CH 222.2

Chapter 222.2. Duel

-Masatoshi’s POV-

Fired up with passion, I turn towards Taiyou and brace myself. The exclusive Masatoshi’s summon, Ifrit, clad in a blazing red fire adamantite exoskeleton, begins to emit crimson particles, heating the surroundings.

“Hehe, I didn’t expect to fight here, but oh well. Enjoy your date with everyone. You’ll probably find a fiancée for yourself.”

Taiyou, wearing the magnificent platinum orichalcum magic armor King, playfully retorts, so I respond with a grin.

“You don’t get it! Sena-san and I are deeply in love! Can’t you see that?”

“I can see it, but still, everyone will flock to you… Well, whatever.”

“The A-ranked fire magician. I’ll show you the power of Aguni Masatoshi!”

Swishing my cape, I take on a mocking expression as I circulate mana throughout my body. Energy different from blood runs through my cells, strengthening me at a cellular level.

“Haahhh!”

With a shout, crimson particles erupt like a storm from my body, my red hair fluttering like it’s on fire. A vast amount of mana emanates from me, exerting a daunting pressure on the surroundings.

The students in the audience feel the raging mana and tremble in fear despite not being directly targeted.

“…I see. There’s certainly something to what you said. I sense a power far beyond what I’ve seen before.”

However, facing each other, Taiyou retains a composed smile, effortlessly deflecting the force of my power like a gentle breeze.

“But I don’t think you can beat me.”

“You talk big! Let’s do this!”

As the two glare at each other, Suzu raises her hand.

“The match begins!”

With the signal, I raise my hand.

[Lovers]

Without mercy, I unleash my signature magic. There’s no need for restraint or feeling out the opponent. With my specialty magic, I overwhelmingly secure a swift victory!

Yesterday, I turned the ground into a lava flow, melting even targets made of magic metal or walls with protective barriers. It was a single blow that burned everything to ashes.

The furious might of the raging fires approaches Taiyou. But he, with an unshaken smile, steps in and evades sideways.

“Starting with a feint, huh?”

“That’s not it!”

Unfazed by Taiyou’s amused attitude, I cross my arms and quickly activate the next magic.

[Magma Hand]

The scorching lava flow responds to my mana and changes shape. The glowing red, melted stones gather and transform into a long, slender arm made of lava.

Moreover, one after another, lava hands emerge from the lava flow, extending like tentacles and attacking the sun.

“Well done! It was preparation for your next magic, huh?”

[Icicle Plant]

Taiyou aims his hands upward, forming magic circles in the air to counter me. White cold air emanates from the magic circles, and ice vines appear, quickly covering the surroundings like a thorny garden.

The lava hands clash with the ice vines, canceling each other out, creating water vapor, and chilling the area.

The clash of the scorching fire and the freezing ice vines creates a thick veil of steam, shrouding the ring like a mist.

My vision is completely obscured, but I remain calm, analyzing the battle as expected.

[Thermal Sensor]

I concentrate mana into my eyes to confirm the enemy’s location. Despite being covered in steam, I can still see the opponent’s figure. I know exactly where they are.

Taiyou shelters himself in an ice dome to defend against the successive attacks of my magma-created arms.

“Using the ice dome to protect yourself from [Magma Hand], that’s the most reliable option.”

I chuckle, then swing my arms again, infusing mana.

“Do you know what a combo move is?”

I’ve been thinking about a combination attack that could defeat Taiyou. And I’ve come up with this combo.

“This is the end!”

Following my movements, the magma arms entwine above Taiyou’s head, forming a large-scale ritual magic circle.

The gigantic magic circle, covering the entire ring, holds an immense amount of mana, shining in red.

[Flare Statue]

From the magic circle, white flare descend to the ground. They instantly melt the ice dome and consume the sun with their blazing heat.

“Hahaha! Did it!”

Masatoshi crosses his arms and laughs triumphantly. He’s undoubtedly the man who looks the best when laughing.

“Wait, wait, you’re going too far! Mii-chan, help me!”

“‘Help Mii-chan,’ that’s a nice one, Suzu-chan! But it looks like he’s fine, you know?”

Gray-haired-girl responds while holding popcorn in one hand.

Masatoshi stiffens his face slightly at her words. He thought he might have gone a little too far, but he’s fine.

I look at Taiyou, who is engulfed in fire. The mist of steam disappears with the remnants of the blaze, leaving only a column of fire covering the sun… he fine?

“It’s certainly powerful, but it’s also a weakness of Aguni Dukedom, right?”

I hear a cool voice from the towering column of fire, and Taiyou walks out.

“I have fire immunity. It was quite challenging since I used a treasured magic tool.”

Taiyou smiles serenely, without a single burn on hir body.

“Now that I have fire immunity, Aguni Dukedom is powerless, right?”

“…I wonder about that. I still have some tricks up my sleeve, you know?”

My remark of “I’ve done it” might have been unnecessary, but I clicked my tongue and furrowed my brow, deciding to continue the battle.