The Runesmith

Chapter 714: First Competition.

“With this, I announce the sixty-eighth Quinquennial Arcane Institute Convocation officially underway!”

Archmagus Vaelen’s voice resounded throughout the entire pocket dimension, his face displayed on multiple round marbles that floated above the various stadiums, arenas, and trial grounds where everyone had gathered. Thousands of people were here, watching mages of various ages compete.

“Now then, I hope you’ll enjoy yourselves, and remember that magic is not merely a tool for battle, but the foundational pillar of our shared progress!”

The Archmagus concluded his speech, sparking a deafening wave of applause that resounded throughout the pocket dimension. Magical lights burst above the colossal stadiums, painting the turquoise sky in shimmering colors. They resembled the fireworks Roland had once prepared back in Albrook and signaled the official start of the event.

‘Things are finally starting. The first competition will be that one…’

Roland leaned against a wall while a small image of the first event was transmitted to his helmet. Specialized crystal orbs flew around the area, already transmitting data. They were part of a spell array accessible to all the mages within the dimension, allowing everyone to connect and watch the events. Many people used their own magical devices to get a better view, but Roland simply used the display within his helmet.

“Ladies and Gentlemages, I will be your host for today!”

Vaelen was present to ensure everything remained peaceful, but he was not the main announcer. It was not something a Tier Four class holder would normally do. Instead, a flamboyant mage in shimmering silver robes drifted above the primary arena on a levitating platform, using an amplified acoustic spell to project his voice to every corner of the grounds. He wore a black top hat and spun a cane around in his hand as he spoke with a strange amount of enthusiasm.

“Our very first contest will be a test of the young mages’ spell marksmanship!”

It was a simple first contest. Young mages would be given targets to aim their spells at. Some would remain stationary, while others would move or be positioned at a distance. It was a test of spell power, control, and even mana capacity. The more targets they hit, the higher their score, while eliminating targets quickly earned them bonus points. It was designed to test the basic fundamentals that every aspiring battle mage needed to master.

‘So it starts…’

Roland lowered the audio intensity slightly as he listened to the people cheering. While the contestants gathered, he also continued to monitor his golem, within which Robert was sitting. One of the panels was also displaying a feed from the first event.

“Brother, is it normal for each mage to have a different magical tool?”

“It’s quite normal. It’s mostly due to the elemental affinities they possess. Each mage requires a custom made tool to properly channel their mana without any downsides. Otherwise, a lot of their mana will be lost in the process and…”

Roland continued explaining everything in detail, but eventually stopped himself when he realized he was starting to sound like he was giving a lecture on basic magic.

“Well, in short, the tool makes a great deal of difference.”

“I see… So, when will the student from Lucienne’s school arrive?”

“Hmm, they should be in the second group after this one.”

The two brothers chatted as several students carrying various wands and staves arrived. This was one of the more basic events, as it only required the contestants to shoot at targets with various spells, which were decided when the competition began.

The first group of young mages moved toward the small, marked platforms. Once they were in position, the ground before them rumbled slightly, revealing dummies in various locations. They were made of magical stone and came in various shapes, some humanoid and others beastlike.

“Now then, the contenders have taken up their positions!”

While the mages who were participating already knew how the competition worked, the nobles, merchants, and family members of the students did not.

“The event’s chosen spell is a simple mana bolt. How will they fare against these robust targets?”

On the surface, the event looked simple, but each target was color coded. The ones nearby would crumble easily, while those farther away would require considerably more force.

“Now, let’s start the first competition!”

With that announcement, the timer above the arena began. It took the form of a large hourglass, with sand just beginning to seep through. The students had only one minute, and during that time, they needed to destroy all the targets using the most basic spell a mage could cast: the mana bolt.

“Oh! That’s quite the light show.”

Robert commented as he watched various orbs of mana collide with the stone statues. Each time a target was destroyed, a number appeared above the corresponding student’s head, indicating how many points they had earned. The minute passed surprisingly quickly, and it soon became clear that there was more to the competition than met the eye.

“I see... Some of those targets have weak points. That one’s leg looks hollowed out. This is quite an interesting event...”

Robert leaned closer to the screen, seemingly forgetting that his own bout would soon begin. Roland could not fault him for finding it interesting. In this world, there was not much in the way of entertainment, so a magical competition like this was naturally fascinating.

“You’re right. Those statues are uneven, and with the help of their mana sense, the participants need to figure out where the weak points are and then attack them.”

A loud bell sounded as the last grains of sand fell through the floating hourglass, bringing the opening round to an abrupt end. Scores flashed brightly in golden light above the heads of the first group of contestants. Some students wiped sweat from their brows, visibly drained from rapidly channeling mana into powerful strikes, while others slouched in disappointment.

