Certainly, Theo had run out of tricks to use against Veronica. However, Alfred’s Magic Missile, aka Magic Bullet, could penetrate 6th Circle defenses. Veronica had decided to only use 4th Circle magic, so she didn’t have the means to prevent Magic Bullet.

Well, it won’t be that easy. 

However, Theodore didn’t relax for a second. Even Alfred, who had reduced numerous knights and magicians to corpses, had rarely faced a master level combatant. According to the records, he’d been defeated by Blue Tower Master Blundell, who had been at the 7th Circle at the time.

In other words, even Magic Bullet’s utility against a master level magician wasn’t absolute.

“... Stop and raise the index finger,” Theo muttered as he looked at his index finger.

In order to recreate Magic Bullet’s full force, he had to train his fingers. Theo’s body had radically increased in strength after receiving some of Lee Yoonsung’s abilities, but unlike Alfred, Theo was only reasonably confident of using Magic Bullet consistently at medium range. However, it was a great improvement over only being able to use it twice a day.

Fortunately, Veronica waited until he finished thinking. It was an attitude that showed how confident she was. Theo knew she had weaknesses, but he needed a way to exploit them.

Is there any way I can catch her weakness again? It felt like I hit a wall with my knee, but it should be okay if I use Magic Bullet. That’s the only method left… Okay.

His magic power started to settle as he completed his preparation. Veronica started circulating her four circles as she sensed the calm before the storm.

Pak!

Theo triggered Battle Song, and his body disappeared in an instant. He had accelerated beyond a human’s eyesight. Under normal circumstances, Theo would have maintained a large distance between them as soon as he realized he couldn’t defeat her in close combat. However, Veronica’s golden eyes quickly caught his movements.

“Entering medium range? I’m beginning to like you more and more.”

As Veronica spoke, she created fire arrows around her in the blink of an eye.

Dudududududu!

A single Fire Bolt of hers could punch through heavy armor. The stadium floor soon resembled a honeycomb as she fired a salvo on par with an artillery barrage.

Sweat dripped down Theo’s face as he narrowly avoided the fire arrows. He had used Battle Song to strengthen his skin as much as possible, but there was no guarantee that a 5th Circle defensive magic could block those Fire Bolts. It was pure recklessness to try and battle her with fire magic, so Theo immediately changed attributes.

He slapped his palm on the ground. “Earth Wave!”

The ground trembled as the stadium swelled and rolled toward Veronica. Even Veronica would be annoyed if she was swallowed by a wave of earth.

Kwaang!

A line of fireballs tore apart the wave. Her Fireballs were even stronger than Theo’s Blaze Shells. Hot air and smoke billowed outward as Veronica maintained her pressure fearlessly.

However, instead of being overwhelmed by the pressure, Theo poured magic power into the ground with a smile of satisfaction.

Mitra, now!

[Hoing!]

The Earth Wave had concealed Mitra’s approach, who responded to his signal by firing a pinpoint Ground Spear at Veronica. Theo had significantly improved the spell’s speed and power after using it against Sylvia and reaching the 5th Circle.

However, his opponent was too absurd.

“Ah, an elemental.” Veronica instantly recognized Mitra and stomped lightly on the ground.

Kung!

[Hoyayang!]

Mitra, who was preparing another spell, was hit by a shock wave and fled deeper into the ground with a cute scream. She didn’t seem hurt, but she had received a big surprise. Theodore sent a few messages but didn’t receive any replies. Mitra was closer to a spirit than a solid entity, so he had felt the emotional impact of her surprise.

Still, Theo’s goal of gaining a single tempo in the battle was achieved.

Memorize. All Slots Charge.

His 5th Circle may be incomplete, but now that he had five circles, Memorize had five slots. Theo filled up all the slots while Veronica’s attention was caught by the Ground Spear. If he unleashed five magic spells at the same time, then he could complete one combination. This was Theodore’s original magic, which was different from traditional Fusion Magic.

This is currently the strongest spell I can use!

In theory, Veronica wouldn’t be able to block it, since it had the power equal to an upper 5th Circle or low 6th Circle spell. Theo’s eyes began glowing blue as he drew on all his magic power. It caused the magic power in the air to shudder, which Veronica noticed. She turned her attention back to him and prepared to defend against his attack.

However, Theo shot forward.

“Again?” Veronica looked at him with a confused expression.

She knew that Theo should’ve understood that close combat was no use. She didn’t know what he intended by trying to approach her now, especially when he hadn’t used Alfred’s Magic Missile yet. Whatever the case, she would smash everything he’d planned.

