The addition of gauntlets to Luck's arms wasn't just a visual upgrade—it marked another level of power.
Charles could feel it clearly: parts of Luck's body were beginning to manifest pure mana, his form edging toward magical embodiment.
Electric arcs wove through the air as Luck unleashed a frenzied barrage on Lotus. On the surface, he seemed to have the upper hand.
But in truth, every blow only dispersed the surrounding smoke—none had landed on Lotus's actual body.
The Diamond Kingdom veteran was hiding within his conjured mist, which not only distorted sensory perception but allowed him to move freely within it. Hitting him was like trying to strike air.
Despite entering a berserker-like state, Luck's combat instincts remained razor sharp. He quickly realized: he had to eliminate the smoke first.
"Lightning Magic: Thunderclap Burst Sphere!"
He hurled a searing ball of lightning, its crackling intensity ionizing the air. The mist thinned in an instant.
"Got you!"
Spotting a brief glimpse of Lotus's form, Luck lunged with his lightning-clad claws.
"Even if you've momentarily overpowered my suppression field, you haven't broken my spell!" Lotus snapped back.
Though surprised at Luck's agility, Lotus had expected the gap in strength to remain. The boy might've thought he'd caught his prey—but in reality, he'd walked straight into a trap.
"Smoke Creation Magic: Tenfold Binding Cross Cage!"
The vapor condensed into solid bands, enveloping Luck and forming a massive crucifix in midair, locking him in place.
"Finally caught you. What a workout… Honestly, if you kids would just surrender, it'd save this old man a lot of trouble."
Whoosh.
Lotus blinked as a wave of scorching heat tore past his face, flapping his clothes and searing the surrounding air.
A torrent of flames struck the smoke-bound crucifix, and with a surge of power, Luck burst free, landing hard on the stone floor.
"I have to beat him—I have to keep winning!" Luck shouted.
Charles grinned, fists igniting again. "You're being stingy, Luck-senpai. How could you hog such a fun opponent all for yourself? We're comrades—let me join the fun!"
Luck blinked—then grinned back. His usual feral smile softened into something lighter, more alive.
"Yeah! Winning together… sounds kinda fun too."
Charles couldn't guess what was going through Luck's mind, but his magic told the whole story: the mood had changed, and that was enough.
"Fighting alongside you really fires me up!" Charles clashed his fists together, fire roaring to life.
They turned to Lotus in unison—light and flame—and charged.
"Not good..." Lotus muttered, bringing his grimoire to the front. "Looks like this old man's got to get serious now!"
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Charles's flaming punch collided with solidified smoke, both attacks scattering in a shockwave. Nearby, Luck's claw swiped toward Lotus—only to be deflected again.
More smoke erupted around them.
"Smoke Creation Magic: Abyssal Warden's Prison!"
Lotus's specialty was turning the battlefield into his advantage. In this dense fog, he could sense every movement, teleport freely, and choke opponents just by letting them breathe.
Anyone caught inside would be swallowed whole—suffocated to death before they even laid a hand on him.
He hadn't earned the title Lotus of the Abyss for nothing.
Charles racked his brain. How had Asta beaten him in the original timeline? If memory served, it was because Asta had no magic at all, which let him slip under Lotus's radar.
But that trick wouldn't work for Charles. Still, he had his own way of doing things.
"Hey, Luck-senpai! Can you go even faster?" Charles asked, fire dancing around him.
Luck cracked his neck. "Of course!"
That was all they needed.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!"
A magic circle flared open, and Charles unleashed a blast of fire. It tore through the fog, stirring it into turbulence.
He wasn't aiming for Lotus—he was aiming to disrupt the smoke, forcing movement and creating gaps.
As Charles shifted his aim to follow Lotus's movement, his flames whipped across the room like a scythe.
"Amazing! Amazing!" Luck cried, giddy again. Some things never changed.
"My turn!" he shouted, shooting forward in a blur of lightning, riding the vortex Charles had created.
Because the smoke was made of magic, any disturbance in mana affected it. Charles was creating openings—Luck just had to be fast enough to seize them.
And seize them he did. When he skidded to a stop, a shredded piece of Lotus's robe floated to the floor—stained with blood.
Lotus touched the fresh wound on his chest and chuckled bitterly.
"You youngsters are terrifying. What did I ever do to deserve this kind of abuse?"
Smoke rose again, enshrouding him and obscuring his figure once more.
"Tch, just a little too slow!" Luck clicked his tongue. A hair faster, and that claw would've torn through Lotus's chest.
"Charles! Again! I'll be faster this time!"
Charles nodded, preparing to cast.
But then—the fog churned violently.
His flames flickered.
And Luck's body staggered, coughing for air.
It felt like his nose and mouth had been sealed off.
"So that's it... That old man's really pulling out all the stops!" Charles wheezed.
The suffocating pressure meant Lotus was now using his full magical output. If Charles tried casting a high-level spell, it might misfire. And Luck couldn't guarantee the speed he needed under this much strain.
Charles hesitated—until he met Luck's eyes.
"…You've done it, haven't you? You've pushed beyond your limit." Charles muttered, smiling.
His flames roared upward, bathing the mist in orange light.
"My next move won't hold back. You better not die, old man!"
Hidden in the smoke, Lotus sneered. Sure, that mana was terrifying—but no matter how strong the spell, if it didn't land, it was meaningless. He had full confidence he could dodge anything Charles threw.
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art—Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"
Charles ignited from head to toe. With a single slash of his arm, a whirl of fire spun outward—an immense, consuming vortex of flame.
Unlike before, where his magic merely stirred the smoke—this time it burned it away.
"What the—what is this magic!?" Lotus gasped.
Though he dodged just in time, the flames still stripped away the fog—exposing half his body.
He only needed a second, a breath, to retreat into the mist again.
But in that single breath, Luck appeared before him—and drove a kick straight into his gut.
Shock overtook Lotus's face.
And it wasn't aimed at Charles—it was all for Luck.
Why hadn't he sensed him? Why had his magic failed?
If he could've heard Charles's thoughts, he'd know the answer.
Just like stars vanish in daylight, Luck's presence had been hidden—overshadowed by Charles's massive magical flare. Meanwhile, Luck had carefully suppressed his own mana to nothing.
While Charles drew all attention, Luck slipped through unnoticed.
And his speed?
That was all his own.
Charles had trusted in Luck's willpower.
And that was how they'd won.
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