"Wait a second…" Though Amauris' introduction was brief and concise, it still took a while for the young man to wrap his head around the words the former had spoken.
"You're… you're also a Zeihardt?"
Amauris nodded. "That, I am."
"However, as I said, I don't associate myself with the clan anymore."
"Why, though?" asked Valyr in response.
"You mentioned that it was due to the clan's decline during your time. But could you explain in greater detail?"
Hearing Valyr's question, Amauris shrugged his shoulders. "Though I was brought here with the purpose of impeding my opponent from getting further into the Trial of Nine Stars…"
"I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a chat with a Zeihardt from the future."
With that, the man began to explain to Valyr that the Zeihardt clan did not actually decline during the former's time.
If anything, it could be said that their scope of power and authority was as great as ever, considering how the ancestor of the Zeihardt clan helped the humanity mark their own territory on Veldanyr.
However, it was around Amauris' time that some of the clan members began to make use of the Zeihardt clan's power and authority to do some unscrupulous deeds.
At first, only those part of the younger generation had the gall to do such things, prompting them to be reprimanded by those part of the older generation.
Though, at some point, some of the older generation began to do it as well, using the Zeihardt clan as their backer instead of their individual prowess.
Seeing that the Zeihardt clan had grown corrupt, Amauris decided to leave the clan for good, not wanting to associate himself with people that could only be considered paper tigers.
"After leaving the clan, I searched for large organizations I could join to obtain their resources," said Amauris.
"Even though I'd be capable to obtain everything with my own hands, having an organization would still make the journey to the top easier."
"In the end, I found myself at the entrance of the Gates of Enlightenment," Amauris told Valyr, his eyes staring out at the far horizon.
"After clearing its trials, I worked my way up the organization and eventually became part of the Gates of Awakening."
After that, he faintly shrugged. "Well, I'm pretty sure my original self has entered the organization beyond the Gates of Awakening… but who knows?"
"In any case, does that answer your question?"
In response, Valyr nodded, prompting a faint smile to appear on Amauris' face.
Though, just as the man was about to tell Valyr that they should start their fight, the latter asked the former yet another question.
"Are you… a Herald by any chance?"
Hearing the young man's words, Amauris slightly frowned. "A Herald…?"
"Ah, those guys from the clan with inhuman levels of strength."
Understanding what Valyr wanted to find out from his question, the man shook his head.
"It would be nice to be a Herald, but no. I'm not one."
"…I see." At those words, Valyr slightly nodded, looking at the ground as he briefly fell into silence.
Noticing this, Amauris decided to ask just in case. "…Are you coming up with more questions?"
Looking at his opponent, Valyr shook his head as he wryly smiled. "Nah… just sorting out thoughts in my head."
"I see." Amauris faintly nodded in understanding.
"Well, while you're sorting your thoughts, let me explain the rules of how our fight is going to go."
Whoosh!
After saying those words, Amauris extended one of his hands outward as he conjured a ball of golden light.
"I'm sure you've been told that the fights in the Trial of Nine Stars would either be plain combat or related to one of your specialties," said the man. "This fight falls under the former."
"For this fight, all you have to do is defeat me."
"However, I have one condition."
At that point, Valyr looked at Amauris with a hint of curiosity, wondering what the latter would say.
Seeing that he had caught his attention, Amauris faintly smiled before throwing the ball of light upwards.
"You can only use magic to attack your opponent."
Bang!
With the ball of golden light exploding into what appeared like fireworks, Valyr stared at Amauris in silence, his expression making it difficult for the latter to know what was going on in his mind.
"Alright, then." Nevertheless, at some point, Valyr agreed to Amauris' condition as he nodded.
Smiling in response to Valyr's reply, the two then distanced themselves from another, giving each other time to prepare.
Whilst the two were in the midst of preparing for their fight, Valyr asked the man a question. "Just to clarify, the condition only applies when attacking, right?"
Amauris nodded. "Correct. You're free to use whatever you want to defend yourself and whatnot."
"Got it," said Valyr in response, a faint smirk briefly appearing on his face.
With that, the two continued with their preparation, eventually feeling like they've done all they could after a few more minutes had passed.
"I'll start the countdown," said Amauris as he looked at Valyr, prompting the latter to nod in response.
Nodding back at the young man, the man then took in a deep breath.
"In 3…"
"2…"
"1…"
"Fight!"
Whoosh!
At the very instant the fight began, Amauris' body turned a blur of golden light, disappearing in front of Valyr's field of vision in less than an instant.
Taking note of this, the young man retrieved his spear from his back before infusing both Shadow Energy and mana into it.
"[Arcane Shadow Serpent Combat Style]."
"[Dark Arcane Mirror]."
Bang!
Swoosh!
Pushing [Hunter's Tracking Eyes] to the limit as he tried his hardest to keep an eye on Amauris, Valyr slammed his spear into the ground, forming a dark barrier around him.
"Watch as I break your defense in one move!"
Letting out a faint cackle in response to Valyr's action, Amauris suddenly appeared before the dark barrier, smothering all of its sides in golden light.
"[Opulent Light Magic Style]."
"[Whirlwind of Opulence]!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hearing the barrier taking hits from the golden light that surrounded it, Valyr glanced at Amauris with a blank expression, who was looking back at him with a confident smile.
Though, at the very moment the barrier crumbled under Amauris' offensive, rather than looked at the man with a horrified expression…
Valyr looked back at Amauris with a confident smile of his own.
"My turn."
"[Arcane Shadow Serpent Magic Style]."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"[Consummatum Est]."
