A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 150: The Challenger Arrives!

Paul walked toward Rorschach, having already laid down his bow and picked up the arrows that had lost their divine light.

"Impressive, impressive." Saying this, "The Sharpshooter of Gascone" examined the arrow from all angles, rubbing the runes on it, looking somewhat disappointed.

Paul rallied. He was about the same age as Rorschach, and as he looked at his senior, who was already an intermediate mage, an idea popped into his head uncontrollably.

Paul drew his Exorcising Blade, which was attached to a short handle—making it equivalent to a dagger or short sword—and brandished it a couple of times before issuing a challenge: "Mage Rorschach, shall we test our next weapon?"

Rorschach saw through the warmonger's thoughts: "You, as the swordsman, will fight me?"

Paul nodded. "Yes, I'd like to challenge you. Of course, you wouldn't mind if I brought weapons in a fight between an apprentice and an intermediate mage, would you?"

"Of course, I will only use magic, while you can cast spells and use the current Exorcising Blade, but we need to establish a rule that we can both accept."

Rorschach didn't know what spells the other party had mastered. By the standards of the Imperial Academy, mastering about five low-level spells would be sufficient. However, the Magic Tower's education at the apprentice level was much more advanced than that of the academy.

However, he was certainly not afraid of fighting. In fact, upon careful reflection, Rorschach had never fought a spellcaster before. His opponents, apart from thugs and blessed knights, were either severely crippled gods.

He carefully examined his opponent, who was now in a fighting stance with his sword, seemingly intending to use the Exorcising Blade as his attack method. However, due to the close proximity between them, Rorschach, with his orange-level "Magic Control," could sense that this cunning young man was secretly manipulating the ether in the environment to prepare for a spell.

After a moment's thought, Kano, based on the tradition of mage duels, offered his opinion: "Rorschach's 'Divine Power Dissipation' requires preparation time and has a casting range, right?"

"The rules are simple. I will designate an arena where you will fight. If Mage Rorschach destroys the holy light blessing of the Exorcising Blade, Mage Rorschach wins; if Apprentice Paul harms Mage Rorschach with the Exorcising Blade, then Paul wins."

He thought for a moment and added, "Apart from Paul's Exorcising Blade, no other magical items or spellcasting materials can be used in the battle."

"I carry a scroll of healing spells with me. Rorschach must not inflict a fatal wound on Paul. Whoever is injured, I will heal them immediately—remember to pay me!"

This rule also takes into account the difference in strength between the two, setting Rorschach's victory condition as destroying the Holy Light to prevent him from inflicting excessive damage on his apprentice. The prohibition on using spellcasting materials also effectively limits Rorschach's ability to use advanced magic.

As for Paul's judgment method, firstly, it limited his winning methods, and secondly, this Exorcising Blade had already been used twice, so its effect had weakened. Even if Rorschach was hit, Cano judged that the recovery scroll could perfectly heal him.

As Kano reconstructed a circular battle arena with a diameter of approximately ten meters, he asked both sides, "Do you two accept this?"

Rorschach had no objection to the rules, except for one point: "I will be responsible for any damage caused." Rorschach was disdainful of the Master Healing Scroll's charging system, since his own [Deryaz Forest] also had healing effects.

Even if you are cut by the Blade of Exorcism, the [Exorcism] spell can remove the enchantment's effect and then heal you.

However, to others, these words sounded like empty threats, especially since Mr. Philippe de Merovinga was very excited about the battle. It was unclear whether he was looking forward to Rorschach, who had once brutally defeated him, being defeated by "Battle Magic," or whether he was looking forward to seeing someone else be taken down by Rorschach in one move, proving that it wasn't that he was too weak but that this kid was too strong.

Paul was ready to go, and Rorschach was not a nobleman who cared about etiquette. The intermediate mage took the initiative to create some distance and signaled that he was ready.

"Then three, two, one!"

As soon as Kano finished speaking, Paul and Rorschach acted simultaneously. Paul lunged forward, trying to close the distance with the target, while his spell was ready to be cast.

To prevent Rorschach's "Dissipate Divine Power" from hitting the dagger, Paul planned to use his body to block his right hand first, and at the same time, he would release the spell "Acid Splash" as he lunged to the side.

He had considered this spell beforehand. If it were an attack using other energy or projectiles, the opponent would most likely use protective magic to resist it. However, the acid, regardless of whether it hit or not, would force Rorschach to move due to its corrosive properties after splashing, creating an opportunity for him to approach and thrust. More importantly, Paul had his sights set on Rorschach's head—he could use the green liquid to obscure the opponent's vision.

The spell was ready. This trick, which he knew by heart, was a strength that suited his fighting style. In order to launch surprise attacks, he practiced techniques that did not require large casting movements or chanting.

In that instant, he propelled himself forward with a powerful stride, almost leaping through the air, pulling Rorschach into the range of his spell and the follow-up thrust of his Demon-Slaying Blade. If a spectator were standing behind Rorschach, they would see that Paul's trajectory was not a straight line, but an arc, as he attempted to avoid Rorschach's attack.

"Huh?" Just when Paul thought the other party would misjudge his attack method and his strategy would succeed, an invisible impact suddenly erupted on his left side.

Intermediate mages do perform spellcasting actions, but there are no visible rays, projectiles, or phenomena caused by spells such as sound, light, water, fire, or electricity.

At this moment, Paul could clearly feel as if a torrent carrying hail was washing over him. Not only did his prepared acid splash fail, but his brain also felt as if it were being pricked by needles and bluntly struck, with two kinds of pain coming at him at once.

If he had enough experience in casting spells, he might know that this was a mental backlash after the magic was interrupted.

That's right, Rorschach used [Anti-Magic Scream]. Of course, he didn't break the rules by using the powder of the oscillating crystal. Instead, he analyzed the frequency band of "Magic Condensation" and released a counter-interference in a targeted manner.

"Magic Condensation" is the first step in the casting of many spells, and it is usually the longest step in low-level spells. Therefore, the [Anti-Magic Scream] spell, which targets it, can be effective in combat even without relying on the Vibrating Crystal Powder.

The improved spells have many advantages. For example, compared to the uncontrolled Crystal Burst Ether Shock, which is harmful to both the caster and the target, spells that focus on a single frequency consume less ether.

The young man easily interrupted Paul's "secret" preparation of the spell. Although Rorschach had no idea what "little surprise" Paul had prepared, since it was in a state of readiness, he needed to continuously gather ether to maintain it.

Therefore, the "magic ban" was successful.

To Paul's shock, Rorschach immediately began casting his second spell. The difference between an apprentice and an intermediate mage was once again evident. While Paul's most familiar offensive spells still required considerable preparation time, Rorschach began the casting steps of his next spell as soon as [Anti-Magic Scream] was released.

If the initial interruption hadn't caused the backlash, Rorschach's second spell might not have been able to be completed under Paul's charge. But clearly, the opponent was now powerless to stop him, and Rorschach raised his left hand and pointed at him.

"game over."

(End of this chapter)