n

n

nBoom!

nA loud explosion rang out through the Battle Ground. It swept the air, and raised dirt upon its wake. Shirley was forced to step back due to the explosion. She looked in front of her in shock.

nThe place where Basil and Julia were standing was engulfed in fire. Nothing could be seen aside from the massive fire swaying around as if dancing.

nWhat happened??!!

nShe could only convey that with her face. Her mouth didn't follow her brain's command to open. Her mouth was getting dry. She was dreading the event that was happening.

n'Is it an attack? But why? Where is the safety procedure?!'

nShe looked around frantically. She was trying to find Chester who shouldn't be that far from Basil. She was desperately hoping everything was alright.

nLuckily, she could quickly find Chester. Chester was already in the audience seat, calmly observing the event while standing. Shirley was bewildered at that. She was about to shout at him indignantly when another shocking thing happened.

nWhoosh!

nAn air explosion occurred. Shirley who was caught off guard got thrown away because of it. Fortunately, she managed to right herself while in the air, successfully preventing her face from kissing the ground.

nShe gazed at her front and her breath hitched. Basil was standing in his place gallantly while embracing Julia with his left hand. He had a unique looking sword in his right hand extended horizontally.

nShe wanted to heave a sigh of relief at that. However, the event wasn't done yet. At that moment, a boisterous laughter rang out through the Battle Ground.

n

"Kuhahaha! It seems you are not exaggerating anything about this boy, Master Blake. It is rather lacking instead!

"

nShirley threw her head at the source of the voice. It belonged to a middle-aged man with blue hair and an impressive beard. However, he wasn't the one who took her attention. There was someone she was familiar with standing beside the man.

nThe young man who was standing beside the middle-aged man had a quite unsure expression on his face. However, when he met Shirley's eyes, he smirked in ridicule. Shirley looked at him spitefully. He was no other than Harold.

nBasil turned his head over the middle-aged man and exclaimed,

"I believe Fire Bath should only be applicable to Fourth-Circle Mage and above.

" His tone was unwavering and calm.

n

"Ho-ho... You are quite knowledgeable too.

"

nThe middle-aged man merely caressed his beard and observed Basil calmly. He was slightly amazed by Basil. Not only had he managed to defend himself from the attack, but also dispersing it to nothing!

nThe middle-aged man looked to the side to observe Blake and Chester who knew Basil quite well. He could see that they were also bewildered. However, they were trying their best to hide their surprise.

n

"Hmm... No wonder you were done badly.

"

n

"I personally believe he had been hiding his true ability, Father.

"

nBy the way Harold called the middle-aged man, it could be deduced the man was none other than the master of Woster County, Earl Ansley Woster. Ansley threw his head to the side an gazed at his son bitterly.

nHe didn't know what he did wrong. He had raised his two other sons successfully. He couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that his third was a failure.

nHe was aware of Harold's mischievousness. However, he couldn't bring himself to punish his son. His son only misbehaved in front of the other people aside from his family.

nHe was a sweet child in his family. He admired his brothers and loved his dad. Contrary to the people's belief, although Harold was considered a failure, nobody in his family abhorred him.

nHe could see his late wife in him. His other sons thought of the same too as they loved Harold as much as he did.

nTherefore, even though he knew his son was on the wrong side. He would have to defend him.

n

"I have heard from Master Blake that you are the 'monster' of Stardust Academy. I am slightly curious to how much of a 'monster' you are. Therefore, I am here to see for myself. Would you give me the chance to?

"

nAn Earl asking a student sincerely to be granted audience for his skill. It was simply mind-boggling. Ansley had been invited to visit many Magic Academies from his County, however he paid them mostly no mind.

nThis time, he wasn't invited. However, he had still come by sparing some of his time from his tight schedule. He was doing this solely for his son.

nHe looked at Basil squarely in the eyes. He was waiting for Basil's answer. If the boy refused him, there was nothing he could do aside from giving a slightly ridiculous tax to the boy's family.

n

"I am no more than just a lowly Second-Circle Mage. I will be honored to 'test' my skill against a Fifth-Circle Mage. However, what do I get in return?

"

n

"This bastard...!

