Magus Supremacy

While the entire coliseum buzzed with intense battles, Jay faced his own challenge—none other than Lyra. Wind blades sliced through the air, dozens of them, relentless and razor-sharp.

Jay weaved and ducked, narrowly avoiding some while others grazed his skin, drawing thin lines of blood across his arms and cheeks.

His eyes darted behind him—there it was: their team's crystal, vulnerable and unguarded. He clenched his jaw.

"I need backup," he muttered, before calling out, "Arthur! Can you cast a spell on me?"

"Only one," Arthur replied, already raising his hand.

"Perfect. Let's make it count." Jay stood his ground, the storm of wind blades still shrieking toward him. Just then, a shimmering transparent bubble formed around him—Arthur's protection magic activating just in time.

'I've got one shot. Make it count.'

"Water Creation Magic: Serpent of the Sea!" Jay roared, voice thundering with resolve.

A massive serpent made entirely of roiling seawater erupted from the bubble, shattering the shield in a magnificent splash.

The aquatic beast surged forward like a tidal missile, barreling through the air with overwhelming speed.

BOOM!

Before Lyra could even react, the water serpent slammed into her, launching her backwards like a ragdoll. She crashed against the coliseum's magical barrier with bone-shaking force.

Blood sprayed from her mouth, and the serpent coiled around her like a constricting python, squeezing tightly until her eyes rolled back and she slumped, unconscious.

"Pheeew... That was intense," Jay exhaled, wiping blood from his cheek.

But then—footsteps.

He raised his head and saw Charlotte approaching, water swirling ominously around her form. Her expression was calm, cold, and focused entirely on him.

"Oh, come on…" Jay groaned, glancing down. The faint glow that had once surrounded his body was fading fast.

His hair, once floating from the sheer surge of mana, now drooped against his shoulders. The reservoir of power he'd drawn upon was drying up.

'Crap. Mana's almost gone. And now I have to fight her?'

He tried to step back, but a surge of water blasted into him like a battering ram, sending him tumbling.

"Can't you tell I'm drained?! Where's the mercy?" Jay shouted, coughing as blood trickled from the corner of his lips.

"This is a battlefield," Charlotte responded coldly, her voice sharp as ice. "There is no mercy for the weak."

The water around her spun rapidly, forming a long, fluid whip that cracked through the air and lashed toward him. Jay attempted to sidestep, but the whip coiled around his arm like a snake.

"What the—!?" he gasped, just before Charlotte yanked the whip, dragging him helplessly toward her.

"Water Magic: Crushing Torrent!"

A dozen water orbs burst from her fingertips and pelted Jay midair—each one slamming into his chest and gut with the force of a hammer. He hit the ground, skidding and gasping, blood bubbling from his lips.

'Damn it… If I hadn't broken through earlier, I wouldn't have even beaten Lyra. But now, I'm empty—completely drained. Basic spells are all I've got left... and they won't be enough.'

His muscles trembled as he tried to rise, only to stop cold—shadow overhead.

A massive sphere of water hovered above him, easily the size of a boulder. Charlotte stood a few feet away, arms raised, her breath steady.

'If that hits me, I'm done for. I won't be able to protect the crystal… Arthur can't hold them both off.'

He turned slightly—Arthur still stood in front of the team crystal, maintaining a glowing shield around it, eyes darting between Jay and Charlotte.

"Descend!" Charlotte commanded.

The colossal water sphere plummeted toward Jay, crashing into the ground with a mighty BOOOOM. Water exploded in every direction, steam rising from the shock.

"You missed," came Jay's voice—raspy but alive.

A few meters away, he stood drenched, panting heavily, a puddle beneath his feet.

'Last bit of mana… I used it to summon a wave and slide away. One second slower and I'd be out cold.'

Charlotte narrowed her eyes. "Now I understand what Lyra meant. You're relentless. Tough. Stubborn. But how long can you keep that up?"

Jay's bloodstained lips curled into a grin. "As long as I've got blood in my veins and water around me… I'll keep standing. Knock me down a hundred times, I'll rise a hundred and one."

Around him, four balls of water formed, followed by four scythe-like slashes.

'That's it. My final reserves. They won't finish her, but maybe… they'll stall her.'

Charlotte's smile disappeared. "Then let me end this properly. Breakthrough!"

BOOM!

An immense surge of mana burst from her as her body glowed, hair lifting in the torrent of power. The water around her surged, forming waves of deadly intent.

"I won't let you!" Jay shouted, snapping his fingers. His attacks shot forward, blades and orbs converging toward her.

With a flick of her hand, Charlotte unleashed a wall of water that neutralized them effortlessly. Then she was gone—a blur of movement—before reappearing in front of Jay.

"Too bad... Your efforts were brave, but futile."

BANG!

A compressed blast of water exploded into Jay's chest. He went flying, his body a ragdoll trailing blood, smashing into the ground just meters from the team's crystal.

"Jay! Are you okay?!" Arthur called out, hesitating—torn between helping and guarding the crystal.

"D-Do I look okay to you?!" Jay barked, blood dripping from his chin as he rose slowly. His once-white teeth were now crimson-stained, his hair disheveled, his uniform in tatters. But that fire… that fire in his eyes still burned.

"I told you, right? As long as I s—"

BOOM! BOOM!

Two explosive sounds shattered the tension. Every head turned toward Jay's direction. A massive reptilian beast, constructed entirely from pressurized water, erupted from Charlotte's spell and slammed into Jay.

His body convulsed midair from the force, eyes rolling back as blood erupted from his mouth. He was thrown with such velocity that he crashed into Arthur—sending both of them hurtling into the team crystal.

CRAAASH!

The crystal shattered into hundreds of pieces.

Gasps filled the arena. Silence reigned for several heartbeats as everyone absorbed the moment.

"Incredible… Unbelievable!" Captain Amir's voice finally cut through the quiet. "It's a draw! Both teams' crystals have been destroyed!"

"A draw?" Charlotte whispered, spinning around.

There it was—their crystal, shattered and glittering in the debris.

"Ho… how is this possible?" she muttered, stunned.

___

{A/N}

Pheww! We are nearing the end of this team A's battle guys! Let's go! Lest I forget! Congratulations to us for hitting 300 chapters 🥳 we did it guys!