Atop the hill, a tense stand-off was on the verge of unfolding.
The howling wind matched the fury burning within the witch.
The wind blew relentlessly, causing the witch's hair to whip around, exposing her face filled with contempt.
Her eyebrows furrowed deeply as she frowned, clearly indicating that something was greatly troubling her.
Her own kin had dared to defy her, disregarding her solemn warnings. Adding insult to injury, an insignificant brat had now dared to challenge her authority.
This humiliation could not be allowed to pass without consequence. She was determined to teach the young boy a lesson he would never forget.
With determination in her eyes, the witch retrieved a Tulk card from her belongings, swiftly activating it upon herself.
As intent infused the card, a spell stored within it was released, causing the card to vanish instantly.
"Prepare to face your worst nightmare, insolent brat!" the witch exclaimed, as the card materialized with a radiant green glow, indicating a healing spell being cast.
In a fleeting moment, the witch felt a surge of revitalization and regained a portion of her vitality.
Her complexion brightened, and crackling electric sparks emanated from her skin as she charged a formidable magical spell, utilizing the surrounding weather as a catalyst.
Observing the witch's decisive action, Mizar braced himself for the impending confrontation.
He cautioned Nine, "Stay back, Nine. Keep yourself safe," before stepping forward to confront the witch, leaving Nine behind.
Nine, witnessing the boy she had recently met preparing to battle the witch, became alarmed.
Fully aware of the witch's power, she attempted to dissuade Mizar from engaging in the fight.
"No! The witch is far too strong for you, Mizar! She's not someone you can take on!" Nine urgently warned, desperately trying to prevent Mizar from facing such a formidable opponent.
The boy remained unaffected by Nine's words, yet he paid attention to her. He regarded her with seriousness and sincerity in his eyes.
"We will know about that in due time. For now, I want you to trust me," he reassured her, wanting to alleviate any concerns about his well-being.
He possessed a keen awareness of his abilities, which was the very reason he had journeyed so far from his home.
He was determined not to let this opportunity slip away. His objective for this vacation was to engage in a duel with formidable opponents, and he believed he had finally found one.
"Trust me, I won't be harmed. That's precisely why I request that you maintain your distance and seek cover."
Nine heeds his words and retreated to seek cover behind a massive boulder.
From her vantage point behind the boulders, she discreetly observed the unfolding scene.
Deep within her heart, she wish for Mizar's well-being following his encounter with the witch. Her only solace was the hope that the witch might exhibit a semblance of mercy towards him.
In the meantime, the witch readies herself for the impending battle against the boy.
"Prepare to tremble!" the witch shrieks, her malicious voice accompanied by a rumbling thunder emanating from the ominous dark cloud above.
As the witch extended her hand towards the sky, a bolt of lightning crackled and struck directly into her grasp.
She effortlessly caught the electrifying bolt, leaving onlookers awestruck.
Rather than resorting to spells or invoking a Tulk card, she defied the order of nature by snatching the lightning with her bare hand.
The seething power of the bolt writhed within her grip, gradually settling into a discernible form. Just like a deity of thunder, she wielded the mighty lightning bolt with commanding grace, asserting her dominion over the electrifying force.
Mizar raised his Membrane shield. Knowing what his opponent might do, he prepared his defense carefully.
During his duel with Abel, the membrane was breached and torn apart, despite its seemingly invincible defense.
It became clear that the membrane could be breached by an attack that far surpassed its absorption capability, causing damage and reaching the person inside.
As a result, he decided to make adjustments to the membrane he wore.
Each time he materialized the membrane, he manifested an additional layer on top of it. This process was repeated several times until a thick and foggy-white membrane was created.
The multiple layers formed an overlay of protection that appeared visibly reflective, even to the spectator, Nine.
Nine was mesmerized by the spectacle of Mizar's membrane, which resembled a cocoon enveloping his entire body.
Remarkably, despite its thickness, it did not hinder his movement.
However, the witch remained unconcerned with Mizar's actions. To her, it didn't matter. She believed that he would be burned to a crisp if he couldn't handle her attack.
Assuming a throwing pose, she pulled back her hand with such force that her back arched significantly.
It was an absurd way to throw something, but she put all her might into this over-the-top move.
With an intense charge, the witch hurled a lightning bolt at the defending boy, which instantly reached its target.
Caught off guard, Mizar had no time to react to the attack. He had to rely solely on his membrane defense.
When the lightning struck him, it breached the first layer of the membrane. However, it was halted as it encountered another layer in its path.
The multiple layers of membrane protected him, much like the layers of an onion skin. The first membrane braced the impact, while the subsequent layers absorbed and diminished the attack.
As a result, the lightning bolt completely vanished after striking Mizar. Witnessing this incredible event, the witch was overcome with astonishment and disbelief.
She stood frozen, unable to comprehend how her lightning had disappeared and what Mizar had employed against her.
Eventually, her mouth started moving, and words began to escape as she realized the extent of Mizar's defense.
"How..."
"How in the world did you possess such a thing?!"
"Where did you acquire it?"
Her expression of anger transformed into one of disbelief as she seemed to recognize what the boy had used.
Her eyes became unfocused as she pondered the various possibilities of what had transpired.
The same sense of astonishment spread to the distant spectator, Nine.
She couldn't fathom how Mizar was able to withstand an attack from the witch. In Nine's eyes, the witch was the epitome of strength, and she had never encountered anyone who could endure the witch's assault and live to tell the tale.
This revelation shook Nine to her core, as it completely shattered her perception of the world.
The boy who had recently confessed his feelings to her now stood unscathed against the person she considered to be the most formidable. It was a profound and transformative moment for her.
Observing the reactions of those around him, Mizar couldn't help but smile. "Surprised?" he exclaimed. "The fight has only just begun."
This had been Mizar's plan all along. He knew that by provoking the witch, she would unleash a powerful attack against him from the start.
His intention was to prolong the fight, stalling until the witch became exhausted. Mizar aimed to exploit the witch's own wrath, defeating her without inflicting serious harm upon her.
With this strategy in mind, it appeared that things were unfolding according to his desires. After exerting all her might to throw the lightning bolt, the witch was visibly fatigued and struggling to catch her breath.
"Hah... hah... where did you hide that book, you bastard?!" the witch exclaimed, her frustration evident in her voice.
It became clear that the witch was not only aware of the book's existence but also seemed to have a personal connection to it.
The boy couldn't help but wonder about the nature of the witch's relationship with the book.
How did she come to know about it as well? This question lingered in his mind as he sought to uncover the mysterious connection between the witch and the book.