" Thwack!"
Zack was engaged further into the group while Brandon was still on the permittee. He was surrounded, but using his agility and his hereditary magic made him practically untouchable. He was manipulating the free mana in the air to form defensive walls in his blindspot before dashing in and landing a blow on an enemy.
Flames could be seen raging further in as Caldo had engaged the captain of this particular unit. Zack dashed back as a girl with a great sword swung down on him. Then from behind a soldier with a short sword attempted to stab him in the back.
["They are much slower than the people I've sparred."] Compared to his opponents within the military. These guys were easy to read for him.
He manipulated the mana in the air and moved it to his back. As the man wielding the blade lunged he found it more difficult to keep pushing it through.
The mana the brothers manipulated was in a physical state as they manipulated it. It's not like defensive magic though where the cast hardens the mana and layers it, more like very condensed and thick air. When spread across a large area it becomes slightly thinner, but when condensed it becomes denser. That's how they use it offensively.
The blade rapidly lost velocity as it grew closer. Zack extended his right hand and grabbed the tip of the blade stopping it completely. The attackers' eyes widened as he was in disbelief. . .This magic has been kept a secret, they are experiencing other world phenomena.
" Swish"
Zack leaned back in a sudden reactionary motion as a blade passed in front of his face. He kept the grip on the other man's sword and shifted his gaze to the other attacker.
A young girl with a delicate face. No older than Zack who was shocked he didn't sense her. She was biting her lip as he swing missed leaving her wide open. If this was any other...she would be dead.
" Thump"
Zack manipulated the mana around him to strike her in the gut. She dropped her sword immediately and fell to the floor in front of him. He felt the other man attempt to pull his word away in desperation.
" Thwack!"
An invisible uppercut connected to his chin. The man fell and lost his grip leaving Zack holding the sword which he tossed away. The group had been widdled down to about a dozen in a half including Brandon's side.
" Shwip"
Still, they continued to put pressure, closing in around Zack. The area was becoming tight and hard to move around in, although he could handle it he knew it could become difficult.
[" I've got to make some room."]
" Stomp"
Zackk picked up his right foot and slammed it into the ground. He then gathered mana around his foot. In a sudden powerful motion, he twisted his foot in the dirt sending the mana in all directions around him.
The dense mana became less dense as it spread out but as it did it ripped up any loose rocks or soil and sent it flying in all directions causing the attackers to lose footing and be sent sliding back.
After they were spread out Zakc regathered that loos mana around him while also manipulating the mana within his body into his legs.
" Zip!"
All they saw was his silver hair as he dashed around the wider area landing kicks and punches before they could react. Using the mana as an easy defense in case one ended up catching him.
" Thump!"
He landed a kick on a man's chest and used it as a lunch platform catapulting himself to his next target across from him.
" Shim!"
He appeared in front of an older man, but this man was already mid-swing with his right fist pulled back and starting forward.
[" He predicted me!"]
Zack leaned back avoiding the blow and countered with his own right. The man retracted his fist quickly and leaned to the left avoiding his punch. Then, before he could retract it the man grabbed ahold of his arm.
In response, Zack dropped to the floor ripping his arm out of his grasp. Then placing that hand on the floor he supported his weight and landed a left kick to the back of his head knocking him unconscious. He got back to his feet quickly and dashed over to another target.
.
.
.
Reha watched from a distance along with the other soldiers who were cheering on the brothers. Their eyes were full of amazement as they saw them zip around in blurs, enemies falling down next to them without even seeing a strike thrown.
Reha was the closest to the battlefield as she stood watching them zip around. usually, her mind would be lost in doubtful thoughts about how average she is, no matter what she does she can't reach this level...but this time, due to Zacks' teasing. She was relatively calm.
" Hm. . ." Watching them be unstoppable. Made her reflect on all the training and time she's seen them put in. She couldn't help but smile. [" I'm lucky to be surrounded by these kinds of people."]
[" Never stop striving to be something better."] Here minded drifted back to the conversation she had with Brandon.
[" Freinds like that, are what will allow me to keep getting better."] She understands that she might not be able to reach their level, but that's not to say she isn't capable of becoming great. She has no limits, as long as she keeps striving for something greater, she can reach a higher level. Reach the status she wants to. Bringing her family out of their poor situation.
