“The brash kid doesn’t know his place and talks too much. Let’s see how long he can last…!!”
At that very moment, as the imposing man brandishing a lengthy, curved sword from his waist took a step closer to Weian.
The blade of Devon, who advanced swiftly with a graceful slide, sliced through the obscurity of the night air.
Shiiing!
The instant their forms brushed past each other was transitory.
As they bent their knees and entered each other’s personal spaces, their backs twisted, igniting sparks that seemed to dazzle the eyes.
Clang!
The ferocious assaults were exclusively aimed at vital points where flesh would be rent, rendering stemming the blood flow difficult.
Confronting these mana-infused strikes head-on would result in loss of equilibrium and life.
However, rather than retreating from this relentless onslaught, Weian pressed further inward, flexing his knees and rotating dramatically.
Ratatat!
As Weian revolved, two flashes of brilliance emanated from him, deflecting the flurry of strikes directed at him in all directions, tracing bold arcs.
“Ugh!”
Devon, with a sardonic grin, drove his fist into Weian’s flank.
“…!!”
“Realized you can’t win a power struggle head-on?”
Crack!
Devon twisted his fist, sending Weian’s body crashing into the ground.
Boom!
“Ugh…!!”
“I get that you don’t want to clash blades, but you should have avoided that. A swordsman needs to show off. Do you know why?”
Pfft!
Devon uttered this statement as he continued thrusting his sword at Weian, who was writhing on the ground.
From his prostrate position, Weian could only grit his teeth and deflect with his sword.
“If you show you’re scared, you’ll reduce your options right there. Kekeke!!”
Bang!
Devon laughed and then kicked Weian’s side, propelling him through the air.
Though it was a blow that shattered ribs, in actuality, it was more like affording Weian an opportunity.
Kicking away a perfectly executed mounted position was a display of unwavering confidence.
“…”
Lennok, who had been meticulously manipulating his mana with his arms folded, opened his mouth with a calm expression.
Even though Weian had reached a level where he could confront members of the Cartel, he was starting to fall behind against a top-tier adversary.
Despite the dire circumstances, his demeanor remained composed, which was commendable…
However, given the current situation, there was no reason to withhold advice.
“I’ve talked about this before.”
“…cough! What?”
Weian, attempting to rise amid a dry cough, turned his head upon hearing Lennok’s voice.
Lennok disregarded his gaze and, while casually assessing Eolara’s condition, continued speaking.
It appeared that Eolara had yet to notice Lennok’s intentions, presenting a suitable opportunity to provide Weian with guidance and buy some time.
With precision in controlling the direction of his voice, Lennok looked down at Weian.
“It’s about the sensitivity you possess.”
“…”
“An average person might not see a dramatic increase in combat ability just by realizing their talent, but you’re different.”
It was not a mere coincidence that Lennok had offered guidance to Weian upon recognizing his exceptional talent when they initially crossed paths.
Weian possessed an extraordinary talent that had disproportionately blossomed in the realm of magic sensitivity.
While such imbalanced talents had the potential to wreak havoc on one’s physical well-being, Lennok, with unwavering confidence, had chosen to nurture and support Weian in spite of this inherent risk.
This decision was rational.
The sensory experiences Weian garnered through his heightened sensitivity were undoubtedly on par with Lennok’s own.
If Lennok’s predictions held true, Weian’s aptitude for combat could ascend to new heights.
“Because the combat involves high-dimensional magic, your talent will shine even more.”
Weian listened to Lennok’s words with a bewildered expression and gradually assumed his stance.
Lennok continued to expound, his gaze fixed firmly on Weian’s back.
“In combat, not trusting one’s own senses. That’s not a bad attitude for a wizard, but for a warrior like you, it’s a completely different story.”
“…Okay.”
Weian clenched his teeth and raised his head in acknowledgment.
“I wouldn’t listen if it were someone else speaking… but since it’s Van, I’ll trust it this once.”
He began to focus, his body relaxing and his eyes narrowing.
Upon observing Weian’s posture, which seemed to lack any inclination to engage in combat, Devon’s lips curled into a fierce smile.
“Do I really have that kind of talent?”
“You’re just full of delightful nonsense.”
Upon witnessing Weian’s resolute gaze, Devon let out a disdainful sneer.
“Even if a brat like you has a chance for a reversal, don’t think I’m going to wait for your moment of awakening… No way!!”
Devon bellowed and swung his sword with formidable force.
However, Weian’s response this time was vastly different.
With a leisurely motion, he wielded the two swords in his grasp, then abruptly propelled himself beyond the shockwave, countering Devon’s offensive.
Boom!!
“…!!”
This time, the supposed sneak attack was flawlessly intercepted.
Weian’s expression remained unchanged despite the immense exertion involved in the block.
Devon’s nimble footwork, his subtly altered angle of attack—clear indicators that Weian had executed a perfect parry.
This displayed a level of combat skill that was leagues apart from their previous encounter.
As Devon’s expression slightly hardened, the two warriors clashed once more.
Boom boom boom!!
A series of resounding booms echoed relentlessly, incomparable to their previous skirmish.
