[Match Successful]
Rei examined the opponent who appeared one hundred meters away from him.
The man had a bow strapped across his back.
Looks like an archer.
Rei glanced up at the name above his head.
He didn't recognize it.
The opponent was also studying Rei.
Seeing Rei standing there with both hands in his pockets, dressed in a mage's robe, it was easy to tell what class he was.
But…
Why was it a kid?
Countdown —
3…
Rei attempted to cast a spell during this time.
But he immediately felt his magic being suppressed.
So skills couldn't be used before the countdown finished.
2…
Rei lowered his gaze slightly.
Behind him was a faint red ring of light.
He quickly realized that before the battle began, neither side could move beyond that circle.
A distance restriction.
Fair enough.
1…
Whoosh!
The instant the countdown ended—
An arrow shot straight toward him.
Not just one arrow from the front.
Five additional arrows split apart like blooming petals, curving in five different trajectories toward Rei.
And yet—
Rei didn't even raise his hand.
Ziiiing—
A flash of light shot forward.
It shattered the incoming arrow from the front—
Then continued onward without losing momentum, piercing directly through the archer's heart.
Instant kill.
Light Flash Burst (LV:201)
After two evolutions, both upgrades had enhanced casting speed.
The spell's power wasn't particularly high.
But it was the fastest instant-release magic Rei possessed.
The archer's eyes went blank as he collapsed to the ground.
The victor had already been decided.
One win.
[Continue or Stop]
A voice echoed inside Rei's mind.
Without hesitation, he chose Continue.
[Match Successful]
Almost the moment he confirmed the choice, his next opponent appeared before him.
A warrior, judging from the sword and shield.
The man raised his shield in front of himself while carefully observing Rei.
3…
2…
1…
Light Flash Burst (LV:201) ×3
BOOM!
The beams of light punched straight through his shield, pierced both armor and flesh, and tore through his heart.
Instant kill.
A LV:201 transcendent spell, no matter how low its base damage was, was still impossible for ordinary Level 2 professionals to withstand.
Not to mention—
Rei had cast it three times simultaneously.
Third match.
Fourth.
…
Twenty-seventh.
Rei kept winning without interruption.
The most time-consuming part of the entire process was actually the three-second countdown.
"…So weak."
Everything had been instant kills from start to finish.
It was already starting to feel boring.
Maybe he should try challenging those so-called Level 2 mages.
Rei was also curious.
Among people of the same level, where exactly did his strength stand?
During the half-month journey he'd taken earlier, he'd heard Iz and the others mention quite a few geniuses.
True geniuses, they said, were capable of killing monsters above their level.
Kumironi had even mentioned that the assassin she had helped awaken early last year would probably become the greatest assassin talent in recent years.
This time, the reason Kumironi was traveling to the capital was partly because she had been invited to assist that assassin in completing their Level 4 advancement ritual.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
As the High Priestess of the Temple of Life, Kumironi also had to preside over a major event held every few years known as the Festival of Life.
Having responsibilities like that…
It definitely wasn't easy.
[Match Successful]
Rei automatically confirmed readiness.
But the moment his opponent appeared and saw him—
The man froze.
A kid?
What was going on?
An early-awakened class holder?
Or…
Was he a Concealer?
But he looked way too young.
Rei glanced up at the name above him.
Monsiel.
Ah.
The genius mage mentioned on that promotional flyer.
Sure enough, his equipment looked impressive.
A high-quality magic staff.
An obviously expensive mage robe.
A magic hat radiating waves of mana.
All sorts of enchanted gear.
3…
"Hey… were you awakened early by Kumironi?"
Rei originally had no intention of answering.
Chatting with an enemy during battle wasn't his habit.
Unless he needed to stall for time.
But after a moment's thought—
This wasn't a life-or-death battle.
So he simply nodded.
"Yes."
2…
"So that means Kumironi believes you're a mage genius worthy of early awakening…"
For some reason, Rei suddenly felt a wave of hostility directed toward him.
"Two years ago, when Kumironi passed through this place, I also asked her to preside over my awakening."
You sure talk a lot.
One second and you've already said that much.
Rei couldn't help thinking—
Maybe it was a mage thing.
After all, people who constantly practiced spell chanting probably had pretty nimble tongues.
1…
"But she refused me."
"Even though she spoke gently and told me that in two years I would be able to awaken normally, that there was no need to rush…"
Rei sensed lightning elements gathering above his head.
Protective Barrier
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky!
"But I still understood what she meant!"
"She believed I wasn't worthy!"
The lightning struck the barrier.
Monsiel's pupils shrank slightly.
At the same moment, the same thought appeared in both their minds.
No Chant.
Rei thought calmly:
So he can also cast without chanting.
I suppose that qualifies him as a genius.
Although the power of that Lightning Strike… only about Level 7 proficiency.
Looks like he achieved chantless casting through equipment bonuses.
Rei had originally planned to kill him instantly.
But since the man was currently gossiping about Kumironi—
After blocking the attack, Rei casually asked in a relaxed tone,
"So?"
So?
So why did she awaken you?!
"After my awakening, it took me less than six months to become a Level 2 mage!"
"And in less than a year, I've already mastered chantless casting for four spells!"
"Come on, 'genius'!"
"Let me see your power. See if you can entertain me!"
Entertain him?
When Rei fought Iz, it had actually felt pretty entertaining.
But when it came to pure magic combat, he had been losing repeatedly.
Thinking about it now…
He had never encountered a same-level opponent who truly made him feel excited during battle.
Was this how Iz had felt when fighting him back then?
An ice spike formed beside Monsiel.
It shot toward Rei.
Chantless Casting: Ice Spike (LV:7)
At the same time, Monsiel inserted Lightning Strike between the gaps in his casting.
One descended from the sky.
Another attacked from the front.
They rushed toward Rei simultaneously.
Behind Rei—
A sharp earth spike erupted from the ground.
Earth Spike (LV:7)
The three chantless spells surrounded Rei from three directions.
Immediately afterward—
The ground cracked open.
Vines erupted one after another, lashing toward Rei.
Vine Lash (LV:10)
Oh?
Rei raised an eyebrow.
For a Tier 2 spell like Vine Lash, this guy had actually trained it to LV:10 himself.
Since it was a spell Rei also knew, he could easily tell.
"I have already stepped onto the path toward comprehending the legendary Origin Magic!"
"With talent like mine—why wouldn't she awaken me?!"
Four spells.
All converging on Rei at the same time.
Meanwhile the vines sealed off every direction of escape.
"...Sigh."
A quiet sigh escaped Rei.
His voice drifted over.
"Is that all?"
"What do you mean 'is that all'?"
Rei replied calmly.
"Your so-called genius."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The earth spike, lightning, and ice spike exploded and shattered around Rei.
He remained completely unharmed.
The only remaining attack—
The Vine Lash.
Rei casually flicked out a small flame.
The vines instantly ignited.
They burned into ashes.
"What exactly are you trying to say?!"
"Nothing."
Rei kept both hands in his pockets.
Around Monsiel—
Forty-two Ice Spears suddenly appeared.
Lightning energy gathered in every corner surrounding him.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Jagged stone pillars erupted wildly from the ground around him like a chaotic field of spikes.
Poison vines surged upward.
Hundreds of deep-purple tendrils writhed skyward like dragons dancing through the air.
Rei spoke quietly.
"I'm just… a little disappointed."