"Haah... haah... haah..."
"It’s finally... over..."
Evi and Albert collapsed right where they stood. Lucas approached them, sheathing his katana with a crisp click. He delivered the news with his usual bluntness.
"You both pass."
It was official. Evi and Albert had finally cleared the first trial Lucas had set for them.
The days had been grueling beyond belief, yet neither had ever considered giving up. Their success wasn't just a matter of stubborn mental fortitude; they hadn't simply charged forward recklessly.
They had analyzed what was required to dodge Lucas's strikes, what they needed to do to survive in this forest, and what the optimal course of action was in every moment. Through endless debate and cooperation, they had finally broken through the first gate.
Because Kafka Forest was currently off-limits due to tuning for the upcoming tournament, the three of them had been training in Dogma Forest.
It was a place with a maximum danger rating: S-Rank.
The monsters were at their most lethal, and the forest's layout was notoriously labyrinthine. It was a location most Hunters actively avoided. Their training here was only possible because Lucas held a Gold Rank Hunter License, just like Ray.
"To be honest, I’m surprised you’ve polished your skills this much in such a short time."
"Haah... haah... We’re honored..."
"Haah... I’m glad... haah... to hear you say that."
The two remained sprawled on the ground, limbs heavy. In the final five minutes of the trial, Lucas had realized they were on the verge of success and had closed in on them with power that bordered on his true strength. He had moved through the forest with absolute freedom, striking from their blind spots and using magic to sow confusion.
Even so, Evi and Albert had managed to close the distance and hold their own. This growth was the clear result of their relentless effort.
At the same time, it would have been impossible for an average sorcerer to reach such a level in such a short period. The talent shown by these two far exceeded Lucas’s initial expectations.
I see. This is even better than I anticipated. Perhaps...
He evaluated them highly enough for such thoughts to cross his mind.
"Well then. You’ve worked hard today. I’ll handle the preparations for tonight."
It was Saturday night. The trio was staying overnight in Dogma Forest to train. None of them were yet aware that Ray’s family home was located nearby.
A short while later, Lucas procured some edible monsters, seared them over the fire, and the three of them sat down to eat. As members of the Environmental Research Club, Evi and Albert didn't shy away from the wild game; instead, they tucked in with delight. After their ordeal, the food tasted divine. As the saying goes, hunger is the best seasoning.
They sat around the fire in the center of their camp, eating in companionable silence. Then, Lucas suddenly spoke up.
"I suppose I should tell you both a little more about myself."
There weren't many people who truly understood the depth of Lucas Forst's existence. Even fewer knew that he was the Absolute Blade Sorcerer, one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
Yet, he revealed it without a hint of hesitation.
"I am one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers. The Absolute Blade Sorcerer."
"Eh...?"
"Wh... what...?"
Their shock was only natural. They knew Lucas’s skills were exceptional, but they hadn't dreamed he was one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers.
However, looking at Lucas’s face and hearing the weight in his voice, they couldn't doubt him. In their brief time together, they had learned he wasn't the type to tell pointless lies. And if that was true, then...
Albert was the first to find his voice.
"Does that mean... Ray is the Ice Sword Sorcerer?"
"Of course. I’m well aware. I also know he can’t use his magic properly right now due to Overheat."
"Is that so... well, that certainly explains a lot."
Beside him, Evi nodded in agreement. They had known Ray was extraordinary. His swordsmanship was top-tier, and very few sorcerers used katanas—a weapon primarily handled in the East. In the West, swords were the mainstream.
Considering a student had won the Magics Chevalier with nothing but a katana, the revelation that he was one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers actually made perfect sense.
"But why enter the Magics Chevalier? If you’re the Absolute Blade Sorcerer, Lucas-senpai, I’d think a student tournament would be a walk in the park..."
Evi’s question was reasonable. For someone of Lucas’s caliber, the Magics Chevalier was small potatoes. Why had he gone out of his way to participate this year?
