Chapter 63
—Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Graaagh!!”
I moved along the wall, guiding the incoming mana bullets into it.
“Casting Shield, Wide!”
—Bang!
And with the last shot, I spread the shield wide to defend.
“Oh. This student has quite the talent. To withstand that attack from Karnarov with hardly any mana expenditure...”
“Wasn't it Student Yumia last time, too, with the werewolf?”
“A commoner is a bit... but if you raise them properly...”
I could hear the professors talking in the spectator stands.
I steadied my stance.
“Casting, Shield.”
'Haa.'
Calm down.
I drew out my mana and deployed the strongest shield I could manage.
This was an exam, yes, but it was still a combat action.
If I got too heated, that would be my downfall.
You can bring up to three artifacts, not counting your wand.
That’s why I brought three extra wands, one sword, one potion, and one artifact.
“Casting Bullet, Penta!”
Mana bullets shot from my wand toward Karnarov.
Right now, I could pour out everything I had.
Even if it meant breaking every wand I owned.
I’d knock that arrogant look off Karnarov’s face.
'Compression.'
Trusting in my talent.
I copied exactly what Karnarov did.
Compressing a terrifying amount of mana into each mana bullet.
I fired.
“Casting, Shield, Triple.”
With the sound of breaking glass, the shield shattered into pieces.
But it caused no damage whatsoever.
“Not bad.”
It wasn’t a full-power attack, but to block it that easily...
Karnarov rushed in at terrifying speed.
Once each of us confirmed the other was within range, we cast our spells.
“Casting Bullet, Penta, Penny!”
“Casting, Bullet, Triple, Penny.”
Our piercing formulas crossed.
But neither of us was hit.
Neither of us stopped chanting.
And trusting my battle vision enhanced by Dragon Eyes, I dodged the attacks he fired.
Meanwhile, Karnarov used a fully deployed shield like a buckler, letting every mana bullet slide off.
Unlike before, he didn’t use any powerful attacks.
So that’s what they meant by changing the pattern!
Even in my 30-second fight with Linia, there had been that same kind of heavy finishing blow at the end.
Karnarov had used it from the start.
Or so I thought.
“Casting, Bullet, Penny, Square.”
“Ungh!”
A much faster and stronger mana bullet slipped through the backup shield I’d deployed.
Dragon mana gathered in my eyes, revealing my ferociously slit pupils.
I barely managed to dodge it.
But a crisis is an opportunity.
Before the mana bullet even lodged in the wall, I pulled out a spare wand.
“Casting, Bullet.”
Red mana flowed along my arm.
That mana, hot as blood, raced through the air as if it would burn the wand.
—RIIIIIP!!
It tore through Karnarov’s uniform and buckler.
And left a long gash.
“Oh, a compressed breath attack!”
Karnarov said in an admiring voice.
“So you really did have a hidden card.”
A little red blood trickled from Karnarov’s arm.
Just as I thought.
That counts as a valid hit.
If Karnarov hadn’t instinctively realized it was an unavoidable technique and dodged,
or if my wand had been a little better,
I could’ve landed a hit.
“Don’t look down on me.”
“My apologies.”
We traded hollow smiles.
And then collided head-on.
Our chants crossed, and a meticulous battle of wits unfolded.
The cards each of us could use were limited.
I was saving my cards for after the 30-second mark, while Karnarov had to stick to the rules for the first 30 seconds.
Also, Karnarov wasn’t pouring any more power into me than he had against Linia.
But.
I couldn’t stop the corners of my mouth from lifting.
“Heh.”
This is fun.
How long has it been since I last met an opponent I could go all out against like this?
I was almost losing myself in it.
Thanks to that.
I nearly forgot that thirty seconds had passed.
Mana concentrated in Karnarov’s legs.
And then.
At a speed even Dragon Eyes thought was fast, Karnarov’s kick dropped right in front of me.
“You crazy bastard! This is a magic duel!”
“Body enhancement is basic common sense for a mage.”
I somehow managed to draw my sword and block it.
But before the shock had even faded.
“Casting, Bullet, Explode, Deca.”
Mana bullets far more powerful than before poured down.
A spell far stronger than the first attack.
“Casting, Shield, Octa!!”
—KWAAAANG!!!
The real attack came flying in immediately.
[Wind Ride]
I somehow dodged the direct hit and cast a defensive spell to block it.
Thankfully, the defensive artifact didn’t activate.
It was supposed to trigger when the user was in danger—did that include my increased durability, too!
“You held out splendidly for 30 seconds, but.”
Karnarov raised his wand.
“To score any higher than that, wouldn’t you have to show something beyond unique magic?”
Damn it.
It had only been five seconds since the 30-second mark, and half my mana was already gone.
So that’s the mana density of a professor... no, higher!
How many elixirs would I have to chug to reach that level using only basic magic!
