The Golem Mage Chapter 1082: Domination Match 2.

[Note: In the previous chapter, I mistakenly mentioned Knight. My apologies for the confusion. I will correct this in the revision. I’m leaving this note here in case the earlier section hasn’t been updated yet.]

A sharp ping reverberated across the battlefield, and they swiftly realized the invisible force that had pinned them in place had abruptly vanished.

“Go now!” Alec barked the order at once, noticing his teammates frozen for a brief instant; without a second thought, he surged ahead first.

His comrades raced after him at full tilt, and within moments, they arrived at the nearest rune point, leaping over shattered ruins and strewn boulders with their agile techniques until they stood before a hoop of white light hovering inches above the earth.

A radiant beam pierced upward from the circle's heart—this marked the southern rune, the initial key point Alec aimed to seize.

“Brandon, Endrick—this is your stop.” Alec called out while pressing on without slackening his pace.

Lucas and Pale trailed him briefly before veering away, as Alec barreled toward the central rune, whereas they rushed to claim the eastern one without delay.

As the teams diverged, Alec shifted course and bolted toward the battlefield's core, the terrain's layout still vividly etched in his memory from before, allowing him smooth passage through the chaos to pinpoint his target swiftly.

He soon reached a level stone platform suspended just off the ground. Without pause, Alec flexed his knees before pouring power into his legs; a surge of violet energy flared around him as he rocketed skyward.

He touched down smack in the rune circle's midst, triggering a ten-second timer hovering right over his head. Inside the rune, he distinctly heard the deep, pulsing hum from the formation stirring to life underfoot, sparked by his attempt to claim it.

In that instant, he scanned the surroundings then gazed skyward; the rune below glowed with a subtle crimson light, revealing to him that red was his team's color for this clash.

Glancing at the overhead projection array, he saw their first entered rune fully secured already.

The second neared its finish, but the central one where he stood lagged farthest behind in capture.

By then, his squad had racked up four points, against Bloodline Academy's mere two.

Alec gauged this all from the enormous projection array looming over the battlefield.

Beneath the scores floated five pentagonal icons for the rune points; at match start, all shone white. Now, one gleamed fully blue, another half-shrouded in blue.

The other three bathed in red tones: one solid red, the next almost done, the last filling toward halfway.

This array let Alec track the battle's progress live; their edge stemmed from his push to charge right at kickoff, snagging those vital early seconds.

He figured Bloodline Academy had advanced more warily initially, but with surprise lost, they'd soon grasp the setup—after all, claiming a rune made the interface obvious.

_ _

# A few seconds earlier — Bloodline Academy’s side

From Damien's vantage, he peered up at the projection array, verifying his hunch on the battle's mechanics was spot on.

Yet one issue stood out: War God Mage Academy had snatched the opening lead.

“Carmilla, I’ll be back. Stay here until it’s fully dominated. Once it is, head straight for the middle,” Damien instructed before crimson wings erupted from his back; with mighty flaps, he shot into the sky at blistering speed.

Carmilla appeared to have queries, but his swift departure left no room for words. As Damien streaked through the air, he mentally linked to Dragov.

“Start heading to the center zone quickly. The War God team must have moved out early to capture it and gain the advantage from the start.”

Dragov, already trotting toward the battlefield's heart, received the message and crouched low before vaulting high.

He landed atop a towering, ancient stone pillar. Perched there, he gazed forward and witnessed the central rune's beam shift fully red.

Then the telltale ping rang out across the field, announcing a rune claimed.

Dragov checked the projection array: of the five white pentagons, three now blazed red. The board showed Red Team at 14 points, Blue Team—his—at just 6.

Strategy wasn't Dragov's forte, but he knew plainly: victory demanded seizing the central rune or one of the two nearer to War God Mages' spawn.

He was ready to grab it however needed; effortlessly, he locked onto Damien, trailing a red blur toward the central rune.

Bang!

Instantly, Dragov blasted off the pillar into the air, his launch whipping his uniform wildly in the gusts. Even as the propulsive boom ebbed, his momentum held.

Rather, he pressed on, soaring just behind Damien, both zeroed in on the central rune point.