Idle Mage: Humanity's Strongest Backer
chapter-367

The excitement of the audience was still at an all-time high. The Mortal League just exited the stadium and currently, the tournament was on a little break.

However, the audience could see the contestants of the High-Evolutionary League appearing in the stadium, that's enough for them to look forward to the challenge they'd be on.

After the short break, the contestants arranged themselves properly to wait for the start of the event.

As the High-Evolutionary League's turn came, the audience held their breath in anticipation. Elise stepped forward and raised her hand to signal for silence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the High-Evolutionary League's challenge, the Battle Royale!" Elise announced, her voice echoing across the stadium.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the contestants for the High-Evolutionary League made their way to the battlefield. The battlefield was a sprawling, multi-level arena, filled with towering buildings, hidden tunnels, and dangerous traps. The arena was divided into several zones, each one offering a different advantage to the contestants.

The battlefield is a massive, open arena that spans several acres of land. The ground is made up of hard-packed dirt, with rocks and boulders scattered throughout. In the center of the arena is a large, circular platform made of stone, which serves as the starting point for the contestants.

The perimeter of the arena is marked by a tall, wooden fence that is lined with torches. Beyond the fence, the landscape is hilly and rugged, with dense forests and rocky outcroppings in the distance. The sky above is a deep, midnight blue, with a crescent moon hanging low on the horizon.

The arena is lit by dozens of torches that are mounted on tall poles around the perimeter. The flickering flames cast long shadows across the ground, making it difficult to see in some areas. The air is heavy with the scent of smoke and sweat, and the sound of metal clashing against metal echoes across the arena.

Overall, the battlefield is a harsh and unforgiving environment, with few places to hide and even fewer opportunities to rest. The contestants must rely on their wits and their fighting skills if they hope to emerge victorious.

"Here are the rules," Elise continued, her voice cutting through the din of the crowd. "The Battle Royale will last for three hours. At that time, the contestants must fight to the last man standing. There are no restrictions on weapons or magic, but contestants must stay within the 'Safe Zone' or else, they will risk injuring themselves. The last person standing will be declared the winner, and the top 10 contestants will move on to the next round."

The contestants stood at the ready, their eyes scanning the arena for potential threats. The tension between them was palpable since everyone was a potential enemy. The air was thick with tension and excitement as the countdown began.

"Three, two, one... Begin!" Elise shouted, her voice ringing out across the arena.

Immediately, the contestants sprang into action, dashing toward the nearest weapons and shields. The first few minutes of the battle were chaotic, with contestants clashing in brutal melee combat, hurling spells and arrows at one another, and seeking refuge in the maze of tunnels and buildings.

With that, the contestants spread out across the field, eyes scanning for their opponents. Suddenly, a flurry of spells and arrows erupted from one side of the field as a group of contestants engaged in battle. Blades clashed, shields blocked, and magic crackled in the air as the contestants fought for dominance.

One contestant, a skilled archer, perched on a rocky outcropping, raining arrows down on her opponents below. Another, a swordsman with lightning-quick reflexes, darted between his foes, delivering quick and deadly strikes.

After a few rounds of skirmishes, an alarm blared throughout the battlefield. To some of the contestants' surprise, they saw the glaring red wall moving inwards, causing them to flee in panic. It was then that Elise's voice echoed throughout the battlefield:

"Oops! I forgot to say that the 'Safe Zone' will shrink every ten minutes. Careful now, contestants. If I were you, I'd watch that red wall like a hawk!"

Some of the contestants cursed under their breaths upon hearing Elise's words. They don't doubt, even for a second, that she delayed telling them that on purpose.

Nevertheless, it's just an additional obstacle for them. Their goal still hasn't changed.

As the battle raged on, contestants fell one by one, their bodies littering the battlefield. The remaining fighters were bloodied and battered, but their determination to emerge victorious never faltered.

The contestants will not really die here. They will be hurt immensely, yes. But none of them will die. Ashton and the rest of the Mystic Guild's staff wouldn't let that happen.

All of the injuries they will receive will be real of course, but as soon as they cannot fight anymore, they will be transported out of the battlefield and healed right to their peak condition right away.

The fight continues then...

A sorceress summoned a massive ice golem to fight for her, while a warrior channeled his rage to increase his strength and speed. The sounds of battle echoed across the field as contestants fought tooth and nail to stay alive.

The Battle Royale continued to rage on as the remaining contestants fought tooth and nail, using their cold weapons and magic to gain the upper hand.

In one corner of the battlefield, a contestant with a staff infused with fire magic spun around in a circle, unleashing a massive wave of flames towards a group of opponents. The opponents quickly countered with a combination of water and ice magic, extinguishing the flames and freezing the area around them, slowing down their attacker. They then charged forward, their swords and spears glinting in the sunlight.

From another corner, two contestants faced off against each other in a tense swordfight. One of them wielded a long, curved blade, while the other had two short swords. The long blade wielder swung their weapon in wide, sweeping arcs, trying to catch their opponent off guard. The short sword wielder, on the other hand, darted in and out of range, striking quickly and fluidly.

Meanwhile, in the center of the battlefield, a group of contestants banded together, using their combined magic to create a massive dome of protection around themselves. The dome shimmered and crackled as it absorbed the blows from the other contestants' attacks. However, they couldn't maintain the spell for long, and soon the dome began to falter. The other contestants took advantage of the opportunity and charged forward, their weapons glinting in the light.

The battle continued to rage on, with contestants falling left and right. Some were taken down by well-placed strikes, while others succumbed to exhaustion from using too much magic. The spectators watched in awe and amazement as the fighters displayed incredible skill and tenacity.

As the sun began to set, only a handful of contestants remained standing. They were battered and bruised, their clothes torn and bloody, but their spirits remained unbroken. They continued to fight on, determined to be the last one standing and claim victory in the Battle Royale.

Finally, only a handful of contestants remained, their eyes locked on each other, waiting for the moment to strike. The tension was palpable as they circled each other, blades and spells at the ready.

The air was charged with energy as the remaining contestants launched themselves into one final, explosive battle. Magic clashed with steel as the fighters pushed themselves to the limit, their determination to emerge victorious burning fiercely in their hearts.

The battle lasted for what seemed like hours, but in reality, only a few minutes had passed. When the dust settled, only a few contestants stood victorious, their bodies bruised and battered but their spirits unbroken.

They're no longer in any condition to fight at all. Thankfully, before they entertained any thoughts about continuing, Elise came through and announced the conclusion of the challenge.

"Time's up! That does it for the Battle Royale!"

Elise stepped forward to address the crowd once again. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Battle Royale of the High-Evolutionary League has come to a close. We have seen some truly breathtaking displays of skill, strategy, and power from our contestants. However, as with all contests, there can only be a few who will move on to the finals."

The audience held their breath in anticipation as Elise continued. "The top 10 contestants from this round will proceed to the finals, where they will compete for the title of High-Evolutionary League Champion. Congratulations to those who made it this far! Your hard work and dedication have paid off."

Elise's eyes swept over the audience, her expression serious yet proud. "For those who were eliminated, do not be discouraged. You have shown tremendous bravery and skill in this contest, and we honor you for that. As a token of our appreciation, you will be receiving rewards befitting of your efforts."

She then smiled warmly, her tone becoming more lighthearted. "So, let's give all of our contestants a round of applause for their amazing performances. And let's look forward to what's to come in the finals!" The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, eager to see what the next challenge would bring.