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nAli sharply focused, tracking Code 19’s trajectory as it flickered in and out of her vision.

nEach appearance signified a brief pause—perhaps a change in direction or speed, or simply adapting to the surroundings.

nmagi specializing in high-velocity combat greatly value familiarity with the terrain, as fighting in known areas means they can save considerable time that would otherwise be spent on terrain recognition, redirecting it towards reaction and strategic thinking.

nIn essence, the more familiar the terrain, the stronger a high-velocity combat magus becomes.

nEven in unfamiliar settings, such magi possess a superior ability to adapt to the terrain.

nAlthough Ali wasn’t this type of magus—preferring a combat style that involved circling the outskirts before striking a deadly blow when the opportunity arises—she still had her methods to face this challenge.

nBy remaining still, she could respond to any change.

nThe less Ali initiated, the fewer opportunities she presented for her opponent to exploit.

nAgainst a foe who thrives on speed, making no mistakes is crucial.

nPositioning her sword at an angle, Ali concentrated on capturing Code 19’s movements.

nNot all actions could be detected, but it was enough.

nWith a sufficient amount of data, Ali could roughly estimate Code 19’s limits.

nOnce the extent of Code 19’s capabilities was assessed, Ali could decide her next move.

nShould she attempt to escape and shake off Code 19, or eliminate him here and then return?

nAli finally found her answer.

nAlthough Code 19 was dangerous, he seemed not to exceed the range she could manage.

nAttack!

nCode 19’s figure halted abruptly, his speed doubling in an instant, as he thrust his short sword at Ali’s neck in a diagonal angle.

nHis opening move was lethal; Code 19 had no intention of leaving Ali alive.

nWith a twist of her blade, Ali deflected Code 19’s rapier.

nAlthough a rapier’s speed is unmatched among all sword types, it is also the lightest.

nAny attack of equal level could generally be parried, provided one’s reaction speed was sufficient.

nBut conversely, those who failed to defend against such strikes were now dead.

nVictory leads to survival; defeat to death.

nSuch are the rules of a duel to the death, the simplest and most direct, appealing to the most primal instincts of living beings.

nIt’s this purity that ensnares countless individuals in the thrill.

nWhether it’s the hallucinations on the brink of death or the rush from an adrenaline surge, these are all manifestations of exhilaration.

nAs blades clashed time and again, Ali held back her offense, securely blocking every one of Code 19’s assaults.

nShe was in no hurry.

nCode 19’s expenditure was far greater than hers, and it was he who would likely lose patience first.

nThe moment Code 19’s attacks hesitated, he would reveal a fatal flaw.

nThis is a common weakness among all high-speed combat magi.

nTheir offense may be sharp and powerful, but their defense is almost nonexistent.

nIn their pursuit of speed, they sacrifice nearly everything.

nYet, to them, this trade-off is worthwhile because it grants them the ability to challenge opponents beyond their level.

nThough this approach doesn’t quite work against Ali, it’s usually deadly effective against other magi.

nIn the clearing amidst the woods, two figures clashed at high speed, blades locking and parting with sharp sounds and brilliant sparks.

nTen times a minute?

nTwenty times a minute?

nTheir movements had entirely surpassed the limits of human dynamic vision.

nIf a third party were present, all they could perceive would be the sparks flying off the blade tips.

nBeyond that, nothing would be visible.

nThis is the nature of combat between magi, leaving no room for ordinary people to intervene.

nIf the existence of mana has bifurcated the world into the ordinary and the extraordinary, then the existence of magi has cruelly and sharply divided humanity into ordinary people and magi.

nThey might not be antagonistic, but they certainly don’t share the same camp.

nIn the eyes of a magus, ordinary people are merely mortals incapable of comprehending the beauty of mana.

nYet, to ordinary people, what are magi if not beings with a non-human bloodline coursing through their veins, making them outliers?

nCan a truly pure-blooded human become a magus?

nThough the spell system of magi appears to emphasize learning and research, where did the first magi come from?

nWhat were the identities of those legendary heroes with non-human talents mentioned in tales?

nTo this day, there has never been a precedent of a magus becoming the king of a human nation.

