Supreme Magus novel Chapter 330

"I would like to see Mage Lith in action, but it would be unfair on the Ernas girls. Their fight was intense and drawn out, they must be exhausted." The king wasn’t an idiot. He immediately saw through their intentions and turned their plot against them.

"It’s not only that." Queen Sylpha chimed in. "The Ernas and Verhen households have quite a past together. We can’t ruin their friendship on a whim."

"My dear Queen is right, Taben." Meron nodded. "If your daughter passed the semi-finals, she would still have to fight an opponent. She can spar with him and show us her worth."

"They both can." Sylpha pointed out. "It was their parents’ idea, after all. It’s only fair for them to provide us with a show."

The nobles and Lith both inwardly cringed. Neither wanted to agree but refusing wasn’t an option.

Lith and Clea Taben stepped into the arena together, placing themselves ten meters from each other. The Royals were really curious about Lith’s real skills, so they used binoculars to shield their eyes and activate Life Vision.

The girl was tall and muscular. Like Phloria, she had the build of a professional swimmer.

"Is this safe, Headmaster?" Lith asked. "I’m not used to exhibitions, I don’t know if I can hold back. Any fight outside of training, I’ve always gone straight for the kill."

"Very safe. Besides the Life Preserving array of the academy, there is also the First Blood Array of the colosseum. As soon as one of you gets hit, the fight ends."

Marth wasn’t happy either, but when the Royals gave an order, he could only comply.

"Are you ready?" He asked both youths.

Lith’s reply was a deep, guttural roar. It released all the stress and the killing intent he had kept sealed up to that point.

’Easy there! Be careful to not release an aura!’ Solus warned him. During the fifth year they had discovered that, unless fake mages used a spell, they were incapable of spreading their mana outside their bodies.

Jirni, Orion, and Phloria were the only ones to have seen Lith and Nalear both doing it. It was a dangerous tell about being an Awakened one.

Lith’s killing intent sent a shiver down the spectators’ spines despite the distance separating them from the arena. Marth took the brunt of it due to his proximity, but as a battle hardened veteran he was able to hold his ground.

The girl, however, was paralyzed. _{fɾēewebnσveℓ.com}

"Begin!"

The Headmaster’s voice snapped her out of it. Clea began to cast a tier four Battle Mage spell while stepping backward.

’Lith is only a Forgemaster and a Healer. If I don’t let him get close it’s my win.’ She thought.

Unfortunately for her, Lith sprinted forward at a barely human speed of ten meters per second, covering the distance between them in an instant.

All Clea could see was Lith’s open palm striking her chin from below before her vision became a blur. He grabbed Clea’s face, lifted her up with one hand, and slammed her head into the ground with one fluid movement.

Then, everything went black.

Marth intervened immediately. Both arrays had activated at once which saved her life, but Clea’s condition was still critical. Her jaw was just dislocated while her skull was fractured in several points.

"Come here." Lith said while taunting his other opponent as soon as Marth got Clea out of the arena, leaving her in Vastor’s care.

Laeo Xebas had fallen on his a*s after Lith’s roar and had yet to find the strength to get up.

"I yield." He squealed, putting an end to the exhibition. The Royals didn’t bother hiding their disappointment, applauding the contestants purely out of courtesy. Marchioness Xebas was pale as a ghost.