"Well, since you're not tired yet, there's still something I want to show you!" said Ralph with a smirk.
"Bring it on! I'm ready for anything!" Michael replied.
"Wind Magic! Air Boots!" Ralph exclaimed.
"Uhh… and what's that supposed to change?" Michael asked.
Then Ralph jumped lightly and started floating above the ground.
"Huh?" Michael was surprised at what he saw.
"What's wrong, Michael?" Ralph said. "Yeah, I can float above the ground! I'm a wind mage, after all."
"So he can do that too! That's definitely not something I expected in this fight!" thought Michael. "How am I even supposed to hit him now?"
"Well? How much longer can you last?" Ralph asked with a grin, but Michael didn't reply — he just kept dodging Ralph's attacks.
Michael kept dodging for several minutes as Ralph attacked from the air. At some point, Michael realized that if things kept going this way, he might win — simply because he'd have energy left, and Ralph would be drained. It gave him hope because now he understood he still had a chance.
But let's be honest — Ralph wasn't dumb either. He knew exactly what he was doing, although he hadn't expected Michael to keep dodging so effectively.
"Damn! At this rate, I'll burn through all my energy before Michael's even completely exhausted. I didn't think he'd still be standing, though… even if it's obvious he could drop any second." Ralph thought as he slowly descended back to the ground.
Landing, Ralph stood still and stared at Michael again.
"What's wrong, Ralph? Worn out already?" Michael asked.
"I've used a fair bit of power, sure, but I wouldn't say I'm worn out," Ralph replied. "I've got enough left to knock you off your feet!"
"He's got another trick up his sleeve?" Michael thought.
"Thinking again, Michael? Wouldn't now be a good time to attack me?" Ralph teased.
"You've clearly still got something left. Just show it already!" Michael replied.
"Heh! So you figured it out! Alright then, no point hiding it anymore," Ralph said as he prepared to cast. "Wind Magic! Wind Armor!"
Suddenly, Ralph's entire body was surrounded by swirling wind, protecting him from physical attacks by pushing them back.
"Wind Armor?" Michael thought. "Interesting… I wonder what it can do?"
"Heh," Ralph smirked mockingly.
"Huh?" Michael didn't get what the smirk was for.
"Go ahead and attack me! I won't even move," Ralph taunted.
"Alright then!" Michael said and tried to strike.
But what shocked him was that Ralph didn't even flinch — instead, his smirk grew wider. And as Michael's attack neared, something blocked it. He felt the air itself resisting him at that exact moment.
"So this is the 'Wind Armor'?" Michael thought as he felt its power.
Michael kept attacking, hoping for a breakthrough, but it was all useless. Eventually, as Michael could barely stay on his feet, Ralph decided to end it. He struck with a Wind Blast Wave from his elbow, and Michael was thrown into a wall.
"How did I even let that hit land?" Michael muttered, trying to get up — but he couldn't.
"Getting up or giving up? Make up your mind!" Ralph said with a grin.
"Get up... come on!" Michael told himself.
"3! 2! 1! Time's up!" the old man called out. "Contestant number 2, Michael Blazeheart, is unable to continue the match! The winner — contestant number 156, Ralph Galeheart!"
The audience had mixed feelings about the outcome — unlike in previous matches. It was the only battle where the crowd split into two camps. Some liked the result because the winner was someone they hoped would take the whole tournament. Zigrein couldn't say the same — he had a bad reputation. But others didn't like that contestant number 2, Michael Blazeheart, lost so easily to Ralph Galeheart — who didn't even seem to be fighting seriously.
After a few minutes, Michael managed to get up and climb to the stands where Torrin was sitting with the other participants.
"How are you feeling after that fight?" Torrin asked.
"I'm fine—just sore muscles. I think by the end of today's matches, the pain will fade," Michael answered.
Then Ralph walked up to Michael with a serious face.
"You better not lose your next match," he said sternly.
"I wasn't planning on it," Michael answered.
Ralph walked off to his seat, and Renald approached Michael.
"You've definitely gotten stronger — but you're still a weakling," Renald said.
"Ha! Believe me, you're not stronger than him! Otherwise, why'd you lose to me so easily?" Torrin chimed in.
"Well, at least I can use magic. Unlike him!" Renald retorted.
"That doesn't change that you're weaker than he is," Torrin replied.
"Without magic, you're nothing in this world," said Renald.
"Yeah, I'm weak. I admit it," Michael said with a slightly sad tone. But then he turned and added cheerfully, "But don't worry! I've got a feeling everything's about to change in my life!"
"Well then, let's just hope that feeling of yours doesn't let you down!" Renald said with a mocking grin, clearly hoping that nothing actually changed.
The matches continued, and it was time for the final one today!
"I now call contestants number 136, Zigrane Vaynran, and number 674356, Spinner Dashvul, to the arena!" announced the old man.