Around it, dark, luminous white, ice blue, and fiery red colors danced and swirled, the mottled hues, due to their extreme speed, resembled a golden meteor trailing a cyan tail.
As it passed, the lake water parted like wings.
It was immensely grand.
Licht raised his demon-dweller sword, its pure white tip pointing directly at the golden meteor.
In the fierce wind, his white robe fluttered like a stiff battle flag.
The sword tip collided with the golden meteor, flames staining the sword's shadow, grinding out sparks.
Licht recoiled backward, the surrounding lake water and rock walls agitated and shattered, turning to dust.
As time passed, during their stalemate, the blade of the demon-dweller sword began to surge with wind wisps, flames, and frost… as if it had completely absorbed the golden meteor.
Finally, the trailing wind pillar subsided.
Licht raised the demon-dweller sword, those several anomalous colors completely merged into the sword, and he swung it, cutting down.
It was a beautiful slash, like the crescent cold moon in the night sky, distant and untouchable, yet inspiring contemplation.
Only danger remained in the sword qi slash, and nothing else.
"Watch out!"
Bai En pushed Yuno away with a palm; the explosive slash tore through the ground, passing between the two of them and shooting out.
In the distance, a faint white light could be seen flying out from the Gerbit rock.
"I told you this kind of attack wouldn't work."
Bai En retracted his hand, patted the dust from his sleeves, "Since that's the case, you lose, no attacking, he's mine."
It was a rare opportunity to face such a strong opponent alone, and he didn't want to be disturbed by Yuno and Asta.
Bai En turned and walked towards the stone cave that had been smashed open.
From behind, an unwilling voice came: "If you get hit, don't blame me for intervening."
"Don't worry." Bai En waved his right hand backward without looking back, "You won't have a chance."
After Bai En had walked away, Yuno also walked towards the stone cave.
Before taking a step, he looked at Laiya beside him.
Laiya, understanding the hint, raised both hands in a gesture of surrender: "Don't worry, I'm out of magic and temporarily not a threat. You Magic Knights wouldn't kill surrendering people, would you?"
Yuno looked at the Third Eye, who wore a roguish smile… Although annoying, it was better to take him back and hand him over to the Wizard King and the captains fordeal with.
"Wind Elf Restraint Magic, Binding Wind Ropes."
Cyan wind ropes spun around Laiya, binding him like a silkworm cocoon, only his head exposed.
"Hey, hey, hey, Golden Dawn little brother, isn't this a bit much? I can't run anywhere." Laiya said with a chuckle.
Yuno ignored him and continued to walk forward, preparing to watch the battle between Bai En and the Eye of the Midnight Sun leader.
"I don't know if I should call you young and impetuous, or simply ignorant?"
"To actually think of defeating Licht alone."
Licht? Is that the name of the Eye of the Midnight Sun leader?
Yuno still didn't answer, his steps unwavering.
"Even if Licht hasn't fully awakened, doesn't have his grimoire, and has only retrieved two of his swords, you all are still no match for him now…"
Before Laiya could finish speaking, both of them simultaneously looked up, two white lights broke through the rock ceiling of Gerbit rock and flew into the sky, countless slashes flying like threads in the air.
Bai En, holding Zhan Yan, was at a disadvantage due to speed, magic, and other reasons.
Although he could reverse the disadvantage by utilizing the characteristics of other kitchen utensils, he didn't do so.
This battle with the Elf Tribe leader was not about winning, but about learning—learning the techniques and methods of controlling that vast magical power, learning why, even when both used "magic," his instant movement speed was faster than his own, and his aura and magic concealment were better.
Due to his high-speed movement, Licht launched sword qi from various angles in the air, like flying a kite.
Although Bai En's speed was also very fast, it was still a step slower, which meant he only had space for defense and no opportunity to attack.
'Where exactly is the problem?'
'Is it really just a matter of magic power?'
While defending, Bai En observed Licht's instant movement method, trying to find what he was lacking.
"Can't keep up at all, that kid." Below, Laiya, bound like a silkworm cocoon, mocked.
"However, his opponent is Licht, which is completely understandable."
Saying that, he glanced at Yuno and continued: "Hey, Golden Dawn little brother, do you want to know why those two guys are both very fast, and why Licht is even better?"
Without waiting for Yuno's answer, Laiya directly began to explain.
"Although I don't really know Licht's move either, I once heard him say… this kind of rapid instant movement, which isn't magic but purely done with magic power, is called the magic technique 'Shun'."
"Unlike Magic Skin, which directly strengthens muscle power with magic, 'Shun' focuses more on the perception and precise control of magic."
"First, we need to understand the simple truth that magic is like flowing water. Water can gather into a river or split into droplets. The first step of 'Shun' is to split one's own magic so that natural magic can pull one's own magic. This will make the Mage's magic aura tend towards natural magic, and one's own aura will also be concealed and diluted by the splitting of magic."
"Completing this process will make you recognized as a companion by natural magic, causing them to assist your actions, making your speed faster, and even allowing for short-distance instant movements."
"But this is only the first step."
"The completion of 'Shun' places more importance on the second step: breathing and rhythm."
"Humans breathe, and magic also has a breath. As long as you can perceive that breath and master it, you can complete 'Shun'."
Laiya pouted, "Of course, that's not easy. Even among us, only Licht has mastered a nearly perfect 'Shun'."
Saying that, he looked at Yuno, seemingly wanting to see a confused expression on Yuno's face.
Then he would see this guy lower his head and ask him for guidance.
But… his expression didn't change at all, still that poker face.
"He's a guy whose personality doesn't mesh with mine!"
In the sky, the number of sword qi slashes Licht was making decreased.
Bai En thought he was starting to conserve magic, to preserve his strength to deal with the guy who was trying to open the Shadow Palace and was full of malice.
But Licht's frequency of movement didn't slow down; instead, it sped up.
This made Bai En a bit confused. Why did the slashes decrease, but the frequency of movement increase?
It simply didn't make sense.
Could it be… could it be that this guy was teaching him?
Although not fully awakened yet, his instincts were telling him to do something, and his body was acting entirely based on instinct.
"In that case, I won't hold back."
Bai En closed his eyes, his magic perception magnified to the maximum, observing his own and Licht's movement methods…