nBut let’s return to Ali’s perspective.

nThe half-elf was now on edge, her forehead beaded with sweat, no longer possessing the composure she had at the start.

nShe had severely miscalculated Code 19’s strength.

nLike her, Code 19 had concealed his true capabilities, only unleashing his full power after Ali decided to stand her ground and fight back.

nIn such a situation, Ali had no chance to escape.

nShe had to face him head-on.

nThe single-handed sword was much heavier than the shortsword, yet Ali was able to block Code 19’s attacks time and again…

nWas this because Ali was stronger and faster?

nCertainly not!

nJust like at the beginning, but now, their positions had switched!

nNow, it was Code 19 who was pushing Ali to her limits!

nHe was probing the extent of Ali’s capabilities, much like a feline predator that, upon catching its prey, doesn’t rush to kill but rather prefers to exhaust the prey by toying with it.

nSuch a vile creature. .𝘤𝘰𝘦.𝘤𝘰𝑚

nAli’s eyes narrowed, golden light slowly concentrating, her mana flux and mana capacity incrementally increasing.

nShe was preparing “Brave,” still hesitating whether to use it or not, but preparing it was always good.

nA single use equates to twenty years of life.

nHad the situation reached that level of desperation?

nAli attempted a surprise attack to escape Code 19’s entanglement.

nBut it was futile; Code 19 was faster.

nWhen Code 19 fully revealed his strength, Ali realized just how terrifying a level 2 magus specialized in speed could be.

nEven she could only barely catch his general movements, utterly incapable of tracking his actions!

nAll her attacks and defenses were now based on deductions from Code 19’s movements.

nIf Code 19 were to change his tactics, she would be at a complete disadvantage, without even a chance to turn the tables.

nWhat to do? What to do!

nAli was not yet panicking, but she could faintly see her end looming.

nIf she stubbornly refused to activate “Brave,” she might end up without even the opportunity to use it.

nAlthough “Brave’s” regenerative ability was almost akin to immortality, it was not resurrection after all.

nIf Code 19 senses something amiss and kills Ali during the brief pause required to activate “Brave,” its activation would be meaningless.

nThe dead cannot be resurrected by mana; even a wraith represents a different form of existence, lacking a physical body.

nDodging and using tree trunks to change direction at high speed, Ali barely managed to keep up with Code 19’s movements, slightly easing the difficulty of tracking his actions.

nIt was akin to two cars speeding side by side; their relative velocity isn’t high, offering a chance to catch each other’s movements.

nHowever, this was merely a temporary solution, a delay rather than a resolution to the problem.

nAccelerate…

nAccelerate! Faster…

nEven faster!

nAli summoned all her mana, “Brave” teetering on the edge of activation, yet her actual speed increased only marginally.

nEnhancing speed is not as simple as boosting mana output.

nEven for cars, merely increasing horsepower does not necessarily result in higher speeds.

nWithout control, without the ability to react in time, increasing throttle speed is merely hastening towards death.

nWhat movements best slice through the air, reducing air friction?

nWhat reactions most sharply control one’s posture to enter combat stance quickest?

nWhat opening moves, what defensive maneuvers, achieve the best outcomes without compromising speed?

nAddressing these questions one by one, refining each aspect, represents the path of advancement for a magus specialized in high-velocity combat.

nOtherwise, one is merely a brute with speed, akin to the cloaked figure who already fell by Ali’s hand.

nWithout a doubt, Code 19 was an entity utterly different from her, possessing a speed Ali could hardly capture, along with the ability to change direction multiple times over short distances at such velocity…

nand even alter his direction and stance in the final moment of an attack!

nUndoubtedly, he had completely mastered this speed.

nHe was a true madman, more terrifying than Howard.

nOther than activating “Brave,” Ali saw no other way to break through the deadlock.

nHer single-handed sword shimmered with a blue light, the manifestation of mana condensed to a certain degree, with wave-like mana enveloping the blade.

nThe mana fluctuations tore through the air, precisely capturing the vague shadow in the atmosphere.

nInterception!

nA sharp, grating sound suddenly erupted, sparks flying from the friction of the blades as Code 19’s form briefly revealed itself.

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