The S-Class Mage is a Gyaru!?-Chapter 90: Arcane Jungle, Part Seventeen

Little floating screens pop up in front of each of us, showing the matchups. They’re like magical touchpads or something (complete with instant replay capability!)

The names shift and swap until the first matchups are set.

"Oh shit, look!" I point at the screen. "Rando McNoname versus Whats-his-face!"

"Truly a battle for the ages," Reina deadpans. Nao snorts. Haruka’s too busy trying to peek down my shirt to care.

"Hey, you hoe," I scold her, with a smile. "Focus. You could be called up after this fight."

"Pfft. I’ll have you know," she leans in closer to continue gazing longingly at my titties. "I actually work better when I’m horny."

Yep, Nao’s still giving us looks.

[Girl, just be honest already,] I hold back the urge to chuckle.

Anyway, the two no-names step into the ward circle, both of them looking like they’d rather be literally anywhere else.

It’s some basic from America against some other basic from England. Basically the most basic fight ever.

"BEGIN!"

It’s over in like thirty seconds.

American Basic tries some basic fire spell that, admittedly looks cool but has zero utility, English Basic parries the flames with a basic shield and then responds with his own basic fire ball and then it’s just... done, as American Basic is forced off his circle.

[Bitch, I’ve seen better fights in remedial magic class.]

"Well, that was anticlimactic," Haruka yawns, throwing her head onto my lap. Can’t blame her, that was, indeed, aggressively lame. "When do we get to the good stuff?"

"Next up," Professor Hottie announces, "Marie DuBois versus Elizabeth Winchester!"

"Ooh," I say quietly. "I’d say the good stuff just started."

[At least, if they can fight anywhere near as well as they talked shit last night.]

Seems others agree with me, since the arena comes alive. Not that everyone’s cheering now or anything, but people are actually paying attention.

Marie struts into the circle like she’s on a Paris runway, all confidence and casual disdain. Elizabeth stomps in opposite her, looking like she’s ready to commit murder with her eyes alone.

"Ooh, this is gonna be good," I rub my hands together. "I did a little prep. Marie’s from Beauxbatons, so I’m guessing she’s got that French dueling style. They like to use small, needle-like spells that pack a surprising punch to try to catch people off-guard."

"And Elizabeth?" Reina leans forward, interested despite herself.

"British Institute of Magic," I nod sagely. I’m serious, I did my research. "Those guys are all about raw power. Like, ’fuck finesse, I’m just gonna hit you with the magical equivalent of a freight train’ vibes."

"So it’s skill versus strength?" Nao frowns, watching the two girls size each other up.

"Mmm, kinda. But it’s more like... Okay, you know how in MMA - Mixed Martial Arts, I mean - you’ve got strikers and grapplers?"

Blank stares all around. Right. Not everyone watches both MMA and MMA.

"Ugh, uncultured," I sigh dramatically. "Anyway, Elizabeth is like a striker - all about those big, powerful hits. Haymakers. But Marie? She’s a grappler. She’s gonna try to control the situation, work those little jabs, and then hit with some sneaky shit when the Brit least expects it."

"So, who do you think has the advantage?" Reina asks.

"Well," I think about it. "Depends. If Elizabeth never lands a big punch, she’s screwed. Marie will just whittle her down. But, on the other hand, one good hit is all it takes for Elizabeth’s type to take home the win."

The duel begins.

"See? There!" I say as Marie opens with a rapid-fire blast of tiny, razor-sharp spells. "She’s searching for weaknesses, trying to bait out a reaction."

Elizabeth responds with a massive force shield, the magical energy rippling as Marie’s spells detonate against it.

"Oh shit!" Haruka gasps as Marie chucks what looks like little marbles at the shield. They hit and stick, shimmering ominously. "What’s that?"

"Ooh, curse tags!" I bounce in my seat. "This is gonna be good..."

The tags glow bright, then shatter. The force shield flickers, then collapses like a popped soap bubble.

"H-Huh?" I barely hear Elizabeth mutter, startled.

"Ha! Fucking called it!" I crow. "Betcha the Brit wasn’t expecting that!"

But, to my surprise, Elizabeth recovers. One second, she’s standing there, surprised, then, just as Marie’s about to take advantage, Elizabeth’s launching a volley of force bolts.

I see Marie’s eyes widen. She deflects most of them, but one catches her in the shoulder. She staggers, her arm hanging limp.

"Fuck, that’s gotta hurt."

