Mirai continued running at an incredible speed, carrying both Alex and me effortlessly. Edward managed to keep pace with us until we delved deep into the forest, where the light didn't even reach us.
Mirai finally halted when we arrived at a rotted swamp, gently setting us down. Instinctively, I activated the crown's power, expelling all the mana from the atmosphere around me. Meanwhile, Alex enveloped his body in a protective aura of mana.
However, Mirai and Edward remained unfazed, taking no defensive measures.
[So this is what he meant by training us to death, huh?]
The air was thick with the stench of decay; this swamp was the hunting ground of a powerful mythical being. The very mana here was tainted by the miasma from countless corpses of past prey, and the atmosphere was filled with the tormented screams of spirits, weeping in agony.
Mirai walked calmly towards the swamp, each step sinking slightly into the murky water. The moment his presence was felt, the spirits launched a frenzied attack. Yet, Mirai did not retaliate. As the spirits closed in, a pure golden light radiated from his body, enveloping the corrupted spirits in a gentle, soothing embrace.
The madness in their eyes vanished, replaced by an overwhelming calm. Slowly, they began to dissolve, ceasing to exist. In their final moments, they bowed to Mirai in gratitude. Mirai spoke in a soft voice, almost as if whispering to himself:
"Remains left by the dead, a memory for the living. In the embrace of light, you shall find peace of heart."
"This is the first time I've ever seen you use divine power, Mirai," Alex said, surprised.
"I don't usually use it much. I only know purification," Mirai answered.
[Is this the divine power of the Path of Virtue? This is my first time seeing it. Not even Alex used it in our fight,] I thought, trying to recall any information mentioned in the book, as the main character walked on the same path.
Sensing that my mind was wandering, Mirai called out to me. [Wait a minute, where did he get those glasses?] I thought, noticing his sudden change in appearance.
"Well, this place will be your training ground until both of you achieve the expected results," Mirai declared, his tone serious like a strict teacher.
"What's the supposed training?" Alex asked seriously, and I nodded in agreement.
"Hmm, first of all, the training has already begun, and it's survival. Now it's time for the assessment of your duel," Mirai pointed to Alex and continued speaking.
"Alex, one of the main reasons for losing the duel was the element of surprise that Gracefell utilized. But it was also due to your lack of discipline and foresight. Though neither of you went all out in this duel, you both didn't enhance your bodies with mana and only used the basics of swordsmanship and spearmanship. And honestly, your lightning magic still needs a lot of improvement." Alex seemed a bit down because of the criticism, but Mirai continued, now pointing at me.
"Gracefell, your life magic is nearly perfect, which is normal for a fairy, especially for an ancient. But I'm disappointed. I expected more. You rely too much on that crown and your eyes, which is why I chose this training ground."
[He isn't wrong. The reason I'm not affected by the miasma is due to the crown helping me control it,] I thought, realizing how foolish it was to rely on the crown all the time.
"Both of you will fight against me day and night. You must work together and support each other," Mirai declared, his voice growing colder. "This darkness will sharpen your senses, and the miasma in the air will force you to master your mana control. You can't afford to waste a single drop, or the consequences will be excruciating."
I exchanged glances of dread with Alex. We both knew that landing a single strike on Mirai was nearly impossible. As if sensing our contemplation, Mirai's tone shifted to a more cheerful one. "Don't worry. I'll make things fair for you. I will limit my strength to match yours. Not only that, your free time will be when you're hunting for your food. Alex, you're not allowed to use your blessed spear, and Gracefell, you can't use the crown."
Mirai clapped as he announced, "The training starts now."
Alex summoned a seemingly ordinary spear. As it appeared in his hand, the mana that coated his body to shield him from the miasma extended to the weapon. The mana embedded itself into the spear, significantly enhancing its sharpness and durability. But Alex was far from done. He infused both his body and the spear with his lightning affinity, causing electricity to surge through them. Lightning engulfed them both, and the earth where he stood began to crack due to the intensity.
Meanwhile, I threw the crown to the ground. The thorns, sensing my intent, swiftly wrapped around my hand, piercing the skin and drawing blood. As the crimson drops fell to the ground, they bloomed into vibrant red spider lilies, absorbing the miasma that had begun to rot my flesh. The flowers radiated gently as they gradually coalesced into the form of a scythe in my palm.
The giant scythe towered over me. The thorns coiled around its obsidian handle, gripping it tightly as my blood soaked into the dark steel. I lifted the massive weapon, feeling its weight, and in a swift, deliberate stab, I drove the long, silver blade into my chest.
Pain surged through me, but I remained calm. My blood flowed freely, coating the blade in a crimson luster. From the wound, a swarm of silver butterflies emerged. They fluttered gracefully around the scythe.
Holding the scythe with one hand, I adopted a battle stance, the silver butterflies floating around me and Alex. He, understanding my intentions without a word, readied his lightning-imbued spear as we launched ourselves at Mirai.
He stood there, his sword still sheathed, a confident yet cheerful smile appearing on his lips. "This seems really interesting," he remarked, his voice joyful yet filled with a chilling coldness. "You won't die, but you will be on the brink of death."