Mana rushed over Michael's body.
His mind raced.
'I'm not planning on dragging this out. I'm going all out from the get-go. I'll put all my mana into this one shot… this is where my training comes in… my trump card…'
A bead of sweat rolled down his cheek.
'It's a risky move, but it's all I've got right now… so it's all or nothing.'
He shifted into another stance, his left fist pulling back and tightening, veins bulging along his arm. Black and violet mana spiraled violently around it, gathering as he gritted his teeth, the ground beneath him cracking and rising under the sheer pressure.
He lunged.
"Special Technique… Atomic Boom!"
Reygart's eyes narrowed.
'Mickey's the type to go straight in… no tricks… all power… he's betting everything on one hit… hoping I underestimate him…'
A smirk formed.
'But he doesn't realize… I've already started taking him seriously.'
Lightning crackled across his body, then exploded around his arm.
"Lightning Magic… Autonomous Lightning Blade."
The energy condensed, thick and blinding, stretching into a massive blade of lightning that swallowed his hand whole, blue light flooding the battlefield.
He lunged to meet Michael, lightning screaming as it ripped through the earth along its path.
Both of them closed in, impact seconds away.
Michael grinned.
"Got you." He whispered.
The mana shifted—liquefying instantly.
"Absolute Breaker."
Mid-lunge, he pivoted, slipping off the direct clash, and grabbed Reygart's arm, the black flow swallowing the lightning on contact.
Reygart's eyes widened.
'What?! He flanked me—switching from offense to defense, counting on me believing he'd take me head-on—damn, I got played… who even takes gambles like that?!'
The lightning flickered, then collapsed under the liquid-like black mana.
Michael's grip tightened.
'Absolute Breaker… it can break down magic attacks… but that's not where it shines.'
His thoughts sharpened. 'Direct contact… that's where it's strongest…'
The mana surged again—denser, heavier—coiling into his fist.
'For these past three months… I tested it on everything… trees… water… anything I could…
Every time I touched it directly… it amplified me… but also… it drained what I touched.'
His fist clenched again, black and violet mana spiraling violently.
Reygart was at point-blank range as he clenched his teeth slightly.
"He weakened me by at least ten percent… he had one attack left in him—or at least that's what he wanted me to believe… that "Atomic Zoom," or whatever he called it, was just a diversion… if that's the case… then this—"
"Super Atomic Boom!!!"
Michael's fist slammed into Reygart's face.
A clean hit.
The impact sent Reygart rolling across the ground before crashing into a massive stone pillar, shattering it on impact as dust clouded the air.
Reygart lay on his back, arms stretched out, staring at the sky.
He muttered, "Well look at that… he socked me right in the face…"
Laughter slipped from him right after.
"Man… he's going to be a real problem for the Magic Knights…"
Michael was already light on his feet, wobbling as he struggled to stand upright.
"That… that felt so good…"
Then he collapsed—face-first—blood pouring from his forehead as the strip wrapped around it unraveled, soaked in red.
Redhood stirred, opening his eyes as he recovered from the chop.
"W-what… where am I? Oh yeah… I was about to kick Rey's ass…"
He shook his head, his vision clearing—then froze.
Destruction everywhere.
Michael lying in a pool of blood.
"Mickey!!!"
He sprinted over in panic, fumbling as he poured the elixir over Michael's body. The bleeding slowed.
He exhaled, finally calming down—only to hear a faint snore slip from Michael's nostrils.
Redhood blinked.
He sighed, then looked over at Reygart, still lying on his back.
"No way… don't tell me Mickey really…"
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Atta boy… but I would've kicked his ass a lot faster."
*****
Night settled over the forest as the stars shone faintly, the full moon hanging high, its pale light spilling through the trees.
Michael stirred, his eyes slowly opening.
Bandages wrapped around his torso, his arms, his forehead—tight, rough, but clean. For a moment, everything felt distant, like he was surfacing from deep water.
Then the smell of smoke and fire drifted past his nostrils, leading him to one conclusion.
Roasted meat.
His gaze shifted immediately.
Reygart and Redhood sat by the fire, silhouettes flickering in the glow. Redhood was hunched over, stuffing his face, cheeks puffed out as meat dangled from his mouth. Reygart leaned back lazily, chugging from a bottle of vodka like it was water.
Reygart didn't even look at him.
"So… sleeping beauty's finally awake," he said, voice lazy, almost amused. "You sure sleep a lot, don't you?"
Michael and Redhood looked at him with blank stares, the pot calling the kettle black.
"Look who's talking…" they said in unison.
Reygart paused… then a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Well anyway," he said, lowering the bottle, "how are you feeling?"
Redood continued eating.
"You better eat fast," he muttered through a mouthful of meat, "or there'll be nothing left for you."
Michael wasted no time.
"Oh—yeah, sure!"
He lunged forward, grabbing food and immediately stuffing his face, eating like a man starved for days.
