Kira didn't even glance back. A quick surge of his magic and a thick, sturdy stone wall rose to intercept the oncoming ice dragon.
"Rock Cannonball!"
With a snap of his fingers, the wall shattered into dozens of perfect stone blocks, each hovering momentarily before being launched like cannonballs. The icy dragon crumbled into glittering fragments under the barrage, leaving no trace behind.
This wasn't about efficiency—Kira was just showing off. After all, Word Magic was inherently flashy, and Kira wasn't one to pass up an opportunity to impress.
Turning his gaze toward Gray and Leon's battlefield, Kira was less than impressed. Gray lay face-down in the dirt, battered and bruised, while Leon appeared only mildly disheveled.
No way? Already down? Gray, come on! You've got to take some hits before you go full shonen protagonist.
Kira's observation of the other battles didn't exactly lift his spirits either. Kana and Rocky were holding their own thanks to his magic items, but their fights dragged on. He could at least trust them to win.
Gray and Leon's fight, on the other hand, was a classic drama-filled brotherly duel.
The pattern of the battle felt predictable to Kira:
First, a flashback to their childhood and friendly rivalry.
Second, a heated debate about spellcasting technique: one-handed versus two-handed magic.
Third, Leon blaming Gray for Uru's death, while Gray wallowed in guilt.
Summary, according to Kira:
"Hey, let's relive our past fights."
"Ah, I feel guilty!"
"Well, you can't stop me from resurrecting Deliora."
"Uru wouldn't want this!"
"One-handed magic is superior!"
"Two-handed magic is what Uru taught us!"
"I'll surpass Uru by defeating Deliora!"
"But that's impossible!"
Cue Gray getting knocked down, Leon standing victorious, and a climactic stab for good measure.
By the time Kira returned his attention fully to the fight, Gray was already sprawled out in the dirt. Leon, standing tall, declared smugly, "You're too weak, Gray."
A wave of irritation surged through Kira. Gray, you were supposed to win here! I gave you all this time for character growth!
He decided it was time to intervene.
"Gray, didn't I say earlier that if you lost, I'd help them finish the Moon Drop Ritual?"
"!!!"
The words hit their mark. Gray's body twitched, and he pushed himself off the ground with a groan.
"Don't!" Gray growled through gritted teeth. "I'll handle this myself... Leon, this fight isn't over!"
Leon paused, an unfamiliar expression crossing his face—a mix of pride and nostalgia. "You can still stand? Fine. Show me how much you've grown, Gray!"
His tone shifted back to cold determination. "But don't think for a second that you can stop me from achieving my dream!"
Kira shook his head with mock sadness. Ah, Leon. You should know by now—dreams don't come true in shonen battles unless you're the protagonist.
Gray launched himself at Leon once more. This time, the battle escalated into a spectacular display of shaping magic. Ice formed into creatures and weapons, clashing and colliding in mid-air like a mythical war.
A bow fired arrows at a falcon. A giant ape shattered a sledgehammer. A tiger was trapped in an icy cage. Wolves lunged at battle axes. Spears skewered cheetahs. Dragons clashed with cannons.
The battlefield transformed into a dynamic arena of constantly shifting forms. It was as if the fight had turned into an ice-sculpting contest, with each participant trying to outdo the other.
….
Twenty minutes later, the tide finally turned.
Leon made a crucial mistake—a flaw inherent to one-handed shaping magic. His structure wavered at a critical moment, allowing Gray to counter with a perfectly executed Ice Cannon.
The blast hit Leon squarely, sending him tumbling. When the dust settled, Gray stood victorious, panting heavily but resolute.
By the time the battle ended, Rocky and Kana had joined Kira, signaling that all of Leon's subordinates had been defeated.
Leon knelt on the ground, his body battered and bloodied, his breathing labored. He stared at the ground, his voice heavy with disbelief.
"I lost... to you? Impossible."
Gray, clutching his side, took a step forward. "It's over, Leon. Stop the ritual. Uru wouldn't want this!"
Leon's hands clenched into fists. "You don't understand... This failure doesn't mean anything. Even if it takes another three years, I'll try again. I must defeat Deliora! Only then can I surpass Uru!"
Gray opened his mouth to argue but paused when his gaze shifted to the figure standing nearby.
"Who is that?" he asked, nodding toward Urrutia.
Leon stiffened but remained silent, unwilling to answer.
Urrutia, still in her disguise as "Geralt," chuckled. "Why should I explain myself to you? You're just a brat who got lucky."
Her mocking tone ignited Gray's anger. "What's your stake in this? Why are you so intent on reviving Deliora?"
"Why not?" Urrutia countered, her voice dripping with disdain. "It's a shame for such a powerful demon to remain sealed."
Gray's patience snapped. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? Reviving Deliora will bring nothing but destruction!"
"You're still talking about failure?" Urrutia sneered. "The ritual hasn't stopped, and it won't stop."
Gray's eyes widened in horror as he turned toward the cave. To his shock, the Moon Drop continued uninterrupted, the ritual still pouring energy into Deliora.
"Why?!" Gray shouted. "No one's performing the ritual anymore! How is this possible?"
"You fool," Urrutia taunted, her laughter echoing in the cave. "You never understood, did you?"
Gray turned to Leon, who was still casting spells despite his injuries.
"Leon, stop this madness!"
Leon's voice was hoarse but defiant. "Never. I'll keep fighting until Deliora is revived, no matter what it takes!"
Exhausted and nearly out of magic, Gray could do little but glare. His body trembled as he tried to push himself to his feet, knowing the battle wasn't over yet.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Go to my Patreon Account to read up to 30 Advance Chapters
patreon.com/Izanami_no_Mikoto