Wizard
A being who can freely wield mana thanks to the blessing of the World Tree, in the Other World, they are the problem solvers for people, doctors who heal them, and strategic weapons that can single-handedly annihilate armies.
The reason all this is possible is simply that they are transcendent beings who control the laws of the world known as magic. However, that does not mean they are superhumans or absolutes. Naturally, they are beings that die when their hearts stop, and they have their own set of rules.
The most popular defensive magic among the current magics is the “Shildron (defensive magic).” It possesses resistance to almost all elemental magics and, depending on the manipulation, can be used like a shield with physical power. However, the shield function of Shildron severely increases mana consumption based on its defensive range.
Up until now, the basic strategy in combat has mainly involved wide-area attacks with elemental magic like fire and lightning. To inflict damage not only on wizards but on regular soldiers in war, this method has been the most foolproof, and naturally, the usage of Shildron evolved to match that.
Wizards have trained from a young age to quickly protect their entire bodies with Shildron, specializing in defense against elemental magic, in order to survive the unpredictable firestorm of elemental attacks, and Grey was one such wizard. In other words, the defensive magic of existing wizards was weak against “mass attacks.”
*
As soon as the duel began, I fired my shotgun at Grey without hesitation.
The shotgun pellets propelled by the explosive force of Red Slime powder flew toward Grey, who, sensing the incoming attack, hurriedly deployed “Shildron (defensive magic).”
But…
Clash!!!
“Craaack!!!”
Grey’s Shildron shattered like glass, and she flew backwards. This showcased the potential of shotguns in wizard battles.
Defensive magic specialized for elemental attacks was extremely weak against mass attacks that were fired over a broad area, like a shotgun. Of course, wizards were aware of this, so when they fought among themselves, they often used interconnected spells like water and ice magic to execute such mass attacks.
But these spells obviously required casting time, and a seasoned wizard could easily detect such magic flows and counter them.
However, a shotgun was entirely different.
It was a weapon that launched lead pellets propelled by an explosion using Red Slime, showing no magical flow, and as long as you moved your finger, instant mass attacks faster than any magic or magical tool could be executed.
It was truly a revolutionary tool— or weapon— that could change the meta of modern magical combat.
“Ghh…”
“Looks like that wasn’t enough to end it for you, huh, witch?”
After being hit by the shotgun and flying back, Grey stood up, bleeding.
The first shot must have used Buckshot with 25 pellets since it caused some injury, but it seemed not to have inflicted significant damage.
“What a dreadful weapon you’ve created, Yuren.”
“Not nearly as dreadful as you, Grey.”
Grey used her Dark Sword as a cane while she got up, licking her own blood.
“I just know human nature better than you do.”
“That’s nonsense. You drive people into desperate situations, coaxing them into making those choices and then claiming that’s human nature?”
After being attacked by Grey, I learned about the various horrible things she had done through investigations into her guild.
She had brought countless nameless guilds and people to ruin, manipulating them little by little with the power of money and violence to act according to her will.
It was almost certain I was one of her intended targets for destruction.
That someone like her would talk about human nature?
What a ridiculous statement.
“That’s not ‘human’ nature; it’s your nature.”
I loaded the pump-action shotgun, which I had brought as a fine conversation piece and magical tool.
Click!
“Let’s wrap this up. I don’t have much time before tonight’s ranked match.”
“Oh! For the first time, we’re on the same page. I don’t have much time either!!!”
Whiiisshhh!!!
As she swung her Dark Sword, the black blade elongated and flew toward me.
This was her magical tool, the Dark Sword— a magical tool with dark magic that transformed its blade into a whip-like form at will.
Objectively speaking, the Dark Sword itself wasn’t a bad magical tool.
It covered both close and mid-range attacks, and with the properties of mass-type dark magic, it could penetrate light defenses.
But there was an inevitable limitation to magic that used mana.
From my perspective, the Dark Sword was too slow, and its attacks were painfully predictable.
