The Finale of the Farce

The commentator Calvin’s urgent voice echoed through the stadium filled with cheers for the final triathlon match.

,Ah, Transcendence is in danger! They can’t see the outside situation at all because of the smoke. They’re being helplessly attacked! They need to get out of there!

The broadcast magic in the stadium showed the Transcendence team desperately defending. Blocking the rolling rocks and stopping the Naga climbing up the slope from behind reminded everyone of the academy alliance’s desperate fight against the monsters yesterday.

Having suffered at the hands of Ross yesterday, the other academy students whistled and cheered, seemingly delighted by the sight.

,Sending the strongest player alone to kill the Kraken seems like a bad choice by Transcendence’s leader, Ross! Shouldn’t they be sticking together more in times like these? At this rate, they’ll all be eliminated. Transcendence!!!

The stadium erupted with blame towards Ross, fueled by the boisterousness of caster Ien. In the stadium, anyone could become more knowledgeable than the players and passionately offer unsolicited advice.

“It’s because they made a freshman the leader! What would a kid like that know? The seniors should have set an example!”

“Those damn combat department idiots! What kind of strategy is that! Use your artifacts already!!!”

“Damn it, I bet my emergency fund on Transcendence!!! Please, get your act together, you bastards!”

The crowd’s excitement soared endlessly at the danger facing the unrivaled champion. As the fall of Transcendence, who had held the throne for 30 years, became a reality, the cheers for the other academies grew even louder.

Luna, with trembling hands clasped tightly to her mouth, cheered for Ross with all her might. Lacar and Kane also shouted Ross’s name without stopping. Even Aria stopped eating her popcorn and yelled, ‘Ross, hang in there!!!’

,The other teams are planning to eliminate Transcendence first. They’re constantly draining their strength, preparing to deliver a decisive blow. The leader needs to make a quick decision.

,Ah, speaking of which! The leader of Transcendence Academy! Ross seems to have made a decision!

The broadcast magic showed Ross grabbing onto a rapidly growing tree and escaping the smoke. The stadium, filled with spectators, erupted in a fierce roar as they saw him finally using an artifact to change the situation.

,The artifact that Ross is about to use contains destruction magic newly developed by the Red Magic Tower!

The caster’s skill was in providing explanations and promotions at the right moments. It was such perfect timing that the Lord of the Red Magic Tower nodded with a satisfied smile as he watched the match.

When the phoenix from the artifact Ross used appeared on the broadcast magic, the crowd’s cheers swept through the stadium.

,It’s a phoenix! It’s truly an amazing sight!

Unlike Ien, who was making a fuss over the phoenix’s appearance, Calvin spoke in a calm voice.

,Using the artifact might actually be the wrong choice.

,Ah, why is that? There’s nothing better than the Red Magic Tower’s phoenix to escape the situation!

A gift with the Red Magic Tower’s name on it would be sent to the caster’s house for that last remark.

,Using an artifact to turn the situation around is something that other academies can also think of. If so, they would have prepared a response.

As if to add credibility to Calvin’s words, the powerful wind created by the academy alliance pushed the phoenix’s fiery storm towards the Transcendence team.

The attempt to change the situation backfired, making it even worse. The spectators who were cheering for Transcendence all fell into deep silence, while the spectators cheering for the other academies let out a tremendous roar that seemed to shake the stadium.

***

Kwaaaang――!

I twisted my body to barely avoid the magic. As magic flew in rapid succession, I kicked off the ground, rolled backward as if bouncing, and threw seeds around me.

After catching my ragged breath behind some cover, I looked up to check the scoreboard. The fiery storm created by my artifact had attacked my teammates, eliminating everyone except Ilia and Ellie. Because of my rash actions, Transcendence had lost team members and 400 points.

If I, as the leader, were to be eliminated here, even if Roel caught the Kraken and added 500 points, the Transcendence team would only gain -200 points in the final match. So far, it was going according to my plan.

Now it’s a battle of timing. The moment I’m eliminated is the most important. Unless Ilia and Ellie attack each other and add to the score, it wouldn’t matter if I were eliminated as is. Eunice would have no choice but to act according to my intentions at the last moment.

The texture of the ground I was standing on softened. I thrust my spear forward and threw my body, and the spot where I had been standing turned into a swamp.

Kaang-!

I struggled to block the ax that flashed sharply and tried to cut my waist. I swung my spear wide to create distance from my opponent and quickly scanned my surroundings. The encirclement had thickened. I had already used the Breath of the Formless twice to buy time. I could only use the Breath a maximum of three times a day.

