Team J sent their representative forward.

He stretched in to make a decision.

They landed on Team E.

He was sent back.

The first pairing was done.

Team E vs Team J.

In order of how they were called, the teams were C, A, B, D, E, H, G, F, I, and J.

Team I’s representative was next.

He reached out, and they landed on F.

This was a close matchup.

Team G was next.

Their representative picked B.

Sigman smiled immediately.

This was going to be easier than he’d expected.

Modred was just disappointed.

He wanted more fun.

More of a challenge.

Team H was next, and they landed on D.

Everyone was shocked.

Then surprised as well.

Lot just smiled.

Only two teams remained, so there was no need for a selection.

It was the top two teams.

Team C vs Team A.

Lot knew Joseph’s students ranked first for a reason.

They could win this.

He was betting on them.

Victor called the first sets to approach the mana meters on opposite ends.

"Place your hands."

The meter was very large.

It had a tabletop with prints the size and shape of gloves.

Eight of them.

All eight students from each side did as instructed.

Their hands were placed firmly on the device.

"It’s going to take a full minute," Victor said.

"We’re testing not just your mana reserves but your output as well."

"You may have more mana, but can you use it in time?"

Victor pointed upward.

"You may look up."

He pointed at the scale.

"It will swing in the direction of the victor and victim."

"You may pay attention to it or completely disregard it."

He brought out a stopwatch.

A timer became visible for all to see.

60 seconds.

"Team J vs Team E."

"Begin."

’The only advantage with our placement is that we can at least observe the actions of the others,’ Roe thought.

Immediately they started.

The scales tipped in Team E’s favor.

It wasn’t a fair fight.

The time didn’t matter.

It didn’t even seem like the other team was putting in as much effort.

This lack of a contest startled the students from Team J.

They knew they were going against a considerably higher-ranked Team E.

The scale just continued to tip in Team E’s favor.

"Do better."

"Output more."

Their representative shouted desperately.

Their master just shook his head in disappointment.

Ten more seconds.

The scale tipped ever so slightly back.

It wasn’t a deal breaker.

Five more seconds.

They all fell.

Running low on stamina, both teams were depleted before time was even up.

It didn’t matter.

The winner had already been decided.

Victor announced Team E as the victor.

"Team J will not yet be dismissed, as their master may nominate one student to proceed."

"This will take place after all the matches, so return to the waiting section."

"The winning team can continue watching the matches from the next hall."

"Next."

"Team I vs Team F."

This was the closest matchup.

Or at least it could be.

There also existed Team C vs Team A.

The students from both teams made for the mana meters.

The timer was reset, and the students waited.

"Start."

Without a moment to lose, the students from both sides went full throttle.

No time was wasted.

They saw how the first teams had performed.

Team F wasn’t even all that confident.

They placed higher, but they knew any slip-up could be fatal.

If Team I got even the slightest lead, it could spell the end for them.

As the count initiated, it seemed like Team F was in the lead.

Ten seconds in.

The scale tipped in favor of Team I.

Five seconds later.

It tipped back.

Two seconds after that.

It tipped again.

They didn’t understand why it was changing so frequently.

"Come on!"

"Push harder!"

One of them shouted.

It didn’t matter.

They could do only one thing right now.

Give it their all.

They continued on.

About forty seconds in, one person from Team F collapsed.

Team I was gaining.

They overtook after equalizing.

Then Team I had two people collapse in quick succession.

Team F bounced back.

Team F regained the lead.

Another student from Team F collapsed not long after.

The cycle of collapses and reversals continued.

Five seconds left.

Only three people remained.

One from Team F.

Two from Team I.

The scale instantly tipped.

The most aggressively it had moved throughout the entire contest.

Team F had won.

No one understood what had just happened.

Team I still had two mages standing.

How could they lose to just one?

The other two collapsed shortly after, leaving only the single mage from Team F standing.

Solomon knew what was up.

He called out and requested the boy’s name.

The student introduced himself as Randolph.

Victor asked him to explain.

"You see those fluctuations earlier?"

"Those were me."

"I caused those."

"I would release vast outputs at a time and then instantly halt."

"While the others were giving it their all, I just waited."

Randolph shrugged.

"It’s not that I overpowered two mages."

"I overpowered two nearly bottomed-out ones."

"It was easy, really."

"I still have a lot in the tank, actually."

Victor was impressed.

He didn’t think anyone would even consider that strategy.

"Team F is the victor," he declared.

Their mana was replenished, and they were sent to the next hall to watch alongside Team E.

The losers returned to the waiting stand, hoping for a final salvation.

"The next match."

"Team G vs Team B."

Team G knew they would have to do something tricky to stand a chance.

They had just seen what Team F had done.

The only problem was that they hadn’t thought of a game plan of their own.

"Team B will be ruthless," one of them muttered.

The students readied their hands.

The timer was reset once more.

They waited for the signal.

"Start."

It was on.