The Fractured Mage

Chapter 25 - The Solaris Magic Guild(Part 3)

"Hm...? Oh, hey, Master...g'morning," Yawned the person sleeping on the stairs lazily, sitting up groggily.

A little girl? She looks younger than Lilac...but Lilac has previously mentioned that she's the youngest member in the Guild. Maybe this girl's another new member like me?

"I thought I told you to stop sleeping down here," Sighed Ifeus in response.

"But it's so nice and cool down here...," She muttered sleepily, before turning her gaze this way, "Huh? What's going on? Why are there so many people down here?"

Hm? Oh, looks like pretty much everyone in the Guild followed us down here. I didn't even notice.

"We're holding a duel, you might as well stay and watch. Oh, let me introduce you, Topaz...this is Sapphire Roselle. She's an Apex Mage, specifically an Ice Mage. Sapphire, this is Topaz Oriole, our newest member, an Ascended Mage, a Martial Artist to be specific. Since you're both named after gemstones, I'm sure you'll get along," Remarked Ifeus with a grin.

"Come on, that's the dumbest thing I've ever-...wait, did you just say that this little girl is an Apex Mage?" I responded in disbelief.

"Hey, who're calling a little girl?" Sapphire muttered sourly in response.

"Don't let her appearance fool you...she's actually twenty-six years old," Replied Ifeus with a wry smile.

Seriously? She's more than ten years older than I am? I mean, that's more than double the age I'd assumed she was...

"Hey, any day now! We doing this or not!?" Called out Rex impatiently.

"After you, Tomato Head...try not to trip again," I responded dryly, before making my way down the stairs as I muttered under my breath, "What an asshole..."

"I know he's being difficult, but he's a good kid...he's only a few months older than you, and worked his butt off to become an Ascended Mage and reach B-Rank. So he's probably pretty frustrated that someone who's younger than him, and with less experience, is starting at the same rank right off the bat. I know he's being immature, not to mention unfair at lashing out at you like this, but try to get along with him after this is over," Remarked Ifeus, as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah, a sad backstory doesn't make him any less of a dick, nor is it a valid excuse for his rotten attitude," I huffed as I shook his hand off my shoulder and continued making my way down the stairs.

I headed towards the arena as I reached the bottom of the stairs, making my way onto it and taking my place. I took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled to compose myself, before getting into my stance.

"You ready for a beat down?" Inquired Rex tauntingly.

"Let's find out what's redder, your blood or your hair," I countered icily, itching to get started.

"Alright, I'm starting the countdown!" Called out Ifeus, before counting down, "Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six!"

I shouldn't rush this. I need to stay cool and assess what he's capable of, and then look for an opening...

"...Three! Two! One! ZERO!"

"Take this!" Exclaimed Rex, as he formed an intense, swirling fireball and fired it out at me.

He can cast his Arts without chanting too, huh? Not bad.

I swiftly raced across rapidly, evading the flames as I sprinted around the arena, keeping a close eye on him while slowly closing the distance.

"That the best you've got!?" I yelled out tauntingly.

"Oh, I'm just getting started!" He snapped in response, inhaling sharply before blasting out a massive wave of flames at me from his mouth.

His aim is spot on, and with how wide that attack is, I can't dodge it. Well, in that case...

I abruptly halted, raising my right foot as I began channeling Ether into it...my boots are pretty thick, so no one can see the glow of the Ether. I may not be able to use this technique with my fists since I don't have any gloves, but that doesn't mean I can't use it at all!

Right as a stifling heat reached me, and the wave of flames closed in on me, I drove my foot back down, slamming it against the floor with immense force.

A powerful shockwave burst out as my foot collided with the floor, a couple of cracks spreading out from the point of impact as the incoming flames were blown back by the force of the shockwave, the flames rapidly dissipating.

The force of the shockwave went on to strike Rex, knocking him off balance and sending him stumbling back slightly, as I swiftly bent my knees and channeled Ether into both my feet. My right foot is a bit numb from that stomp, but I didn't take any damage, I've got a better handle on how much Ether I can channel without injuring myself with the subsequent backlash.

I then leapt forward with all my strength, an intense gust of wind exploding out as I kicked off the floor, my body rapidly flying through the air and closing in on him in the blink of eye, his eyes widening in alarm.

As I drove my fist towards his face, he suddenly fell backwards, his back hitting the floor with a thud as my fist whiffed through the air.

He didn't just happen to lose his balance just now...no, he fell on purpose. He stopped trying to regain his balance and instead let himself fall, in order to evade my attack.

My eyes then widened as he opened his mouth, embers of flames flowing out of it as he charged up a blast of fire in his mouth...I reacted as quickly as I could, channeling Ether into my right elbow, which was covered by my sleeve, before swinging it out and letting the Ether explode, unleashing a powerful force that sent me flying across to my left, narrowing evading his flames as he blasted a massive wave out of his jaws, the flames licking the bottom of my right boot.

Ow...since I had to react so quickly, I put a bit too much Ether into my elbow, the backlash did some damage to the bone in my upper arm.

As the force I'd generated began to wear off, I extended out my left leg, which hit the floor and skidded across, before I pivoted across and regained my balance, just in time to see Rex regain his balance as well.

"I'll admit it...I was wrong. You're definitely strong, there's no denying that anymore...but still, I won't lose!" He declared with a look of determination in his eyes, before exclaiming, "Let's see you counter this, my most powerful Art...take this, [Inferno Art: Pyro Dragon]!"