Wizards: Starting with Synthetic Gems

Chapter 487 Yunze Cup Award Ceremony

Two days later, as the Cloud Cup tournament organizing office's first-stage crystallization wizard Trix stood in the Cloud Cup award center, which was also the center of the Kalimura Frontier Town, holding a box in his hands.

Wizard Trix smiled at Locke and the others, as well as the teams of Wizard Edgar and Wizard Diana who were waiting beside them, and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, the Yunze Cup Tournament Committee has reached its conclusion."

"Based on the votes of 130 wizards of the level of wizard mentor or above from Yunze Wetland, we have decided on the following rankings: first, the top three, and third place is you, Diana the Witch."

Wizard Trix nodded to Witch Diana and opened the magic box. Inside lay three magnificent badges, all bluish-white in color, carved from a special gem called the "Spring Gem," each a magical artifact in itself.

Wizard Trix picked up a bronze-inlaid spring-water gem badge and handed it to Witch Diana. "Witch Diana, congratulations on winning third place in the Cloud Ze Cup. This is the badge representing your ranking. This badge itself is a magical artifact that can emit a botanical spell called [Tidal Growth]."

Diana the witch pursed her lips, took the badge representing the third place in the Yunze Cup from Wizard Trix with both hands, and looked at Locke. "I admit defeat this time."

"But the outcome may be different next time we meet."

Diana the Witch accepted the medal from the Yunze Cup on behalf of her team.

Wizard Trix turned to Wizard Edgar and handed him the runner-up badge inlaid with pure silver. "Congratulations, Wizard Edgar, you have won the runner-up title in the Cloud Ze Cup. This is also a magical artifact, which can be used once a day for [Tidal Growth]. All three medal artifacts—the champion, runner-up, and third place—are functionally identical."

Wizard Edgar snorted coldly, his expression unpleasant. He casually took the badge from Wizard Trix's hand, then held it in his own hand, examining it for a while. "Locke, people like us would never normally accept second place."

"The strong always get stronger. I've always been on the winning side. But this time, I can choose to accept the runner-up badge. But remember this: there won't be a next time. If we meet again in the future, who will win or lose is uncertain."

Meanwhile, Wizard Trix walked up to the group from Locke and the Six Towers. He glanced at the team and couldn't help but sigh. Before this, who could have believed that a team with no experience or connections from the Six Towers could win the most difficult Yunze Cup in history?

The basic warfare intensity of the Mekanis is already beyond what ordinary first-ring wizards can handle. Yet this first-ring liquefaction wizard from the Six Towers Land and the Southeast Corner Region has chased them into Cloud Lake, venturing into the depths of Cloud Lake, a place that even local wizards of Cloud Marsh Wetland would try to avoid.

Wizard Trix smiled amicably. "Congratulations, Mr. Locke, you have won the competition."

"The Yunze Cup has been held every three years for the past thirty years, and this year marks its tenth edition. This year's edition is definitely the most spectacular one yet. Your work has truly broadened my horizons; it's hard to believe that it came from the land of the Six Towers."

Locke nodded slightly in response.

Wizard Trix handed Locke the gold-inlaid Spring Water Gem badge, saying, "This is the badge representing the Cloud Ze Cup champion. I want to tell you that your championship this time is well-deserved."

A chorus of applause erupted from the podium, emanating from the first and second-circle wizards of Bonifacius University.

This area has been enchanted by special magic, so the people of Suryas cannot see the award stage or participate in the final award ceremony of the Yunze Cup.

Wizard Trix announced the remaining rankings of the Cloud Cup tournament committee.

After the announcement, Alaric was the happiest, overjoyed. "Fifth place? Great, exactly what I expected."

"Fifth place is already very good. I can brag about it for a while when I get back."

Wizard Alaric glanced at the aloof Diana and the unapproachable Edgar, then turned to Locke and said, "Locke, the golden-attribute botanical magic you displayed earlier was quite reminiscent of the wizards of our borderlands. As a member of the Golden Noble, I invite you to visit our Golden Dynasty in the future."

