The Magics War had finally commenced. Matches were progressing steadily, and the top teams from each league were about to be finalized.
Among the competitors, one team stood out as the clear favorite to win the entire tournament.
That was Team Forst.
They were undefeated. Furthermore, not a single one of their matches had lasted until the time limit. Most of their bouts ended at the third capture point—in other words, every single game was a complete shutout.
Lucas Forst and Evi held the front line. Meanwhile, Albert specialized in magic support from the rear, yet he was equally proficient in cross-range hand-to-hand combat.
Every element of the team was balanced at an exceptionally high level.
That was the strength of Team Forst.
"Alright. Another perfect victory."
Lucas quietly sheathed his sword. Moments later, the sound of a siren echoed through Kafka Forest.
"The winner is Team Forst."
Upon hearing the announcement, Evi and Albert approached Lucas.
"We did it!"
"Hell yeah! Another shutout!"
The two bumped fists, then shared the same gesture with Lucas.
This match had been another complete victory. They had secured every single point across the battlefield, refusing to yield even one to their opponents.
Under normal circumstances, the nature of the Qualifiers made achieving a shutout extremely difficult. This was primarily due to the constant rotation required between capture points. Because teams had to move around, it was almost impossible for a score to remain at zero, regardless of the gap in combat power.
However, Team Forst had a system: Albert would hold a point while Evi provided support.
Meanwhile, Lucas would handle the rotations alone, defending the next point entirely by himself. Once the transition was secure, the other two would regroup with him to advance the match.
At first glance, Lucas's overwhelming individual skill was the most striking element, but tournament observers also highly praised the team's overall cohesion. They were by no means a one-man show centered on Lucas.
Evi and Albert had also steadily improved their reputations throughout the competition.
"Now then, let's head back. We have another reflection meeting today."
"Understood."
"A reflection meeting, huh... I kind of messed up a bit this time," Evi admitted, scratching his head.
Even in a shutout victory, there was always room for improvement. In this match, Evi had pushed too far forward, forcing Lucas to shift into a support role to cover for him.
Given his personality, Evi tended to get swept up in the heat of battle. Though he understood intellectually that he needed to stay calm, his body, bolstered by Inside Code, refused to slow down.
"Indeed. Because you overextended, I was forced to pivot to support," Lucas noted.
"Ugh..."
"We'll go over that and several other points."
The three of them made their way out of Kafka Forest.
They already carried the aura of champions. As an ever-victorious team, they were prepared to fight their way to the very top.
◇
"Is it over?"
The three of us had been watching Team Forst's match. Even through a monitor, their exceptional teamwork was undeniable.
Much like us, they were thoroughly well-versed in the nuances of forest combat. That much was evident from the way they positioned themselves.
In all likelihood, they would advance to the Main Tournament without issue.
"They're strong, aren't they?" Amelia remarked.
"Yes. However, we shall not be outdone!" Ariane declared.
Ariane sounded confident, but in reality, our chances were likely fifty-fifty at best. Lucas Forst aside, the level of refinement displayed by Albert and Evi was incredibly high.
I wanted to say that Team Algren was beyond reproach, but the truth was that I was the bottleneck. It was all because I couldn't exert my full power.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't that I lacked the ability to go all out. However, doing so carried significant risks. If possible, I wanted to refrain from using standard magic and rely primarily on Inside Code.
I believed that would suffice for the Qualifiers. But the Main Tournament would be home to even greater powerhouses. Their coordination would be on a completely different level than anyone we had faced so far.
Furthermore, the Main Tournament wouldn't use a league format; it was a single-elimination bracket. A single loss meant the end of the road.
Even if I had to use my power, I wanted to save it for limited, critical moments—situations where I could demonstrate my true abilities without regret.
As I was lost in these thoughts, Amelia's face suddenly appeared right in front of mine.
"Ray? Is something wrong? You seem like you're brooding."
"Right. I should probably share this with you both."
I explained my concerns to them then and there. Ariane was the first to speak up.
"It shall be quite alright! The two of us will support you! Besides, I believe it would be poor form for us to rely on you forever, Ray."
"Ariane is right," Amelia added with a firm nod. "I think you try to carry too much on your own, Ray. You're certainly reliable, and Ariane and I both believe in you. But you know, I don't think there's any shame in relying on others. You were the one who taught me that."
Amelia's face flushed a soft red as she spoke, looking slightly embarrassed. She was likely thinking back to the Magics Chevalier.
Back then, I had been struggling with my own internal conflicts—wondering if someone like me was allowed to touch the hearts of others, or if I was permitted to live my life standing close to someone else.
But I met Amelia. I met everyone. And I believe I've been changing, bit by bit.
To have Amelia tell me those words because of what I did back then... I really am blessed with the people in my life.
"Thank you, Amelia."
I smiled. I felt like I was finally able to offer a natural, honest expression.
"That is correct, Ray. You have given so much to me as well. If there is something on your mind, please tell us. We are a team, after all," Ariane said with a serious expression.
Sitting next to me, Amelia softly rested her hand on mine.
"Ray, it's okay. We'll support you. So, let's win this together."
"Indeed! Please, leave it to us ladies!"
"Ahaha... I'm not entirely sure what you mean by 'ladies' in this context, Ariane."
Our usual lighthearted banter. I felt a surge of happiness in such a trivial conversation.
I turned my gaze back to the monitor. Evi, Albert, and Lucas Forst were on the screen.
What would it take to defeat those three? If we clashed head-on, the stalemate would likely slowly crumble.
But I'm sure we can win.
Amelia and Ariane—I have watched their growth from the front row this entire time. And they aren't the only ones evolving. I am growing as well, not just mentally, but magically.
My Overheat condition is better than it has ever been. While my Magic Area is still partially restricted, I can use magic with far fewer issues than before. I can even manifest the Ice Sword, provided I limit how often I call upon it.
"...I see. I really am always being saved by the two of you."
"That's not true. You're always saving me, too," Amelia countered.
"Precisely! But you are more than welcome to rely on us. We are comrades, after all!"
"Yeah. You're right. Then, let's talk about our strategy."
With that, we began our meeting for the upcoming matches.
The Qualifiers would soon be over.
Next came the Main Tournament. The rules would change significantly, and our approach to combat would have to evolve with them.
But I'm sure we can do this.
I truly believe it—