"Your name is Havist."
Arcane's words made the black sphere vibrate. The molecular bonding force loosened, and the black matter rose in the form of smoke. The creature born of darkness spoke with a hoarse voice.
"I am Havist."
"I will conduct some tests. Stay in the test tube for a while."
Arcane pointed to a three-meter-high glass tube. It was such a narrow space that a human couldn't endure it for ten minutes, but for a magical creature, the concept of duration didn't exist.
That night, Kanis and Arin infiltrated the laboratory. Their nervousness was evident as they didn't have Arcane's permission. However, those feelings disappeared the moment they saw Havist.
A two-meter-tall humanoid shadow.
His slender waist and broad dynamic shoulders impressed Kanis.
"This is... from the Master..."
The culmination of the biological magic that the Archmage had perfected over 150 years. Furthermore, he had inherited Arcane's memories and possessed intelligence.
Unlike Kanis, Arin trembled as if she had seen something terrifying.
"It's... strange. I thought it would look more like a human."
"Who would be afraid of a magical creature if it doesn't look threatening? In my view, this form is impressive. It's a combatant."
"Still, it seems strange..."
Kanis paid no attention. He didn't care if Arin wasn't satisfied.
"Wait, Havist. I will choose your owner between Kanis and Arin," Arcane said. Although Arin was a valuable friend of Kanis, he couldn't yield on this matter. He would prove his suitability through a friendly competition.
"Kanis, let's go. The Master might come."
"Eh? Oh, all right."
Arin followed Kanis as they turned off the lights and left. However, at one point, Arin looked back. She had felt Havist's explosive emotions.
"Oh my!"
Arin ran out of the room as if fleeing. From that day on, she didn't return to the laboratory. But as someone who had spent her childhood trapped in Radum's storeroom, she couldn't leave Havist alone.
In a moment when everyone was asleep, Arin gathered her courage and went to the laboratory. Havist was still trapped in the test tube, just as before.
"Do you feel very uncomfortable?"
When there was no response, Arin examined the device in the tube and found a switch.
"Maybe I could let you out for a while."
"Why do you think it's uncomfortable?"
Arin stepped back in surprise. The voice was hoarse and chilling.
"You've been locked in here for a month."
"It's the humans who feel uncomfortable with immobility. I have no sense of time. I could be trapped here forever."
Arin hesitated, as if she couldn't believe it. The oppression and discomfort filled the air, which was understandable given Havist's situation.
"But maybe your words make sense."
"Is something bothering you?"
"Curiosity, perhaps? It's not the right word, but I was raised to learn from the moment I came into existence. But now, that's impossible."
"So that's what you call uncomfortable."
Havist was lost in thought. Could that be true?
"How can you read my emotions?"
"Haha. It was a coincidence. I've lived in Radum for a long time."
"Radum. The impoverished city in Bashka, the capital of Thormia. A refuge for subspecies who lost their land on the continent."
Even Arin, who had lived in Radum during her childhood, had never heard of that before.
"Lord Havist knows a lot."
"Do you have more information?"
"Do you want to talk?"
"So talking is what we should do. I still don't have an owner to share my mind with."
Arin spent the night conversing with Havist. Most of her childhood had been spent alone, so talking to someone was a new experience for her.
After two months of experiments, Havist was finally released. Arcane opened the test tube, but Havist didn't move.
"Come out of there. You'll join Kanis, but you won't be bound by restrictions. I'll explain the reason gradually."
Havist didn't immediately respond. The lack of response from a magical being with superhuman processing speed surprised Arcane.
"What? Do you have an objection?"
"Why Kanis?"
"Hmm. Are you saying you don't like him? It's strange that you, who have no mental resonance, already have a preference."
"I understand that there's no advantage for me in being subservient to you, having inherited your memories. But Kanis is stubborn and proud. He's unlikely to listen to my advice. That inclination will be a weakness in battle."
"That's true."
"On the other hand, Arin is different. She lived in Radum for ten years and knew no one except Kanis. As a result, she has incredibly developed mental sensitivity due to the extreme reaction."
"Are you talking about mental resonance?"
Mental resonance refers to a unique pattern of brain waves that make everything seem as if it's being seen for the first time. Arin grew up without seeing anything, and her brain had adapted to that situation. Despite her many limitations, her ability to perceive the emotions of things was exceptional and valuable to mental mages.
Arcane knew that Arin's talent was more special than Kanis'.
"Arin won't do. She's too soft."
"I don't understand. Mental resonance can compensate for other deficiencies. With her, I could maximize my abilities."
Arcane smiled bitterly.
Could it be that his judgment was different due to his appearance, despite sharing the same memory?
"Perhaps you're right, but Arin won't work. You'll go with Kanis."
***
"Havist!"
Havist, who was falling, cracked.
"So, that's what it was, Arcane."
