Date: Third Day of the Combat Festival
Location: Academy Arena – Duel Field Alpha
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This time, it was one-on-one.
No tactics. No formations.
Just eight duels. Eight matches. One winner per clash.
They thought they had the upper hand.
They had a strategist too — older, confident, sharp.
He stayed off the field and whispered in their ears like a serpent.
> "Use everything. They're just first-years."
His name was Klein.
Second-year, ranked 7th in his year.
Called himself the Mirror Mind — obsessed with prediction, theory, counters.
He studied every journal, every known formation, and every member of our team.
He forgot one thing:
> I don't play chess.
I play shogi.
And I don't play for check.
I play for mate.
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They picked the matchups.
Tried to snipe our weaknesses.
Elric vs. their bruiser.
Riya vs. their wind-breaker.
Gideon vs. their illusionist (a mistake).
Alice vs. their speed mage.
Anna vs. their summoner.
Leander vs. their captain.
Lily vs. a shadow-veil spellblade.
Me? I was left for last.
Their tactician said:
> "He's useless. Let the runt watch his team fall."
But the board shifted before he noticed.
---
Elric danced through hits, unbreaking.
His healing pulse outlasted every strike — and then he dropped the hammer like a quiet storm.
Riya's elements turned wild — flickering through fire and lightning — and broke the wind mage's stance in one final snap.
Gideon stood still — until he didn't. One step. One punch. The illusionist blacked out mid-cast.
Alice bled quietly into her dagger. The speed mage blinked once, then dropped — drained.
Anna summoned seven foxes. The summoner panicked and called a duck. I don't know why.
Leander didn't fight. He danced.
Dodged everything. Landed every blow with a smirk and wink.
Their captain never stood a chance.
Lily?
She was radiant.
Moonlight on steel.
Not a step wasted, not a spell misplaced.
Her opponent bowed mid-match.
---
That left me.
The Mirror Mind panicked.
> "Retreat the last!"
"Don't let him fight!"
Too late.
I stepped onto the field.
He sent his last — a thunder enchant warrior.
Big. Fast. Mana-infused blade.
I had no magic.
No enchant.
Just the sword Mireille drilled into my body.
And… one trick.
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> Step left. Parry. Low feint. Fall back. Wait.
> Wait until he thinks I've lost.
> Then… move.
I drew him in with sloppy swings.
Made him think I was overwhelmed.
He went for a final charge.
I ducked low — slammed the hilt into his ribs — dropped him flat.
Seven seconds. No magic. No injuries.
The crowd went silent.
Klein stood from his seat, pale.
I saluted. No smile. Just stared.
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> "You're a chess player," I told him after.
"You study structure, lines, symmetry."
"I play shogi."
"Where every piece can become something more."
---
The team met me behind the stands.
They didn't shout. They didn't brag.
They just grinned like wolves who'd eaten well.
Anna tossed me a towel.
Gideon gave a nod.
Alice leaned against me for a moment, then vanished.
Elric said nothing — but his smile said everything.
Leander patted my back.
> "Can we keep humiliating second-years? It's good for morale."
Lily didn't speak.
She just stayed by my side.
The way moonlight never leaves a night sky.
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> Note: The Mirror Mind has cracks. If he joins the next round… he won't repeat the same mistake. He'll break the board entirely. Prepare for chaos.
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End of Entry.