A Rune Alchemist's Match

Fleur was equally surprised. "Mr. Rowle, you're not a French wizard, are you? Could it be that you know alchemy too?!"

Before Linley could answer, Professor Green smiled and explained for Fleur, "Linley is my first disciple. Naturally, he learned alchemy from me."

Fleur suddenly understood, but Linley's request for a match also stirred her competitive spirit.

Moreover, Fleur wanted to see just what kind of skill Linley possessed in alchemy to have earned Professor Green's favor.

"Go ahead, how shall we compete?"

Fleur tossed back her silver hair and folded her arms.

Although Linley was Professor Green's disciple, he was still two years younger than her and had only entered the magical world a year ago. Fleur was confident that she could defeat him.

Linley lowered his head and pondered for a moment. He drew two silver one-handed swords from his pocket and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, Miss Delacour, you're also a Rune Alchemist, aren't you?!"

Fleur nodded.

Linley then suggested, "How about this? Within a set time limit, you and I will each enchant one of these one-handed swords. Then my teacher will use magic to control the two swords and make them strike each other. Whoever's enchanted sword breaks loses. What do you think?"

Fleur considered it, then readily agreed. "No problem. Let's set the time limit at one hour. After all, our time is limited, and Madame Maxime still wants me to show you around the entire Beauxbatons Academy of Magic!"

With a time limit of only one hour, neither Linley nor Fleur would have time to inscribe more than one Alchemy Formation. Without sufficient time to inscribe multiple Alchemy Formations, the key to this match would be the depth of their mastery over Alchemy Runes.

After all, without being able to make several Alchemy Formations work together and complement one another, the strength of a single Alchemy Formation could only depend on the power of the Alchemy Runes within it.

Linley and Fleur were both genuinely skilled Rune Alchemists. Even without a proper workbench, they could crouch on the ground and complete their Alchemy Formations without distraction.

Linley took out his Mithril Engraving Knife. He swiftly carved an energy-source symbol and a rune nexus into the hilt of the one-handed sword, then began considering which Alchemy Runes to inscribe.

If he only used universally known basic Alchemy Rune attributes like "Sharpness," "Reinforcement," and "Strength," Linley could never defeat Fleur. He had to find something among the Alchemy Runes he had learned that was more powerful while also suitable for inscription on a melee weapon.

I've got it!

Something suddenly seemed to occur to Linley. He quickly used the Mithril Engraving Knife to carve an Alchemy Rune resembling a wave along the spine of the silver one-handed sword. Then he inscribed another Alchemy Rune shaped like two little figures and linked them together with a single stroke.

These two Alchemy Runes represented "Airwave" and "Replication," respectively. The former could draw upon magic to release airwaves, which, when applied to a weapon like a sword, took the form of sword energy. The "Replication" Alchemy Rune linked to it could create multiple streams of sword energy, allowing them to attack the enemy together with the original one.

After completing the core runes of the Alchemy Formation, Linley glanced at the remaining time.

Only twenty minutes remained. That was enough time for Linley to inscribe just one more Alchemy Rune, after which he would have to use the final five minutes to connect all the Alchemy Runes and turn them into a complete Alchemy Formation.

With no time to think further, Linley inscribed a "Reinforcement" rune on the one-handed sword to strengthen the first two core runes. Immediately afterward, a slender golden line linked the three Alchemy Runes to the energy source and rune nexus, completing the Alchemy Formation.

After finishing his alchemical work, Linley turned his gaze toward Fleur.

Fleur held a delicate engraving knife patterned in rose pink. With her final stroke on the silver one-handed sword, she completed her alchemical work as well.

The two handed their alchemical works to Professor Green together. Linley's expression was calm, while Fleur's face was full of confidence.

After confirming that neither of their works had any omissions, Professor Green waved his Wand.

Surging magic poured from his Wand and split into two streams, each taking control of one of the silver one-handed swords crafted by Linley and Fleur and activating the Alchemy Formations within.

Under Professor Green's control, the two silver one-handed swords flew rapidly toward each other. Just as they were about to collide, Linley's sword suddenly unleashed several streaks of sword energy from thin air!

The streaks of sword energy gleamed with silver sharpness as they blasted toward Fleur's silver one-handed sword with the force of Thunderbolt.

Fleur's Alchemy Formation seemed to contain defensive Alchemy Runes. A dark golden flash flickered across the silver one-handed sword she had made, and a thin golden film appeared over its surface, attempting to block the sword energy.

However, more than a dozen streaks of sword energy struck her silver one-handed sword in succession. No matter how strong the golden film's defenses were, it likely could not withstand such a ferocious assault.

A silver streak of sword energy slashed fiercely against the golden film, shattering it. The second, third, and fourth streaks that followed struck the silver one-handed sword itself, smashing Fleur's enchanted weapon to pieces!

Even Professor Green had not expected that the two one-handed swords crafted by Linley and Fleur would not truly collide before the outcome was decided.

"How is that possible?!"

Fleur could hardly believe it. She understood the power contained within Linley's Alchemy Formation, but why had she failed to think that the "Airwave" rune could become sword energy when applied to a sword?!

Linley stepped forward and extended a hand to Fleur. "It was a pleasure competing with you, Miss Delacour! Could you tell me about your alchemical approach?"

Although Fleur had lost, she was not discouraged. She took Linley's hand and explained, "I was thinking that since our swords would eventually collide, the test shouldn't be their offensive power, but their defensive power!"

"The condition for defeat was for the crafted sword to break. So long as my sword remained intact in the end, I would naturally be the winner. That was why I intended to craft a defensive Alchemy Formation rather than an offensive one. But I didn't expect you to inscribe the 'Airwave' rune onto a sword, and for it to actually work, releasing a ranged attack."

Fleur spoke with a wry smile.

Setting aside the outcome, this duel had indeed taught Fleur a great deal. The ability to think in multiple directions was sometimes truly the key to alchemy!

The same was true for Linley. Fleur had approached the matter from the essence of the duel itself, and her perspective was equally worth learning from. If he had not applied an Alchemy Rune that seemed utterly unrelated, he might truly have been unable to defeat Fleur.

"It was a pleasure competing with you too. From now on, just call me Fleur!"

Fleur said generously. She was very willing to befriend someone as knowledgeable and powerful as Linley.

The college entrance exam results would be released this afternoon. I'm a little nervous...