A dreary mood hangs over the city of Titania on this afternoon of mourning.
Most of the residents from all levels have gathered on the Entertainment Floor, where the past tragedy claimed four lives.
Lady Evelyn leads the proceedings near a newly-erected statue, depicting four large hands reaching for an hourglass.
The names of the dead are inscribed on a metal plate off to the side, just close enough that Ryuu can read them.
Pam, Addy, Marcus Lite, Ollie–these are the people that had died in his attempt to buy time.
Sherry and Isaac stand on either side of him with regretful looks in their eyes.
Ryuu knows they continue to blame themselves, and he’s not exactly in a position to change their minds.
They watch as Lady Evelyn finishes her parting speech for the lost souls, then allows people to bring their gifts.
A sea of flowers and ripe fruit grows around the statue as the citizens of Titania offer whatever they can to their fallen family.
“I can’t watch this anymore…”
Isaac turns back toward the palace, leaving the other two to do as they please.
Sherry glances at Ryuu, but doesn’t speak.
The look in his eye is unlike any intensity he’s shown before, as if he’s constantly reliving some horrific memory.
I can’t afford to forget these names.
I’ll carry them with me, and take out Garth to avenge them.
I won’t be able to go back to Mahora if I can’t do that much!
Ryuu patiently stands through the rest of the ceremony, waiting until only the families of the dead remain to leave.
Sherry had left sometime earlier with Lucian, presumably to train with Isaac, so he decides to head straight for the training yard after offering his condolences once more.
******
After arriving at the top of the magic elevator, he hops the fence and continues onward, until he finds the three others in the usual clearing.
Their training with Lucian has been the opposite of his own: focusing solely on improving their basics.
Sherry is an Intermediate M’yin, but her Talent is supposedly powerful enough for her to have high value as a supporter without developing it further.
Isaac is in a similar boat.
Ryuu’s heard the boy has an incredibly potent Talent, but he hates to use it, which resulted in him learning a multitude of magic arts.
To supplement their powerful Talents, they must improve their stamina, and strengthen their foundations as M’yin.
“Dragon Blade, you’re just in time. These two have already run out of stamina.”
“I’m sorry, Sir Lucian!”
“Ugh… My head hurts…”
Lucian sighs and turns away from them.
He then wordlessly claps his hands together and summons his sword of light, aiming its sharp edge toward Ryuu.
The trainee casts his own magic without hesitation and lunges at his mentor.
Two sets of golden claws meet a magic sword in rapid succession as they drag their fight across the entire yard.
The Blades had fought like this the previous day for hours on end, and now, Ryuu is able to consistently create two gauntlets with his spell (and two sabatons when casting [Shredding Talons], of course).
The elder Blade parries a few swipes and kicks Ryuu away as a constant thought nags him.
“This man claims to be self-taught, and I’m starting to see it. Every time we exchange blows, he adjusts himself, bit by bit. After a fight, he comes back like the last one never ended. His strikes are ruthless, and his instincts are honestly frightening. It’s as if I’m guiding a monster made to fight.”
Ryuu recovers from the kick and circles his opponent in a wide arc.
A blast of light sends him rolling for cover, then he raises his claws as he predicts an attack.
Lucian clicks his tongue as Ryuu manages to block his thrust, then unleashes a flurry of thrusts from point blank.
The white-haired man abandons any thoughts of dodging, and instead expels mana from his body in one burst.
The effect is weak, barely dampening the power of Lucian’s spell, but it works as a makeshift Overload art.
Lucian raises an eyebrow in question of Ryuu’s sudden improv, and is answered by a [Shredding Talons] to the chest.
He parries at the last second, but the strike sends him back a few feet.
“At this rate, you’ll surpass me in no time,” he mutters.
“No need to flatter me,” Ryuu fires back.
“Come on, I’m just getting warmed up! We’re gonna do this until the festival is underway!”
They resume their fighting, day after day–the unchanging weather of Titania reflecting their unwavering drive as they push each other to new heights.
A week passes by with the usual shared breakfasts and dinners, and during training, Ryuu manages to land a lucky slash on Lucian’s shoulder.
Their constant cycle–eat, train, bathe, train, eat, sleep, repeat–has taken its toll on the three misfits, but their growth is undeniable.
******
As the day before the festival rolls around–two weeks after Ryuu’s arrival in Titania–the training yard is filled with the usual sounds of exploding magic.
Sherry and Isaac watch with amused stares as Lucian and Ryuu trade [Magic Cannons] over and over.
They continue until one person’s [Barrier] cracks under pressure, then that person starts on defense.
