The Siege Battle had finally begun.
However, contrary to their expectations, the three of them were cleanly separated from one another. While they hadn't ruled out the possibility, the opponents' trap had been faster than anticipated, isolating Amelia and Ariane from Ray.
Ray was already nowhere to be seen.
They had sensed the activation of magic, but they felt no presence of a sorcerer nearby. What had been triggered was Delay Magic. Because of that, the caster didn't even need to be lurking in the vicinity.
Based on the matches they had seen so far, a team specialized in magic would have a significant advantage in terms of defense. Even as they wandered the halls, a vast amount of Delay Magic was being constructed throughout the field.
"It seems we have been separated, hasn't it?"
"Yes. But Ray will be fine on his own. Let's hurry."
"I understand."
Both girls remained calm.
They had already prepared for this scenario before the match began. It was common knowledge that Ray was being heavily targeted. Rumors even suggested that, in terms of hand-to-hand combat alone, he might surpass the Three Great Noble Families.
Because of this, they knew that isolating Ray was a likely strategy for the enemy. Furthermore, Amelia and Ariane trusted Ray more than anyone else. Even if he were alone, they knew he would be perfectly fine.
Their plan if separated was to search for the flag individually. However, for this specific match, they already had a rough idea of its location.
The structure of the Ancient Castle wasn't particularly large. Much of the original structure had already been lost to demolition work. Overall, it was divided into four floors: the basement, the first floor, the second floor, and the third floor.
Ray's prediction placed the flag in the basement. In their previous defensive matches, the opposing team had never chosen the basement. While they might have tried to outthink their opponents by placing the flag in the same spot twice, Ray had ruled that out.
He had called it mere intuition, but it was on the money.
Amelia and Ariane headed immediately for the basement. There were two entrances, and they chose the closer one. There, they found a vast array of Delay Magic laid out.
Conversely, there was a possibility that this was a decoy. They had seen strategies in other matches where a large amount of Delay Magic was used to trick the attackers into thinking the flag was just ahead.
However, Amelia was certain.
"It's ahead of here."
"Can you tell?"
"Well, it's a hunch."
"Amelia, your senses have become quite sharp, haven't they?"
"You think so?"
"Yes. I truly believe so."
Ariane's observation was correct. Amelia's magical senses had become considerably acute—a byproduct of her intense training with Lise. Amelia had always possessed the talent of a massive Magic Area and sharp sensitivity toward magic; it had simply been dormant until now.
As Lise had noted when identifying her as a candidate for the next Seven Grand Sorcerers, Amelia's abilities had grown significantly.
"……Stop."
"Yes. I can feel it as well. From here on—"
The flag sat waiting just ahead of them. At first glance, it seemed like an easy prize. However, assuming as much was the trap itself.
Based on the matches they had watched and the information relayed by Ray, they knew seizing the flag wouldn't be so simple.
Crouching down, Amelia gently placed her right hand on the floor.
"……A considerable amount of Delay Magic has been installed."
"How clever. From the outside, one can hardly feel the presence of Prima Materia at all."
By spreading out her own Prima Materia like a sonar, Amelia grasped the magic deployed in the area. She kept the output at a minimum to ensure the Delay Magic wouldn't trigger.
This was a technique taught to her by Ray. While Ray could perceive Delay Magic without such methods, Amelia had mastered the technique to be absolutely certain.
"Now then, come out. I know you're there."
Amelia's dignified voice echoed through the room. A moment later, the space at the edge of the chamber warped unnaturally. Two members of the opposing team appeared.
The opponents were also on maximum alert regarding Amelia and Ariane.
Everything was going according to their plan so far. Aster would handle Ray alone, while the rest of them engaged in a two-on-two battle.
The opponents didn't believe the girls would use Origin Magic in the second round. With such a crowded schedule of matches ahead, they would want to conserve their strength. They likely hoped to win two rounds straight and end the match quickly.
That prediction was correct.
Ray had not given permission to use Origin Magic for this match. Strictly speaking, it had been a request rather than an order, but neither Amelia nor Ariane had any intention of using it. They had already decided to overpower their enemies from the front.
"Amelia. Here I go. Please be careful not to fall behind."
"Leave it to me. I'll match you perfectly."
"Fufu. That is reassuring."
In an instant, Ariane charged forward alone, paying no mind to the layers of Delay Magic. She stayed low as she sprinted. Simultaneously, the Delay Magic triggered.
The spell manifested was Glacis Field.
In terms of classification, it was categorized as Extensive Magic. From the starting point, Prima Materia raced across the ground, connecting dots until the area transformed into a world of ice as far as the eye could see.
It seemed as though Ariane would be caught, but she took flight just before the ice could touch her feet.
However, that was exactly what the opponents wanted. A target in the air was an easy one. All they had to do was snipe her.
Or so they thought—but Ariane wasn't the only one fighting.
<<Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code>> <<Material Code = Decoding>> <<Material Code = Processing = Acceleration>> <<Embodiment = Phenomenon>>
"—Ignis Field."
Amelia countered with Ignis Field, the polar opposite of the ice spell.
She nullified the unfolding Glacis Field in an instant. Most impressive was her tuning. If the output were too high, Ariane would be swallowed by the scorching heat as well. But Amelia had grasped the entirety of the opponents' spell instantly, layering her own Ignis Field with the perfect output to negate it entirely.
Then, Amelia used the resulting heatwave to layer another spell.
"—Storm."
She activated Storm with Quick Magic, using the winds to accelerate Ariane through the air. The opponents were unable to fix their aim, and their magic sailed harmlessly past Ariane.
"Wha……!?"
"No way! Layering two spells at once? And at this scale!?"
The two girls from the opposing team were proficient enough as sorcerers to understand exactly how abnormal that was.
To perfectly offset a Glacis Field and then immediately follow up with Storm using Quick Magic was a level of skill that surpassed a student's reach. Normally, a massive spell required an interval afterward because the Magic Area would be strained, making it impossible to immediately cast another powerful spell.
However, Amelia's Magic Area had a capacity that exceeded even the Seven Grand Sorcerers. For her, such a feat was a matter of course.
"You shouldn't be spacing out, you two."
Ariane was upon them. Unlike Amelia, she specialized in magic combat at Cross-range.
The opponents knew this and had used every spell at their disposal to keep her at a distance, yet Amelia had neutralized everything. Unable to do anything against the approaching Ariane, the opponents could only watch as she seized the flag.
With the objective secured, Amelia and Ariane immediately made for the exit.