"

nContrary to the calm Ansley, Harold was fuming. Although he didn't dare to say that out loud. His face conveyed it all. He threw his head to the side and looked at his father expectantly.

n

"Kuhahaha! I like a straightforward young man. If you managed to hold against me for five minutes, I would give you 5,000 gold. How about that?

"

n

"Father! You can't possibly...

"

nHarold couldn't continue his words. Although his father loved him, he had his moments of being stern. With a look from him, it was enough to shut him up.

n

"5,000 gold? I can earn more than that if I join a tournament against my peers. Do you not think it is a little bit unfair?

"

n

"...

"

nAnsley was taken aback. He looked at Basil who had an amused expression on his face. Basil didn't look like he was ridiculing him. However, the jab was conveyed. Ansley had a contemplating look before deciding what he would do.

n

"Alright. I will give you 10,000 gold if you last against me for 5 minutes, and another 5,000 gold if you can inflict any harm to me.

"

n

"To be able to inflict a wound to an Earl is such a rare and prestigious opportunity. I will gladly take it. However, I also have a condition on my side.

"

nAnsley quirked his eyebrow and quickly replied,

"Speak.

" Basil had a faint smile on his face before saying,

"I want you to get handicapped. To be specific, I want you to only use three of your Magic Circles.

"

nChester and Blake looked at Basil incredulously. Even Ansley was rather dumbfounded by his decision. He was fully intending on handicapping himself in the fight with Basil, however he hadn't expected Basil would be the one who decided the handicap.

n'Well... He's just being confident, but I feel insulted.'

nAnsley had intended to only use two of his Magic Circles when fighting against Basil. It was normal to adjust the Magic Circle usage to your opponent, if the duel was between two different stage Mage.

nHowever, it wasn't a secret that handicap was nothing more than a formality. More often than not, handicap was useless. Although it was called handicap, the only limit applied on the handicapped was the Mana supply and nothing more.

nTherefore, when Ansley heard Basil's decision of his handicap, he felt insulted. More Mana meant more power.

n

"Basil, don't forget that Earl Woster is a Fifth-Circle Mage. He has more experience than you. I believe Earl Woster wouldn't mind if you retracted your previous words. Am I right?

"

nChester looked at Ansley amiably. However, it was only in the outside. In the inside, he was washed with nervousness. He knew what Ansley's visit today meant.

nHe had thought Basil would have an easy time since Ansley would eventually underestimate him. However, that favorite student of his just dug his own grave! As Basil's beloved teacher, he had to close the hole before his student fell in.

n

"Of course. I am aware kids tend to say something they can't take responsibility of.

"

nSigh.

nIt wasn't a sigh of relief. It was a forlorn sigh. Chester knew what kind of person Basil was. He was prideful. He hated being looked down upon. Although Ansley said nothing wrong, calling Basil who was a teenager a kid was equivalent to looking down on him.

n

"Hath I dipped mine feet to a pond, I wilt not hath known a river. Gold is likely to be found in mud rather than the ground.

"

nSigh.

nAnother sigh came out of Chester. Although Basil's words sounded like a beautifully created poem, he knew what Basil meant.

n—Hardship is the only way to grow. Any hardship we endured will bare a great result in the future.

nHe got what Basil was trying to convey. However, it didn't mean he could just accept it! Hardship and risking one's life was a different matter after all.

n

"Let the kid do what he wants. Can't you see his eyes? It belongs to a champion.

"

nChester chuckled humorlessly at Blake's word,

"Sir, if he were to fail, not only would he get no gold, but also injuries.

" Blake shook his head and muttered,

"Just believe him.

"

nSir, I believe my student more than you have ever had!

nChester wanted to retort, however he chose to keep it to himself. He just gazed at Basil who was surrounded by Shirley and Julia silently

n

"Will you be ok?

"

n

"Brother, you can just refuse it. I have money if you need some!

"

nBasil curled his mouth upward faintly. He was amused at the scene where everyone seemed to worry about him. He was an 'experienced' man. He knew what he was doing. Therefore, receiving the worry from the people around him was quite amusing.

nBut still, he appreciated the feeling. It warmed his heart to a certain degree. Therefore, he needed to reward them.

nPat. Pat. Pat.

n

"Umm...

"

n

"Ah...

"

nBasil wisely ignored the rather sensual sound came out of the two girls. He didn't know since when did head pat became a reward for him. However, he knew that all of them liked his head pat.

n

"You are half a decade faster to worry about me.

