The tension in the arena was palpable. The echoes of the last battle had long faded, yet the air still crackled with lingering energy. Spectators murmured, fighters nursed their wounds, and hopeful eyes were fixed on the grand stage where destiny would soon be decided.
This was the moment everyone had been waiting for—the official announcement of the fifty students who had passed the Yearly Tournament of Power and earned a place at the prestigious University of Higher Magic.
The Grand Announcement
The arena fell silent as Headmaster Varian, the overseer of the tournament and one of the strongest mages in the nation, stepped onto the stage. His flowing silver cloak billowed in the wind, his piercing gaze sweeping across the remaining students. He raised a hand, instantly commanding attention.
"Today," he began, his voice steady and powerful, "fifty of you will move forward. Among these fifty, the Top Ten will be recognized as the finest warriors of this generation. Their names will be remembered, their victories immortalized. The rest who have passed—remember this: your journey is only beginning. The University will forge you, test you, and if you are not strong enough, it will break you."
A golden scroll, as large as the arena itself, shimmered into existence above the stage. The names of the top ten fighters began carving themselves onto the glowing parchment, each stroke of magical ink igniting like divine fire.
The Top Ten Students
Leon Aaldric – Super Speed (Lightning Affinity)The crown prince of a noble dynasty, lightning incarnate. His speed was beyond comprehension, his arrogance justified. None had even come close to touching him.Xaleth Vireos – Spatial Magic (Dimensional Manipulation)A noble with eyes like the abyss. A ghost on the battlefield, his ability to manipulate space made even the most skilled fighters look like children.Riven Darnes – Gravity ManipulationA cold and ruthless warrior who crushed his enemies—literally—by increasing their weight to unbearable limits.Selene Astoria – Celestial Magic (Starfire & Light Manipulation)A genius with light magic, her ability to summon Starfire made her a living weapon.Kael Drayden – Blood Magic (Regeneration & Control)He never backed down. He never tired. His blood magic allowed him to heal wounds and control his own blood as a weapon.Darius Vael – Ice Magic (ice affinity)He was fast and used his ice magic not in a long-range attack but as a weapon of mid-range, but his physical strength makes up for this drawback. Absolute nightmare for his opponents.Darius Cromwell – Titan Strength (Enhanced Physical Power)A walking disaster. His raw physical strength made him a nightmare in close combat.Valeria Nacht – Illusion Magic (Mind Manipulation)A woman who fought with mirrors and nightmares. She didn't just beat her opponents—she made them doubt reality itself.Elara Noctis – Shadow ManipulationA silent killer whose shadows struck before his enemies could react.Felix Margrave – Lightning Magic (Close Combat Specialist) wielding lightning like a blade, striking with deadly precision.
The crowd roared as the names solidified in golden light. These were the strongest of the new generation—undisputed prodigies, warriors who seemed destined for greatness.
The Rest of the Qualified Fighters
Then, a second list began to form beneath the top ten. The forty remaining names started appearing one by one. These were the fighters who had survived the tournament, not with overwhelming strength, but through strategy, endurance, and sheer determination.
Aiden Varian clenched his fists as the names kept appearing.
Cedric Ardent – Fire Magic Sylvia Ardent – Ice Magic Orion Vale – Water Manipulation Mira Elwind – Wind Magic Evander Rhyne – Earth Magic16-48: Various fighters, each wielding unique and powerful magic
Then, the last two names appeared.
Aiden Varian – no magical power.
50. Tobias Quill – Arcane Magic
A hush fell over the arena.
Aiden exhaled slowly, his name glowing dimly at the bottom of the list. He had barely made it. The difference between him and the top ten was painfully clear.
"Second-last place, huh?" someone muttered.
"A commoner barely scraping by," another whispered.
Aiden bit the inside of his cheek, swallowing the frustration bubbling inside him. He had won his match by luck—barely. The others had dominated their fights. He wasn't just behind… he was leagues behind.
Leon Aaldric smirked from across the stage, arms crossed, his golden eyes sharp with amusement.
"Tch," he scoffed. "Second-last? Not surprising. A commoner doesn't belong among the elite."
Aiden clenched his fists but said nothing.
Xaleth, standing in the shadows, gave Aiden a brief glance—expression unreadable.
No words. No mockery. Just quiet observation.
A Harsh Reality
Headmaster Varian spoke once more, snapping everyone's attention back to him.
"You have all fought hard," he said. "But strength is not given—it is earned. Those of you who ranked lower—do not mistake your survival for victory. This is only the beginning. The University will forge you into warriors… or leave you behind."
He turned, walking off the stage.
"Your journey begins in one week. Prepare yourselves."
With that, the ceremony ended.
As the crowd dispersed, Aiden remained still, his eyes locked on the glowing names above him.
He had made it. Barely.
But if he had learned anything from this tournament, it was that barely surviving wasn't enough.
Leon stood at the top.
Xaleth was beyond reach.
The others were leagues ahead.
And he was at the bottom.
Aiden took a deep breath, his resolve hardening.
If the University of Higher Magic was going to forge him into a warrior… he would make sure he didn't break.
Next time, he wouldn't barely survive. Next time, he would fight to win.