“Are you done planning? Let’s begin already.” Kuzon appeared bored already.

His smile had faded, and he looked more like Neron at this point—so unassuming and bland.

“Fine. Let’s do this.”

We didn’t need a referee to tell us when to begin, so I decided to take the initiative and launch my first attack.

“Gawain…”

>WHOOOOSSHHHH!<

My Automaton instantly appeared and rushed in the direction of the adversary.

With the full energy it packed, and the speed it undertook, not a single member of my team would be able to react so quickly.

‘Of course, I know you’re different, Kuzon…’

Which was why I decided to test the waters first.

With a smile on my face, I watched to see how Kuzon would fare—and how long he would last against Gawain.

‘I’ll collect as much data as I can and—’

>BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM<

Before I realized what happened, Gawain was on the ground, completely crushed apart like debris.

‘—Uh?!’

I couldn’t even see what happened or how it was done, but my Automaton—The Ultimate Automaton—was on the ground.

Its body was crushed, and several parts flew around, like broken rocks.

In one shot, Gawain was down.

“You’d really send this one after me first? I know you’ve changed a lot, Jared, but I didn’t think it was to this extent…”

I was roused by Kuzon’s voice and I watched his lips curl down disapprovingly.

“When did you lose your balls?”

‘Is he trying to trigger me? In a fight? That’s not going to work!’

“It doesn’t matter how many of those small fries you throw at me… the results will still be the same.”

‘Gawain… is small fry…?’

As I looked at my badly damaged Automaton, I found out that its body wasn’t healing for some reason.

I kept a special Magic effect on it that allowed for restoration after taking damage, but it wasn’t working.

‘Why isn’t it working?’

“Come at me yourself… anything less than that is just a waste of time.'”

I stared at Kuzon for a bit and tried to get a read on his stoic face.

‘Is he baiting me? He has been emphasizing a direct fight between me and him… why?’

Was it possible that the power Kuzon used on Gawain was merely a show?

Maybe he couldn’t use it consecutively, or even often.

There was a possibility that the pulverizing effect was the work of one of his Magic Items. But, using a blow that powerful should have had its limits.

‘So, he doesn’t want to overexert himself by fighting more of my subordinates? Or…?’

“I know what’s going on in your mind. You’re thinking of strategies to counter whatever plan you think I’ve cooked up…” Kuzon sighed, now leaving his location as he approached.

In a cool stride, his hands still in his pockets, Kuzon moved slowly.

His eyes never left me for a moment.

“… But you’re wrong, Jared. There’s no plan or trick at work here. This is just pure power. You’re going to be dominated by total power. That’s all there is to it.”

Everything he was saying could have been a bluff, but why did I feel like they were true?

The last time we fought, something similar happened.

‘Is it so hard to imagine myself losing?’

For someone like Neron, I knew I stood no chance. As for Serah, in certain conditions, she would also emerge victorious.

However, Kuzon was different.

I felt like, no matter how powerful he had become, I should be stronger.

It was pride, after all.

“Well, looks like I’ll have to go in anyway…” I smiled.

But, why would I ever do that?!

>WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

Instantly, several Automatons appeared from my special space, and they dashed in his direction.

All of them were coated in immense Mana, making them as durable as Gawain in his base form.

However—

>BOOOOOOOMMMMM<

—The results were the same.

They weren’t even five meters from Kuzon, yet they all got pulverized by a strange force.

“This is a waste of time.” Suddenly, bright glimmers of golden light appeared around Kuzon, and they wrapped around him like wires.

‘Those threads… his Original Magic!’

The golden threads suddenly took form, turning into several sharp blades.

“Let’s start with this.”

>WHOOOOOSSSSHHHH<

In a flash of light—no, probably even faster—the blades lunged in my direction.

Any moment now, they would pierce me, and they were honestly faster than I could cast Magic.

I was careless… or was I?

>SHUUUUUU<

Instantly, the golden blades got dissolved by my Anti Magic wave.

The harmonious clash of Mana and Miasma within me burst forth, neutralizing the effects of Kuzon’s assault.

“Oh, yeah… that interference. So it works on Original Magic too…” Kuzon murmured.

‘What now?’ I smiled at the boy.

“Xenia.”

>VWUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!<

A pressure, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, suddenly made its appearance.

‘What is… this…?!’ My mind rang as I saw the unparalleled energy gather around Kuzon.

It looked majestic—a mix of blue and golden, like flames.

I did my best to stay undaunted, watching what was forming within the flames.

“I guess I never introduced you to her. Jared, everyone… meet my Familiar.”

‘T-that… that is a Familiar?!’ My eyes bulged as I watched a lady emerge from the flames.

She was as small as a fairy, the fiery blue and gold energy shrouding her body. While she had no wings, the lady hovered in the air, directly over Kuzon’s shoulders.

I was still in awe when the lady’s lips curled up in a smile and she spoke.

“Well, which unfortunate soul is it this time?” Her voice contained so much pleasure, even though she was merely snickering.

“Xenia… Fusion Mode.”

“Urgh, you only call me out for work. You never let me meet your friends.”

“Not now. I’m in the middle of a match.”

“Not now? Kuzon, what are you saying to me?”

Suddenly, the pressure I felt intensified, and I could feel an indescribable energy climbing.

‘Just what kind of conversation… what kind of relationship do they have?!’