Instant Time Mage 2
[?: Hoh? Is hiding in a turtle shell all you can do? I expected something more from the girl who had limitless energy for magic.]
[Energy Mage: Hmph, talk's all you got. How about you stop looking at the mirror like a narcissist and fight already.]
[Mirror Mage: ... Just what did you call me?]
Shin's partner made a contemptuous taunt at Energy Mage which she spited back with an even more contemptuous taunt.
Mirror Mage raised a brow at that and snorted. At her command, the mirror before her shattered to smaller bits. With a wave of her hand, she sent all of those mirrors except one up in the air over our heads. The images of Energy Mage standing aloof were reflected at her in all directions.
Energy Mage glanced grimly at Mirror Mage who was aiming her handgun at the small mirror that was reflecting Energy Mage's image with her finger on the trigger.
[Mirror Mage: Block this.]
And just like that, she pulled the trigger.
A shot of light shot through the mirror and entered into the reflected world. Only to come out from the other mirrors aimed at Energy Mage.
As if that one shot had divided into numerous attacks, she shot Energy Mage simultaneously in all directions!
North, south, east, west, a shot of light was shot from everywhere. Giving Energy Mage no place to dodge.
With a grunt, Energy Mage swept her hands apart and conjured a shapeless energy barrier all around her. Blocking her shots away into thin air.
[Energy Mage: Is that all you got?!]
[Mirror Mage: Have some more, then!]
Energy Mage scoffed at her attempts to breach her defense. Only to provoke Mirror Mage to shoot her with more rounds of light.
She didn't even need to aim at Energy Mage as she only needed to shoot at her mirror and her other mirrors will aim and shoot for her. She even had those mirrors to spin all around Energy Mage in orbit. Shooting her with countless rounds of light from even more different directions.
It was like having crowds of people running around, shooting at you with no time to rest. How overwhelming would that be for Energy Mage, who could only hide in her energy barrier to defend herself.
Luckily for her, she has a seemingly unlimited supply of energy for magic. But unluckily for me, she can't back me up anymore.
[Shin: That's it! Keep it up, Sora! I'll deal with Kronosan myself!]
[Sora: Okay, will do!]
Mirror Mage, whose given name is apparently Sora, smiled like a blooming flower at Shin and continued to shoot Energy Mage in her frenzy.
That reaction of hers... Tch!
Successful men should just go explode!
[Shin: Now it's just you and me.]
[Kronosan: Is that so?]
I shook my head from my poor thoughts and brandished my weapons at him. Ready to engage him in close quarter combat. Shin also stands guard with his baton pointed at me. It was a silent second for both us but after that, we were prepared for another bout.
Okay. I know I can't beat him without my Time magic. And I also know I can't reach him because he can extend the space around him using his Space magic. And not to mention that he has that cheat magic trick to cross in between spatial gaps. No matter how narrow or thin the obstacles are, he can pass through them like a breeze. That also includes projectile and close-range attacks!
He can stretch, twist, squeeze and even expand the space around him as long as he has enough energy to do so. With that kind of magic, he can set up the space around to form a solid defense were incoming attacks would be too slow to worry about.
Out of everyone I know, Shin's Space magic might have the most troublesome defensive capabilities to deal with.
All the more reason to use my Time magic... Which I won't.
Okay, since that's the case, its time surpass my limits!
[Shin: Hey?]
[Kronosan: What is it?]
What?! I was about to surpass my limits here?!
[Shin: Don't you think it's weird how our partners keep going for each other's throats?]
Hah?! You noticed that now?!
I was speechless for a moment but Shin continued on.
[Shin: I mean, don't you think that it's unfair? They keep on taunting each other even when we don't duel. So... Don't you think that they might have some dirt on each other?]
This guy... Is he impossible?
What do I even do with him?
Don't you think the reason why they keep going at each other's throats is because of you being so damn impossible to resist?
Look, your partner and mine like you, Shin. Stop using space magic so that their feelings will reach you!
If they have some dirt on each other, it would be you!
Ah, you're killing me!
You and your handsomeness and talents can go eat shit and die!
[Kronosan: ... I think the reason, is because, of a certain person.]
Here, take a hint. It's big, it's clear and it's blaming you. Take the damn hint!
[Shin: Really? Who?]
You seem awfully surprised... But you don't get it, do you?
[Kronosan: Beats me.]
Ah, who the hell cares at this point? Go figure it out yourself you, dense idiot.
[Shin: Oh, by the way?]
You're not finish, huh?
[Shin: I heard that you can't use your Time magic because teacher told you not to, is that fine?]
What do you mean 'is that fine?' It's obviously not fine!
Not fine at all!
[Shin: I don't know about you though, but you can't beat me like this if you don't use your magic? You know that better than any of us do. And I for one want to beat you fair and square, alright. So, it's fine to go all out. Don't worry, I especially think you and your partner are perfect to become teacher's attendants. So, whether you win or I do, I'll voice out that I'd rather not become teacher's attendants.]
... Wait, what?!
[Kronosan: Are you serious?!]
[Shin: If it makes happy to use your Time magic, then I'm serious.]
Huh?!
You'll seriously forfeit the chance to become Young Lady's attendant?
Do you think just because you own a harem now that you think you're some special snowflake that farts cologne better than anyone else?
Cause if that's what you're thinking why you don't want to serve Young Lady, you better humble yourself down before I get really mad!
[Shin: Besides, I'm not really good at talking with teacher unlike you.]
Why this dirty, little bastard!
Do you think Young Lady can't hold a conversation with you?!
[Kronosan: Are you sure I can go all out?]
[Shin: Yeah.]
He said so with a bright smile.
You will rue the day you raised a death flag!
Alright, I'll make you regret being so smug.
[Kronosan: Okay, then, prepare yourself.]
[Shin: Way ahead of you... EXTEND!]
With that, Shin open his arms wide and did his Space magic.
From my perspective, he seemed to have shrunk... No, it was actually our distance between each other. The space between us, which was approximately a meter apart, suddenly seemed long as a building's hallway. Rendering his figure so small as if he stood from the distance.
Right now, the very platform I'm standing had elongated in terms of space that traveling to the other side would take more time than I would usually have done in a span of a breath.
He didn't increase our distance, he literally extended the space between us!
This is Shin's power. The power to render all advantages of distances to zero. Capable of controlling the space of his surroundings and take the higher ground for himself.
Such was his cheat ability. His Space Magic.
With the right way to use it, he can do anything.
And when you can do anything, aren't you invincible?
Well, guess what? He's not the only one with a cheat ability.
My face twisted into a smirk. I kept my baton away and checked myself. As I feel every fiber of my body pulsating, I felt the energy lying dormant within me and use it to recover myself.
I still have much energy left to spare it seems before I reach critical. But whatever. Time to get started.
Just like that, I raise my hand before everyone's eyes.
[Kronosan: Instant.]
With a flick of my fingers, everything, all life and matter, all light and colors, all darkness and gravity, all velocity and speed, all things shrouded in time, slowed down to almost a halt.
Like this, it's my win.