Chapter 233 The Test (3)

The explosion was loud, the crater it created was deep, and I was laying in this deep crate of scorched ground, smiling with admiration-filled eyes…

The spell was strong, and my barrier had barely but surely blocked it.

It definitely blocked an attack and destruction-focused magic from an archmage.

And I couldn't believe just how strong I had to be to pull off something like this.

An archmage. There were only three in this world and even in those three, the strongest one was before me, testing my prowess.

And this defensive power surely pleased him enough to make him applause like he was doing right now, with that genuine, wise smile on his face.

I couldn't see my family's reaction with the third eye, but I knew they were speechless by this display of strength.

I had canceled the third eye before so it was now on hold and as I thought before… that ability can actually travel through the barriers around this arena.

This was amazing but even more amazing that mom, grandpa, and even Rein had a proud and admiration-filled face and they were acting like they had seen something unreal just now.

And when I saw them after a while of settling down in this crater, I couldn't help but shake my head at those amazing people.

Well, of course, this was unreal.

A mere not twelve-year-old (tier-3) mage boy blocking a serious attack from an archmage?

It was unreal, and not many could actually block such a spell, much less a child.

Just this much was enough to show how much strength I was, but it was still all thanks to the one who taught me.

One who told me I had the power to use such power and taught me from the ground and even though I was still lacking a lot, I was happy I was at least this strong.

This life was dear to me and having strength in crazy situations like this was the only way for me to actually survive some crazy situations that will surely knock at the doors of my life.

Though even Carla or Alf would at least have survived that one, they wouldn't have been unscratched like me.

This was just that amazing... and now it was my turn.

Standing up and ignoring the reactions of my family, I looked at the person before me with a smile.

And he smiled back as he started speaking in a different manner than before.

"You are amazing, young Eon. It's just miraculous to see that unscratched self.

That energy, can I have its name?" He asked with a genuine smile and this time, there was no hidden motive in those words.

He was impressed…

And I was overjoyed to hear those praises from someone like him.

He was an amazing person.

And when this day started with Rein and my terrace tea and talk, I never thought that I would be standing before one of the strongest like this.

And he was praising me. What can say now?

"It's actually an honor to receive such great praise from someone like you, headmaster. And it's all thanks to my master that I'm even strong enough to be here.

As for this special energy, we call it Solnova. The special energy is almost equal to Aether and Mana in terms of environmental density and although this is far thinner than even Mana, in the methods we store this in the body, it almost fits in the entire body.

It's amazing, but that's all I can say about it"

Revealing too much data was just disadvantageous, even if I trusted this person before me unconditionally.

And he understood that much as he just nodded and smiled at me.

And I sighed… a deep sigh and a look of excitement.

"It's my turn now, headmaster."

With a confident look and fire in my eyes, I took out a blue bow from my white crack.

A bow that looked exceptional, and just from the look, one could tell this was no simple weapon.

The special dense Mana around it was also special and the yellow enchantments on the bow were enough to tell that this bow was made from high-level materials.

The crafting, the texture, the green string that looked immovable at a glance but… in my hands, it was just a normal bow.

Made with a [Deep sea shark]'s essence as its core, the bow decreased the Mana, concentration, and stamina consumption of water-type spells.

It was a (level-9) like my previous bow but, this one was far stronger than that one.

That one had no special skill like [Currant channeling] this one had, and the reason I took out this particular bow this time was simply to attack with some pretty awesome spell casting method.

"It's a marvelous bow, young boy. But remember… I won't wait like last time when you finish this attack.

So, get ready and prepare right now if you want something else.

The two next spells from me will be faster, and consecutive, and I will only wait when I am done with those two.

I know you also understand what I want to see."

He smirked with the same smirk I had seen a while back but, this time, I also smirked back at him.

"Thanks for informing me, dear headmaster."

Bowing respectfully, I took out Asta, and as soon as his eyes fell on her; they widened like the time I told him about the land.

And that surprise was genuine, just like the one before.

"T-that one? Was your master also the one who made it?" His voice was hesitant and the look in his eyes was unbelievable.

