The hundred-meter-high waves surged with overwhelming force, a display of nature's immense power. In the face of such a colossal force, humans seemed minuscule.
Erza lifted her head, her slender neck like polished white jade, delicate and flawless.
"Just one casual blow, and it causes a tsunami?" she muttered, despite knowing about Knight's magic beforehand. Seeing it in action was still astonishing.
The waves loomed closer, their sheer momentum suffocating. Erza didn't have time to reflect further. She inhaled sharply.
"Requip!" she commanded.
A radiant halo enveloped her, and when it vanished, she was clad in magnificent silver armor.
"It's starting!" the guild members watching from a safe distance shouted. Seeing the massive waves rushing toward them, they quickly retreated, worried they'd be swept away.
"That's her Diamond Armor!" someone exclaimed.
"Is Erza planning to withstand a natural disaster head-on?"
"Even with her defensive magic, that's impossible!"
Noticing some stragglers, Erza shot them a sharp glance. "What are you still standing around for? Run! I can't block all of this!"
She raised two silver shields, merging them into one as she braced for impact. A massive emerald-green magic circle appeared in front of her.
The wave collided with the magic circle with brutal force. Erza's face tightened as she sank into the ground under the immense pressure.
The impact was far more powerful than she anticipated. Gritting her teeth, she held her ground. But despite her efforts, her defense covered only a fraction of the tidal wave's immense scale. Water began flooding the area around her, turning the land behind the guild into a swamp.
Luckily, Erza's barrier had blocked the brunt of the wave, buying precious time for those still retreating.
However, as the wave threatened to overtake them, Gray came to a stop. Clenching his right fist and pressing it against his left palm, he called out:
"Ice-Make: Ice Wall!"
He slapped the ground, and in an instant, the incoming tide froze in place, forming a towering ice barrier.
"I can't hold this forever! Run!" Gray shouted.
The spectators scrambled to safety, using their magic to get as far away as possible.
Amidst the chaos, only the ground around Knight remained untouched by the floodwaters. He observed the scene.
"Did she block it?" Knight muttered, unsurprised. He hadn't expected to win with just that attack—it was merely a greeting.
Suddenly, Erza's voice rang out. "Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!"
She darted out from the turbulent lake, sword in hand, her armor now resembling that of a celestial warrior. "Your magic is impressive—its destructive power is truly something!" Erza praised as she lunged at Knight from behind.
"Sword of Chaos!" she called, swinging her blade with lightning speed.
Yet, Knight moved with an uncanny grace. It was as if he could see the strikes before they came. He shifted his weight slightly to avoid the first blow, sidestepped the second, and continued dodging each attack with minimal effort, his movements precise and deliberate.
Before long, Knight turned to face Erza, who was still nearby. "It's useless, senior. Your sword can't even touch me."
"Don't call me 'senior.' It's Erza!" she shouted, her frustration clear. Hovering ten meters above the ground, she raised her sword and traced a circle in the air.
Suddenly, dozens of magic swords materialized, revolving around her.
"Heaven's Wheel: Circle Sword!"
The swords shot toward Knight in rapid succession, their trajectories too dense to dodge completely.
Realizing this, Knight didn't try to evade. Instead, he raised his fist.
"Air Shock!"
With a powerful punch, he shattered the air, sending a shockwave in a wide arc. The force of the vibration altered the path of every magic sword, causing them to veer off course.
The swords landed harmlessly in the ground around him, none hitting their mark.
Erza was stunned, her mind briefly blank. What just happened?
She quickly pieced it together. Knight had used vibrations to shift the swords' trajectories, causing them to miss. But what shocked her wasn't the technique—it was the speed and precision with which he'd done it. Altering the course of dozens of attacks within a fraction of a second?
It was a level of magic control she had never witnessed. Not even Makarov, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, could perform something like this.
"Is he even human?" Erza thought, her doubt creeping in.
Seeing her hesitation, Knight waved at her from below. "Change your armor, Erza. This one won't work. And here's a tip—my magic power is far weaker than yours. If this turns into a battle of attrition, you'll win."
Erza's expression grew serious. "It's only sparring, not a life-or-death fight, but you're right, Knight. I'll be careful from now on. Requip!"
A golden glow enveloped her once more.
This time, she emerged in her Black Feather Armor. The transformation was dramatic—gone was the angelic image of her Heaven's Wheel Armor. The Black Feather Armor was dark and demonic, with wings that exuded an ominous energy. This set revealed more skin, adding to the menacing effect.
With a swift flap of her wings, Erza dived toward Knight, sword raised high.
Her blade came crashing down, but Knight sidestepped just in time. The sword struck the ground, leaving a deep gash.
"It's not over yet!" Erza cried, launching an upward strike. Again, Knight dodged with ease, narrowly escaping her relentless assault.
Dodging her rapid attacks, Knight began to strategize. Is this move a little underhanded? Well, as long as I can win…
After evading another blow, Knight made his move. Instead of retreating, he advanced, closing the gap between them. He raised his hands, forming a frame with his index fingers and thumbs, locking his eyes onto Erza's.
"How about a smile, Erza-senpai?"
Instinctively, Erza focused on his gesture.
"Magic: Snapshot!"
Click!
A flash of blinding light exploded from the frame Knight had formed with his hands.
"Uh-oh!" Erza immediately realized something was wrong. She shut her left eye and quickly retreated, trying to regain her bearings. Though her right eye was a prosthetic and immune to the flash, her vision was still compromised.
But it was too late.
Knight wasn't going to hold back. He charged, his fist glowing with concentrated magic power, ready to strike.
What should this move be called? Knight pondered briefly. "Amazing Punch," maybe?
Boom!
The impact was devastating. The vibrations from his punch shattered Erza's Black Feather Armor, breaking it into countless pieces.
The shockwave didn't stop there. It tore through the lake behind her, splitting the water and creating a massive gap hundreds of meters wide.
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