This is how they’ve started their fights a majority of the time, which helped Ryuu learn to take in and refine mana much faster.
Ryuu’s Barrier art eventually shatters, causing Lucian to immediately close the gap with [Glinting Greaves].
A heavy kick rushes through the air, but the younger Blade manages to bend back just enough that he feels the wind hit his face as it passes.
While keeping both hands on the ground, he twists his body and launches a heel at his opponent’s face, which gets intercepted by a high kick.
The two of them push off each other and adjust into neutral stances.
Lucian shoots off a [Magic Cannon] without warning, but it’s deflected by an angled [Barrier], giving Ryuu cover to slide inside of their guard.
He quickly strikes with fists of aura, but he’s still unable to reach his mentor.
Lucian steps into the air with his spell still active, then casts [Edge of Light] as he swipes his sword through the air.
A curved blade of light shoots out and scorches Ryuu’s shoulder, to which he grimaces and uses {Recovery} to erase the evidence.
All of my skills have risen to the next stage compared to two weeks ago.
Now that all of my basic techniques and arts are silent, I can abuse the element of surprise in a fight.
I’m even able to keep up with Lucian when he’s not aiming to kill.
There’s still an issue, though: I don’t know how to counter Garth’s magic.
I’ve tried to learn [Overload] on my own, but it wasn’t possible in this limited time.
After several more exchanges, Ryuu collapses to the dirt as Lucian lets his sword dissipate.
“Good work. I’m confident that you’ll be able to find a path to victory as you are now. Although you’re still Intermediate-Tier, no ordinary Advanced-Tier should best you in combat, or you’ll bring shame on me as the one that trained you.”
“Yeah, thanks! When they attack tomorrow, I’ll head straight for Garth!”
“It’s not certain that they’ll attack the day of the festival, but I admire your energy. Take the rest of today off. Despite what I just said, it would be best if you’re at full capacity tomorrow.”
Ryuu nods as Lucian dismisses him and paces back inside the Mystic Palace.
He then glances at his two friends quietly talking on log seats nearby.
The three of them have grown closer over these past weeks confined to the palace–perhaps more so than they’ve grown in power.
Isaac glances over once Ryuu stands up, then sits up straight next to Sherry.
“Ah, Ryuu… Are you done?”
“Sure am. He told me to relax for today, but I can’t just sit around doing nothing. I was wondering if you could show me [Overload] again.”
“I guess so…but you better not overdo it.”
Ryuu waves his worries off with a fake smile, then Sherry speaks up.
“We’re serious, Sir Ryuu. We don’t know what may happen tomorrow, so we have to stay as ready as possible.”
“Yeah, I get that, which is why I want Isaac to show me. This is the only way I can think of surviving that guy’s spell.”
“Didn’t it beat you because you were already past your limits?”
“I could’ve toughed it out if that was the case. I shrouded myself in aura, but the spell completely bypassed my defenses. There’s no doubt that it’s a lethal spell with basically zero travel time.”
Isaac peeks his head back into the conversation with wide eyes.
“What..? Then how do you plan on beating Garth, even if you do learn [Overload]?”
“I don’t know.”
“”HUH?!””
“What do you mean you don’t know?!” Sherry exclaims.
“What have you been doing all this time?!”
“If you don’t know how you’re going to win, then stop trying to cram more magic arts into your head!” Isaac adds on.
They let him go after shouting a bit longer.
Ryuu’s jacket has already repaired its creases by the time he adjusts his necktie.
“I usually leave plans like that for when I’m in the moment,” he replies.
“You never know what an opponent could pull out, so I don’t really see the point in making huge strategies.”
Sherry glances up after catching her breath.
Although her face is red from over worrying, her eyes remain as serious as ever.
“That kind of talk is… Well, I suppose it’s just like you, Sir Ryuu. Even in this short time, I’ve seen you improve leaps and bounds simply by fighting. I have no choice but to believe in you.”
Ryuu nods in thanks, then turns his attention to Isaac with a small smirk.
“Come onnnn, you know you wanna show me one more time.”
“Ugh… And I’m expected to roam around the festival tomorrow?”
Isaac stands and folds back the long sleeves of his robes.
“Alright, this is really the last time, so watch closely.”
He closes his eyes and draws large wells of mana inward from the surrounding atmosphere.
Ryuu uses [Mana Sense] to catch every detail of the art: the rapid intake of mana, the control required to fight against the instinct to filter it, then the strong release of pure mana from Isaac’s entire body.
