"Get down!" Relin shouted in fury, his face turning red as if it might burst. He appeared even more agitated than Deculein.0

Unable to watch any longer, Deculein stepped in to calm him and said, "Professor Relin, calm yourself." 0

"Sorry? Ah... but..."0

Then, Deculein slowly walked over to face Epherene. Despite her earlier outburst, she still had doubts and asked with concern, "... Is this really okay?"0

"I said you could choose anyone here, I didn't set any restrictions," Deculein said, striking his staff on the ground. The thud and vibration tousled Epherene's hair. "The time limit is still three minutes, but I'll give you a handicap. I won't use any magic to attack, and if you can make me drop the staff, you win."4

Nodding, Epherene clenched her fist and said, "... Yes, sir."0

Facing Deculein, her heart pounded wildly. This was the moment she had longed for, the scenario she had dreamed of. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, ready to seize this opportunity she had waited for so long.0

"Begin," Deculein commanded. Instantly, a gust of wind swirled around Epherene, signaling the start of their challenge.0

Epherene cast Haste, embodying the wind element, a powerful form of Pure Element magic. Contrary to popular belief, Haste enhanced both physical movement and the speed of casting spells, making magic quicker and more effortless.3

Epherene gathered mana into her bracelet. Typically, mage battles relied on each mage's preferred elemental property. But Epherene was different. Her property wasn't an element but the bracelet itself, which acted as a catalyst. This special bracelet let her use all four primary elements without any penalties or loss in power.8

“Hup!” 0

Epherene unleashed a blast of flames. It was an intermediate-level Pure Element magic spell called Firestorm. The flames spread wildly, enveloping Deculein in a swirling inferno, obscuring him from view. 0

Epherene then enhanced...3