Hwaruruk!

Veronica created two hundred fire arrows aimed directly at Theo. At the very least, she would force him to zigzag or abandon his frontal charge.

Of course, Theodore anticipated this as well.

- Illusion Track!

Dozens of clones appeared in the stadium when the mouth on his left hand cried out silently.

“Illusion magic? And he’s using Battle Song at the same time?” Veronica’s shock caused her reaction to be delayed by half a beat.

Theo’s display had completely defied common sense. She had never imagined that a 5th Circle magician could invoke Battle Song in conjunction with illusion magic which was at least of the 3rd Circle. While Veronica’s dragon bloodline and high sensitivity would eventually allow her to see through the illusions, it would still take a moment.

As a result, Theodore was ahead of her by one beat.

“Master of heat, Surtr. Blow away those who dare desire your power!”

It was a chant he had learned from Sylvia. It was one of the most feared spells in fire magic, and typically limited to the 7th Circle, but he could reproduce some of its power by omitting certain phrases. His lacking sensitivity had been shored up by Memorize’s Slots. This was the fire version of the 7th Circle ice spell, Blizzard.

Inferno.

A firestorm ignited into existence around Veronica.

“... I should get serious for a moment.”

If Veronica were a pure-blooded red dragon which swam in lava, she could endure this with her bare body. However, she was only a quarter dragon. She could handle normal flames just fine, but she needed to put up some defenses in front of Inferno’s flames.

The moment that Veronica was caught up in the fire storm...

Now! 

Theo raised his index and middle fingers of both hands, and aimed all four fingers at her. Theo had never thought he’d be able to land a blow with fire magic, even if he reproduced the 7th Circle Inferno. His opponent was the Red Tower Master, literally the strongest magician who stood at the peak of fire magic. This was Theo’s best attack, but Veronica would only struggle a little bit. He knew from the beginning that he couldn’t win with fire.

In the end, the firestorm was just camouflage.

His eyes shone gold as he used Hawkeye to see through the flames and aimed at the presence he could sense through the flames. Even a master magician couldn’t perfectly defend against a surprise attack.

Aimed at Veronica’s forehead, philtrum, heart, and stomach, four streaks of blue light pierced the flames.

Kiiiing.

Alfred Bellontes’ true Magic Bullet finally saw the light of day as it pierced through Inferno with ease.

“Cough!” Blood spurted from Theodore’s mouth.

This was the cost of activating his circles to the limit. He staggered as Inferno’s flames struggled against a stronger set of flames.

“Nice!” The Queen of Fire appeared as Inferno was cowed by her own flames.

She was grinning as she reached up to touch the blood seeping from a line on her cheek. It was the only proof that Magic Bullet had penetrated the defense of the quarter dragon.

Only one shot connected. I’ve still got a lot to learn and improve…

Theo sighed deeply as he guessed what Veronica had done from the flow of magic power around her body. She had activated the incomplete version of Battle Song, which had simultaneously allowed her flames to overpower Inferno and enhance her phenomenal reflexes enough to dodge Magic Bullet.

This was the end. He couldn’t come up with any more means to win.

***

On the other hand, Veronica was shivering with joy.

Is this kid for real?

She had handicapped herself, but there was only a single person in the city who had ever made her feel so nervous. But she could never go all out against that old man, since they were both pillars of this kingdom.

But Theo was a brand new magician.

If he keeps growing like this for twenty... No, ten years...

He would grow into someone powerful enough to threaten Veronica. She only grew more giddy as she imagined that day. She even thought that Theo looked good, even though Veronica had never been interested in the opposite sex before. It would’ve been nice if Vince hadn’t discovered him first… Unfortunately, she had been a step too late and couldn’t be his mentor.

She pulled a potion out of her dimension pocket. “Drink this. The blood is clogged around the Circles in your heart, so it is better to treat it now.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“And the attack you showed at the end was really good! Keep doing that in the future.”

Theo stiffened as he asked, “... Future. Does that mean…?”

“Yes!” Veronica nodded brightly as she dropped another bomb on him. “Drink the potion and rest for thirty minutes. If we spar half a dozen times a day, we’ll see results in less than a month. Are you going to be one of those whiny children and say they can’t?”

Theodore stiffened as he glanced at the shattered stadium, his torn clothes, and the blood he had thrown up. Veronica’s smile caused a chill to run down his back, despite it lacking any ill will. Theo could see why Vince had called her a natural disaster, but he couldn’t back out now. In the end, Theodore dropped his head with a resigned expression.

It took roughly a fortnight for the fierce one-on-one tutoring with Veronica to end.