“If you picture the natural mana intake of a M’yin as normal breathing, then imagine this art as hyperventilating… You’re able to take in decent portions of mana while simultaneously releasing the last supply. The downsides are the same: you’ll quickly get light-headed, and even if you only use it for a short time, you’ll find your rhythm thrown off… What that means is your spells and arts will be less effective for a short time. Mastering when to use [Overload] is a sign of an extremely skilled M’yin, which speaks to the difficulty level.”
Isaac finally lets the mana fade around him as he finishes his speech.
Sherry catches him by the arms before he collapses to the ground.
The younger boy holds his forehead and mutters, “I hate using that one…” as he’s carried under a shaded area.
I’ve watched him do that a dozen times now, but I still can’t seem to get the hang of it.
I’m usually good with this stuff too… What’s different this time?
******
Ryuu returns inside after an afternoon of trying to learn the magic art.
Frustrated by his failure, he takes a quick bath before heading to the library in search of some kind of hint.
A winding maze of old research notes and biographies lines the floor of the darkly-lit room.
The desperate man’s eyes glance at the display case he’d seen last time he was in here, but he dismisses it and navigates to a shelf labeled “Masters of Magic”.
He mumbles the titles of books as he runs his finger over them, row after row, until he finally stops at a particularly thick one.
The Musclebound Master of Overloading.
How convenient!
After finding a nearby desk, Ryuu opens the book and flips through the first several pages.
The details on the Master’s childhood and road to mastery aren’t interesting to him–the knowledge on [Overload] is the treasure.
It takes about fifty pages for the first portion of detail to catch his eye.
“Those who wish to become proficient with [Overload] must possess exceptional control. Some M’yin find this art hard to get the hang of due to the nature of their own wild magic, which can be fueled by strength of emotion. It’s not a common issue to encounter, but of those I’ve met, only two have ever managed to overcome the difficulty.”
A direct quote from the Master?
This is basically saying I should give up though…
If you are one of the few who cannot learn this magic art, do not fret!
Despite the Master’s words, those that couldn’t overcome the learning curve still managed to become respectable M’yin.
Remember, knowing every art doesn’t make you a Master, and not all Masters know every art.
“Ugh!”
Ryuu drops his head onto the desk as he lets the book flip shut.
No matter how stubborn he is, even he can’t deny the mountain of evidence piling up.
Dammit, is it really because of the nature of my Talent?
The quote mentioned something about “wild magic”…
Does that include me?
If so, I should still be able to figure something out.
When one path is blocked, I just have to make a new one!
Without relocating to practice, Ryuu begins storing mana right in the middle of the library.
The light of small crystals begins to fluctuate while his power rises, and the books carrying traces of mana respond to the changing currents.
The ever-growing Blade has been testing the limits of his Talent during training, as instructed by Lucian, but the most change he saw was a message in his head saying “Progress to Evolution: 24%”.
He still has no idea what it means, or what the conditions for raising the number are, but the word “evolution” has given him an idea.
“Now, [Piercing Claws]! [Shredding Talons]!”
Golden mana materializes around Ryuu’s limbs.
During his many battles with his mentor, he had realized exactly how much his spells improve his physical abilities.
The idea is to mimic the way Lucian fights: by enhancing his mobility and precision using a constant application of armament-type spells.
[Shredding Talons] for explosive movement and power, and [Piercing Claws] for defense and a kill-shot.
Unfortunately, the progress on this method isn’t faring much better than [Overload]…
Ryuu exhales through grit teeth as his attempt sputters out once again.
“Why?! I know dual-casting is supposed to be hard, but I chain aura techniques and magic arts all the time!”
He childishly stomps his foot as the challenge sends him into a small fit.
Soon enough, he finds his composure, but not before a pair of curious eyes watches everything unfold.
“Wow! A hidden side appeared!”
“Who’s there?!”
Ryuu whips around to find Sherry peeking out from behind a nearby shelf.
She’s trying to hide a very obvious grin, which brings his frustration back.
“What?! You think this is funny?!”
“Yes, I do. You know, instead of doing all of this last minute scrambling, you could’ve just asked for my help. We’ve been training together all this time, but you haven’t even asked Isaac and I what our Talents are.”
“Uh… What do I need to know that for?”
“Now you’re trying to act dumb to cover up your embarrassment. This is why I was trying to talk to you earlier about a plan, but obviously you’re the type that has to crash and burn on their own first, Sir Ryuu.”
“…Right. Can you just tell me your Talent, then?”
Sherry sighs and walks out from behind the shelf.
“Fine, but only because I like you. My Talent is Chained Supporter. I could get into a lot of detail, but in summary, my Talent allows me to cast a certain type of support spell, but only on one target at a time.”
