It was just as Veronica said. Theo was rather familiar with their destination. They were at Pentarium, where the Pupil Tournament had taken place.

Veronica had taken over the central stadium, where the finals had been held, as soon as she arrived. The caretaker had immediately opened it for her as soon as they saw her. It seemed she was a frequent visitor.

“There’s a lot more space here than back at the Magic Society. This place is usually a training ground or a demonstration location if there aren’t any tournaments,” Veronica explained as she stretched.

She wasn’t wearing much under her red robes. As every movement she made revealed a hint of the skin beneath, Theo didn’t know where to look.

It was like she had no idea how provocative she was being as she continued, “The best solution to the disharmony you’re experiencing is to completely reproduce the situation at the time your circles increased, but that isn’t possible. So, we will use the second solution.”

“... Which is?” Theo asked as he tried to look unconcerned, which was hard for him.

Veronica grinned. “It’s simple. In the end, the disharmony is just a discrepancy between body and mind, so we just need to fuse them together again.”

Now that she had warmed up, Veronica stopped stretching and stood naturally. Her stance seemed to be full of openings, but Theo’s intuition was quietly warning him that every gap was a trap. Theo had no objection to that contradictory analysis.

Veronica’s grin widened when she saw Theo instinctively lower his center of gravity.

“I will help you find your limit.” The air around Veronica’s body began to ripple.

Huuwoook...!

The ground started to redden as a wave of hot air ruffled Theo’s hair. Veronica’s red robes started to flutter in the wind as awe filled Theo’s eyes.

This isn’t even intentional. She’s just warming up her magic power!

Any magician who reached a certain level could affect their environment. For example, water never dried up around the Blue Tower, and the White Tower always had a breeze around it. The Red Tower was known never to have snow on it for longer than a day.

However, this was on a different scale. Even if dozens of senior magicians gathered, they would only cause the temperature to rise or drop a little bit. However, Veronica was burning like a living flame!

Her voice echoed through the haze, “Then kid, do you want to play with me?”

She had only looked at him, yet her words had caused the heat around him to swell. Theo dispelled the heat with a simple wind spell as he asked, “Spar? With you?”

“I’ll give you some handicaps. I won’t use magic of the 5th Circle and above, and I’ll only attack head on. I will adjust my strength too, so don’t worry.”

One of the greatest magicians in Meltor Kingdom was right before him, so Theo’s concentration reached its peak. He knew that even if she handicapped herself a hundred times over, it would still be a difficult battle. In general, 7th Circle magicians were on the same level as a sword master, and Veronica’s power was one step beyond that. Theodore couldn’t even begin to fathom her strength.

However, despite his sober judgment, he could feel his spirit boiling. “I understand.”

She was an 8th Circle magician and a quarter dragon, a brilliant diamond in her own right. However, Theo owned a grimoire. He wouldn’t shrink back just because of his opponent’s name. Victory and defeat were meaningless here, since this was a chance to see how he measured up. But it would be nice to see shock on that relaxed face.

I will try it once.

If Theo combined Gluttony’s third feature with Battle Song, he might have a way to spar with Veronica. He would have to test it out to see how effective it was.

Theo looked down at his left hand as he recalled the ability which had awakened.

[Grimoire “Gluttony” / D Rank]

[One of the seals containing Gluttony’s power has been removed. Gluttony can inform the owner of the origin of the artifact or chant a spell in a voice which can’t be heard by anyone else. The previous owners called this feature ‘Another.’ As the current owner, you can change the name if you want.

* Another activates magic with the user’s magic power. However, magic which hasn’t been mastered by the user isn’t available.]

It was a ridiculous ability. The ability, Another, which had been unlocked from the third seal, was literally a cheat. Magicians always ran the risk of being attacked while chanting a spell. It was also very difficult to chant a spell while moving. However, a magician who stood still was an easy target.

But Another completely negated that risk.

But it can also be used this way!

Five circles revolved within Theo’s body. He used his shaky 5th Circle to aid his other circles as he built up the formula for Blaze Shell. Simultaneously, the mouth on his left hand chanted the spell for Catapult in a voice which only Theo could hear. It was Theodore’s strongest Fusion Spell, Volcanic Shell, which he’d used in the final match of the tournament.

It’s similar to Memorize, but-

It was possible to complete the two magics in an instant, as if there were two people.

“Volcanic Shell!”

Red flames wreathed a giant boulder as it appeared above Veronica. The aid of the 5th Circle had increased the power of the Fusion Spell to the point where it could destroy any 5th Circle defense magic with one blow.

Veronica looked up nonchalantly. “Oho, is that Fusion Magic?”

She lazily raised a slim arm above her head as the Volcanic Shell hurtled down towards her. Magic power surged around her palm, and a red flaming spear appeared next to her arm. The flame spear shot upward like a flash of light and pierced the shell.

