———Orrel———

  <9: 21 am>

  “Who in the world are they gonna bring out anyway?” Useph asked out loud. It’s natural to have that question in mind. It’s hard to be surprised or impressed when they are faces you’ve seen already. I think most of us can agree that a good deal of P.E. teachers will be involved.

  “Hmm…” Kenni is mumbling something under her breath. She and Karra might have some insider knowledge, but from how they’re acting, it’s clear their well of secrets ran dry a while back, at least in regards to the school. “Say. How much have you seen a single person do with magic?”

  “Where did that question come from?” Malk asked, confused at her sudden serious tone.

  “I’m just asking.” She said, not willing to eborate.

  “I think all of us would have the same answer in mind.” Gregori chimed in. “We would consider the fact that this school was created at all to be the biggest and most unbelievable feat.”

  “A good answer, though we don’t really know if it was caused by a single person.” She pointed out. It’s true that we don’t really know about the actual method.

  “In that case, I think Wiina’s action of subduing a gang of criminals would be it.” I answered. It was swift with no casualty at all. There is simply no way she can do that without magic.

  “That’s a good one.” She said, not sounding too impressed. It probably has to do with how it’s old news to us by this point. “I have seen more in the works myself, but there’s one thing I’m wondering right now…”

  “What is it?” Karra asked. There seems to be something she finds worrisome.

  “A lot of what we learn about magic is either hearsay or something we’ve seen firsthand. That could be said about literally everything, but there is a caveat to this.” She said. Where is she going with this? “When you see something in person, it is much more convincing. That’s what they’re banking on here… but some are probably still not going to be convinced…”

  “What? Why would that be the case? When is seeing not believing?” Jeff asked, sounding very puzzled.

  “Ironically enough, it has to do with the nature of this pce. With all the advanced technologies and such, I can see some people being convinced this is all fabricated and staged.” She expined. I suppose that can be an issue. With things like holograms and simutors existing, some ought to be skeptical. “More importantly, there is a limit to how much they can show. This stadium is big, but not big enough to demonstrate all the possibilities, not even close. I’m just sorta wondering how many can they convince.”

  “Wouldn’t sensing energy be enough?” Malk asked, and I just realized the problem in that argument.

  “If it is such a common practice, perhaps.” She said, bringing forth the conundrum. “We all know how to do it and therefore figuring out the general power level of individuals, and therefore working around it. Not everyone can do that. We all need some time for it to really click.”

  “And numbers and letters on the screen mean nothing without proper context as well.” Karra chimed in. “But the second half should remedy this, having some of the students participate in… something.”

  “That is probably why the second half even exists.” Kenni specuted. “Who’s to really say. I do think not everyone is-

  *Beep*

  “” Coach Wana said to start things off.

  *Leap*

  Both her and Rico leaps out of the caster’s room and onto the stage, both of them having wooden swords.

  “It’s a bit weird…” Karra suddenly spoke out. “They usually fight bare-handed, but now they’re both using swords…”

  “I never knew either have an interest in swords until recently, or rather, in the case of Wana, right now.” Kenni remarked.

  “” The principal’s voice now rang out through the speakers. “”

  “How strong are both of them anyway?” Qyunda chimed in. I don’t think any of us have a clear scope of their strength aside from being above us.

  “I don’t really know. Both of them are good at hiding it.” Jass answered with uncertainty. The same could be said for the rest of us, I’d imagine.

  “” From the looks of it, we’ll know soon enough. The two of them are standing far from each other, on the opposite side of the rge ptform in the middle. “”

  **Dash**

  The two sides sprinted.

  *CLASH*

  The dull swords connected and the loud sound of two wooden objects smming into each other rang out. Despite being in the middle of a rge stadium, the sound echoes through it all the same.

  “There was a spike…” I couldn't help but mutter. The moment they swung their sword at each other, there was a massive spike in power reading. It doesn’t look like most of the students here realized it, since their faces aren’t contorted by the short yet intimidating presence.

  “One hell of a jumpscare.” Useph remarked, his voice strained from registering the aftermath.

  *Csh* *Cng* *Parry*

  The two of them then start attacking each other, performing evasive maneuvers and parrying each other’s attack at high speed. It is technically not something out of the ordinary. They’re not using any spells just yet, but the speed at which they perform these acts should be impossible to maintain for more than a few seconds, and it leaves everything in a blur. This level of speed should only exist in short bursts for the decisive moment, but here that level is merely the neutral.

