The Wish Game

The Nationals Begin

It was the day of nationals and I was really nervous about the live broadcast stuff. The national was held in an even larger ground about ten kilometers from Solaris. The event will start at midday and there was still time for that.

I and Mineva were in the preparations room waiting for the spawning room to awaken. Mineva had specially prepared a battle suit for me. It was made by a special magic fiber that manifested my thoughts in its properties.

She claimed that it’ll boost all my strengths and reduce the burden of my weaknesses. It looked like an almost black jacket over a dark olive green single-piece full bodysuit. My shoes and gloves were my own creation making them from the most resilient material.

They were supposed to boost my jumps, reduce damage from falls and enhance my close-quarters combat as well. Mineva suddenly stirred up the conversation, “So, you’re still nervous.” I replied, “Yes. They should do away with the broadcast thing. It’s really creeping me out.”

Mineva giggled, “Maybe, but don’t hold anything back on that account.” I gave thumbs up and began to contemplate my strategy. The ensuing silence continued for a while until Mineva finally broke it, “Have you ever thought what wish you’ll make to Caelum after everything’s over?”

The question caught me by surprise and I thought for a while before answering, “No, I haven’t.” Mineva followed up, “So, what’s keeping you going on? What’s keeping you motivated to go on?” I had this one figured though, “In the beginning, it was just a burden. And after a few battles, I began enjoying them.”

I smiled but Mineva’s expression changed to scarily serious. “What’s wrong?” I asked as I began sensing a strange aura around her. Mineva began, “I see that you are suppressing your humanity in battle and that’s dangerous to you and your enemy.”

I was really confused, “How’s that dangerous to me? Plus, what’s the point of this chat?” Mineva gave a tap on my shoulder and said, “Do you even remember how many nights Mira and Rita had to use sleep-inducing spells to let you overcome your fear after the matches?”

It was true, after every fight, I struggled to sleep due to a variety of issues – physical and mental. “So, what do you think I should do?” I asked and she replied, “Don’t do anything that you’ll regret. That’s all.” I got what she was actually meaning, “Yeah, no more cruel traps. And no more leaving someone to die on their own.”

Mineva nodded and gave me my armaments. In the intraclass matches, we had to choose our weapons, defensive armaments, and support items from the bundle they provided us. But in the nationals, we were allowed to take in customized pieces of equipment.

I took my weapons which were a set of magically regenerating daggers. The sponsors provided me with all these and Mineva signed Mr. Krishna as our sponsor yesterday only. “It’s a surprise that he was able to get these pieces of equipment ready overnight,” I said as I put the eight daggers in different parts of my suit.

“Don’t be surprised, he had you insights for quite some time. He gave me these as a token of thanks, saying these would help you gain an upper hand in the nationals.” Mineva replied as the countdown began.

“That would mean every other person’s sponsor would have given them some advantage.” I wondered and Mineva added in affirmative, “That’s why; it’ll be more fun today. Now, Good Luck.” She gave me a kiss on my forehead as I stepped into the spawning room.

When I came out of the spawning room, I was in the middle of a desert. “What place is this?” I shrieked as the spawning room disappeared and I began contemplating on my priorities. “If it’s a desert, there must be an oasis in here.”

Thanks to the sponsor’s secret Intel, I knew that the ground was a rectangle 40 km in length and 35 km in breadth; marginally bigger than the stadium used before which was 35 km by 32 km ellipse. “So, there are two chances, either I just got in the desert zone or the whole field is a desert.”

Desert wasn’t my specialty and so, I began thinking about my first step, ‘Where to go?’ I was practically in the middle of nowhere and with no guide, I was a sitting duck for ambushes. I began feeling the breeze and noticed that it was humid.

“An oasis!!!” I cried in joy and jumped to run towards against the wind when a thought struck my mind, “What if it’s a trap?” It overran my instincts but if the whole arena is a desert then, I needed to resupply.

