The Extra's Rise-Chapter 332: Miasma Purification Challenge

The grand arena of the Academy Festival buzzed with anticipation as sixty students from the six prestigious academies prepared for the Miasma Purification Challenge. This individual event was a highlight of the festival, testing each participant's ability to purify blocks of miasma using their own mana to counter its elemental forces. Points were awarded based on the size and difficulty of the purified blocks, and with miasma sharing the same elemental properties as mana, success demanded both skill and strategy.

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Among the White-rankers, the highest tier of students, three figures stood out: Aria Gu, a fire mage from the Eastern continent; Elara Leopold, a versatile support mage from Slatemark Academy; and Rachel Creighton, a light magic prodigy from Mythos Academy, whose prowess marked her as the future saintess.

As the starting horn reverberated through the arena, the students sprang into action, scattering across the vast field where miasma blocks awaited within glowing crystals. Each crystal pulsed with dark energy, its color revealing its elemental alignment: crimson for fire, azure for water, verdant for wind, and so on. The challenge was clear—purify as many blocks as possible within the time limit by countering the miasma's elemental nature with opposing mana. For most, this meant targeting blocks their magic could efficiently neutralize, but for a select few, the rules bent in their favor.

Aria Gu, her crimson robes fluttering in the wind, wasted no time. As a fire mage hailing from the Eastern continent, she thrived on intensity and precision. Her sharp eyes locked onto a cluster of green-tinted crystals—wind-aligned miasma, vulnerable to her flames. She approached the first block, her hand outstretched, and summoned a torrent of fire mana. The crystal flared as the miasma within writhed, resisting for a moment before succumbing to the heat. With a sharp crack, the crystal shattered, the miasma dissipating in a wisp of smoke. One point earned.

"Too easy," Aria muttered, a smirk tugging at her lips as she moved to the next green block. Her strategy was straightforward—seek out wind and ice miasma, both weak to fire, and rack up points quickly. She darted across the field, her flames leaving a trail of shattered crystals in her wake. The early minutes favored her, her aggressive approach earning her a solid lead as she purified small and medium blocks with ruthless efficiency.

Elara Leopold, by contrast, took a more measured approach. Known for her support magic, she lacked the raw destructive power of specialists like Aria but compensated with versatility. Her silver hair glinted under the sunlight as she approached an azure water-aligned block. Water miasma called for an earth counter, and Elara's mana shifted seamlessly, mimicking the grounding force of soil. She channeled her spell with calm focus, the miasma resisting her efforts at first. Slowly, the dark energy began to fade, and after a tense minute, the crystal cracked apart, granting her three points for the medium-sized block.

Elara exhaled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Steady wins the race," she told herself, moving to her next target. Her strength lay in adaptability—she could purify any elemental type, though not as swiftly as those with specialized mana. She methodically worked through a mix of small and medium blocks, her points accumulating at a consistent pace. While others raced ahead, Elara's patience ensured she wouldn't falter as the challenge grew tougher.

Then there was Rachel Creighton, a vision of grace and power. Her light magic, a rare gift that set her apart even among White-rankers, glowed softly around her hands as she glided through the arena. Unlike her peers, Rachel didn't need to match elements—light was the ultimate purifier, capable of cleansing any miasma with equal potency. She targeted a large crimson block, its fire-aligned miasma pulsing menacingly. With a gentle touch, her radiant mana enveloped the crystal. The miasma didn't stand a chance; it dissolved in seconds, the crystal shattering with a melodic chime. Five points, effortlessly claimed.

Rachel's golden hair shimmered as she moved, her expression serene yet determined. She was in a league of her own, her light magic a perfect fit for the challenge. Where others struggled with counters, Rachel flowed from block to block, purifying small, medium, and large crystals with the same ease. As the future saintess, she carried an air of inevitability, her dominance unfolding before the awestruck crowd.

Halfway through the event, the arena's landscape shifted. The smaller, easier blocks had largely been purified, leaving behind medium and large crystals that demanded greater effort. Aria found herself facing a row of yellow earth-aligned blocks, their sturdy nature a poor match for her fire magic. She gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior.

"This is going to take forever," she growled, channeling a burst of flames into one of the crystals. The miasma resisted, forcing her to pour more mana into the spell. After a grueling minute, the crystal finally broke, but the effort left her panting. Glancing around, she spotted a few remaining green blocks across the field and sprinted toward them, determined to reclaim her momentum.

Elara, meanwhile, maintained her rhythm. She'd amassed a respectable score by sticking to her strategy, but now she faced a choice—a large water-aligned block loomed ahead, its five-point promise tempting her. She took a deep breath and began weaving a complex spell, blending earth and lightning mana to counter the miasma's fluid energy. The process was slow, the dense corruption pushing back against her efforts, but Elara's focus never wavered. When the crystal finally shattered, she smiled faintly, the reward worth the strain.

Rachel's advantage only grew as the challenge progressed. The larger blocks, which intimidated others with their intensity, were no obstacle to her. She approached a massive violet block—air-aligned miasma, notoriously difficult to pin down—and unleashed a wave of light mana. The crystal glowed brilliantly before bursting apart, its five points added to her tally without breaking her stride. The crowd murmured in awe, her performance a spectacle of skill and power.

As the final minutes approached, all eyes turned to the center of the arena, where three corrupted core blocks stood. These swirling masses of dark energy, each worth ten points, were the ultimate test of a mage's ability. Aria, Elara, and Rachel converged on the area, joined by a handful of other determined students.

Aria reached the first core, her fire mana blazing as she attacked the miasma. The corruption was thick, resisting her flames with stubborn ferocity. She poured more power into her spell, sweat beading on her forehead, but the purification crawled along, each second ticking away her chances.

Elara chose the second core, her support magic adapting to the task. She conjured a multi-layered spell, combining elements to chip away at the miasma. It was effective, but agonizingly slow, her steady approach stretched to its limits by the core's complexity.

Rachel stepped up to the third core, her light magic flaring with radiant intensity. She placed both hands on the crystal, and a blinding flash erupted, the miasma dissolving in an instant. The crystal shattered with a thunderous crack, ten points secured. Without pausing, she turned to Aria's core, her voice cutting through the tension.

"Let me help," she said, her tone warm but firm.

Aria blinked, caught off guard. "You don't have to—"

Before she could finish, Rachel touched the crystal, and another flash of light purified it completely. The core broke apart, its points technically Aria's, though Rachel's intervention was undeniable.

"Thanks," Aria said, a mix of gratitude and rivalry in her voice. "But I'm not done fighting yet."

Rachel smiled. "I'd expect nothing less."

With the corrupted cores vanquished, the last few blocks were purified in a frantic rush, and the horn sounded, signaling the end. The students gathered at the center, breathless and eager, as the announcer tallied the scores.

"In first place, the future Saintess, Rachel Creighton of Mythos Academy!" the voice boomed.

The crowd erupted, cheering as Rachel stepped forward, her face glowing with pride. Her light magic had allowed her to purify more blocks—and the toughest ones—than anyone else, her score towering over the competition.

"In second place, Elara Leopold of Slatemark Academy."

Elara nodded, satisfied. She hadn't matched Rachel's brilliance, but her consistency had carried her far.

"And in third place, Aria Gu of the Eastern continent."