And... how much more training would I need!?
Karnarov didn’t give me a chance to breathe.
“Casting, Bullet, Penta, Guide, Penny, Explode.”
A six-part incantation, packing in guidance, penetration, and even an explosion formula without holding back.
I somehow deployed a mana shield to block it.
And tried to counterattack.
“Casting, Bullet, Deca, Guide, Explode, Delay.”
Damn it.
I’d better dodge.
Delay.
I had thought it was a useless formula that just inserted a delay before firing the mana bullet, but...
—KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!!!
Who the hell uses that kind of thing like that!!
The mana bullet lingered beside Karnarov, then flew at me in the worst possible way at the worst possible timing.
—KWAANG!!
“Aaaagh!! Wind Ride!!”
I tried to run and dodge with Wind Ride, but...
“Gyaaagh!!”
In the end, I was blown away without even managing to deploy the shield.
Haa, haa...
Damn it.
I have to pour everything I have into this now.
If I take a few more hits here, the shield will activate.
If I can’t hold out like this, it’ll just be my money going down the drain!!
Still, a little time had passed.
If I go all out like this...!
“Leokan!”
[Great Warrior’s Token (UR)]
The last artifact I brought.
Leokan’s summoning token.
[The Chain Breaker answers your call! Manifestation time 15 seconds, replication rate 2%!!]
“Take him down!!”
“Yes!!”
Leokan charged at Karnarov with his cross sword.
Leokan, now twice as strong thanks to my increased mana!
15 seconds, and even with a high-grade potion, 55 seconds is plenty!!
Karnarov should be the one getting nervous!
Even if he could pour mana into defense all he wanted, this would hurt a bit...
“Oh, a summoning spell. And you even carry divine power. Interesting.”
Not nervous, huh?
Karnarov’s figure blurred and vanished.
—KWAANG!!
An unbelievable sight unfolded before my eyes.
Karnarov’s kick sent Leokan flying.
“Casting, Bullet, Hecto.”
A tremendous amount of mana bullets burst from the wand.
Most of them struck Leokan.
[Severe damage to the Chain Breaker, Leokan! Heroic Spirit Leokan returns to the Great Warrior’s Token!]
“His body is big, so it’s easy to hit.”
I threw up a shield and blocked the mana bullets coming at me as suppressive fire.
I said blankly, watching him turn to dust and disappear.
“…Leokan?”
That useless bastard!!
“Only 18 seconds left until 55 seconds!!”
The referee shouted.
I was in tatters, while Karnarov was still full of energy.
Expressionless... no.
A blank expression a little different from his usual one—a look of interest.
The professor’s gaze, as if wondering what I’d bring out next, was no ordinary one.
He wasn’t even treating me as an enemy.
Mana gathered in Karnarov’s wand.
Even if I dodged that, the next attack would finish me.
If possible, I wanted to hold out until 60 seconds, but should I use everything I’d saved here?
...Wait.
He doesn’t see me as an enemy?
“Heh.”
A smile bloomed at the corners of my mouth.
The chance is... not zero.
If I pulled this off.
I might even be able to beat Karnarov while preserving my mana.
I kicked off the ground.
[Wind Ride]
The wind opened a path for me.
I didn’t even drink the potion.
Then it’s hand-to-hand combat.
I swung my sword.
—Clang!
No chance.
It was blocked by the basic shield Karnarov had put up.
“Casting, Bullet.”
—Wheeeee!!
From the spare wand, a red mana bullet burst forth.
Useless.
Karnarov dodged the red mana bullet.
Then he tried to block my sword with the mana shield he had deployed.
“Bet you didn’t see this coming!”
A blue aura blazed.
—KRAAASH!!
It shattered the mana shield.
“Oh?”
[Wind Ride]
And then.
My outstretched fingertips shot forward.
made contact with Karnarov’s solar plexus.
“Checkmate.”
In a low voice, Karnarov’s body vanished into my inventory.
A living being with no hostility.
That included Karnarov as well.
“Please stay there for a moment.”
About three seconds passed like that.
Only silence hung over the arena.
The stands and waiting area began to stir.
“W-what happened!?”
“The professor... disappeared!?”
“What, Yumia won!?”
A little later, the crowd began predicting my victory.
“55 seconds have passed!”
“If five more seconds pass...”
The referee must have been speaking with a sour expression.
“Let me teach you something.”
If Karnarov’s solemn voice hadn’t boomed out...
“Oz Caster, Clipping.”
I heard the spell being chanted.
I thought my heart had stopped.
Because Karnarov, who should have been in my inventory, was standing ten paces directly ahead of me.
I reflexively looked up at Karnarov.
Mana dense enough to make my skin tremble.
The skill to control it perfectly.
And the oppressive presence that overwhelms all living things.
“Remember this. It isn’t over until it’s over.”
The fully unleashed Karnarov stood before me.