episode_0071

“Whether it’s Lightning Magic or Flame Magic. Magic systems focused on firepower make it difficult to learn other firepower magic once you’ve mastered one.”

Pascal said, loosening his stiff neck.

“The system you’re more skilled in tends to devour other magic, as if jealous. It’s easier to think of it as an obsessive lifelong partner.”

“I haven’t really felt anything like that.”

“That’s just because you’re such a crazy bastard.”

Outside the mansion converted into a shelter. Asell and Pascal stood facing each other at either end of the exposed clearing. Celine and Saya stood a distance away with uneasy expressions. Asell glanced at them, then turned his head back towards Pascal and spoke.

“Haven’t you seen mages who use more than one destruction-type magic?”

“There are some. But they were all mediocre idiots.”

“……”

“Have you seen a magic swordsman? Even mastering just one, either magic or swordsmanship, is hard to reach the peak within a human lifespan. Yet, like morons, they chose both and ended up being neither. The Mana Core they created is weirdly mixed with the Mana Heart, completely wrecking efficiency.”

“Hmm.”

“Those who’ve mastered both destruction-type magics are the same kind of idiots as those magic swordsmen. Dual attribute? Multi-attribute? It’s impossible to suppress rampant magic with such things. Even if you have aptitude, it’s the same. You can only use it if magic allows you to.”

Pascal took out a cigarette, lit it, and continued speaking.

“Simply put, it’s luck. No matter how good your aptitude is, if the mastery of another magic is higher, it will instead backfire and try to devour the mage themselves. You might be able to manifest it well if you’re lucky, but it’s better not to use it at all than to gamble every time you fight.”

“Is that so.”

“That’s where you’re weird. You mastered Lightning Magic while building up to the 6th Rank, yet you’re trying to seize dominance over my magic with Flame Magic? Are you some kind of bastard son left behind by a sage?”

“My parents were farmers.”

“They must have been farmers who ground people up.”

“They were devil worshippers, though.”

“…You son of a bitch. What am I supposed to say when you say that?”

Asell chuckled at Pascal’s expletives and relaxed his shoulders.

“So? What’s the reason you suddenly told me to come outside?”

“You’re just playing innocent when you already have a guess.”

Pascal said that and slowly raised his magic power. The hot magic power of a Flame Mage who has realized their Uniqueness fills the clearing and burns the air. It felt like the temperature suddenly rose. Asell checked the scorched marks on part of his shield and let out a bitter smile.

“Let’s spar. This is how you usually gain insight into magic.”

“That’s barbaric.”

“It’s the tradition of the Magic Tower. Those who have been burned a few times are the ones who handle fire better.”

A flame flickered at the end of Pascal’s cigarette.

“And your Flame Magic… what should I say… it doesn’t seem like the traditional magic of the Ignis Magic Tower. It looks like it was revised based on it.”

“Due to circumstances.”

“Well, whatever. Your personal circumstances are none of my business anyway. That magic you said you self-taught. Show me.”

Asell watched Pascal’s cigarette turn redder and redder and raised his magic power.

“Are all the people from the Ignis Magic Tower as aggressive as you?”

“Do you think people who handle fire would be calm?”

Pascal grinned as he saw steam rising from around Asell’s body.

“We only become calm when there’s nothing left to burn. We’ve decided to call that death.”

“That’s quite romantic.”

“Because without that, we’re nothing. It’s clearly different from those wet-behind-the-ears mages from the Aurora Magic Tower.”

At the phrase “wet-behind-the-ears,” Celine, who was standing far away, winced as if she was offended, but Pascal paid her no attention. Instead, he held the cigarette in his hand and flicked it towards Asell. Then, the flame that burned the cigarette suddenly grew in size and shot towards Asell with enough force to kill him outright.

[Burn Spear]

Hwa-reu-reu-reuk!!

Asell tilted his head, looking at the spear of flame flying towards him.

A sudden spar. And with a mage from a Magic Tower who was one rank higher than him. There were plenty of reasons to welcome it, and no reason at all to refuse. He had to accept this spar to improve the mastery of his Flame Magic, which he used as frequently as Lightning Magic.

