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I offered my invocation to the Spirit Genome, and conjured a sandstorm.

Or well, that's how I made it appear. It was just a physical phenomenon created by using wind magic to pick up sand and pebbles. I could only dream about earth attributes.

Anyway, it turned out this magic had quite a great affinity in pvp against fellow humans. Aside from the obvious poor visibility, my wind magic would also stir the mana particles in the air, and scatter them in the surrounding in a chaotic blend, which in turn interfere with the detection magic.

So, it was also dubbed as a spell to block spatial senses. And, while I had no confirmation, I personally believe that monsters like Dark Wolf or Railgators hate wind magic precisely because it interferes with their perception.

«......Can you put up any sign, Coach?! I can't see anything either!»

......And this was the drawback. The spell discriminates against no one.

I controlled the wind to lift up the rotten leaves pooled at the base of cedar tree Purim-senpai had been hiding, and used them to draw a trail toward a candidate of Fatora Kingdom.

«Roger. I will skip the chant for now! Lightning Arrow!»

The hint was enough, and Purim-senpai reacted immediately. A flash of lightning shot forth from the cedar tree, and it landed on the spot I had pointed out at with pinpoint accuracy.

«Fatora Kingdom: Sarosa Eliminated. Three Points to the Yuglia Kingdom.»

The remaining two participants acted immediately, and shot their spells in the direction Purim-senpai was lurking around. However, in the fashion of a seasoned sniper, Senpai had already left the spot after his first attack, and retreated with graceful movement.

In his retreat, he even found an opportunity to launch a second strike, and it struck another Fatora Kingdom's participants.

«Fatora Kingdom: Tanis Eliminated. Four Points to the Yuglia Kingdom.»

Despite the two sticking to an immediate counterattack, Purim-senpai led ahead by virtue of his superior casting speed, and accuracy in contrast to his opponent. And to add further, the speed of «Lightning Arrow» was terrific. It was nigh impossible to defend once it was shot.

I was not surprised by the outcome. I joined Purim-senpai as he retreated from his earlier position.

"There's no opening anymore, and they've already put up their guard. Let's leave from here and join Dol."

"......But isn't Rosemieur still up ahead in points? So I was thinking about sticking a bit more..."

Senpai apparently had wanted to give it another go, but I turned that down.

It was their first encounter with Sandstorm, so the element of surprise helped us in eliminating two opponents with minimal effort, but they're elites among their peers. Unsurprisingly, they'd already found their footing and put up guards.

Besides, there were at least six opponents around, so it would do us no good to lose Senpai for a momentary greed. He was our main artillery, and I don't think Dol or I were strong enough to turn around the situation.

"They're already up on their feet, and are on guard. The next confrontation would only be dragged out if we stay here. And if that happens, I fear we might risk putting that scary princess on our bac—"

I was about to speak forth of the rumours I had heard about Arichi-san, but I had to cut off when my wind magic picked the presence of another three-person group galloping in our direction from Northeast.

«It's that sandstorm. If there's wind gathered around, Allen-san shouldn't be far from here! We must track him down lest he hide, and that's when he's even more dangerous. It might turn into a melee, but we must take action now. Alright, put on your guard. We're jumping in!»

«Understood!» x2

Tch-tch, I can't believe I used to be impressed by her graceful persona. Now, I honestly wonder if she wasn't a tomboy? She wasn't even showing any hesitation against rough decisions.

Well, that said, her judgement in that split second had no fault.

"Speak of the devil... that scary princess is already here. Senpai, take this moment to retreat and join Dol. I will try to stall for time as much as possible."

"What?! ...You can't even attack by yourself, Coach. You know that's too dangerous!"

My suggestion was immediately cut short by Senpai. However I shook my head at his words.

"We just can't lose you, Purim-senpai. You're the only hope to drop Arichi-san out of the game. Besides, they are apparently trying to deal with me first. So retreat would be a hard step if you continued to stay with me."

I gazed at him strongly, adamant on my stance. Reluctantly, but eventually Purim-senpai caved in.

"...Fine. But, your safety first, and definitely do not do anything dangerous."

