I was appalled to see what Dilbert was passing off as a Grand Conflagration. It was clear that he wasn't experienced enough to understand the magnitude of the attack. It was a powerful spell, and for me to be able to block it so easily was highly suspicious.
It's obvious he was trying to mock the creator of the spell, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of disapproval. The record had to be set straight.
Lady Ophelia watched us battle it out, and the controversy of the Grand Conflagration had come into question.
It was clear to her that neither Dilbert nor I knew what this fire spell was, or how strong it truly is.
She could tell Dilbert was lying about his being a version of the spell, as his actions did not come close to the true power of the Grand Conflagration. Clearly obvious that Dilbert wasn't being honest, Lady Ophelia was expressly displeased with this.
But why was she so intent on neither of them knowing the true extent of the spellʼs power.
[ "Although Grand Conflagration is treated as a Tier A spell it actually varies on the magical power of whoever uses it. If someone of higher magical power does so then it essentially becomes a Tier S spell, but if on a lower scale then Tier A. The reason Ophelia believed none of them knew what the spell was is actually relating to the fact that, 10 people are required to cast the spell. There are too many variables to factor in and that it's nearly impossible for one brain to handle it all at once. The spell is created by the combined magic of multiple users, with the complete control given to one person. So any one person who declares they have the ability to cast the spell would have to be a persistent liar. You'd need ten diverging thoughts to cast such a spell." ]
[Oracle Engine ---> Function Grand Conflagration]
Processing...
[Mana output increased to 100%]
Complete...
[Magicube Pulse Riser Charge]
Complete...
[Activate Mass Supplier]
Complete...
[Send expansion form model to the Mass Supplier]
Complete...
[Transmitting form model data]
Complete...
[Transmitting data, forming mana virtual surface]
50%... 60%... 70%... 80%... 90%...
Transmittal will be complete shortly...
Form model data is 100% transmitted...
GRAND CONFLAGRATION image deployment via Mass Supplier is complete. Magicube pulse riser is 100% charged.
Beneath me, a large red magic seal was formed and surrounding it were nine other seals all varying in colors either yellow, blue, green, violet, but a few to mention.
The amassed magicube was abnormal, and upon being converted to fire, a tornado-like pillar of flame stretched to the sky and reformed to become a powerful miniature jet-black sun that cast a shadow over everyone.
Ophelia was purely surprised, there were very few people who could use the full power of Grand Conflagration and mine transcended theirs. It was a mouthful but her visage didn't display that.
The minute jet-black sun was scathingly and extremely hot, the embers clouded skies and so did its ashes. Most covered their eyes on viewing this.
I only gestured the movement of my index finger downward, and the attack descended like a gradually moving comet.
All he could see were flames that consumed his entire surroundings.
The students grunted in discomfort and struggled to maintain balance, the extreme heat, constrained oxygen and loose embers that could likely blind one. Not to mention the earthquake that came from the collision of the attack with the earth, and Dilbert in between.
Only Lady Ophelia watched without any discomfort whatsoever, smiling cynically.
"A-All right! I lose! I just have to apologize, right?! I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
When Dilbert finally pleaded for help, I snapped my fingers and the small jet-black sun disappeared into nothingness. It was a concerning sight to behold, and also disheartening to witness such power being used so callously.
A stark reminder of the fragility of life, and a troubling reminder of the power dynamics at play in the world.
With the catastrophic spell gone, the shockwave from it had blown the skirts of numerous girls upward. Yes, a few boys suffered severe nosebleeds, even with how dire scene was.
Belitha was sure to keep hers covered, well the "front" at least.
Everyone was surprised to see that Dilbert still lived. He was seen panting in a three feet deep crater, also surprised that he wasn't vaporized. "Huh? What?" he muttered in disbelief while he looked at his body.
He was unharmed by such a powerful attack, what exactly happened?
"Now do you understand? What you just saw is a real Grand Conflagration."
I said as I approached him in the crater, my usual mild demeanor wasn't present at the time, in fact, I was infuriated.
Finally, the view got a high-angle closeup on Dilbertʼs face from behind my back. As I took a step toward him, I dominantly invaded the shot – a dominance especially marked by my left arm at the frame center which, with a clinched fist, posed an immense threat on the low-status Dilbert who was very much defenseless against attacks as of the time.
I forcefully took a step forward. My anger burned more.
He couldn't see my face, the blockage of the sun from where he knelt had a shadow cast over it. All he was able to see where bright blue eyes that characterized itself by horror.
Suddenly, my left arm was grasped by Belitha, she was chipper, surely because of my victory.
I was a bit flustered because her breasts were against my arm as well, but I did well to ignore it and maintain my cool. "Nyx, that was amazing!" she told me, I had no words to say at the time being.
She faced Dilbert who was still on his knees in the bowl-shaped depression "Understand now? No more bullying, you got it?" and Dilbert responded with a fidgety nod. She then turned her gaze the bullied girl, who was yet to reveal her name, "If he does anything mean to you again tell me or Nyx!".
The bullied girl interlaced her fingers assuming a mildly shy stance "S-Sure." she responded, "T-Thank you.." she was truly grateful.
I conveyed to her that there was no need for her to thank me since after all I was also using it as an opportunity to get back at Dilbert.
That was a lie, I thought our conflict had ended long before now, but nevertheless I believed after today, he'd never bother anyone again.
"Haha! Nyx Besimios.."
Oh no! Crap! I completely forgot Lady Ophelia was still here.
A major problem. I had no idea how powerful the attack spell was when I used it.
Lady Ophelia approached me and said, "Hey, zero prodigy, you cast a different spell on Dilbert while activating that spell didn't you?" She was the only one who noticed, but I expected as much.
"I cast a defensive spell Ultra Wall Formation while I was controlling Grand Conflagration. If I didn't the attack would definitely have destroyed him on the atomic level." It was scary just trying to make up the words.
She amublated toward me until she was just two inches away. I clearly saw her eyes and nose looking down on me.
"You didn't use a chant and also cast a 10 man Tier S attacking spell and even pulled off a double cast with two Tier S spells."
Originally, the Space Wall was a Tier E defensive spell but it evolved the to a Tier S. Arguably a Tier S spell at least, as it could hold it's own against a spell with high attack potency.
It scaled somewhere between B and S.
Unaware. All this time [Oracle Engine] equipped me with the ability that annuls the casting period required when using Magic, [Chant Annulment] something I should've been careful of.
The students were equally amazed, "He activated two spells at once?!", "He didn't use any chants?! No way!" very few admired this, to some it stirred envy and for others inspired fear.
"How can a Cross do that, this can't be..." everyone was already sure that I wasn't your normal Cross.
It made me panic even more. I started sweating again. But this time I shifted my eyes away from hers, doing my very best not to stutter.
"U-Um, I did a lot of practice on it, I don't even know how to do much of anything, I-I'm a Cross remember? I'd say it's a big deal if I had activated five different spells at once, I even ch-chanted you just didn't hear me.."
A terrible liar? Yes, even she knew that.
After she grabbed me by the shoulders and menacingly told me "It shouldn't be a big deal, but this was two Tier S spells, and don't tell me you did chants, I would've known... Also, a Cross shouldn't be able to cast magic, that's common knowledge, Nyx Besimios."
Ah, not good. This is bad.
"Now why are you the only Cross able to do that?" she grinned, but I pulled away at the last second. She uncovered too much and this on just our first encounter.
"I'll have my answers soon enough."
She smirked and shifted her gaze away from me.
My heartbeat was abnormal, striking a record number of beats in mere seconds.
She wanted to know why I was different from other Crosses, she had to know why of all of them, I was different.