Kuwaaang!

Shattered pieces of stone rained down on the battlefield. Fire Spear was just a 4th Circle spell, but Veronica had powered it up beyond its limits. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to destroy Volcanic Shell in a frontal confrontation. Veronica truly was going to use only 4th Circle magic. She deemed it enough to overwhelm Theo.

Dark smoke filled the stadium as Veronica waited for Theo’s next move.

Huuk!

Suddenly, a human shape shot out of the smoke.

Veronica involuntarily inhaled in surprise. “Eh?”

She’d expected Theo to use magic to block her field of vision and drag her into close combat, but she hadn’t expected this level of speed. Moreover, Theo wasn’t moving like a magician using Battle Song. This was the acceleration speed of someone who had mastered the full version of Battle Song.

Battle Song. Sonata of Speed. Vivace.

Theo’s feet seemed to just barely graze the ground as he closed the distance. He wouldn’t have achieved this speed if he hadn’t received some of Lee Yoonsung’s abilities. He perfectly maintained his center of gravity as he sprang toward Veronica like a thunderbolt. He used her surprise to land a flying knee to her abdomen.

Paaang!

The impact echoed through the stadium as Veronica took a few steps back. She couldn’t believe Theo had landed a blow strong enough to move her from her initial spot. On the other hand, instead of feeling joy at his successful blow, Theo’s face went pale.

... What is this feeling?

The moment his knee had collided with her body, a strange feeling had risen in his mind. It felt like a child’s fist hitting a wall several meters thick or like a young child going against a heavily armed infantry unit.

A strange smile flashed on Veronica’s face. “Well, isn’t this pretty exciting?”

Theo felt a sense of impending crisis from Veronica’s contralto voice. He desperately sprang back as soon as he felt a chill go down his spine. Luckily, he was just in time.

Peeng!

A shockwave emanated from her fist as it stopped just short of his face. Theo had only seen it once before during his Synchro with Lee Yoonsung. It was a fist that had broken the sound barrier. Battle Song wouldn’t protect Theo from that strike. His bones would shatter if it ever landed.

The dragon blood flowing through Veronica’s veins gave her a natural physical ability that was equivalent to an aura user.

Veronica’s expression crinkled in surprise. “Good move. It’s like you’ve become a completely different person in ten days. Ahh, why are you so interesting? You’re the best!”

“Well… tha..nk.. you,” Theodore replied through clenched teeth.

Veronica’s hand-to-hand technique was horrendous. She knew nothing more than a basic punch and kick. Yet the absurd strength and speed she could put into those basic strikes propelled them well beyond the level of a human.

Techniques were initially developed for efficiency. They were studied by the weak to figure out how to defeat the strong. However, Veronica had been born strong, so she had never needed techniques.

I can’t fight her in close combat! I need to widen the distance! 

Lee Yoonsung’s experience and Alfred’s intuition told him in no uncertain terms that while Veronica’s techniques were terrible, there was no way for him to win in close combat. The analysis was contradictory, but it was reality. As he dove away from her, Theo prepared magic with Another and aimed his right hand at the approaching fist.

Memorize. All Slots Open. Double Blaze Shell.

Two fireballs shot at her fist.

“You can use magic while moving?” Veronica’s eyes widened with surprise. Curiously filled her golden eyes as the two fireballs converged on her. “But it won’t work!”

She invoked Wind Cutter with a single gesture. Multiple gusts of wind overlapped and wore down the two Blaze Shells. Yet, despite his 4th Circle spells being destroyed by 2nd Circle spells, Theo had achieved his objective of putting some distance between them.

Veronica walked slowly toward him before smiling brightly and clapping. “Amazing! You learned Battle Song in ten days, and incorporated it into your movements in excellent fashion. Moreover, you can use Fusion Magic and even cast while moving. You could probably take down a few 6th Circle magicians I know.”

She was praising him. However, Theo listened calmly instead of rejoicing. In the end, he had failed to land a single meaningful strike on Veronica, and he wasn’t close to his limits. She must have a purpose for this interlude.

She brushed away the dust on her robe as she spoke, “But that isn’t enough. What do you have left, kid? You will only feel the limit after using everything. I heard from the Blue Tower Master that you reproduced Alfred’s Magic Missile, right? Don’t worry. Even if Alfred returned from the dead, he won’t be able to beat me.”

Veronica threw off her robe to reveal a form-fitted battle suit. “If you’re not going to go all out, you should prepare to die. I’ll make you regret trying to face me half-heartedly.”

Crimson magic power rose from her body like boiling lava.

Ku ku ku kung...

Her violent presence swelled even more as Veronica activated her dragon blood. Her combat ability had just shot through the roof. Any normal human would flee from this overwhelming presence.

Theo raised his finger. “Then I’ll try to surprise you once more.”