Chapter 78

Magic is an academic discipline handled within the realm of reason and logic.

The uses of magic can vary greatly depending on the individual wielding it, but this can be seen as a fundamental law of the world that allows a protector to emerge among intelligent beings.

And now, here in Port City Bruytni, at the branch of the Caldera Imperial Academy, a spectacular magic duel unfolds in the practice field.

The students seated in the audience gazed blankly at the monitor broadcasting the duel. A glaringly bright white magic circle flashed, while a gray magic circle desperately consumed magic in response.

It was an overwhelming battle of firepower. The brilliance of the magic battle, rarely seen among the students of the combat department, was undoubtedly at its peak during the finals that took place today.

However, within that splendor, absurd exchanges were occurring that others were unaware of.

“Transformation, compression, tectonic shift, absolute zero.”

Laura expertly conjured the magic circle without a flicker of her eyebrows. The white magic power in her hand began to slice through the air.

Soon enough, one magic circle was completed. Laura unfolded the perfectly crafted magic circle without hesitation.

“Ice Pillar (κολόνα πάγου).”

– Kwah!!

A massive ice pillar erupted from the ground, its sharp tip mercilessly threatening Chloe. Chloe clenched her teeth and quickly rolled to the side.

In the very spot where Chloe had been standing just moments ago, a sharp ice pillar soared high, piercing the earth. Seeing this, Chloe involuntarily swallowed hard.

‘Is this, is this serious…?’

The power of magic is determined by the intricacy of the magic circle. While Chloe could wield magic similar to what Laura used, her power would not reach the same level as Laura’s, even using the same spell.

Thus, Laura’s magic was overwhelmingly powerful. The ice pillar magic that had just erupted took only about three seconds from conception to deployment. The speed in which she enchanted the magic circle itself was where the difference lay.

The situation was highly unfavorable in many ways. However, there was no time to sit back and do nothing.

While countless thoughts passed through Chloe’s mind in the brief moment she dodged the ice pillar, she sprang up as soon as her feet touched the ground, moving her wand. The gray magic power left traces following the tip of her wand, which soon began to form into a gigantic magic circle.

“Target designation, tectonic shift, material transformation, compression….”

– Crackle—!

Chloe’s magic circle began to spin, spraying sparks. The designated ground cracked open and began to blend with the magic circle, slowly changing its form.

Manipulating matter is a kind of magic that generally requires a lot of time before the magic circle can be deployed. While waiting for the first magic circle to be completed, Chloe immediately began to conjure the second one.

“Liquid, transformation, absolute zero, compression…!”

Although not on par with Laura’s speed, Chloe’s magic circle started to form quickly, much quicker than one would expect from someone still struggling. The second magic circle, following the gray magic power, was about to be ready for deployment in approximately five seconds.

The difference between her and Laura was almost two-fold.

“Freeze (πάγωμα)!”

With Chloe’s shout, ice shards launched from the deployed magic circle towards Laura. If struck by these ice shards, the affected area would freeze solid. Even a graze could prove fatal.

Laura’s expression remained unchanged. Without any change in her demeanor, she calmly and swiftly began to conjure a new magic circle.

“Liquid, transformation, absolute zero, tectonic shift, expansion, solidity.”

The magic circle was being conjured. The fruit of the intellects who discuss reason and logic displayed its almost perfect intricacy, guiding Laura’s wand through the air.

“Ice Wall (τοίχος πάγου).”

As soon as the magic circle was deployed, a cold breeze swirled around, and an ice wall shot up from the ground in an instant. The wall of ice, towering vertically in the practice field, became a shield that protected Laura.

– Crash!

Chloe’s ice shards collided with the solid and dense ice wall, shattering into countless pieces, unable to withstand its strength.

Laura let out a slight sigh. She was well aware that Chloe primarily used ice-type magic like herself, and thus had secretly expected more from her.

However, the ice wall was as solid as an old tree.

It was more akin to a fortress. Casting a giant shadow over Laura, it became a sturdy barricade that blocked all incoming attacks.

The queen of the practice field remained Laura von Adelheit, and her icy fortress would never crumble in the face of trivial ice shards.

A challenger boldly charging at the queen would find it impossible to breach this wall.

Laura leisurely conjured the next magic circle. The time limit for the finals was thirty minutes. Although three times the limit afforded in previous duels, Laura did not intend to toy with her opponent for the entire thirty minutes…

– Thud!

Suddenly, the ground shook. Laura turned her head.

Where her gaze landed, the ice wall stood firm, spilling cold air with ice shards fluttering around.

Laura shrugged nonchalantly. It seemed like Chloe had launched an ice-type spell again. That sound must be the ice shards crashing against the ice wall. As she thought this, Laura prepared to continue conjuring her magic circle.

‘…Wait. Shards?’

Suddenly, chills ran down her spine. Laura scattered the conjured magic circle on the ground and urgently checked the ice wall.