It was a tough dilemma and after a few minutes of self consultation, I decided to act. “I’ll go towards the oasis first and then see something else,” I murmured to myself and began moving against the wind.

After about fifteen minutes of walking and I finally reached the source of the humidity: An Oasis. It was basically a giant lake with knee-deep water and a lot of date palms on the sides. I stopped my trek and waited for some time while detecting anyone’s magic through magic detection.

After satisfaction that I was alone, I ventured into the oasis and first resupplied my water. The fifteen-minute trek cost me more than two liters of water and I didn’t know how much I needed. “Well, this place seems good to set up camp but…” I brushed away the camping idea as soon as it came.

I was terribly weak in defense and if someone decided to come up with a siege, I was done. My survival instinct kicked in and I decided to leave. “But…” Something told me that it would prove as a perfect place to set up traps with guaranteed results.

“Let’s do it then…Trap Magic!!!” I said and began casting deadly trap spells all across the place. I learned trap magic after the first intra class competition. One of the best attributes about trap magic that attracted me was the casters immunity. There’s no way I can fall into my own trap, but it meant another thing to me – I myself could be the bait.

After placing the traps, I immediately began moving in the direction of strongest magic. Mineva told me that magic detection could be useful in tracking down enemies through their magic. But I found a better use for it, I use it as a guide to finding the best place of battle.

Traps are best effective when they entrap a group of people in them at once. I was aiming for a multi-kill this time. There was a strong magical presence in the west and I began to move there. After an hour of trek, I could see the source of magic: A magic stronghold.

I was about a kilometer away and with my presence concealment; I was pretty safe from detection unless there was something around me that told them my location. I scanned around for any magic detectors or familiars but found nothing.

“A magic stronghold, I wish I could’ve done something like that.” I marveled at the magical fort and wondered, “Which type of stronghold would it be?” According to the defensive spell guide book, there were three major kinds of strongholds – anti-projectile, anti-magic, and anti-will.

They were formidable in some aspect but left out something to be desired. Anti-projectile were like their names excellent against projectile weapons. Mostly either they negated the projectiles or simply rebound them back at the assailant.

Anti-magic strongholds did the same to magic as anti-projectile did to projectiles with an additive bonus of draining the entire magic of someone who forces their way in. Anti-will strongholds were of a special kind, they provided invulnerability until the caster’s will to survive outshines the assailant’s will to attack. But that was most daunting as not everyone had a powerful will.

Noticing that the area around the stronghold was quite lush, I sneaked towards it cautiously and set a camp at a comfortable distance from it. I began scouting the base and wondered, “Why’d they set up this stronghold here? In the middle of nowhere…”

I surveyed the stronghold for hours and noted the magic output of the castle and shield. “A pulsating shield looks like an anti-magic barrier. There are twelve people inside, so there must a secondary barrier or something like that.” I looked at the results projected by my battle suit.

Since it manifested anything that I could imagine, I used it to make a projector-type crystal that could make the results of the magic analysis visible on screen. I looked again into the results and found that there was some kind of fluctuation in the shield.

I could use my magic resistance to get through that fluctuation but most probably I’d be detected immediately and if there’s any other layer of security, I’d be doomed. “It’s a high-risk maneuver but I’ll have to do it,” I said to myself and went near the stronghold’s shield.

I waited for the fluctuation to occur in the pulsating shield and as it came in front of me, I shed away all my defenses and strengthened my magic resistance to maximum. “I’ll just go through…” I shrieked as I held the magic shield with my hands and used my strength to tear through the shield.

As I got through the shield, I noticed that it wasn’t the only layer of security. The anti-will stronghold’s main barrier was just in front of me and I was almost sandwiched between the anti-magic barrier and anti-will barrier.

The twelve contestants came to the courtyard and at that moment I knew, I messed my strategy completely. “Crap!!!” I cursed as they gave me vicious glares. “Huh, look at that. We have the runner up in our trap.” One of them laughed.

