Chapter 388: Above All

"Arthur, I hope you’re ready."

Mithra stood at the opposite end of the arena, smiling confidently as Melo floated beside her.

Arthur grinned. "Of course! But I have to admit, I didn’t expect us to meet in the final."

Mithra placed her hands on her hips. "Why? Did you think I couldn’t make it?"

"What? No! I just thought Sun would challenge me first."

From the spectator stands, Sun nearly fell out of his seat. "Hey! Why am I involved?!"

Kong patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Because you lost."

Sun stared at him. "I know that!"

Athena sighed, although a small smile appeared on her face. "Can you two focus? The championship is about to begin."

Below them, the enormous arena was filled with excited spectators. Arthur and Mithra’s names shone across the floating displays, while the Academy instructors completed their final inspections.

On the viewing platform, Principal Steven watched his daughter with a complicated expression.

Elaine noticed immediately. "You’re worried."

Steven chuckled. "I’m her father. Of course I’m worried."

"She’s perfectly capable of handling herself."

"I know. That’s why I’m also excited."

Elaine smiled faintly. "Then try not to look so nervous."

Steven looked at her. "You’re gripping the railing."

Elaine immediately released it. "Watch the match, Steven."

...

The referee stepped between the finalists.

"Championship rules remain unchanged. Victory will be determined by surrender, elimination from the designated battlefield, or a referee’s decision that a competitor cannot safely continue."

Arthur glanced toward Vedas and Star.

Eden remained in her Mana Realm, recovering comfortably. Arthur had already decided he wouldn’t ask her to use Future Manifestation.

Vedas folded his arms. "Mithra knows our habits. Expect her to exploit them."

Arthur nodded. "And Melo loves confusing people."

Star bounced once.

Across the arena, Melo smiled mischievously. "I heard that!"

Arthur laughed. "Then you know we’re prepared!"

Mithra exchanged a glance with Melo. "We’ll see."

The referee raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Melo moved first.

A wave of shimmering light spread across the arena, and suddenly five identical Mithras appeared around Arthur.

The crowd gasped.

"Five?!"

"Which one’s real?"

Arthur blinked. "Oh, that’s unfair!"

Mithra’s voice came from several directions. "You knew I could do this!"

"Knowing doesn’t make it easier!"

Vedas immediately moved toward the nearest figure.

His hand passed straight through it.

An illusion.

Star bounced toward another Mithra, only for that figure to disappear as well.

Then the real Mithra emerged from behind a stone platform, moving toward Arthur’s left.

Arthur turned just in time to avoid being driven toward the boundary.

"Whoa! You almost got me!"

Mithra grinned. "Almost isn’t enough."

From the stands, Sun leaned forward. "She’s already pushing him back!"

Athena adjusted her glasses. "Mithra understands that Arthur tends to follow whatever catches his attention first."

Melo’s laughter echoed through the arena.

Arthur looked around at the remaining illusions.

Then he smiled.

"Alright. Let’s try something different."

...

"Vedas, don’t chase them. Watch Mithra’s movements."

Vedas immediately stopped pursuing the illusions.

Instead, he positioned himself near Arthur, observing the figures moving around them.

Star bounced across the ground, testing the space between the stone platforms.

One illusion disappeared when the little slime passed through it.

Another vanished moments later.

Mithra noticed.

"Melo, change the pattern!"

The remaining figures scattered.

Suddenly, three identical Stars appeared beside Arthur.

Arthur stared.

"Wait. Now you’re copying Star?!"

Melo giggled. "Why not? He’s adorable!"

Star bounced indignantly.

Sun burst into laughter. "Even the slime looks offended!"

Kong pointed toward the arena. "Which one’s the real Star?"

Athena watched the movement carefully. "The one Arthur isn’t looking at."

Sure enough, the real Star had already moved behind the nearest platform.

Arthur grinned.

"Good thinking, Star!"

But Mithra wasn’t finished.

She directed Melo toward the center, and the entire battlefield appeared to change.

Illusory walls rose between the platforms, concealing the open passages.

Arthur stopped.

"Okay. That’s impressive."

Mithra smiled. "Thank you!"

Vedas examined the apparent barriers.

"They’re illusions, but moving blindly would still be dangerous. We cannot see what lies beyond them."

Arthur nodded. "Then we’ll have to make her reveal it."

He directed Star toward the nearest opening while Vedas approached from the opposite side.

Mithra immediately adjusted her position.

"Too obvious, Arthur!"

A false passage appeared ahead of Vedas.

He stopped before entering.

Arthur blinked. "She predicted that?"

Mithra laughed. "We’ve trained together for months!"

