NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54.2
Stage 2-23. Big Match
Reina’s lightning strike blasts through the enemy’s [Thunder] with speed to match, hitting all three head-on.
Her hard work paid off, reaching them at last.
“[Wind Upper]!”
“Ugh!?”
“Whoa!!”
“Kyaa!!”
Seizing the opening, Mashiro casts wind magic, blasting them upward from beneath.
The three are split apart, making their teamwork difficult.
At this point, we’re in control.
In one-on-one fights, we won’t lose.
“Pattern One! Reina, I’m going for their leader!”
“By all means. Now, Riche, as planned.”
“Stay steady, please! [Wind Back]!”
Propelled by Mashiro’s wind magic, Reina catapults forward, straight as an arrow.
With the wind assisting her, she rapidly closes in on the scattered opponents.
She plans to take them down before they regroup.
Besides [Thunder], Reina’s magic power is unmatched, as last year proved.
The choice to overwhelm them with her strength was a wise one.
“Hey! Reina Milfonti! I’m over here!!”
“Too bad, Sherba. You’re up against me.”
“Tch! Don’t underestimate me! [Flame Shot]!”
“An aggressive choice over defense, huh? Good call.”
While [Wind Back] is powerful, it sends us flying with such force that dodging enemy attacks mid-flight isn’t easy.
At best, we can counter with magic to offset the attack.
Since I can’t use magic myself, I can’t benefit from [Wind Back]’s support.
So, it takes me a bit longer to reach Sherba.
He scatters flame shots to stall me.
“Crafty, aren’t you? Using your head a little for once.”
Rather than aiming directly, he spreads out the flame shots to block my path.
Without [Delete], I have to dodge, losing time in reaching him.
Sherba braces himself before I close the distance.
“Too bad! Without magic, you had to finish me while I was vulnerable! Now, that’s out of the question.”
“Nope. This went exactly as planned.”
“What…?”
“Defeating you at your peak with raw power – much simpler this way, isn’t it?”
“You… don’t mock me! [Flame Bomb]!”
Eight flame bombs appear between his fingers, and he hurls them my way.
“Go ahead and blow up!”
“Not happening.”
I flick iron coins from my pouch, launching them to intercept his bombs.
The bombs explode but don’t reach me.
Smoke rises between us, blocking his sight – it’s my turn now.
“Wh-What?!”
“—There you are.”
I toss coins in all directions, and his startled voice reveals his position.
Sneaking closer, I find Sherba in a frustrated crouch, surrounded by smoke.
“Damn it! Where are you!? Show yourself!”
“Behind you.”
“Wh— Flame Sh—”
“Too slow for magic now.”
“—Ugh!!”
My fist connects with his stomach, a solid hit.
The impact sends him flying.
He lands with a thud, eyes rolling back as he loses consciousness.
“Nothing beats a good punch.”
I look at my fist, muttering to myself.
Muscle and effort never betray.
“Now then, how’s it going… Ha, looks like it’s almost over.”
I glance over at Mashiro – the fight’s result is obvious.
“A dual magic caster?! That’s unfair!”
“I was born with it; can’t help it.”
The girl sprawled on the ground has her hands and feet bound by icy chains.
She likely braced for wind magic, only to get hit by ice magic.
Even knowing two types of magic doesn’t mean you can counter both.
“Alright, stay quiet now.”
“Mmph!? Mm…mmm!”
Mashiro stuffs a handkerchief in her mouth to prevent her from casting.
In that state, her defeat is clear.
Now, let’s see how Reina’s doing…
“Damn it…! [Thunder Waltz]!”
“[Lightning Pillars]!”
Six lightning swords rain down on Reina, but lightning pillars rising from the ground deflect them.
Reina’s pure magic power absorbs the enemy’s attack like a predator devouring prey.
“Sorry. Looks like Ogre and Mashiro are finished, so I’ll wrap this up too.”
“No… no way…”
Reina’s words, as if she’s been humoring a child, crush her opponent’s hope.
“—[Thunder Whip].”
A crackling whip appears in her hand.
She wields it skillfully, snapping it through the air before striking the ground with a loud crack.
“Don’t worry; it’ll just sting a bit.”
“Ah…ahh…!”
“Let’s have fun, shall we?”
“Aaaahhh!!”
Her smile as she cracks the whip gives her the air of a queen of the night… or so I’ll leave it at that.