‘Simply seeing the magic and giving advice would have been enough, though.’

Seeing him come out like this, it was only right for him to respond with sincerity.

Asell thought so and stretched out his hand towards the magic that had come right up to his nose.

Kka-deu-deuk!!

Then, the flame was sucked into his grasp. And in the blink of an eye, it was released in the opposite direction.

[Absorbing Fire]

[Scorching Flame]

He sequentially chanted two Flame Magic spells and manifested them simultaneously.

Hwa-reu-reu-reuk!!

Crimson-black flames poured out like a wave, covering Pascal’s body. Pascal grinned widely and stomped hard on the ground with his foot.

[Flame Wall]

Asell’s magic was blocked by the rising wall of fire and scattered. Asell then seized the fragments of magic that were about to disappear, forcibly fixed them, and manifested new magic through the remaining remnants.

[One-Point Compressed Fire]

The rising flames contracted into a single point, holding immense energy. When Asell clenched his fist, it exploded like a bomb, pushing Pascal’s body back.

Kuaaaaaa!!!

A blinding light burst out for a moment, making it difficult to open one’s eyes. Black smoke filled the clearing.

Asell cleared away the swirling smoke using Smoke Magic.

The sight that appeared.

Pascal, leaning against the wall, was taking out another cigarette and putting it in his mouth.

He wiped away the soot on his cheek with his hand and let out a small laugh.

“There are many spells I’ve never seen before. It seems the talk about self-teaching wasn’t a lie.”

“……..”

“The magic’s power is also great. With fire resistance, I wouldn’t even get burned by most magic. But my skin is slightly scorched. Even if you hadn’t used a defensive spell, it’s high-level magic.”

He added that and pushed himself off the wall. Behind his back, long flames flickered like wings.

“However, it’s still lacking.”

Kwarururururu!!!!

His figure instantly vanished from Asell’s sight.

A movement so fast that it couldn’t be captured even by his sensitive senses. Asell immediately cast a detection spell to find his location, but Pascal was faster.

“Flame Magic must always be excited.”

Instantly arriving behind Asell. Pascal kicked him in the back and spat out.

“You’re too calm.”

[Flare]

Kwaang!!

Flames exploded from beneath his shoe. Unable to withstand the sudden recoil, Asell was pushed back. He scowled intensely and flicked his finger towards Pascal.

[Fire Bow Annihilating Life]

Simultaneously, hundreds of flaming arrows were shot out, heading towards Pascal’s entire body with the force to pierce him. Pascal swung the cigarette he was holding through the air.

[Guardian Flame]

Then, white flames swelled up like a balloon, protecting Pascal’s body. Asell clicked his tongue in anticipation of the collision.

And so, Kwaang.

Asell crashed into the wall, kicking up dust. He brushed his messy hair out of his face and glared at Pascal.

‘My shield was completely shattered by that one blow just now.’

The shield, one of the most basic defensive spells Asell always kept active. He stacked dozens of layers simultaneously with a sudden reaction, but they were all crushed by just one kick.

Rebuilding them was no big deal, but it was clear that if he were hit directly without a shield, he wouldn’t even be able to keep his bones. Asell breathed out his hot breath and slowly calmed his magic power.

“My Uniqueness specializes in penetration.”

Just then, Pascal walked towards him and said.

“Your shield seems quite sturdy. But with just that, it’ll be hard to block my magic. It’s more efficient to defend with magic of the same system.”

“Thanks for the tip.”

“No problem. It’s just a spar.”

He chuckled lightly and slightly lifted his foot off the ground.

“But combat should be taken seriously.”

[Flame Walk]

Flames flared up from his shoes, which were slightly lifted off the ground. Pascal, having completely nullified friction with the ground, charged at Asell with threatening speed. Asell’s expression completely vanished from his face as he unfurled the hand he had been clenching.

Spiral flames bloomed on his palm. Soon, it became a gigantic vortex of fire, rotating fiercely with Asell at the eye of the storm.

