Class 5 and Class 1, divided into two camps, sat in a circle around their respective professors.
"Is there anyone who wants to participate?"
"I'll recommend Leo and Chelsea!"
As Kai raised his hand, the students nodded.
Leo, not only the class representative, had shown impressive skills during the temporary classes, firmly establishing himself as a capable student in the minds of his peers.
Chelsea, without a doubt, was from a prestigious hero family and had the highest score in the entrance exam for Class 5.
"Leo Flov, Chelsea Rualin. Any objections?"
"No."
"I have none."
"Good, Kai Thomas, who recommended them, you also come out."
"Excuse me? I, I think it would be better if someone else went out…."
"There's no right to refuse."
"Yes, sir!"
Kai reluctantly stepped forward.
"Next?"
"I'll go out!"
"I'll do it too!"
Iliana and Taido raised their hands enthusiastically.
"Iliana Laden, Taido Marcoa. So, four more are left."
"I'll go."
"Nella Caven."
When Nella, with her languid voice, expressed her willingness to participate, the male students eagerly raised their hands.
One of the top beauties in the class, Nella's participation had sparked their enthusiasm.
In this way, eight participants stepped forward.
"Class 5 seems to have decided on their members. Alright!"
Sedjen spread his hands.
Whoosh-!
A light appeared on the training ground, and a rectangular line was drawn.
At the same time, goalposts made of mana lines appeared at the ends of the rectangle.
The players from both teams gathered in the center.
"The game duration is 20 minutes. Winning is important, but the spirit of fair play is even more crucial. I'll give you a moment for strategy discussion."
Professor Sedjen, who had given them time for strategy, went to the referee's stand.
"How dare you come out without fear?"
"We'll crush you."
Selia and Chloe glared at Kai with vicious smiles.
Kai, frightened, hid behind Chelsea.
After the players from both sides finished their greetings, they gathered in the center of their respective camps.
Leo was appointed as the team captain based on Chelsea's recommendation.
"Let's see, the top students are one thing, but look at the other Class 1 students."
"They're all from prestigious families."
"They're determined to win."
"Wasn't Class 1 the class with the highest average score?"
While everyone was tense and discussing strategies, Leo, wearing a blue vest, asked.
"But isn't it always advantageous for the Knight Department when it comes to physical movement?"
"What do you mean, Leo? Just because it's the Knight Department doesn't mean it's always advantageous. The performance of the Magic Department and the Summoning Department is also incredibly important!"
Taido replied.
"Why?"
"Why? Of course…."
Taido, trailing off, seemed to remember something and asked.
"Leo, have you ever played Vastera?"
"No."
"You're from the Delad Kingdom, right?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, the Delad Kingdom is a remote area, so you wouldn't know."
Taido covered his face.
"Vastera is a game where you score by putting the ball into the opponent's goal as many times as possible within the time limit. However…."
"However?"
"The strategy discussion time is over. The team captains, come forward! We'll decide who goes first."
Leo stepped forward as the representative.
The representative from Class 1 was Duran.
Sedjen, holding a coin, asked Leo.
"Which one, heads or tails?"
"Heads."
Sedjen glanced at Duran, who nodded as if it didn't matter.
Ding-!
The coin bounced up and landed on Sedjen's palm.
"Tails. Class 1 will go first."
Duran, receiving the transparent ball, smiled menacingly.
"This time, I'll crush you for sure."
Leo shrugged off Duran's provocation.
Seeing this, Duran scowled and returned to his team, passing the ball to Selia.
"Finish the explanation."
Leo asked, and Taido, with a tense face, shouted.
"There's no time to explain! Experience it yourself! Here it comes!"
"Huh?"
Whoosh-!
The transparent ball turned red and was enveloped in flames.
"Here it goes!"
Selia threw the ball with all her might.
Flash-!
The ball, drawing a straight trajectory, flew towards Leo at an incredible speed.
Leo dodged hastily.
Smack-!
"Oof?"
The male student behind Leo, hit in the side, screamed and was sent flying.
Thud! Roll, roll, roll!
Selia, brushing her disheveled hair back, high-fived her teammates.
Seeing the classmate who had rolled on the ground in a pitiful state, Leo asked seriously.
"…Is he going to die?"
"He's protected by the protective suit, but… it's really painful."
Kai answered in a frightened voice.
Taido swallowed hard.
"This is Vastera! If you hit the opponent with the ball, the attack right passes to you! But if you get hit and can't move, you're out! If a really strong person throws it, you could even lose your life!"
Only then did Leo understand why the students were so tense.
Scoring many points is one way, but making all the opponents unable to fight is also a win.
***
"Excellent! Powerful! Elegance! As expected, a direct descendant of the Zerdingers!"
Sedjen clapped and cheered.
"Halind! Your class will never beat ours!"
"It's still the beginning of the game, though?"
"Hehehe! That's true! But just having Student Selia gives us a significant advantage! You know best how specialized the Zerdingers are in Vastera!"
"…."
A student from Class 1 raised his hand and asked.
"Why are the Zerdingers advantageous in Vastera?"