The flamboyant announcer drifted back over the arena floor, his levitating platform making a smooth arc as he continued to speak.

“The first group is done, but we will only announce the victors after everyone has finished!”

Roland listened and already spotted a few changes he would implement to make the event more dynamic. An active scoreboard displaying the participants’ scores would have made the spectacle more engaging, but it seemed the organizers did not want to bother with constantly updating it using spells. Instead, they had chosen to wait until the competition was over before announcing the results.

“Now then, let’s continue with the second group!”

“Oh, isn’t that the same uniform as our Lucienne has?”

Even though it was difficult to see clearly through the display, Robert’s keen eye immediately identified the student from Xandar’s Institute. She was an unassuming girl with large glasses, a freckled face, pigtails, and red hair.

No one was really paying attention to her. In the same group were students from both Starbloom Elemental Academy and Sapphire Flame Academy, the two top contenders in an event that focused on offensive magic.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

People in the crowd cheered for them, and the youth in the blue robe from Sapphire Flame Academy even started waving. The red haired girl from Xandar took her position at the third casting platform. She looked noticeably nervous, her fingers trembling slightly as she adjusted the heavy frame of her glasses.

As it turned out, her platform was positioned directly between the two top contenders. The blue robed youth did not even look at the Xandar student. Instead, he smirked at the student from Starbloom Elemental Academy, who wore a more lavish robe than anyone else there. The two boys were locked in a stare down and did not pay any attention as the red haired girl removed the cloth covering her staff.

Roland noticed, though, because it was an item he had personally crafted and prepared with this girl’s specifications in mind. Compared to the other support weapons, this one was quite unique, as it was made entirely from a specialized alloy.

Usually, spell casters preferred staves made from magical wood and adorned with mana crystals or other gems. They were the standard and could usually be attuned to a mage’s elemental affinities with relative ease. Staves made by craftsmen, on the other hand, were much harder to configure and required far more precise manufacturing to achieve the same result.

“Oh... why is she holding the staff like that? And why is one of her eyes closed?” Robert commented.”

The magic student held the piece of equipment in an odd manner, more like a person holding a crossbow than a staff. To make things even more interesting, a rectangular object popped out from the side, creating a sight that the girl looked through. Then, to make matters even stranger, she took out a three legged stand and used it to support the weapon, which looked far too heavy for her to hold horizontally for long.

“Just look...”

Instantaneously, the surrounding stone platforms trembled, and a fresh set of reinforced dummies burst forth from the ground. The timer above the arena began to drain once more, glowing sand trickling downward as the bell rang.

While the surrounding crowd roared, chanting the names of the favored prodigies from Starbloom and Sapphire Flame, the red haired girl took a deep breath. She leaned forward and looked through the staff sight Roland had created to make aiming easier.

Then her magic burst forth. The bolts of mana looked normal, just like the others, and they did not carry any greater power. The true purpose of this support item was not to increase her magical output, but to make it easier for her to spot the hidden weak points within the stationary statues.

A glowing blue sphere of pure mana shot forth from the metal staff with a resonant crack. It sliced through the air with incredible speed, striking a heavy dummy precisely at the hollow joint behind its left knee. The stone shattered instantly, causing the entire construct to collapse into a heap of rubble.

No one noticed her score shooting upward because there was no scoreboard. Everyone remained focused on the two contestants between whom she stood. However, around the thirty-second mark, whispers began to spread.

People started pointing toward the girl in the middle. The number above her head had already climbed past the scores of the two boys, who had been neck and neck with one another.

While the two boys were busy showing off their fast casting techniques and trying to push through with greater power, the quiet student from Xandar was quickly taking the lead by landing one precise strike after another.

“Is that allowed?”

Robert asked, thinking that such a gap in performance could not have been produced naturally. Perhaps the runes within the metallic object were more than just lesser runes.

“The runic staff? Sure, it’s within the parameters for tier one spells. I’d explain it to you, but we should also get going. The winner of this preliminary round has already been decided.”

Roland moved forward and looked toward his golem, which was being charged to bring it to full working capacity. The long cables connected to the charging equipment were removed by the dwarven craftsmen, and Robert stood up within the cockpit.

“What is this? What a twist! The young mage from Xandar’s Institute of Wizardry takes the lead!”

As Roland and Robert began to move, the announcer revealed the score to the unsuspecting crowds that had not been paying attention. A wave of confused whispers and shouts spread through the stadium stands. The spectators scrambled to look at the central display orb, where the red-haired girl stood trying to catch her breath.

