222 - Trinity "If You Don't Know, You Gotta Take the Hit, Right?"

Shin Yeon-ho let out a hollow laugh. "Yeah, if you don't know, you gotta take the hit. But you can dodge it too."

But giving up wasn't an option. Gritting his teeth, Yeon-ho poured mana into his wand.

"Of course."

Boom—! A massive beam of energy erupted. Twisting his body just in time, Yeon-ho burst through the debris.

Moving behind NoName, Shin Yeon-ho caught his breath and finished his casting prep.

"...!"

Before NoName could even turn her head, the spell she'd cast fired off belatedly.

"Haven't fired my shot yet."

She'd read his escape route perfectly. Blocking was out with his barrier, and dodging was too late. In a pinch, he instinctively drew the electromagnetic disruption formula he'd mastered since high school division.

The terror of habit.

But instinct warned him again. This can't be blocked.

'Did I mess up the disruption formula?' No way, but he trusted his gut. If he couldn't block it, he'd split it.

Yeon-ho abandoned the disruption and thrust his wand forward.

Zzzzt—! The wand connected to his body. A fierce crimson aura blazing with momentum cleaved the water stream in two.

"Water...?"

Cold droplets splashed his cheek. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠His barrier was a bit worn, but still holding. What worried him more was the wand that had taken a direct high-energy hit.

Twitching his brow, Shin Yeon-ho said, "That was a water-attribute spell just now?"

"You noticed quick."

"No way."

"That wand... it didn't break, did it?"

NoName pointed at his crude wand. Had she targeted it from the start? Clenching his right hand, the overloaded circuit formula barely stabilized.

"This is ridiculous."

Even with his battle sense, this was freakish. The adage to always predict the opponent's moves flashed in his mind.

'Easier said than done...' Attacks, movement, defense—three basics already spawned hundreds, thousands of variations.

Coincidence? He shook his head. No such thing. His eyes blazed. Aura cloaked his body as he dropped into a low stance. From now on, no more handing her the initiative.

Rumors said promising students got scouted by major clans before even graduating university. Shin Yeon-ho was one such talent.

Fwoosh—! Like a spear with a rocket engine strapped on, a long lance sliced through the air toward NoName.

She didn't block—it bounced off. But Raon's Spear, her unique magic, didn't end with one shot.

"Behind...!"

The light spear, thought pinned to the floor, vanished and shot from behind with fury. NoName pivoted her right foot as axis, tilting her body to the extreme. Right hand braced the floor to hold her torso, left leg sweeping a wide arc to deflect it.

Boom—! Before her skirt could flutter, the spear smashed into the wall and exploded.

Yeon-ho couldn't hide his awe at the acrobatic back kick. "Whoa... you study taekwondo or something? You deflected ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that?"

Raon's Spear I emerged infinitely from the target's shadow until it hit, a unique magic so refined that when he'd learned it from Raon partner mages, it felt like all his prior spell development was for nothing. Easy to counter in theory, but a spear popping from behind exposed any flaw.

Yet NoName's 360-degree spin regained perfect balance, solidifying her guard.

"Kaizen martial arts. Or call it capoeira-ish."

NoName panted as she replied. The wand had endured high-output energy. Phase one of her test: passed.

But another flaw: the thick, clumsy grip. It required constant iron grip to hold. Yeon-ho's large hands mitigated it somewhat, but still inadequate in her eyes.

'Let's see if you can keep hold without dropping it.'

NoName wiped sweat from her brow. Clenching both fists, steam rose. Rubbing her hands lightly, she grinned.

"Don't block. Better to dodge."

* * *

Whoosh—! A fist slicing air with sharp whoosh aimed at his gut. Had to block. Fist small as a baby's, but packed with vast aura—that was the issue.

Blocked by his arm, golden aura scattered, coating him. Hands slippery. He'd seen hot or cold aura manipulation, but slippery? First time.

Yeon-ho felt his wand might slip any second. He pulled back max as the next fist flew. Then a heel kick targeted his ankle to unbalance him.

Initially clunky, now NoName was fully warmed up.

'No fear'—that's her greatest talent. Feints to scare her? She didn't flinch. She knew a direct hit meant his loss.

Melee locked out spellcasting. Aura dogfight was his forte, but against an eight-year-old? Problem.

As the bout dragged, complaints rose from teammates afar.

"You try it yourselves...! This ain't... tch!"

No time for distractions. Unbalanced, merciless strikes poured on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yeon-ho. Resisting her heel kick briefly, a light shoulder push sapped his strength.

'This is dangerous...!'

NoName's flexible waist spun fast. Grabbing his right wrist with her other hand, she unleashed a full-power fist. Kaizen knights' special combat arts, clumsily recreated.

Thud—! A bomb exploded in his side. Half his particle barrier shaved off instantly.

"What power!" That kitty punch pierced steel?

Down on the floor, a fist flew at his head. Hackles rising, he ducked desperately.

'Dodged...!' Now's the chance.

The girl's body wobbled. Reclaiming initiative was priority. Her bizarre moves muddled his head, headache building. First, create distance, wipe slippery aura off wand, end it one shot.

Yeon-ho clenched teeth and sprang up. But tunnel vision? Staring floorward, he missed the massive magic circle overhead.

Minus the center, fierce winds whipped the entire arena. To disrupt his casting.

"You..."

"Gotta play with me. Where you going?"

Sealing direct hits himself? Most regrettable now. Distance? She follows. Now magic interference too—no counter came to mind.

'Cast up close?' Never tried. Recall nationals. Stubborn blind girl who stuck to aura unleashed devastating magic last second.

'Got it!'

Foom—! He thrust open palm forward fiercely. Slight delay, NoName flew meters back. Now in his spell range, Eye of the Storm should fade.

Or so he thought...

"Tired of holding back. Let's end it."

Hiding in gray opaque winds, she thrust a sharp blade at him. Reflex flinch—particle barrier chunked again.

The blade? Her wand's mini transmutation circle. A sword her height protruded from tip.

'What kinda function is that on a wand!'

Before protest, she slashed diagonally.

Shwick—! Slash, slice, then thrust. Aimed at his wand—his team's two-week sleepless masterpiece.

"No!"

Not that! His body aura hardened steel-like.

Ting—! Effort to save wand blocked her sword. NoName reverse-summoned blade, wrapped remaining aura in legs, burrowed into his guard instantly.

That fierce fist stretched for his jaw.

'Block...!'

Then feinted impossibly. Fist unclenched—five fingers splayed for his wrist.

Slap—! Both hands on one wand. Oil slick gave him the slip-prone side. Ownership teetering.

Reflex left swing to shake her. Tiny struggle. Obvious punch anyone blocks.

But NoName ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eyes wide, didn't dodge to face. Instead, pierced magic at his gut.

Straight gaze to the end. Her eyes screamed, 'You just hit me, right?'

Kaboom—! Adult male full-power aura punch hurled girl to arena corner. Slammed back-first into barrier, she slid down.

"NoName!"

Students watching climax poured into the first-floor arena.

"Why... why didn't you dodge...!"

Stunned self-striker Yeon-ho legs buckled, kneeling. NoName, slumped against wall, coughed twice, then smirked. Gestured at scoreboard for answer.

Any one condition met, NoName wins. Obsessive perfection, undisputed victory.

Stream exploded too.