The crowd erupted into excited conversation.

"They know each other’s strategies!"

"This is completely different from the earlier matches!"

From the viewing platform, Steven smiled proudly. "Mithra’s doing well."

Elaine nodded. "And Arthur is being forced to think."

Steven chuckled. "That’s good for him."

...

Arthur retreated toward the center.

Mithra followed, using Melo’s illusions to conceal her approach.

For several exchanges, Arthur struggled to establish a clear opening.

Every time Star found a route, Mithra changed her position. Whenever Vedas attempted to intercept her, Melo created another distraction.

Arthur finally laughed.

"You’re really making this difficult!"

Mithra smiled. "Did you expect me to go easy on you?"

"Not at all!"

"Good!"

She moved forward again.

This time, Melo created an illusion of Mithra approaching from the right.

Arthur instinctively turned.

The real Mithra appeared on his left, cutting off his retreat.

Vedas immediately stepped between them.

But Mithra had anticipated that too.

"Melo!"

Another illusion appeared behind Vedas.

For an instant, his attention shifted.

Mithra used the opening to move around him and approach Arthur directly.

The crowd gasped.

"She’s got him!"

Arthur stepped backward.

His heel stopped inches from the boundary.

Sun jumped to his feet. "Arthur! Behind you!"

Arthur glanced down.

Then he looked toward Mithra.

"That was close!"

Mithra smiled confidently. "You’re running out of room."

Arthur’s expression changed.

Instead of retreating again, he stepped forward.

"Then I guess I shouldn’t keep backing away."

...

"Vedas, take the center!"

The Goblin King immediately moved.

Mithra expected him to approach her directly, but he instead positioned himself between two stone platforms, controlling the most convenient route across the arena.

Arthur glanced toward Star.

He made a small gesture with his hand.

Star bounced once, then disappeared behind a platform.

Melo noticed the movement.

"Mithra, Star’s going around!"

Mithra nodded. "I see him."

She directed Melo to create another false passage, expecting Star to investigate it.

But Star didn’t return.

Arthur smiled.

"Vedas, your call!"

Vedas studied Mithra’s position.

Then he moved.

Instead of attacking, he advanced carefully, forcing Mithra to choose between retreating toward Arthur or moving toward the outer boundary.

Mithra immediately recognized the danger.

"You’re trying to corner me!"

Vedas smiled faintly. "Naturally."

Mithra turned toward the open passage.

Melo created several false versions of her, sending them in different directions.

The spectators erupted.

"Which one is real?!"

Arthur watched the illusions scatter.

Then he noticed something.

One Mithra had moved away from the center without disturbing the dust on the stone.

Another had passed directly through the edge of a platform.

But the third had left actual footprints.

Arthur’s eyes brightened.

"There!"

Vedas immediately changed direction.

Mithra reacted quickly.

"Melo, cover us!"

A wall of shimmering light appeared between them.

Vedas didn’t stop.

He moved through the illusion and reached the other side.

Mithra stepped backward.

Then Star sprang out from behind the platform.

The little slime landed directly in her escape route.

Mithra’s eyes widened.

"Star?!"

Arthur grinned. "Surprise!"

Melo immediately moved to create another illusion.

But Vedas was already approaching from the opposite side.

Mithra glanced between them.

Then she smiled.

"Not bad, Arthur. But you forgot something."

Arthur blinked.

Melo’s illusion suddenly vanished.

And the real Mithra rushed toward the narrow opening between Arthur and the boundary.

Arthur’s eyes widened.

"Oh!"

She had deliberately allowed herself to be cornered, waiting for Arthur to move closer.

Now she was trying to turn his own positioning against him.

The crowd roared.

"She’s going for the boundary!"

Sun gripped the railing. "Arthur, move!"

Arthur stepped sideways.

Mithra adjusted instantly, attempting to slip past him.

Then Star bounced upward.

The little slime struck the ground beside Arthur and sprang between him and Mithra.

Arthur used the moment to reposition, while Vedas moved to close the opposite passage.

Mithra stopped.

She had one opening remaining.

And it led directly toward the boundary.

Melo rushed toward her.

"Mithra, jump!"

Mithra immediately leaped, attempting to clear Star and return toward the center.

But Vedas had already anticipated her movement.

He stepped into the landing space.

Mithra twisted in midair, avoiding the collision.

Her feet touched the stone.

Then one foot crossed the outer boundary.

A sharp bell rang across the arena.

The referee raised his hand.

"Boundary elimination! Victory goes to Arthur Cronwall!"

For a moment, Arthur simply stared.

Then his eyes widened.

"We won?!"

Vedas smiled. "Indeed."

