Ten Months Later

Ten months had passed and Class 1-B has further developed our magical and combat skills since being under Professor Greenwitch’s tutelage, “It's been a long ten months, and I can safely say each of you have blown my expectations to smithereens!”

Although we’re a small class, we celebrated as if we were in a packed guild hall.

“But don't get too comfortable,” the professor clapped. “Remember, you still have the advancement tournament, so I expect each of you to apply the techniques you've learned this year and pay attention to your surroundings. Your opponent will definitely not go easy on you.”

He was right, the past ten months had been pretty tough, learning a martial art, improving my magic, and I’d been secretly increasing my stasis’s range, with the help of Professor Greenwitch of course. 

“Now, come with me to the arena, they're waiting for us,” the professor said as we gathered our uniforms and weapons.

In the Arena's Locker Room

Class 1-A prep themselves for their battles; each student puts on their respective armor and stoke their passionate flames for battle. Monspeed and Meliodas exchange a heart-felt expression before grabbing their respective weapons. A loud screech sounded over the magical intercom played and caught the attention of the entire stadium, “GOOD MORNING CALIBURN!! TODAY IS OUT ANNUAL CLASS ADVANCEMENT TOURNAMENT!!”

The crowd bellowed in a uproar at the announcement, “REMEMBER! EACH CLASS MUST ACCUMULATE AT LEAST 75 POINTS IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE ENTIRE CLASS TO THE NEXT ACADEMIC LEVEL! THESE POINTS ARE CALCULATED BY SCRIBING PENMANSHIP, ATTACK AND DEFENSE PROWESS, AND AFFINITY APPLICATION! ONCE THE SCORES ARE ALL TALLIED UP, WE'LL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS!”

The crowd cheered once more, this is like the Super Bowl or something, we’re only eight…

“FOR OUR FIRST MATCH-WE HAVE CLASSROOM 1-A'S VERY OWN SLIME PREISTESS, KARENZA SADĪVĪ,” the announcer called out.

The crowd roared in applause, Karenza stepped into the arena's battlegrounds wearing black and pink priestess robes and holding a large black staff; her face expressed determination. “AND SHE'LL FACING CLASS 1-B'S RANGER RENATA FAUST!”

Once again the crowd cheered for my fellow classmate; Renata clutched her bow and began to head out to the battlefield. Minerva grabbed her arm and gave her a confident boosting smile. I could tell Renata felt reassured in her abilities and made her way to the battlefield. The stands cheered as she approached her side of arena.

“Well, well, well, if it isn't the crybaby,” Karenza scoffed.

Renata gave Karenza an intense glare before assuming her battle stance, she reached in her quiver and pulled out four suction-cupped arrows, “We'll see who the crybaby is after the match...”

The crowd continued to cheer and started to chant for the match to begin, “UH-OH! LOOKS LIKE THE BATTLE IS ALREADY HEATING UP! PARTCIPANTS, READY YOUR WEAPONS-AND FIGHT!”

The two girls stared each other down before their battle began.

End of Chapter Thirteen