The time for the duel arrives. Lux had gone home and trained for a while. He felt really tired to go to the academy everyday just for learning the things that he had already learned. The things that were being taught in the academy were the basic things for him. He had also thought of skipping school some days and only going to school for the minimum required attendance.
Lux goes towards the Dark Energy Lake as usual. On his way, he meets Killian and they go together to the Dark Energy Lake. Looking at Lux yawning like this duel was nothing, Killian becomes a bit worried.
"Hey Lux are you sure that you will be able to win the duel and won't be injured ?" Killian asks, being concerned.
"Huh? Oh don't worry about that. I also won't harm Gilbert much. I will make it as quick as possible while proving him my worth. After all he won't join the group until he sees my powers himself." Lux says while laughing.
"Well I can't even comprehend if you are joking or being serious right now. Did you know that he ranks 40 in our academy's leaderboards. He has quite great techniques to make up for the lack of level between him and the seniors. Even I won't be able to win against him if we had a duel." Killian says trying to warn Lux about Gilbert's rank.
"Then that will be more the reason to show you all my worth and make you believe me, right ?"
"Haaaaahhh" Killian sighs knowing that no matter what he says Lux will not go back on this duel.
They arrive at the Dark Energy lake and see that Gilbert, Crystal and Alice had already arrived there. They seemed to be discussing something as Lux and Killian arrived.
"I don't really think that Lux knows how powerful you are Gilbert. Well I know that he has quite great knowledge but, real battle and having great knowledge is very different. So, please try to hold back when having a duel with him." Alice tells Gilbert, being worried that Lux might get hurt.
Even Crystal was trying to convince Gilbert to hold back on his duel with Lux. Seeing this, Lux becomes even more determined to prove his real worth to them. Lux also sees a spatial ring that Gilbert was carrying. Lux was sure that Gilbert was not wearing that during the daytime at school, so he considered it was his soul weapon.
A spatial ring had a lot of space in it and could be used to store a lot of things. It was also used by common people who were not Mages but it was mostly used by Mages to store their soul weapons and other equipment that they might need during a fight.
'Maybe it's his trump card. He is already powerful enough to take rank 40 without the use of a soul weapon, so he must be even more powerful with its use.' Lux thinks about the soul weapon of Gilbert.
"Well no need to do that." Lux interrupts them in between their discussion.
Alice and Crystal become surprised when they see Lux. They had not seen him arrive as they were trying to explain Gilbert to hold back but Lux had arrived and interrupted their discussion. Lux looks towards Gilbert with determination to prove his worth to everyone present there.
"Gilbert come at me with everything that you've got. I will show all of you how powerful I really am. You are not believing me right now so this must be done to show you my strength and make you believe me."
Gilbert becomes surprised seeing Lux challenge him like that.
"Heh?? Don't be stupid just shut up and let us discuss. This is not a time to joke around." Crystal shouts at Lux telling him to stop joking.
"Ehh? You shut up and see my strength. I shall prove to you all how powerful a Mage really is." Lux says while being annoyed by Crystal for stopping him.
He had gone through various kinds of things throughout his previous life and could maintain a very good composure in every situation. But, somehow Crystal had always managed to annoy him.
Hearing Lux, Crystal becomes even more angry at him. They argue some more before Gilbert makes his decision.
'Lux seems to overestimate himself quite a lot. I must show him the skill difference between him and me. He may have some knowledge but, real battle is different. I must teach him that here and today.' Gilbert thinks about teaching Lux a lesson so as to not overestimate himself.
"Okay I will give it my all against you. I will also break the overconfidence you have there. You are overestimating yourself Lux. I must teach you a lesson that real battle and having huge knowledge is different. Also, I just reached level 16 so I am even more powerful right now." Gilbert says to Lux trying to warn him.
"Hahaha! It will be fun to see how strong you really are. So as you have accepted not to hold back, can I be sure that you will also use your soul weapon you have brought today ?" Lux asks Gilbert looking at the spatial ring he had brought.
Gilbert would not normally carry his spatial ring containing his soul weapon around. He only used to carry it around on important occasions. But, for some reason, he had a feeling that he might be needing it today, so he had brought it with him. He becomes surprised that Lux notices it and also dares to challenge him while using his soul weapon.
"Fine, I have already said that I won't hold back, so I will use it too. After all I am a man of my word." Gilbert says with huge confidence,
"Haha, Now we are talking." Lux says to provoke Gilbert.
