I quickly opened the system again. Ten mana. Then eleven. Eh, good. Mana regeneration existed, but it was painfully slow.
I turned around just in time to see Ken sprawled across the dirt while trying to crawl backward away from Lenik.
Unfortunately, Lenik moved faster. The mage extended one hand calmly, and a fireball burst from his palm toward Ken. The spell struck him directly in the side.
"Ken is down!" Professor Veyra announced.
"Oh, man," Ken groaned while lying flat on the dirt. "Yeah, I'm definitely down. Crap."
I got distracted for half a second. That was enough.
Tobias slammed into my back with his massive shield before I could react.
The impact launched me across the arena floor. I rolled violently through the dirt until my back crashed directly against the golden barrier surrounding the arena.
Pain exploded across my spine instantly.
The shield itself was not made from wood like the weapons. So it hurt like hell.