"...I wanted to show the Ice Sword my true strength. The Seven Grand Sorcerers are not a monolith. There is often friction between us. In the past, the previous Absolute Blade and the Ice Sword fought over who was most fit for the title of the strongest. No, that’s not quite right. My master was unilaterally obsessed with it... I understand that much now."
They listened to his story in silence. Lucas spoke of the past with a faint air of sorrow.
"As the Absolute Blade Sorcerer, my master stood at the peak of the magic world for a long time. Until Lydia Ainsworth appeared, the Absolute Blade was undisputed as the strongest."
It was a famous story among sorcerers. Every so often, the Seven Grand Sorcerers would be replaced. It wasn't an intentional process, but rather a natural cycle.
Among them, the Absolute Blade had been an anomaly. While the other titles changed hands, the Absolute Blade alone had maintained the reputation of being the strongest for generations.
However, the rise of Lydia Ainsworth had caused the prestige of the Absolute Blade to wither almost overnight. She was the first sorcerer in history to reach the rank of the Seven Grand Sorcerers in her teens. A genius among geniuses, possessing the greatest talent in the history of magic.
A true prodigy who transcended the era had arrived, and the world of sorcery welcomed her with open arms. In an instant, the Absolute Blade’s "strongest" title became nothing more than a memory of past glory.
"And so, as age began to take its toll, my master took me in to raise the next Absolute Blade. My master was consumed by a delusion—the need to defeat the Ice Sword. I realized then that this person was living in the past. They weren't living in the 'now' at all."
"......"
"......"
The two students were stunned by the weight of the story. The crackling of the burning wood was the only sound in the silence. Sparks danced toward the heavens, vanishing into the moonlight. Under that dim light, Lucas continued.
"Personally, it has nothing to do with me. To be honest, I don’t care about such delusions. But I suppose after my master passed away, I felt I should at least fulfill their final wish. I intend to defeat Ray White and ensure the title of Absolute Blade Sorcerer is something my master can be proud of."
Albert and Evi processed his words in silence.
"...So that’s how it is."
"Well, I’ll step aside for this Magics War. My only real interest is next year’s Magics Chevalier."
"Which means, if we end up fighting Ray..."
"That’s right. Albert and Evi, you will be the ones to face him."
What Lucas sought was a one-on-one duel, and the Magics Chevalier was the only proper stage for that. He wouldn't have even entered the Magics War if Evi and Albert hadn't been by his side.
When it was put so plainly, the two boys couldn't help but tremble. Ray was an existence at the very peak of sorcery. Even with the massive handicap of Overheat, Albert and Evi weren't even close to his level. They couldn't even see the summit he stood upon.
The only reason they continued to push forward was because his presence was so dazzling. They didn't want to just swarm toward that light and vanish; they wanted to become strong enough to stand beside it.
"Hehe. Fighting Ray, huh..."
"Yeah. If it comes to that, the match is on us."
"Exactly. Ray White has likely realized it too. If we do clash, I will be the one taking on both Amelia Rose and Ariane Olgren."
The analysis was spot on. Ray had also predicted that if their teams met, the battle would unfold this way. Instead of the Seven Grand Sorcerers cancelling each other out, they would each take on the other's teammates.
"Two of the Three Great Noble Families. And among them, Amelia is..."
"Yeah. Just as Albert says, her Butterfly Effect is troublesome. Even for me, she'll be a difficult opponent."
"Do you have a plan?"
Lucas brought a hand to his chin, considering the tactical possibilities.
"The priority should be taking down Amelia Rose. However, the opposition knows she is their trump card. The one standing in the way will be Ariane Olgren. It will come down to a race against time. Ray White understands that as well as I do. Regardless, that’s my problem. You two only need to focus on him."
The three of them spent the rest of the night deep in discussion.
They had started as separate individuals, and they had never imagined they would be sharing a campfire like this. But now, they were fighting toward a shared goal.
This time together would undoubtedly become something irreplaceable for the three of them. Until the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, they continued their debate.
All of it was for the sake of victory in the Magics War.