Rey didn't know this, but Anukus had just done something that he wasn't aware of.
[Sever] mixed with [Homing] made for a sure-hit attack that obliterated anything in its path.
Anukus had used this attack on Rey, hoping for his head to get sliced off.
'That's your punishment for interrupting my match!' Anukus had thought.
He hated strangers coming out of nowhere and just disturbing his moment of enjoyment.
If they wanted a fight with him, they could just wait their turn!
'DIE!' He had thought silently as he sent the attack.
However…
'E-eh…?'
… The attack did not land.
Normally, this would be the time when his opponent's head would go rolling to the ground, but there was no such thing this time around.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
In fact, the target didn't even seem to notice what had just happened.
'M-maybe my aim was off…' Anukus thought, forgetting that he had the [Homing] feature activated.
There was no way he could have missed, even if he wanted to!
'Let's try again!'
Anukus did it again and again, but every single time he did so, there was no effect.
In the end he had to try out his attack on the man beside him.
However, the moment he did so, a bright golden barrier covered him, causing the attack not to land.
'What? A defensive barrier?!'
"Hey… the fight is between you and me. Leave my client out of this."
As the intruder raised his voice at Anukus, he felt an intimidating pressure that he had never perceived before.
It made a cold sensation rush through his body.
'Is that fear? Impossible!' Anukus had long forgotten fear
He had gotten much stronger since the last time such a feeling was ingrained in his mind, and based on his current progress, it wouldn't be long before he reached the limits of his power.
Most people didn't even give him any EXP when he killed them, considering how worthless and weak they were.
'He called the other guy his client, which means he was hired by the KariBlanc Group.'
In essence, he was an enemy he had to eliminate.
'If the KariBlanc could hire someone in their current state, there's no way they're that strong. Maybe he just has a strong defensive Skill…'
Anukus had a colleague who had a Skill called [Damage Nullification], so he was well aware of how annoying defensive Skills could be.
'But [Damage Nullification] is of no use if your opponent is stronger than you!'
That meant this had to be something else.
'It could also be an item. I'll need to get up close and personal with him to find out.'
Anukus slowly began to smile. The match against the other man had been a bit refreshing, but it was nowhere near stimulating enough.
He wanted more.
'Maybe this guy will be able to entertain me better!'
"Fine, then. I'll play with you…" Anukus took a step forward, his blood boiling with excitement.
"Come!" He stretched out both hands as he awaited the attack of his opponent.
'Let's see how strong you a—!'
"Oh, no way. I won't be the one facing you." The voice from the masked being suddenly echoed in the air.
"What?!"
Anukus' raised eyebrows and annoyed tone were answered by a roaring flame being manifested by his opponent.
The flames appeared intense; almost impossibly so.
And then, from the depths of the fire… a single entity appeared.
It had pristine armor, with a helmet shrouding its flamy face.
Two blades were criss-crossed on its back, and in its hand was a powerful spear.
It was covered in full-plated armor, appearing much darker—like magma—than the flamy body that it protected.
This being had glowing eyes and a fierce presence that seemed to ooze danger.
As it stepped on the ground, the latter melted. The air seemed to warp around it as its intense flames were compressed to its immediate surroundings.
This was no mere Fire Elemental.
It was a Greater Fire Elemental. No… perhaps even a Grand Fire Elemental!
'No… that's not possible.'
Even if it was a big stretch, Anukus could still grant that the thing that was summoned was a Greater Fire Elemental.
But calling it a Grand one was going too far.
'A single Grand Elemental needs to be summoned by a group of powerful Mages. There's no way someone like this can do it himself.'
Only Grand Mage Lucielle was known to be able to summon a Grand Elemental by herself, but even she would be drained after doing so.
The benefits of having one was high, but it was practically impossible for any one person to summon one themselves.
'So it's a Greater Fire Elemental, then?' Anukus grinned with amusement.
'This is going to be a fun battle, but I'll definitely win!'
His [Greater Flame Magic] alone wouldn't be able to put this one down, but so what?
He had this second Skill, which was objectively superior—even though they were both in B-Tier.
'Alright, then!'
A monstrous smile caused his face to morph into that of a wild heart.
"Entertain me before I get to the main dish!"
*******
'I can't believe I can now summon a Grand Fire Elemental…' Rey smiled as he looked at the flaming entity in front of him.
'Looks like the experiment was a success.'
Rey's mind went back to a few moments earlier, when he wondered how best to take care of his opponent.
He decided to merge the [Greater Fire Magic] in his arsenal with his [Elemental Summoning (Fire)].
The result was [Greater Elemental Summoning (Fire)].
Afterwards, he decided to utilize it alongside his third SS-Tier Skill [Divine Elemental Magic]; with the help of [Fusion/Fission] Skill.
Thanks to the synergy among these Skills, he was able to create a Grand Fire Elemental.
'Since I would need the right Spell to make an Elemental normally, it's just better to have it as a Skill…'
Rey figured he could also create the same synergy with the rest of his Elemental Summoning Skills to make a new one.
Unsurprisingly, it worked.
He successfully merged them all to form [Greater Elemental Summoning (Basic)].
'If I use [Divine Elemental Magic], that means I can make any of my Elementals enter the Grand category.' Rey nodded to himself in satisfaction.
That alone was enough to put a smile on his face.