Once she realized that she was being watched, her face turned bright red. She quickly packed away the large staff along with the tripod supporting it. After making a few awkward bows, she hurried away, eager to get out of there. The two youths on either side stared at her with dumbfounded expressions. All three had qualified for the next round, but neither of the boys could believe they had lost to someone nobody knew about.

“System diagnostics are all green. It’s time, Robert.”

Roland looked toward one of the assistant teachers, who pressed a button. As soon as he did, the large stone slab resembling a doorway began sliding down into the ground. A vast underground passage stretched ahead of them, illuminated by soft blue crystals embedded in the cavern walls.

The massive Runic Mobile Armor took its first steps into the corridor, its heavy footsteps echoing like thunder through the enclosed space.

Robert stood within the cockpit, moving as though he were the golem itself. The RMA mimicked all of his movements with a slight delay, something he had already grown accustomed to as its pilot.

The system had gone through various iterations. At one point, they had even considered using a liquid substance, but that design was eventually replaced with a harness resembling an unfinished exoskeleton.

Robert had designated spaces for his feet and arms that mirrored the outer frame of the RMA. The harness was there to limit his movements and show him what the suit could and could not do. Without it, the pilot would be able to move their limbs far too quickly, which would be disastrous for a system that relied on reading precise movements.

“We won’t know who our opponent will be until you reach the arena.”

Roland’s voice resounded through the cockpit as Robert was left alone. Each hangar containing a golem had its own exit, and all of them led toward the same destination deep underground. They would eventually reach something resembling an elevator, which would then carry them upward to the combat arena.

‘How is everything holding up?’

While Roland could see everything from this location, he chose to move toward the battle arena designated for this bout. Four battles were taking place at the same time, and all of them were one-on-one. It was a classical tournament without any previously established qualifying positions, and even the previous winners had to take part.

‘His heartbeat is stable. He was more nervous when staring at Lucienne or when I mentioned his mother.’

He smiled beneath his helmet as he floated toward the booth reserved for the other professors. Even though they were not fully aware of who they would be up against, after arriving here he could make an educated guess. A few people from a somewhat upper mid-tier school had arrived around the same time he had.

‘Let’s get this over with!’

An old man spoke while surrounded by several other mages.

‘If it’s these guys, this should be a good test.’

They were not a school focused heavily on crafting, but they had rather deep coffers. Their leader was a man with a very long mustache and a top hat that concealed his supposedly bald head. The others around him looked quite submissive as they continued to nod and smile at everything he said.

“Yes, sir. This will probably not take long!”

“It better not. If that golem loses, you know what will happen, right?”

“Y-yes, sir!”

This man was clearly not part of the department responsible for the golem. He seemed more like someone overseeing the entire operation. Their golem soon arrived, and one of the round openings in the arena floor began to rise.

From within emerged a bulky, humanoid golem, clearly made from expensive tier three materials. Its armor was thick and designed to withstand a great deal of punishment. It towered exactly ten meters tall, which was the maximum height allowed in this competition. Its matte brown coloring looked almost like an afterthought. In both hands, it held massive spiked clubs, with no shield in sight. It was clearly relying on the sheer bulk of its armor to withstand attacks.

‘Not many custom-made elements. It’s an older model, but a costly one.’

Roland instantly realized that this school had simply poured resources into buying the golem instead of properly designing one themselves. While it was of good quality, its lack of specialization and tactical versatility were glaringly obvious to an experienced crafter. It was something built to overpower basic models, probably with the goal of reaching the top five rather than actually winning.

From the opposite side of the arena, another platform rose from the ground, revealing the Runic Mobile Armor. Where the opponent was a thick block of brown metal and stone, Roland’s design stood sleek and purposeful.

Most of the frame was composed of a silvery metal painted white. Blue and red additions ran along the torso, giving it an appearance that seemed capable of mimicking human movements. To top it off, it had a fully functional headpiece resembling a knight’s helmet, complete with two golden, glowing eye sockets and a phoenix crest protruding from the top.

Its armaments were rather simple. It carried a large rectangular shield in its left hand and a bulky broadsword in its right. Yet Roland knew there were hidden compartments ready to be revealed whenever the unit was pushed to its limits or caught off guard.

“Ladies and Gentlemages, welcome to the second event of the day!”

The flamboyant announcer’s voice echoed across the arena once more, his levitating platform hovering directly above the center of the ring. Two massive constructs faced each other across the expansive dirt floor of the battle arena.

Compared to the lumbering, club-wielding behemoth opposite it, the Runic Mobile Armor appeared far more agile. It stood upright with balanced proportions, yet that appearance did little to sway the crowd. Many had already decided that the bulkier model would emerge victorious.

The time for the clash had finally arrived. This battle would determine whether half a year of hard work had been worth it, or if all of it had gone to waste.