Surviving the Magic Academy With Just Intelligence Stats-Chapter 94: Eliza Runecaster [PART 1]

As the barrier shimmered into existence around the platform, Hualing launched forward with predatory precision. Her crimson eyes narrowed with singular focus—swift elimination meant no opportunity for harm to befall her master. Each step propelled her across the arena floor with unnatural speed, her form becoming almost a blur to the spectators’ eyes.

Behind her, Ambrose immediately activated his [Spatial Awareness] skill, his consciousness expanding outward like an invisible web. Though he maintained peripheral awareness of their opponents, his primary focus remained fixed on Hualing’s movements. She represented both their greatest asset and potentially their greatest liability—if she really went out of control, it might cause their team to be disqualified.

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Ambrose glanced toward Marcus standing protectively before them, a contemplative smile touching his lips. The supposed protagonist had barely drawn his sword throughout the tournament, denied the opportunity to showcase his considerable skills. Ambrose apologized internally to the protagonist who had been robbed of his opportunity to show off. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Marcus to fight, it was just that their team, though strong, was terribly imbalanced, for them to secure the championship, they had to win so overwhelmingly that their party scores wouldn’t make a difference even if they were zero.

Ambrose channeled his [Thought Transmission] ability, sending his message directly into Hualing’s consciousness: "~Remember what I said, hold back! If you go overboard, we will be disqualified." The words projected with crystal clarity, though whether she would heed them remained uncertain. Ambrose sighed softly, hoping his warning would penetrate her combat focus.

Across the platform, Eliza Runecaster’s team responded with impressive coordination. The moment the battle commenced, they flowed into a perfect pentagon formation with practiced synchronicity. Finn, Astrid, Soren, and Freya positioned themselves at the corner points, their hands already tracing intricate runic patterns in the air. Glowing sigils began materializing around them, forming the foundation of their defensive strategy.

Eliza positioned herself at the rear corner, serving as the formation’s core and control point. Her fingers danced in complex patterns, connecting and enhancing the protective runes her teammates were establishing. Her expression betrayed no illusion of victory—she harbored no such delusions. Instead, her strategy focused on endurance, on withstanding the coming onslaught long enough to earn respectable marks in the ranking assessment.

Shimmering lines of magical energy connected the five runic specialists, creating a web of interlocking defensive enchantments. The air within their formation thickened visibly as layers of protection manifested—translucent barriers designed to absorb, deflect, and disperse incoming attacks. Eliza’s eyes narrowed in concentration as she channeled additional power into the formation’s foundation, reinforcing critical junctures against the anticipated assault.

From his position guarding Ambrose, Marcus observed the defensive strategy with professional appreciation. A solid approach, he thought, nodding slightly. Even I would struggle to breach that formation within the ten-minute limit. His eyes tracked Hualing’s charging form, curiosity kindling in his mind. I wonder if the same holds true for her?

The tension in the arena crystallized as an unstoppable force hurtled toward an immovable defense. Spectators leaned forward in anticipation, collective breath held as they waited to see which would prevail—Hualing’s overwhelming offensive might or Eliza’s meticulously constructed defensive formation. The inevitable collision promised to be nothing short of spectacular.

…

The pentagon formation gleamed with runic intensity on the tournament platform. At its frontline, Astrid and Soren stood with unwavering focus, their hands flowing through complex patterns that reinforced the barrier’s primary defenses. They represented the formation’s visible strength, a calculated display of power meant to intimidate and misdirect. Behind them, Finn and Freya maintained precision movements that layered additional protective enchantments, their fingers tracing glowing symbols that pulsed with rune energy.

At the formation’s apex, Eliza Runecaster maintained her position with composed confidence. Though she appeared sheltered behind her teammates—a commander safely behind her soldiers—the reality proved far different. Her role as the core demanded the greatest concentration and mana expenditure, continuously feeding power into the formation while preparing instant repairs for any breach. Sweat beaded subtly at her temples as she channeled energy through the complex magical architecture, her eyes never leaving the approaching threat.

Here it comes, she thought, watching Hualing close the distance with frightening speed.

The impact resonated throughout the arena—a thunderous collision as Hualing’s fist struck the barrier’s front. The protective runes flared brilliantly upon contact, magical energy dispersing the tremendous force across the entire formation. Astrid and Soren grimaced slightly, their bodies tensing as they absorbed the residual impact, but the formation held steady.

Relief flickered across Eliza’s features. Perhaps we can endure this after all.

Her optimism proved short-lived. Hualing struck again with redoubled force, the second impact more devastating than the first. The entire barrier rippled visibly, luminous cracks appearing before instantly sealing themselves through Eliza’s intervention. Astrid and Soren’s expressions tightened with strain, their arms trembling slightly as they maintained their defensive postures.

Without pause, Hualing delivered a third strike, even more powerful than the previous two. The formation shuddered ominously, magical energy fluctuating as it struggled to redistribute the overwhelming force. Yet through Eliza’s swift repairs, the barrier stabilized once more, holding against the assault.

A confident smile touched Eliza’s lips despite her growing fatigue. She’s stronger than anticipated, but her approach is painfully predictable. Her fingers danced through emergency reinforcement patterns, strengthening the formation’s front where Hualing focused her attacks. Such a simplistic strategy—hammering the same spot repeatedly as if brute force alone will prevail.

Eliza’s confidence grew with each subsequent attack. The five-person formation represented the culmination of her runic studies—a defensive masterpiece specifically designed against overwhelming physical force. Though Astrid and Soren appeared to be creating the barrier, their primary function was misdirection. The real defensive work came from Finn and Freya’s support enchantments and Eliza’s instant repairs.

Even if she strikes the same location a hundred times, it’s effectively the first hit each time, Eliza thought with growing satisfaction. Unless she can somehow deliver catastrophic damage in a single blow, this strategy is doomed to failure.

Across the platform, Ambrose observed the exchange with analytical detachment. He recognized the effectiveness of Eliza’s strategy against Hualing’s straightforward approach, his mind already formulating counters. With practiced ease, he activated his [Thought Transmission].

"~Stop hitting the same place, it won’t work!" he projected directly into Hualing’s consciousness.

Hualing paused mid-strike, surprise evident in her expression as she processed his instruction.

"~Try targeting the edges, focus on where the people are," Ambrose continued, his mental voice calm and precise. "~Although the barrier can be repaired quickly, if you apply enough force to disrupt even one person’s concentration, you’ll create an opening to break the entire formation."

Hualing’s lips curved into a predatory smile. As expected of her master—his brilliant mind effortlessly constructed solutions where she saw only obstacles. She abandoned her previous approach, pivoting smoothly to redirect her attack toward the formation’s edge where Astrid maintained her position.

Eliza watched this sudden change in tactics with mounting horror. How did she know? The realization struck like ice water—they had adapted their strategy mid-battle with unsettling precision. Her gaze darted past Hualing to the remainder of Team Rothschild, finally registering Ambrose’s calculating presence.

When he noticed her attention, Ambrose offered a friendly wave and disarming smile, the gesture almost mocking in its casualness.

Eliza felt her confidence crumble. In her singular focus on countering Hualing’s overwhelming strength, she had committed a fundamental error—forgetting the nature of team combat. While she had prepared extensively against physical might, she had neglected the strategic dimension that Ambrose Rothschild provided to his party.