Ch.80Decisive Battle: Second Half (7)

Ever since it was revealed that Midir was actually strong, there had been frequent debates between the Red Tower and the Blood Tower about which of the two was stronger.

This was also a regular topic of discussion on the Aether Tower forums.

Other Magic Towers were curious about it too.

However, such discussions would soon end with the Blood Tower’s victory.

Although unofficial, rumors spread that Ignius, who had visited the Blood Tower, was literally beaten up by Midir, and when actual CCTV footage of him getting hit was released, it became the accepted theory that Midir was indeed stronger than Ignius.

That’s why Ignius worked even harder on researching magic to defeat Midir.

He studied which spells would be most effective in combat, how to fight more efficiently in real battles.

Of course, victory wasn’t impossible.

If someone took a direct hit from the Arrow of Nature, even Midir would have difficulty surviving.

More precisely, according to Ha’s account, the arrow would have literally caused the body to explode upon direct impact.

But Midir endured.

No one else noticed, but only Eterna could understand how he had countered the Arrow of Nature.

Midir had used Blood Claw Art to precisely identify where the arrow was coming from and minimized the damage.

He controlled his body to create a hole larger than the arrow itself, ensuring there was nothing in the arrow’s path.

While he did take a direct hit from the arrow, he didn’t sustain damage, and the aftermath was weak enough for Midir to handle without significant injury, allowing him to move diagonally and engage Seria in close combat.

It was a fighting style typical of Midir, who had always pursued efficiency.

But…

‘Hellfire is different.’

After Seria, Ignius was the most surprised opponent.

While Seria was admired for her pure magical capacity and was a magician whom Eterna had admired a thousand years ago, Ignius was amazed by her pure talent in fire magic.

The properties of the Hellfire he created were that extraordinary.

The ability to burn anything was an absurd characteristic in itself.

Whether it had form or not, it could even burn magic itself.

Even if one launched the Arrow of Nature, a single mistake would result in the arrow being burned and vanishing on the spot.

That was the terrifying aspect of Ignius’s Hellfire.

And the same applied to Eterna’s magic.

If one didn’t cast magic seriously against Hellfire, even her magic would become fuel and burn away.

It was a vicious spell that turned everything around it into material for Hellfire to consume.

It had no weakness.

Hellfire created an unfair advantage simply by being deployed.

But…

‘Midir is different.’

Eterna could be certain of that.

While the new magic called Supernova had piqued her interest…

In the end, it was just the work of a magician who dominated an era.

It couldn’t compare to the Transcendent who had achieved the great feat of bringing an era of peace.

* * *

“The… the finals… Is this really our Blood Tower… My heart is swelling with pride…”

“Of course it’s the Blood Tower, what else would it be, Razak?”

“Huh! I’m sorry!”

“So you do know.”

I clicked my tongue, wondering what kind of idiot would mutter such things in front of the Blood Tower Master, and here he was.

When I looked at him, he kept apologizing as if he had committed a mortal sin.

Well, if he apologized, it’s fine.

‘Should I push him a little more?’

I grinned.

“Listen, Razak.”

“Yes, yes?!”

“Between me and Ignius, who do you think will win?”

I hear it occasionally.

People asking if I could possibly match up to Ignius.

Most of them were magicians from the Red Tower, but there were also quite a few Blood Mages with excessively low self-confidence who cast their votes for the Red Tower Master, saying how could the Blood Tower possibly defeat the Red Tower.

The fact that they lacked confidence despite all I had done showed just how long the Blood Tower had been disrespected.

“You’d better answer carefully!”

Irina, standing beside me, said with her hands on her hips.

Razak, sweating profusely, answered.

“Of… of course, it would be your victory, Master Midir…?”

“Do you really think so?”

He looked dumbfounded at my question.

It must have seemed absurd to him—I asked a question with an obvious answer, he gave the expected response, and then I asked if he really thought that way.

I would have reacted the same way.

The difference is that now I’m the one playing the joke.

Of course, I was just teasing him, so I just chuckled at Razak’s reaction.

“Stop messing with me…”

Finally realizing my intention, Razak sighed and lowered his head.

“Anyway, don’t worry. I’m not weak enough to lose to a kid who’s not even a thousand years old.”

“…”

Seeing Razak’s expression that suggested he had a lot to say, I tilted my head, and Irina, who had been listening beside me, asked.

“Aren’t you talking about Seria?”

“Ah.”

Seria would have gone ballistic if she heard that.

I scratched my head.

Well, it’s fine as long as she didn’t hear it.

“Anyway, I’m off to the match.”

I was already excited at the thought of teaching a lesson after so long.

I heard he’s been bragging about developing a new magic lately.

‘Nuclear fusion does warrant that kind of pride…’

Who would have thought someone could use magic to harness the principles of nuclear fusion to cause explosions?

But that’s only if he can actually use that magic.

‘I wonder how it will go.’

I’ve heard many rumors about Ignius desperately trying to defeat me.

I’m already looking forward to seeing what he’ll do.

I chuckled as I walked away.

.

.

.

Red Tower Master VS Blood Tower Master.

A matchup every magician had been anticipating.

Although the Red Tower Master had unofficially lost, it was just that—unofficial.

Many magicians couldn’t sleep at night out of excitement for this official confrontation between the two.

“I’m so excited…”

“The Blood Tower Master will win, so stop getting your hopes up for nothing.”

“Blood-poor.”

The finals would take place on the sixth day of the Greatest Magic Tower Tournament.

The week-long tournament was already nearing its end.

With the grand finals followed by a showdown with Eterna on the seventh day, there was much speculation about who would face Eterna.

Amid the buzzing stadium, holographic magic projected from projectors created circular screens throughout the arena.

As soon as the screens appeared, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“Ohhh!”

“It’s the Blood Tower Master!”

“Master Midir, fighting!!”

“Go Blood Tower! Go Blood Tower!”

As soon as Midir appeared, all Blood Mages united in supporting him.

The Red Tower wasn’t far behind.

“Red Tower! Red Tower! Red Tower!”

“Burn those vicious mosquitoes to death!”

“Master Ignius, you’re so cool!!”

“Kyaaaah!”

Behind the frenzied cheering, Ignius and Midir faced each other.

“… Midir.”

Ignius spoke first, showing respect.

After suffering a major defeat at the Blood Tower and being forcibly taught manners, Ignius’s eyes still burned with competitive spirit and determination to win.

It was only natural.

He had prepared extensively for this match.

“You seem confident. Judging by how boldly you’re approaching this.”

“I’ve been working hard to defeat you. Perhaps… I feel like I’ve never worked this hard in my entire life.”

He was sincere.

He wanted to win.

Midir was the first opponent who made him feel this way.

Was it because the Blood Tower had been looked down upon until now, or was it competitive spirit toward Midir himself?

At first, he might have thought, “The Blood Tower is nothing.”

Until recently, he had underestimated Blood Magic.

But now it was different.

He had prepared everything to ensure victory.

All to defeat Midir alone.

“I ask for a good match.”

Ignius said this as he summoned a magic circle in his hand.

Midir, seeming to decide that no further conversation was necessary, drew upon his magical power and deployed Blood Claw Art.

In this tense situation,

– Beeeep!

Eterna’s alarm magic rang throughout the arena.

KWAAANG!!

The two clashed immediately, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“Waaaa!!”

The match had begun.