Marie rallies though, switching to one-handed casting. Her spells are weaker, slower, but fuck me, her control is insane. Through volume, she keeps Elizabeth on her toes. They’re both moving around their respective circles to the best of their ability, trying to make the most of their environment.

"She’s trying to bait out more big casts," I murmur. "But, with a bad arm, Marie’s game plan is nowhere near as reliable."

"What do you mean?" Nao asks.

"Remember what I said about one good punch? It’s a lot easier to find that punch when you’ve slowed your opponent down."

The crowd’s into it now. People are actually cheering, and reacting to every spell.

"Come on, come on..." I mutter. "C’mon, Marie, reel her in..."

And then it happens.

Elizabeth overcasts on a strike, going for that big magical haymaker, and leaves herself wide open.

Marie doesn’t use a shield. She ducks, the spell flying over her head, and lunges, shooting out one thin bolt aimed at Elizabeth’s liver.

[A hit there would knock the wind out of Elizabeth instantly!] My own eyes widen.

But, something I didn’t expect to see happens next.

Elizabeth manages to surprise me.

I only notice it then, as the look on Elizabeth’s face changes to a wide grin. A magic circle is forming under Elizabeth’s feet. It’s sloppy, shaky, but...

"She was multi-casting!" I declare, standing up.

[This whole time, as she’s been trading blasts with Marie, she’d been winding up a spell beneath her feet simultaneously!]

"No fucking way. No FUCKING way...!"

The circle completes.

And, a geyser of raw magical force explodes from her right hand, launching straight at Marie. Marie tries to put up a shield, but a spontaneous, quick shield isn’t going to do much against fully-charged magic like this.

And, sure enough, she’s blasted right out of her ward circle.

"ELIZABETH WINS!" Professor Hottie booms and the crowd goes apeshit.

"Holy fuck." I collapse back into my seat, absolutely buzzing with adrenaline. "Holy fuck, did you see that shit!? She can multi-cast! Even I’m not great at that!"

"That was definitely... something," Reina blinks, looking a little shellshocked.

"Babe, that was fucking crazy!" I’m shaking her shoulders, grinning like a madwoman. "Fuck me, that’s going in the highlight reels for YEARS!"

"You’re really into this, huh?" Nao gives me a look halfway between impressed and disturbed.

"Uh, YEAH!" I’m vibrating with excitement. "Magic is like... It’s like a dance, you know? A bloody, violent, fucking SEXY dance! And those two just gave us a goddamn TANGO!"

[This kind of shit is what I live for!]

Elizabeth practically floats off stage, all proper posture and "I just crushed a bitch" energy. Even exhausted, she manages to make it look like she’s walking down a runway instead of stumbling away from a magical slugfest.

[Rich people, I swear.]

Meanwhile, my whole body’s buzzing with anticipation. Like, you know that feeling when you’re so excited you might actually vibrate out of your skin? That’s me right now.

I want to hear my name. I NEED to hear my name.

[Come on, come on, come-]

"Next match," Professor Hottie’s voice rings out, "Nao versus Marcus!"

[... What.]

My brows shoot up.

The energy in the room shifts.

Everyone’s eyes snap to Marcus, who’s somehow shirtless and glistening despite not having done anything yet. Then to Nao, who looks like someone just told her she has to fight God himself.

"Holy shit," Haruka looks over at Marcus. "You gotta fight Abs McGee over there?"

Nao stands up slowly. I catch her hands shaking slightly as she adjusts her uniform.

"Well... Guess I’m up."

"Girl, you got this!" I jump up, grabbing her shoulders. "Remember what I always say - the prettier they are, the harder they fall!"

"Since when do you say that?" Haruka bounces up too, pressing against Nao’s other side.

"Since right now, bitch, work with me!"

"Right, right!" Haruka grabs Nao’s face between her hands, squishing her cheeks. "Listen up, tiger. You’re gonna go out there, and you’re gonna make those abs cry! And then later..." She drops her voice to a whisper that makes Nao’s ears twitch. "I’ll give you a proper reward~"

Nao’s whole face goes nuclear.

[Nothing like the promise of good sex to motivate a girl!]

"R-Right."

"DUELISTS TO YOUR POSITIONS!" Professor Hottie calls out.

Nao takes a deep breath and steps forward. Haruka and I share a look, then:

"GO NAO! SHOW ’EM WHAT THAT TIGER DICK DO!"

"HARUKA!" Nao’s voice cracks as half the arena turns to stare.

She shuffles away awkwardly.

Up on the platform, Nao takes her position. Marcus does some kind of stretch that makes his abs ripple.

[Come on, tiger. Show ’em what you got.]

And...

"BEGIN!"