"As expected of the strongest of the new generation!"
Though his tone sounded a bit condescending, Vitan still naturally voiced his admiration for Sairaorg.
"Just as you guessed, I calculate your movement patterns at ultra-high speed in my mind to predict your attack routes. This is the magical technique known as Numerology Art."
As Vitan finished speaking, bands of data-chains formed around him like planetary orbits, wrapping tightly around him.
Then, in the next instant!
Sairaorg's pupils shrank sharply, and all the hair on his body stood on end. Like a wild beast, his instinct kicked in before his brain could even process.
He turned, bent his knees, and crossed his arms in front of his chest!
Then—
Boom—!
A thunderous sound exploded instantly.
From within the billowing smoke and dust, Sairaorg's figure was hurled backward at tremendous speed, fast enough to leave trailing lines of dust behind him like drifting clouds.
Moments later, near a nearly broken tree, Sairaorg's voice rang out again.
"Teleportation ability? Now that's a pretty shocking power."
Thud!
The next moment, centered on Sairaorg, a powerful wave of energy burst out violently, forming a howling wind that swept across the area.
The surrounding atmosphere immediately became chaotic!
The smoke and dust kicked up from the earlier battle was instantly blown away by the storm-like energy emitted by Sairaorg.
"That... That's...?"
Koneko, standing off in a corner, gasped in shock.
"That's touki— I can't believe Sairaorg has mastered the power of touki."
Even Grayfia couldn't hide her surprise at Sairaorg's sudden explosion of power.
The young devils present might not recognize the special energy Sairaorg was using right now.
But that was only because, for nearly a century, the Underworld had leaned toward a peaceful atmosphere, and few young devils had encountered great youkai who practiced Senjutsu.
What Sairaorg was using was the application of touki from Senjutsu.
"That's right. After long periods of training, Sairaorg accidentally awakened the ki hidden within him. He can now control his ki to a certain extent, forming a combat aura that can greatly damage the human body and significantly enhance his attack power."
"I never imagined he could achieve something so far beyond common sense."
Grayfia shook her head and said, even she had to admit now—
The heir of the House of Bael truly had the bearing of a Maou. Whether he could reach the realm of the transcendent would depend on his talent and enlightenment.
"You're too modest, Grayfia. You've truly raised quite a remarkable devil. I didn't expect him to master a space-time ability that has never been wielded by anyone in the Underworld."
Serzechs offered his genuine praise, his pale gray eyes now gleaming with excitement.
Space-time abilities were exceedingly rare, not just in the Underworld, but across the entire world.
Up to now, the only space-time-related technique that devils in the Underworld had ever developed was a teleportation magic circle. As for something like Vitan's spell, which allowed for unrestricted, instantaneous movement anytime and anywhere—no one had ever managed such a feat.
"This technique... would Vitan be willing to disclose how it works? I ask on behalf of the name of Lucifer, and I promise he will be fairly rewarded."
Serzechs asked Grayfia cautiously.
After all, this could easily be seen as a Maou attempting to pry into the secrets of a devil clan—something strictly taboo in the Underworld.
Yet Serzechs couldn't bring himself to give up on this spell that might greatly benefit the advancement of the Underworld. He had no choice but to ask despite the risks.
"I'm also a Devil King. Naturally, whatever you can think of, I've already considered."
Grayfia turned her head, continuing to watch her younger foster brother's match as she spoke in a cold voice.
"Give it up! The spell Vitan created can only be used by him. Even Ajuka hit a wall when he tried to learn it."
…
Sairaorg raised his fist, which was wrapped in aura, and a faint grin played on his lips.
"It's been a while since I fought at full strength. It feels pretty good."
Ultimate-class devil, infinitely close to the level of a Maou-class.
Without a doubt, Sairaorg was now in a state where he stood on equal footing with that level.
"In that case, I'll also go all out!"
With a flip of his hands, a magical tome—Radix Astil—appeared in his palms.
"—Cognition Manifestation, Form Constructed!"
Violent magic surged upward, so dense it almost became tangible, stirring the atmosphere. Even the barrier reinforced personally by Serzechs trembled under its force.
Behind Vitan, space began to ripple slightly, creating countless red magic circles.
Emerging from those circles were modern military weapons glowing with black luster and radiating intense magical energy.
"—Oath, Return!"
As Vitan's words fell, the '卍' symbol engraved on his chest shone with brilliant light.
Threads of azure light twisted into countless strands of magical power, entwining the modern guns conjured behind him.
In an instant, an even more overwhelming wave of magic exploded outward.
On the viewing platform, Serzechs' expression shifted drastically. He reached out and used his magic to stabilize the rapidly crumbling barrier.
Cold sweat slid down Sairaorg's face.
"That's a move I definitely can't take lightly."
He pulled his fists in close to his sides, firmly planted both feet, and slightly bent his knees.
"A head-on clash, huh!"
This was inevitable—the result forced by Vitan.
Using an attack that covered every inch of space within the barrier, he compelled Sairaorg to abandon his speed and face him directly in a frontal collision.
All of Sairaorg's fighting spirit condensed into his fists. Slowly, he drew them back as the muscles on both arms bulged.
On Vitan's side, his hand dropped.
From the muzzles of his conjured weapons, crimson light gathered and intensified.
Sairaorg struck!
—BOOM!
The barrier shook violently. Wherever the compressed fist force passed, the ground shattered completely, as if massive cracks had split the earth.
—BANG!
At the same moment, all the crimson energy gathered at the gun muzzles was unleashed in unison, coalescing mid-air into a deep crimson pillar of light that seemed to pierce the heavens and earth.
The deep crimson magical beam roared forth like a red dragon. The uneven ground and lush forest were sliced apart like tofu, cutting a straight line toward Sairaorg.
Blinding white light consumed everything, and the magical mirror that was broadcasting the match in real time became a blur.
"This is bad."
Serzechs exclaimed in alarm!
—CRACK!
The sound was like a mirror shattering.