"Great question! The most efficient attribute in Vastera is the high-destructive fire attribute! And the Zerdingers' fire is considered the most powerful among humans!"
He pointed at Halind with a proud expression.
"Your legendary senior at the Lumern Academy, one of my and this friend's first students, was also a Zerdingger!"
Sena, listening to the explanation, laughed.
"We also have a student who can handle the aura of fire."
Halind looked at Leo, who was holding the ball.
Flames spewed from the ball in Leo's hand.
***
'There's neutral mana in it?'
Leo, having understood the ball's characteristics, lightly rolled the ball, now enveloped in a flame aura, on his palm.
The Class 1 students watched Leo with tense faces.
"Kai."
"Uh?"
"Is it allowed to attack or grab people with your abilities?"
"No. You can mark to prevent them from passing, but attacks can only be made with the ball."
'So the ball is the only means of attack. Having the ball must be a huge advantage.'
"Is that so?"
While Leo was understanding the rules, Nella approached the first fallen male student from her class and raised her aura.
A white aura of light burst forth, and the male student's face relaxed.
'Hmm? A healing attribute aura? That's rare.'
Auras have various attributes.
While most enhance attack power, there are also attributes like Nella's that heal wounds.
"Brother Leo, holding the ball for too long is a foul, and the attack right will pass to the other team."
"Got it. I have one more question. Is it okay to kick the ball with your feet instead of your hands?"
"It's fine, but the accuracy will drop, won't it?"
"It's fine."
Leo threw the ball into the air and kicked it hard.
Bang-!
The aura at the tip of Leo's foot exploded, adding its force to the ball.
The combination of the sudden burst of aura and his incredible physical abilities made the ball fly towards Class 1's goal faster than Selia's throw.
"Block it!"
Selia shouted urgently.
Crack-!
Magic power burst from Chloe's body, and a thick ice wall formed in front of the goal.
Bang-! Crack-!
The ball was embedded deep into the thick ice wall.
"As long as I'm here, you won't score a goal…."
"Is that so?"
Leo, who had run into Class 1's camp, smiled at Chloe and charged towards the goal.
The Class 1 students were taken aback.
"What… what…!"
In the meantime, Leo leaped towards the ice wall.
"Ah!"
Crack-!
He kicked the ball embedded in the ice wall.
Crack-! Ping-!
The ice wall shattered, and the ball flew into Class 1's goal.
Beep-!
"Class 5… first goal."
Professor Sedjen, blowing the whistle, announced in a hoarse voice.
"Indeed, the class representative!"
"His reflexes are amazing!"
Cheers erupted from Class 5.
'Indeed, he's not to be underestimated.'
'Ugh! I let my guard down.'
'You bastard!'
Selia, Chloe, and Duran scowled at Leo.
"Nice! The first goal is incredibly important!"
Kai raised his thumb.
"Great! Let's defend Class 1's attack and take the attack right!"
Iliana, the mood maker, raised her hand and shouted.
"Ooh!"
The atmosphere in Class 5 heated up.
"It looked like a reckless attack, but he used his quick wit to score!"
Sena exclaimed, and Halind shook his head.
"No, that was a strategy."
"Huh?"
'According to Ein, he was the leader on the ship during the opening ceremony, right? He must have already understood Chloe Mueller's characteristics.'
Chloe specializes in ice magic and has the best high-speed incantation ability among the first-year students.
In other words, she is the most specialized player in Class 1 for defending the goal.
Leo had anticipated this and targeted her weakness.
'He's an excellent strategist for his age.'
Halind stroked his chin and his eyes sparkled.
Meanwhile, Class 1's counterattack began.
Duran, holding the ball, ran towards Class 5's camp.
Crackle-!
Golden aura sparks flew from his body.
Crack-!
As he sprinted, Chelsea quickly followed.
Lightning and wind, both attributes specialized in speed.
"Where are you going?"
"Tch!"
Chelsea's persistent pursuit made Duran click his tongue and pass the ball to Selia, who was following behind.
"Ah!"
Chelsea was taken aback.
'He's unlucky, but his passes are accurate.'
Selia, receiving Duran's pass, charged towards Class 5's goal without hesitation.
Students blocked her path, but Selia easily dodged them.
Leo appeared in front of her.
"Hi."
"I knew you'd come."
Selia smiled.
"But what can you do? You're unlucky, after all."
Crackle-!
"This kid is pretty fast, though?"
"Isn't that a bit hypocritical, coming from someone who only focuses on destructive power, Selia Zerdingger?"
Duran, who had already shaken off Chelsea, was jumping over Selia's head.
No matter how specialized in speed, it was impossible for Chelsea to outpace Duran in a sprint.
Selia and Duran glared at each other, their faces twisted.
They obviously had a terrible relationship.
But they wouldn't let personal feelings ruin their chances of winning.
Swish-!
Selia passed the ball to Duran.
Leo didn't even try to intercept it.
'What's this? Did he give up?'
Without any interception, Selia looked at Leo in confusion.
Then, upon seeing Leo's face, she realized something was wrong.
"Duran, wait a moment…."
But by the time Selia's words reached him, Duran had already thrown the ball.