I’ll step forward with Mastema.
Victor’s blessing has already activated.
Thanks to Victor’s enhancement, the effects of the blessing have greatly improved.
“We’ll fight as three. Any objections?”
“None. Whether it’s one-on-one or three-on-one, it’s all the same.”
Not exactly what you’d expect from a mage, but that’s just how this guy is.
Neither our forces nor theirs are moving. They might be stunned by the previous scene.
“Let’s get started.”
“Yeah.”
At my signal to Sepia, I launch a massive ice chunk at Kasugal—the same one I had once used on Sena. This spell is typically intended for army targets, not individuals.
But Kasugal doesn’t even glance at it, his eyes fixed on me.
As the ice chunk nears him, it begins melting from the tip. Kasugal has created a fire barrier around him.
The closer it gets, the faster it melts. By the time it reaches him, it’s turned back to water, evaporating on contact.
“What the hell! That’s ridiculous!” Sepia’s voice cries out from above. She must’ve had quite a bit of confidence in that spell.
But for me, it’s within expectations. I told Sepia to use water-based magic to avoid drawing any fire around Kasugal.
I ready the Heavenly Sword, while Mastema forms a scythe from black flames and takes hold of it.
“You’ve found yourself a fine mage as an ally.”
“Yeah, she’s been useful after all the twists and turns that brought her here.”
“Unlike me, who can only use fire properly.”
Kasugal raises his left arm, and a massive fiery arm appears above him.
Sepia launches water magic repeatedly in an attempt to interfere, but the fiery arm grows faster than she can disrupt it.
Her interference is working, though; without it, he would’ve completed it instantly.
“Agni’s Left Arm!”
Kasugal shouts the spell name, and the fiery arm moves—a spell he’s especially skilled with.
The autonomous fire-arm targets Mastema, charging straight toward her.
“So, I’m the target?”
Mastema mutters, then blocks Agni’s Left Arm with her scythe. The fiery arm regenerates as long as Kasugal’s magic power lasts, making it ideal for stalling. It was useful as a temporary frontline when we formed a party.
Even Mastema won’t be able to shake it off immediately.
“Agni’s Right Arm!”
Where there’s a left arm, there’s a right one too. A bit faster this time, a fiery right arm manifests and lunges at Sepia, who’s been holding Kasugal back with water spells from a distance.
“Something’s coming at me! Ah, it’s chasing me!”
I hear Sepia’s panicked scream, but I ignore it. She may be young, but she’s also an advanced mage.
She should be able to handle… at least that much.
While Sepia focuses on firing water magic at Agni’s Right Arm, I press forward, holding the Heavenly Sword in my right hand and the Thunder Sword in my left.
“Let’s go.”
“Come on!”
With a flash of purple lightning, the Thunder Sword accelerates me, faster than Kasugal’s eyes can track.
In an instant, I’m behind him, raising my sword to strike.
But I’m blocked by a fiery barrier. Back when we were allies, this barrier protected me, but now that we’re enemies, I realize just how troublesome it is.
A regular person would be burned alive before even reaching Kasugal.
The melting of Sepia’s ice chunk makes sense now.
With Victor’s blessing and in fireproof gear, I barely manage to push through.
I swing both the Thunder Sword and Heavenly Sword toward Kasugal. However, before they can reach him, a gust of flame knocks me back.
“Damn.”
I click my tongue reflexively. But seeing Kasugal aiming at me, I refocus.
“Fire Cannon.”
It’s the fire spell I’ve seen most often. Simple, yet deadly: condense fire and shoot it at the enemy.
The fire glows white, like the flames of my own Fire Sword. I raise the Heavenly Sword and slice through the Fire Cannon.
Although I manage to deflect it, I feel an intense impact.
<It’s scorching.>
“Endure it.”
I silence Victor’s complaint. The Heavenly Sword, made from the finest materials with an angelic core, is arguably the best sword in existence.
But even it wouldn’t withstand prolonged contact with Kasugal’s fire without protesting.
Charging the Thunder Sword with magic, I hurl a bolt of lightning at Kasugal. It collides with another Fire Cannon, triggering a blast.
“So, you’ve truly become a mage.”
“Though the academy was destroyed before I could graduate.”
“Is that so? Tell me about it later.”
I chuckle at the casual conversation amidst combat. He’s probably doing the same.
In a way, this might be the best form of communication we can manage now. We’re both hopelessly awkward.
I remember how Renatishia used to tease us for it.
This time, to avoid being knocked back, I sheathe the Heavenly Sword, grab the Thunder Sword with both hands, and take a stance for a thrust.
The Thunder Sword isn’t as durable as the Heavenly Sword. Normally, it’s fine for regular use.
But if I don’t accept that I might destroy this valuable magic sword I spent a fortune on, I can’t fight him seriously.
Shrouded in purple lightning, I thrust the Thunder Sword straight toward Kasugal.
The bolt pierces the fire barrier, reaching Kasugal—but before it hits, it’s deflected.
Kasugal has condensed fire to form a sword, using it to parry my Thunder Sword.
When it comes to fire, he’s damn skillful.
In terms of swordsmanship, I have the upper hand. And in strength too.
Even with his power enhanced within his barrier, I gradually corner him with each clash of our blades.
The Thunder Sword’s blade begins to turn red—probably due to Kasugal’s flaming sword.
Still, I keep pressing, managing to nick Kasugal’s right shoulder. I aimed for his heart, but a gust of flame threw me off.
He retaliates with a Fire Cannon in front of me, and while I block it with the Thunder Sword, the distance between us widens again.
Compared to the start, the air is thick with fiery energy. Not good. The field is getting overrun by fire.
Mastema finally finishes off Agni’s Left Arm and heads toward us. Sepia… still seems tied up. I’d hoped she could disperse some of the fire’s influence. My magic has no effect on it.
“You really are strong, aren’t you?”
Kasugal runs his left hand over the wound on his right arm, and the bleeding stops.
Now, the real battle begins.