"Mm—Rey—I'm feeling great—nothing hurts at all—well—except my head—but honestly I'm starving!"
Food sprayed as he spoke, barely chewed.
Reygart's eyes lowered.
"…At least show some decency and swallow first."
Michael ignored him completely.
He reached over, grabbed the bottle next to Reygart, and tilted it back.
Reygart panicked, his eyes widening as he realized it was too late—he could only watch helplessly.
"Hey, don't—!"
Michael chugged.
A moment passed as he held the drink in his mouth.
His face turned blue.
"—GHHK—!!"
He spat it out violently, coughing, his tongue hanging out as he gagged.
"Urghh—!! How do grown-ups drink this stuff—ugh—!!"
Reygart frowned, irritated.
"Dammit… he wasted a good amount of that too."
Michael froze for a second, a piece of meat still in his hand.
Then he looked up.
"…Hey, Rey… can I ask you something?"
Reygart sighed, rubbing his temple.
"You and your questions…" he muttered. "…Fine. I'll indulge you. Shoot."
Michael's expression shifted, curiosity clear in his eyes.
"…Who's the strongest wizard alive right now?"
Reygart looked at him. At first, he was surprised—but then he realized Michael wasn't the same kid he had met three months ago.
Then—slowly—a smirk formed.
"Well…" he said casually, "…you're looking at him."
Michael's eyes widened instantly.
"No way… you're serious…?"
Reygart stared at him for a while.
Then he burst out laughing, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
"Nahh—I'm kidding."
He leaned back slightly, the laughter fading into something softer.
"…Listen, Mickey," he said, voice quieter now, "there are many strong wizards out there…"
He looked away.
"…that's all I can tell you."
Michael watched him, smiling faintly in anticipation of his future travels.
But deep down, something didn't sit right.
"…I see…" he said softly.
Reygart stood up, dusting himself off.
The shift in atmosphere was immediate.
"…Well, Mickey. Redhood," he said, turning slightly, "this is where we go our separate ways."
Michael blinked.
"…"
Redhood stopped eating.
"…"
Then both of them shouted:
"WHAT—YOU'RE LEAVING US?!"
Reygart scratched the back of his head casually.
"Yeahh… I think I stuck around here a bit too long. Vacation's over, boys."
Michael shot to his feet.
"Then let us come with you!"
Reygart's expression shifted—no casualness, no sarcasm, just firm certainty.
"No."
The word landed heavy.
Michael's chest tightened.
"Why…?"
He clenched his teeth.
"So you're just gonna abandon us?!" he shouted, voice cracking. "Just like that?! After everything?! Please—take us with you, Rey—we have no one else!"
Tears welled up—then spilled.
"I… I finally found another friend… someone… someone—"
His voice broke.
He wiped at his face, but it didn't matter. The tears wouldn't stop, and his breath shook too hard to control.
"Rey… please… we have no one else…"
Reygart looked away, scratching the back of his head.
"…You're gonna be fine, Mickey."
He sounded almost… awkward, like he didn't know how to handle this.
"…After all…" he muttered, averting his gaze slightly, "…you're a tough kid. So I know you'll be okay."
Reygart gripped the headband on his head.
"But in the world out there…"
A smirk returned to his face.
"…you're my rival."
Michael froze as Reygart stepped closer.
"You said you want to journey the world, right?"
He reached out, placed a hand on Michael's head, ruffling his hair.
"Then I'll hold you to that."
His voice softened.
"In the meantime… stop crying."
As he looked Michael in the eye, his voice turned firmer.
"…You're a wizard now."
Then he took off his headband, placing it gently over Michael's forehead—covering the scar.
"That headband's special," he said. "It's a vow. You don't die until you fulfill your goal."
His gaze locked onto Michael's.
"When you're strong enough… we'll meet again."
A faint smirk.
"And you better still be wearing it."
Michael's arms trembled as he wiped his tears, breathing uneven.
Reygart turned slightly.
"…I wasn't able to meet the person who passed it down to me…" he muttered, voice quiet—almost lost to the wind.
Then he looked at Redhood.
Redhood's eyes were filled with tears.
"Red," Reygart said, "look after Mickey. I'm counting on you."
Redhood straightened, choking back emotion.
"Y-yes sir!"
Reygart nodded.
"…Good."
He picked up his bag, then turned his back, while Michael tried to hold back his tears, clutching the headband.
"One last mission," he said without turning. "Head south from here. You'll find a white wall." His voice stayed firm. "Walk through it. And make sure Red's touching you."
Silence lingered.
Then Reygart glanced back over his shoulder, a familiar smirk tugging at his lips.
Two fingers tapped his head.
He flicked them outward.
"See you in the big world."
CRACK—
He vanished like lightning. Only faint sparks remained—flickering in the air—before fading into nothing.
And just like that—he was gone.