Rein was the only one before him who actually knew the worth of this weapon for now, but Asta was far more than just some normal weapon.

And only he, someone who can see almost anything not restricted by the world, with his world authority, could actually know the true worth of Asta.

She was closest to the strongest ones, [[(Soul Armaments)]], and this one, if I could say it, I would call Asta a [Noble Artifact].

Something stronger than any artifact there could but not like a [Divine Artifact].

Well, Asta was surely stronger than any actual divine artifact, but not in terms of materialistic strength.

Not in terms of hardness, the power it carried, or intelligence.

Though the <Ego> it had was just as good as a divine artifact's… the ability to learn that Asta had was like no other.

A weapon that could store the enchantments, trigger them at the command, and become far more than just a divine artifact in an actual fight.

And luckily, I had her for a while now, and she was a cute one.

She was almost like a little golden kitty and although she had the understanding many times better than the normal cats, Asta was a spectacular weapon.

And indeed, my dear master was the one who made her.

Looking down at my hands and at this weapon that resembled her tail feathers, I sighed deeply and kissed the red gem on its handle end.

-Veeeeee~.

And she was happy after that kiss, so she answered like a low vibration that only I could feel.

I understood this partner weapon of mine, and similarly, she understood me, just like Celes.

This connection we had was different from a pact or oath. We just had this connection of master and weapon that only a highly experienced knight could have with their partner weapon.

And deep inside me, Ronna was angry again that I had to use something other than her.

She was a special one, and unlike the other [[(Soul Armaments)]], Ronna can change her form and I can use her whenever I wanted.

It would be up to me how much power I wanted to exert on her, unlike any other ones like her.

Do I want to just scratch the enemies, or destroy the entire armies and cause genocides?

She was special because she can do that, and I can only do that when I will be strong enough to use her.

But that time was still far away. And I had a test to finish.

Nodding with watery eyes that appeared just because I was reminded of her, I answered with a heavy nod.

"Master made her. And she is awesome, right? I'm lucky I found a partner this early, and if it is someone like this cute one, I know I won't have anything to worry about for the rest of my life~."

My words were genuine, and I was really happy to have Asta.

He understood just how good it felt to have a partner you can give your hundred percent with, and his partner, the one inside him, was also something special.

That wand... was far more than just some weapon or rod.

From just how much Zoe admired it, it was clear just how magnificent existence that was.

Maybe, if someday fate allows it, I will be able to see it with my own eyes, too.

It would be a nice experience and just like that, I was looking forward to being able to manifest Ronna, too.

Well, this test comes first. I had everything I needed to get stronger. And the only thing I will need and have is... time.

It will take a while, but before I become an adult and join the academy for real, I knew I will be a bit stronger than I am now.

And for that, I have to finish this test first.

"Haaa... let's finish this now, without much delay."

My eyes sharpened with a smile and I moved back with a [Quickstep] and pulled back the bowstring while channeling a large amount of Mana as well as Solnova.

A grin appeared on his face too because of the sudden rise in pressure and he knew from this one, the attack won't be something boring.

Asta was now dug into the ground and two magic circles had appeared on the ground and above the red heart like a gem of its body.

"Huuu..." Breathing deeply, I remembered the scripted spells inside my head. Selecting the most water, fog, and ice attribute spells I could, I released a significant amount of Mana from my Mana core.

The spells I had scripted were almost countless, and right now, I had just selected some hundreds of (tier-1) arrow spells.

The string that I pulled backward started resonating at this and the increased pressure in the surrounding started condensing around me.

But as this pressure that only he could feel right now gathered around me and calmed down it… just became one with me.

This was control over the energy, one of my specialties that blocked or utilized any excess energy and channeled that into the ongoing spell chant.

This surprised him even more, and now… he was serious about whatever was coming his way.

It was going to be exciting, and I wanted to see just how an archmage would defend against hundreds of arrow spells.

There was a smile on my face, a blue blaze on the pulled-back bowstring, the serene energy throughout my body, and the spells were ready...

'Short range archery: Arrow release.'