Geometric Mage: First Spell, Circle

The moment the announcer said those words, a device lit up next to each seat. There, the boys could place their bets, a flurry of activity sparking across the stands.

None of them knew Lian, but judging by his gaze and the frightened aura he emanated, no one thought he could win, the odds stacked heavily against him.

But as with every bet, there were always those who believed in miracles and bet on the side with the least chance of winning, the dreamers among the pragmatists.

Rebecca, leader of the Silver Phoenix, was among these people. "You are stronger than you seem, Lian… I will bet on you; let us see how you do-" her voice a quiet whisper of confidence.

A few seconds later, the announcer resumed speaking as the betting devices turned off, the moment of wagering concluded.

<Alright! Now that you have placed your bets,> his voice rising with anticipation.

The crowd stood up excitedly, jumping and shouting like mad, their energy a living, breathing force.

The entire ring glowed brightly. The runes covering every single tile activated simultaneously, making the entire floor impervious to magic, a protective marvel of arcane engineering.

As if that were not enough, an invisible but perceptible barrier rose from the ring, protecting the spectators from any kind of attack, but not only that, a shield of safety and isolation.

The moment the barrier was complete, the sound of the crowd vanished from Lian's ears, leaving only the pounding of his heart.

"Incredible!" he murmured in awe, looking at the runes glowing faintly beneath him, his eyes wide with wonder.

He could not observe them precisely; however, these runes reminded Lian of something, a spark of recognition flickering in his mind.

"Geometric shapes?" he said, furrowing his brows as he tried to better observe the runes that had suddenly appeared on the floor. Lian could not see them well; they were too small, but their shapes were, somehow, familiar.

But before he could examine them further, the announcer's voice echoed all around, commanding the attention of all.

<Let the fight begin!> the words a clarion call to action.

The crowd roared with excitement as the long-awaited event began. It was not common for all these people to be gathered here today. The only real reason was the event between the four factions, a rare and thrilling spectacle.

Lian did not hear the crowd's shouts, only his heart beating like a drum, a steady rhythm grounding him.

His body no longer trembled, though it was still slightly shaken by what was happening, his nerves steadying with effort.

"Let us see if you are still acting arrogant-" the words of his opponent, Brutus, sounded like a death sentence as he prepared to make his move, his stance radiating menace.

Brutus wasted no time as his mana began to flow through his meridians, a surge of power radiating from his core.

"Terra Fortis, Terra Tremor!" he bellowed, his voice resonating with authority.

Despite the reinforced floor, the tremor caused by Brutus's spell propagated effortlessly, a ripple of raw energy shaking the arena.

The floor visibly shook, rising and falling rhythmically, with occasional cracks shattering the tiles. Lian observed the scene with a frown. He had not expected such a brutal start, the ground itself seeming to rebel against him.

Lian had decided long ago how to proceed. Although he was one of the legendary Mages with quadruple affinity, as the sage in the tower had told him, Lian had no intention of revealing all his cards, his strategy a carefully guarded secret.

He immediately began to retreat to avoid being caught by the unstable ground, but his legs were still somewhat shaky due to the pressure the situation placed on him, each step a battle against his own nerves.

It was even greater than when he used the Geometric Cultivation ability…

"Damn-" Lian stumbled slightly as the floor moved incessantly. It was a real earthquake-

But Lian recovered quickly, stepping out of the spell's range, his reflexes sharp despite the chaos.

Brutus's wide-range attack, in reality, was quite useless. It only served to excite the crowd with the sight of destruction and chaos, nothing more but a spectacle designed to dazzle.

After all, the fights in the arena were not just about power. It was a show. The best performance would attract more attention, and consequently, more fame and glory, a currency as valuable as gold.

And who did not desire fame and glory?

<Boys and girls, did you see that too? Brutus has opened the dance with his classic opening move! Lian was smart to dodge, but he cannot do it forever. What will he do now?> the announcer's voice boomed, amplifying the tension.

The announcer shouted at the top of his lungs as the crowd cheered like mad. The fight had just begun, yet the premise was intriguing, a spark igniting the audience's fervor.

"You are quick to run," Brutus said, spreading his hands in front of him. His gaze sharpened as he fixed on Lian's frowning expression. "Let us see how you handle this!" His tone laced with menace.

"Terra Fortis, Terra Petra!" he chanted, his voice commanding the earth.

Observing the stone block forming and hurtling at high speed, Lian decided it was time to retaliate, his mind shifting to offense.

"Geometric Spell, Triangle!" he thought in an instant, as the triangle took shape in his mind.

He had chosen to fight as a Mage with an affinity for the wind element. But this did not mean Lian could not use other spells, his versatility a hidden strength.

The point was tied to affinity.

Brutus, for example, had a strong affinity for the earth element, while his affinity with the other three elements was poor, a limitation of his magical prowess.

He could still use spells related to the other elements, but their effectiveness would be reduced.

In contrast, Lian's effectiveness would not be reduced at all. That was why he had to use only one element, or he risked ruining his cover.

He did not want others to know he was a genius. He was still too weak to make himself known, his potential a secret he guarded fiercely.