How to survive in the Romance Fantasy Game Chapter 665: Light 6

What truly determined the outcome of a duel between mages?

Did it come down to who held the most mana, or who had attained a superior circle?

Between a stronger mage and a more skilled one, who would prevail?

The solution was far more intricate than most cared to acknowledge.

Possessing a high-tier mana heart was no guarantee of a profound understanding of magic.

While some practitioners spent their lives in pursuit of raw power, others immersed themselves in the fundamental truths of spells, the complexity of formulas, and the universal laws of the world.

The academy itself conceded this reality.

Magic remained a subjective art.

The paths to growth were varied.

Talent often bloomed in peculiar ways.

However, in the crucible of actual combat—where spells clashed and lives hung in the balance—a single principle reigned supreme.

Casting speed.

Victory usually belonged to the mage who could manifest their magic first.

No matter how magnificent or destructive a spell might be, it was worthless if it failed to trigger in time.

A slow mage was nothing more than a corpse.

It was that straightforward.

And in the realm of rapid casting...

Rose occupied the absolute peak.

The rumors suggested that, excluding Senior Alice, no one in the entire academy could rival Rose’s speed—not the veteran professors, not the elite upperclassmen, nor the hidden geniuses spoken of in whispers.

Stacia felt her jaw lock as she ascended the stage.

The platform was vast, reinforced by shimmering layers of protective magic that glinted under the arena lights.

Despite the defenses, she felt a heavy weight already settling upon her shoulders.

"Let us once more welcome a rising star of the first-year class!"

The announcer’s booming voice filled the coliseum.

"Having crushed every previous opponent with ferocity and brilliance, she is now hailed as the top-ranked student of her year—Stacia Alger Del Luna!"

The stadium erupted into chaos.

Whistles, shouts, and cheers merged into a roar as her name was chanted from every corner.

Even the judges showed visible interest, leaning forward with eyes sharp and full of anticipation.

Accustomed to the spotlight, Stacia disregarded the clamor and surveyed her environment.

The turnout was even larger than she had foreseen.

Every seat was occupied, and the overflow was staggering.

Students packed the stairwells, hung over the railings, and crowded the rear exits just to catch a glimpse of the confrontation.

She knew some were there to support her.

But the majority... they were there for Rose.

That fact alone illustrated the immense presence Rose Brilliance commanded within these walls.

Stacia’s crimson eyes drifted toward the high platform of the judges.

Standing calmly above the rest was the Emperor, his blue eyes locked onto the stage.

Once again.

Was this mere chance... or something calculated?

Every single one of her matches had been personally observed by him. Four consecutive times was far beyond the realm of coincidence.

What felt even more bizarre was that he hadn't bothered to attend the matches of Seo, Rose, or even his daughter, Snow.

Yet he was here for her.

Watching.

Stacia pushed the nagging thought away; she couldn't afford to dwell on mysteries right now.

She refocused on the opponent ahead.

"Everyone! Please welcome the future Archmage—or perhaps, the woman who is already the next Archmage!"

The announcer’s voice thundered through the arena once more.

"The golden child! The glory of the Brilliance family! The genius of the century and a hero of light who protected this academy from the shadows!"

The applause exploded, reaching a volume far higher than before.

"The one favored by the heavens! The brightest star in our academy—Rose Brilliance!"

Amidst the deafening praise and excitement, Rose walked onto the platform with total composure.

There was no hint of vanity in her stride, nor did she feel the need to acknowledge the crowd.

She moved as if this were just another ordinary day.

And yet—

The moment she took her place, the entire coliseum seemed to fall into a hushed stillness.

Stacia tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword.

So this is her...

Stacia finally understood the reality of facing Rose in a true fight.

Rose wasn't doing anything overtly threatening.

She wasn't projecting killing intent, taking a combat stance, or even looking particularly focused.

Nonetheless...

Her mere presence was stifling.

The density of the mana surrounding Rose was overwhelming.

Even with Rose clearly suppressing her power, the slight leakage was enough to make anyone with sharp senses feel it crawling over their skin.

It weighed on Stacia’s mind, vast and heavy, like standing before the depths of an endless ocean.

A flicker of anxiety stirred in her chest.

But then—

She spotted him.

Riley.

He was in the stands, his eyes fixed intently on the stage.

It was obvious he had come to watch Rose.

Anyone would.

But that realization didn't matter to her.

Just knowing he was there was sufficient.

Stacia’s lips twitched into a subtle, private smile.

It’s fine... this is enough.

She gripped her sword with renewed strength.

Her mana began to flare.

"Let the match begin!"

The instant the command left the announcer’s lips, Stacia struck.

She lunged forward with explosive speed.

Flames burst from her feet and wreathed her body, transforming her into a flying meteor as she closed the gap.

