CH 179.1

「Ain, get ready for a big one!」

「O-Okay!」

I strengthened my grip on Divine Greatsword Ainbelle and cast Quadra Fusion: Tetra Wave

After that I cast Time Square and while time was stopped I cast another Tetra Wave.

I synched the second Tetra Wave, with the one inside Divine Greatsword Ainbelle and cast both of them at the same time.

Octa Fusion: Tetra Wave Double.

Two golden shockwaves drew spirals across the room as they spread out in the empty space.

That’s right, empty space.

Just as I thought.

Having confirmed my suspicions, I turned to look towards the ground.

… Found you.

There was only one part of the ground that was a different hue.

I aimed my hand at it and cast Time Square.

While time was stopped I cast Red Crash, Black Crash and Green Crash.

Triple Fusion: Volcanon Crash.

The mass of magic lava began to pour out of my hand and cover the area.

「Well then, what will you do Silverie?」

「… You got me. I give up.」

The ground around the spot with a different hue began to rise up, and from within the ground Silverie showed herself.

The first Black Coat had been used as a fake.

She had done it to deceive me into believing she had hidden herself with her magic when, in fact, she had buried herself inside a hole in the earth.

「It seems like you were able to keep your cool and come up with a solution.」 

「Does that mean I passed the test, master?」  　

「… Hmph.」

Silverie just snorted without saying anything, however, I could see a smile creep up her face. She then placed her hand on my head so as to congratulate me and left.

「Finally, it’s my turn.」 Milly said with her arms folded.

She was looking at me with a creepy smile on her face.

「I won’t hold back. This time I’ll be the one that will win! So don’t hold anything back as well, okay Zeph?」

「Sounds good to me.」

As soon as I said that, Milly’s magic power began to rise up just like a tornado.

To avoid being left behind, I tightened my grip around Divine Greatsword Ainbelle.

I’d fought her numerous times before, and I hadn’t lost a single one of them.

Since it would have been disrespectful towards her I hadn’t held back at all, which led to her being beaten to a pulp every single time.

However, no matter how many times she lost, she never gave up…

Her desire to win is quite strong this time. This confidence of hers, is there some reason behind it? Come to think of it, she did do some kind of special training with Yera on our way back from the Outer World. This is going to be fun. Let me test how strong you’ve gotten then Milly.

I lowered my body and prepared to launch myself forward when it happened.

Behind me, I sensed the presence of magic power.

As I launched myself forward a water vortex appeared at the location where I had just been.

Following it, another one appeared right next to me.

Countless Blue Spheres appeared one after another, trying to catch me. 

「Blue Sphere Chain!」

「So you’ve figured out how to deploy them in specific places?」

Furthermore, she was also casting them in a chain. It was quite the difficult move to pull off, however, with Milly’s talent and Yera’s teaching it wasn’t impossible.

「There’s still more where that came from!」

I leaped back in order to try and escape the range of the Blue Spheres.

However, just as I did that an explosion of magic power occurred behind me.

「ARGH?!!!」

A Blue Sphere had been placed at the place where I fled to and it exploded just as I landed.

「Fufufu. You’re like an open book to me Zeph!」

To think that Milly would be able to read my movements… To be honest, I’m quite shocked. I suppose I’ve softened after spending so much time with her.

「You’re just casting them in the locations Yera-san indicated…」 Claude murmured.

「H-Hey! The spectators should shut up!」 Milly yelled back at her.

I see, so Yera managed to read through my movement pattern. To be honest, whenever I’m in a tight place, I have a habit of attempting to create distance. Bertram will probably immediately grasp it as well and try to use it against me. This training turned out to be quite useful after all.

「I know your other habits too, Zeph!」 Milly said as she activated another spell that she had set up.

Milly’s brawl and Yera’s brains, huh…

Milly’s magic power was unquestionably comparable to that of the five Heavenly Mages.

She would turn out to be a perfect training partner before my fight with Bertram.

Kuku, I’m getting fired up.

As I continued to run around the Isolated Space a shock once again ran through my back.

「Urgh…!」

「Fufun, your movements become dull when you think.」

「So be it then.」

I wiped the blood flowing down from my lips and cast Time Square.

While time was stopped I cast Red Crash and Black Crash.

Double Fusion: Pyro Crash.

However, just before I could fire off the spell a mass of water appeared before me.

Damn it! So she read this as well…

I somehow managed to dodge, but it also caused my Pyro Crash to miss its target.

The fire storm flew somewhere far away and disappeared.

That impudent… How about this then!

I spun my prosthetic arm and set up Red Bullet Double inside of it.

As my arm spun around I dashed towards Milly.

「Hyaaa?! U-Ugh, Yera told me that if he comes running at me I should cast… Blue Wall!」

A wall of ice appeared in front of Milly.

