"Are both contestants ready?! Begin!" Professor Tomo's voice rippled across the arena.

As the professor's voice finished echoing, icy blue particles started forming in Yuki's hand. And in an instant, an icicle was formed, which he threw in the direction of Ali.

Ali stomped the floor, causing a wide block of earth to emerge and protect him from Yuki's attack, but it also blocked his vision. Of which Yuki quickly took advantage, as he created a path of ice around the earthen wall, and with incredible speed slid across the ice.

Before Ali even knew it, a rapier was planted near his neck. "Yield," Yuki said as he witnessed the sweat drip from Ali's face. But Ali was not keen on surrendering, not just yet.

With a quieter, weaker stomp of his right heel, he created a stalagmite, thin and needle-like, which he used to fend off Yuki's rapier.

Yuki retreated slightly and prepared for an upcoming strike. Ali punched the needle-like pillar, shattering its tip and sending it flying towards Yuki. Yuki quickly deflected the flying stalagmite with his rapier and watched as Ali drew his saber and the earthen walls crumbled to dust.

Yuki specialized in fencing; fighting someone using a curved blade would put him at a disadvantage, even more so when his enemy was much larger and had a longer reach, so Yuki decided to scheme.

He lifted his left arm and waved it in a half-circular motion above his head, as the icy blue particles started to gather. Within mere moments, three swords of ice formed, hovering menacingly slightly above him, two above his shoulders and one above his head, balefully aimed at Ali.

Yuki quickly pushed his left arm forward, commanding the swords to disperse freely. The swords above his shoulders flew to the sides as they aimed to converge on Ali's shoulders, while the sword above his head aimed to stab Ali in the back. Yuki rushed forward at Ali while his swords flew towards him, an assault on all fronts.

Realizing Yuki's scheme, Ali stomped the ground with such force that three massive walls erupted around him, enclosing him from all sides except the side showing his enemy. The three ice swords hit the walls and dissipated on impact.

Ali knew he had the advantage in a frontal assault. So once again, he took another side swipe at Yuki. But he miscalculated his move. His massive weapon slammed into one of the walls he had created, deflecting off the wall with a harsh clang. The vibrations shot up his arm, and Yuki rushed to seize the opportunity to deliver a final blow. Ali tried to launch an unarmed strike with his left hand.

Yuki dodged Ali's strike and responded with a fast upward slash across his enemy's torso with a rotation of pure elegance as he jumped slightly into the air, following it with a final barrage of thrusts toward his chest as he landed. With that, Ali was no more. As he fell backward and lay flat, the three walls he created crumbled and returned to their original form. The crowds blew up with cheers for the fantastic fight they witnessed.

"You fought well," said Yuki, as sweat poured down his face, glistening brightly in the sun.

Yuki looked up to the stands to see Ryuji, sitting and observing the battle closely, almost as if he were studying Yuki's moves. Ryuji noticed Yuki's gaze and responded with a smile and a nod of approval. Yuki smiled back, proud of his victory as he walked toward the entrance.

"Marvelously fought! Both of you!" said the professor.

"Could someone please help Mr. Ali and send him to the infirmary?" he continued as four staff members helped pick up the massive young man.

Yuki went to the stands to watch the next fight and took his seat right next to Ryuji.

"Well done," said Ryuji.

"Haha! Thanks, but I've still got more fight in me!" Yuki replied with a cheeky smile.

"Now that the arena is clear, let us welcome our next fighters," the professor said.

"Sawano Torafuku, Sophia Dion, take your places!" he yelled with excitement as the two beautiful noble ladies arrived at the arena. Sawano Torafuku entered the field, orange, fur-like hair fluttered in the breeze as she walked to the center with a serious expression on her face. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts with no armor visible in sight, extremely fitting for her athletic and unpredictable nature.

On the other hand, Sophia entered, dressed in a lavish, floor-length, yellow ball gown designed entirely to show off rather than fight. Sawano and the crowd looked at her in confusion… What was Sophia attempting to do? Sawano kept her guard up as she watched her opponent carefully.

"A-Are both combatants ready?" Professor Tomo said with hesitation and confusion in his voice.

