If Mystogan knew that Edolas's experience in magical item production was now being used in Earth-land for things like this, he would surely feel very relieved.
Making technological products like these was far better than producing weapons meant for killing.
Of course, when Mystogan handed those technologies and experiences to Marco, he had trusted that Marco would never use them in the wrong way.
Actually, Marco had.
For example, there had been attempts to imitate the Dragon Knight (Dorma Anim).
It was just that the Dragon Knight was far too difficult.
There was no possibility of recreating it in the short term, let alone mass-producing or miniaturizing it.
There was no helping it.
Even all the specialists in Edolas had not managed to fully solve those problems.
They had not been able to mass-produce or shrink it down either.
The half-trained researchers of Earth-land were even less likely to achieve it quickly.
On top of that, the project was among the most secret of secrets.
Only a very small number of researchers, including Warren, were allowed to touch it.
That made research even more difficult.
It would probably become a truly long-term plan.
...
The opening ceremony continued.
After introducing several participating teams, the guilds taking part, and the distinguished guests, it was time for the artistic performances.
This was a normal arrangement.
There were no actual matches today and the preliminary round would only begin tomorrow.
Today was simply the opening ceremony, giving everyone a chance to show themselves.
After all, once tomorrow's preliminaries began, most of the people present would be eliminated.
Only eight teams would advance to the knockout stage.
They had all gone through the effort of coming here.
It would be too pitiful to send them home in confusion without even letting them appear properly.
In tomorrow's preliminaries, all teams would participate at the same time. Even with many broadcast devices, it would be impossible to show every team on screen.
Many teams would probably only get camera time when they were eliminated.
That would be far too cruel.
It was better to let them appear during the opening ceremony, at least leaving their names behind.
This was King Toma's request.
He truly admired mages and had a great deal of empathy for them. He had even considered details like this.
The artistic performances were actually quite impressive.
After all, artists from all over the Kingdom of Fiore had gathered here.
But Marco's mind was no longer on the ceremony at all.
He wanted to go and test the newly obtained Phoenix Bronze Cloth!
Although it was only a Bronze Cloth, this one was truly different.
Marco's expectations for it were no lower than his expectations for a Gold Cloth.
"The preliminary round of this year's Grand Magic Games will officially begin tomorrow! Here, I wish every participant excellent results. May you all display your true skill and break through into the knockout stage!"
After the two-hour-long artistic performance ended, King Toma, the pumpkin-headed host, gave his blessing to all the participants.
The contestants, one by one, were already rubbing their hands together with excitement.
They were ready to face tomorrow's first challenge.
Of course, for most teams, that first challenge would very likely also be their last.
Amid roaring cheers, the opening ceremony officially ended.
As everyone began leaving the venue, Marco's figure vanished directly from where he stood, leaving quite a few people who wanted to continue flattering him and building connections staring blankly.
Buzz!
Magic power rippled, and Marco's figure appeared in the outskirts.
The venue for the opening ceremony had been built on a mountain outside the city to begin with, so finding an unoccupied spot nearby was easy.
Of course, with so many contestants and spectators here today, the mountain was not necessarily quiet.
So Marco casually set up a Crystal Wall barrier, carving out an area where absolutely no one would be able to enter.
Buzz!
At a thought from Marco, the Phoenix Bronze Cloth was summoned.
The Cloth Box opened, and a lifelike phoenix appeared in front of him.
"Not bad... that's interesting."
Marco gave a word of praise.
The phoenix immediately disassembled, transforming into armor that covered his body.
The greatest feature of this Cloth was undoubtedly its phoenix tail feathers.
The brightly colored tail feathers drifted behind him.
They were clearly as hard as anything, yet they gave the impression of real feathers, light and graceful.
The tail feathers of the Phoenix Bronze Cloth could be used as hidden weapons, and their battle record was extremely impressive.
Shaka, Saga, Mime, Syd, Minos—Gold Saints, God Warriors, and even one of the Three Judges of the Underworld had all suffered because of the phoenix tail feathers.
As an attached component of a Bronze Cloth, these phoenix tail feathers were truly powerful.
Their might could indeed rival that of a Gold Cloth.
Snap.
Marco snapped his fingers.
A ball of flame immediately appeared above his fingertip—a blazing flame that seemed to contain endless vitality even as it burned.
This was the Phoenix Fire, the ability granted by the Phoenix Bronze Cloth.
The flame of the phoenix was the very fire that allowed the shattered Phoenix Bronze Cloth to be reborn.
Of course, it could also be used to destroy enemies, a purifying flame that punished evil.
"But this level of Phoenix Fire is obviously not enough to fuse Phoenix and Leo. At the very least, it would have to be upgraded into Phoenix Lava, or even become something like the divine fire within a phoenix."
Marco made his judgment.
Ikki, after awakening the Seventh Sense and becoming a Gold Saint, could use Phoenix Lava.
As for obtaining flames like true phoenix divine fire, that would probably only be possible after reaching the Eighth Sense.
"No rush. Let's try this first."
Marco did not hurry to think about fusing the two Cloths.
Instead, he tested another technique.
"Phoenix Genma Ken!"
Marco threw a punch, but it produced no visible destructive force, because just like the Genro Mao Ken, this was an attack specifically aimed at the spirit.
It was the legendary demonic fist.
It shattered the mind rather than the body.
It could attack an opponent's nerves, causing the darkness buried deep within their heart to swell and magnify without limit, producing hallucinations of what they feared most.
The damage inflicted upon the mind would then reflect upon the flesh, robbing the opponent of combat ability.
It could even directly destroy every nerve in the opponent's body, breaking their spirit and will until their soul itself was scattered.
By comparison, the Phoenix Genma Ken was better at destroying and crushing the spirit.
The Genro Mao Ken, on the other hand, possessed the ability to control enemies.
That was something the Phoenix Genma Ken could not do.
At most, it could allow one to peer into the enemy's heart.
"The abilities overlap a little."
Marco sighed.
Of course, one could never have too many techniques.
Perhaps these mental abilities would have a miraculous effect against Acnologia.
Even if they could not control it, he could at least try directly destroying its mind.
"The Phoenix Bronze Cloth really isn't simple."
Marco was very satisfied with this reward.
Just from the Phoenix Genma Ken alone, it was clear how abnormal the Phoenix Bronze Cloth truly was.
This technique could genuinely rival the power of a Gemini Gold Saint.
It was a Gold-tier skill.
However, spiritual attacks were rather special.
Against someone with a firm enough will, their effects were limited.
They could even backfire.