There was no signal announcing the start.
Paaang─!
The two masters’ energies clashed violently in the air.
Herta’s unique jji-rit jji-rit energy colored the surroundings. Ezekiel felt a change within him.
‘The trick from that time. The flow inside me is speeding up.’
Herta’s lightning forced a rampage. From now on, if he didn’t act properly, he would self-destruct.
Kwajijijijijijik─!
Herta gripped a long lightning bolt like a sword.
As a radiant thunder, wanting to die was no empty talk. Herta had no hesitation in testing techniques against opponents.
From the very start, it was about crashing head-on with all their might.
Pajijijijijik─!
Just the sensation of meeting that immense energy was enough to make him feel nauseous. Three energies suddenly circulated madly, causing his head to spin.
‘Let’s focus on the chill.’
He concentrated on applying the trick of gig. It was a power that froze and slowed down at a specific point, so the speed could also be reduced.
He didn’t have long to calculate in his head. Herta surged forward.
Suddenly, Ezekiel abandoned defensive thoughts.
‘No, it’s not gig. Let’s go the opposite way.’
Once he began to defend, there would be no end to it.
He chose to accept his rampaging body. He decided to unleash his full strength.
Hwaaaak─!
The forced chill spread out from Ezekiel. The huge energy consumption made him quickly understand why the dullahans collapsed from exhaustion.
If he hadn’t steadily trained to increase his mana, Ezekiel would have collapsed immediately too.
If he was going to exhaust his energy drastically, let’s not drag out the fight. Let’s finish it with overwhelming power. Ezekiel’s conclusion was simple.
Kwaak!
As Ezekiel clenched his fist, the giant ice elemental behind him followed suit. It was almost the size of a mansion because of the rampage.
Pajijijijik─!
Herta didn’t change direction even after seeing the size of the ice elemental. She just continued to charge straight ahead, gripping the lightning.
Kwaang─!
A giant icy fist clashed with the lightning in mid-air. Ice flowers laced with golden light splattered everywhere.
Beeeeeeeee─
Suddenly, a loud ringing filled Ezekiel’s ears. After the collision, the energy consumption skyrocketed.
Not only the trick of the lightning but its power was astonishing. It was Ezekiel’s first experience of his ice being shattered so easily.
‘This is already the Tower Master’s domain.’
Ezekiel swallowed that thought inwardly.
Future Tower Master? No, it was a level that could be believed to have firmly held the position of Tower Master from before.
But he wasn’t only in awe.
He quickly calculated the information received from the recent clash in his head.
If the application of gig alone wasn’t enough, what energies could he mix… and how had Herta moved? Suddenly, he realized something.
From that point on, it was pure chaos.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang─!
The techniques with tremendous power clashed in the air because both were rampaging. The power was enough to scatter the clouds gathered in the sky.
Herta’s lightning was rightly called thunder.
Golden lightning and thunder coexisted. They attacked from all directions at an incredible speed, the sound following a beat late, creating confusion for the opponent.
Kwaang─!
The moment a lightning bolt nearly struck Ezekiel’s side, he chose close combat.
In fact, he closed in on Herta.
Pajijik! Kwaang! Kwaang!
At such close range, ice and thunder shattered numerous times. It was a similarly dangerous distance for both; a single misstep would mean death.
Just when it seemed like a protracted battle was on the horizon.
Herta suddenly muttered.
“…Now.”
“Huh?”
“Right now. Please.”
At the same time, Herta’s clothes and hair shot up high into the sky. She had multiplied her energy several times over.
Kwajijijijik─!
The principle was shocking. The power that had been forcing the opponent into a rampage was now all being channeled into herself.
If golden lightning turned into a woman, it would look like this. It was an aura that couldn’t be put into words.
The woman wielded the lightning.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaang─!
The power and sound were on a different level than before.
As Ezekiel barely succeeded in defending, he was pushed back and suddenly locked eyes with Herta.
Her slitted eyes were now wide open, shimmering golden.
Those eyes were desperately telling Ezekiel something.
That the next technique was her all-out effort.
Please show a brilliant finish.
Thud─! Thud─!
Ezekiel immediately began to draw upon the strength within him. The three energies blended perfectly.
At that moment, finally.
Paaang─!
The distance between Ezekiel and Herta started to close in an instant. Herta, transformed into a single lightning bolt, began to charge forward with all her might.
With Herta firmly gripping the lightning sword in her hand, it felt momentarily as if space was compressing.
