Tenkomori Chapter 126.2

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Chapter 126.2. The Third Year at the Academy - Each of Their Paths (2)

Chapter 126.2. The Third Year at the Academy - Each of Their Paths (2)

Shortly thereafter, the dance of ice and flame came to an end.

Amid the thunderous applause, Elphimia and I exchanged a glance, as if by prearranged signal.

It was almost time for the real show.

"I'll settle last year's humiliation here."

"I'll make you regret it."

As we stared each other down, the children burst into cheers, clearly anticipating what was coming.

"You're doing this again?"

Lambert's weary face was met with curious looks from Markant and the others.

Just like last year, Lily and Nails took their places with serious expressions. Then, unexpectedly, Jonas raised his hand and hurried over to stand next to Lily.

"I'll help too!"

"Help? Can you even use [Handy Soil]?"

"I've learned it now!"

He was supposed to be unable to use earth magic.

When he tried activating it, grains of sand trickled from his palm.

This wouldn't do; the magic might as well be renamed. He looked like a low-tier poet.

"I'll take the sentiment."

"W-What!? Are you sabotaging my and Lily's teamwork!? Our combined magic is supposed to be—"

"Suspicious motives? Out! Now!"

Even if he didn't understand, Jonas seemed to get the message. He sulked away, muttering complaints.

Meanwhile, Lily and Nails were still neck-and-neck.

Perhaps they needed another ally.

I scanned the crowd, then made my decision.

"Quince, you're assigned to assist Lily."

"M-Me?"

Quince looked bewildered, but Elphimia cut in.

"Hold it! He can also use [Pure Water]!"

"Sorry, but I called him first."

"Fine then—Danil, help me!"

"That's cheating!"

Danil, pointed at by Elphimia, looked stunned. I was surprised too—calling in a C-rank?

"All right, all right, settle down."

Lambert, acting as the referee, stepped in to restore order.

After conferring with the judge and Breaker Axe, the final matchup was decided: Nails vs. Lily and Quince. Elphimia protested, but Lambert wouldn't budge. Nails' declaration—"I'll try my best alone!"—made her back down grudgingly.

The stage lighting was activated anew, and I faced Elphimia.

Behind me stood Lily and Quince; behind her, Nails.

At Lambert's signal, the three began casting practical magic simultaneously.

"Full throttle from the start!"

"Yes!"

They manipulated the soil generated through [Operate Soil].

"Markant, what does an earth dragon look like?"

"Umm—it was a huge boulder-like creature with a big head."

Is this about right?

Using imagination to fill the gaps, I painted an earth dragon on a canvas of blue light.

"Whoa, it’s close! But the scales were more rugged!"

Boulder-like scales—a rougher, rounder appearance, like a Kudolga.

I transformed its entire hide into jagged, rocky scales.

Meanwhile, Elphimia created a sleek, streamlined water dragon.

Its elegant appearance charmed the crowd—especially the women.

But she overlooked one crucial detail.

"Have you seen a water dragon before?"

"I saw a painting of one in the Imperial Capital."

"Ah, just a painting. Ours is based on firsthand witness accounts. And this witness? The same dragon-slayer who took down Breaker Axe! No painting can compare!"

"You'll lose to that painting, you know!"

At the call, both dragons began moving.

As cheers erupted, Markant muttered under his breath.

"Feels like a bit of a harsh judgment…"

"Well, it's true. Still, impressive control—there aren’t many who can wield operate-based magic like this."

"It’s extravagant magic use. Impressive, though."

Some spectators had mixed reactions, but I focused on the battle.

My rugged dragon clashed with her elegant tail, each strike resulting in temporary destruction, only to be quickly repaired.

Nails had improved too.

Even with Lily and Quince as opponents, he retained enough magical strength to keep going.

Mastering the basics seemed only a matter of time.

After several skirmishes, both dragons pulled back.

The opening phase was over.

The roof remained quiet, in stark contrast to the magical spectacle lighting up the night sky.

Then the dragons slowly raised their heads, swelling their chests, and unleashed torrents of stone shards and flowing water.

The blasts collided at the center, turning to mud and splattering outward.

"Cut it out—it's getting dirty!"

The referee's warning went unheard; the clashing breaths continued.

Ted and the others cheered wildly, a reaction befitting the scene.

It's disappointing, really; even though we’re the same age, academy students are too jaded.

"A breath attack won’t end this. By the way, do you know a water dragon’s special ability?"

Elphimia smiled slyly as I stayed silent.

"It controls the weather!"

In an instant, clouds formed above the stage.

Though it was just water vapor controlled via [Operate Water], it was a good imitation.

But it was a serious threat.

"Does the earth dragon have special powers? Maybe summoning meteors!"

"What do you think it is, exactly…?"

"Aside from breath attacks, it's mainly just tough. Oh, and it can use magic."

Magic seemed off-topic. Enduring it was the only option.

Increasing the density of its outer shell to deflect rain worked for a while, but it was still just soil.

The earth dragon darkened, gradually slipping beyond the control of [Operate Soil].

Time to switch tactics, sacrificing its outer layer for an attack.

While pressing out soil from within, I launched a breath attack.

Even Elphimia struggled to juggle controlling rainfall and breath simultaneously.

Her water dragon, splattered with mud from my attack, looked marred.

Bitterly, she discarded the damaged section offstage.

Good move.

Mud would have ruined its elegant form.

As cheers rose again, the two dragons wore each other down.

But then, suddenly, the match reached its conclusion.

"Quince is out! Fall back!"

"I…can still go on."

"No!"

Seeing Quince’s state, the referee declared him out.

That spelled doom for us. The supply gap became evident, and my earth dragon quickly dwindled, vanishing with disappointed sighs.

A second defeat...

I consoled Lily and Quince with, "It was a great match."

I had expected Quince's limit. My mistake was in strategy; I should have acted more aggressively once the rain began.

A draw could have been within reach.

As the duel ended, I let loose what magic I had left.

Soon, Ted and Gemma begged for [Force Field] play, so I set one over part of the roof.

Quince and the others jumped in, complaining about the weight, and began playing.

Snowflakes fell around us as their games continued until my magic ran dry.

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