Star bounced excitedly.

Arthur threw both arms into the air.

"WE WON!"

The entire arena exploded into cheers.

...

"ARTHUR CRONWALL IS THE FIRST-YEAR CHAMPION OF ONE ABOVE ALL!"

The announcement echoed throughout Pathfinder Academy.

Students rose from their seats, applauding as Arthur’s name appeared across the enormous displays.

Sun jumped up and raised both fists. "That’s my friend! I knew he could do it!"

Athena looked at him. "You spent half the match predicting he would lose."

"I was creating suspense!"

Kong nodded solemnly. "A valuable service."

Athy sighed. "You two are unbelievable."

On the battlefield, Arthur hurried toward Mithra.

"Are you okay?"

Mithra looked down at the boundary, then laughed.

"I’m fine. I can’t believe you caught me with that."

Arthur grinned. "You almost got me first!"

Melo crossed her arms. "I demand a rematch!"

Star bounced toward her.

Melo immediately smiled. "Not with you. You’re too sneaky!"

Mithra laughed before looking toward Arthur.

"Congratulations. You earned it."

Arthur’s smile softened. "Thanks, Mithra. You were incredible."

She stepped closer and gently straightened his slightly crooked collar.

"Just remember that I know how you fight now."

Arthur laughed. "You knew that before!"

"Then I’ll know even more next time."

He grinned. "I’m looking forward to it."

From the viewing platform, Steven exhaled.

Elaine glanced toward him. "Disappointed?"

Steven shook his head. "Not at all. Mithra fought beautifully."

Elaine smiled. "She did."

Steven looked toward Arthur.

"And that boy has earned himself a very interesting week of training."

...

The award ceremony began shortly afterward.

Principal Steven stepped onto the central platform as Arthur approached with Vedas and Star.

The crowd applauded again.

"Arthur Cronwall," Steven announced, "congratulations on becoming this year’s first-year One Above All champion!"

Arthur smiled broadly. "Thank you, Principal!"

Steven presented him with a polished championship medal bearing the Academy’s emblem.

Then the reward confirmation appeared on the display.

ONE ABOVE ALL — FIRST-YEAR CHAMPION

Winner: Arthur Cronwall

Rewards:

One month of complimentary meals at participating establishments throughout the Academy district.

One eligible examination exemption during the current academic year.

One week of personal training under Principal Steven.

Arthur stared at the final reward.

His eyes brightened.

"Principal, when can we start training?"

Steven paused.

The spectators burst into laughter.

Elaine closed her eyes briefly.

Steven chuckled. "You’ve only just won, Arthur."

"I know! That’s why I’m excited!"

Vedas looked at him with concern. "You’re already planning how to use the training, aren’t you?"

Arthur nodded enthusiastically. "Of course!"

"Could we enjoy the victory for five minutes first?"

Arthur considered it seriously.

Then he smiled.

"Fine. Five minutes."

Star bounced in agreement.

Steven laughed. "I suspect that will be a very long week."

...

When Arthur returned to his friends, Kong immediately rushed toward him.

"Arthur! When do the free meals begin?"

Arthur blinked. "Oh! I should probably ask."

Kong grabbed his hands. "Please ask quickly."

Sun folded his arms proudly. "Well, naturally, our group has proven its superiority."

Athena looked at him. "Arthur won the championship."

Sun nodded. "Exactly. And I’m his friend."

Mithra smiled. "Then you should congratulate him instead of claiming his victory."

Sun laughed and slapped Arthur on the shoulder. "Congratulations, champion!"

Arthur grinned. "Thanks! You were all amazing today too."

Melo floated beside him. "You know, Arthur, you’ve found another way to attract everyone’s attention without causing an Academy-wide crisis."

Arthur scratched his cheek. "That’s an improvement, right?"

Mithra laughed. "A considerable one."

An Academy official approached and handed Arthur several passes.

"Champion’s viewing privileges. You and your invited guests may watch the remaining One Above All events from the reserved observation section."

Arthur examined the passes.

"Wait. We get special seats too?"

"Yes. Tomorrow begins the second-year competition."

Arthur immediately turned toward his friends.

"Then we’re all going!"

Sun grinned. "Excellent! I want to see what the upper years can do!"

Athena adjusted her glasses. "Watching experienced students compete could be very educational."

Kong raised his hand. "And there will be food?"

Arthur laughed. "We’ll find out!"

Vedas examined the passes before looking toward the enormous arena.

"Tomorrow should be interesting."

Arthur nodded enthusiastically.

He had won the first-year championship.

Now he would get to see just how strong Pathfinder Academy’s upper-year students had become.