[" Uh,"] Her mind then shifted toward Zack teasing. " Was he implying-"]
" Think you can just rest over here!!" Suddenly a louder deep voice rang through the battlefield.
" BAMM!"
Reha had instinctively dashed back avoiding a falling object that landed where she had been standing. All the soldiers who were resting behind her got to their feet and summoned their weapons as the ground shook.
" ZIIM!"
From the dust cloud shot a man with a long katana-like sword in hand. He pulled it back and swung for Reha's neck.
[" He's slow."]
Reha leaned back as the blade gracefully passed over her head reflecting in the red eyes and cutting her red bangs.
" SHHM!" The man slid to a stop and turned around aggressively swinging his katana at her chest.
" Klang!"
A bright white flash appeared in Reha's hand as a long weapon formed deflecting the man's attack sending him sliding away and giving Reha some distance. As the man used his hand to stop himself he looked up to find the red-haired girl holding a chillingly long scyth.
The scythe was taller than her and all red with a silver blade. She had the end of it stuck into the ground her right hand holding it awaiting the man's next move.
" We need to help.!' A boy from the group resting stood and took a step toward them. He had a scar on his right cheek and a missing finger on his right hand from the earlier battle.
" No." Another soldier reached over and firmly grabbed his shoulder stopping him. " She'll be fine."
" Huh. . .How do you know that? We can't just sit here when we can fight."
" Thats Reha. . .She was in my training regiment. At first, she struggled, but recently from what I've heard and seen. She's one of the top, approaching the skills of a commander. That must be why she's in their squad."
" Uh. . .Really?"
'The man dashed back in with the sword at his side. As he approached he drew it back and swung at her waist. Sparks flew as she parried it and sent him past her.
The man turned and brought the sword above his head and swung down. Rehea took her left hand of the scythe and waved it in front of her face in a gentle swift motion.
" Feww!"
A strong gust of wind pushed the man's attack to the side causing him to miss. Still, he kept up the attack swinging low at her waist again.
" Fwip!"
She vanished from the man's sight. Then sensing her presence he looked up and saw her in the air gaining distance. he pushed his foot into the ground and pursued.
" Stop the running girly." The man had his left hand hidden behind his back, but Reha could sense a build-up for some magical attack. As she approached the ground she prepared a defensive measure.
" Rah!" The man through his left hand forward. A blue bolt shot from it, Reha identified it immediately as lightning magic. As her feet hit the ground she brought the scythe over her head and slammed it into the ground.
As the lightning bolt approaches only inches away, suddenly a massive ice wall appears absorbing the blast and distributing it among the ice wall shattering it.
" Tsk. Ice, and wind!" The man clicked his young in frustration.
[" I obtained wind magic as a hereditary magic. That was my only one. Most would expect me to then go straight to learning fire cast and magic as they pair the best with the wind. That combo is also the most expected. . .Being unpredictable is the biggest strength I can have."]
She then swung her scythe at the shattered pieces of eyes generating a massive gust of wind. The sharp pieces of ice were sent at the man who covered his face in defense as he didn't have enough time to properly cast any defensive magic.
" Shink!"
The tiny ice pieces began to cut his arms causing blood to slowly leak out. Rehe powerfully launched herself at him while he guarded his face.
" Tsk. You're not clever."
The man sensing her approach dropped his arms. The sound of mana-made metal rang as her scythe connected against his sword. Though Reha then pushed the blade off and landed a kick with mana put behind it sending him flying and bouncing off the ground once.
" Shink!"
She then cut the air with her scythe. though it looked like a pointless swing to the man. Reha had invented and perfected a lethal attack in her time training.
" Shink!!"
A cut suddenly appeared across the man's chest, blood flew out as he lost consciousness and rolled against the floor to a stop. Reha had expelled mana right in front of her causing it to become a physical mass.
Usually, it would then become nothing more than air. but with her scythe. It connects against the physical man sending it in motion. when it reaches a certain speed it can't dissipate into the air causing it to retain its physical form. And takes the shape of her scythe slash.
Rehas red hair danced in front of her face as the wind slowly died out. She looked at the lifeless body in front of her over 30 feet away. The others looked on in complete surprise.
This is something that Reha can achieve. The invention of a new attack was brought about by her determination, will, and overall strength. Along with her unpredictability.