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Over the Infinite Chapter 21 Part 2

 

「I’ve manifested it so it doesn’t affect me, but I can also make it so it doesn’t feel hot to you. 」

She extinguishes the flame and re-manifests it. When I touch it again, it’s not hot.

Feeling compelled, I shake hands with the flame, and Lilika looks a bit shy. Well, it’s an opportunity to touch a girl’s hand, after all. A handshake with a flame, quite literally.

「This way, by specifying the area of effect, the spell can target only enemies. It combines two spells: ((Flame)) and ((Area Specification)). 」

「If it’s just ((Flame)), you’d feel the heat too? 」

「Exactly. And by adding the ((Ejection)) spell… 」

A flame shoots from Lilika’s hand across the training ground, striking a training dummy and setting it ablaze.

「That becomes the commonly known ((Fireball)) spell. Many use it as a single spell without knowing this mechanism. Once it transfers to the target, it becomes a real phenomenon rather than just a ((Phenomenal Spell)). 」

I see. What appears to be one spell is actually the combination of three spells to create ((Fireball)).

「But I learned after coming to the labyrinth city that even ((Flame)) consists of multiple spells. I can’t explain that part well as I don’t fully understand it myself. The more finely you can classify and control such phenomena, the more skilled you are as a magician. Aptitude and creativity in usage also play a role in the general perception. 」

If it replicates the principles needed to generate flames, it would indeed be more complex… Physics? No, probably more ambiguous than that.

Probably, it’s like assembling multiple spells, similar to functions in programming. I wonder if there are elements like repetition and conditional statements.

「I see. So it’s essentially combining various phenomena. By any chance, are there spells like ((Guidance)) or ((Detection))? 」

「Yes, they exist. You can combine ((Guidance)) with this to make it track a target or specify certain conditions to direct it to a specific location. There are also basic ones like ((Acceleration)) combined with ((Ejection)), and ((Arrow)) that changes shape. 

What I excel in are ((Standby)) and ((Delay)). Like this, I can deploy several spells in advance and activate multiple spells simultaneously. 」

Lilika demonstrates this by creating several arrow-shaped flames around her.

Wow, that’s kind of cool.

「So that’s your secret to soloing. 」

「Yes. If I set them up in advance, they continuously consume mental power… MP, but they don’t require time for deployment. 」

Preparing them before confronting an enemy and firing while moving around, constantly replenishing them for mobility. Normally, this would immobilize a person.

「Is it really okay to teach us this? Isn’t it a secret or something? 」

「It would be a secret outside, but here, it seems to be basic knowledge anyone can find out. I was quite shocked… Actually, it was treated as a secret technique. 」

Poor thing.

Upon asking, it turns out that even we could attend a course titled ‘Basic Theory of Magic Part 2’ where such topics are discussed. It’s harsh. A secret technique being just a basic part. Lilika is allowed to cry over this.

「Is this explanation okay? Do you have any other questions? Maybe attending a course would be quicker. 」

「No, I’ve got a pretty good grasp now. So it’s like this… 」

 

――――Skill Create ((Clear Hand)) has been approved――

 

What’s this?

Something is grabbing my face. It feels weird!

「So, it was like this. Thanks, Lilika. 」

「Uh, yes. …What just happened? 」

「Is this you? Let go! 」

It’s incredibly weird to feel like your face is being grabbed by something invisible. Touching it, there seems to be the sensation of Yuki’s hand in front of my face.

「Okay, okay… It’s still hard to move it, but it seems like it could hold a sword if I get used to it. 」

Finally, the sensation of the hand leaves.

So, this was the skill he was talking about. Definitely a third hand.

「If you want to use a sword, why not directly control it? There was a skill for that, ((Sword Marionette)), right? The Dungeon Master said you could control many with that. 」

「That won’t work for me. I want to activate skills with this third hand too. 」

He plans to use the hand not just for movement, but also to wield skills.

「However, the hand itself can take damage. It hurts when I grab something. 」

From my perspective, it looks like he’s just grabbing thin air.

Well, fine, if it’s a step forward, he can refine it in the next dungeon dwelling. One task is cleared.

「Sorry, I didn’t understand what happened. 」

I briefly explain to a bewildered Lilika.

 

-3-

[ Infinite Corridor, 30th Floor ]

 

Time flew by, or rather, it didn’t pass much outside, but our dungeon dwelling has ended.

Sarges put a bit too much effort and landed a ((Tornado Kick)), defeating the Grand Golem. It’s the second time seeing that scene.

As expected, Sarges had already performed ((Purge)). He probably just wants an excuse to strip. I’ve gotten used to it, though I wish I hadn’t.

「Can you stop undressing unnecessarily? 」

「…Sorry. There are unavoidable circumstances. 」

Yuki is still visibly annoyed, but he seems to have resigned himself to the usual vague responses.