The park around the Dark Energy Lake had a large space, so they decided to use that place as their battlegrounds.
Crystal and Alice had tried their best to warn Lux not to duel with Gilbert while he uses his soul weapon but as Lux had already decided on this matter, so there was no point in trying to change his mind.
Both Lux and Gilbert get ready to duel each other and stay in their specified positions. In the dark night, there was total silence. The distance between Lux and Gilbert was 15 meters.
Killian then gave the signal to start the battle. Gilbert had fire affinity so he started the battle by casting the spell 'Flame Field'. An area of about 20 meters was surrounded with flames trapping Lux and him inside of it. This spell hugely boosted his area coverage and also helped him to trap his opponents.
Lux sees the area of 20 meters around him being surrounded by flames. He just stands there in his starting position waiting for Gilbert to make the first attack. Gilbert sees Lux care freely standing without even casting any kind of spell.
"Now, I will show you what a true battle is Lux !!!" Gilbert shouts while taking out his soul weapon.
After a second of glittering light, a sword could be seen in the hands of Gilbert. Alice, Crystal and Killian now, could only pray for Lux to come out from the duel safely.
Gilbert quickly closes the distance between Lux and him in just a matter of 5 seconds. He tightly holds his sword and strikes it towards Lux who even until now was just standing there not even caring about Gilbert. The 3 watching from outside gasp at the last second between when the sword and Lux came in contact.
'What the hell is he thinking just standing there ?' All the 3 of them stare at the battle in wonder.
Before the sword nearly touches Lux, he activates his 'Gravity Counter' spell and moves back just a little. The sword swings right in front of him without even touching him at all. All the people present there become surprised at what really happened at the last moment before the sword touched Lux.
They saw Lux unscathed not even 1 meter in front of Gilbert. Gilbert becomes surprised looking at this scene taking place but quickly again strikes towards Lux who was just barely in front of him. This time, he casts the spell 'Flame Burst' before he strikes towards Lux.
Flame Burst was an AoE type of spell which increased the swing speed and also burned the whole area in front of the caster. Lux moves even faster this time already under the effect of his spell 'Gravity Counter' and moves behind Gilbert. Even this time, the sword does not hit Lux and everyone becomes even more amazed.
"Hey are you using teleportation spells? How did you come behind me so fast." Gilbert asks Lux who again dodged his attacks and was standing behind him.
"You have it all wrong this is not teleportation but just me moving faster than you swing." Lux answers Gilbert who was surprised at the fact that Lux even managed to dodge his another stronger attack.
Everyone was too surprised to even speak right now. Gilbert becomes even more determined to hit Lux who was actually claiming to be moving faster than his swing.
"Then I should also use my full power. Let's see if you can dodge me now." Gilbert warns Lux while casting the 'Phoenix Flames' Spell.
After casting Phoenix Flames, Gilbert becomes partially covered in flames which does not seem to harm him but seems to be producing enough heat that was even affecting Lux. In the next second, Gilbert arrives behind Lux at a lightning speed and strikes towards Lux with his flaming sword.
This speed was even unexpected by Lux. He could not move this fast at his current level of 'Gravity Counter'. Still under the effects of his spell, Lux casts the spell 'Gravity Touch' and hits Gilbert with his palm even before Gilbert could strike him.
Gilbert flies away about 10 meters by the palm strike that Lux hit him with. Before Gilbert even realizes what has happened, Lux rushes towards him and punches him 5 times by casting the spell 'Flaming Fists'. Gilbert gets sent back even more and he again maintains his guard to stop any attack from Lux.
But, to his surprise Lux had already disappeared from the position he was attacked. He looks around and sees Lux in the air about 10 feet upwards casting some kind of spell. Under the spell effects of the 'Phoenix Flames', he rushes towards Lux again at a really amazing speed to interrupt his cast but, before he even reaches there, Lux casts the 'Gravity Field' spell.
Gilbert suddenly crashes to the ground with tremendous force. He feels like his whole body was being pressed by a giant mountain. Even the 3 watching from outside the cast range of 'Gravity Field' could feel some kind of force pressing them. Gilbert tries to stand up but he can't as the force doesn't seem to stop pressing him even for a second.
Before he feels that his body will be crushed, the force suddenly disappears and he is hit by the 'Lighting Strike' spell which finally destroys the last remaining of his remaining strength and he loses his consciousness.