"I guess it's my turn, then..." Ciara whispered to herself as she stood.
A bright, mischievous smile ran up her face as her slender body swayed to climb down the stairs.
"Don't overdo it..." A voice called out to her.
It was the Rank one of the Top 10 in her Class, Fabian Lestrome Indiavel.
As she usually did, Ciara utterly ignored the boy who thought he had a say in her business and strolled down the stage, watching those beneath her also move in response to their call by the board.
For a second, her eyes frolicked and caught a glance of someone she knew quite well —correction, used to know.
His eyes were open wide at the list, and with his hands clasped together, Ciara already knew what was going on in the boy's mind.
'This guy... sigh...'
Her eyes returned to the stage and she quickened her pace to reach there before keeping others waiting.
Ciara had her favorite blue ribbons tied around her hair, and her brown hair was the very definition of elegance.
One could say she resembled a princess, even though she was a mere commoner.
The only thing that distinguished her from the dregs was her prowess in Magic.
She was, above all others, an unrivaled genius!
Not even Fabian, in all his Majesty, had achieved the rank she had when he was in his Second Year. The highest he ever reached among the Rankers was the Ninth Seat—the very bottom!
One could have alluded this to the fact that the alumni who were Rankers then were stronger than the current set. A bit of that could be said to be true.
Still... no one could dispute the fact that her achievement broke the records of Ainzlark, only below a certain someone's.
This very same girl now climbed the stage—her opponents, the strongest in their respective Classes.
To be fair, anything less wouldn't suffice!
As always, Klaus conducted the match and was about to initiate its commencement.
For a moment, Ciara glanced at both opponents. While the Middle Class one looked extremely nervous, the determination in his eyes told her that he wouldn't back down.
As for the Lower Class pig that casually stood, it was clear he had no intention of fighting.
His stature was actually nothing like a pig's. On the contrary, the boy was fairly built and even had a charming face. Perhaps he didn't want any harm to befall the smooth skin he had cultivated for god knows how long.
But...
'Tch...'
... Before Ciara, he was nothing more than a pig.
'I should punish him a little...'
"Ready...." Klaus' voice steadied, and the Lower Class Rank 1 already cleared his throat, preparing for surrender.
"Fight!"
"I sur—"
Before he said any more, the boy was assailed by an unexplainable feeling coursing through his body.
The strange chill made him unable to utter a single word as his body vibrated. He began to spasm, shaking as though afflicted by a nonexistent cold.
"Guarghhhhhh!!!" The boy suddenly screamed.
He gripped his head tightly and bellowed in nonexistent pain.
No one had assaulted, at least it didn't appear so.
Yet, why was the supposedly strongest of the Lower Class crying like a frightened child? Well, the answer dwelled in the girl who smiled at him—her eyes brimming with blue light.
No one could have guessed, and only those who truly knew her could understand the terrifying thing she had just done.
... Original Magic!
"Phantom Pain... how does it feel?" Her soft voice purred as she moved closer to the screaming boy.
"Aaaaarghhhhhh!!!"
The Lower Class Elite was too afflicted by the sheer agony going on in his mind that words couldn't escape his mouth.
He wanted to plead!
The boy desperately wanted to beg!
If his lips could move, he would surrender immediately.
Unfortunately, he couldn't!
Only pain coursed through his body—that was what his mind told him.
For the onlookers who watched, they only saw three students on the stage—one who gave shrieks like a madman; one who simply stood by and watched, looking equally confused; and finally, the only one who seemed perfectly comfortable with it all.
Her steps were slow, intentionally ensuring the boy suffered as much pain as he could before she reached him. The glow in her eyes warbled, and her glossy lips curled up even more.
'This should be enough... I don't want to break him...'
With that, her eyes stopped glowing, and the boy gave up... consciousness.
He fell from where he stood, hitting his head on the hard ground in a slump. Silence filled the Hall and the surprised onlookers could only state at one another in a query.
Only a few people seemed to know what was going on—about two from the crowd, and a couple more from the side Elites.
Even then... their reactions showed that they still couldn't completely comprehend the depth of the girl's abilities.
"Erm, Moderator... this one can no longer fight. Could we call someone to take him off the stage?" Ciara smiled innocently at Klaus, who had just been staring in nervousness.
He knew exactly what she had been doing, but, as per the rules, he couldn't interfere.
Plus, there was that special order he received from the Judges, so his hands were basically tied.
Even when he heard the loud cry of a student he was supposed to cater to as a Lecturer, he powerlessly watched until Ciara had gotten her fill of satisfaction.
"Y-yeah. You're right..." Klaus climbed the stage and reluctantly responded to the girl you g enough to be his daughter —probably.
Responding to his call, the medics arrived and carted the unconscious big away.
Seeing as the Middle-Class student had yet to give up, Klaus concluded that the match would proceed and once again exited the stage.
Now, only Ciara and her opponent, Roy Lesryio, remained.
'Hmm?' The girl's eyes darted in the direction of someone who stared at her with such intensity that it felt like his eyes would burst wide open.
The boy's name was Jerry!
His breath now seemed to be heavy, and his clasped hands shook. Clearly, he was shaken by Ciara's display, but the girl didn't seem to mind.
Rather, something seemed to glint in her eyes the moment she saw him.
'So this isn't enough, uh...?'
A smile, more twisted than the one she had before, formed on her face as she stared at her opponent.
'... Maybe I should show you something a bit more special, Jerry. Once you see this...'
A bit of her white teeth showed and she completely turned to face Roy, who was already preparing his Spell.
'... You'll realize how foolish it is to even dream of catching up to me!'
