The arena thundered with cheers. Students, nobles, teachers, and adventurer guild officials filled the stands.
On the far platform stood House Darvell's team, armed with traditional weapons, a solid defense-focused formation:
▸ Durell Darvell – Lv. 14 – Shield Spear Combatant▸ Ganna Mirs – Lv. 12 – Beast Affinity (Warg)▸ Kex Fenlor – Lv. 11 – Gravity Mage
Facing them, under a single dark blue banner, stood:
▸ Eron Valemere – Lv. 13 – Warlord▸ Neha Veyra – Lv. 8 – Flame Adept▸ Seryn Caelis – Lv. 10 – Spirit-Walker
▸ Summons: Primordial Slime (Lv. 11), Blade Hound (Lv. 6)
Seconds before the match began, Eron opened his Create Concept window.
His thoughts raced.
"We'll get cornered with their tank holding line and the gravity mage isolating us. I need something disruptive."
[Create Concept – Activated]
Skill Name: Phantom Pivot
Type: Movement Utility (Tactical)
Effect: Instantly swap positions with any summon or team member within 12 meters.Cooldown: 30 seconds.Bonus: Generates 1.5 seconds of invulnerability post-swap.
Mana Cost: 22
[Skill Created: Phantom Pivot Lv. MAX]
He grinned. "That'll do."
A horn echoed. The arena sealed in shimmering runes.
Darvell team opened strong.
[Ganna's Warg charged forward, claws igniting][Kex activated gravity zones around Neha and Seryn][Durell anchored his shield and cast: Fortress Line]
The crowd roared.
Seryn's movement slowed.
Neha's flame spirals failed to cast fully.
Eron whispered: "Slime, deploy behind Warg. Blade Hound, angle right."
Then out loud: "Neha, hold. Seryn, prepare to cast from backline."
He activated his new skill.
[Phantom Pivot – Swap: Eron ➤ Primordial Slime]
In an instant, Eron vanished from mid-arena and reappeared behind the Warg with sword drawn.
[Requiem Echo: Arc Split][Critical Hit: Warg Staggered]
The slime blinked into Eron's former spot, now face to face with the stunned Darvell.
A water cannon blast struck him point-blank.
The crowd gasped.
[Darvell's Shield Fractured – Stun Triggered][Slime Overload Combo – Arc Spiral Pierce + Water Slam]
[Opponent Downed: Durell Darvell – Eliminated]
Freed from the pressure zone, Seryn summoned a double-edged spirit weapon.
[Spirit Laceration – Shadow Slash ➤ Gravity Zone Disrupted]
Neha followed with: Fire Cage → Ember Barrage
Kex tried to float—but the flames homed, guided by slime particles.
Ganna attempted a charge to rescue him—only to get intercepted by the Blade Hound's Accelerated Bite and pinned with mana claws.
[Opponents Eliminated: Kex Fenlor, Ganna Mirs]
Victory – Team Valemere Wins in 3 minutes, 17 seconds
The arena was dead silent for a moment.
Then the crowd erupted.
Behind enchanted glass, instructors and officials reviewed the match.
Headmaster Lenwyr narrowed his eyes. "That boy—he didn't just fight. He reorganized the board."
Master Kheilan, the Summoning Professor, exhaled deeply. "That was a high-tier switch technique with no casting sign. That's not a taught skill."
"Because," Lenwyr said, "he made it."
They leaned closer as the tournament panel updated.
[Highlighted Match – Tactical MVP: Eron Valemere]
Skill Phantom Pivot – Catalogued as Unique, Tactical Tier
Faculty Review: Potential Tier A Adventurer CandidateAdditional Note: Approve Observer Escort for next field mission
Seryn sat silently, staring at the floating slime who spun around like it had won a parade.
Neha stood beside Eron, her sleeve lightly touching his.
"You didn't hesitate," she said.
"I couldn't."
She looked at him, then away. "You're annoying sometimes."
Seryn finally spoke. "But brilliant."
The tension between the three simmered again, just under the surface. But this time, even the Blade Hound sat still—like it understood.