Locke nodded. "Yes, I'll go if I have the chance."

Wizard Alaric laughed and said, "I really gained a lot from participating in this competition. The Yunze Cup was a really exciting competition. I gave it my all, but I only managed to get fifth place."

Wizard Alaric gave Locke and the other wizards a wry smile. "This is one of the few things I've realized since becoming a first-ring crystallized wizard that's beyond my control. Even with all my strength, I can only manage fifth place." "But even so," Wizard Alaric maintained a good attitude, "it's hard to say who among us will become a second-ring wizard in the future."

"I don't know how many of the top ten in our Yunze Cup can become second-ring wizards, and how many will only be first-ring crystallization wizards for their entire lives, living mediocre, busy lives."

Spurred on by Alaric's emotions, the witch Diana nodded earnestly and said, "When I first entered the wizarding world, I encountered an irresponsible mentor who completely neglected us students, but in the end, I still managed to become a first-ring wizard through my own efforts."

Diana the witch said, "Therefore, I am absolutely certain that I will become a second-circle wizard."

"The Cloud Ze Cup has come to an end, and I will continue to strive to become a second-circle wizard."

Wizard Edgar scoffed dismissively. "After this competition, I will stay on Sunshadow Peninsula and enter a second-level secret realm."

It seems that Wizard Edgar has chosen to stay at the school. He comes from the laboratory of the top wizards in the Sunshadow Peninsula, and if he stays in the Sunshadow Peninsula, he can enjoy the best resources, so his choice is not surprising.

Locke nodded slightly to Alaric and said, "Perhaps when we meet again, we will find that some of us have become second-circle wizards."

Wizard Trix said to Locke, "Now, please welcome the champion to speak on behalf of his team..."

Locke had absolutely no idea about giving speeches on the awards stage, so he could only say a few words about how his team had gone through many twists and turns, how they had maintained the morale of their team members and overcome difficulties, and then he gave the opportunity to speak to the other wizards in his team.

Below the stage, a wizard nodded to him.

A second-circle wizard from Boniface University, sitting in the audience and nodding repeatedly, said to another second-circle wizard next to him, "Judging from his speech, he has the ability to be a leader of a team, which is a rather rare ability."

"Many wizards only focus on conducting experiments and neglect leading their teams and maintaining morale."

"Although this wizard Locke Augustine is still rather naive in his methods, he has the ability to take on the big picture and manage a team."

“Our Boniface University’s Institute of Breeding Knowledge needs this kind of talent. Let’s extend an invitation to him.”

Another second-ring wizard shook his head slightly, "He is the champion of this year's Yunze Cup, and he is very sought after. We may not be able to get a turn."

"How about we just give him a chaired lecturer position?"

The second-circle wizard from Boniface University immediately looked at his colleague with a surprised expression. "How is that possible? You know how difficult it is to obtain a chair wizard position at our university. For at least two hundred years, no wizard has been able to become a chair wizard at our university without going through the learning and growth at the Institute of True Knowledge."

“In the past, there were indeed some wizards who arrived early enough to skip the Institute of True Knowledge and join the workforce directly, but those days have changed as the overall magical tide level in the Eastern Frontier has increased.”

Another second-circle wizard, as if struck by a thought, wore a grave expression. "Hmm, I heard that some high-ranking officials in the Starfield Sea want to upgrade it to a high-magic region. I wonder if this news is true. If it is, then the entire Eastern Realm will be affected... our magical tides will become even stronger."

"The Three Swamps are extremely close to the Starfield Sea."

"If the Starfield Sea becomes a high-magic environment, the difficulty for the Three Swamps to become a high-magic region will be greatly reduced."

"No, it's not just about getting much smaller. Rather, the Three Swamps will, over time, become a high-magic region along with the Starfield Sea."

"I just don't know if this news is true."

(End of this chapter)