The stone beneath her feet shattered from the force of her launch.

Crimson-gold fire condensed along her blade, the intense heat warping the very air.

She didn't hesitate.

She didn't probe for weaknesses.

She committed everything to the opening strike.

Casting speed was vital for mages, yes.

But Stacia was more than a mage.

She was a rare talent who could harmonize swordsmanship and magic perfectly, ensuring neither hindered the other.

Time seemed to dilate.

In that slowed moment, she saw the reality.

Rose wasn't reacting.

There was no incantation.

No shield appearing.

No movement at all.

This is it.

Her Dantian—her mana heart—throbbed with power.

[Skill: Mana Burn]

Her mana caught fire violently, the heat intensifying as the skill took hold.

The ambient mana in the air began to evaporate, melting under the sheer destructive force of her burn.

Even the natural energy around them was being devoured, erased as if it had never been.

If Rose attempted to manifest a barrier—

It would dissolve.

If she tried to block—

The blade would cleave through.

Stacia’s sword descended, a roar of flames aimed directly at Rose—

She had no intention of holding back.

The road to victory was clear.

Or so she believed.

As her blade approached—

She felt it.

A sudden change.

The mana around her warped unnaturally, becoming dense and incredibly controlled. It wasn't just powerful; it was surgical.

Far too precise.

Her flames flared wildly in response, as if trying to fight against something they couldn't consume.

Then, the world collapsed inward.

Before she could even register the sensation, Stacia’s perspective flipped.

"Huh—?"

The horizon turned upside down.

She realized she was falling—no, she had been hurled away.

Her body was propelled upward, her sense of equilibrium completely shattered.

The stage below receded rapidly as the wind whipped past her ears.

What... what just happened?

She forced her flames to erupt once more, twisting her body in midair to barely regain her balance.

Below, Rose stood motionless.

Watching her.

Her golden eyes remained neutral. No effort. No stress.

That cold indifference sent a shiver down Stacia’s spine.

Did she... move me?

Celestial magic?

Gravity manipulation?

Space distortion?

A flood of questions hit her, but before she could grasp an answer—

SHIINNGGG!!!

A piercing, metallic ring resonated through the arena.

Golden radiance erupted from the ground beneath her.

From the stage floor, countless spear-like constructs manifested, forged entirely from condensed light.

They rose slowly at first, like pillars emerging from the earth, each one exuding overwhelming purity and force.

One.

Ten.

Hundreds.

No—thousands.

The entire stage had been transformed into a forest of luminous spears.

[Mid Grade: Light Magic]

[Spear of Light]

Stacia’s eyes stretched wide.

"This many...?!"

Before she could act—

Click.

Rose snapped her fingers.

In the following heartbeat, every spear angled toward the sky.

Then they launched.

A deluge of golden light shredded the air, screaming toward Stacia from the ground.

The raw pressure crushed against her as the spears closed the distance, cutting off every possible path of retreat.

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

Hesitation was no longer an option.

There was no way Stacia could parry every individual spear.

True to their nature, the spears traveled at near light-speed.

Some flew straight, while others curved through the air, shifting their paths as if guided by a will—clearly designed to leave her no blind spots.

Evasion was impossible.

Blocking them all was equally futile.

So, Stacia did the only thing she could.

She placed her faith in herself.

In her flames.

In her instincts.

In her steel.

Her stance shifted.

Flames exploded from her form once more, coiling around her arms and sword as the heat distorted the atmosphere.

In that moment, her movements became sharper—purer, faster, and driven by pure reflex.

She stopped thinking.

Her body took over.

A technique she had failed to master in the past.

A form she had previously only managed to mimic.

This time, she achieved perfection.

[HIDDEN BLADE TECHNIQUE: THIRD FORM]

[FULL MOON]

Stacia moved.

Her sword flashed in a blur, slashing in every direction she could perceive—and many she couldn't.

Crimson fire trailed every swing, creating arcs of flame that met the descending spears head-on.

Light shattered against cold steel.

Fire roared against the brilliance.

Above the arena, the sky ignited as if stars were colliding with one another.

....

"...H-Hey," Alice whispered from the spectator stands, her eyes wide with shock. "Isn't this getting a bit excessive?"

No one replied.

In the air, Stacia continued to hack through the relentless storm as Rose calmly produced spear after spear without end.

Golden light fell like rain, only to be intercepted by blazing red arcs.

To those watching, it seemed surreal.

Like falling stars crashing into each other mid-flight.

Like two unstoppable forces meeting at once.

The crowd went silent.

Even the judges—battle-hardened veterans who had witnessed a thousand duels—were left speechless, their gaze fixed on the miracle occurring before them.

This was no longer a simple school match.

It was a war between monsters.