Ch.94Chapter 94: I Need to Get Stronger

Valt slips away alone and heads toward the training arena.

The arena is empty, likely because Riman has restricted access.

Inside, Riman waits and grins when he spots Valt.

“So you came.”

Valt senses a strength from Riman that’s incomparable to before.

Of course, Riman is deliberately letting his aura leak out subtly.

It feels like he’s saying, “Kid, look how much stronger I’ve become.”

“Hehe, that’s just like you, Professor.”

“You helped me get stronger, so you should know about it, right? So, what do you think?”

*Boom!*

With those words, Riman unleashes his aura without restraint.

After just one day of rest to consolidate his insights, he’s reached a level that can’t even be compared to when he fought Sikel.

Valt maintains a composed expression as he tenses his entire body and begins to form his Blood Demon Gauntlets.

*Rumble rumble rumble—*

“I don’t think I can win…”

As his voice trails off, Riman raises an eyebrow.

“You don’t?”

The metallic Blood Demon Gauntlets cover Valt’s entire body, and finally, as they encase his face—

*Click—*

“But that doesn’t mean I think I’ll lose either. Haaah!”

Transformed into a massive robot-like figure, Valt suddenly charges at Riman.

*Crash!*

The floor of the arena should crack under such tremendous weight, but Riman has set the arena’s durability to maximum.

Otherwise, the arena wouldn’t survive encounters between Master-level fighters.

Despite his bulk, Valt approaches quickly and extends his fist, unleashing a magic different from his previous Wind Fist.

Blood Wind Fist—Wind magic enhanced with Blood magic.

Now, even Valt’s simplest spells are complex magic combining at least two different types.

*Boom!!*

A blood-red fist-shaped magic surges toward Riman, who has already drawn his sword and begins countering Valt’s magic.

“Heh, you brute. Your power is truly impressive. But!!”

Riman’s sword traces a figure eight as it slowly rotates, and unlike before, rather than confronting head-on, he deflects Valt’s magic with his aura.

*Crash!*

“Hmm! Your swordsmanship has changed!”

“It hasn’t changed. It’s just found its proper form.”

“Then how about this!!”

*Whoosh!*

A massive Iron Hammer materializes instantly and falls toward Riman, who makes an incredulous expression.

“Isn’t this continuous casting cheating?”

“Masters are even more unfair. Haaah!!”

*Whoosh!*

The Iron Hammer, accelerated by Valt’s power, slices through the air as it crashes down toward Riman, who calmly observes it.

Seeing that Riman has no intention of dodging, Valt finds it strange but can’t stop his attack now.

‘Even if it’s Professor Riman, taking this head-on would cause serious damage, right?’

Just as Valt thinks this—

“Skuat-style Insight Sword: Magic Cutter.”

*Slash-*

A momentary flash of light.

Riman’s sword swings vertically, and Valt’s Iron Hammer splits cleanly in two before dissolving back into mana.

“This is…!”

“Nice, isn’t it? For your information, I didn’t crush it with force. I saw the grain and ‘cut’ it.”

This is truly a technique only a Master could perform.

Riman’s observation skills and insights have combined to rapidly develop his perception, allowing him to see not only his opponent’s movements but also the flow of aura and the structure of magical power.

“That’s incredible. I never imagined it would break like this.”

Valt’s Iron Hammer isn’t just an ordinary Iron Hammer.

It’s layered with metal over solid rock, then enhanced with blood magic—a hammer of extraordinary strength reinforced in three stages.

Riman identified the weakest connection point between the different magics and cut through it.

“Hahaha, as expected of you, Professor! Let’s continue!!”

“Heh, you madman. Come on then!”

***

The devastated training arena.

The durability Riman had set for the arena was naturally intended for battles between Masters. Now that arena has been reduced to tatters, requiring at least a week of restoration magic to repair.

Valt and Riman, having exhausted their strength, lay sprawled on the floor, and Riman lets out an incredulous laugh.

“To think an 8th Circle mage would barely manage against you—what kind of body do you have?”

Yet Riman’s body was unmarked, while Valt’s was covered in wounds.

“I lost without accomplishing anything, so hearing that doesn’t feel particularly good.”