If I hadn’t made a mistake, the volcano had only rung seven times. I couldn’t be eliminated until it rang ten times. Even though my lungs and heart felt like they were about to burst, the muscles that had been trained every day were still strong. With a long breath, I swung my spear at my opponent.

***

After a long chase, the academy alliance had finally cornered Ross into a dead end.

“There’s no need to rush! The volcano has only rung nine times so far. We have plenty of time left. If we eliminate Ross here and catch the Kraken together, the plan will succeed!”

At Eunice’s cry, everyone kept their guard up and surrounded Ross without any gaps. Ross, who had been rolling on the ground and even abandoning his weapon, looked like a mess covered in dirt and dust. Gasping for breath, Ross struggled to lift his head and glared at Eunice.

“…You think this is the end?”

Eunice, seeing Ross showing such an ugly appearance until the end, smiled victoriously and pointed her staff with a relaxed expression.

“Your arrogance is what brought down your academy.”

Ross twisted one corner of his mouth at Eunice’s taunt.

“When the volcano rings ten times, the match will be over.”

Eunice thought Ross was talking nonsense to buy time with his out-of-context words. As Eunice was about to swing her staff without paying attention, Ross said.

“My brother is a Transcendental. He’s a good brother who keeps his promises to his younger sibling. As promised, when the volcano rings ten times, the Kraken will die, and the match will be over.”

With those words, Ross suddenly charged towards Eunice. The stone fist created by her reflexively swung staff struck Ross’s chest directly.

Ross’s body floated into the air. The shock-absorbing artifact fell off, and as he hit the ground, he disappeared like smoke like an illusion. The leader of the Transcendence team had been eliminated. As the success of the plan came within reach, the academy alliance let out a joyful shout. But unlike them, Eunice couldn’t rejoice. Before Ross was hit by the stone fist, he had subtly raised his finger and pointed to the sky.

Before Eunice could figure out what that meant, the sound of the volcano ringing for the tenth time reached her ears.

Kung―――!!!

Reflexively lifting her head towards the sky that Ross had pointed to, Eunice finally interpreted its meaning. Ross had realized their joint victory plan from the beginning. She could suspect it was a lie, but she couldn’t deny the possibility that it was true. Preparing for the worst was a basic quality of a strategist.

Eunice shouted.

“Muzeion! Eliminate one Arcadia member right now! Arcadia, eliminate three Elassium members!”

Everyone looked at Eunice with bewildered faces at the sudden cry. But when Eunice gestured, they didn’t understand the situation, but they trusted Eunice, who had successfully led the plan, and acted.

An Arcadia participant, confidently baring his chest, was eliminated by the ax swung by the Muzeion participant. The Elassium seniors also accepted the swords and magic without questioning Eunice’s words.

“Oliver, stab me. We need to lose points one last time to make the scores equal.”

“But…”

Just as Eunice was feeling frustrated with Oliver’s hesitant attitude, the entire island suddenly began to vibrate. An enormous amount of magic power was felt concentrating in one place. If Roel was really a Transcendental… If he caught the Kraken alone, this was the only thing Eunice could do.

Eunice urgently shouted.

“Now!!!”

At that cry, Oliver, having steeled his resolve, swung his greatsword wide. With the shock of being kicked in the chest, Eunice’s vision was reversed, and she fell to the ground, looking up at the broadcast magic.

The broadcast magic wasn’t showing them. She didn’t know when it had started, but it was showing Roel, who was facing the Kraken alone on the coast.

An enormous amount of magic power was concentrated on the greatsword. The surrounding space seemed distorted by the density of the enormous magic power.

The broadcast magic zoomed in on his blue eyes. His eyes, filled with firm conviction, reflected the giant Kraken.

The raised greatsword struck down on the sea. The sea was briefly seen parting with the release of enormous magic power. But soon, the broadcast magic only showed pure white light.

The spectators squinted and struggled to look at the broadcast magic. Finally, the light disappeared, and the broadcast magic resumed its original task. Roel had kept his promise to his younger brother.

Eunice, who had gotten up from her seat, inadvertently turned her gaze to Ross, who was standing across the stadium.

Seeing him looking up at the broadcast magic with a relieved face and a wry smile, Eunice felt strangely suffocated, as if her chest was tightly blocked.

And so, the final match of the triathlon ended, announcing the emergence of the youngest Transcendental to the entire continent.