Only in the last moments of his life, Havist could understand why Arcane had given up on Arin, who had great magical talent, and had chosen Kanis.
"They're just as stubborn."
Havist's fall was so gentle that his weight could barely be felt. Therefore, he seemed even more pitiful.
"Havist."
Kanis ran toward Havist. His body, shriveled like a crumpled piece of paper, was riddled with holes, making it difficult to look at.
"Why? Why did you do that?! I didn't mind dying, you know? If you were going to betray me, you could have said so from the beginning! Why!"
"Haha. How could I not know? You're my master."
Kanis fell silent as if he had understood something.
"Magical creatures, you know, just have to do what their master wants."
"Havist..."
Kanis's head drooped. He was angry and felt unfairly treated. But at the same time, he wanted to live. Who wouldn't want to live? That's being human. Havist knew that. That's why he had decided to break the contract with his master and commit suicide.
"I'm sorry, Havist. I..."
Havist paid no attention. Magical creatures just had to do what their master wanted. That's why death was not a shocking event for him. Instead, he was more interested in Shirone's strength, which had surpassed Kanis and his team combination.
"Hmm. He's using some strange magic. But it's not just that he's outperforming in magic."
He was definitely a strong opponent. He didn't hesitate to subdue his opponent. However, he didn't have an aggressive nature. Instead, his results-focused fighting style was similar to that of a magical being.
'The speed at which his emotions recover is incredibly fast. It's probably due to superhuman perception. He seems unbreakable due to the brief time it takes from the problem to the solution.'
Havist, who had finished his analysis, smiled. He definitely had an absolute specialization in something. He didn't know what it was, but it wasn't a common characteristic in nature.
'Hehehe. Arcane, you'll have a tough time.'
Arcane's expression wasn't good. There wasn't a single human who moved as he wanted. Feeling irritated by the current situation, he moved slowly and spoke.
"It's pathetic, Kanis. Even if you stain my face..."
"Shut up."
"Hahaha. You're a very lively kid. How about I make a proposal...?"
"I told you to shut up. Didn't you hear me?"
This time, Arcane's face also went blank.
"I'm trying to be patient here. If you say one more word, I'll tear you apart."
Shirone's body began to glow with a faint red glow. The laser. Its power had already been tested. If he took Havist, specialized in energy absorption, to the point of excessive energy explosion, even the great archmage could be overwhelmed.
However, the onlookers couldn't help but feel uneasy. The opponent was a great archmage who had mastered the world, while Shirone was just a simple student. This kind of provocation amounted to a suicidal act.
"What exactly are you trying to achieve here? Don't you realize what you're really doing?"
"No, it's okay."
Neid and Eruki turned to Ethella at the same time.
"Professor, what does that mean? Shouldn't we intervene now?"
"The situation is complicated for Arcane. He is being outmatched in affinity. If Shirone's magic from before was of the type that concentrates energy, then the current Arcane can't stop Shirone's magic. He won't act driven by his emotions if there's a chance of getting hurt. Shirone knows that."
Neid looked back at Shirone. Even if that were true, only Shirone could boldly challenge the Great Archmage.
"Anyway, it sounds clever."
Arcane obediently nodded.
"Yes. I guess you could overpower me now."
Silence fell around them. It was hard to believe that those words came from the mouth of the Great Archmage. But they didn't come from humility. Instead, Arcane smiled calmly.
"Red Wave. It's a kind of principle that vibrates particles, but it can be considered the enemy of dark mages. Plus, I'm weakened, so it will be difficult for you to stop me."
Arcane observed Shirone's reaction with interest.
"What do you think when you hear this from the Great Archmage?"
"What opinion can I have? I told you not to talk."
"Magic, isn't it interesting?"
Shirone frowned without realizing it. He couldn't understand what Arcane meant.
"That's how magic is. It's not fair, and there are no rules to be followed. Because it has no limits, it can't be predicted. A mage who can destroy a city with meteor magic can be defeated by a simple mercenary mage. Therefore, if you beat me, it wouldn't be surprising at all."
"So, what are you trying to say? Are you willing to pay for your actions?"
"I could take it that way, but..."
A common smoke emerged from Arcane's body. His eyes turned white, and his expression was eerie. An energy as sharp as a blade spread in all directions as if it were exploding.
"They say you only truly understand what battle is when you experience it."
Unconsciously, Shirone stepped back. It was a pure fight, independent of skill or level. It was a fighting spirit that only someone who had crossed many lines could emit.
"Even if you have good affinity, you'll be useless if you can't win. So, what do you say? Will you face me?"
Shirone's lips, which had been confident until now, finally fell silent. He had no sincere desire to fight. Arcane's fighting spirit was overwhelming.
"Things are as they are."
With determination, he attacked weak points and changed stances as they vanished. He had no stubbornness. His mind was as flexible as water, and his vision was open in all directions. He was starting to understand why Kanis had lost.