In the past few days, Rudeus has finally come up with a suitable plan for Bunny's final trial.
Since it is the final trial, it cannot just test her magic reserves; more importantly, it must test whether she can truly apply the skills she has learned to combat.
However, this is still a town after all.
If two powerful mages were allowed to fight freely here, even just using Saint Rank magic would be enough to cause considerable damage.
Therefore, Rudeus ultimately decided--
Let Eris and Bunny have a real combat match.
The rules are very simple.
Bunny only needs to withstand Eris's attacks for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
If you can do that, you've passed the final trial.
This contest was the culmination of Rudeus's efforts over the past year, and the king sent Shagal, the Grand General of the Black Dragon Knights, as a witness.
He was a burly man with broad shoulders, thick arms, and a rugged and dignified look on his face, a trait honed by years of battlefield experience.
At this moment, he stood with his arms crossed, observing the two people in front of him with great interest.
" Bunny."
Rudeus turned around and said seriously:
"Your final trial is to withstand Eris's sword for the duration of an incense stick burning. If you can do it, you will pass this trial."
He paused for a moment.
"So, are you confident?"
"Have!"
Bunny nodded without hesitation.
"Very good."
Rudeus smiled with satisfaction.
For safety's sake, he specifically had Eris switch to a wooden sword.
Eris weighed the wooden sword in her hand, then casually flexed her wrist.
A wooden sword?
"Um."
Rudeus nodded.
"You cannot use real swords, nor can you use area-of-effect attack magic."
"Knew."
Eris grinned.
"However, if that's all, I won't go easy on you."
Upon hearing this, Bunny's expression also became serious.
The two walked to opposite ends of the field.
Shagal stood aside, quietly observing the trial.
Rudeus raised his hand.
Are you ready?
"Ready!"
Bunny took a deep breath.
Eris also lowered her body and gripped the wooden sword tightly.
"So--"
Rudeus's hand suddenly fell.
"Start!"
The moment she finished speaking, Eris vanished.
The next moment, she had already rushed in front of Bunny.
"So fast!"
Bunny contracted sharply.
The wooden sword, with a sharp whistling sound, hurtled straight towards her face.
However, just as the sword was about to touch her—
Buzz!
A ripple suddenly appeared in the space behind Bunny.
A magical portal of light unfolded out of thin air.
Bunny's figure instantly disappeared into it.
The wooden sword grazed her hair.
Eris's attack missed its mark, and she immediately stopped, looking around warily.
Spatial magic.
Just as Rudeus had said, this child's greatest strength lies in using spatial magic in combat.
Just then--
Buzz!
A spatial fluctuation came from the right.
Eris barely hesitated before unleashing a sword strike with her backhand.
The sword energy slashed fiercely towards the gate of light.
However, the inside of the light gate was empty.
"Tsk."
Eris frowned slightly.
Just as she realized something was wrong—
call out!
The sound of something cutting through the air came from the left.
Several wind blades approached silently.
Eris immediately activated her Touki and withstood the attack.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The wind blades shattered upon impact with the Touki.
"Their attack power is not weak."
Eris swung her wooden sword, locking onto Bunny's location once more.
"But that's not enough."
She stomped her foot.
boom!
He charged out again.
Bunny's expression changed.
Buzz!
The portal opened again.
Her body disappeared into it instantly.
Eris missed her target.
Not again?
She couldn't help but click her tongue softly.
This fighting style really annoyed her.
Despite possessing far superior speed, strength, and swordsmanship compared to her opponent, she was unable to find an effective way to counter Bunny's ability to escape using spatial magic at any time.
Bunny was clearly aware of this as well.
She did not attempt to defeat Eris again.
Because she knew she didn't need to do that at all.
There was only one thing she needed to do.
Delaying time.
The portals of light continued to unfold throughout the area.
Bunny would sometimes appear from the left, unleashing wind blades and immediately retreating; at other times, she would launch attacks from the right, re-entering the portal before Eris could get close.
She never confronted Eris directly.
Eris pursued him several times, but was always just one step too late.
"Don't run away if you dare!"
Eris couldn't help but shout.
"That won't do!"
Bunny peeked her head out from the portal in the distance.
"The teacher said to persevere for as long as an incense stick can burn, not that we have to fight each other head-on!"
"You little rascal..."
Eris burst into laughter in exasperation.
When did you become so cunning?
Bunny did not answer.
She simply opened the portal again.
However, this time, Eris did not attack rashly.
She stood still, quietly sensing the magical fluctuations around her.
The next moment.
She suddenly turned around.
"There!"
boom!
Eris instantly rushed to the spot where Bunny had just appeared.
Bunny's expression changed slightly.
She hadn't expected that Eris would gradually be able to grasp the patterns of her spatial movement.
The portal reappeared.
Bunny was about to enter when Eris closed in.
The wooden sword drew an arc in mid-air.
Snap!
The wooden sword stopped less than half an inch from Bunny's forehead.
Bunny froze.
Eris grinned.
"Got you?"
Unexpectedly, the tip of the sword hovered motionless half an inch in front of Bunny.
Eris was stunned for a moment. Although she had withdrawn her strength from the attack, an invisible repulsive force attached to the opponent's body prevented her sword from advancing an inch.
It was as if some kind of imperceptible barrier had been erected around Bunny.
Eris gradually became serious as well.
The offensive and defensive maneuvers between the two sides were constantly shifting.
Time passed by, little by little.
finally--
Rudeus glanced at the burnt-out incense sticks.
Time's up.
The sound faded.
Eris stopped in her tracks.
Bunny also emerged from the spatial portal in the distance.
She was covered in sweat, panting heavily, and had almost used up half of her magic power.
But his face was full of excitement.
"I... succeeded?"
Rudeus nodded with a smile.
"Um."
You passed.
"Very good!"
Bunny finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Eris walked up to her and patted her on the shoulder.
"Good."
"At least you've realized that when facing an enemy stronger than yourself, you can't just think about fighting head-on."
"Knowing how to utilize one's strengths is what a qualified mage should do."
Bunny nodded seriously.
I will continue to work hard!
Shagal, who was standing to the side, slowly withdrew his gaze.
Although the battle did not result in any earth-shattering destruction, in his opinion, Bunny had demonstrated quite good combat skills.
Especially when she knew she couldn't win head-on, she didn't panic, but quickly adjusted her strategy.
This is even more important than simply possessing powerful magic.
Rudeus looked at Bunny, feeling quite gratified.
She has indeed grown a lot during this time.
Now, the final trial has ended.
That evening, Rudeus and his party packed their belongings and prepared to leave the royal city.
Bunny stood at the city gate, watching the crowd go.
"Teacher."
Rudeus turned around.
"What's wrong?"
Bunny gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.
Will we ever meet again?
Rudeus was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Certainly."
"As long as you keep striving to grow, we will meet again."
Bunny nodded vigorously.
"Um!"
Eris waved back at her.
Don't forget to keep training!
"Okay!"
The group gradually disappeared into the distance.
Bunny stood there until they could no longer see her.
Rudeus and his companions officially embarked on a new journey.
This time, their destination is--
Shirone.
There, another person was waiting for them.
That's Rudeus's sister.
Aisha Greyrat.
Whatever awaits them ahead, they must bring her back.
[Author's Note]
"On August 20th, the author, Xiaoxiao, needs to take a day off due to illness. Updates will resume on the 21st."