In an instant, Ezekiel recalled the trick that Demon Lord Valetta had shown him every time he moved. The move where he stretched out his hand without realizing it—now he could replicate it.
He readied his right hand to extend immediately. There were already three energies coiled around his palm.
Kwajijijijik─!
─!
As the lightning approached, the sound began to vanish instead. It exceeded the level his ears could accept.
Finally, when the distance was completely close, Ezekiel stretched out his right hand with all his might.
San (Scatter).
But it wasn’t just scattering gig like in the past. It was a moment to unleash three energies.
“────!”
Whether it was a shout of energy, all that was left was to catch a glimpse of Herta opening her mouth wide with everything she had.
At last, the two mages collided.
───────────!
The sound was beyond what could be heard. The entire area shook as if an earthquake had occurred.
All the clouds in the sky scattered and disappeared, and the training ground’s ground cracked open.
Beeeeeeeee─
First, there was a ringing and a shaking of vision.
“….”
And then, heat.
Ezekiel felt an insane heat.
The cause was simple. Herta’s lightning sword had pierced through his left shoulder.
He hadn’t been unable to avoid it.
He just didn’t want to avoid it.
“…Did it touch, I wonder? My sincerity.”
Herta whispered softly.
Even in such a tiny voice, it was audible. The charge had been so intense, they were almost embracing each other, the distance so close.
“Kuhuk─.”
Warm liquid poured down from Herta’s chin resting on Ezekiel’s shoulder. The scent of blood was intense. She had spit out an enormous amount of blood.
Only then did Ezekiel check his surroundings.
“….”
He thought maybe his attack had missed. He felt nothing touching his hand.
But it wasn’t the case.
It was so light and mercilessly pierced that he could hardly feel it. Ezekiel’s right hand was completely through Herta’s gaping chest.
His level had risen significantly.
“Haa…. Haa….”
Yet he breathed. It was amazing that he was alive.
“Hmm….”
Herta struggled to gather her voice. It seemed she still had something to say to Ezekiel.
“I can’t hear well….”
Several harsh breaths followed.
“Could you let me know the reaction from the magic tower…?”
“…”
Even in this situation, she prioritized the reaction from the magic tower.
It wasn’t a lie to say she contemplated death. Unlike Zeta, who was filled with fear as soon as danger came, Herta calmly confirmed what she had accomplished.
Ezekiel immediately concentrated on the sounds around him.
“Herta─! Herta─!”
“Aaaah, what on earth have we done!”
“The lightning we’ve been pursuing… what on earth…”
From the magic tower side, almost a cry rang out. They felt greatly moved by Herta’s lightning.
Only in cowardly ways, he carved out his level all alone. It was a lesson learned through life that simply desiring the development of lightning was sufficient.
Ezekiel forced his lips to part.
“Your lightning was truly impressive.”
“…Hmm.”
Herta seemed satisfied as she opened and closed her eyes.
“I heard you have a title called Ice Ghost.”
Herta’s strength was gradually fading.
Ezekiel quietly supported her with his body, listening intently. It was his final respect towards the Tower Master.
“To have a title… I’m envious. I’ve just been telling myself to train hard day after day, and now I realize I have no name.”
“Do you want a title?”
Herta slightly shook her head.
“I just want to call upon the name of my golden friend who has been with me for my entire life, because my lightning is pitiful. What would be good… What would…”
Now that she mentioned it, Herta had never uttered the name of her technique. He had only thought it was for tactical reasons, but now he realized she had had no name at all.
Ezekiel suddenly looked around.
“Herta─! Oh, Herta─!”
“To think such lightning existed in the magic tower, it’s truly unfortunate. If only the tower folks hadn’t committed any crimes!”
“We were wrong! Herta! Please come to your senses! Hertan─!”
The brilliant golden lightning sounded the lead.
Now, the magic tower’s mages were echoing in response.
Suddenly recalling a name, he spoke it aloud.
“Thunder Song.”
Thunder Song, the song of lightning.
“The song your lightning sang has moved all the mages of the magic tower. Truly, Thunder Song is a good name.”
“Thunder Song….”
Herta’s eyelids slowly lowered.
In contrast, the corners of her lips were subtly rising.
“I like the name….”
“Your death must have had meaning. Not just for the mages of the magic tower. Everyone seems to have been moved. Each one praises your lightning.”
“Mm.”
Herta lightly nodded.
“Thank you…. Truly, thank you….”
The woman’s frail laughter was her last.
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