-Zeref’s POV-

I looked to my side at the results of Malia’s and Sara’s match. Sara won! How unexpected. But I think if they fought, Malia would’ve easily won. Why did she walk away?

“You over there! I suggest you focus! You’re going to be fighting with second and third years too.” the referee shouted at me, and all the boys giggled mockingly at me.

The circle was quite large, probably had a radius of about 150 meters, so 50 people fighting it out didn’t sound that bad. I scanned the people, for where Jace was. Crap! He was near the 2nd year for some reason; I have to save this guy.

“3…2…1…”

DING!

The sound of the bell went and bystanders began to cheer for their friends. I didn’t plan on showcasing my lightning ability so I just activated my Seikuken and planned to just use physical combat.

[Seikuken (Level 37) will consume 1MP every minute]

4 guys rushed at me all at once. Did they have some personal vendetta or something? Teaming up in a battle royale, really? I parried all their attacks and hit the pressure points in their chests, making them fall like dominoes. I scanned the numerous people fighting. It really looked like a war; students were fighting like animals all around me, some limp on the ground, and others all bloody.

Three others teamed up and came forward throwing punches and kicks towards me. I simply dodged the attacks or shifted their attacks away from me. Suddenly, the ground lifted up from below me and crawled up my legs, trapping me on the spot. Panic struck me as the 3 guys were coming in with mana imbued in their fists.

I smiled.

“Almighty Push!” My palm faced the three attackers and they were blown out of the circle. ‘Almighty push ‘was a gravity technique I created, I designed it after a wind move I had in my previous life.

[You have used up 200 MP]

“Oh My God! Did you see that?!” I could hear gasps and cheers from the watchers. So much for keeping a low profile about my abilities.

Turning around, I saw Mike running at me at full speed but before he could reach me, a laser beam flew into him, making him fly off the field. Ouch! That must’ve hurt.

“What’s with the beak? Are you a bird? People see your nose before they see you. CAWK!!! CAW-AHHHH” I heard Jace’s loud annoying voice in the crowd of fighters.

He came into view, emerging from a bunch of angry older kids who were chasing him with their mana activated.

“Zerefffffff! Heeeeelp!”

I turned my head around to the opposite end of the battlefield, Jace was being chased by a dozen second years. Did he have to annoy everyone he met? I laughed at the hilarious scene, looking at him running frantically.

I moved in his direction to save him, but a fire spear was hurled at me, due to my seikuken I dodged the spear, when it slowed down as it came into my range of perception. I turned around to see a slim guy running near the edge of the circle, a sniper huh. This was going to be long.

**

“25 people remain. Hurry it up!” the referee shouted.

I sprinted to Jace but before I could reach him he was picked up by a 6 ft 5 giant and thrown out of the circle.

“Put me down! You oversized giant! What do you eat man?! Aaaghhh!!” Jace shrieked as he was hurled out of the circle. His body fell with a thud and his dark uniform lost its cleanliness. He picked himself up and gave me a thumbs up then shouted, “Just finish this! Use your full power!”

“Fine then.” I cracked my knuckles and neck side to side. “Godspeed.”

[MP is dropping at an alarming rate]

[Skill will be automatically stopped when Mp reaches 10%]

I had 9 seconds in their time to win; that was more than enough time because for me, in this state with one step I could cover 50 metres. Everything around me froze, even the mana in the atmosphere stopped vibrating. Running up to a contestant, I punched him in the face lightly and pushed others softly in the chest. I knew when time would resume again, the momentum would cause them all to go unconscious or fly out of the ring. This was perfect to finish this as hastily as possible.

I deactivated Godspeed and dropped to my knees breathless. Sweat rolled down my forehead like a fountain. I looked around; I was the only one conscious. All the watchers became silent, shocked, Jace alike.

“Cheater! He’s cheating!”

“That can’t be real! How did he win?!”

“Everyone just fell unconscious or flew out of the ring!” the bystanders roared in frustration.

“That’s impossible! No magic or skill can do that!”

“We protest!”

“This is a con!”

“Silence.” the atmosphere became chilly with one word. This was Mr Xanxus’s mana for sure.

“I don’t care what you guys think. Zeref Amara has won fair and square and will represent our academy!” he declared.

I looked around at the dozen bodies lying scattered all over the ground. I could understand their perspective.