Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 107: Adrian's Team Vs Second Year Elites [1]

As Adrian and his team ascended to the stage, all the eyes landed on the second year's side, wondering who would come up to fight.

Merel looked at the scene with a small and calm smile, while feeling excited inwardly. She knew what to do now, in order to avoid 'embarrassing' the granddaughter of the principal and securing the total victory.

She looked at one of the mid-ranking teams which didn't have either one of the seven elites.

"You guys will fight. Just don't lose badly." She ordered them.

The team nodded their head and ascended to the stage. They had two tanks, 1 assassin, and 2 mages.

Seeing the team's second years sent, the crowd was clearly dissatisfied.

"Why are they sending this team?"

"Yeah, they should have sent either Rowan's or Ciel's team."

"Right! I wanted to see a match between the two princesses, Princess Aria versus Princess Ciel!"

"Their battle would be legendary!"1

Hearing the voices of the spectators, Adrian could only smile.

He already anticipated this move from Instructor Merel.

'If I remember right, she sent two mid-ranking teams against both Adrian and Aria's teams in the novel.' Adrian thought his gaze observing his opponents. 'While saving the elites for the last match. She just wanted to use mid-ranking teams to use both first years' two strongest teams... But I won't play in your hands.'

"Are both teams ready?" Instructor Darius asked.

"We are ready." x 2

Adrian and the opponent's team leader replied.

"Woah, he is really their leader!"

"Yeah," Crowd murmured after hearing Adrian's reply that showed his position.

"The match begins."

The crowd went silent as Instructor Darius announced the start of the match. Both teams readied themselves, and the tension in the arena was palpable. Adrian's team stood confidently, not least pressured. On the other side, the second-year team, though mid-ranking, exuded determination not to lose face.

Adrian glanced at his team and nodded, signaling their readiness. They already had a plan, and now it was time to execute it.

"Swish!"

With fast movements, Adrian, Kairen, and Ardel dashed toward the opponents, rushing to attack.

Seeing their action, the two tanks on the opponent team readied their shields.

The arena crackled with anticipation as Adrian, Kairen, and Ardel sprinted toward the second-year tanks, their movements swift and precise. Just as the tanks raised their shields, preparing for the impact, the trio executed a sudden and synchronized maneuver.

In the blink of an eye, they jumped away, evading the tanks entirely. The unexpected move caught the second years off guard, and before they could react, three medium-sized fireballs whooshed through the air, precisely aimed at the spot where Adrian and his teammates had been moments before.

"Boom!"

The first fireball struck the tanks' shields directly, sending shockwaves through their defenses. The other two fireballs soared past, aimed at the mages behind the tanks. The mages, prepared for such an assault, quickly cast their barrier spells. Translucent barriers shimmered into existence just in time to intercept the fiery projectiles.

"Thud! Thud!"

The fireballs collided with the barriers, producing a bright flash of light and a deafening explosion. The barriers held, but the force of the impact pushed the mages back, their expressions strained from the effort.

"Crack!"

Before the dust could settle, earth spikes erupted from the ground, following the trajectory of the fireballs. The mages, still maintaining their barriers, were forced to reinforce their defenses against the new threat.

"Shatter!"

The spikes crashed against the barriers, producing cracks but failing to penetrate them. The mages' faces showed signs of relief, knowing they had successfully thwarted the initial attack.

However, Adrian and his team weren't done yet. The trio's jump wasn't just for evasion; it was a tactical repositioning. They landed strategically around the opponents, encircling them.

"Now, Aria!" Adrian commanded.

Aria, positioned at the rear, already finished casting another spell. Her hands glowed with a soft brown light, and the earth beneath all the five opponents suddenly moved, swallowing their feet.

As the earth shifted and solidified around their feet, the second-year opponents found themselves immobilized by Aria's now signature CC spell "Earth Bind". Panic flashed across their faces as they struggled to free themselves.

"Now!" Adrian shouted, seizing the opportunity.

Kairen, Ardel, and Adrian moved with lightning speed, their coordinated attacks a testament to their training and strategy. Each one of them moved behind the members of the opponent's backline. With a clean move, they took out opponents' both the mages and the assassin.

"E-Enough!" the second-year team leader, one of the tanks, shouted, raising his hand in a gesture of surrender. His voice was filled with frustration but also a grudging respect for Adrian and his team. "W-We surrender."

The arena fell silent for a moment, the intensity of the battle lingering in the air. Then, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, the first-year students celebrating their victory.

"The victory goes for the first years." Instructor Darius announced the result. He glanced at Adrian with the corner of his eyes. He noticed he hadn't used the Shadow Glide at all, and wondered whether he couldn't master it or didn't want to show it yet.

"Woah!"

"We won!"

"Oh, yeah!"

"That's the strongest first years team for you!"

"The battle didn't even last fifteen seconds! Crazy!"

The first-year students were ecstatic, their morale soaring higher than ever. Adrian's team had not only won but had done so with precision and coordination that left no doubt about their skill and potential.

"Woah, the princess was awesome!"

"Yeah, that girl who threw fireballs was good too!"

"Their strategy was really good."

The spectators continued to buzz with excitement, their voices blending into a cacophony of praise and admiration for Adrian's team.

The second year's team left the arena while supporting their mages and the assassin.

"Wait, why are they leaving?" One of the instructors watching questioned, pointing at Adrian and his team who were still standing at their positions.

"Y-Yeah. The match ended, right? Why aren't they moving?"

"Don't worry. The judge will take care of it. Look."

Instructor Darius came beside Adrian's team and asked aloud, his gaze probing.

"Why haven't you left the arena yet?"