"

n

"Ah.. Brother, you like you mean it.

"

n

"You talk like an old man.. umm...

"

n

"...

"

nBasil's mouth became a thin line.

nI am EXPERIENCED, not OLD!

nHe wanted to retort, but he chose to keep it to himself. It was unneeded. Children tend to not know what are they talking about.

n

"Alright, shall we start?

"

n

"Sure.

"

nAfter shooing away Shirley and Julia, Ansley and Basil were facing their face against each other with a distance apart on the Battle Ground. Ansley was a Battle Mage, therefore he had a Magic Sword ready in his hand.

n

"You might want to change your sword, Earl Woster.

"

n

"Ho-ho! Don't worry, this will do.

"

nBasil didn't try to persuade Ansley. His Spatial Bracelet flashed and Kusanagi appeared in his hand. In his three days of journey back to Woster County, he had been practicing to control it better. However, none had been enough to pose him any threat.

nTherefore, having Ansley as a guinea pig for his newfound power was really an opportunity to him.

n

"I will be the referee of this match. As stated in the rule, when I, the referee, judges the match is too much, I have every right to stop the match.

"

n

"I know that Master Blake, you don't need to remind me.

"

nBlake just glanced at Ansley and nodded his head. Bringing his lifted hand downward, he said the sacred word,

"Begin!

"

nBlake made a distance from them. He retreated to the back, close to the audience seat. He watched the two unmoving people with a deep gaze.

n

"Ho-ho! You know, my sons are talented in their own way. That means, all of my sons are talented. Just like their father!

"

nBoom!

nNarcissistic? Sure. However, no one could refute that. Ansley Woster was a talented Mage. At three fourth the age of Blake, he had managed to reach the stage he was currently in.

nAlthough currently he was below Blake, it wouldn't be long until he became Blake's equal. It could be seen by the heavy pressure he was emitting by only showing three of his Magic Circles.

nThe audience could feel it even though the pressure wasn't aimed at them, therefore they became worried. However, Basil who was in the middle of it was unfazed. He merely released his own pressure to counter it back.

nBoom!

nTwo Ultimate Circles floated behind Basil's head. The pressure he emitted was no weaker than the pressure Ansley emitted. Ansley widened his eyes in surprise. He didn't know Basil had a Grand Circle!

nHowever, it didn't matter. Even if Basil had Grand Circles. The gap between their level was big enough to make it useless.

nSadly, he was wrong.

n

"Kuhahaha! It seems we are quite similar after all. A tiger will eventually fight against a tiger!

"

nWhoosh!

nClank!

nThey flashed like a light and clashed in the middle of the Battle Ground. The aftermath of the clash was enough to make the ground below them cratered and the air exploded.

nTremble.

nAnsley was surprised yet again. His hand that was holding his sword trembled upon having a taste of Basil's abnormal strength. Still, his experience let him not to show any of his surprise.

nStepping back once, with an elegant footstep the two of them exchanged blows. Fire would spark each time their sword clashed.

nClank! Clank! Clank!

n

"You really are talented,

" exclaimed Ansley in the middle of their fight. Basil didn't show any reaction.

nFlash!

nClank!

nAnother fast movement attack was launched by the two people. All of them had their own intricate movement sets. While Ansley was using his trained footstep, Basil was training his Movement Technique.

nAlthough Basil had the experience, his body wasn't quite used to it. Therefore, he was training it in the middle of the fight.

nClank!

nTheir sword clashed against each other once again. This time, power exploded out of the two of them. The ground below them that was merely cratered made a dent as if someone purposefully digging it out.

n

"My, my. I wish my Harold is as talented as you. Sadly, he is not as great of a tiger like his father.

"

nClank!

nBoom!

nThe last clash produced a result that no one other than Basil had expected. Ansley was thrown away backward. He was bewildered like he had never been before. He looked at the broken Magic Sword in his hand in disbelief, then at Basil.

n

"How...?

" He muttered quietly. At this, Basil only opened his mouth and spoke softly but clearly,

"Tigers don't beget dogs. Your son is no tiger. Therefore, there is a need to get to realize what you really are.

"

nSurely, the area that was previously loud due to the fight, instantly became silent.

n