We returned to the academy.
While I waited at the academy's main gate, Kasha gathered her clan members. Each of them rode massive beasts.
Karishu, riding on a giant wolf, spoke in a voice full of concern.
"Hey, he said he'd be dueling with Kasha today. Didn't she say it'd take years to prepare?"
"The preparations are already done."
"What does that even mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like."
"Tsk, tsk. Well, when your bones shatter, I'll take you to the church."
Rin, the cat beast, and Libre, the dog beast, arrived riding a leopard and a bear, respectively.
"Zion, I wish you the best of luck."
"Zion~ You know, we don't have to duel~ If you lose to Kasha, you can always come to me~ Woof~"
"Hey! Zion is mine!" Kasha yelled at Libre's teasing words.
"Oh my~ Love is in the air~ Woof. This is my first time seeing Kasha like this~ Woof~"
"No, it's not like that." Kasha tried to explain, though she seemed to be getting pulled into Libre's relaxed attitude.
Kasha stretched out her hand toward me.
"I'll give you a ride, grab my hand."
"Yes, Sister Kasha!"
I took her hand and climbed onto her pet wolf, Harley.
"Alright, everyone! Let's go! Kyahahahaha!"
"Woohoo~!!!"
"Let's ride!!"
At Kasha's command, the clan members cheered and sent their pets charging ahead.
Thump thump thump thump
As the massive carnivores galloped in unison, the streets rumbled, almost as if an earthquake had hit.
"Aaaah! It's the beast-man biker gang!"
"Hey! Don't all of you run on the streets at once!"
Amid the shouts of angry onlookers, the Kasha Clan rode joyously, caught up in their own world.
---
Before long, we left Briseen City and arrived at a large, empty plain.
"Alright, everyone! Let's get off here!"
At Kasha's command, the clan members stopped their pets and hopped down, making a commotion.
"Whoo! A duel between Kasha and Zion!"
"Wow! This is going to be fun!"
"Zion says it'll take 10 weeks; I'm betting 1 gold on that!"
"I'm betting 1 gold that it only takes 5 weeks!"
"How about 1 gold per knockout?"
Children... Hearing my clan members making bets on how badly I'd lose made me feel a bit frustrated.
"I'll bet 2 gold on Zion to win~"
"I'm betting 2 gold that Zion wins~ Woof~"
I felt a bit more at ease, knowing Lin and Libre were on my side.
Karishu approached me, offering encouragement.
"Hey. Win or lose, I'm still betting 1 gold on you."
"Thanks."
"Even if you lose, you can always try again later. Keep your chin up." Karishu was a loyal and supportive friend.
I turned to Kasha.
"Sister, I have two requests."
"What are they?"
"I'm not a warrior, I'm a mage. Before we start, please give me enough distance and let me take the first move."
"Fair enough. What's the second?"
"Humans don't fight with just their bodies like beastmen. Can I use the magical tools I've prepared?"
"That's also fair. I'll allow it."
I picked up Pooh's shield and a random staff. The shield hummed with anticipation for its first battle.
"Alright, everyone! Make space for the duel! No one interrupts until I say otherwise!!" Kasha commanded, and the beastmen widened the circle, giving us a wide area in the center.
Kasha and I stood at opposite ends, staring each other down.
"Kyahahaha! Zion! I'm not usually one to support duels, but today you'll learn the meaning of fear, right in your bones!"
"I'll never run from you, Sister!" I declared openly, prompting cheers and laughter from the surrounding clan members.
"Zion's a real man!"
"Better not cry after getting hit!!"
"Puhahahaha! He's gonna get destroyed!"
Boom.
"Quiet!!!" Kasha stomped the ground hard, silencing the beasts and even their pets, all subdued by her overwhelming aura. In an instant, the area went dead quiet, leaving only the two of us standing in the center, radiating tension.
After cracking her neck and shoulders, Kasha said energetically, "Zion, the duel starts now. You go first."
Before taking action, I decided to talk to Kasha, to get her mindset where I needed it. From now on, acting and guts were key.
"Sister Kasha, what do you think my abilities are?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Let me rephrase—do you think I'm just an ordinary mage?"
"Well, you're a mind mage. But mental magic doesn't work on me."
I grabbed my stomach and burst out laughing.
"Tsk, tsk. Oh, puhahaha! Haha!!"
"W-what?!" Kasha was caught off guard by my sudden change.
"You said mental magic doesn't work on you, right? Then why were you drawn to me? Why did the beastmen fall for me?"
"I don't know! Wait... You know the reason?"
Roars of surprise echoed as Kasha's eyes widened, and the beastmen murmured among themselves. They clearly never expected me to understand the cause of their attraction. In truth, I didn't know, but it was all part of the act.
"Haha! Everyone here is already under the influence of my powers."
"You! You've been messing with my emotions?!" Kasha's face flushed red with anger.
"But my feelings for you are real."
"Then why do you sound like you're manipulating me?!"
"I have a unique ability to guide people's unconscious minds in the direction I want. I can't fully control it myself. From the moment I first saw you, I wanted to make you mine. Unconsciously, I activated my ability and made you—and the rest of the clan—feel desire for me."