[Great Flame Rotating Column]

Kwarurururururu!!!

Though originally a magic created as a large-scale destructive spell, depending on how it’s used, it can also become a means of protecting one’s body. Pascal didn’t dare to ignore that vortex of fire and retreated immediately.

‘He’s naturally gifted with combat sense.’

He was using magic he hadn’t learned from anyone in the right place at the right time, flexibly adapting to the situation. A skill impossible for mages who just sit in their rooms and research. He must surely be a combat mage who has gone through experiences not befitting his young age.

His seasoned magic skills were in stark contrast to his still youthful appearance. Pascal felt the atmosphere growing increasingly intense and smiled brightly.

For a Flame Mage, the tension and excitement of combat were merely fuel. He willingly accepted the hormones and emotions his brain sent out, layered his hands, and chanted new magic.

[Prominence]

Kka-deu-deu-deuk!!

As if space itself was distorting, shimmering heat waves rose around the giant fireball that had bloomed. Magic that looked formidable at a glance. The sheer heat radiating from it melted the ground and walls, and the air burned.

It was then, thinking the attack had gone beyond the bounds of a spar, that Celine urgently chanted a spell.

“Great Flame Gate.”

A low voice was heard from inside the rotating vortex.

Soon, the vortex of fire wriggled violently and formed a gigantic gate. Asell, standing right in front of it, muttered as he gazed at Pascal.

“Open.”

Kkiiiiiiik!

With a sound like scraping the ground, the Great Flame Gate created behind Asell opened. And the currents of fire that had been spinning wildly inside poured out all at once towards Pascal. Pascal laughed loudly and shot the summoned Prominence forward.

And so, fire clashed with fire. A pure white explosion erupted at that point.

Kuaaaaaaaang!!!

With a roar that shook the world, the field of vision was instantly dyed pure white. Even amidst that, the two mages clearly perceived each other.

Perhaps because forces of similar level collided. Although both received minor burns, they weren’t seriously injured. Both of them knew how ridiculous that was.

The difference in ability between a mage who has realized their Uniqueness and one who hasn’t is the difference between heaven and earth. Regardless of spell mastery or power. A mage with Uniqueness always holds a clear advantage in combat. That was an absolute fact and truth.

But the Flame Magic Asell had learned was a special magic that used even identical flames as fuel, and coupled with Asell’s insane talent, it forcibly suppressed the advantage of Uniqueness, putting him on the same level.

An impossible technique. Yet, it was reality. Pascal felt his entire magical life being utterly denied and grinned so wide his mouth threatened to split.

“You son of a bitch! You crazy bastard! You’re the next Ignis Magic Tower Master!”

“I have no intention of entering the Magic Tower.”

Asell said with a bitter smile, waving his hand in the air.

“I’m already affiliated somewhere.”

[White Light Fire Line]

Kiiiiiing!!

A pure white thin line appeared between Asell and Pascal. The moment Pascal realized that it was the result of compressing a large amount of energy and heat, the line expanded in volume and released the compressed flames and heat around it. That alone pushed Pascal’s body back significantly, shattering the mansion’s window and tumbling him inside.

Simultaneously, dozens of fire spheres poured out from inside the mansion. Asell made flames bloom in his grasp and swung them in a long arc, like drawing a curtain.

Tu-du-du-du-du!!

The fire spheres struck the curtain and scattered. As soon as Asell confirmed the attack was over, he unfurled wings of fire and charged into the mansion. Pascal, who had been waiting inside, burst out laughing the moment he saw Asell’s face.

“Yes, that’s it! Get swept up in the heat of battle! Fight first without thinking ahead! That’s the essence of a Flame Mage!”

“I don’t really plan on becoming a Flame Mage, though.”

Asell put his hands together in a prayer-like gesture, watching Pascal reach out.

“But it doesn’t feel bad.”

[Burning Transformation]

A soft flame was shot out from between his tightly pressed palms. It collided with the spear of flame Pascal had shot out, and simultaneously returned to Asell’s grasp. The moment Pascal realized it was a trick.

