Chapter 77
‘I was careless.’
Kain admitted that he hadn't considered enough variables.
‘To think he possessed a sub-attribute.’
While Kain hadn't confirmed all of Rowen's 5th-circle and 6th-circle spells, the moment Rowen cast his first spell, Kain recognized that his skill level was considerably high, even among 6th-circle mages.
Now, he even knew Rowen could use Body Reinforcement.
Therefore, he hadn't considered that Rowen would possess a sub-attribute magic.
He had excluded it.
Kain, who knew better than anyone how heavy the meaning of 'exclusion' was in combat.
‘And I was perceiving this combat as a spar, a 'test'.’
Of course, it was a test, but it meant he was aware that his opponent was under a penalty.
‘Since I, too, intended to fight without using ice magic, my vision became even more clouded.’
The idea of sparring using only fire magic.
That turned out to be the most dangerous thought.
"Hmph."
Kain immediately infused mana into his body.
He shouldn't cancel the Fireball he had cast in front of him.
In that state, he concentrated mana in his hand and immediately shattered the Air Sting that had activated his protective artifact.
Then, he pushed off the ground, retreated, and detonated the Fireball he had previously cast.
CRASH!
Rowen also retreated at an opportune moment, so Kain couldn't inflict any damage.
However, he successfully created some distance for the time being.
Gasps erupted among the disciples.
"...What was that just now?"
"I couldn't quite see it."
"Air Sting. It was wind-attribute magic."
"Instructor Rowen had a sub-attribute...? Why didn't we know?"
"I think I heard something about it somewhere, but I didn't know he'd actually use it."
"This is truly him going all out... There was a reason his scores were so strict."
Rowen was known among practical examination opponents as a rather unforgiving instructor.
He didn't just evaluate without holding back; his evaluation scores themselves were also stingy.
Of course, since other disciples also faced Rowen, they all received strict scores...
Nevertheless, the disciples couldn't help but complain that his standards were too high.
"It's even scarier that even after all that, the instructor hasn't given a perfect score."
"I guess I shouldn't complain about strict scores anymore..."
But the disciples who witnessed this spar now couldn't help but be satisfied with Rowen's high standards.
This was because they had now truly experienced how much Rowen had been holding back until now.
"..."
Kain briefly glanced downwards.
About 10% of his protective artifact's mana had been depleted.
Considering that the Fire Arrow had only depleted about 5% of Rowen's, Kain had been instantly reversed.
"Considering you were surprised, you responded calmly. I'll reflect that in your evaluation score as well."
"...In a positive way?"
"Of course. You handled it even though it could have taken twice as much off you just now. And..."
Rowen grinned and said,
"If that Air Sting had hit a vital spot just now, the spar would have ended immediately."
After all, a protective artifact is merely a device to prevent bodily harm during a spar.
It's true that the spar ends if it's completely depleted, but fundamentally, the spar ends 'when victory or defeat is decided.'
Therefore, if that Air Sting had directly struck Kain's vital spot, the spar would have ended immediately, even if only 10% was depleted.
But at the last moment, Kain sensed the Air Sting's position and trajectory with his mana perception and twisted his body to avoid a vital spot.
"Thank you for that, at least."
"Haha, don't glare like that. Anyway, this is a spar to prepare you for real combat, isn't it? You never know if your opponent will only use fire magic, or also wind magic, or even Body Reinforcement."
Rowen shrugged.
"In a real battle, if you fought thinking they were only a fire-attribute mage and then suddenly an Air Sting pierced your neck and killed you, no amount of excuses would bring you back to life, right?"
"That's right."
His words were true.
It was entirely his own fault for not considering the variables.
Kain acknowledged that.
And from now on, he wouldn't exclude any variables.
Kain extended his hand.
Assuming Rowen could even use 4th-circle wind-attribute magic.
He even considered the possibility of earth-attribute magic suddenly appearing.
Excluding the explicitly stated restrictions in the spar—only using 4th-circle magic, and no artifacts other than protective artifacts, no elixirs, and no poisons—he would act on the assumption that any other variable could occur.
"Flame Road."
Flames surged from in front of Kain.
"Chain."
By an additional spell, the flames, instead of extending in a straight line, created a chain reaction sideways, beginning to spread in a fan shape.
"Accelerate."
He accelerated the chain reaction to prevent Rowen from escaping with Body Reinforcement before the flames could spread.
Rowen had two choices.
To strain himself now and escape the range using Body Reinforcement and the wind-attribute spell Haste.
Or, to remain in place and surround himself with magic to prevent the flames from penetrating, just as Kain had done earlier.
In the former case, Rowen's movement path would be restricted, allowing for interception.
In the latter, Kain would have the initiative, needing only to attack and break through.
Rowen chose the former.
"Haste."
He simultaneously used Body Reinforcement and Haste to leap in a direction where the flames hadn't yet spread.
"Flame Spear. Split. Accelerate."
An interception aimed at neutralizing the opponent's counter and blocking their escape route.
‘The wind-attribute magic 'Wind Runner,' which allows for continuous aerial directional changes and leaps, is a 5th-circle spell.’
This meant Rowen, who could only use up to 4th-circle magic, would inevitably have his movement path restricted...
"Air Shock."
At that moment, wind gathered beneath Rowen's feet.
