(EP-149.2) Aspect #2

149 – New Aspect #2

Windmill’s Knight Verdonas.

I had heard this name before. I had already received information and read about the top-ranking experts within the top 10 in Ark, which was considered the core of this world.

Each of these individuals was an exceptional warrior, and their fame became such that it would be hard not to know about them unless you deliberately avoided it.

From what I heard, Verdonas was a superhuman who freely wielded his massive lance, slaying monsters and enemies alike. And because of his righteous character, he was sometimes called the Knight of Knights.

I sneakily observed Aira’s reaction.

“Hmm.”

Aira, who ranked 2nd in Ark, didn’t outright reject Verdonas.

Aira seemed intrigued. Perhaps it was due to the existence of a powerful individual right beneath her?

“Alright. There was something I wanted to try anyway. You seem quite sturdy, so I suppose you can withstand it to some extent.”

Her attitude was akin to dealing with a lab rat.

With that, the promotion match was quickly arranged.

The rule of thumb was that 10th Rank and below could only have a match once a month, trying to snatch each other’s position.

Obviously, the fight between the 2nd and 3rd ranks, a rare sight to behold, gathered many people.

━It’s a battle between the 2nd and 3rd Rank. How strong will they be?

━If you think about it, it’s a battle between the 1st and 2nd Ranks since the 1st Rank is vacant.

━Who do you think will win?

━Wouldn’t that be the Queen, since she’s a Rank 7 Archmage?

It was unusually crowded for an early morning. The noise of their conversations got so loud my ears were ringing. But, like everyone else, I was also interested in this fight.

Being ranked 3rd, Verdonas should be able to bring out Aira’s skills quite a bit. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to know how strong Aira truly was when she got serious.

With this thought in mind.

The news of this match up seemed to have quickly spread, as old men in colorful hats appeared among the people.

They were none other than the Sages, and they came upon hearing about Aira, an ultra-high-ranking Mage, fighting against someone strong.

The White Mage Hynax announced.

“This promotion match will be hosted by me, Hynax, the Chairman of the Ark Board of Directors and the Chairman of the White Magic Society.”

He then followed with a simple rule: Do your best, but no deaths.

Probably because if Single Digit Rankers died or were seriously injured while fighting each other, it would be a significant loss for the people.

“Then I will use this flame as a signal.”

Chwareureuk.

Hynax conjured a flame in his hand.

Then, he shot it high into the sky. The flame burst with a sharp sound, embroidering a beautiful flower in the blue sky.

Kkuuk.

I felt a tightening tension in my chest.

The duel had finally begun.

Seureuk.

The first to move was Verdonas. He aimed his massive lance forward and lowered his posture, resembling a charging bull.

“Dark Queen, here I come, with all my might!”

Bang-.

With a powerful push off the ground, he transformed into a golden spiral, cutting through the world as he charged towards Aira.

Kwaaaaa-.

Everyone held their breath at the incredible speed, uncharacteristic of his heavy armor and gigantic lance. He seemed almost unstoppable.

The sharp and pointed tip of the massive lance was aiming straight towards Aira’s abdomen. If such a brute force pierced through her, the delicate Aira would be torn into pieces.

Such a dizzying thought crossed my mind.

Seureuk.

“Aegis.”

As Aira opened her palm in the air, the movements of the Golden Knight came to a sudden halt.

It was as if an invisible film was in front of him, as he creaked like a rusty can grinding against an imaginary wall.

“Geuuu. Why, my attack-.”

Kagagagak.

Verdonas groaned hard under his helmet.

━Look at that! He suddenly stopped!

━What is happening?

Seeing sparks flying from the tip of his lance, everyone gasped in surprise.

“A mana barrier.”

Next to me, Hynax calmly evaluated the situation.

“It’s forming or installing mana like a barrier. So even the simplest magic of a Rank 1 Mage can become that powerful in the hands of a Rank 7 Archmage…”

I nodded in agreement with Hynax’s words of awe.

I also knew how to use mana barrier to some extent. But with the amount of magic power I had, all I could do was block projectiles like flying rocks.

It would be absolutely impossible to block the attack of a charging Knight who could break the ground. In that sense, I could gauge the total amount of magic power Aira possessed.

As expected, I simply couldn’t compare…

“Hu.”

Verdonas tried to break through Aira’s mana barrier, and repeatedly struck his lance.

Kang! Kang! Kaching! Kang!

However, each time, his attacks just bounced off the invisible wall in the air.

After attacking for a while, Verdonas finally stuck his lance deep into the ground.

“I have lost…”

Since his attacks were ineffective, he must have thought there was no way to win. It was wise not to prolong the fight in such circumstances.

Because if Aira hit him with an attack magic she prepared behind the mana barrier, he would experience a lot of pain.

“I surrender.”

With Verdonas’ clear surrender, the people exploded.

—Isn’t this too one-sided? Can there be such a huge difference between the 2nd and 3rd Rank?”

—The one who constantly attacked declared defeat? What’s going on?

The crowd couldn’t believe that it ended just like that.

But just as Aira was about to relax her outstretched hand.

Phishung-.

A sharp sound of something tearing through the air was heard.

And then, it flew towards Aira, producing a sharp, cracking sound.

“…….”

Then something was suspended in the air.

The barrier shattered like a car windshield as it got pierced by this elongated projectile.

━An arrow?

━No, it’s a crossbow bolt.

‘A bolt.’

Like someone said, it was a crossbow bolt.

A crossbow bolt that could pierce through Aira’s mana barrier.

It could only mean one thing.

“Aira-nim, are you okay?”

I hurriedly approached Aira, while tracing the direction from where the bolt came from.

Then, I spotted a torn black cloak fluttering on a tree in the distance.

“Hmm.”

Watching it, Aira let out a long nasal sound.

I felt dizzy.

The Hero and the Witch Queen.

The Main Character and the Villain.

Were these two inevitably destined to clash!?