Third Gift

"I can't believe this… I was trying to toy with you for a while, but you've repeatedly annoyed me…"

Count Orpheus spoke with a dark expression as he waved his wand.

SHIIING—

Just like that, the cracks rapidly forming on his barrier disappeared.

Seeing this, Regis and Killian both retreated and distanced themselves away from the Count.

"I guess he's taking us seriously now…"

Killian muttered with a grave expression as he glanced to the side.

He was surprised to see that Regis, although frowning, did not really have an ounce of panic on his face.

'Does he still have something up his sleeve? But could it turn the tide of the battle around?'

Killian thought in doubt as he saw the glowing stars of aura on his and Regis's left chest and compared it to the three stars on the Count's.

Not to mention that they both only had a One-Pointed Star and the Count had Six-Pointed ones, just the fact that he has formed stars than them was a testament that their chances of winning this battle was slim.

However, even knowing this, Regis had yet to show panic on his face.

Thus, Killian felt ashamed as at the growing sense of helplessness in his heart. Slapping his cheeks, determination filled his eyes.

At this moment, Regis spoke, "Killian, once you see a red dot, don't hesitate to strike it, okay?"

"Okay." Killian didn't ask any questions.

It wasn't that he was not curious, it was just that he didn't like prying on other people's business.

WOOOM!!!!

Sensing the erupting mana from Count Orpheus, their eyes darkened.

"Are we just going to sit here and wait for him to cast his magic spell!?" Frustration could be sensed within Killian's trembling voice.

However, Regis only shook his head, "Wasting our energy on mindlessly attacking his barrier wouldn't be beneficial for us. Instead, we must focus on giving it our all on defending his attack."

"After all, it's not like we could hide since this is an open area. Besides, he must have taken us dodging to account so there's a high possibility that he's going to release a magic spell with a massive range…"

As if on cue, Count Orpheus raised his wand over his head. What happened next caused sweat to drench Regis and Killian's back.

A huge magic circle appeared in the sky, encompassing the whole field in between the main gate and the manor.

"What the hell." Killian couldn't help but curse at the sight of this.

Meanwhile, Regis only squinted his eyes, as if noticing something. 

"You brats… I was planning to play with you for a while longer, but you've severely taken my kindness for granted."

A voice filled with power originated from Count Orpheus as immeasurable mana gathered towards him.

Normally, mana would not be visible despite being omnipresent throughout the world.

However, at this moment, it was causing powerful surges of wind that converged on the Count's location.

Then, like a beacon that connected heaven and the earth, a beam shot out from Count Orpheus's wand and connected it to the massive magic circle above.

[High Rank Magic]

Hearing the chant that reverberated throughout the area, Killian and Regis readied their swords.

[Rain of Fire]

Woov— Woov— Woov— Woov— Woov—

Countless balls of flames fell from the massive magic circle in the sky, dying the sky and the vicinity in crimson.

"Shit! Are we going to die!?" Killian exclaimed as he looked at Regis.

"Killian, do you remember what I said earlier?"

"Yes, but what does that mea-"

"Observe. Watch each and every ball of flames that are falling on us. Then strike."

Regis raised his hand, 'It's the first time I'm applying this to this many objects… I hope it works…'

'I don't think silently chanting in my mind would suffice this time…'

At this moment, his lips parted as a chant echoed throughout the surroundings.

[Weakpoint Creation]

A splitting pain ravaged his mind, but Regis didn't put down his hand.

"Now!"

Hearing his shout, Killian instantly circulated his aura.

His eyes widened as he saw miniscule red dots in each and every one of the balls of flames that were raining upon them.

'I guess I must give it my all too.'

"Your attacks don't need to be powerful. You only need two things: precision and…"

"...overwhelming speed."

A smirk appeared on Killian's face, "Well, it just so happens that I'm the best in that area…"

[Lightning God's Descent]

RUMBLE— BOOM!!!!

The sound of thunder reverberated throughout his whole body as yellow lightning erupted from him.

"I can only retain this state for 3 seconds…'

"...but that's enough!"

ZOOM— ZOOM— ZOOM—

RUMBLE!!! RUMBLE!!! RUMBLE!!!

His figure could not be seen anymore. The only thing that depicted where he was was the yellow trail of lightning and the rumbling sound of thunder that resounded with his every move.

"Amazing…" Regis whispered to himself at the event that unfolded before his eyes.

He was currently clutching his head, enduring the searing pain caused by the overexertion of his third gift: Weakpoint Creation.

Unlike Perfect Adaptation and Tranquility, it was a gift that could be used offensively.

Its effect was really simple: it forcibly forms a point on the target's body. When this point was struck, one's attack would be enhanced by three times and bypass all defense.

The weakpoint could be created on anything; people, projectiles, magic spells and the like.

'I would have liked to adapt to his mana before surprising him, but he could kill me instantly if I make a mistake… So this is the best for now.'

However, there was one thing that astounded Regis: Killian's nigh perfect swordsmanship.

Currently, the weakpoints present on the raining balls of flames were extremely miniscule; roughly about a millimeter in diameter.

This was the consequence brought upon by the overexertion of the gift by applying it to numerous targets all at once.

Nevertheless, with each flash of lightning, numerous balls of flames disappeared.

The relentless lightning lasted for three seconds, but that was enough to eliminate all the balls of flames that once covered the sky.

BZZZZT— Thud!!!

"Killian!"

Regis's eyes widened in shock as he looked at the figure that collapsed in front of him.

He could see that although Killian wasn't hit by the rain of flames, his legs had been badly mutilated to a frightening degree.

"R-Regis… I-I w-will leave t-the rest to you…"

Killian mustered all his strength to speak before falling unconscious.