Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 431: Magnifique

Chapter 431: Magnifique

Everything was coming together. All the steps, all the people, all the equipment and back-up plans. All of it. Kazi, Samantha, and the other main deliberators were back at Lord Mosuke’s Castle.

"Bombs?"

"Check and handed," Booker replied.

"That was fast."

"I made them work fast."

Seemed like ever since their talk, Booker was more invested in the battle. That was good. Kazi could not see his level or name or his class. Apparently, the microscopic symbols stitched on his suit granted unique protection. Who he received the suit from, Kazi could only guess. He had three guesses based on what he knew of the important figures of the White Abyss, all of which seemed...strange.

"The anti-magic bullet?"

"Shells are made of dragon scales. Under that is a shell layer that causes anti-magic. Hardness and effect have been tested. Should be enough to penetrate the bone of the whale. I have five of them."

"Five? Ha, I’m sure you’ll get it in one."

After all, the actual innards of the Bake-kujira were officially known to them, courtesy of Professor Alenora and her peers. Along with the map was a complete dissection of the Bake-kujira’s inner organs. Kazi had already predicted the magnetic sense was in the brain, contained in its thick skull. The process of echolocation was done through vocalization from the nose and the reception of the echo in the ear.

Kazi wanted precision. In the water, in a chaotic battle, precision was necessary and he got it. Rather than directly go for the organ hidden in the skull, Booker would be shooting the secondary organ in between. A processing organ unit stored at the base of the lower jaw.

This wouldn’t just destroy the echolocation but also the magnetic sense. Both would go down because this specific organ was the processing unit and without it, the brain of the Bake-kujira would not be able to process any information from its sensors.

Two organs with one bullet.

"What’s our headcount?"

"Fifty-four players and two hundred samurai." Samamtha smirked. "It appears you got some of them to muster up their courage, Kazi."

Kazi brushed Samantha’s remark. Him going around and saving people was what anyone would have done in his position. "That’s the samurai courage for ya! They never back down!"

The plan was flowing well. In two days, the battle against the Bake-kujira would begin.

****

Players weren’t twiddling their thumbs. Levels were being raised. Knowledge and tips were being shared. Everyone was huddled in an area throughout Matsue, both training and protecting from any upcoming monsters.

Kazi was back at the Yaegaki Shrine area down south. Lots of forestry, lots of greenery in between the shrines and homes. He walked through, casually glancing and learning what he could. Taking in the life of sixteenth century Matsue.

He wound up walking back to Yaegaki Shrine. As always, a barrier protected it against monsters and an attack clearly had not occurred since Kazi’s last visit.

At the yard, he saw a blast of fire. He blinked.

’Seems like they’re doing an exercise.’

"Fire Ball!"

"Ngh! G-got it!"

The players were training at the front yard. Nothing malicious, it was done with permission of the locals. They understood the need for training and a strong space for it. Hurling fire balls in a forest wouldn’t exactly please the gods, nature, the view, or the wildlife.

And it was no exaggeration. Paired up players were hurling spells at one another and raising up to barriers to block the attack.

’Not just attacking, after a successful round of block and strike from each, they take a step forward. They keep stepping until...’

One person either gave up or were struck. Most of the time, once they reached seven feet of distance, one competitor would get cold feet and raise their wand or staff or arm in defeat. The exercise tested reaction speed and cast speed.

One woman in particular stood as the best of them. Suffering only a single loss, she smiled and wielded a thin, diamond-coloured wand. Short and efficient seemed to be her jam. She won for the seventh time in the past twenty minutes.

"Pauline!"

Kazi waved a hand over. Pauline, the victorious woman in the white dress, blinked rapidly and brightened up at seeing him. "Kazi! You’re here!" Coming closer, she seemed different. The colour in her eyes had always been a distinct shade of violet, in some shades appearing grey. That shade no longer existed. The violet of her eyes were brighter and stronger. Prouder. "You never said goodbye last time!"

Ah. Last time being Gate 20. His emotions at the time had been...weak. "Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to. Lots happened."

"Then make it up to me," Pauline said with a fiendish smile. "Want to do a Burst Duel?"

"So that’s what this is called. Burst Duel. Fun name."

"It’s more fun with a friend."

Kazi forced a chuckle and went to his position. "Where do we start?"

"Twenty feet away, friend. No moving. Barriers can only be used after the opponent’s spell is casted. Not a second before. Oh, if you miss, it’s my victory!"

"You say that like you’re not going to miss, princess."

"It’s Princess Accurate, not Princess Miss. I was a phenomena at golf and dart-throwing."

Her smile was stronger and brighter than any smile he had ever seen. Kazi decided he liked that smile.

Yaegaki Shrine’s front yard was expanded for this training. Trees had been cut by players and used by the locals. The locals did not like it until the players built a monument of Susanoo with the wood.

"Fire Darts only!" Pauline exclaimed. Wand raised, she did not waste a second and blurted out, "Begin!"

’Fire Darts, huh? I don’t have a wand on me either. Oh well.’

No incantation, no reliance on the System, Kazi summoned a barrier and blocked the Fire Dart that Pauline swished and flicked with her wand. Kazi pointed a finger and, to Pauline’s surprise, sent out a Fire Dart. She in turn raised a barrier to block it.

"No wand? How did you learn that?"

Following the block, she stepped forward and threw another Fire Dart. Kazi stepped forward, raised the barrier, and countered again.

"It’s not that tough."

Pauline smiled and casually flicked on her barrier. "Knew it. My professors said only geniuses can cast magic with no incantations or wands." Step. "You must be a super genius then."

"Ah, you got me." Block, cast, and step forward. "Can we keep talking like this? It is a duel."

"Nope, it’s suggested! Burst Duels are all about focus in combat. Talking is the least difficult thing in the world."

Kazi and Pauline had not done short steps but long ones. The distance was closing. "Hehe, I’ve learned a couple tricks." Block! The barrier dissipated and rather than do a quick swish, she focused. She drew a magic circle and uttered, "Ring of Red..." The thick red quality magic circle clicked into place. "Flaming Sonic Boom!"

Cue a sonic boom. Cue the sound barrier breaking. Kazi blinked, his hair flowing back. "Woah."

And decided to catch it with his bare hands. The Flaming Sonic Boom was like a baseball and its momentum rolled into his palm. To Kazi, that was great. That meant he could study it.

’The momentum is going in seven main angles but ultimately towards where it wants to go. That adds speed. Momentum. The Ring of Colours has some fascinating spells.’

The ball of fire ceased and fizzled out. Kazi looked a little disappointed and looked up wanting Pauline to do it again.

"Eh." The thin woman in the white dress looked baffled and amused. "You...Kazi...." She opened her mouth, closed it, and elected to giggle with her hands folded together with her wand. She wanted to look respectable but couldn’t help laughing. "Magnifique!"

"Whoops. Looks like I didn’t bring up my barrier. My bad. Is that a loss? I did block it."

And without moving an inch too.

"I don’t know, it’s not in the rulebook I was given." She scanned him quickly. "I want to say you’re crazy but you look okay. Are you okay?"

"Definitely. Can we go again?"

Pauline looked composed as she asked with a laughing smile, "Are we talking about the duel or the spell?"

"Spell. And were you asking about my hand or my brain?"

Pauline giggled one last time. "No comment."

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