I calmed down and tried to hide my panic. “I am at perhaps the safest place. No one could attack me here neither you nor anyone from behind.” I teased them, at that point my plan was to divert their attention so that the anti-will barrier would weaken and I could get in.

“Oh!!! But what if we do this?” Another one taunted and read a spell. “Nothing wil…” I couldn’t finish my sentence as I saw the anti-will barrier swell. “What~” I shrieked and backed off only to sense the anti-magic barrier.

‘They’re trying to…’ I thought but the first guy added, “No, we won’t crush you to death. This spell is incapable of killing but it’ll crush you until you’re devoid of every bit of magic and if you survive that long, we’ll make short work of you.” The twelve laughed in unison and looked at me.

There was already less than one meter distance between the two barriers and it was decreasing. I had to do something or else I’d die. I don’t know when my instincts got the best of me and turned towards the second barrier and began pushing it.

The twelve looked amused and must be wondering, ‘She’s trying to overcome the strongest barrier. How stupid…’ I used my battle suit to fasten my feet to the ground and pushed the barrier with all my might. The twelve came down to the stair, to enjoy my struggle.

“It’s no use. You cannot overcome the combined will of four casters.” Another of the group said he had a sad face, unlike the others. I could feel the barrier swelling and my feet were still being pushed back, albeit slowly.

My struggle continued for about ten minutes when I felt my feet brushing the anti-magic barrier. If it goes any further my magic would be rapidly drained and soon I’ll be knocked unconscious. The push continued, and my feet grazed the barrier.

I felt my innate magic being drained away but it wasn’t as fast as I thought. Perhaps my magic resistance was slowing it down, but anyways if I couldn’t break through the second barrier I’d end up dead. I tried and tried desperately and nothing worked.

Finally, I felt that my struggle was in vain, and for a moment, I considered giving up and the struggle diminished. At that moment, I saw everything that transpired in the past year and what everyone gave me. A particular memory, one I almost forgot played in loops.

It was the time when she was explaining magic resistance to me. When I asked her, “How would I stop the beast of magic coming towards me?” She replied, “You’ll have to be the fierce lion that’ll scare away the beast of magic.” This memory played in loops and I realized that it’s not the time to give up.

I disengaged and pushed the barrier with renewed vigor. “Still not giving up? It’ll be more entertaining to watch your futile struggle.” The first one who seemed their leader said and I retorted, “Only one is going to be the winner, then why are you guys collaborating?” He laughed, “Well, I’d usually say that it’s a secret…”

He stopped for a while and continued, “…But I’ll consider this your last wish and tell you. We’ll kill everyone and then decide the winner among us by a 'king of the ring' type match. Now hurry up and die…” I interrupted him with a smile, “I won’t die, I am going to kill you all.”

“Oh, well then I’ll just do this…” He cast another spell that increased the force of the anti-will barrier. “Huh…This magic won’t affect me.” He looked right into his eyes and continued, “I am the lion that makes magic run away from me.” I kept my smiling face and held the barrier with my fingers.

I channeled every ounce of my physical strength into my arms and further into my fingers. “This protection magic is like paper, if I can tear through one small portion I can open a hole.” I looked into the eyes of the leader in an intimidating manner while saying.

“You’ve gone crazy…” He laughed but in a moment his laughter turned into shock. My fingers pierced through the barrier and within seconds I made openings large enough to get my arms through it.

“Just wait and watch,” I said as I grabbed the barrier and began pulling it away like a cloth. “Like I would…” The leader said as he chanted spells to enhance the barrier but it failed. “Then take this, fire magic – spinning fire lance.”

He cast the spell and a giant lance of fire came towards me. “It’s no use,” I shouted as I began to slowly tear their strongest defense. The leader ordered his team member as his magic dissipated due to my magic resistance, “Group up!!!”

