X-Loves: From Another World
Chapter 19: Land and Fire

The 21st National Magic Tournament is about to begin. We're getting to the end of the opening show. His Majesty the 12th Emperor of the Archipelago, Hilal Hasanuddin of Mangkasara has officially opened the most prestigious magic tournament in the country. The cheers of the audience also echoed throughout Dukono Arena Jailolo.

In closing the ceremony, the Emperor casts a magic spell and shoots it at a halo hovering just above the arena.

“Mini Noctah”

TWINGG.A small light fired by the Emperor flew in all directions before passing through the circle. Something magical happened.

“This....”.

Anna was unable to say much seeing something so amazing appear before her eyes. The blue circle shone brightly and emitted two pieces of light in opposite directions. The two lights split into multiples of two to sixteen, and eventually formed a rectangle bearing a number of names. Right after the light stopped, the host spoke again.

“Alright, here is the list of 16 participants of the 21st National Magic Adu Tournament at Dukono Arena Jailolo. The participants from 5 magic academies throughout the archipelago will fight each other for the title,”

Exactly what the host said. It was a list of the participants who would fight each other to become the champion of the most prestigious magic tournament in the country.

The host of the Jailolo National Magic Academy sent 6 participants, namely Riko, Dwi Septianto, Nikita Innes, Tama Aprilliana, Alita Chaniago, and Anna Sahilatua.

“What? Alita also participated in the tournament?”

Anna and Licia were wondering about it. They did not expect the quiet girl from Pagaruyung to also be a participant of this tournament. But it even makes them curious about his magic abilities, especially Alita almost never seen practicing witchcraft.

In addition to Jailolo, another magic school that sends its participants is the Tapanuli National Magic Academy. One of the oldest magic schools in the western region of the archipelago was sent 4 participants, namely Henrick Sutiyoso, Michael Hutahaean, Ricardo Lumbantoruan, and Rebecca Coal.

Another school that sends its participants in this tournament is the Pakuwon Mataram Region Magic Academy with only 2 participants, namely Tubagus Sila and Ruri Yana. The Kawanua Minahasa Regional Magic Academy is also seen sending only 2 participants, namely Emilia Gumansalangi and Johannes Gultom. The same thing was done by the Saranjana National Magic Academy which only sent Budi Hirata and Illya Halim in this tournament.

No one knows for sure why the three magic schools only sent two participants. But clearly the battle chart of the participants was already visible and they had to prepare to face their opponent. Anna will face Emilia Gumansalangi of Kawanua in the second match, while Dwi will face Henrick Sutiyoso in the third.

“Yeah, I have to fight to win and solve all these problems,” Anna said as she clenched her hand.

The first match brought together Tubagus Sila from Pakuwon against Riko from Jailolo. The two were already in the middle of the field, facing each other, The match referee watched them from the middle of the sidelines, he said, almost like in a badminton match where the referee does not get into the middle of the arena. He was seen talking to a number of judges before finally raising his hand to mark the game was about to begin.

“Release protector!!!” Shouted the referee.

A magical thing happened again. The battle arena was instantly covered by transparent protective magic.

“Eh, wait. What the hell does this mean? Why wear protective all?” asked Anna confused.

“Pastile, Anna. You don't want to get hit by stray magic, do you? That's what protective magic is for,” explains Licia.

“Oh... Yes also yes,” Anna just realized it.

Right after the guard was perfectly covered, the referee raised his hand again. Counting down the fight. Both Tubagus and Riko are ready to face each other.

“Available,”

“Siap,”

“START!!”

The referee lowered his hand to indicate the match had begun. The spectators who saw him immediately cheered in excitement.

Tubagus and Riko are seen jumping back and forth, moving away from each other, but they do so while casting spells.

“Mantra Copyright, Bara.”.

BOMBS…. The fireball magic they created clashed with each other, producing explosions with quite thick smoke. Actually this is just the beginning, but the show is so entertaining for the audience. As a result, they cheered more and more.

Things that are not much different are also felt by Anna and Dwi. You could say this was the first time they had seen a magic fight directly before their own eyes, moreover in their home world this was impossible.

“Keren..”.

There was no other remark that the blonde-haired girl was capable of saying when she saw the two young witches attacking each other with witchcraft. But in the middle of the fight, he only realized something in his mind.

“Eh, wait a minute. They fight in academy uniforms?”

Anna just realized it. Both Tubagus and Riko, both of them fought each other in their pride academy uniforms. Tubagus wore a brown academy uniform with a batik pattern, while Riko wore a typical Jailolo academy uniform that was red and white, just like the one worn by Dwi and Aldy.

“They don't wear special uniforms?” anna asked, looking at Licia.

“Eh, you just found out, huh?” Said Licia.

“I'm going to see this tournament for the first time, so I don't know,”

“Hadeh, this must be because of that unlucky Rott again,”

Licia is seen pointing to one of her sleeves. He also happens to be wearing a uniform.

“Various magic academies across the archipelago use Fatma cloth as their base material. It comes from the flower fiber jasmine Fatma which only grows in this Nusantara region. Unlike other jasmine, Fatma jasmine has magic protection ability because she can absorb mana in nature,” explains Licia.

“Absorb where?” mumbling Anna.

“Iya. With his special ability, the fabric of this flower fiber can be used in any magic fight,” continued Licia while pulling the fabric of her arm.