– Boom!

‘This…’

It felt like something heavy and solid was relentlessly crashing against her. The enormous tremor shook the fortress of absolute zero surrounding Laura.

– Boom!

Laura began to hastily conjure a new magic circle. The relaxed expression she wore had long shattered. As her frantic hands moved, white magic power lingered in the air, transforming into the power of the intellects.

“Target designation, expansion, solidity, solidity…!”

Her magic circle didn’t deploy as a distinct spell; instead, it melded into the pre-existing magic circle of the ice wall.

The reinforced magic circle shone as it spread across the ice wall, and soon the ice wall began to tighten even more. Her stronghold had become even sturdier.

Yes. It should certainly be like that…

– Crrr…! Crack! Crack!

Then, what could this sound possibly be?

The fortress of ice continued to vibrate. The noticeably increased number of fallen ice shards suggested that Laura’s protective bastion was gasping its last breaths.

Laura quickly assessed the situation and soon came to a conclusion. It was foolish to continue repairing the ice wall. She needed to conjure a new spell.

– Boom…

One variable to consider was that while Laura’s judgment was quick, the situation had already spiraled out of control.

– Crack…

The solid fortress of ice began to develop large cracks.

Laura’s face filled with bewilderment.

Her ice wall, which was supposed to withstand any attack and boasted the strength of solid rock.

– Crack… Crack…

It screamed, fracturing all over the wall.

– Crack!

Finally, the fissures that diverged in all directions reached the very edge of the ice wall.

– Crash—!

An unbelievable sight unfolded before Laura’s eyes.

The ice wall shattered into pieces and collapsed helplessly. Among the ice shards falling to the ground, a sharp, glimmering steel battering ram stood out.

It had ultimately demolished the ice fortress that protected Laura.

Seeing the steel battering ram that shattered her ice wall, Laura wore an expression of shock that no one could have predicted.

Where had that battering ram come from? When had such a spell been deployed…

“…No way.”

It was the matter manipulation magic that Chloe had preemptively deployed in the air before Laura erected her ice wall. Chloe, who had delayed time by shooting the ice shards, was conjuring a steel battering ram to break the ice wall.

In other words,

‘You anticipated it!’

It meant that Chloe had anticipated that Laura would summon the ice wall.

* * * * *

“That’s incredible…! Student Chloe has really done it!”

Professor Esther looked at the practice field with astonishment. The student standing where her gaze landed was none other than Chloe, not Laura von Adelheit.

Several students from the magic department who had been seated in the audience jumped to their feet. Most were those who had memories of being struck by Laura’s ice magic, and they all looked on with astonished eyes at the practice field.

“…”

And I, too, shared in their astonishment. It was not simply because Chloe had managed to land a blow against Laura. As Professor Esther continued explaining, the amazement I felt grew even more.

“If the ice wall is deployed, then Adelheit must maintain the magic circle deployed on that wall, making it difficult to use other complicated spells.”

Laura’s ice wall, which she had confidently believed would never break. Because of that arrogance, Laura had begun to establish defenses using the ice wall against Chloe’s simple attacks.

It was the arrogance and nonchalance that comes naturally from wanting to display an overwhelming gap in strength.

And Chloe had predicted this. She had anticipated that Laura would underestimate her and enter a defensive stance with the ice wall.

Then, what happens if the ice wall, which Laura had concentrated on maintaining, shatters?

“To conjure the next spell, no matter how skilled Adelheit is, she will need time. Meanwhile, Student Chloe has already conjured another spell.”

Chloe, gritting her teeth and aiming her wand amidst the debris of the collapsing ice wall, caught Laura’s attention.

The magic conjured from the tip of Chloe’s wand began to glow and unfold.

A spear of sharp ice originating from there surged toward Laura.

Laura was about to pay the price for her arrogance. Esther murmured.

“Perhaps, really…”

Chloe might just win.

But in the very next moment,

We had no choice but to banish that thought.

“Uh…?”

The collapsing ice wall behind Laura had suddenly unfolded a large magic circle that had been conjured in an instant upon being deployed.

Laura von Adelheit. It was time to prove her claim to arrogance.

* * * * *

Laura von Adelheit’s mouth tightly closed.

She never dreamed that Chloe had prepared such a strategic battle.

However, Laura soon wiped the surprise from her expression. While it was astonishing that Chloe had anticipated and countered Laura’s next move, Laura had already accomplished the purpose of erecting her ice wall.

Beyond the completely crumbled ice wall, a huge ice spear surged toward Laura.

Laura did not dodge. Instead, she raised her wand and murmured softly.

“Blizzard (χιονοθύελλα).”

As soon as Laura finished her words, a pure white wind began to swirl. The ice spear directed at her was shattered into pieces by the force of the raging blizzard sweeping violently from all directions.

A harsh winter had arrived at the practice field.