A few moments of silence fell on the battlefield. Silkzesta and Rusalka were convinced this fight was over. Nobody could win against such a monster. Yet that silence was broken.
“Kuh!!”
With a grunt like he was getting out of bed, Magnus leaped back on his feet.
“Master!! He seems… fine?” (Rusalka)
“What!? I don’t get it myself! He's back in the fight, and with such light movement, as if he wasn't injured despite such a brutal attack!? How can this be!?” (Silkzesta)
Magnus casually started dusting his robe and his wounds were enveloped in a green light and started to close.
“Oi, bastard, what the hell are you? There’s no way you can be fine after an attack like that!!” (Leona)
Even Leona was left stumbled. That should not have happened. He shouldn’t have been able to stand up anymore. So why does he look like nothing happened?
“Your voice seems angry, but your face is the complete opposite. Are you perhaps happy that I got back up?” (Magnus)
Leona didn't understand what Magnus meant. It seemed like it was just something random he spurted. Yet she raised her left hand and touched her face. She could feel that her lips were curled up. She was… smiling against her will?
“Leona-sama, I think I understand what you're going through. Since birth you always strived to win. And it reached the point where winning feels so natural for you just as natural as breathing is. That's why… you're excited right now.
You aren't confident in winning. Something that should feel natural to you isn't. The excitement and fear is giving you new meaning.”
“You… you're saying… I’m afraid of you?”
“Not directly, but most likely in your subconscious. Deep down in your heart you probably wish to experience it, even if only once. So I shall teach you. I shall teach you the taste of defeat.”
“Don’t… make fun of me!!”
*Katsun!!*
Once again, Leona stabbed her sword into the ground unleashing her Penetrator Sword. However this time… Magnus did not fall. If anything, a gust of wind just formed around him. Akin to a wind bullet hitting a rock wall.
“What!? What the hell did you do?”
“I’m sorry, but that won't work on me anymore.”
“Bastard! I asked you what did you do!!?”
“Have you heard of Spell Breaker?”
Spell Breaker. It's common knowledge, so even someone like Leona was aware. When someone casts a spell, if the opponent can analyze the magic formation in the spell or knows the spell himself he can literally cancel the spell out. But what does this have to do with Leona’s attack? It wasn't magic.
“Your attack relies on transmitting vibration. In that regard, your slash is no different than the spell Howl of the Banshee. Sound and vibration are not that different. They just use different frequencies.”
“Frequency?”
Most people in this era were not aware of such terms.
“I let you hit me earlier on purpose to identify that frequency. And now that I have… your attacks won't work on me anymore.”
Nothing he was saying here was a lie. Part of her could feel that. Yet she could not comprehend.
Magnus was standing before her without running away because he was confident of attaining victory.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Leona’s lips parted and she wailed, the better to vent the emotions welling up inside her breast.
Leona was the lion, Magnus was an insignificant lizard, she should have been the hunter — no, that was wrong.
Yet this totally became a battle between two full fledged lions.
The anxious and uneasy Leona clutched at her sword, intending to finish this battle right away, intending to kill her foe with strike after strike.
She slashed repeatedly, splitting the air itself. She thought that multiple Penetrator Swords would finish this battle.
Yet, the proud Sword Saintess could not help but doubt her eyes.
This was impossible.
The slashes bounced off Magnus's body.
“Just… how much mana do you have left!?”
“Were you perhaps expecting me to exhaust my mana?”
It's true that a normal person would not have mana left if they were to have cast everything Magnus has cast. But Magnus was not a normal person.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I still have more than half of my mana.”
Cold sweat started to form on Leona's forehead. She felt that he was probably looking down on her. She was angry, of course, but thrilled at the same time. Leona did not have the energy to spare on her emotions though, because a cold voice spoke to her:
“Leona Ironwill! Open your eyes and realize that your place is beneath me!!”
“Aaaah!! Get away from me!”