“Sounds annoying, having to rely on someone else to fight for you.”
“Do you believe that a person’s Talent has an effect on their nature, or that it simply aligns with it? Either way, I believe my power suits me. I like being able to help others however I can.”
“Yeah, you’re a good person, after all. One question: is it normal for supporters to be able to buff multiple people at once?”
“It’s certainly more common. However, my Talent trades that benefit for another: protection.”
“What does that mean?”
“Remember when I mentioned that my magic type is Protective? Having a Talent that buffs or heals others would usually be regarded as a Restorative-type, but there’s a unique quality in my magic. I can’t cast spells on myself, but when my buffing spell is active, I’m guarded by a mysterious energy. Even I don’t know exactly what it is, but Sir Lucian himself wasn’t able to leave a scratch on me in that state.”
Ryuu rubs his chin as he considers the implication of such a condition in battle.
“There are certainly demerits, but the bottom line is that you can freely monitor the timing of your spells without worrying about getting hurt, right? Doesn’t that make you like the ultimate supporter or something?”
“Haha, nothing like that. The truth is, I have next to no experience when it comes to using my magic during an actual fight. I’m afraid I just couldn’t handle it if someone died while I was supporting them… I know I would take all the blame unto myself.”
“I can understand that. You’re as kind as you are unusual, Sherry.”
“You’re one to talk, Sir Ryuu!”
The two of them share a quiet laugh in the library as she playfully shoves him away. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
The pleasant atmosphere persists for a few moments, before another question comes to mind.
“Okay, so what kind of spells are you going to use on me? If you’re planning on staying within range, you’re going to have to be quick. This Garth guy is serious, so I won’t be able to take you into consideration.”
“Don’t worry, I haven’t been training these past two weeks for nothing. It may not be enough for me to keep pace with an athletic freak of nature like you, but Sir Lucian has been giving me extra training to improve my mental and physical stamina.”
“So he’s in on this too. Well, that’s to be expected. He must’ve noticed me royally failing at [Overload].”
“A-anyway, the issue is your magic control, right? That’s why you can’t get the hang of dual-casting, nor the Overload art. My spell, [Max Mind], will sharpen your focus and help prevent you from going into magic burnout. I’m sure the boost I can provide will be enough to bring you to the next level!”
Ryuu blankly stares at her after she finishes stammering, then breaks out into a wide grin.
“Sherry! Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?!”
He picks her up by the shoulders and spins around like a parent celebrating with their child.
Sherry quickly gets dizzy while Ryuu continues to spin, then he sets her down and watches her stumble into a desk.
“You’ve been holding out on me! Oh well, water under the bridge now. Tomorrow, the three of us will take the fight directly to those bastards!”
“T-the three of us? Does t-that mean you’ve decided to include Isaac?”
“Yeah, we decided that a while ago. I don’t know what his Talent is, but I can hardly see him needing one. Isaac is capable of using enough magic arts to look like a Master, although some of them are rough around the edges. It would take another opponent like Garth to give him trouble.”
Sherry nods and smiles, her hair still sticking out in a few spots after being spun around.
“I’m glad to see you’ve decided against doing things alone this time. The three of us, as well as the rest of Titania’s M’yin, will protect this city.”
******
The time for dinner soon arrives, prompting the two of them to meet the others in the dining hall.
The usual seats are taken, leaving Ryuu and Sherry to slide in at opposite sides of the table.
Lucian speaks before letting Ryuu fully sit, causing the younger man to flinch.
“I hope you’ve rested well.”
“U-um… Yeah.”
Lady Evelyn pats her mouth with a cloth before tilting her wine glass toward him.
“Ryuu, I hear you’ve grown into a fighter worthy of Lucian’s respect. Why don’t you leave the Mahora family and come work for me?”
“H-huh?”
“Hehehe, just kidding. However, I am leaving an important task up to you. I’ve assigned all of my citizens capable of fighting to different areas of the city, including Lucian, but you and your group alone will be allowed to move around as you please during the festival. If the man you’re after happens to attack the castle, then that’s fine, but I doubt things will be so simple.”
“I trust you’ve heard from Lucian about their target,” he replies.
“It seems the group is after either Sherry or Isaac, or perhaps something they possess.”
“Yes, I’m aware. We’re letting you all roam despite that because we hope to pull them in.”
“But why? Garth is strong, but he’s not the best they’ve got. We should expect at least another-”
“We’ve already thought that part out. That is why Lucian’s assigned area isn’t an actual floor, but wherever the strongest enemy happens to be. Ignoring your opponent, my Blade will find the biggest threat and immediately remove it. He will continue to do so until everyone has been thoroughly crushed, so it’s up to you to finish your fight before then.”