“Heh heh, you brute. Do you think people would believe that a 5th Circle mage fought evenly with an 8th Circle swordsman?”

By Central Continent standards, it’s an absurd notion. Valt might be the only one in the entire continent capable of such a feat.

But Valt isn’t satisfied with this.

Riman was certainly strong, and so was Valt.

But the wall of a Master was high.

Riman’s swordsmanship was a style of counterattack—using superior insight to break down an opponent’s attacks and deliver counters.

In fact, Valt employs a similar fighting style when facing comparable opponents.

The difference is that Valt doesn’t break down attacks like Riman does; he simply endures them with his powerful body.

In reality, the defensive capabilities of Valt’s second-stage metallic Blood Demon Gauntlets are beyond imagination, making it difficult even for Riman to wound Valt’s mana-filled body.

Riman could injure Valt with major techniques, but Valt is a barbarian who uses his body—his close combat skills are not to be underestimated.

Moreover, what’s truly absurd is that Valt can unleash major techniques without delay due to the nature of his physical magic. This is why he could fight evenly with 8th Circle Riman.

“Still, it’s not enough. We can’t stop the Dark Society with just this.”

“I agree. To face those Dark Society bastards, we need to get stronger.”

Valt has only witnessed two powerful figures from the Dark Society, but anyone could guess that their true strength is far more formidable.

Not only 8th Circle Masters but possibly even 9th Circle experts might exist among them—or the leader of the Dark Society himself might be an extraordinarily powerful individual.

And Valt realized something from this match with Riman.

This was merely a sparring match, not a life-or-death battle.

If Riman had truly intended to kill Valt, the outcome would have been uncertain.

Even if the Blood Demon Gauntlets could block Riman’s attacks, Valt would be vulnerable once their duration expired.

After pondering briefly, Riman dusts himself off and stands up.

“Let’s see… Can you still move?”

With his extraordinary recovery as a Gerung, Valt’s breathing had already normalized, and Riman was in a similar state.

“Moving is fine… Why? Do you want to continue?”

“No, you brute. Like a true Gerung, all you think about is fighting… Come here and stand up. Do you remember the aura manipulation technique I taught you before?”

It was Riman’s unique aura manipulation technique that he taught early on.

A method to control the swelling arms and make aura more flexible.

But Valt, who had difficulty moving his aura, couldn’t use this technique.

Interestingly, Valt never stopped practicing it. He would try moving his aura several times a day whenever it crossed his mind.

“I know it. I’m still practicing, but I’m not making much progress.”

Hearing that Valt was still practicing, Riman burst into laughter.

“What?! Hahahahaha!! You’re still practicing that? You stubborn fool!”

“Well… I thought if I can use magic, using aura too would be even better.”

Riman was quite pleased with Valt’s attitude. Valt never becomes arrogant.

He’s merely confident. He doesn’t hesitate to learn. He spares no effort.

Because of Valt’s attitude, Riman wanted to give him a gift using the insights he gained while consolidating his 8th Circle power.

Riman felt he owed Valt a great deal. He believed that Valt deserved more than half the credit for his reaching the 8th Circle.

In that sense, Valt was practically Riman’s benefactor.

“Hey, want to learn about aura?”

It was what Riman had casually asked Valt when he first came to the academy.

Back then, neither Riman nor Valt knew much, but now they understand each other better than anyone else.

“Well, you know I’m not avoiding learning it because I don’t want to.”

Just the answer Riman expected. Having confirmed Valt’s interest in learning about aura, Riman poses an interesting question.

“Do you understand how I cut through your magic earlier?”

“Hmm… You seemed to target the connection points… but honestly, I couldn’t really tell even while watching.”

That’s only natural. If it were that easy, anyone could become an 8th Circle Master.

“Not to brag, but my insight right now is extraordinary.”

“I know. I felt like all my attacks were being read.”

“But that’s not just useful in battle.”

Not quite understanding, Valt asks Riman:

“What do you mean?”

Riman smiles with satisfaction as he tells Valt:

“An aura manipulation technique tailored for your body. Want me to create one for you?”

Truly surprised, Valt widens his eyes and asks:

“What? You’ll create what?”