Horobi was in the library, reading some books about double spells.
Just then, Linksan arrived.
"Hey Horobi! It's been a long time. How have you been?"
Horobi looked up. "Oh, Linksan! How's everything going in Class 1B?"
Linksan, feeling a bit disappointed, said,
"Ah, I wanted to join your class, but luck didn't allow it.
As for my own class, it's fine. Tua has also gained a lot of control. But the moment I hear your name in front of him… he goes crazy. Looks like the shock of defeat still hasn't left him."
Horobi laughed. "Yeah, maybe."
Linksan asked, "What are you studying?"
Horobi replied, "I'm reading about double spells. I practiced it yesterday, and I'll tell you what happened then."
Linksan was surprised. "You already learned to use it?"
Horobi said, "Not completely. At the end, it still collapsed."
Linksan said, "Even so, I'm quite impressed. Our seniors don't even know how to split mana, and you almost did it."
Horobi said, "Thanks. By the way, what rank did you get?"
Linksan lowered his head. "I thought you knew… lower A rank."
"Ah, mine's upper A," Horobi replied.
Linksan asked, "If you have time, should we have a duel?"
Mio, who was there, said, "Now your time to talk to Horobi is over. You can leave."
Linksan said, "Ah, just once."
Horobi got ready and said, "Alright, let's go, but first, we need permission, or Raii-sir will punish us."
They went to the arena and asked the instructor for permission for a mock battle.
The instructor immediately granted it, since he had recently heard a lot about Horobi and remembered how he had defeated Linksan last time.
They were close before, so now the instructor wanted to see how much both had improved.
The fight began.
Linksan asked Horobi first, "Will you use magic or not?"
Horobi said, "It's your choice. I'll take my chance."
Both approached each other.
This time, Horobi planned that if Linksan got heavy, he would use his second special move.
Their speeds were almost equal.
Their swords clashed.
Both observed each other's moves carefully as they advanced.
Linksan tried to dodge and push forward, but Horobi had become even faster than before.
Horobi kicked Linksan in the back.
Liora, watching this, was very impressed by how much Horobi had grown.
Mio started cheering for Horobi.
The instructor said, "Hey, someone cheer for Linksan too!"
Mio and Liora refused. "No, we'll cheer only for Horobi."
The instructor smiled. "Alright, fine. But this time both of them have worked hard and gained a lot of power. After all, you are in the top Demon Academy in this world."
And he laughed.
The fight was getting longer.
Both were showing similar skill levels.
Horobi started getting bored.
He said, "I thought you would have grown a lot, but you haven't learned much at all."
Linksan was shocked. He wondered what that meant.
Horobi said, "I'm not enjoying this anymore. I'll end this fight now."
Linksan replied, "Yes, it will end, but I won't lose to you this time."
He increased his mana flow, making himself faster and more powerful.
Horobi said, "Alright, let's see."
He released his mana, and the fight shifted completely in Horobi's favor.
Horobi's speed had now become much faster than Linksan's. His power and attack force were enough to break even the largest stones.
Horobi began attacking Linksan.
Linksan started retreating. One attack threw off his balance, and the next one broke his blade.
Linksan used his lightning magic to attack Horobi, but Horobi was already extremely fast.
The instructor was shocked.
But Mio and Liora were cheering him on.
Students gathered around.
"Is that really Horobi? What is he doing?"
they whispered.
Horobi dodged Linksan's lightning attack, approached him, and said, "It's already over."
He struck Linksan in one powerful blow, knocking him to the ground.
The instructor rushed forward and quickly declared Horobi the winner.
After the match, Horobi helped Linksan up. "Good fight."
Linksan realized at that moment that Horobi had become much more powerful.
"If this had been the final exam, I would have easily lost… If Tua and I had both faced him together, we still wouldn't have won," he thought.
Horobi returned to the library and resumed his research.
Mio said, "Horobi, you're amazing! You defeated him even more easily than last time."
Liora added, "Yes, you've become really strong. Tell me how you defeated him last time."
Mio began explaining to Liora what had happened previously, but how Horobi had finished everything perfectly in the end.
Liora said, "I could only defeat Horobi with my arms."
Mio asked, "Oh really? How?"
Liora stepped closer to Horobi. Horobi looked at her.
Then Liora placed her hand on Horobi's cheek. Horobi stepped back. "Hey, let it be."
Liora said, "Look how stiff Horobi got."
Mio said, "I can do that too."
Horobi tried to stop them both.
But they didn't listen and started arguing with each other.
Mio said, "I can do that too! If you have the courage, prove it in a fight!"
Liora said, "You can't! You already did it to Horobi, and I haven't kissed him yet! You shamelessly took your chance."
Mio said, "Don't be jealous. You're just mad because I'm closer to Horobi."
Liora, angry, said, "No, that's not it. I'm closer."
Poor Horobi got caught in the middle. He tried to stop them. "Don't fight here! This is the library!"
But both silenced him.
By now, they had both become very aggressive.
Liora said, "Alright, let's do one thing. Let's settle this with a battle to see who is perfect for Horobi."
Horobi refused. "No, nothing like that will happen."
Mio said, "No, you stay quiet."
And Liora said, "Come, watch how strong I am."