The Duel in the Training Arena
The academy has a space for students' autonomous training: the Indoor Training Arena.
There are six Indoor Training Arenas in the academy's amenity building, each as large as four classrooms combined.
On this day, there were things different from usual in this place.
Duel witnesses: Beatrice de Dritania.
Duel declarer: X
Duel declaree: Gripork Lou Dremore.
Normally, there should be spectators for the duel, but this time, it was controlled and no one was there.
That is, only three people in this vast space.
Gripork and X stood at a distance from each other in the center of the arena, eyeing each other.
Gripork with a displeased expression,
X looking relaxed.
Amid the tense atmosphere, the first to speak was Gripork.
“You seem to have prepared quite a bit.”
Looking around, there were about 50 stone pillars scattered around.
Height about 2M, thick enough to snag when swinging a greatsword.
Gripork, realizing the intent, glared at X in front and sneered.
“Did you prepare for the distance?”
“5-star warrior, what else?”
“If that's all you prepared, it'll be disappointing.”
“Feel free to expect. That's my specialty.”
The easygoing reply kept poking at Gripork's pride.
“Indeed, talking to lowborns has no meaning.”
“You highborns sure talk a lot.”
“You bastard...!”
“Today is my first time.”
X drew the weapon he brought.
Naturally, a sword.
But it wasn't the sword he had been carrying until now.
“I'm going to use a real sword.”
It was the precious sword gifted by the benefactor, Rung's Sword.
It was handled so carefully that even from afar, its sharpness was visible.
Compared to the 1.8m greatsword Gripork held, it was short, but the spirit within was clearly different.
'This one will be hard to cut.'
Gripork abandoned the idea of cutting X with his weapon.
After all, the opponent is a magician.
Throwing a sword is no big deal.
Only after X swung Rung's Sword a few times lightly did Beatrice, watching, step forward.
“Duel declarer, declaree, step forward.”
X and Gripork took one step forward.
Beatrice continued with a solemn atmosphere.
“Do the two of you promise to engage in the duel with honor and pride?”
“I promise.”
“I promise.”
“Do you promise to unconditionally comply with the opponent's conditions according to the result of the duel?”
“I promise.”
“I promise.”
“I, the current time, witness the oath of these two people. Then, I will declare.”
Beatrice stepped back one step and declared.
“This duel will be a fair and sacred duel under the light of the goddess Deus Lute. I promise with honor.”
With that, the two raised their weapons,
“Start the duel.”
Tatak!
They rushed towards each other as if to kill.
Gripork was the first to be surprised.
'Magic user narrowing the distance?'
I heard the opponent is a magic user who learned swordsmanship.
Even against a 5-star warrior.
“Arrogant...!”
I didn't think he would try to fight with a sword against a 5-star warrior.
The duel seemed to end more lightly than expected.
'I'm going to split your head!'
Gripork made his sword shine sharply.
The falling blade rushed towards X's head.
But faster than that, something shot towards Gripork's back.
'What...!'
Gripork hurriedly turned his head to avoid it, but that caused his posture to collapse.
Gripork, judging that the offense was over, identified the attack's origin.
'Control Blade?!'
It was a white glowing sword.
The problem was that the sword was floating in the air.
'...Is this an illusion?'
Gripork quickly made a judgment.
'They said they were pretending to be a swordsman as a magician... No, this energy is definitely aura...'
“Thinking too much.”
“...!”
X twisted his body to dodge the sword strike and thrust the sword.
The sword went straight towards the head without shaking.
“Kyut...!”
Gripork retrieved the sword and immediately retreated.
It grazed his face dangerously but no wound.
“This is what it means to have too many thoughts.”
X, whose feint failed, also widened the distance. He had to assess the situation first.
Of course, he had no intention of leisurely observing.
“Why are you doing this? Widening the distance against a magician is not good.”
“Shut up.”
Gripork didn't have much information about X.
Because there was no situation to obtain information.
'The executives are in a war of nerves, members can't contact...'
What Gripork knew about X was only that he was a magician who trained in swordsmanship, nothing more or less.
'According to Daniel, he was using an illusion pretending to be aura...'
While Gripork was lost in such thoughts, X smiled leisurely.
“It's good to be cautious, but I don't plan to wait.”
X immediately chanted magic, and a fireball appeared next to him. Seeing that, Gripork was convinced.
'Indeed, a magician.'
Paaat-!!
The fireball was shot fiercely.