Amidst the gunfire-like detonations, the swords wielded by the two swordsmen collided and deflected in all directions.
Weian’s head, swaying to and fro within the exchange, took on an oddly possessed demeanor.
It was at this point that Devon grasped the approach Weian had adopted in their combat and burst into manic laughter.
“Relying entirely on senses to wield a sword… You’re insane!!”
‘He must have realized after just a few punches. His eyes are quite sharp.’
Lennok promptly discerned Weian’s method of combat, but even so, he couldn’t help but commend Devon’s keen insight.
Rather than waiting for luck or some moment of awakening, Weian had chosen to place his full trust in Lennok’s counsel.
Now, Weian no longer relied solely on his own five senses.
Amidst his confrontation with Devon, he had abandoned even his sight, channeling all his focus into his magical sensitivity.
It was a daring move, but Lennok held a distinct confidence in this process.
Sensitivity was a power honed for the perception of mana.
As the distance between combatants diminished, it grew more sensitive and potent, particularly when confronted by formidable warriors like Devon.
No further words were necessary to convey this truth.
Weian had wholly immersed himself in the realm of his sixth sense, the magic sensitivity, deploying all other physical functions to respond in accordance with this extraordinary talent.
He employed his senses in an almost automatic manner, molding them to the dictates of his magic sensitivity for the purpose of combat.
This was a fighting technique that could only be executed with an unwavering trust in one’s own innate abilities.
“It’s been a while since I’ve met such an interesting brat… Here I come!!”
With Devon’s declaration, a wild surge of mana erupted from his form, enveloping both combatants.
The sword gripped in his hand, which he had been lightly maneuvering through the air, accelerated at such a blinding speed that it became nearly imperceptible.
In response, Weian’s body also surged with movement.
Clang clang clang!!
The clash of their swords produced an unbelievably deafening cacophony, mercilessly assaulting the eardrums.
Cement dust, crushed and shattered by their fierce confrontation, swirled around them, while the shockwaves they generated reverberated heavily through the atmosphere.
It was an unrelenting exchange that allowed no room for respite.
However, in the midst of this intense battle, it was not Weian who appeared battered and on the brink, but the dual-wielding swordsman whose movements grew increasingly erratic.
“Ugh…!!”
Movements that had once been discernible were now shrouded in invisibility, and the patterns he initiated were consistently thwarted by Weian’s swift counters, which now menaced his very throat.
Devon’s once composed countenance gradually paled, and his unkempt beard trembled uncontrollably.
He was reluctant to admit it, but his body had already begun to acknowledge the stark reality.
The fact that this young man, wielding twin tonfas with wild abandon, had undergone a radical transformation solely due to a piece of advice from that wizard.
“Argh! Help meee!”
The words that escaped his lips, oscillating between a swordsman’s pride and the specter of impending death, bordered on a desperate plea.
Thud!
As Devon cried out for Eolara’s assistance, a blade thrust into his chest, and in the very same moment, Eolara sprang into action.
Her punch was swifter than lightning.
With Weian’s magic sensitivity pushed to its limits, evading the blow should have posed little challenge.
However, as Eolara raised her fist, Weian’s body stiffened.
And then, Eolara’s fist struck true against Weian’s abdomen.
Boom!
“…!!!”
Even though Lennok had hastily erected a protective barrier to mitigate the force, the impact was still substantial.
Weian had sustained significant injuries from this single assault.
“Cough…!!!”
Weakened, bloodied, and struggling for breath, Weian staggered.
As Lennok moved forward to shield Weian, Jordan promptly assessed his condition.
“The accumulated pain has caused nerve paralysis… We need to stop the bleeding and stabilize the pulse right away.”
“…It’s going to be tiring, but I ask for immediate first aid.”
Without further words, Lennok retrieved a medical kit from his belongings and handed it over before slowly turning to face Eolara.
Eolara, her attire disheveled, was emitting an aura of magic as she gazed at Lennok.
“I didn’t know a few words of advice could change a person so much.”
She wiped away sweat trickling down her forehead, spat out saliva mingled with dust, and tied up her disheveled hair.
“I knew you were a completed wizard, but it seems you also have quite the skill as an educator.”
“We have something in common, after all.”
Lennok himself had not anticipated that Weian would transform the situation so dramatically with just a few words of counsel. Instead, Weian had embraced Lennok’s advice to an extreme degree, pushing past his own limits in an instant. In essence, without taking such an audacious gamble of placing complete reliance on his sensitivity, it would have been exceedingly challenging to achieve a breakthrough in the heat of the moment.
However, for Eolara, it wouldn’t have appeared out of the ordinary that Lennok had instigated such a profound change in someone with mere words.
“You’re a kind teacher. A talent that our organization is always desperately searching for. But…”
She let out a soft chuckle and slowly raised her head. As Eolara turned her gaze toward Lennok, her right eye gleamed with an eerie purplish hue, a phenomenon he had never encountered before.
“That’s because business is business.”
Upon witnessing the peculiar gleam in her eye, Lennok muttered to himself.
“Those eyes… Was that why you were hiding your face?”