“Hmm..”

“If you go to the Veropa Continent, you will see that the witches there usually use some kind of armor to protect their bodies in battle. While here only need to wear this cloth uniform to fight. So this uniform is very special, and this is only exclusive in the Nusantara region aja loh,”, said Licia while pointing the index finger at Anna.

“Oh so yes, cool too anyway,”

Anna noticed the uniform she was wearing, then she gently pinched the sleeves and skirts.

Holding his uniform, he seemed to smile. He started to like what he was wearing. But it was seen by Dwi who was beside him.

“Kan is right what I said, you have enjoyed your current form as Joshi Kousei,” said Dwi.

Hearing that, Anna was immediately irritated and turned to him.

“How about you shut up, Dwi?”

BAMBA…. The attention of the two who had been distracted was again focused on the fight. Thick dust billowed at the scene of the fight. There was almost nothing to see on the ground. But just a moment later, Tubagus and Riko jumped from the dust. The two were seen holding each other weapons that seemed to be made of magic. Riko held a large fire sword, while Tubagus held two smaller earth swords.

“HIYAAAA!!!”

Riko expended all his strength to attack Tubagus, while the Pakuwon man held him back with his two small earth swords.

“Fight Riko!!!” shouted one of the students from the upper tribune. It seems like he is also a student of Jailolo academy.

Removing all his mana control abilities, Riko managed to push Tubagus with the fire magic sword to hit the field with a bang. Seen a number of burns on his hand due to the black magic attack. Not enough to get there, with the rest of his energy, he launched the ultimate attack.

“RECEIVE THIS, HIYAAAA!!!!!!”

BAMMM.. Riko unsheathed his fire sword at Tubagus that looked helpless. The powerful magic shower shot out a number of flames towards the audience in the stands. But fortunately the shield does not make it a danger. The spectators who saw it were amazed, they could not say anything, moreover Anna and Dwi who had only seen such a thing for the first time in their lives. The real worry was in their minds, fearing that the terrible attack would kill the Pakuwon witch instead. But it doesn't seem, it's quite impossible for a witch to kill another witch in an ordinary tournament, this isn't a Gladiator.

The fire wave slowly disappeared along with the smoke enveloping it.

“It's done,”

Riko thought that he had already won that match. His fire magic ability cannot be underestimated. But it turns out he was wrong, it was he who underestimated his opponent too much.

“What?”

Tubagus' body disappeared. He was clearly within range of the deadly attack. Now there is just an empty field.

“What? Disappear?” Anna's surprised.

Riko had made a mistake, and the position quickly turned around. The field stones suddenly floated into the air, covering Riko's entire body like a magnet that attracted the surrounding objects. The man was now unable to move even a little, he was confined within the floating ball of rock.

“Uhh... I cannot move,”

“Wah, wow, it looks like conditions have started to turn around yes,”

Unexpectedly, Tubagus Sila turned out to be behind him. It emerged from the dust. His left hand he pointed at the trapped Riko, as if he was controlling the lump of earth so that it floated in the air. And that's how it is.

Riko really can't move. His body was locked inside that ball of earth. Some students wondered why there was no resistance from Riko,. This was also thought of by Lia.

“Wait, why can't he move one bit? He should be able to break free with his magic jolt,” said Licia confused.

Hearing that, Aldy who was next to them answered him.

“He can't do it,”

“Hah? Why?” ask Licia while looking towards Aldy.

“It was sealing magic from Helenia, Iptameni Balla,”

“Iptameni Balla?” Licia was confused because she had only first heard the name of the spell.

“Sealing magic that confines an opponent in a hovering ball. Witches trapped in the ball will be locked and can not control mana, both in his body and where in nature,” explained Aldy.

“Oh, so that's why he can't fight with magic?” ask Lilly again. Aldy nodded.

From what the Da class leader said, Riko could not use her magic to break free because she was already restrained by the sealing magic. He cannot control where to fight. There seems to be no chance for him to win this tournament right now.

“Alright, we end here,”

Tubagus called out a ground sword from his right hand, then jumped up and darted rapidly towards the hovering ball.

TWINGG. He drew his sword once on the ball. But just as he passed by, the hovering ball looked like it was unsheathed dozens of times by his attack. The ball then broke into pieces and Riko was thrown into the field. His body did not seem to move after that. The audience looked silent at the event.

“D~Dia..”

Anna looks very panicked to see the already helpless Riko again. He began to think no. Aldy denied it.

“Quiet, she just fainted,”

Tubagus took off his ground sword. That thing also broke into pieces. He just looked at Riko who was lying on the ground with a casual look. Soon the referee spoke out in a loud voice.

“Good. The winner of this match is Tubagus Sila from the Pakuwon Region Magic Academy!!!”

The silence turned into cheers from the spectators. This first match has determined who the champion is. Pakuwon's man went on to the round of 8.

Many of the spectators were excited after seeing that quite fierce magic match. But unlike Anna who is still a little surprised by what happened, although now she can breathe a little relieved,”

“Huff. I think he's dead,” he said as he stroked the chest.

Tubagus walked off the field, while the helpless Riko was carried away by the medical staff.

The first match is over. Now comes the long-awaited moment, the second match between Anna Sahilatua of Jailolo against Emilia Gumansalangi of Kawanua.

“Alright, I have to win in this match,”