Gripork also sneered while watching the fireball flying across the space between the pillars.
“The stone pillars snag a bit, but I won't be able to use them.”
He hid behind a nearby stone pillar.
The trajectory was set to hit the stone pillar exactly.
The fireball would hit the stone pillar and explode without warning.
Just as he thought that,
“Ah, that's bad.”
“...What?”
The moment Gripork's attention was distracted, the fireball crashed into the stone pillar,
Kiiiiing-!!
The magic circle hidden in the stone pillar activated with light.
“Install-type magic circle...!”
Pasusuusu-!!
Concentrated electricity spread everywhere.
Like a predator searching for prey, wriggling,
Hundreds of electric currents hit Gripork's body.
“Krueueueueuk-!!”
If it were a normal person, they would have been paralyzed by the electricity, but the opponent was a 5-star warrior.
“...Is this your secret technique?”
“Well, it's not that...”
While watching Gripork standing even after being hit by the electricity, X clicked his tongue.
'It's not that easy.'
The install-type magic and the stone pillars were Andras's work.
By using the fireball's mana as a medium to activate the installed magic circle, it's a magic that anyone can use easily if conditions are met.
Originally, they chose the place favorable for this.
Of course, Gripork didn't stay still.
“Princess, this is an dishonorable duel! Laying traps in the duel site! Immediately invalidate this duel and punish that shameless bastard...”
“Continue the duel.”
“Princess...!”
It wasn't that the duel would be invalidated.
It was just a probe.
Since there were no spectators, there was no honor or anything.
X smiled leisurely and prepared magic.
“I designated the duel site myself. There's no way I didn't prepare anything.”
“You bastard, know your place! You made a place favorable only for you! Do you have no pride in this duel!”
“Only for me? Gripork-nim can use magic too.”
“What insolence...!”
“Originally.”
A fireball shot towards the stone pillars on both sides of Gripork.
Pew-!!!
Pasujijik-!!
Gripork moved quickly to avoid the explosion and lightning's effects.
As expected from a 5-star warrior, one attack wasn't easily taken.
Watching that, X continued explaining.
“You didn't bring any anti-magic items even in the magician's territory, so it was you who underestimated me too much.”
That was true.
There were several things to avoid in combat with magicians, and one of them was this.
Don't enter the magician's territory lightly.
A magician who has finished preparation can defeat even higher enemies. This is proven through history.
Originally, they would have fought with various magic defense equipment, but Gripork himself proposed to use only one usable item.
'This mistake...!'
He realized that excessive underestimation was the problem.
But it was too late.
“The duel isn't just words, is it?”
X shot the fireball and moved strategically.
If you block with the pillar, the install magic hits.
If you cut the fireball with the sword, it explodes immediately.
If you get close, it cleverly maintains distance.
No decisive blow, but intent to slowly whittle down.
'Annoying.'
But not everything is fatal.
'Pride is hurt, but no choice.'
Goooooo-....
Gripork pulled up his latent internal energy.
Aura Blade formed on the greatsword,
Aura energy surged throughout his body.
X immediately understood what it was.
'Aura Armor. Using it already. Must be very irritated.'
Aura Armor is a defensive technique that wraps the entire body in aura.
Ordinary swords or clumsy magic can't inflict damage.
This is why it's hard for magicians to defeat warriors.
'But unlike Aura Blade, it consumes faster.'
Knowing that, Gripork immediately rushed forward.
“I'm going to kill you in one breath-!!”
Even if the fireball explodes, even if the lightning hits, none of them can pierce the Aura Armor.
Gripork charging like a rampaging tank closed the distance to X in an instant.
“Fast...!”
The moment X was surprised, Gripork prepared another sword strike.
'Again, vertically cut!'
If it was horizontal, it would be sure, but if blocked by the pillar, it would be in vain.
So, cut vertically for sure.
The 5-star warrior's hand was fast, and the sword fell faster than X's perception.
The Aura Blade would split X vertically.
“Be careful of the back of the head.”
Shiiik-!!
As long as it's not the aura shot towards the head.
'That aura from earlier...!'
X clearly had it right in front of him without defense.
However, in the detected senses, three auras came flying from the back of the head and temples on both sides.
At this speed, X's head would be attacked before his own body could split him.
But.
'Ignoring it!'
After all, it was probably an illusion.
Aura can't be pierced unless it's aura.
A mere 3rd circle magic couldn't possibly.
'If this was your secret technique, then you lose!!'