Is she serious?
I doubt this will be the same as Mahora; they won’t just attack with twenty or thirty people.
Unlike before, they’re aware that Lucian, the Radiant Blade, is here.
And yet, she’s suggesting that it could all end before I even finish one fight?!
Lucian sips his wine before glancing at Ryuu from the side.
“Don’t look so worried. I’m under the impression that this battle could be much bigger than Lady Evelyn is envisioning. It’s also likely that there’s more than one thing they’re after here. Sherry or Isaac may simply be secondary to something larger.”
“Right. I didn’t think of that.”
Isaac finally speaks up after minutes of poking at his food.
“Do I have permission to use my Talent, Lady Evelyn?”
She nods at him with a thin smile.
“Yes, as long as you’re sure you have no other option. I’m prepared to clean up the aftermath.”
Ryuu raises a brow mid-bite.
“Woah, what’s that supposed to mean? I already figured it would be something cool, but don’t tell me you have some kind of hero-level power, Isaac?”
“It’s not like that… I’m nothing like a hero.”
Lady Evelyn holds a hand in the air before addressing his concerns.
“Isaac’s Talent is one most people would be afraid of if they saw it. It’s not inherently evil, as can be seen from the wielder’s good-nature, but the effects are certainly…frightening. The biggest reason it’s recommended not to be regularly used is-”
“I hate using it. The last time I cast a certain spell, I didn’t leave my room for three months…though, that was seven years ago. But like I said before, Ryuu… If I don’t use my power in times like this, then why was I even born?”
“Isaac…”
This kid, is he really alright?
I mean, the gloomy vibe has always been there, but I’m getting the feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg.
The duchess speaks up once more while raising her glass in the air.
“Enough of that. Tonight, we feast. And tomorrow, we celebrate! We’ll squash the mysterious organization in no time and enjoy the city’s festival!”
“”Yeah!””
The five of them finish their evening with good food and conversation amongst people they would now consider close.
Once dismissed, everyone disperses to their individual rooms and begins to prepare for the eventful day ahead.
Ryuu stares out of the window in his temporary bedroom.
The Upper Levels of Titania are visible below, and the events prepared for tomorrow’s festival are out waiting in the streets.
I’ll win, no matter what.
He may have been holding back last time, but as I am now… I’ll become someone worthy of my title, and avenge the lives that preserved mine.
***Hyouma***
Flickering lights struggle on the ceiling of a deep chamber, where nothing can be seen through the all-consuming darkness.
A group of four figures shrouded in shadows sit around an oval table in the center of the chamber, staring at each other as they bicker about something.
A shadow with bulging muscles and spiked hair leans back in their chair.
“I’m tellin’ ya, that brat had some backbone. I’m sure he’ll come barkin’ for a rematch the second he sees me.”
The figure across from them, whose hair always seems to be a wild mess, laughs aloud.
“Hah! That sounds like him alright. It looks like he followed his savior all the way to Titania, but for what?”
“It doesn’t matter, we’ll proceed as planned.”
All heads turn toward the person next to the muscular one.
Smooth waves of hair flow down their back, and the power that radiates from them causes even their allies to flinch.
“The target is the one with the power to shatter limits. With that, the boss’ wishes can come true at last. Of course, I’ll be leaving that to the imbecile beside me.”
“Hey!”
“While the primary targets are being handled, I will raid the Mystic Palace myself.
A certain artifact resides in Titania, one that I plan on taking for myself while we’re visiting.
The final figure, one with a protruding face and a flowing cloak around their body, rises from their chair at this.
“You can’t possibly mean you’re going to confront the Radiant Blade on your own?! You know that the number of grunts you bring with you won’t change a thing!”
“You’re one to talk. After your recent failure, I’m surprised the boss hasn’t already stripped you of your usefulness.”
“Gk! You bitch, you would dare-”
“Enough.”
The messy-haired figure cuts off their partner.
“I wanna hear what this is about. Which artifact are you after?”
The long-haired shadow nods and continues once more.
“One of the five S-grade artifacts: Heaven Piercer. The legends describe it as an otherworldly spear with power capable of splitting the sky itself. If I can get my hands on that, the boss will greatly reward me.”
“Hmph, boring. You guys are way too obsessed with the boss.”
The four people argue over nonsense as the darkness around them expands.
Deep beneath the ground, unbeknownst to the surrounding cities, the siege of the Northern Reaches is about to begin.