The Roaring Path of the Explosive DDAL Cultivator—Gwaaaaaaah!!

Oooooooooooom—!!

Teleportation Magic.

A spell the Black Knight had experienced in the past.

"Never thought I'd set foot here again."

Whoosh.

The Black Knight surveyed his surroundings upon arriving at Valentine Garden, lost in thought.

"So this is Valentine Garden...!!"

Bella was visibly excited, seeing in person what she had only witnessed in photos and videos before.

"You're free to hone your skills here as you please. If you need anything, just ask the students."

Azaria smiled brightly as she addressed the two.

(Note: Since this place is mostly populated by university students, you don't have to worry about violating any obscenity laws. Rest easy.)

"Where's that nun?"

In response to the Black Knight's question, Azaria pointed downward with her index finger.

"She's confined in the underground sector below, so no worries~!"

"Knowing there's something like that down there doesn't exactly put me at ease..."

Bella couldn't hide her unease.

"What's for lunch today?"

"Ugh... The assignment deadline is way too tight..."

"Whoaaa—!! Seriously?!"

The Black Knight watched in fascination as countless magicians went about their daily lives in the vast plaza.

"It's practically a small city."

"For those who study and research magic, an environment like this is essential. The same goes for you two. I don't know how much time we have left, but I hope you'll take everything you can from this place."

Click. Click. Click.

Azaria excused herself as she prepared to leave.

"I have a meeting to attend. Make yourselves at home here."

With that, Azaria vanished from their sight...

"So... what now?"

Whoosh.

Bella turned her head to look at the Black Knight.

"If I find a decent-looking chick, I'll make her my plaything."

".............???"

"And what about you?"

"The Chancellor promised to prioritize helping me reclaim 【Maginova】 once preparations are complete. For now, all I can do is grow stronger."

Whoosh.

Bella raised her hand and clenched her fist.

"Exactly. While the magic of 【Maginova】 and the magic here have entirely different applications, there are undoubtedly aspects you can learn and develop."

Siv's voice emerged ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from Bella's pocket.

"Now that we have their support, there's no need to be impatient. I'll focus on what I can do right now."

She had already steeled herself.

By the day of the final battle, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she would be fully prepared.

"Do whatever the hell you want. I'm out."

Clank. Clank. Clank.

"Wait! You're seriously not going to do anything?"

Bella shouted at the Black Knight as he walked away.

"Let him go, Bella. That man doesn't seem interested in connecting with anyone."

"...........!"

"Even if you try to approach him, unless he's the type to push you away, someone who shows no interest at all can never be reached."

___. ___

Valentine Garden.

A prestigious magical institution owned and operated for centuries by the Valentine family, one of the world's Four Great Families.

The entire floating island serves as the academy's grounds, resembling an independent aerial city more than a mere school.

Beyond the main gate, the towering central clock tower and main building rise hundreds of meters into the sky.

Surrounding them are orderly districts: student dormitories, lecture halls, combat training grounds, magical engineering labs, alchemy workshops, summoning ritual arenas, and a massive library.

The island's outskirts feature an aerial port for docking airships and massive landing platforms, with countless flying magical tools and transport vessels coming and going without pause.

There are also artificial ecological zones for simulating battles against Disasters, vast training forests, expansive lakes and gardens, and even shopping districts and café streets freely accessible to students—functioning like a full-fledged city.

At the heart of the academy's ecological forest stands the towering World Tree, the Valentine family's symbol.

Near this tree, which supplies magic power to the entire island, lies the family's ancestral home, council halls, and secret research facilities—accessible only to direct descendants and faculty.

Moreover, every facility in Valentine Garden is protected by top-tier barriers.

Designed to repel external invasions and minimize damage from internal magical mishaps, the academy is also patrolled 24/7 by automated defense drones.

The safest, yet most concealed place in the skies.

This is Valentine Garden, the world's premier magical institution, proudly maintained by the Valentine family.

"What should I do..."

"Professor Subaru..."

"If any of you thought I'd rest over such minor injuries, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

Tsk.

This was the combat magic training grounds.

Subaru, the professor in charge of close-quarters combat magic, was conducting class with bandages wrapped around her face.

"Professor... Are you really alright...?"

At a student's concerned question, Subaru offered a faint smile.

"If you have the luxury to worry about me, how about trying to take me down during practice later?"

"".............""

Her words instantly silenced the training hall.

"Today, we'll be covering the fundamentals of close-quarters combat magic. For second-years, this will be your first time learning it."

Tink.

With a flick of her finger, the professor conjured an array of weapons midair—swords, spears, hammers, gauntlets—all formed from magic power.

Hum. Hum. Hum. Hum.

"Projection Magic. Thank you, Teaching Assistant Regna."