The compressed air exploded.
Rowen used the recoil to completely change direction.
Kain tried to pursue the remaining Flame Spears, but...
"Air Shock."
Rowen used Air Shock as if it were Wind Runner, closing the distance once again.
‘His wind magic and physical balance are both top-notch.’
Wind Runner includes the effect of 'Air Cushion' and intrinsically assists the user in changing direction as intended.
However, Air Shock is not a spell originally meant for stepping and leaping; it merely causes an omnidirectional explosion at a set point.
Precisely stepping on it at the right timing and maintaining physical balance while moving freely was a high-level technique.
"Fire Wall."
As long as his opponent was using wind magic, close-quarters combat was no longer an advantageous fight.
Kain had no choice but to deploy a Fire Wall and create distance.
"Haste."
However, it was impossible to completely shake off Rowen, who was chasing him with Haste.
"If I get my movement restricted by wind magic at close range, and then hit by a Flare mixed with the 'Directional Explosion' , a spell formula that controls the explosion direction, it's over.’
A spell that completely controls the explosion direction of magic consumes a lot of mental energy.
There's also a high chance of creating an opening if it misses.
Therefore, Rowen would likely use it at a crucial moment.
"Fire Needles. Air Sting."
The magic now pouring forth would be preliminary work to create that timing.
It was an extremely unfavorable fight, but...
Kain infused mana into his body.
He maintained his mana perception to eliminate blind spots, read trajectories to dodge, and used fire magic and Body Reinforcement to counter unavoidable attacks.
"Fire Arrow. Wind Cutter."
Kain was fully immersed in combat.
The countless number of battles he had fought until now.
He utilized his natural instincts and experience in every single moment to continue the spar.
"Wow..."
"What am I even watching?"
The observing disciples were amazed, but their admiration didn't stem from complete understanding.
The subtle yet crucial movements woven into every moment of this battle were so profound that the disciples watching couldn't even grasp how remarkable they truly were.
"Hmph."
However, limits soon arrived.
Rowen was still pressing Kain, creating opportunities without ever relinquishing the initiative.
And Kain began to hit his physical limits.
His openings increased.
He was now covering them through prediction rather than immediate reaction.
His mana also showed its limits.
It was only natural.
He had to supply mana from his dantian to his circles, but the mana in his dantian was being used for Body Reinforcement, and his fire magic was being powered by the mana stored in the circles he had so solidly built until now.
It wasn't a long time, but he had endured for a long time.
Just having endured this much was remarkable.
But Kain did not give up until the very end.
As his opening appeared, and Rowen was about to exploit it.
"Fireball."
He suddenly launched a Fireball at Rowen's face.
As if his mana was already depleted, even the Fireball was noticeably smaller.
Rowen dodged it by simply tilting his head.
And as Rowen reached out to deliver the finishing blow.
Shing—.
Kain, for the first time, drew a dagger from his waist.
His only technique, never before shown: Mana Enchantment.
Holding the dagger, Kain swung it towards Rowen's protective artifact as he closed the distance.
"Wow."
But perhaps it was due to the forced use of Mana Enchantment in an already mana-depleted state.
Rowen easily stepped back and dodged the dagger, which was swung with clearly visible movements.
And at that moment.
"…!"
Kain let go of the dagger.
With Mana Enchantment still active, the dagger flew towards Rowen's neck.
"From the start...!"
Realizing that the dagger had been swung with the intention of being thrown from the very beginning, Rowen immediately canceled the finishing blow he was about to cast and quickly infused mana into his body, twisting his upper torso.
WHOOSH.
The dagger narrowly missed Rowen's neck.
"...Excellent."
He had pushed Rowen to the limit by repeatedly employing unexpected tactics until the very end.
That alone was more than enough to warrant a near-perfect score.
Even if he didn't receive a perfect score, he would surely meet the requirements for the Promotion Exam.
Rowen once again extended his hand, preparing a Flare mixed with the Directional Explosion spell for the finishing blow.
He would begin the incantation, but he wouldn't activate the spell.
Kain would know that the spar ended the moment the incantation was complete.
So, Rowen began chanting while simultaneously searching for any escape routes Kain might attempt to take.
"Flare, Directional Explosion."
And simultaneously.
CRACKLE.
Rowen's protective artifact activated.
CRACKLE.
Behind Rowen's neck, the dagger Kain had thrown was embedded in the protective artifact's barrier, vibrating.
"...Indeed."
The dagger soon lost its power and fell to the floor.
However, it was clear that if it had hit, it possessed enough force to end the spar.
"Using Fireball at the end was to use the simplest magic possible to mix in an additional spell formula without incantation."
Rowen slowly lowered his hand.
"The dagger wasn't thrown to hit me in the first place, but to be thrown at the location where the Fireball would explode."
He had secretly embedded the coordinates for the explosion point into the Fireball without incantation.
Then, he threw the dagger precisely at that spot, making the dagger, propelled by the force of the explosion, target Rowen's vital spot.
"And even the gesture to show he could evade until the very end, to draw my attention."
Rowen chuckled.
Then he announced the result of the spar.
"Since the dagger struck simultaneously with the end of my incantation, the result is a draw."
Rowen extended his hand to Kain.
"Congratulations. A perfect score."
THUD.
Upon hearing the result, Kain collapsed backward.
