be better if we both med it to the Semi-finals or something.


    “Oh well…” I shrugged, realizing the best solution to the problem.


    us observed both of us until it seemed like we were both good to go and drew closer to the edge of the stage. That wasn’t going to be necessary though.


    “Begin!” He dered, causing both of us to spur into action.


    “Prepare yourse—”


    “I surrender!”


    My voice seemed to cut the very air of excitement and tension that had enveloped the entire hall.


    The echo seemed to resound over and over again as I noticed the sudden turn in everyone’s mood. From ‘Yesss!!!’ to ‘What the—?!’.


    The moderator, us was surprised by my decision, and I could see Kuzon and Ana’s faces depicting shock. Someone like me… giving up so easily… certainly, it was something too absurd to ept.


    Still, the one who was most affected by my decision was the boy in front of me.


    “What is the meaning of this? What do you mean you give up?!” Stefan growled with a re as his outstretched arm—which he had prepared for a Spell—fell instantly.


    While I wasn’t obligated to respond to him and exin the rationale behind my decision, my feelings of pity wouldn’t let me leave without a proper answer.


    “It’s simple, Stefan. As you are now… if we fight… you’ll lose!”


    The moment I said this, the boy’s eyes widened in utter shock and disbelief.


    “I don’t want you to lose before reaching the Semi-finals at least.”


    Thanks to the decision of the Judges, I had at least two rounds to fight. Even if I forfeited this, I already had one which ended in my victory. That was enough to advance!


    “Once you qualify and we meet in the Quarter-finals, we’ll have our final match!