I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 27. Three Techniques (6)

Ralph quietly repeated Johan’s words.

“The Third Technique, Magic Flow. The Flow of Magic…”

The Flow of Magic.

It could also be referred to as the flow of mana.

From what Yuri had shown, Ralph had a rough idea of what kind of technique it was.

Ralph subtly questioned Johan.

“A technique that returns the opponent’s power?”

“For now.”

“For now…”

A single phrase with multiple meanings.

For now, it had been used to return the opponent’s power, but did it mean it could be used for other purposes?

Or did it mean that, for now, it was only used to return the opponent’s power, but it could develop into something more in the future?

Ralph felt sure that Johan’s “for now” meant the latter.

Why?

Because Johan’s gaze as he looked at Yuri said so.

Ralph chuckled, shrugged his shoulders, and spoke helplessly.

“Did you plan this too? Hiding such a move and pretending to be so weak.”

“Weak?”

“Did you not anticipate that we would act this way from the start?”

“What nonsense is that? How could I predict you’d pull such a trick? Wait… thinking about it makes me angry again. Did you really want to win so badly that you’d wager that precious White Steel in a kids’ fight, you crazy bastard?”

Ralph blinked, realizing Johan’s rough reaction wasn’t fake.

“…You really didn’t know?”

“I said I didn’t!”

“Then did you senior not teach him that Magic Flow thing?”

“Teach? I didn’t even know he could use it like that.”

“But you senior taught him, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I taught him…”

Johan’s face showed frustration.

“…Twice.”

“Pardon?”

“Exactly half a year ago, I showed it to him once, and then I properly taught him two weeks ago.”

Johan shook his head, looking slightly exasperated.

Originally, he had intended to teach only Thunder Wing, but he had been impressed by Yuri’s effort and talent, so he had taught him Magic Flow about two weeks ago.

No, not even two weeks.

It had only been ten days.

‘And yet, he’s already handling Magic Flow at this level?’

Even Johan hadn’t expected Yuri’s Magic Flow to be this perfected.

Ralph, who had been observing Johan’s ever-changing expressions, cautiously asked.

“That Magic Flow thing… is it originally easy to learn?”

“Easy?”

Johan let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Heh, I haven’t even mastered Magic Flow properly myself. I’m still refining it for practical use based on a somewhat completed theory.”

“Was that… an incomplete version?”

“Yeah. Anyway, that’s not the point! Even though I created it, it would have taken me about a year to use Magic Flow like that.”

Johan’s mana flow and the mana flow Yuri learned.

The basic framework was the same, but the one adapted for Magic Flow was what Yuri had learned.

So it was true that Yuri had a more efficient time learning Magic Flow.

‘Even so, what took me, Johan Redner, a year to master, he’s done in ten days.’

Johan’s face hardened.

And reflecting his inner thoughts, Ralph asked in a stiff tone.

“Where the hell did you find such a monster?”

Ralph had started calling Yuri a monster.

He also had to admit it.

Johan’s discernment was much better than his.

‘Senior had already recognized that guy’s talent.’

Half a year ago, Ralph hadn’t noticed anything special about Yuri.

But Johan had discovered and even taken him as a disciple.

‘Of course, senior never admits him as a disciple…’

Nevertheless, Johan’s discernment in recognizing Yuri’s talent was remarkable.

However, Ralph’s thoughts were half right and half wrong.

While it was true Johan had great discernment, he hadn’t seen everything about Yuri.

For instance, Johan had been continuously amazed by Yuri’s talent, which exceeded his expectations whenever he taught him.

This had bruised his pride, making him vow never to be surprised by Yuri again.

Being constantly astonished by a kid felt like losing somehow.

But.

‘Hah…’

Johan felt a chill down his spine.

What gave him goosebumps was…

‘It took him three months to master Cloud Step, one month for Thunder Wing, and ten days for Magic Flow.’

It was the fact that the monster’s talent was growing.

‘…This is crazy.’

Johan’s lips curled slightly upward.

There was a hint of fear in his smile.

* * *

Crash-.

A tree that had been barely standing finally toppled over.

Thud-.

The sound of the tree hitting the ground brought Mucci back to his senses.

“Ah…”

Mucci, who was sitting on the ground, blinked at the sight before him.

‘If I hadn’t dodged…’

He would surely have ended up like that tree.

Gulp-.

As the dazed Mucci swallowed dryly, something landed on his shoulder.

Thud-.

A cold blade touched his neck, and Mucci cautiously turned to look behind him.

There, Yuri was looking down at him.

“Wow, your attack was amazing!”

“…”

Yuri, using the crude language he had learned from a retired mercenary, gave a thumbs-up with a bright smile.

Mucci couldn’t say anything in response.

His mind was in a whirl.

How Yuri had done it, how he had countered his attack.

He couldn’t figure out a single thing.

There was only one realization Mucci had.

‘…I lost.’

It was that he had lost again.

‘Ugh…’

The fact that he had lost again.

