The Growth of a Genius

The instant the ice crystals shattered, a thread of light suddenly flew out, aimed straight at Benjamin. Benjamin was too close to dodge, so he could only activate Void State and let the light thread pass through his chest.

Grant followed close behind, breaking free from the Blizzard Spell's suppression, a second thread of light already taking shape in his hand.

Everything happened in an instant. The surrounding mages had not even reacted yet, staring at Benjamin in stunned confusion, unable to understand what had just happened when the light thread passed through his chest. However, Miles leaped up once more, brandishing his dagger as he intercepted Grant in midair.

"Again, you."

Faced with Miles's harassment, Grant seemed to have been irritated beyond endurance. This time, however, he had trouble dodging and could not possibly take the attack head-on. He could only reach into his pocket and hurriedly crush a cross.

Then, his entire body vanished into Holy Light and reappeared dozens of meters away.

The sudden teleportation caused Miles's leaping slash to miss once again. But the mages reacted at that moment as well, launching their spells one after another. Several of the most efficient intermediate spells were cast, and under their combined assault, Grant's movement was temporarily restricted again, just as it had been during the previous rounds of coordination.

"...Is it finally my turn?"

Then Joanna, who had been waiting at the side for a long time, rushed out. She flew behind Grant, clenched her fists, red runes flickering in her eyes as raging flames ignited in the air.

It was as if her entire body had transformed into a blazing inferno. In only a few seconds, the flames spread outward, dyeing both sky and streets scarlet. The area dozens of meters around Grant fell into a