Misfit At Magic Academy: They Wanted a Godly Summon, Got Me Instead
Chapter 30: Lightbearer vs. Stone Reaper — Round Two

Chapter 30: Lightbearer vs. Stone Reaper — Round Two

"Hey, stonehead. I don’t know where you’re hiding, but how about leveling the damn ground? Can’t fight properly with all this rubble everywhere."

PAH!

I clapped my hands together and detonated a burst of steam, scattering the lingering dust.

Sylas stood before me, his body once again sheathed in a layer of stone.

And the moment I saw that smug grin on his face—I looked up.

A massive boulder was falling straight toward me! It carried enough force to crush even its caster.

I caught it with both hands. The ground beneath me cratered from the weight.

Too heavy... I can’t hold it much longer!

Then I saw it—Sylas forming another stone orb in his hand.

He hurled it.

PAH!

The boulder above me shattered into chunks. I was buried under the rubble.

"This technique doesn’t even have a name," he said, smug. "But its power is simple: the boulders fall at a speed equal to my maximum sprint. Which means... even a brute like you gets crushed eventually."

CRACK.

My hand emerged from the pile—bloodied, trembling—tossing debris aside. Slowly, painfully, I pulled myself free.

"You look half-dead," he chuckled. "Skin’s shredded. You’re barely standing. Face it—you’ve lost."

"Heh. Not while I’m still standing. The fight’s not over."

Shit. My body’s on its last legs. I can barely feel them anymore.

"I won’t let you stay on your feet."

Another stone orb formed in his palms. He wanted to end it with that same dull trick.

"My stones fly with the same impact and precision as cannonballs, you know? One hit from this, and even castle walls crumble. I’m shocked you’re still breathing."

PAH! He fired straight at my face.

At the last possible second—I summoned a radiant sword and shattered the stone mid-air. The sword’s energy healed my wounds as I wielded it.

The crowd gasped.

"Listen, Sylas. I think it’s pretty clear we’re both built for close combat. How about dropping that dumb no-melee rule?"

Sylas lunged at me, flames suddenly igniting around his fists.

"That’s what makes this fun! Fighting outside your comfort zone!"

As he closed in, he pointed his palms and unleashed a fiery beam.

"Too slow!" I shouted—already behind him.

I touched his back.

"Witness the Light!"

BOOM! Steam exploded across the arena.

Sylas was sent flying, crashing into the far edge. His armor shattered and fell away.

Think... how do I win without getting close? Everything I’m doing is just delaying defeat. THINK!

Sylas rose to his feet, crossed his fingers, and whispered:

"Supreme Destruction..."

My blood ran cold. Not that.

The crowd gasped, lips parting in dread. They knew what was coming.

What is that technique?! Where do I run? How do I counter it?

"Global—"

"Arcane Blast!" I shouted.

Dozens of runes lit up beneath him—each one firing explosive orbs skyward.

I can’t give him a single second to finish that chant!

"Ray of Light! Arcane Wheel! Energy Beam!"

I spammed every spell I had. Screw mana. This was my only shot.

He and I were evenly matched in melee. Now that it’s banned, I can unleash magic without restraint!

The ring erupted with light and explosions. Searing beams crisscrossed the stage, so blinding that no one could see what was happening inside.

PAH! BAM! BOOM!

"Arcane Shot!"

Even the teachers were stirred.

"I can’t see anything..." Lirael murmured. "Professor Dean, can you sense anything?"

"Yes. Both Atheron and Sylas are burning mana like broken vials. That means Atheron’s seized control of the battle again."

Lirael exhaled.

"How strange... I didn’t know he could use High Magic."

Dean smiled.

"Lirael, to be honest, I’m not even sure who’ll win this fight. It’s only this close because melee was banned."

"B-but you said—"

"Still, I wanted you to see your summon’s full potential. You underestimated him, didn’t you?"

"...My summon?"

Dean smiled again, saying no more.

"That Atheron," mused Memphis. "He’s a user of the Light element, right? But Light doesn’t have many high-damage techniques. Without close combat, he should be at a disadvantage."

"My dear Memphis," Dean chuckled, "this student may know more about Light than we ever expected. Especially since so many techniques were lost when the ancient tomes were burned."

"In any case, Light’s more of a healing element than an offensive one..."

"Tell that to Meihua, who’s been trying to prove otherwise for the last decade."

Memphis pouted.

Meanwhile, the blinding radiance finally faded from the ring.