Subaru expressed her gratitude to the young assistant standing behind her.

"Don't mention it~!"

"Most novice magicians believe the key to victory lies in keeping their distance and bombarding their foes with spells. That's not entirely wrong, but in real combat, it's only half the answer."

Rustle.

Subaru tore the bandages from her face and took a stance.

"Enemies won't give you time to prepare your spells. Whether it's a Disaster or a criminal, the moment they close in, your incantations are cut short—and so are you. That's why 'close-quarters combat magic' was born."

Whoooooosh...!!

Green-hued magic power began flowing from Subaru's outstretched fists.

"Close-quarters combat magic isn't just about swinging fists or swords. It's an integrated combat system combining body enhancement, magic emission, weapon reinforcement, instant acceleration, and defensive spells into one."

Fwoom.

In an instant, she vanished.

BOOOOM—!!!

Before anyone could blink, a target dozens of meters away exploded with a deafening blast.

""Whoooaaaaa...!!!""

The students' faces froze in awe at her overwhelming skill.

"Did you see that? That wasn't movement magic. It was explosive acceleration achieved by concentrating magic power in the legs."

Whoosh.

Subaru retracted her fist and continued.

"Remember this well. On the battlefield, the magician who survives the longest isn't the one who casts the flashiest spells."

Her voice echoed through the training hall.

"It's the one who can cast magic with composure, even at a distance where the enemy's breath reaches them. That is the true close-quarters combat magician."

""Ooooooooh—!!!""

Clapclapclapclapclap—!!!

As Subaru concluded, the students erupted into applause.

"Um... I have a question. Can I ask something?"

"Go... ahead."

Subaru's expression stiffened slightly as she acknowledged the student who had raised her hand.

"I want to understand the fundamental structure of magic here—!!"

It was Bella.

The same girl who had fought Subaru not long ago.

"......... You really don't hold any grudges about what happened before, do you."

Subaru felt a pang of guilt.

Even if it had been standard procedure, she had still harmed the girl.

"The injuries weren't bad, and I don't care anymore!"

Bella's cheerful smile drew a wry chuckle from Subaru.

"Haha... If the person involved says that, I've got nothing to add."

"Is that new girl acquainted with Professor Subaru?"

"Her hair is so pretty..."

"Ahaha... This is... kinda embarrassing..."

Bella flushed under the sudden attention.

"Generally, magic is structured into ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠five stages known as 'Tiers' (僞界). The term 'Tier' carries the meaning of a 'false world.'"

Magic is the defiance of the world's principles.

Magicians forge their own false worlds, hence the term 'Tier.'

"Most newcomers mistake 'Tiers' for simple rankings. But that's incorrect."

Whoosh.

Subaru stepped forward as she continued her explanation.

"'僞 (Wei)' means false, and '界 (Jie)' means world. Thus, a 'Tier' signifies a 'false world.'"

Hum.

Magic power surged from her palm, drawing all eyes.

"Magic doesn't alter reality. It overlays a false world woven from magic power atop reality, temporarily imposing its laws upon it. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The higher the Tier, the more complete this false world becomes."

"Whoa... I've never heard this before...!!"

Bella marveled at Subaru's expert explanation.

Subaru outlined the five stages:

"First Tier: Reinforcement and Emission of Magic Power. The foundational stage where one strengthens their body or releases magic externally—the basis of all magic."

The most basic step, mandatory for all magicians.

"Second Tier: Material Manipulation. The stage where one interferes with physical matter and phenomena using magic, altering their form and movement."

The realm of freely generating and applying elements like fire and ice.

This stage marks the threshold of talent, with many magicians never progressing beyond it.

"Third Tier: Summoning and Subjugation. The stage of calling forth created entities into reality and commanding them within one's false world."

Magic that controls lifeforms born of one's own spells.

The pinnacle achievable by those who master the Second Tier.

"Fourth Tier: Personal World Expansion. The stage of unfurling one's false world into the surrounding space, dominating its very laws."

The ultimate secret of magic.

Overlaying one's own false world—their 'Tier'—upon reality itself.

Those who reach this stage wield power equivalent to S-rank or higher.

In practice, only a select few ever attain it.

"Finally, the Fifth Tier: Manifestation of Authority. A realm where the false world becomes nearly indistinguishable from reality. Magic at this stage isn't mere spellcraft—it's treated as a 'law' itself. Of course, this remains theoretical, with no confirmed cases to date."

"Huh? I think I can use the Fourth Tier."

"Eh."

Subaru, caught off guard by Bella's sudden declaration...

"Huh...?"

"Wait...?"

"Um....?"

Everyone present froze simultaneously.

"I'm not sure about the Third Tier, but I'm pretty sure I can use the Fourth Tier?!"