Then Gungnir came straight at his face. If not for the Magic Circle and seven layers of Moon Marrow Spirit Fluid weakening its force, followed by Lancer blocking it, Lancer's side would have been finished today.
"My lord, in my humble opinion, the final battle is drawing near. Someone is eliminating uncertainties before the decisive confrontation." Obvious anger showed on Lancer's handsome face, now covered in dust. After hauling bricks all day, he had just been about to rest when someone knocked him over the head. No one could take that lying down.
Everyone knew the decisive battle was approaching. After witnessing that murderous banquet, anyone who was not an idiot could see that Archer, Rider, and Berserker would soon clash. There were five factions in total; once three of them began fighting, it was only a matter of time before the other two were dragged in. Everyone had prepared themselves.
But picking a fight with them on the very first day? What was that supposed to mean? Did they think they were easy prey?!
Still, anger was anger. Not allowing emotions to affect one's judgment was a basic quality of an outstanding warrior. "I advise you to withdraw, my lord. I shall be responsible for protecting your safety."
Though he did not want to admit it, after Caster and Assassin had left the stage, he, Lancer, was the weakest one. The thought left him somewhat frustrated. If he had both swords in hand, there would not have been so much trouble.
"There is no need." Kaineth snorted coldly. One exquisite gemstone after another emerged from his coat, floating through the air and revolving around their owner in cycles, like planets and dwarf planets orbiting a star under the pull of gravity.
Each of them was a top-grade gemstone with a long history, passed down for centuries or even nearly a thousand years. The price of any single one could let an entire family live comfortably and happily until death in this era of bubble economy collapse.
By comparison, the Tohsaka Family's collection could only be called slightly more precious pretty pebbles.
"Gungnir." Kaineth's expression was complicated as he slowly spoke the name of the divine spear that had flown forth like a meteor. "That traitorous disciple was the one who acted."
"Then you should leave all the more, my lord." For the first time, panic appeared on Lancer's face. It was not fear of the powerful enemy to come, but worry that he lacked the ability to protect his lord.
"Only when facing him can I not run, Lancer." Kaineth looked into his Servant's eyes with his deep blue gaze. "This is a conflict of theories between magi, and also a grudge between teacher and student."
Kaineth had once fought the Sea Monster alongside Li Zihan, and they had once drunk together at the banquet. Yet that could not change one fact: their identities stood in natural opposition. Lord El-Melloi and the heir of the Heretical School; a traditional Grand Mage and a top-tier mage who defied convention; a seeker pursuing the pinnacle of magecraft and a heretic who regarded the Root as worthless...
The magi of the Clock Tower had always found it strange that Lord El-Melloi had repeatedly shielded that student who could practically be called a heretic. They should have been natural enemies.
They were entirely mistaken. Lord El-Melloi, a noble of the Clock Tower, was not a bloodline supremacist, but a talent supremacist. Kaineth's noble birth merely gave people the illusion that he valued bloodlines above all else. He instinctively sheltered Waver and Li Zihan because they were his kind.
"I taught him magecraft in the classroom, yet I failed to teach him a magus's pride and pursuit. That was my mistake, and I have a responsibility to set it right." Kaineth curled a finger. Silvery-white metal transformed into steel cords one after another, and in less than a second, the mercury formed an exquisite spiderweb centered on him. "It is time to bring this to an end."
"Since you are already here, come out!" Kaineth called loudly. "Let the result of a magecraft duel determine who is right and who is wrong!"
"Although I wanted to just hit you with Gungnir, since it is my teacher's request, then let us have a match." The slender youth withdrew the spear in his hand. Countless butterflies then danced low through the air, and his figure became illusory. "I did not bring Moon Marrow Spirit Fluid or gemstones, so I cannot compete using the same branch of magecraft. My apologies. Please forgive me."
The battle between magi began.
Chapter 34: The Outcome Had Been Decided
Blue butterflies danced like tiny sprites fallen from heaven into the mortal world, unbelievably gorgeous.
If an artist had been here, he would likely have been lost in the sight. It was simply too beautiful.
Yet, in the eyes of magi, these exceptionally beautiful sprites were the most terrifying demons. They continuously absorbed mana from the atmosphere while stealing their target's life force. If someone allowed them to touch their body without precautions, they would likely become a dried corpse in an instant. The scale powder scattered with every beat of their wings was no colorful decoration, but a slow poison that gradually eroded living beings.
What a dangerous magecraft. Even Kaineth, with all his experience and knowledge, had to admit that this magecraft was unbelievably excellent. Its sophistication might not be inferior to the Archibolt family's inherited magecraft.
There were many families that used butterflies as familiars, but only a few were truly exceptional. As someone in the highest circles of noble society, Kaineth could easily recognize those families' magecraft.
But the magecraft before him clearly lacked the characteristics of any of those families. In other words, it was very likely an inheritance from a once-prominent family that had fallen into decline.
"I did not expect that rumor to be true." Kaineth snapped his fingers, and a sapphire floated above his head, releasing a dazzling blue radiance. In the next moment, a translucent blue membrane enveloped Kaineth, isolating him from the outside world. "Three hundred years ago, the head of the Zolgen main family suddenly vanished. There were rumors that he traveled east with the Winter Saintess, then changed course and went to that island nation lacking in magical resources."
"That matter was always regarded as utter nonsense." Kaineth sighed. "It seems they merely withdrew from the public eye and diminished their own influence."
Before you continue