Bab 1455: -1436- Wizard Field
As the time for the match drew closer, the anticipation in the arena heightened.
When the referee announced that the contestants could enter the arena, the gates on both sides of the arena began to open, allowing the two teams to enter one after the other.
On the left side, the members of Team e571 entered.
This team, considered one of the most promising e-rank teams aiming for a promotion to d-rank, consisted of only three members, all of whom were students from the Sky Wizard Division's preparatory course. Moreover, they were all girls, each entering the arena in protective gear, their faces showing a mix of nervousness and excitement.
It couldn't be helped. As an e-rank team, they had never faced such a large audience before during their previous ranking battles, so it was only natural for them to feel both nervous and excited.
On the right side, Team e601 entered the arena.
Led by Misora Whitale, with Lecty Eisenach and Rico Flamel following behind her, the three entered the arena in order.
As the protagonists of this ranking battle entered the arena, a massive cheer erupted from the audience.
However, the content of those cheers was less than flattering.
"Go for it, weakest team!"
"Go, f-rank team!"
"Let's see if you really have what it takes to have Rozen senpai as your instructor!"
"Don't let us down!"
"Hurry up and lose!"
"Boo! Boo!"
The cheers incited laughter throughout the crowd, essentially a chorus of jeers.
This made Misora's temper flare up, almost causing her to lose control, but she was tightly held back by the timid Lecty. Meanwhile, Rico was busy scanning the crowd with a contemptuous gaze, as if she were looking at a bunch of underdeveloped primates, further enraging the audience, who began to jeer even more fiercely and to cheer for Team e571.
"Beat them!"
"Defeat them!"
"Show them what you're made of!"
"Go, Team e571!"
"Go, go!"
The audience was clearly polarized.
The three girls from Team e571 blushed deeply.
Not out of shyness, but from the overwhelming excitement.
After all, they were only thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls, who had never been the focus of so much attention before. Now, with so many spectators cheering them on, it was impossible for them not to blush with excitement.
If their opponents had been formidable foes, the girls of Team e571 might have been too scared of making a fool of themselves or disappointing the audience. But facing the notoriously weakest team, and as a team with a strong chance of being promoted to d-rank, they were naturally full of confidence.
"Alright! I'll take them all down!"
"Let's show everyone what we're capable of!"
"This way, Rorelai-sama will definitely look at us differently...!"
The three members of Team e571 encouraged themselves.
In contrast, the three members of Team e601, who were being booed by the entire crowd and looked down upon by their opponents, were understandably displeased.
Seeing this, Rozen and the others in the audience couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
"It looks like this match might have some suspense after all," Rozen commented.
"Indeed," Chloe Sevegny agreed with a nod.
Even Kanata Age and Yuri Flostre didn't object.
Given the past records and performance, Team e601 shouldn't have a chance of winning against Team e571. Even Rozen had claimed that Team e601 had serious flaws, suggesting that this ranking battle could be disastrous. But now, it seemed that both teams were equally in a precarious situation.
"Team e571 has never faced so many people cheering for them before. On this unexpected stage, they might lose a lot of composure and judgment due to their excitement."
Freon Flamel analyzed the situation of the match calmly and objectively.
Everyone else shared the same thoughts.
Including Rozen.
This was why Rozen believed that what should have been a disaster for Team e601 might now offer a glimmer of hope.
"This is what they call the unpredictability of life," Rozen thought without any deeper sentiment.
This prompted Yuri to ask, "Senpai, do you think that the Team e601 you coached can win?"
In what seemed like a test, Yuri's gaze remained fixed on the arena as she posed the question to Rozen.
In response, Rozen gave an answer.
"Given the current situation, Team e601's chances of winning are not slim." Rozen calmly replied, "In the end, Team e601 should emerge victorious."
Rozen predicted this outcome.
But...
"Even if they're going to win, it won't be easy."
Rozen smirked.
"Anyway, let's keep watching."
Upon hearing this, Yuri opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but eventually closed it.
The group turned their attention back to the arena.
More precisely, they focused on the central area of the arena.
There, a spherical object inscribed with intricate Rune symbols began to rise into the air.
Moments later...
"Zing—!"
As the spherical object lit up, a series of text formed from runes expanded like rings of light, enveloping the entire arena, radiating light, and forming a barrier that surrounded the battlefield.
"It looks like the Wizard Field has been activated, and the match is about to start," Kanata reminded everyone.
The Wizard Field.
It was a type of barrier that converted all physical and mental damage into magic power, allowing students to engage in simulated battles without causing actual harm.
The spherical object from earlier was the device that generated this barrier, something that had been used by all of the academy's floating cities to prevent Sky Wizards from injuring each other during combat training. It was now also used in various competitive arenas.
After Rozen joined the Alchemist Division, this barrier caught his attention, sparking a bit of interest. He spent some time improving it, making it a barrier that not only nullified combat damage within the field but also had protective functions. During battles, the shockwaves generated would be blocked by the barrier, preventing them from affecting the spectators. The safety level was significantly increased.
In Mistgun, the ranking battles always utilized the power of the Wizard Field to ensure absolute safety.
The moment it was raised, the match was essentially ready to begin.
The referee had already started blowing the whistle, signaling Team e601 and Team e571 to step forward.
...
"Whoo...."
In the arena, Misora was continuously trying to regulate her breathing.
Because her heart wouldn't settle down.
Even Misora couldn't avoid feeling nervous in a ranking battle that would determine her future.
If even Misora felt this way, one could only imagine how Lecty, who was already timid, was faring.
"Ah..."
Lecty kept shrinking, looking as if she wanted to run away.
"Hmph..."
Even Rico, who had been mostly silent, let out a cold snort, her eyes full of seriousness.
Team e601 was clearly preparing for a last-ditch effort.
During this time, Misora involuntarily raised her head, looking towards the audience on the other side of the Wizard Field.
That direction happened to be where Rozen was seated.
Inexplicably, Misora's gaze met Rozen's amidst the sea of people.
Then, Misora saw the calmness in Rozen's eyes.
Seeing this calmness, Misora's heartbeat inexplicably steadied.
"Alright..."
At this moment, Misora made a declaration.
"We're definitely going to win...!"
That's right.
Team e601 would win.
It just wouldn't be easy.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone