Chapter 533

The Aqua Monolith, imperfectly cast from the very beginning.

As Name skillfully dispelled it, flammable mana leaked out as a byproduct.

The reason why Aqua Monolith, despite being a 2nd circle spell, is classified as an A-grade lethal magic.

The moment the flammable mana spread in the air sparked the ignition magic circle.

Boom—!

A gigantic fireball generated in the center of the training hall engulfed Nane’s entire body.

With an explosion of this scale, Cecilia, who cast the spell, would also sustain significant damage.

With heightened senses, Nane swiftly created a defensive spell.

[Quick Cast: Re Kaizen Familial]

Relying on a single hexagonal shield instead of the 88 brilliant magical circles, she curled her body up to withstand the blast.

A wolf, with its mouth wide open and protruding from within the magic circle, tasted the overwhelming flames and yelped, igniting right there.

Whoosh—

Nane, kneeling, looked around in the black smoke that blocked her view.

Swoosh—!

“…!”

A sharp ray grazed her cheek and struck the ground with a thud.

Looking down, Nane noticed green paint splattered on her feet and legs.

“Attacking only me? Such a malicious intention.”

It must have gotten on her when she fell into the swamp.

With that deduction, Nane jumped back with animalistic instincts.

Thud—!

A huge spire struck the spot where she had been standing.

[Cast: Ventus Vortex]

The magic circle Nane suspended in the air spun like a top and instantly created a strong whirlwind.

The black smoke was sucked into the magic circle, revealing a clear sky.

In one corner of the training hall, Cecilia was preparing her next spell.

“Hah… that was fast.”

Cecilia forced a smile.

Despite considering countless assumptions before the duel…

To find their barrier states identical after successfully executing a vapor explosion was something she couldn’t comprehend.

“Not going to cast?”

As Nane walked closer, crafting a dispelling spell.

Cecilia held the Glacis Ion Trap in her hand.

Since it was a spell that would be dispelled anyway, she released her mana into the air and gripped the wand tightly with both hands.

The moment Nane stepped forward.

Cecilia grinned and raised her wand.

[Delayed Cast: Ignis Column]

Boom—!

A vertical pillar of light surged upward.

The hidden magic circle activated, releasing tremendous heat.

Nane’s body flew across the training hall and then rolled across the wet grass.

[Cast: Glacis Ion Trap Catellus]

Clang—!

Four chains of ice sprang forth, shackling Nane’s wrists and ankles.

Cecilia moved cautiously, keeping a low stance.

Even with her limbs bound, she approached as if facing a wild beast.

“That’ll do? You should’ve been more careful.”

“Ugh!”

[Delayed Cast: Demon Lord’s Horn]

[Dispelling: Glacis Ion Trap Catellus]

The 4th circle binding magic circle shattered unexpectedly.

Before the circuit spells and runes could scatter too far.

Nane seized control of the broken magic circle and began to restore it.

The cracks perfectly aligned, and the magic circle started functioning normally again.

Whoosh—!

Nane’s cast resulted in Cecilia’s body being restrained and prepared to be launched across the arena.

[Cast: Rotating Motion—]

“Not on my watch!”

[Dispelling: Rotating Motion]

Pang—!

“Wait…?”

The dispelling spell sped towards the magic circle at the speed of light but vanished upon hitting a transparent barrier.

[Cast: Rotating Motion – QKD Encryption Lv.3]

Seeing the encrypted spells stuck all over the 1st circle magic circle, Cecilia’s expression hardened.

Considering the sheer number of spells, she could easily operate a 3rd circle magic circle.

“That’s impossible…! Just to cast one 1st circle spell?”

“It makes sense.”

Cecilia surely would write a dispelling spell right at this moment.

Nane’s spell management, seemingly able to foresee the future, left Cecilia breathless.

Swish—!

The ice chains thrashed like living snakes and hurled Cecilia into the air.

Clang—

Nane drove the tip of her wand into the ground.

[Rebellion Sword: Mode – Engraving]

The runes forming around the wand spun and glimmered.

With one hand firmly grasping the wand, her slender fingers gently sliced through the air.

An appropriate wave of mana surged forth.

The chaotic mana, which had been swirling like discord, suddenly organized into a magic circle.

[Cast: Ignis Respicio]

[Joint Casting: Ignis Respicio]

[Joint Casting: Ignis Respicio]

Ignis Respicio is vector-based but an emission-type spell.

Nane infused half of the mana contained in her Aura Heart, endlessly strengthening the output.

The magic circle with a 2m diameter split into dozens of magic beams sparkling like starlight.

Cecilia raised her eyes urgently.

“If I can dispel one, all of them…!”

She crossed her hands diagonally and extended them forward.

It was a situation she had simulated in her head, hundreds of times, right up to the match against Nane.

Therefore, there shouldn’t have been any mistakes in the actual duel.

Yet, what lay before her was still the unceasing barrage of magic beams.

[Manifestation: Shaped Memory Alloy]

[Cast: Self-Recovery Spell]

“Go on, try dispelling until you succeed.”

* * *

The audience, biting their thumbnails and holding their breath, watched the match.

Cecilia’s early opening strategy was genuinely viewed as otherworldly.

Maximizing the advantages of triple casting, she didn’t even give them a chance to counter.

In such situations, accepting an attack could be a response, but for those currently watching the match, it was unbearably tense.

Even so, the hopeful news was that the difference in barriers was surprisingly not that great.

“The dispelling magic isn’t working this time. Nane is sending Cecilia flying! Yes! That’s it!”

“Nane has a golden opportunity! She’s going to cast Ignis Respicio right away. Will she use three in a series? She needs to be careful of dispelling again.”

One magic circle restores while the other two relentlessly bombard.

“Whoa! An incredible amount of firepower is pouring towards Cecilia. Nane has decided to gamble! Can Cecilia dispel this one too?”

“The broken magic circles have reformed! What’s happening, Nane!”

└ Wow, the tempo is insane! LOL

└ What’s this auto-hunting magic circle?

└ The first to make a mistake is doomed.

└ Oh, please, please, please! 😭

The dispelling spells were rapidly crafted.

The magic circles attacking from three directions repeated destruction and regeneration.

Cecilia gave up defense and crafted a magic circle to counterattack.

In response, Nane canceled one Ignis Respicio spell and immediately began crafting a dispelling spell.

Bang, bang, bang—!

Dozens of magic circles spawned and disappeared between them.

Among the countless spells, only a handful had successfully been cast.

Gathering the scattered mana to its limits, she prepared for the next magic circle.

As even the commentators fell silent in awe, the atmosphere reached a boiling point.

[Cast: Arabesque Knot – Gold]

“Nane is hanging a wire from the ceiling and flying up!”

Whirr—!

Nane released all magic and ascended to 40m, preparing for her ultimate strike.

[Rebellion Sword Engraving – Niobium]

Clang—!

Nane’s simple crafting tool transformed into a thin, hard metal spear.

Having reached the highest point of the stadium, all that was left was to descend, she prepared a spell to conclude the first half.

[Cast: Glacis Aster]

Boom—!

A cruciform flare erupted brilliantly, brighter than the midday sun.

A blue circle rose above Cecilia’s head.

The spear, cooled to absolute zero, froze even the moisture in the air.

“Is she not going to encrypt this?”

Cecilia chuckled.

“But just in case, she might have hidden something…!”

[Dispelling: Glacis Aster]

Cecilia layered her dispelling spells threefold to block all avenues.

Crash—!

However, the spear cruelly pierced through her dispelling spells and struck directly from the ceiling down to the ground,

Thud—

“Ugh…?”

It reached Cecilia’s chest.

Boom—!

Pushed back helplessly, Cecilia could only stop after crashing against the outer wall of the training hall.

“What? Why is that wand here…?”

Cecilia froze, staring at the object lodged in the barrier around her chest.

Nane hadn’t manifested a Niobium spear but had thrown her wand completely.

The wand’s exterior was made from a substance with extremely high mana resistance.

Even layered triple dispelling spells couldn’t penetrate it.

Just when she thought how fortunate it was that there was little damage to the barrier.

[Anti-Theft System Activated: Suppression Protocol Engaged]

[Engraving Cast: Arc Discharge]

“No! Aaaah!”

Crackle—

Without a chance to write the dispelling spell, the brief and intense insulating destruction shattered Cecilia’s barrier.

Beeee—!

Before halftime could even arrive, the match ended.

[Quarterfinal Match 122]

[Time: 14:51]

[Nane (South Korea)] [84% / 35%]

[Cecilia N. Samphio (United States)] [63% / ☠9% (Total Destruction)]

Nane came down, hanging upside down from the ceiling on wires.

She bent over to look down at Cecilia and smirked teasingly.

“Thief.”

“C-Come on…”

A reckless attack deemed incomprehensible, arriving after a loss.

If it weren’t for Nane’s timely retort, Cecilia would have been overwhelmed by complex emotions.

“Can’t you let me go until halftime? This is too much.”

“Hmph, it’s better to rest early, right? How annoying would it be to have to come and go?”

“I feel like crying. Seriously… ugh…”

Cecilia covered her eyes with one arm.

“I’m not crying. It’s just too bright.”

But she couldn’t hide the hot tears streaming down her cheeks.

Nane gave her shaking shoulders a couple of light taps and headed toward the center of the training hall.

She raised her fist to the sky, declaring victory.

“Waaahhh!”

“Wait, what! That’s outrageous!”

* * *

[Nane vs. Samphio: A match that almost became the most expensive in the world]

Expectation: A match between two genius girls showcasing the peak of extravagance with numerous 4th circle spells exchanged.

Reality: A match nearly wrecked by throwing a 10 billion wand.

(Applaud for Nane.jpg)

[Comments]

– Oh, I see, it’s just a statement. You’ve proven it with one strike.

– The Samyan Group must’ve been terrified, LOL.

– Even if Nane wins, wouldn’t it be a huge loss if that were broken?

– That wand is the only one in the world, and she’s treating it so recklessly.

– Doesn’t Nane only have that one wand? What’s she going to do for the semifinals and finals if it breaks? LOL

└ But it didn’t break, right?

└ That’s a result-oriented comment, LOL.