"Dammit! So, I came to like you because of that!"
"Sister, I honestly don't know if the reason you like me is because of my power or just the natural connection we've built. But my love for you is genuine! I'll defeat you here and win you fair and square!"
Kasha clenched her fists, her gaze fierce.
"Then come at me! Prove your resolve by beating me! If you lose, I'll carve a fear so deep into your bones that you won't dare approach me again!!"
Sigh.
"Then let's begin." I stepped forward with a sinister yet calm smile.
Flinch.
Kasha hesitated for a moment.
A seed of fear has taken root... Now it's time to harvest.
Kasha, who once thought of me as her adorable companion, now saw something different. The revelation that I could control the subconscious had surprised her, but that wasn't what shook her.
It was the abyss-like darkness in my smile.
The sheer confidence of someone who could handle Kasha with ease, not through brute power or mana, but through a mysterious, twisted ability that had no known limits.
For the first time, Kasha realized she was trembling.
Am I... shaking? Me, Kasha?
Kasha had always believed herself immune to mental magic, but now that belief was shattered. She had been manipulated without even realizing it. Her mind had already been invaded once, and the uncertainty of what might come next gripped her heart with fear.
As her emotions—love, anxiety, fear—grew stronger, the effectiveness of hypnotic suggestion increased as well.
I delivered the next trigger.
"Kasha's body feels heavy."
At that moment, Kasha felt an overwhelming force press down on her.
"Ugh...! What is this power?!"
Even with her immense strength, Kasha could barely withstand it.
"Aaah!!"
"Kasha's body becomes even heavier."
Thud.
In the end, Kasha's knees buckled under the weight, forcing her down.
"I am Kasha! Kkkk!" She gritted her teeth, trying to stand.
"Kasha can't move her legs."
Thud.
She collapsed once more, her legs now paralyzed as if pinned down.
"Kasha can't move her arms."
Her arms went limp, leaving her sprawled on the ground.
"Sister, you're completely under my control."
With slow, deliberate steps, I approached.
What had started as mild anxiety had now turned into full-blown fear for Kasha. She, who had never been bested before, was now facing a harsh new reality. Today, everything she had believed in was being completely overturned. Even the surrounding beasts, usually vocal and confident, had fallen silent, watching Zeon approach with a mix of awe and fear.
Kasha looked up at Zeon, her eyes wide with terror.
"Who... Who are you?!"
"I am Zeon." He smiled, calm and confident. "You must be shocked, Sister. You thought I was just your cute little brother, but you never expected I'd have such incredible powers. I'm winning this duel, and with it, I will win you completely. It's checkmate."
"Are you... planning to charm me?" Kasha's voice trembled, but it was still laced with defiance.
"Sister!!!" Zeon raised his voice sharply, causing Kasha to flinch.
"I love you, Sister. If you hate me just because of these abilities I was born with, it would break my heart."
Kasha hesitated, torn between her love for him and the fear of his unknown powers.
"Ugh... That's..."
Zeon's words rang true. Her heart was caught between her feelings and the overwhelming fear of the unknown.
'If only I could land one hit on him…'
If she could manage to strike him even once, she believed the fear would dissipate. Especially for someone like Kasha, whose pride had never allowed her to feel helpless, this newfound vulnerability was unbearable.
'I am Kasha, the princess of the jungle! I will not be defeated here!'
Kasha remembered the ancient stories of beast warriors. Those warriors had once driven out evil spirits and broke through mental magic with their sheer willpower and roaring shouts.
At the moment Zeon aimed his staff at Kasha, ready to deliver what he thought would be the final blow, she reacted.
"RAAAAAAH!!!!"
With a fierce battle cry that shook the very air, Kasha jolted herself free.
"Kyahahaha! I knew it! I broke through with my spirit shout! Now, it's my turn!"
Though I was momentarily startled when Kasha jumped up, it wasn't entirely unexpected. Even back on Earth, there were tales of elite assassins or martial arts masters breaking hypnotic suggestions with sheer willpower. So, of course, someone like Kasha could manage it as well.
But that didn't matter. I just needed to give her another suggestion.
I stepped back, preparing to cast a new spell.
"Kasha is..."
Paaaaang!
Before I could finish, Kasha lunged forward with blinding speed.
"Kyahahaha! Did you think I'd give you time?!"
In the blink of an eye, Kasha was right in front of me, her fist coming straight at me.
Kwaaaaa…
Pooh's shield reacted just in time, a blue translucent barrier materializing with a thunderous roar to block her blow.
Crack... crack... crack.
With a single punch, fractures spread rapidly across the protective shield.
"Hehe! Do you really think this little magic barrier can stop me, Zeon?!" Kasha grinned, flexing her muscles. "I'm going to give you a beating you won't forget!"
Her entire body seemed to pulse with power as she pulled her arm back, preparing for another, even more devastating strike. Her fist radiated terrifying strength, and if it connected with me, I was sure I'd be reduced to pieces, along with the shield.
Quickly, I turned the random cube and threw it.
﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
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