“…”
Even though it was his first direct encounter with it, the concentration of mana within her pupils was unmistakable.
The Demonic Eye.
A rare condition even among wizards, typically manifested due to innate talent or specific circumstances.
Eolara was a bearer of such a Demonic Eye.
Lennok regarded her with intrigue as he advanced.
“Given that only one of your eyes has changed color, it’s not originally yours. And the prominent veins around your eyes suggest a physical transplant, correct?”
Rather than responding, Eolara remained silent, her lips curving slightly.
Lennok, due to his studies of theories and literature, possessed some knowledge of such unique traits among mana users. Peculiarities like the Demonic Eye tended to leave a lasting impression.
Normally, when a Demonic Eye was awakened, it appeared in both eyes, and unless it was an exceptionally unusual Demonic Eye, it did not exhibit external signs.
However, Eolara’s Demonic Eye resided exclusively in her right eye and was accompanied by strangely conspicuous veins, as if they were on the brink of bursting.
This was a clear indication that her eyes were not originally equipped with Demonic Eyes.
“I thought Weian’s reaction was slow, but I never imagined you were a Demonic Eye bearer. If someone utilizes magic sensitivity to the extreme, they would be completely vulnerable to the abilities of a Demonic Eye.”
Eolara’s Demonic Eye, which allowed her to somewhat visualize the flow of mana, would have granted her insight into how Weian was utilizing his magic sensitivity. Moreover, since Weian had fully opened his sensitivity to actively receive external stimuli, Eolara might have calculated that he would be vulnerable to the Demonic Eye’s influence.
However, instead of delving into such circumstances, Lennok steered the conversation in an entirely different direction.
“You. You let that man die on purpose just now, didn’t you?”
“…”
“You had a chance to intervene before Weian’s last attack hit, but you didn’t move… He wasn’t a subordinate you cared about, I take it.”
It was precisely because of this that Lennok’s involvement at the moment Weian was attacked had been ambiguous. He had awaited Eolara’s move to rescue Devon and had intended to resolve the situation promptly, but she had watched Devon meet his demise and only acted after a delay.
“Maybe you just didn’t like saving a murderer? I’m not really fond of Cartel’s management style.”
“Ha… Stop with the baseless slander.”
She sighed softly, her gaze fixed on Lennok, who fearlessly provoked her.
“Whether or not I like a subordinate isn’t the issue right now.”
With that response, Eolara slowly lowered her stance and commenced channeling her mana.
Vroom!
Her internal mana surged fervently, transcending the limitations of her physical strength.
Crunch…!
As her foot twisted the surface of the sports field, the ground gave way, and a cloud of dust billowed into the air.
Despite maintaining her composed demeanor until this point, Eolara had never once averted her gaze from the enigmatic wizard standing before her.
The disparity in rank between a branch head of the Cartel and a mere freelancer was significant, but Lennok’s stature more than bridged that gap.
He was a rising star who had forged a reputation by successfully executing a series of substantial contracts in just over two years. An enigmatic wizard who had materialized in District 49 seemingly overnight, concealing both his origins and background in an impenetrable shroud of secrecy.
He preferred solitary work but boasted combat instincts that rivaled those of his seasoned peers in the midst of battle.
Even in the most intricate of conflicts and on the perilous front lines, he retained an unwavering composure.
His talent was one that could seamlessly slot into any organization, be it the leaders of the criminal underworld, the Three Heads, covert agents, or corporate titans.
Based on the intelligence gleaned by the Cartel’s research division, he was assessed as being at least level 5, and perhaps even higher—a bona fide Genius.
Given the treatment that wizards above level 4 typically received in this field, his choice to operate independently was an exceptionally rare talent.
Direct confrontation was a last resort. Eolara had initially planned to merely observe before departing, but the scene she perceived through her Demonic Eye arrested her progress.
‘The flow of mana seems quite unstable.’
She swallowed hard and slowly balled her fist.
‘Perhaps it’s just a coincidence, but… if he’s not in a condition to fight right now.’
If his prowess was a facade, a bluff to exaggerate his capabilities.
While it remained a mere possibility, Eolara couldn’t afford to dismiss it, for her Demonic Eye, embedded in her right eye, had been a major contributor to her ascent thus far.
Once her decision was made, there was no room for hesitation. Attempting to delay a confrontation with the wizard would be a grievous error.
Her body surged into motion before her conscious thoughts could catch up.
Shhh!
With a swift turn, Eolara traversed a distance of tens of meters in a single stride and locked eyes with Lennok at close range.
In the instant her dilated pupils captured Lennok’s precarious stance, her punch, descended from its initial position, was delivered with pinpoint precision to Lennok’s abdomen.
Contrary to her seemingly nonchalant words, the full might of her strike penetrated straight through Lennok’s midsection, emerging on the other side.
At that moment, as Eolara felt the vivid sensation of her clenched fist, she believed she had ensnared him.
“You’re caught.”
Lennok’s form inflated like a balloon before erupting.
Bang!!
“…!!!!!”
Only then did Eolara’s amethyst Demonic Eye widen in comprehension of the situation.
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