"Original Magic: Great Sage's Memoir" My book appeared and instantly flipped to the appropriate page.
I was linked to it, and it was linked to me. Deciphering the best course of action for the situation, my Memoir functioned on its own.
>VWUUUUSSSHHH<
Releasing a burst of power to the surrounding, I created a Transcendental Level Barrier—Magic that I copied from the Elf Arena.
The barrier spanned a long distance, giving us enough room to fight freely.
Though the landscape had been devastated a great deal thanks to Serah's fight with Gerard, it was still good enough for a fight.
With the stage set, I stared at my two opponents.
"You better give it everything you have. Wasting too much time will simply prolong your suffering." I smiled at Gerard especially.
His desperation to win and obtain the Miracle Pill would cause him not to hold anything back.
"But, if I end up killing you, then—"
"Please, don't make jokes like that, Beast King. I can't imagine how I would be able to lose to you."
He was indeed very strong—and he possessed a sheer amount of Mana, but that was all there was to him.
Having faced very powerful and complicated foes, someone like him didn't scare me in the slightest.
"You want me to go all out... despite seeing all that?" Serah said, observing me to find a motive.
"Yes. Now, enough talk. Let's begin."
I raised my hand and placed it above my floating book, ready to begin the challenge.
The atmosphere was rich in tension, and I could tell that both parties were motivated enough to fight with all their might.
'This will be a nice experience for me too...' I smiled while having the thought.
"I'm ready when you ar—"
>BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<
Before I completed my statement, both opponents charged at me at full speed.
In terms of physical ability, they far surpassed me. I wouldn't be able to evade their strikes on time. However—
>VWUUUUSSSHHH<
—Irrespective of my cognitive and physical limitations, my Original Magic operated beyond what I could achieve.
As a result, I instantly teleported out of their reach in an instant. It was an automatic response done by the interface.
"Slow..." I sneered.
"Did I not say to use your full strength?"
I could sense dissatisfaction arising from Serah and Gerard as they raised their heads to watch my floating posture.
>VWUUUUSSSHHH<
Massive eruptions of energy burst from both of them, causing them to don dangerous states.
Serah was most likely in Mage Mode, considering her appearance changed and she had a more sophisticated appearance.
Having a Mage's cloak, gloves, and a glowing red orb that floated beside her, she gave me an intense expression.
'So, I'm still not worth using your Original Magic on? Very well... I'll have to teach you.'
As for Gerard, he assumed his Transformation State: Phase 1.
Both of them were not going all-out, but their fierce determination to win was still obvious.
'Are they testing the waters?'
>BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<
The ground shattered as they dashed at me with newfound speed.
Still, my Original Magic responded and sent me from harm's reach.
The moment I teleported away, Serah appeared behind me—in my new location—and generated a fist I was well acquainted with.
'Vermillion Burst, eh?'
Throughout the fight, I had been coating myself in immense Mana, but even my defenses were beginning to crumble before such a blow.
It would definitely suck to take one head-on.
But... I wasn't worried.
As soon as she thrust her fist, I instantly prepared my attack and blocked hers. Normally, my brain wouldn't have been able to respond quickly to her strikes, but...
"Too obvious."
Anyone with proper insight would be able to tell that she was quite sloppy. Heightening my body to the limit, I read the direction of her punch and poured a great amount of Mana to replicate my strongest shield.
>KRRRRRRAAAAAAA!!!<
As a result, her hit was negated.
"U-uh?!"
My fist tightened and a vermillion spark flashed as I thrust my hand—not waiting for Serah to complete her surprised yelp.
"Wha—??"
>BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<
I was met with strong resistance—as expected of Serah Crimson.
Her defense were so high that I wasn't able to scratch it.
At that very moment, Gerard sent a destructive charge of Mana at me. The intensity was focused, and I was sure it would sting. Which was why—
"Gahh!"
—I swapped location with Gerard and had him take the hit for me.
With my position changed, Gawain and Serah were now close to each other and I was far away.
'Perfect!'
From my hand glowed a condensed orb of many colors. It contained tons of attributes, and its destructive capacity was unknown to me as of yet.
After all, this was the [Nova] Spell that Neron used before I canceled it out with Anti-Magic.
The massive orb went straight for the two, exploding upon impact.
>BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!<
As expected, they came out of the attack unscathed.
'Their defenses are quite high. Impressive...'
I didn't have enough time to prepare the appropriate charge, and I was also being frugal with my Mana, but it was still noteworthy that they were both strong in their own right.
"Tricks like this won't beat me!" Serah yelled at me.
"We'll see about that," I responded to her barks.
Both opponents couldn't be defeated by me in my current state, but it wasn't like they could reach me either.
'A stalemate? No... I'm going to do better.'
>BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<
>VWOOOOOOOSSSSSSHHHHH<
Brilliant strikes of light and bursting energy filled the area as the two still desperately tried to defeat me.
Even if they were faster and stronger, my Original Magic had already recorded their patterns based on their earlier fights—especially Serah, whom I've seen in battle before.
Since the Beast King was inferior to her and had a similar pattern of fighting, handling him wasn't too difficult either.
In essence...
"W-why can't I beat you?"
"Damn, just stay put!'
... None of them could lay a finger on me.
"Weak. It's because you're too weak."
The correct answer was that they were too sloppy and predictable, but I refused to tell them that.
'Both of them have keen battle senses and immense power. They're learning from the fight and are trying to compensate. If I tell them the problem, they'll evolve further.'
I couldn't allow that until I crushed them and asserted dominance.