I stood, panting. My mana was nearly depleted.

Opposite me stood Sylas, drenched in sweat, barely holding himself upright.

"Give it up already, weakling," he sneered, blood coating his grin. "You’re just delaying your own death."

I wiped blood from my cracked lip. Around us, the students roared for more blood.

"That so?" I smirked. "Didn’t know you could see the future."

"But why are you after my sister? You bastard have never been known for good behavior. You think I’ll just let you walk next to her like nothing ever happened?"

"Your sister? If you’re so protective, then why don’t you want to help her in the tournament? She was left without a team when she needed one the most!"

"There’s no point arguing with you. That rock-for-brains skull of yours won’t get it. You’d be smarter keeping that mouth shut before I rip out your—"

"Or what? You’ll tell everyone my secret? Go ahead. Aimer already told me about your ability—you can sense people’s auras. But guess what? I accepted this duel not because I’m afraid of what people think!"

Lirael was watching, lips parted in quiet shock. She could feel the tension.

Flames erupted along Sylas’s arms, crawling up to his elbows—a fire technique to enhance the force of his fists.

Looks like he’s done playing by the rules. Good. So am I.

"Bastard. I hate wasting even a second on trash like you!" he growled.

"You protect your sister, yet you’re too weak to help her. You act all high and mighty, but deep down you’re just another piece of trash. Me? I’ve got no family—but I’ve got people who took me in.

And I’d die for them. Even for someone I barely know, if I believe they deserve it!"

My hands ignited in light.

Lirael’s eyes widened. We had never spoken much about our feelings, but she could feel the weight behind my words.

"Enough talk. Let’s finish this."

"You wanna go all in? Then stop holding back."

We charged.

One struck, the other parried. Again. And again. Heat and light collided with every blow.

Runes ignited around us, glowing like they were seconds away from detonation.

"RULE VIOLATION! RULE VIOLATION!" Godwyn’s voice roared.

And then—the final clash.

Two fists—one wreathed in flame, the other glowing with divine light—met at the center of the ring in a thunderous explosion.

For a moment, it felt like we’d awakened the sun.

Spectators shielded their eyes from the blinding light.

And when it cleared, only one of us was still standing.

Me.

I didn’t even understand why I’d won. Was I stronger? Or... was something else at play?

I looked down.

Gasps. Horrified murmurs.

Sylas’s body was drenched in blood.

"Godwyn declared a rule violation just before they clashed," Dean murmured. "His power allows him to place invisible runes on fighters. When a rule is broken, the rune explodes on the one who breaks it first."

"The inspector declares the match over!" a wooden doll suddenly appeared. "On the ring, fairness is law! Rule violation results in instant disqualification!"

Dean smirked.

"And the first to break the rules..."

"Sylas Grimmveil violated combat regulations and is afflicted with the debuff: Instant Karma!"

W-what...

"Congratulations to Atheron il Ataraxia on his victory!" Godwyn’s voice echoed as he vanished.

"What a bizarre twist," Memphis murmured, eyes on the blood-soaked boy.

Even the audience seemed confused, unsure why the battle had ended that way. Some whispered theories of rigged outcomes.

"Hey, you damn stonehead..."

Sylas lay there, a bloody grin on his lips. The light in his eyes slowly fading.

"Healers! Hurry!!" someone in the crowd shouted.

Student council members jumped onto the ring.

"Treat the internal wounds immediately! He’s got abdominal rupture!"

"On it!!"

I didn’t know what to say. Why the hell are you smiling...?

"Listen..." Sylas muttered. "God, this hurts. Godwyn shows no mercy. But I had to say this..."

He coughed up blood. Internal bleeding. Tier-2 healing spells surrounded him.

"Aimer already told me everything."

"Then why fight at all? Why this farce?"

"You wanna know if these wounds were worth it? Yeah. Because without them, I wouldn’t have snapped out of it."

"What are you talking about...?"

He didn’t answer. Just blinked, looking at the audience.

"I know Aimer better than anyone. If she reached out to you of all people, then she had a damn good reason.

She always told me how badly she wanted to win this tournament. But with her powers, that dream was impossible.

So I thought... why not team up with someone strong, win the tournament for her? That way, I’d fight for her sake.

I didn’t want to tell her. Even Tyrion, our brother, did the same. If the two of us take first and second place, it’ll mean so much more."

I remembered the conversation I had with Aimer by the fountain, just two hours ago.