After that, we broke up to take our respective actions. I was about to follow through my task, too, but my senses caught up something, pushing me to jump sideways promptly. A fireball brushed past the spot I was just in.

I presume Arichi-san must have read the flow of air, and fired off her spell to pin me down. Its strength appeared to be on par with Leo. I doubt I could take that even with my mana guard without letting the pendant get destroyed.

The tension within air clung to my skin like needles. I quickly sprang on my feet, though not completely rising up. I kept my head low, and ran in a circle, adjusting the distance between us. Once I saw Purim-senpai had retreated to sufficient distance, I began chanting.

"O' the pillar of four Great Spirits, Le Sylph. ...Abide by the contract of wind, and bestow me the Breath of Ancient Storm Dragon! Gather, and pave the path of majestic wind! Let us disperse the winding malevolent—"

I finished my chant there, and abruptly snapped my finger.

At my cue, the raging sandstorm came to a halt, as if it was never there to begin with, returning the grassland to its unobstructive view.

With nothing to hide, I immediately found my target. Rosemieur's team was just right beside the centre of the area. On their left was the three members team of Bearenz Archipelago, and on the right was two members of team Justeria. And, of course, the last participant from Fatora Kingdom, too, was there.

" "Wha—!!!" "

The sudden curve in the situation caught everyone wide-eyed. Meanwhile, I finished the last verse of my chant.

"—And shackle them into the chains of forbidden—Howling Dragon!"

The first one to come out of their surprise was Arichi-san, unsurprisingly. It was almost like she was subconsciously on auto-pilot mode, as she conjured her spell to target me. However, her movement came to a halt, and her body swayed as I finished with my chant, and the constructed spell brushed right by my side and into the sky.

"Arichi-sama!"

One of Rosemieur's participants, a second year student, Eclair I believe, noticed the strangeness of Arichi and rushed to her in panic. They're immediately targeted by spells from the Bearentz Archipelago team.

Arichi-san and Eclair-san brought up their mana guard, narrowly avoiding the damage.

«Bearentz Archipelago: Inoki Eliminated. Seven Points to the Rosemieur Empire.»

Kybaria, a first-year student from Rosemieur, jumped to intercept the Bearentz Archipelago team, and successfully eliminated one of them.

"I—I am fine! Just focus on Allen-san!"

I was just about to disappear into the forest, taking advantage of confusion, but Arichi-san brought her team members' attention towards me. Kybaria was about to further target Bearentz Archipelago's team, however with Arichi-san's pointing out, he shifted his target to me, and shot water magic toward me.

I rolled on the ground, and avoided that.

"It's him—Allen Rovenne!"

"Get him!"

Arichi-san's attention brought even the other participant's attention toward me, and soon, I was set on everyone's target.

"Tch!"

I had  that faint expectation in me that I could lead others to target the Rosemieur team by creating an opening in Arichi-san's defense, but alas. I was too naive.

Honestly, now I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs. Not at my failure, but—why?! Just why was it that everyone and their mom were after me?! The Zero Power Harmless Guy?! Are they sane!?

And, as far as I could read from their expression and body language, it wasn't like they're coordinating a targeted attack.

I mean, I get it! I was basically the bonus target that couldn't even retaliate. A-and, well... I did pompously declare «If anyone's itching to go, then come at me alone, or in a bunch! I will take them all!» to Katalina-san in the heat of the moment, so maybe I was reaping what I saw. Still, come on, they didn't have to be so passionate goddamn!

"Genome!"

In the cornered situation, I didn't bother with a long chant, and snapped my fingers, calling just the name of spirit, and commanded the Sandstorm to surge again.

Alas, I had already lost the headstart in escaping from this place. Kybaria was already sprinting in my direction. It's probably a game over for me. I was assured of that, when—*fwoosh.*

Lightning zapped out from the depth of the forest, and struck Kybaria-kun.

«Rosemieur: Kybaria Eliminated. Five Points to Yuglia.»

"......Huh?"

«......I am sorry, Coach, I didn't listen to your command. But... You know, maybe you should have expected this. You're more popular than you think, after all!»

Subsequently, I heard complaints from Purim-senpai coming from the depths of the forest.

"...Yes, I am sorry."

I sincerely apologised.