Rising of the Weakest Mage

Vol 7/Ch 66 - The Self Proclaimed Rival

Concentrate, Allen thought. I need to do everything I can to improve on my mana use.

Allen decided he would take some time to train before his upcoming duel against Charles, his "Self Proclaimed Rival", later today. He needed to do everything he could to prepare himself to win against Charles.

While Allen may have won really quick the first time he dueled against him in the academy entrance exam, this isn't to say that he will completely win against him now. Who knows what Charles may be capable of now? Allen never wants to underestimate any opponent. After all, that was one of the things William taught him.

"It's very important that you do not underestimate your opponent, ever," William had advised him one day in the morning of one of their training sessions, back when Allen was still young. "You may not know what your opponent is capable of, and they can sweep the rug from under you. Respect your opponent, and defeat them with all you have"

Allen has always taken Williams' teachings to heart, making sure to follow them as best as he can. William was the strongest mage Allen knows, even to today.

Luckily it was not required for preliminary attendees to participate in their classes, so Allen had been spending all the time he could training away in the training room, which just so happened to be where their preliminaries have been held.

He thought back to when he had trained with Rose for the first time, before his duel against Nathaniel Rivertide. She had told him before that the training room where the preliminaries would be held, and she was right.

"Hey, you'll do just fine," a familiar voice came from behind, putting Allen out of his thoughts.

"Oh, it's you Tom," Allen smiled at him.

"What? Did you already forget we've been training with you in here since the beginning?," Thomas laughed.

"He's probably been wrapped up in his thoughts about his duel against Charles coming up," Cecily advised, walking up from the behind of both of them.

"True Lily, but I won my duel easily! I'm sure that if Allen is going up against Charles, he won't break a sweat!"

"Perhaps, but you have to remember that even Charles is not a fool. He's probably been training just like we have been," Cecily reminded him.

"Right. If only half this academy's students trained as much as we did," Thomas rolled his eyes.

"Wouldn't that mean you'd have less of a chance to win in the tournament?," Cecily tilted her head, giving him a look.

"Maybe, but maybe then there would be less class time and more training- ow!"

"Learn your lesson already," Cecily narrowed her eyes after smacking him on the head.

As the two of them continued to bicker, Allen decided to continue his training.

"The next preliminary duel has finally arrived!," Misa announced, hyping up the crowd. "And today's first preliminary match will be between Allen Fleming and Charles Rivertide!"

The time is here, Allen thought, as he prepared himself. My duel against Charles.

Both of them were already on the arena floor, seconds away from their duel beginning. Both of them were eager, as this was the first official duel against each other ever since the entrance exam duels months ago.

"Alright my rival!," Charles shouted, pointing a finger at him. "This time, I will definitely defeat you, and make things even between us! I have been training for this very moment!"