Just as he braced his arms to strike down,
“Whoa, you didn't avoid this.”
X laughed once,
And understood the reason for the laugh.
Kwaaang-!!!
A huge impact hit his head.
The back of the head and temples were directly hit without defense.
Thinking it was magic, it pierced the Aura Armor.
'Wha, cut?'
I don't know the reason, but the result was clear.
The three auras were not illusions.
All real.
'A magician using aura...? First, I need to regain my senses...'
The most fatal part in combat, the head, was attacked.
The momentary shaking of consciousness meant one thing.
“I'm a personality that doesn't miss any opportunities.”
This time, X swung the sword down.
The sword had clear aura blooming on it.
X smiled leisurely and said.
“Then, I'll take the executive position.”
The moment he sensed that allowing the attack would lead to defeat.
“-I don't acknowledge it, you bastard-!!”
Kwaaaang-!!
Gripork's Aura Armor exploded violently.
“Kruek...!”
The huge shockwave spreading in all directions flung X away.
It felt like colliding with a boulder.
'My whole body is numb...!'
If there was Aura Armor, it might have neutralized the shock.
Unfortunately, X didn't have the ability to use Aura Armor.
To use Aura Armor, one needs to be a skilled 4-star warrior.
Even then, it takes a lot of time to use Aura Armor.
The body flung away hit the stone pillar and stopped.
Having taken considerable impact, blood flowed from his mouth.
'This hurts...'
While X was checking his body condition for a moment,
“If you try to humiliate me with such deception!!”
Gripork shouted with anger.
“Don't expect any mercy from now on-!!”
“Even though you were full of thoughts to kill from the beginning...”
Gripork gripped the sword and concentrated all internal energy.
The Aura Blade became even fiercer and grew longer.
Gradually the length increased, without any sign of stopping.
“...This looks quite grand.”
The greatsword became about 5M long.
It looked like one person holding a huge iron rod.
“You bastards...!”
After fully extracting the Aura Blade, he took a stance.
“I'm going to eliminate all of you-!!”
He slashed horizontally.
The ruthless aura didn't reach X,
But the target was not X.
Skeg-!
“The stone pillars...!”
All the stone pillars around Gripork were cut in one blow.
No matter how thick the stone pillars were, they couldn't withstand the cutting power of the sincere Aura Blade.
Kung-! Kung, kung-! Kuung!
The severed parts of the stone pillars fell messily on the ground.
Seeing that, X sighed with regret.
“Ah, it was hard to make... Do you know why?”
“I won't give you any more time to chatter!!”
Gripork prepared to charge.
Abandoning Aura Armor, he slammed everything into the sword.
The sword's length was sufficient.
One leap would be enough to cut off that guy's neck.
The outcome was certain, no different from checkmate.
Yet X was still smiling.
'Why is he smiling? Is there another move?'
Just as a brief doubt crossed his mind, the reason was revealed before he leaped.
Kiiiiiiiiing-!!
“What...!”
The severed part of the stone pillar at his feet simultaneously glowed with heat.
How intense the heat was, it swelled up in an instant, about to explode.
A clear magic reaction.
'Even though it didn't hit the fireball...!? There shouldn't be any mana medium...'
Just before the stone pillar exploded, something entered his eyes.
'...Glass bottle?'
A long glass bottle was embedded in the cut stone pillar.
Setting aside why there was a glass bottle in the stone pillar, some liquid was flowing out from inside the glass bottle.
'Mana potion...! Is this the mana medium!!'
The moment the short judgment ended.
“That one explodes.”
With X's one word, all the stone pillars around Gripork exploded simultaneously.
Kwaaaaaang-!!!!
In that short moment, there wasn't enough time to convert the aura pushed by the sword into armor.
“Keu, aaah...”
In the end, he had to take all the shock.
The storm of explosions swallowed the messily damaged Gripork, who raised dust.
Soon, when the dust settled, one could see Gripork collapsed unconscious.
“Huu...”
X exhaled a sigh of relief.
With this much damage, he couldn't be fine.
'Still, I need to check...'
To accurately assess the situation, he activated the Synopsis.
The Synopsis would tell exactly.
The distance was far enough.
No sudden situation.
Puk-
It shouldn't have been there.
Jureureuk-
Feeling the taste of the blood flowing from his mouth, X looked at his chest.
“...I didn't do it while gritting my teeth like 'I hit him'.”
On his chest, there was a long, thin wound two fingers wide.
Gripork hadn't fallen yet.