“Too late!”
5 magic formations started glowing on the ground. The 5 formations started connecting with one another, with Leona in its center.
When did he place these formations? Don't tell me… during our clash earlier?
That's how it happened. During their little dance, Magnus not only fended off Leona's blows but strategically tapped his staff multiple times on the ground to place them.
“You think I can't jump out of this?”
“Indeed I do. Gravity Fall!”
A stronger version of gravity bind was now pressing on Leona, rendering her imobile. The spell Magnus was preparing to unleash had a slow cast time.
“It's over. Activate 7th tier spell - Golden Nova!!”
With those words, a brilliant flash of golden light erupted and swallowed up everything. A gigantic pillar of gold light.
Leona could feel her body spasming in anguish in the incredible heat. Magnus was aware that this won't kill her because of the Crimson Aura, but that doesn't mean the damage won't be significant.
Her face started to dry up from the incoming heat, and all she could see before her was gold.
She could only realize that now…
She was lying imobile on the ground unable to lift a single finger. She could only see the figure of the man who defeated her. It was her loss.
Her throat was dried up too — so it was difficult to speak. Still, there was one thing she had to say.
“...Ah, I… completely lost. You… Truly, you are the mightiest… and that makes me… happy…”
~Magnus’s POV~
Kyuuu! That was extremely scary! I’ve never been so terrified in my entire life. Seriously, acting high and mighty doesn't suit me at all. I’m glad it was enough to at least make her doubt herself. If she was more serious I would seriously have died. Even now my knees are like jelly, I feel like I could collapse any second.
But that obviously wouldn't be cool. I would look pathetic. Leaving that aside, I hurried towards Leona. Golden Nova was the highest spell I was currently able to learn. If not for the Undead King's books this would have gone totally wrong for me. But back on track, Golden Nova packs a serious punch. I can't have her dying on me so I immediately placed my hands on top of her and casted the strongest recovery magic I knew. The same one I used to recover from her Penetrator Sword.
“Greater Heal Essence!”
Green light started to envelope Leona's body. Healing magic is usually inferior to perfect healing potions such as Elixirs, but I can only pray it will be enough. Needless to say…
“Whaa!!?”
She suddenly got up and was standing on her butt.
“Did it work?”
“Most… of the pain… is gone!? Magnus… just what in the world are you?”
“I don't know how I am supposed to answer that.”
With the aftermath of our battle Rusalka and Silkzesta rushed over.
“Uwaaa!! Master, you did it!! You're amazing! The strongest ever!”
Ahh! Such praise and cuteness is relieving my fatigue. Rusalka you truly are a treasure! As for Silkzesta, she faced Leona.
“I assume you won't object with the results of the match, right?” (Silkzesta)
Leona bit her lower lip and blushed? Huh? Why is she suddenly acting all girly?
“No… fair is fair. I gladly accept the result and my fate.”
What's she talking about? Is she expecting me to kill her? Don't tell me the Anshivita is a death match?
But that wasn't the case. She got up and looked me in the eyes while still blushing.
“Umm… is there something wrong?” (Magnus)
“It's just a bit embarrassing because I never thought this would happen with someone from another race. But… if it's you I can't complain… so…”
She got closer and wrapped her hands around my neck. And before I realized it…
*Smooooch!!*
She pressed her lips against mine. This sensation of the kiss was something that could be mistaken. I have never kissed a girl in my entire life.
“Mhphm!?”
I try opening my snout to speak but she immediately took that chance to wrap her tongue around mine. What's going on!? My head is starting to go blank. Honestly I probably would have fainted right now if not for Rusalka shouting and trying to storm Leona and Silk trying to hold her back.
But eventually Leona stopped this kiss and looked me in the eyes once more.
“Per the Anshivita, from this day onwards, you are my husband. Please treat me well, my beloved!” (Leona)
.
.
.
“EEEEEEEHH!!!” (Magnus)