"Then let the fourth battle begin!" he said as the sound of the gong echoed across the field.

Sawano quickly took a defensive pose, watching her surroundings and preparing for any cheap tricks Sophia might throw her way, her expression still unfazed.

Sophia lifted her right arm towards Sawano, as dark green grape vines burst from the soil floor under her feet and attached themselves to Sawano's arms and legs, stopping her movement. Sawano stood and watched as another vine grabbed her waist, and Sophia turned her back to her and faced the crowds.

"Did everyone see? This is the might of nobility!" she said to the crowd with a cocky grin on her face.

"We are born better! With more talent than all of you! Who needs to wear rags when you can simply defeat your enemies in style?"

As Sophia continued to blabber and mouth off to the crowd, Sawano was breaking free of her restraints.

Finally, the last vine snapped, and she immediately rushed at Sophia, who turned her back on her enemy. By the time Sophia noticed Sawano had broken free, it was too late.

"W-Wait…! I'm not fin…" Sophia's sentence got cut short as Sawano leaped into the air, and Sophia's eyes widened in fear as she saw her opponent above, knowing it was the end.

With a swift knee to the jaw, Sawano sent the well-dressed young girl tumbling several feet backward before crashing onto her back… unconscious.

The crowd went dead silent, unsure of how to react to what they saw. Even the professors were shocked at the utter stupidity they had witnessed. Eventually, the silence was broken by a familiar face, a black-haired, handsome young man snorted as he tried his best to stifle his laugh.

Yuki looked at Ryuji as he struggled to contain himself.

"Shh!" Yuki said, "You'll get us in trouble!" he said nervously.

"I'm- I'm sorry… It's just… T-that's the woman who said she'll p-protect me from all harm in this school," he continued with more failed attempts to stop his laughter, hearing that Yuki joined in, with futile attempts to silence their laughter.

Professor Tomo finally woke up from his haze and stared daggers at the two boys. Ryuji and Yuki, noticing the death gaze, immediately contained themselves and sat upright quietly, their expressions blank, but their bodies still jittering.

"I can't believe what I just witnessed…" Professor Tomo whispered under his breath, only to hear yet more snorts and stifling attempts. This time, coming from very close to him, it was coming from the headmaster.

"P-Please…P-pay me no mind… continue with the tournament… P-professor Tomo," said the headmaster as he tried to snicker quietly.

The professor sighed.

"W-Where is the gong?!" The professor yelled out to his fellow staff member, who was still stuck in a haze. Then the gong once again sounded in the arena, signifying Sawano's flawless victory as she made her way to the entrance.

"A-after that… fight… We shall take a break before we proceed to the semi-finals. Would someone, please, offer a helping hand to Lady Sophia?" the professor exclaimed as two staff members arrived at the scene to help the downed girl.

An hour passed, and students took the opportunity of the break to get some snacks as the tournament grew more intense. After the break, students lined up in the stands once again, and their chattering filled the air once again.

All of a sudden, Professor Tomo's voice can be heard again.

"Everyone! Please be quiet!" he exclaimed as his voice echoed across the arena.

"The Semi-finals are about to begin!" he said as the sounds of the students' chatter faded into silence.

"The first battle of the semi-finals shall be between Ryuji Sato and Riki Shibatani. May the contestants please proceed to the field!" The professor's voice echoed once more.

Riki and Ryuji both arrived at the scene, both walking to the center with their eyes locked on each other, their focus unbroken. For Riki, it's a chance for revenge against the peasant who humiliated him; he proceeded with a plan in mind. However, for Ryuji, it was barely worth mentioning; his expression unfazed.

Eventually, both fighters reached their positions. Eyes still locked, and tension between the two can be felt from beyond the stands.

"Ready to face your death?!" said Riki with his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Ready to be defeated once again?" Ryuji replied calmly.

"Should I go easy on you and not use my hands again?" He said, his tone dripping with mockery.

Veins in Riki's skull became visible again, his rage unfathomable; he wanted nothing but to kill this irritating peasant. He did not care if he got expelled, jailed, or exiled; at the current moment, he only wanted this lowly creature dead.

"Are both contestants ready?!" The professor's voice echoed across the field.

"Then let us begin!" he concluded.