Arthur walked off the platform. The scattered applause from the crowd didn't bother him. His eyes were on the other contenders in the waiting area. Their expressions had changed.
Before, he was a nobody. Now, they looked at him with surprise, and some with caution.
Orion rushed over, his face split by a wide grin.
"Mirage Dance?! Since when could you do that?!" he exclaimed, slapping Arthur on the back. "That's the third stage of Phantom Step! The scroll says it takes most Knights a year to even get the basics down!"
"I focused on it," Arthur said simply. He offered no other explanation.
In the Blackstone waiting area, Alaric's goons scoffed.
"He got lucky. The Bishop was all offense and no defense. Once he faces real power, he's done," one of them sneered.
"Pathetic. He just runs around," another agreed.
Alaric was silent. He had watched the entire fight, his eyes narrowed. He said nothing to his lackeys.
"Luck?" he thought, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
From across the waiting area, Arthur's eyes met Seraphina's. She watched him for a long moment, her face an unreadable mask of ice. It wasn't a hostile look, just… an appraisal. Then, she turned away.
The rest of the matches for the round of sixteen continued. The fights were quick, the difference in skill between the winners and losers becoming more obvious.
Arthur watched one particular match with interest. Gregor, the large student from Blackstone Orion had mentioned, stepped onto the platform. He carried a giant, crudely made axe.
His opponent was a Novice Conjurer from Valemarch, known for his clever traps. The Conjurer immediately cast a spell, creating a patch of sticky mud in front of Gregor. Then he launched a series of sharp wind sickles at Gregor's head.
Gregor didn't even try to dodge. He just roared, a strange reddish aura flaring around him for a second. He stomped right through the mud trap as if it wasn't there and let the wind sickles hit his shoulder. They bounced off his skin, leaving only faint white marks.
The Conjurer's eyes went wide with fear. Gregor closed the distance in two massive strides and swung his axe. The swing was simple, brutal, and overwhelmingly powerful.
The Conjurer's hastily erected mana shield shattered like glass, and he was thrown from the platform, knocked out before he even hit the ground.
Gregor grunted, resting his axe on his shoulder, and walked off. Pure, unstoppable force.
Soon, the last match ended. The eight winners were left. The announcer stepped forward.
"After a spectacular round of sixteen, eight champions remain!" he boomed.
The giant board flickered. The names of the losers greyed out, leaving the victors. The bracket for the quarter-finals was now clear for all to see.
"Our first match of the quarter-finals will be Seraphina Vayne from Highcrest versus Elara Vance from Valemarch!"
"Our second match will be Orion Starr from Everglen versus a powerful contender from his own academy, Jade Korin!"
Orion winced. Jade was one of Everglen's top Apprentice Knights, known for her impenetrable defense. It would be a tough fight.
"The third match will feature another top contender from Valemarch, Darius Croft, versus the pride of Blackstone Academy, Alaric Valewyn!"
A wave of anticipation went through the crowd. Darius was Valemarch's top Knight, a powerful contender in his own right. Alaric just looked bored, as if his victory was already decided.
The announcer paused for dramatic effect, his voice dropping slightly.
"And for our final match of the quarter-finals… Arthur Greymark from Everglen… versus Gregor, the Juggernaut, from Blackstone Academy!"
Arthur's head snapped towards the Blackstone section. Gregor, the brute who had just won his match with overwhelming power, turned his massive head.
A slow, predatory grin spread across his face. He cracked his knuckles, the sound like rocks grinding together.
Arthur met his gaze, his calm expression finally turning serious. This would be a real fight.
This was the most important round. Whoever would win their fights would be given the opportunity to go to the capital.