'I have to meet Aurdis now.'
Erend had no other choice now but to meet Aurdis. He still couldn't find the humans who could use that Magic and asked them. Systema didn't give him any pointers either.
So Erend can only do it by himself now.
"Do you think this is bad?" Billy asked.
Erend who was deep in thought did not answer immediately. Erend only answered after Billy called him for the second time.
"I don't know. But there's a big possibility that this could be going bad," Erend said. "I don't even have to imagine to know how bad it is."
"How could they do that?" Billy asked. His face was the picture of anxiety.
"I don't know." Erend shook his head now. "But I have to go now."
Erend didn't need to tell Billy where to go. Billy already knows where Erend would go after they just found out the shocking fact.
"But we can't go now," Billy said.
Erend tried to think of a way so he could find a reason to go to Eternal Earth. But after he thought for a while, he couldn't find a way.
This military base is strict and they are soldiers. So they must obey the orders given to them.
There was almost no opening for them to slip through so Erend had time to get out.
Plus, now suddenly the speakers in every corner of the military base are ringing.
Echoing the order to the personnel who will participate in the military operation training to gather in the briefing room.
Erend had absolutely no free time now.
"Then we'll just wait until later," Erend said as they had no choice.
So Erend and Billy went to the briefing room with the other soldiers.
~~~
Steve and Annie decide to practice together. At first, they just cast their Magic on each other's observation. But soon they decided to compare them.
"Now our power seems to be even," Annie said as she moved the ice ball above her palm.
"Yeah, I thought so too," Steve replied.
Their Magic power cancels each other.
Whenever Annie froze something Steve would melt it with his fire.
Likewise, when Steve burns something, Annie easily freezes Steve's fire with her ice.
But that was possible because they didn't try to add force into their ice and fire.
They only took out their fire and ice and then watched it so that the two forces could cancel each other.
Steve is still not convinced that their strengths are indeed equal.
He felt that they would have to do some sparring to really find out.
"How about we try fighting?" Steve then said the suggestion.
Annie blinked a few times. She bit her lower lip nervously.
"I actually want to do it. But..." Annie said with a doubtful face.
"You don't need to be afraid that you'll destroy anything again. Didn't Conrad say you can control your powers well?" Steve said.
"That's right..."
Annie spread her gaze around. Wire fences surrounded them on all sides. And a camera is also installed to keep an eye on them.
Annie wasn't stupid so she knew that this training ground must have been designed to handle the power of the two of them.
"Then let's try it."
Annie also decided to agree with Steve's idea. She must also work on overcoming her doubts and fear of her strength.
Steve nodded with a satisfied smile because he felt excited.
Finally, he can fight Annie in sane mode after previously only being able to fight her when she was possessed by madness. The two situations are clearly different.
Now Steve will find out what Annie can do when she has full control of her mind.
Would she show disappointing results because she couldn't actually fight?
Or maybe finally Annie can use Magic to support her battle skills which are honed?
After all, she was chosen for this project for a reason.
Annie began to concentrate. This time she didn't even have to close her eyes and just had to think to draw Magic like Steve.
The progress she had shown since last night's incident could be said to be drastic.
Steve also began to concentrate. His reddish aura grew even thicker. Finally, the two kinds of auras collided in the air.
On Annie's side, the concrete and wire fences were starting to fill with frozen ice.
Meanwhile, on Steve's side, the heat was created.
The two of them had suddenly created two completely opposite conditions inside the wired fence.
From behind the camera, everyone watching was stunned by the sight.
"It's about to go down," Thomas - who had suddenly come here when he found out that the two subjects were going to be practicing - said with a glint of excitement in his eyes.
Beside him were two other scientists who had flashes of eyes not much different from him.
Back in the practice room, Steve decided to make the first move. He threw a fist-sized ball of fire at Annie.
Steve wanted to see how Annie would react to the attack.
Annie responded calmly. She stretched her arms forward and an ice wall appeared.
The fireball hit the ice wall and shattered it. But the fireball was destroyed along with it.
Steve then dashed towards Annie.
Annie was a little surprised to see Steve approaching quickly. But because she was no longer possessed by madness, Annie didn't rush at him and attacked directly.
The recording she saw when Steve beat her the other time was playing again in Annie's head. Annie knew a bit about how Steve fought with his powers.
Annie jumped back and then sent an ice spear heading toward Steve from below.
Steve who saw Annie moving away was slightly surprised.
'She really has changed.'
Steve focused his Magic on his fist. Steve's fist was suddenly enveloped in flames then he punched the spear of ice that appeared from beneath him.
*PRANGGG!*
Steve crushed the ice spear easily. But suddenly his head was hit by a punch coming from the right and left simultaneously.
*BUAGGHH!*
~~~