The next day when Ferdinand and Theo got to the training center, there was a board with 160 names on it, Everette then explained, that if you were able to win 3 matches you’d be in the top 20, the rules were simple, whoever steps outside the arena loses, if you are knocked out or you pass out from mana depletion you lose, you can surrender at any time by raising your right hand palm, and admitting defeat, no spells over tier 3 were allowed, trying to kill your opponent was not allowed and would lead to automatic elimination, special artifacts are not allowed, all weapons will be supplied by the officers

The goal of this was to have the 20 best fighters for Everette´s special garrison, each match would have a referee and 2 officers on standby in case the match had to be stopped.

All participants would be wearing mana suppression bracelets that would not allow casting cast anything above tier 3, Theo only knew Mana Restoration tier 1, Arc Slice tier 2, and a common battle technique Flower Wind state, so he didn´t need to worry about this.

The arena had been repurposed, there were 5 stages prepared and there were seating areas all around to see the matches, there were officers everywhere to make sure everything went well.

Thankfully for Theo, he was placed in a different group than Ferdinand so they wouldn´t have to face each other.

Theo´s first match was right after Ferdinand, Theo would be facing a 2nd rank swordsman, and Ferdinand was up against a 3rd rank peak axe user, he looked very intimidating, but as they started the match, Ferdinand finished in 5 swift moves, they looked just like the Flower Wind stance but were much quicker and a powerful force coming from them, he was infusing his wind affinity to the battle technique making it more powerful, after the 3rd strike his opponent couldn’t defend and after receiving the next 2 blows he was sent flying off the arena.

Everyone was in awe of Ferdinand´s prowess he was sure to be part of the 20-man garrison, Theo was next, he was incredibly nervous, this was an actual match “Don´t worry, your opponent doesn´t know many spells and his mana manipulation is subpar, you should also win in a couple of moves” Prim said to him, Theo then breathed out a little relieved.

As the match began his opponent looked nervous as well, and didn’t want to make the first move, Theo opened with a 4 move combination from the Flower Wind stance, he didn´t look as graceful as Ferdinand but nonetheless delivered strike after strike, his opponent was hesitant only being able to defend, Theo then infused his whole body with mana and went for a finishing move, he was suddenly twice as fast and his opponent had no chance, he was too slow to block and was sent off by the powerful double hit from Theo´s daggers if he had been able to use his real daggers the attack could have been deadly for his opponent.

As Theo got off the stage as the winner, Ferdinand congratulated him and said “Good job, you didn’t hesitate and performed that combo very well, but next time look at your opponent, you just attacked him but if he had countered any of your moves you would have lost your rhythm and probably the match” Theo nodded and made a mental note.

Ferdinand then won his second match against a peak 3rd rank brawler, it only took him 4 moves this time, a few officers weren't too happy about this and it showed on their faces.

Theo´s second opponent was now a 3rd rank middle-stage swordsman, he felt confident even if his opponent was almost a whole stage above him, as the officer began the match, his opponent immediately went in to attack, he started with a combination of jabs and side slices, Theo was blocking everything, he was strong but not as strong as Ferdinand, as Theo had gotten used to sparring with the banished noble.

Theo´s opponent was getting confident as he thought Theo wasn't able to counter his attacks, he went for a sudden fireball spell, and suddenly, time slowed “Theo, I´ll lend you some of my power the rest is up to you” Prim said to him, Theo then dodged the fireball coming from the tip of the blade, rolled and then charged his attack at his unsuspecting opponent.

He overcharged Arc Slice, using 240 of his mana, as he released it a powerful force was sent from his double dagger swing, looking like an X flying at his opponent’s side, he had no time to dodge or block, as he was hit he flew 15 meters and landed outside the arena, his opponent was out cold and Theo had won by using a third of his mana in one powerful surprise attack.

Theo got off the arena smiling and extremely pleased with himself, a month ago he was getting beat around by a barely awakened bully, and now he had defeated a 3rd rank middle-stage swordsman, never would he have dreamt he´d be skilled enough for such an accomplishment.