But most of the members fled inside the castle and only the physical weapon users remained along with him. They began to attack me with their swords, spears, maces, and staffs; aiming for my hands and face. The bladed weapons caused some cuts while the blunt weapons were almost as useless as magic.

“Those scratches won’t stop me…” I tore a hole in the barrier large enough for me to pass through as jumped at the leader. I slashed his throat before anyone could react in an unforeseen burst of speed and power.

“These ones could wait. I need to take out those wizards first.” I said to myself as I went on a search mission for the absconding wizards with the five physical weapon users chasing me with all their might.

I used magic detection to find and follow their magic footprints until I had them cornered in the treasury-like room. “So you walked right we wanted you.” One of the wizards said and before I could ask anything, he tapped his finger on the gem of his staff.

Suddenly chains sprouted below me like vines and grabbed me, completely restraining me and rendering me motionless. “Now, take your time and attack with the strongest of your spell.” He ordered the others and turned towards me, “Your magic resistance should not work in this position.”

He was correct, utilizing magic resistance needed a lot of concentration which the chains were not letting me gather. The first volley of high-level spells came and hit me without any resistance. “Aah…” I cried as different magic spells like a laser, vine serpents, ice bullets, glass rain, and a water bubble came at me.

The water bubble came on my head, entrapping me to drown while the others spells did their damage and it was quite visible. The vines added to the restraints as if the chains were difficult enough. “Why didn’t she die already?” The trap magic-user asked and the others replied, “We never specialized in killing spells. Those are the best we could do.”

But the water bubble was drowning me; I struggled as I began to run out of air. I fell to my knees in less than a minute, my body unable to cope with all the spells. “Now she’ll soon die.” The water mage said, celebrating his victory.

The chains slacked off a bit as I fell down on fours with my decreasing strength. As soon as my hand reached the ground, the chains began to loosen and fell off before disappearing. I reached for my face and absorbed the water bubble as well before letting out some deep breaths.

“What? What’d you do?” The trap magic-user asked as the vines followed suit and I rose to my feet. The experience was really haunting and it would surely come up in my nightmares. “Let’s see.” I pulled out two daggers from my battle suit and prepared to charge on them.

The six mages began casting out spells but this time I didn’t give them any chance. They were struck in the heart before anyone could finish their chants. As I finished, I didn’t pull out the daggers as they have already been replaced by new ones in my battle suit.

The physical weapon users came in just before I was about to leave and saw their dead comrades behind me. “I’ll kill you…” The swordsman shrieked as he began attacking me. I pulled out a couple of daggers and started parrying the attacks.

Five on one in a magic battle is advantageous for me due to my magic resistance but the same is not true for close-quarters combat. Meanwhile, with its source of magic gone; the stronghold began to collapse. ‘I’ll have to get out as soon as possible.’ I gained my distance and pulled out all eight daggers.

Holding them between my fingers, I threw them at the enemies to gain a distraction. They flinched seeing the daggers fly towards them and parried them, giving me a moment to escape. I straight ran out of the falling stronghold with the enemies closely behind.

I headed straight towards the camp but was losing the lead. I stopped my sprint after a distance and stood there. The five of them stopped in front of me, weapons at the ready. “Huh…Ran out of stamina? Now you’re dead.”

They slowly advanced as I retreated. The spearman gave a sign to surround me and the others began to spread out. “That’s what I wanted. Come on just a few steps more.” I murmured to myself as they made a semi-circle around me.

“Let’s go then. Activate Trap Magic!!!” I shouted as the magical traps I set up there engaged killing all of them instantly. The swordsmen went down the infinite hole trap, the spearman for spike pendulum, the mace user for poison, and the staff user for a heat stab.

I reached for the utility pouch and used bandages to cover the deep wounds I had. The slashes from the weapons weren’t a big deal but the physical damage dealt by the spells in the treasury was. By the time I had finished, it was already sunset and I had 12 additional kills.