Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1421: More Than Magic

When Piba stepped out into the arena, the students from Central Academy were already watching from their viewing room. Their eyes were glued to the widescreen, tension thick in the air. And the moment they saw who it was, the atmosphere shifted.

"I can’t believe he’s actually taking part in this," Rupert said in disbelief. "After what you did to him, he should barely be able to cast magic, let alone perform."

From the screen, it was obvious that Piba was in far better shape than the last time they’d seen him. He was walking with confidence, no limp, no hesitation. But to Kayzel and the others, it seemed like nothing more than a trick. A gimmick.

To them, the idea that Piba could be fully healed in such a short amount of time was impossible. Maybe with the help of multiple recovery mages over a long period, maybe, but this? This was too soon.

"We already know what his special affinity is anyway," Bones added with a shrug. "So it’s really not a big deal."

Down on the arena floor, Piba made his way to the center. A gentle light began to glow around his body, soft but vibrant. Several students from Central Academy, and others from surrounding schools, recognized it immediately.

Moon affinity.

Then, Piba began casting his spells.

Each spell shimmered in the air, and every single one was subtly laced with moon magic. At first glance, the spells looked ordinary, but for those who were truly skilled in the arcane arts, the difference was obvious. The fusion of elements, the precision of the cast, the sheer energy, his technique was sharp, refined, and powerful.

Even though Moon magic wasn’t new to the magical world, it was rare to see it used like this. Piba wasn’t just showcasing raw strength, he was demonstrating full mastery over his element, integrating it with other affinities in seamless, strategic ways.

Now it was clear why Piba was considered the top student at Wilton Academy.

Possibly even the number one overall.

When his performance ended, the crowd broke into loud applause. Cheers echoed across the arena as spectators nodded and whispered among themselves, impressed.

They were beginning to understand.

This was how Wilton had cleared the Dimension Trial so quickly. With someone like Piba wielding moon magic so flawlessly, it made perfect sense.

With a wide smile stretched across his face, Piba raised his hand in acknowledgement and returned to his group. His expression was calm, even cheerful... because none of them realized what he had really

Back in Central Academy’s waiting room, Ponzo stood up in frustration.

"That makes no sense!" he snapped. "He just used massive amounts of magic. With full moon affinity, no strain, no signs of damage, and he didn’t even look tired."

"The only way he could’ve done that..." Rupert said, swallowing hard, "is if he’s... fully healed."

The room fell silent.

Kayzel was shaking his head slowly, trying to process what he had just witnessed. He remembered the words spoken by others that day, the quiet rumors.

But could it really be true?

Was there a healer at Wilton Academy... who actually knew how to treat that kind of injury?

A question had begun to quietly eat away at the minds of everyone watching.

What exactly was going on at Wilton Academy?

They had already seen one student display mastery over Moon magic, a rare affinity. And now, curiosity buzzed through the audience as they waited for the second Wilton student to step forward.

But before that could happen, the announcer called the next participant.

"This time, we welcome the student from Lunaton Academy!"

A male student stepped confidently into the center of the arena. Without saying a word, he snapped his fingers, and in an instant, a thick cloud of pink smoke exploded around him.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

When the smoke began to fade, everyone leaned in.

"A... dog?"

In place of the student stood a small, fluffy pup wagging its tail in the middle of the ring.

"Did he just turn into an animal?"

"And it’s so cute!" one student squealed.

The smoke fully cleared, and a heartbeat later, the student reappeared in his original form. He gave the audience a playful wink and snapped his fingers again.

Poof!

Now he was a cat.

The student continued the performance, cycling through a variety of small animals, a rabbit, a ferret, even a squirrel. The crowd couldn’t help but laugh and cheer at the transformations. It was charming, clever, and undeniably entertaining.

But there was something others were beginning to notice.

"Wait... everything he’s turning into is small," someone muttered. "Can’t he become something bigger? Like... an elephant or something?"

"Probably not," another student replied thoughtfully. "It looks like transformation magic like that burns through mana quickly. He’s probably limited to small creatures because they’re easier to manage."

"I don’t think it’s just about having too little mana, though," a professor nearby added. "The limitation might not be energy, it could be something innate to the trait. He might not be able to generate large beings, only smaller ones."

Even with those restrictions, the next transformation caught everyone’s attention.

The student became a bird.

With a loud screech, he flapped his wings and soared into the air, circling high above the arena. Students and spectators alike craned their necks, tracking him as he swooped and glided with ease.

This time, it wasn’t just the crowd watching in awe.

Military personnel stationed near the edges of the stadium had leaned forward in their seats. Mages could already use spells to float or glide, but those methods often left trails of energy, ways they could be tracked or detected.

But this... a complete biological transformation?

It was something entirely different. A mage who could fully become an animal, no lingering human traits, no magical trail, would be invaluable in recon missions, infiltration operations, and covert strikes. The possibilities were limitless, and the strategists in the room were already imagining dozens of scenarios.

Meanwhile, the students from Pagna watched with growing fascination. They were learning just how varied

Still, despite the excitement, there was one thing they hadn’t seen much of yet, special magic affinities. Traits were rare, yes, but where were the elite elemental mages?

The student from Lunaton finally returned to human form and gave a polite bow before leaving the stage.

Now, it was time.

The announcer’s voice rang out once more.

"Next up, our first representative from Central Academy, George!"

The arena trembled slightly as the massive student stepped forward. He was a mountain of muscle, broad-shouldered and solid. Even standing still, George looked like a force no one wanted to challenge.

He walked to the center of the arena and stood tall, arms crossed.

The crowd held its breath.

****

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