He knows there’s no such ‘circumstances’ for Sarges. It’s almost become a ritual now.

「Sarges, actually, I think your ((Purge)) will be key in the rookie battle. 」

「What are you talking about? 」

No, Yuki. This is serious.

「The aim isn’t the stat boost from ((Purge)). The opponent is tough to catch off guard. I believe using that skill can cause temporary confusion, and that’s what I’m counting on. 」

「Leader, you understand, then. 」

No, don’t smile like that. You’re not understanding what I really mean.

「So, only use it at the crucial moment. Not for the stat boost, but solely to astonish the opponent. 」

「Understood. 」

「I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Arsha. 」

Considering the difference in strength, we need every chance we can get.

If his half-nakedness can create that chance, it’s a small price. A win-win since he enjoys it too.

「All right, training’s over. It was unusually long, but fruitful, right? You’ve changed a lot from half a month ago. 」

「We still couldn’t beat the old man in one-on-one, though. 」

I get close, but always fall short. In Yuki’s case, it’s a clear lack of decisive power. The fights drag on, but he can’t overpower him.

Only Sarges has the complete combat ability to defeat the old man, but even his win rate isn’t great.

「It’s problematic, but we’re a team. As long as we’re more than the sum of our parts, it’s fine. But don’t forget, being able to fight Arsha is the minimum threshold. To be blunt, there’s no chance of victory at this point. Any miracle won’t change that. 」

He’s clear about the unpleasant truth.

「Is there any chance if the opponent is feeling unwell or has an upset stomach? 」

「Yuki, just to warn you, because I know you might actually do something, if you rig something like a laxative in an event like the rookie battle and get caught, you’ll be thrown out of the labyrinth city. 」

「No, I won’t do that. I wouldn’t do something so underhanded. 」

I wonder, though. I actually thought he might.

「Just make sure not to do anything like that. In the arena, fight according to the rules. It’s fine to be underhanded against monsters, though. 」

「Got it, got it. 」

The words of someone who has had feces thrown at them weigh heavy. Well, in that case, it wasn’t technically a foul.

…I wonder if even Arsha would be thrown off by that.

「Our biggest damage source is Sarges. If Sarges falls, any chance of winning is gone. Not that there’s any to begin with, but even the possibility of inflicting damage becomes impossible. The key to defending against ((Meteor Strike)) is you, Tsuna. Multiple deployments of shields through ((Instant Equip)) is the only way to withstand it. Maybe you can withstand one strike.

Preventing it is best, but she’ll use it unless you’re instantly killed. The longer the match drags on, the higher the chance she’ll use it. Yuki’s ((Clear Hand)) will be crucial in creating openings. I was surprised the first time I saw it, so depending on how you use it, it might create several openings. 」

Our tasks haven’t changed much from our dungeon training.

I’ll take the front, Yuki creates opportunities, and Sarges racks up damage. Just having Sarges as an additional damage source is a big help.

The issue is both my ((Instant Equip)) and Yuki’s ((Clear Hand)) lack precision. We’ve trained as much as possible, but it’s still not enough.

((Instant Equip)) still takes too long to deploy. I can handle shields, but ideally, I’d switch weapons and chain skills, which I haven’t achieved yet.

From what I hear, ((Clear Hand)) is like having an extra sensory organ. It requires the dexterity to move three hands simultaneously.

Yuki is certainly skillful, but he’s struggling with this. I can’t even imagine having a third hand.

It seems he can set it to move automatically to some extent, but then it can’t activate skills. And its accuracy drops significantly at longer distances.

「We’ll be watching from the spectator seats, so do your best. 」

「Good luck!」

「Fight hard! 」

The old man, Pelshe-san, and Topopo-san have supported us till the end.

Now, it’s our turn to deliver results.

 

-4-

 

Time passed, and the rookie battle began.

We didn’t plan for it, but our match is last. Probably the Dungeon Master’s authority or some extralegal power was at play, though I don’t know the details.

I’m not familiar with the results of previous years’ battles, but so far, they’ve been pretty good. We don’t want the final match to be anticlimactic.

The matches progress smoothly. The three-day rookie battle is already on its final day.

On the second day, Philos, Gowen, and Gaul participated, achieving a splendid victory.

When I first saw Gaul, unlike the typical humanoid beast people with animal parts, he was composed of half wolf parts. He seems to be a more beast-like species, different from the wolf people. I think they mentioned the Silver Wolf tribe. He looked like a werewolf transformed under a full moon.

Kuro’s team also participated on the second day but lost. Their opponents seemed quite strong, and apparently, the name value of being Arsha’s sister played a part.

Being the team of a strong person’s sister made them a target for strong challengers. Tough luck, but our opponent is even worse—it’s the strong person herself.