And the joyous look in Yuri’s eyes as he looked down at him made Mucci feel something welling up inside.

“Huh…”

He couldn’t hold it in and finally let it out.

“Huaaang!”

“Uh?”

“I hate you, big brother!”

“…?!”

Seeing Mucci sitting down and bawling, his tears dropping like dung, Yuri was flustered.

“Hey, you punk! Crying is against the rules!”

As Yuri flailed his arms in confusion, a loud voice came from behind.

“You bastard! Why are you making my good kid cry?”

Seeing Ralph running towards him with an angry face, Yuri’s expression turned sour.

“…Damn, summoning an adult by crying, that’s dirty.”

Being an orphan was tough.

Why did he feel like he lost when he won?

With his lips pursed, Yuri…

Squeeze-.

He sneakily stepped on the foot of the crying Mucci.

“Waaah!”

Mucci’s cries grew louder, naturally.

“Hey, you little bastard! Why are you bullying the kid instead of comforting him!”

Whack-.

Johan laughed heartily as he saw Yuri get smacked on the back of the head by Ralph.

“Haha, it’s a mess. Haha.”

Hoohoho-.

Johan’s hearty laughter mingled with the sound of the steady rain.

And so that day.

The chaotic sparring ended with Ralph and Mucci acknowledging their clear defeat.

* * *

After Ralph disappeared with the sniffling Mucci, Yuri and Johan returned to their place.

“Give it to me.”

Johan reached out to Yuri.

Yuri, understanding what he wanted, unfastened the sword from his waist and handed it over.

Johan silently drew the sword.

Shing-.

The blade that emerged from the scabbard looked strange.

A somewhat dull silver hue.

Johan examined it briefly and lightly flicked the blade with his finger.

Tick-.

With a dull sound, the blade vibrated briefly before cracking with thin fissures and shattering to the ground.

Returning the hilt, Johan asked.

“It seems you couldn’t fully channel the force.”

Johan described it as channeling rather than returning the force.

Yuri awkwardly replied as he took back the hilt.

“Mucci’s final technique, that… it was pretty hefty.”

“That’s called Ice Wall Splitting. Among the numerous techniques I’ve seen, if I had to pick the top three, I wouldn’t hesitate to include Ice Wall Splitting.”

“Is it that strong?”

“Why do you think it’s called Ice Wall Splitting? If it had been Ralph using it instead of Mucci, this whole area would have split.”

“…No wonder it felt so ridiculously strong.”

“How’s your body?”

“How do you think? Feels like I’m gonna die.”

Though he joked, Yuri’s condition was truly dire.

His face was pale, and cold sweat covered his forehead.

His hand, holding the hilt, was trembling slightly.

He looked like he could collapse at any moment.

Johan clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Who told you to take it head-on? You brought this on yourself, going crazy over a piece of steel.”

“It’s not just a piece of steel! Do you know what it is? White Steel, three times more expensive than gold of the same weight!”

“It’s still just expensive steel. It was a wrong decision to use an incomplete technique in a life-or-death situation just to get that.”

The Magic Flow Yuri used wasn’t perfect.

If he had performed it perfectly, even a wooden sword wouldn’t have broken.

Also, his body wouldn’t be in such bad shape from not fully channeling the remaining force.

“If it had been Ralph using Ice Wall Splitting, no matter how much you used Magic Flow, you’d have ended up as a pool of blood.”

Johan’s repeated scolding made Yuri’s eyes narrow.

“Old man, if you want to compliment me, just do it. Don’t spout useless nags.”

“Hmph, why would I compliment you?”

“Do you really think I recklessly used Magic Flow without assessing my and the opponent’s abilities

?”

“…”

“Do you think I used an incomplete technique without any certainty? Really? Nah, you know better.”

“…Hmph!”

“Geez, is it so hard to just say I did well?”

Johan was left speechless.

As he said, Johan knew.

Even in that brief moment, facing Mucci’s Ice Wall Splitting, Yuri had calculated coldly.

His abilities, the opponent’s abilities.

What was needed for a perfect victory in that situation.

Yuri’s actions, which might have seemed reckless, were based on thorough calculation.

With Johan’s extensive combat experience, he couldn’t have missed such details.

‘Still, I scolded him to make him more cautious in the future…’

This perceptive kid didn’t even want to hear that.

Feeling awkward, Johan cleared his throat softly.

“Ahem, well… um… you… did… well…”

With the next, almost inaudible mumbling, Yuri frowned.

“What?”

“You did… well.”

“…What?”

“I said you did well, damn it!”

Whether it was a compliment or a scolding, Johan’s face turned red with anger.

Yuri’s gaze grew narrower, and Johan hurriedly changed the topic.

“So, how was it using Magic Flow in real combat?”

It seemed this question was not just a way to change the subject, as Johan’s face turned serious.

He waited patiently for Yuri’s response.

“Hmm…”

Yuri stroked his chin at the question.

After a brief pause, he answered.