  “” Meanwhile the principal is already getting sick of the two sticking to their physical might.

  The two of them quickly retreated and made some breathing room. Neither of them look winded or intimidated by the opposite side.

  *Swing* *Whirl*

  Suddenly, the P.E. teacher in blue swung her sword and a tornado emerged, making its way towards her opponent.

  *Dash*

  In response, Rico decided to simply flee from it rather than taking it head-on, the attack itself continued to chase after her.

  *Leap*

  “Thinks fast, bitch!” Rico shouted out as she jumped up and away to create more distance, and also in the direction of Wana herself.

  *Swing*

  An overhead swing that reached the ground, a rge wave of energy expelled out of the motion and made its way towards Wana at high speed in comparison to the tornado that continued to trail behind Rico.

  *Ssh*

  She simply chose to ssh the energy wave in two and dispel it. I know that sort of practice exists in fiction, but the way she did it makes it seem too easy in comparison to even that.

  “At least pretend to struggle even a little bit, would you!?” Rico’s voice rang out loudly, before stretching her arm and pointing back at the tornado still chasing her. “Ugh, what a killjoy.”

  *Fizzle*

  The tornado was then dispelled without any effort on her part.

  *Shine*

  “I don’t want to hear that from you!” Coach Wana protested before enveloping her sword in light.

  An immense pressure is building up, and everyone who knows how to sense magical energy knows full well this is about to turn ugly.

  “Going for a finisher right now? We barely even started!” Rico compined as she changed her posture.

  *Dim*In contrast to the bright blue light, she seems to channel some sort of dark purple and red energy. It seems to be the same technique the coach is using as well… which means a csh of spells, or maybe one would call it a special technique?

  “” A mechanical voice rang out as a dome of energy envelops the arena. Looks like they realized this could end up badly.

  The level of pressure increases steadily. I don’t think any of us have a frame of reference as to how destructive this ‘feeling’ is, but it is certainly more than the initial strike.

  The energy surrounding them forms something akin to a pilr of light and darkness, it drowns and dwarfs everything else, I feel numb even trying to comprehend it…

  ““HAAAAAH!!!”” Both of them screamed out.

  **BLAST**

  The two sides send out a rge beam of energy towards each other.

  “It’s a beam csh!” Jeff shouted loud in surprise as the two met, struggling to push each other back. “By the way, is the ground shaking for anyone?”

  “A little bit…” Karra said, finding it rather concerning. It’s not like an earthquake, thankfully, but I hope no one outside the school thinks something like that is actually happening.

  “” Meanwhile the principal is still commentating as if nothing is wrong. Is that really the appropriate response here? Everyone is fearing for their lives here!

  Speaking of which, she has never been one for the theatrics unlike these two, so I hope for her sake she’s not going to occupy the caster’s seat for long.

  The pressure keeps growing and growing. I don’t know if my assessment is correct, but the force of this could easily destroy more than a few buildings if it were to misfire!

  “What the hell are these two doing!?” Jass can’t help but compin, probably realizing just how reckless this showing of strength is. I know they have a barrier set up but-

  *BOOM* *Rumble*

  “Oh god!” Useph muttered in shock as the csh burst into a massive explosion that covered the entire arena, only stopping due to the dome containing the explosion from getting near us. The pressure of what we are feeling as well as the fact that the ground is shaking badly from the explosion alongside the loud noises is definitely a recipe for spectators to be scared witless!

  The entire stadium is engulfed in light of the resulting explosion. I can’t help but shut my eyes to stop myself from potentially being blinded.

  …Is it over? I can see everyone looking on with fear, bewilderment, or fascination.

  *Crack*

  Once I id my eyes on the arena and its two fighters, both of their swords couldn’t handle the pressure and shattered into hundred pieces, leaving them with just the handle of the cheap toys.

  And yet, both of them remained standing with nothing but dust on them.

  “” Miss Mana shouted out. This is getting ridiculous by the minute. Was that all just the opening act!?

  “Guess we’re doing this old-fashioned way then?” Coach Wana said with a hint of sarcasm, throwing away the useless handle.

  “We’re calling it ‘old-fashioned’ now? Hmph.” Rico said as she does the same, throwing away the wreaked weapon and relying on nothing but her fist, just like her opponent.

  Both of them change their fighting stance, now that weapon is out of the equation. Nothing left but their limbs and magic in tow.

  And so, it seems that despite such a terrifying show of force, this match continues.

  **Dash** *GRAPPLE*