The Golem Mage

Chapter 941: Moving Out.

After that mage moved forward, many people finally realized why the first wave of mages that tried to climb had been blasted back when they rushed in like that, because the moment a figure step onto the first stair, they would be hit not only by a rebound equal to the force they used to leap up, but also by a heavy layer of imposed gravity from the stairs.

With so many bodies trying to force their way into a space laced with both a repulsive force and crushing gravity, it made sense why pushing forward had been so hard, the dark-skinned mage who advanced first needed only a second before he was able to adjust to the pressure, then he started jogging and laughing all together like he genuinely enjoyed the pressure that was pressed down on him.

Seeing him move that fast, the rest of his squad joined in.

“Babatunde, you were supposed to test it, not sprint off without us!” a woman from Ember Citadel called as she climbed as well.

Like that one by one, the rest of their team followed, each taking a different amount of time to adapt to the gravity pressing them down.

With one group already surging ahead, other teams decided it was time to move too.

“Hey, Alec! Lucas!” a voice called to the War God Mage Academy team, who were still watching the flow at their own pace.

Alec turned only to see the Battle Mage Academy team coming towards them, pretty much they were only one of the Great Eight Academies that Alec felt good about, and the one shouting was actually Vladimir, their vice-captain of the team.

Behind him stood Vincent, the captain with his spiked white hair jutting in every direction, and the rest of the battle Mage Academy squad as they walked right up to the War God mages.

They acted so casual you’d think there wasn’t a competition underway, the groups met, traded hugs, and exchanged greetings.

“What are our allies still doing down here? Knowing you, I figured you’d be at the top already,” Vladimir joked.

As Alec just shook his head slightly towards Vladimir’s suggestion.

There were still plenty of people on the stairs, and plenty more who hadn’t moved yet because of the crowd in front of them, those who’d already adjusted to the stair’s force looked like celebrities to the ones still hesitating on when to move.

Many academy captains had begun climbing, drawing the crowd’s attention, and this was exactly what Alec disliked, he didn’t crave the spotlight; he’d rather stay chill.

Unfortunately, trouble always found him no matter what he does and with it, came the unwanted attention he dreads.

Just as they were having a conversation without thinking about the competition happening before them a loud cheer erupted which drew their attention again as the first mage to reach the twenty-sixth step caused a small uproar.

And it was Babatunde, whom Alec already began to suspect was the Ember Citadel’s captain.

Soon, the captains from the Northern academies which Alec knew well were also sprinting up, racing each other to see who could reach the highest point first.

Alec still didn’t care; as he wasn’t here for applause, however with so many people on the staircase, fights began to break out.

The first erupted when an Ember Citadel member tried to block a student from the School of Silent Blades from passing him on the twenty-third step.

The School of Silent Blades students, consisting of assassins and ninjutsu experts from the Eastern Kingdom, they had shadowed Ember Citadel’s push from the start after they saw how the whole Ember Citadel team moved, so they trailed behind them just by about five steps.

And now, their captain had been able to close the gap, which caused the Ember Citadel mage on the twenty-third step to thrust out his right hand to bar the way, as he felt this unconscious need to stop him from advancing further than him.

However, the captain of the School of Silent Night, who was wearing a half-face mask up to his nose and light armour that left his arms bare from the shoulders, didn’t even glance at the mage trying to block him.

His left hand blurred; as a curved, claw-like dagger appeared in his palm, and in one smooth motion he drew the blade across the mage’s neck, slipping past like a phantom ghost and ascending to the twenty-fourth step.

“Hey!” About nine Ember Citadel members whirled on him, fury in their eyes, five on the twenty-fourth step, four on the twenty-fifth, and their captain, Babatunde, on the twenty-sixth.

Hearing the commotion, Babatunde turned and saw his teammate clutching his neck to stem the bleeding, he briefly read the situation and understood what must have happened.

“Folarin, go down and heal Lual, he should at least make it past the twenty-sixth step before retreating to rest, as for the rest of you, don’t bother trying to block that monster, he’s stronger than you all,” Babatunde called back with a smile.

That act from him drew the School of Silent Night captain’s gaze to the dark-skinned mage, who kept smiling as if nothing was wrong with what happened, behind him, the rest of the School of Silent Night had already caught up.

That first clash wasn’t the last; as the Silent Night captain pushed forward and began competing directly with Babatunde, when the mages realised the three elders levitating and overseeing the trails didn’t intervene even after the action o the School of Silent Night captain’s actions they became more bold, and more fights erupted along the stairs as contestants tried to impede anyone attempting to pass them, or those trying to block them.

The gaps between captains, vice-captains, and regular members of each team widened quickly as the leaders hit the thirtieth step.

“Alec, we’ll have to head out now,” Vladimir said, eyes fixed on the escalating battles on the staircase.

Just watching wasn’t their way; they weren’t called the Battle Mage Academy for nothing, they all loved old-fashioned combat, and this all-out brawl was getting to them, their team couldn’t wait to jump in.

“Yeah!” Alec said, clasping Vladimir’s hand in a tight handshake.

“See you at the top, black horse,” Vincent chuckled, shaking Alec’s hand as well, before the whole Battle Mage group moved out.

Seeing their allies move, the War God Mage Academy team couldn’t hold back, they turned to Alec, who was watching familiar opponents climb, he spotted Dorian with Morgana at his side, Dragov with Damien, and just when he thought he’d seen enough, he saw Liam, the one his team had already defeated, ascending the steps.

Liam wasn’t wearing a Royal Mage Academy robe but a noble’s attire from the Northern Kingdom, Alec didn’t know how the Northern Kingdom royal clan had managed to pull him into the competition again, but he figured they must have paid quite a bit to do it, and this must be one of the advantages of being the hosting Kingdom.

With people already making their moves, Alec decided it was time for the War God Mage Academy to join the fray.

“Let’s move in,” Alec said, and smiles bl

ossomed on the faces of Pale, Endrick, and Katie, who had been waiting for a chance to show off.