Asell grinned and twisted his clasped hands.

[Incinerate]

The retrieved flame condensed within Asell’s hand. Along with that, it radiated out in the form of blue flames. Pascal entrusted his body to the flames with a smiling face.

Kuaaaaaaaang!!!!

A pale blue flame advancing with immense mass and high temperature. Pascal’s body was slammed into the stairs leading to the second floor, and Asell formed a gigantic greatsword of flame above him and plunged it down.

The soaring flames pierced the mansion’s ceiling and incinerated the entire central lobby. Structures unable to withstand the heat melted, and the spreading flames dyed the interior and exterior of the mansion bright red without discrimination.

“Hoo…”

Asell breathed out a breath that felt almost hot now and walked towards Pascal.

Beneath the debris of the collapsed staircase. Pascal, lying in the pit surrounded by burning flames, looked up at Asell staring down at him and let out a small laugh.

“Your face suddenly became calm. Are you going to stop? I’m willing to take more hits, though.”

“…If we go any further than this, I think we’ll get serious.”

“I did get overly excited.”

Pascal abruptly sat up and brushed off the stone dust on his head. Disregarding the burn marks all over his body, he popped the blister that had formed on his forehead and said.

“I’d like to play more if I could… but as you said, if we did that, one of us would get seriously hurt. Since there aren’t many means to treat injuries here, it’s probably best to restrain ourselves.”

“…Considering we restrained ourselves, we did exchange some quite flashy blows, didn’t we?”

Asell let out a bitter smile and gazed at the flames engulfing the mansion. Pascal chuckled and got to his feet.

“It’s a spar between Flame Mages. You have to accept that the space will be destroyed.”

“My essence, strictly speaking, is Lightning Mage.”

“Let’s not nitpick about minor things. More importantly, you.”

He continued, looking at the steam rising from Asell’s body.

“Your body temperature has risen quite a bit. It’s probably a backlash from the spells. You should lower your body temperature quickly. Otherwise, you’ll collapse.”

“I know.”

The Flame Magic Asell used was unique magic that used even the mage themselves as fuel in exchange for its destructive power. If used excessively like this, backlash was inevitable.

However, it wasn’t a big problem as there was a way to counter it. Asell activated the Ice Peony he was wearing, instantly lowering the surrounding temperature. In sync with that, the steam rising from his body grew denser before completely disappearing after a while.

He had offset the side effects by generating magic power that was the opposite of the other. The reason Asell was trying to use Flame Magic and Ice Magic simultaneously was precisely to eliminate these side effects entirely.

‘It’s not much longer now.’

The research had been ongoing for a long time. He would achieve results soon.

Thinking so, Asell stopped the activation of the Ice Peony. Pascal looked at the sight and let out a gasp of admiration.

“You have a strange magic tool. It’s quite a high-level spell.”

“The spar is over, so I hope you can answer honestly.”

Asell said, turning his head towards Pascal.

“Is my Flame Magic… reasonably good?”

“It’s not just ‘reasonably good’.”

“……”

“Though being terribly calm is a poison, a calm flame is still capable enough of burning someone. Rather than getting advice from someone else, it seems better to follow the path you’ve set for yourself. There’s no need to be fixated on Magic Tower magic or anything like that.”

Asell let out a thoughtful murmur at his honest appraisal, as if lost in thought. Pascal put a hand on his shoulder and asked.

“So? Are you satisfied with the spar?”

“…It was interesting.”

Asell replied with a smile. Pascal chuckled and patted him on the back.

“Hey, you bastards!”

Just then, Celine pushed open the broken front gate and walked in, fuming. She pointed a finger at the blazing mansion lobby and shouted.

“What the hell are you ending things so warmly for?! How are you going to clean this up?! Where are we supposed to rest now?!”

At Celine’s shout, Asell immediately pushed Pascal away and walked towards Celine. Then, he sighed, glaring at Pascal.

“How are you going to clean this up, Pascal?”

Pascal’s face twisted in dismay at Asell’s sudden act of cutting ties with him.

“You son of a bitch.”