“Hyah!”
Avoiding the Dark Sword with ease, Grey began her incantation.
As expected.
“Berya (Dark Magic)!!!”
Dark magic began to envelop her like a cloak.
Those dark constructs, made like black cloth, solidified in an instant, turning into countless thorns and flying toward me.
“Still using that trick, huh?”
I had experienced Grey’s magic during the first-grade exam once.
She created a non-existent darkness and endowed it with various forms. At that time, she had sent thorns flying just like this, and the counter was simple.
Fwooosh!!!
A blaze erupted in the empty space.
Five consecutive casts of the fire magic “Pao” erupted forth.
Due to the nature of dark magic, it was weak against fire and light magic, and it was weaker to multiple spells clashing than to a single, powerful spell.
I had burned away her dark magic then and won, and I thought it would be the same this time.
But…
Whiiisshhh!!!
“You withstood that!?”
From the flames, black thorns pierced through and flew toward me.
Caught off-guard by the unexpected onslaught of black thorns, I hurriedly deployed “Shildron (defensive magic),” but my timing was slightly off and one hit my arm.
“Gyaaah! Yuren!!!”
“Cough!!”
Sora screamed from the stands.
I stumbled backward, hastily burning away the black thorns and healing my wounds.
As I did, Grey returned to looking at me with an aloof expression, just like the old days.
“What’s wrong? Yuren the brat? You’ve lost your composure?”
Something felt off.
The Grey I had experienced back then wasn’t this strong.
I finally sensed the strange flow of mana emanating from Grey.
“You… have you done something?”
“Hm? I can’t quite hear what you’re saying!!?”
That crazy woman!
I had thought she might prepare something against me, but she came on some kind of enhancement!!
“Fuhuhuh… Don’t worry, Yuren the brat, I’ll keep your head safe…forever.”
“Honestly, you really do seem like a crazy woman.”
Bang!
Another burst of flames erupted from the end of the shotgun.
The pellets spread wide, flying toward Grey, but she didn’t just stand there.
“Do you really think I’d fall for that again!?”
Her dark magic fully surrounded her, forming a black sphere to protect herself.
This was her specialty and a physical barrier using dark magic— “Ultimate Shield.”
With the enhancement from the drugs, the Ultimate Shield had become even tougher than before, and the shotgun pellets bounced off harmlessly.
Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!
“Fuhuh, your bragged-about shotgun is nothing special, Yuren.”
Her voice echoed from within the black sphere.
I didn’t respond but moved closer and fired in rapid succession.
Click…Bang! Click…Bang!
“Not a chance! Yuren the brat!!”
Even after two more shots, the Ultimate Shield remained solid.
If my assault were to end like this, she would surely convert her Ultimate Shield into an attack and try to counter.
But would such an opportunity really come?
Just as Grey had prepared her dope for me, I knew her well too.
I knew her magic, “Ultimate Shield,” could block my shotgun.
Would I have come unprepared?
As I closed the distance, I prepared my final shot, concentrating all my mana into the last shell of the shotgun aimed at Grey.
Click…
“Just saying this politely, so don’t take it the wrong way; see you later.”
The round loaded into the shotgun was no ordinary shell.
It was a “Slug Round.”
Instead of multiple pellets, it contained a single large, conical lead bullet.
Focusing all motion energy into that one massive bullet, its power was terrible enough to tear apart even top-grade bulletproof vests.
With acceleration magic enhancing its power, I fired it straight at her Ultimate Shield.
BANG!!!!
Unlike any shotgun shell, a tremendous roar thundered as the large slug bullet flew toward the Ultimate Shield.
And then…
CRACK!!!
The slug round shattered the dark magic completely.
With a noise like a solid steel plate breaking, Grey was sent flying from her crumbling Ultimate Shield.
In the last moment, she used her hands to defend, but her left hand was mangled and bleeding, as if hit by the slug round.
It was the price of her playful antics.