Calm down. All she’s doing is casting stuff with my actions in mind. Normally I would try to force my way through that wall and Milly is probably waiting for me to do that as well… So if I do just the opposite then… I continued dashing straight at the wall just as I Milly thought I would.

「In that case… EAT THIS!」 Milly yelled out, and an enormous water tornado burst forth from the middle of the Blue Wall.

It was Blue Gale.

So she had this set up as well. That makes three spells already. However, it appears that she misjudged the timing and cast it before I was within range.

「Urg, after this I’m supposed to cast this, then this, arghhh…」

The inside of Milly’s head had already turned into a steaming mess.

Because she had been forced to set up and activate various spells at different places and different times, her brain had reached its limit.

She probably wouldn’t be able to keep it up for much longer.

She would probably self-destruct if I were to just leave her like this, however, in order to prepare myself for my battle against Bertram I had no choice but to dash straight in.

「I’m coming Milly! Do your best until the end!」

「U-Urgh…!」

After avoiding the Blue Gale and arriving in front of the ice wall, I immediately cast Red Crash to melt it.

「I got you!」

As soon as I melted the wall, water magic balls appeared around me.

It was Blue Sphere. So she read the exact timing that I would melt the wall and set up the spell, huh.

Still, she’s not the only one who can read ahead.

I swung my prosthetic arm and cast Red Bullet Double.

That’s right, with the help of my training in the Other World I was currently able to store spells in my prosthetic arm and then cast them later.

The countless flaming bullets shot forth, colliding with the spheres of water, creating a devastating explosion.

「That won’t work! You can’t take them down with just that!」 「I’m perfectly aware.」

I dashed at the place where I had shot off the fire bullets.

It was hard to completely destroy all of those Blue Spheres, however, forcing my way through them was a completely different story.

If I were to weaken the Blue Spheres just a bit, I would easily be able to break through them.

HYAAA! 　

I broke through the water mass and appeared right before Milly.

When she saw me, she was completely taken aback, but she quickly regained her calm and extended both of her hands towards me.

「NOT YET!!!」 she yelled out and the remaining water spheres began to gather around us.

Hmph, just as I thought. She was planning to gather the water spheres as soon as I got close. Too bad I already expected that.

I had also set up my own Red Spheres to counteract her.

The Red Spheres offset the Blue Sphere and the remains of magic power scattered around us.

「What…」

「Well then, do you have something else up your sleeve, Milly?」

「H-How…」

As she was still trying to comprehend what was going on, I placed my hand on her chest.

Even as I began to cast my spell, Milly didn’t move at all.

「LIKE HELL I DO!!!」 she yelled out.

At that same moment I cast Red Zero.

Milly’s chest was pierced by the sword of flame, draining her of her remaining magic power.

「Phew, one more down.」

Milly sank helplessly to the ground as soon as she lost all of her magic power.

Her brawl combined with Yera’s brains had really transformed her into a tough opponent. However, even so I had still managed to overwhelm her.

I guess this means I’ll be able to easily hold my own against Bertram.

「Auch…」

「You’re already awake? You’re quite the tough one, Milly.」

「I have a sliver of magic power left.」

To think that she’d still have some after casting so many spells and even taking my Red Zero head on. Her magic power storage always amazes me.

「… What’s up with that look?!」

「It’s nothing. I just thought that you’ve really grown.」

「You’re lying!」

「I’m not. When I first met you I never imagined that you’d grow this much.」 I said, nodding her head.

「… Hmph.」 Milly just snorted and turned around.

Milly wasn’t the only one that’d grown. Claude, Lydia, Silverie and Shirushu as well, all of them had grown so much since the first time we’d met.

「Everyone, you’ve really done great to get up to this point.」

「That goes for you too Zeph-chi. You’ve gotten really powerful as well!」 Lydia said, hugging me and nodding my head.

Urgh, I guess I can’t win against her when it comes to praising.

「… Everyone, thank you. Thanks to you I think that I’ll be able to give it my best at the Title Match.」

「Of course you will! Give it everything you’ve got Zeph!」 Milly exclaimed. 　

「I won’t tell you not to push yourself. Just make sure you don’t leave behind any regrets.」 Claude said.

「Zeph-san! We’ll be cheering for you!!!」 Shirushu said, looking a bit worried.

「Bertram is strong.  Do not let your guard down Zeph.」 Silverie said in her usual cold tone.

However, despite sounding cold I could still feel a hint of warmth in her words.

I could feel my strength rising as a result of everyone’s words of encouragement.

It was a type of strength which I hadn’t felt when I was alone.

I suppose the most important thing I’ve gained since resurrecting is the strength I’ve gained as a result of having my companions.