Chapter 424 Trial By Combat

"Spatial magic," Emilio uttered out upon realization.

"Huh–?" Celly reacted in surprise.

"You're kidding, right? I've heard about it, but that stuff is just hypotheticals and all that, right?" Excelsior added in.

As they looked towards the arena with great curiosity, the smile that was on Sirius' lips did not disappear. The lightning-wielder's black-and-gray, military uniform shifted with an odd wind as the pristine buttons on his coat shined off of the cerulean light.

This time, it was Bastian who went on the offense, launching towards Sirius with speed not unlike lightning itself, conjuring a golden sword into his hand before–

In that split-second, space itself contorted as if the wind itself was being gripped and forcibly turned into a spiral, reshaping and melding it.

"--"

Before the sword could be properly swung, Bastian found himself not within striking distance of the Stormheart, but back to where he was previously standing. It wasn't as though he had been knocked back or retreated himself, but as if he was instantaneously reverted back to his position.

'...That confirms it. Interesting–this guy isn't all bark, then,' Bastian thought with a small smile.

"Bingo, my friends" Sirius said, pointing towards the spectator area, "--What you just witnessed was the supreme element of magecraft: 'Spatial Magic'!"

Such a revelation brought no doubt to the validity of the clash of reincarnators, though it was designated as a "friendly match", there was no doubt that the spirit of competition now brewed between the two men:

"The Strongest Adventurer" versus "The Strongest Reincarnator"--a clash of two who wielded conflicting, yet truthful titles.

–

Witnessing space able to be bent at the fingertips of the Stormheart was something that seemed fantastical even in the realm of magic itself; a feat of impossibility made into reality.

The half-elf archmage couldn't seem to wrap her head around it, keeping her hand to her chin as she muttered to herself, though most of it was unheard by Emilio.

"In just about every writing I've seen about 'Spatial Magic', it was mostly talked about as some sort of myth," Celly said, "A mage that can use it...This sort of knowledge would shake the entire society of mages."

"Same here–I've read about it, but there wasn't any grimoire that even tried detailing it. How the hell did he learn it?" Emilio wondered.

"Yeah...I can't even see Sirius' attacks move–by the time I see it, the attacks have already struck the arena," Celly nodded.

There wasn't a single second that the entire blue-and-black arena wasn't rumbling or filled with thunderclaps as Sirius presented his aggressive, lightning-based fighting style. Bastian had conjured dual whips of golden material, whipping them around as their range extended freely in the air.

Unable to be so much as grazed by the attacks, Sirius laughed as he moved across the arena instantly, warping with the mythical element of space at his fingertips.

Electricity coiled most of the battleground, manipulated at him by the Stormheart as he spurred on assaults of lightning from every angle, causing the magenta lights to flash unendingly.

'They're both only fighting in "Stage One" right now–I wouldn't even be able to keep up if I was using my Stage Five,' Emilio thought, 'Just what level are these two on to be that strong?'

[One Hour Later]

"...Hfff..."

"Huu..."

Sirius and Bastian were breathing heavily, growing tired after their restless bout, still in their [Stage One] forms of their systems, yet neither had landed a clean blow.

Despite a clash of two, supremely powerful fighters being a majestic sight in some ways, there was another, agonizing aspect of such battles: the high skill between both caused there to be little progress made in either direction.

It was the classic case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object; Sirius nor Bastian had so much as scratched one another.

Emilio let out a sigh, looking over to find that Excelsior had already long since left the deep-level arena below the Cerulean Keep, though Celly was still intently watching.

"Alright, that's good enough," Sirius said as his lightning calmed, allowing his hair to settle as he exhaled.

"Yeah?" Bastian relaxed his guard.

"You're good. No doubt about that," Sirius smiled, walking over as he extended his hand to the nomad, "I'd be pleased to fight alongside you, brother."

"'Brother'?" Bastian questioned.

The Dragonheart almost found himself laughing from the sidelines as he experienced the same confusion as Bastian, though not expecting Sirius to repeat the same, odd proclamation of brotherhood.

"Welcome to the team," Bastian smiled, "You gave me the hardest workout I've had in years."

"Heh, that's what happens when you fight the strongest," Sirius cockily joked.

Both of the two reincarnators clasped hands as the introduction of the "Strongest Adventurer", Sirius Stormheart, was made to the resistance of the Children of Chaos.