The Water Magician

"Rhea!"

Abel, who was fighting in the center of the balcony, noticed that Rhea had been defeated.

"I knocked her out."

Though the voice came from the scout Calvin, who was not particularly loud, Abel heard it clearly.

It reached the ears of San, who was engaged in a sword fight with Abel.

"Hey, that's too soft."

San spat those words.

"She still had the potential to get stronger. She was strong enough to be spared. Only King Abel would benefit from killing her."

Calvin's unusual long statement made not just San, but also Connor, the spear warrior fighting Warren, murmur in surprise.

"I haven't heard Calvin speak so much in about five years."

Ignoring such voices from the sidelines, Calvin laid Rhea down in a corner of the balcony and decided to watch the other battles while leaning on the railing instead of joining the fight.

"Calvin, do you have any intention of helping me take down this shield user?"

"No."

Calvin responded indifferently to Connor's words.

"I thought so."

Despite saying that, Connor unleashed dozens of spear attacks—thrusts, sweeps, and strikes—but Warren's shield remained unyielding.

The battle between swordsmen and the battle between spear warriors and shield users remained in a state where no clear advantage was visible to anyone.

However, the fight between mages was starting to show signs of conclusion.

This was due to the element known as "remaining magical power," unique to mages.

Perhaps in response to that, the battles between swordsmen and between spear warriors and shield users intensified.

To prevent anyone from going to help the mages...

The original amount of magical power possessed by Bruno of the "Five Dragons" and Lin of the "Red Sword" was likely not that different.

For the c-rank adventurers nearby, and even the few b-rank adventurers, the difference was as vast as heaven and earth when compared to these two… they were on a high level as mages.

Yet, the slight losses from each spell activation, refinement, or degree of optimization were starting to create a gap that would ultimately decide the outcome between the two.

"Ugh."

Finally, Lin knelt on one knee.

Her remaining magical power was almost depleted.

She was barely hanging on to consciousness.

Her vision was blurry, and she could hardly see anything.

"As expected of the kingdom's number one wind attribute mage; I acknowledge that reputation to be true. But..."

At that point, Bruno smirked.

"You were not my match."

Then he pointed his staff at Lin.

"Surrender. If you do, I will spare your life. If you do not surrender, I will kill you. I am not like the soft Calvin."

Hearing Bruno's words, Lin raised her face.

And with a glare, she replied defiantly, "No! I am still an apprentice of Ilalion Baraha. I have no intention of bowing to those who stray from the path and attempt to assassinate the king!"

"Hah, you really do talk big. I will kill you, and eventually, I will kill Ilalion as well. Then I will be the kingdom's number one mage by both name and deed. Along the way, I will also kill the man who falsely claims to be king."

Against Lin, who refused to surrender, Bruno declared with a sinister grin that he would eventually kill Ilalion too.

However, at that moment, Lin burst into laughter.

It was a laugh that could only be described as "raucous," a laugh that was anything but ordinary.

"What’s so funny?"

Such a question would not arise against this uproariously laughing female mage.

But even so, Bruno could not comprehend Lin's answer.

"The kingdom’s number one? Did you just say you’re the kingdom's number one mage? Ahahahaha... That’s hilarious... No, you must be out of your mind... Yes, of course, if you don't know, that’s how it is. Let me enlighten you, ignorant fire attribute mage: the kingdom's number one mage is not Ilalion, nor is it me. The kingdom’s number one mage is the water attribute mage of Run."

Saying this, Lin laughed raucously once more.

It was a laugh that came from the depths of her heart, a laugh that was truly filled with joy.

"A water attribute mage? What are you talking about? Have you gone mad facing death? Or are you trying to bluff your way out of this? Fool, it’s pointless."