Practical Combat Training

The battle was set in the guild's backyard.

Loki had actually wanted to go out to the street in front, but Rhode refused.

He had only been learning magic for a few days. He probably wouldn't win, and if he got pinned to the ground and beaten in public, where would his dignity go?

Yet choosing the backyard did not make things much better.

No one knew who had shouted, "Newcomer Rhode's first battle, challenging Loki!" but almost everyone in the tavern came out to watch.

"That's so unfair, Loki! I want to fight the newcomer too!"

Natsu clumsily pushed through the crowd, even spitting tiny flames from his mouth.

"Nothing I can do about it. My radiance is simply too dazzling." Loki adjusted his glasses with his index and middle fingers, his face shining with confidence.

"Ahh~ Loki~~" Two female fans screamed excitedly for him.

This guy even brought a fan club to a fight. Rhode was so jealous... no, he just couldn't stand him corrupting the guild's atmosphere.

The two stood facing each other about four meters apart. Rhode studied Loki seriously and had to admit that the guy was just a tiny bit more handsome than him.

The spectators stood in several rows near the entrance, watching from close range without the slightest concern about getting caught in the crossfire.

"Then both sides, prepare—" Makarov stood at the very front of the crowd. "Bet on Loki to win, one-to-one! Bet on Rhode to win, one-to-ten!"

Everyone eagerly placed their bets, and Rhode nearly stumbled. "Master, how could you..."

He had thought the Master was there to referee and make sure neither of them got hurt. Instead, he was opening a betting pool?

"Ah, Kana isn't here, so I'm running the bets. Don't worry about it!"

Like master, like guild!

"Alright, bets are final. You two can begin!"

Rhode glanced at the two trays in front of the Master. Loki's was piled high, while his held only three bills.

"Good luck, Rhode."

One of them was Mira's friendly show of support.

"Good luck, newcomer! Beat the stuffing out of that Loki!"

The other two came from Macao and Wakaba. They wanted to see Loki get beaten up, and the high odds made the bet even more exciting.

"Wait!" Rhode raised a hand. "Master, thirty thousand J! I'm betting on myself to lose!"

"No. Match-fixing is forbidden." Makarov rejected him decisively, then waved his hand. "The battle begins now!"

Rhode lost his chance to get rich and could only grip his necklace to begin chanting.

"Possession Type? Just so happens I am too." Loki revealed his ring.

"...Possession Type or not, I've been practicing magic at the guild every day these past few days. This isn't the first time you've seen it, right?"

Loki smiled. "Sorry, I don't make a habit of observing men."

"..."

This guy really was asking for a beating!

"I am One who communicates the path between two realms, you—"

"W-Wait!" After hearing just one line of Rhode's chant, Loki shuddered all over.

He immediately held out a hand to stop him. "You're a Celestial Spirit Mage?"

"No, but the Master said it's somewhat similar to Celestial Spirit Magic."

Rhode displayed his necklace. "See? I'm not even using a Celestial Spirit Key."

"Y-You're right. Ha, haha..." Loki laughed rather stiffly. In his panic, he had not even noticed that Rhode's Magic Item was not a key.

"Do you want to continue?"

"N-No, never mind." Sweat beaded on Loki's forehead as he hurriedly ran out through the backyard gate.

"Um, I suddenly don't feel very well. Let's compete another time. Goodbye!"

"Huh?"

"Whaaat~~~" Everyone who had bet on Loki collectively froze.

"What the hell is Loki doing?!" Those who had lost money began denouncing him.

"Loki~~" The two girls chased after him.

"My, my~ I joined in for once and immediately won money?" Mira rested one hand against her cheek, looking a little pleased.

Makarov had earned quite a bit as well, but he was worried about Loki. Was he really that sensitive just because it resembled Celestial Spirit Magic a little?

Macao and Wakaba were so delighted that they threw their arms around each other's shoulders. One-to-ten odds meant they had won several days' worth of drinking money at once.

"Not bad, newcomer! You beat Loki in one go!"

Happy pointed out, "Aye! But he didn't fight at all."

"Ahahaha!" Natsu jumped out excitedly. "Perfect! I'll fight in Loki's place!"

"No, Natsu." Erza placed a hand on Natsu's shoulder.

"Rhode has only learned magic for a few days. This spar is meant to test his strength. You don't know how to hold back, so let me do it."

Before Rhode could react, his opponent had changed—and it was someone formidable.

"Miss Erza, are you serious?" Influenced by Natsu and Gray's performances over the past few days, Rhode was somewhat intimidated.

"Of course." Erza's face was utterly serious. "Even if it is to thank you for taking care of me earlier, I will go all out."

"Please absolutely do not go all out!" With his life on the line, Rhode understood the key phrase perfectly.

Erza paused, then smiled. "Don't worry. I understand. I won't hit a companion too hard."

"..." Gray and Natsu definitely had something to say about that.

Rhode gave up struggling. Whoever he fought was the same; he could not win anyway. Compared with reckless Natsu, Erza might even go easier on him.

"Master, hurry and open the betting pool. I'm betting on Erza to win!"

"Me too!"

"Hurry up, Master!"

"I refuse." Makarov said he was not doing something that stupid.

If Natsu fought, someone might still bet on Rhode. But if Erza fought... forget it. If everyone bet on Erza, was he supposed to pay out as the bookmaker?

"Erza, go easy on him!"

"Rhode, try your best to survive!"

"We'll remember you!"

Rhode: "..."

It was only a spar, wasn't it? The others were giving Rhode the creeps.

"Good luck, Rhode."

Rhode's heart warmed. At least Mira's attitude had not changed. She was encouraging him just as before...

Wait, why was she holding a first-aid kit?

"Then for the second round, Rhode versus Erza, battle begin!"

As soon as the Master's words fell, Rhode could not afford to worry about anything else. He gripped his necklace.

"I am One who communicates the path between two realms. You, creature of Summoner's Rift, answer my call and pass through the gate! Rift Scuttler!"

The chant had been slightly adjusted from before, making it better suited to Rhode's magic and allowing the summoning process to proceed more smoothly.

Ripples like those on the surface of water spread across the ground, and a completely green Rift Scuttler emerged from them.

"Ooh~~ Is that another one of Rhode's summons? It looks strong!"

"I thought he was going to have Wom fight Erza!"

"Don't joke around. If it's a battle, of course he'd send the ornamental Wom back."

Erza displayed excellent sportsmanship, patiently waiting for Rhode to finish his chant before spreading her hands. "Requip!"

A magic sword appeared in her hand.

Rhode pointed at Erza and gave the crab its command. "Charge!"

Click, click. The crab opened and closed its pincers twice, then sprinted toward Erza, leaving what seemed like afterimages behind it.

Rhode had seen the power of this move before. It could easily smash through a courtyard wall, but... to the destruction maniacs in this guild, it was nothing special.

That made it a pretty good opening move.

Erza made her judgment in an instant. "A speed type?"