Mentee Magic Duel (6)

Before the duel began, in the waiting room of the arena. Katrin and Ibel. The room, with only the two of them left, was shrouded in silence.

In the mentee magic duel, mentors were indispensable. This setup allowed them to watch their mentees' matches up close. Most mentors would shake hands and wish for a good fight, but that depended on the opponent.

Ibel and Katrin were near-enemies, rivals at each other's throats. Ibel had claimed the top spot in first year, and Katrin now held the top position in second year. They vied fiercely for first and second place by the slimmest margins, and their relationship was anything but friendly.

Katrin looked at Ibel with a smug expression. Ibel stared back at Kyle with half-lidded eyes.

"Ibel, you seem pretty confident."

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was baffling what gave her the nerve to doze off in front of her own mentee. Just from the rumors, one could tell that Luin had put on a show rivaling Siel's in every match. The mana enhancer Katrin had bought at great expense had proven quite effective. Luin hadn't been that strong originally—it was her guidance that had elevated him.

Katrin was absolutely certain Luin would crush Kyle.

"Can't you be quiet? I'm tired."

But Ibel had no energy to respond. She was tired. Deep down, she hoped Kyle would win, but unlike Katrin, she wasn't obsessed with victory or defeat. Over the past week, Kyle had grown tremendously. He'd even posted decent results in the current mentee magic duel. It was hard to believe this came from someone who'd been dead last in the magic department just a month ago.

So, that was enough. Even if Kyle lost, she wouldn't mind. Grades could be made up with written exams and practicals. What impressed her was that Kyle had actually kept up with her lessons properly.

Haa, I've got so much to do after this duel ends.

Ibel worried about the aftermath. She had no idea when she'd finish everything. The magic beast practical combat had been manageable since it was done in groups. But this time, every student got individual scores.

"Four times the work…."

Ibel sighed and looked ahead. Kyle and Luin were chatting. The duel must have started. Ibel focused on the match. She couldn't exactly skip watching Kyle's fight, after all.

"What…? What's that?"

But in an instant, Ibel's drowsiness vanished. Dozens of red magic circles began floating in the air. She analyzed their circuits. They were all mid-level spells… Even Siel couldn't pull that off. It was impossible.

The moment that thought hit her, Ibel whipped her head toward Katrin and yelled.

"Katrin—! What did you do?! You've been acting suspicious lately—cheating now?! You think that's acceptable?!"

It was inconceivable unless Katrin had pulled some trick on Luin. Ibel was ready to grill her, but Katrin wasn't even looking at her. She looked shocked instead.

"Katrin…?"

"Luin? What the hell is going on…?"

Katrin gaped at Luin. She was his mentor and knew his capabilities well. Luin couldn't deploy mid-level magic simultaneously like that, all at once. Not even with enhancers. It was impossible.

"Katrin…! You've really gone too far…!"

"Ah, n-no, I didn't do anything! Really! I just gave him the mana enhancer!"

"You call that nothing?!"

As Ibel and Katrin began arguing, sensing something was wrong—psshhk—!

A bullet infused with a thousand mana fired off. It pierced Luin's barrier and struck his abdomen. Luin staggered briefly, but took no major damage. Kyle swallowed his disappointment.

"Insight still won't trigger, huh."

In that case, he'd have to buy time with magic and daggers. Decision made, Kyle leaped into the inferno.

Act 1, Scene 3. The mid-boss fight against Luin is straightforward. The player can't win physically against Luin. The Luin currently unleashing a barrage of magic is nearly on par with Siel. No matter how much health you chip away, he recovers quickly, and he spams mid-level spells with near-zero cast time.

The player will feel the unfairness, but the solution lies elsewhere.

From the start…!

Just don't fight back…!

Real damage starts landing on Luin only in phase 2, when horns sprout from his head and his demonization fully kicks in. The player just has to wait. Minimize unnecessary mana drain until he demonizes, dodge his spells—focus on movement and parrying.

Opposing Luin means destabilizing him, so the more you dodge his magic, the faster the countdown drops. Getting hit extends the time you have to endure.

"Let's see how far you get! Burn to ashes!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

That's why I chose to close into Luin's range. A mage's weakness is close quarters. If the opponent keeps distance, they only worry about the front. But when a knight or rogue sticks, every direction—up, down, left, right—becomes a threat zone.

Mages who yield close range usually predict positions and cast accordingly, but Luin was unpredictable.

"Guh, get away!"

He smashed fireballs at my ever-shifting position. Then, in a flash, flames erupted from the ground with Luin at the center.

Whoooosh—!

This is dangerous.

I immediately launched myself upward with a gust. Spun once, then landed at an angle. But flames surged again from that spot. I deployed a basic barrier, but my skin still scorched.

Sizzle—.

"Urgh—."

The gap between basic and mid-level magic was like heaven and earth. Blocking his mid-tier spells with a basic barrier was impossible. Hopefully, this bought some time. Still, it was fine. Unlike the player who just had to shut up and dodge, I had a mouth.

"Fitting for demonic power."

"Wh-what nonsense about demonic power?! This is my power…!"

"We both know it's not. You're contracted to a demon, right? Even getting into Artina Academy was thanks to that demon, wasn't it?"

"Sh-shut your mouth!"

Verbal damage, as expected. Luin's state grew even more unstable.

"I'll kill you!"

Luin floated dozens of red magic circles on his back. He was finally rampaging. If left alone, phase 2 would kick in for real. Sorry, Luin, but once phase 2 hit, I'd end it immediately. When his race changes to demon, extra damage applies.

So, just endure until then. I charged at Luin.

"Turn to ash!!"

Fire pillars swept the arena. Countless fireballs chased me, and hellish flames randomly erupted from the ground like the apocalypse.

From here, I couldn't visually distinguish every attack. Dodging was impossible. In the end, I released a portion of Clairvoyance.

The vision of an absolute being unfolded. Mana flows, magic circuit structures. Flame trajectories, demonic energy exposure from Luin's rampage. It all melted into my brain via my optic nerves.

Now, I could do it. I gripped the mana-infused dagger.

I analyzed the core circuits of the oncoming fireballs and slashed them.

Slash—

"One."

No explosion as there should have been. The fireball crumbled into mana ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠residue. This was magic dispel.

Once successful, the rest were easy. I slashed through the barrage while charging forward.

"Wh-what impossible nonsense—!"

Five. "M-my magic!" Ten. "Uwaaaaa—!" Twenty.

Luin freaked out and ramped up the number of spells, but I cleaved them all. With Clairvoyance evolved to Zuoguanwanshang, I could dispel every spell.

This is why I learned Enhancement Strike from Ibel.

It drained mana fast, so I couldn't keep it on constantly, but no better defense existed. Even unmanifested magic circles fizzled as I slashed them, until no more attacks came.

The scorching heat and scorch marks on the ground lingered vividly. Judging it over, I halted.

"That's it?"

I tossed the flag and eyed Luin. He no longer cast spells, just panting in place, exhausted.

Got him.

Just like in the original. He was being overtaken. The price of overusing demonic power.

Soon, demonic energy exploded, sweeping the arena.

Kwaaaaa—!

Horns sprouted from Luin's head, his green eyes turned red. A reddish barrier sealed off the arena inside and out. He stared at his grotesquely transformed hand. Then he spoke.

"I'll kill you…."

Having become a traitor, he had nothing left. Even I'd plan a quick kill and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠escape from the Magic Tower.

"Sure."

But he didn't know.

"Give it a shot."

How much I'd awaited this moment alone with him. I aimed down the sights at Luin.

Now, only the hunter and the prey remained in this place. I figured it wouldn't reach phase 3.