Outside – Far from the Mansion Grounds
Kaito stood with his blade engulfed in fire, the flames pulsing in sync with his rising fury. Across from him stood Gray, both hands still tucked in his pockets, his stance relaxed—almost dismissive.
Kaito:
"What, you're not even going to draw your blade? Or do you think illusions will save you again?"
Gray said nothing.
He tilted his head slightly, observing Kaito—analyzing the wild movements, the unstable fluctuations of his mana. Kaito was strong… but reckless. Fueled by pride and rage.
Gray (quietly):
"You're not worth a blade yet."
Kaito snarled and raised his hand.
Kaito:
"Fire Magic: Solar Crescent!"
With a ferocious swing, a blazing arc of flame slashed forward, tearing across the ground with blistering heat. Trees behind Gray caught fire in an instant.
But Gray didn't visibly move.
Fssst.
A ripple tore through the air—a thin line of silver streaked forward.
The arc of fire suddenly twisted—veering just slightly off-center—and instead of hitting Gray, it slammed into a stone railing off to the side.
Kaito (blinking):
"What…?"
Then he saw it.
Hovering beside Gray's shoulder was a small sphere of liquid silver, floating weightlessly. Mercury, shimmering in the moonlight.
Gray:
"You're the Blade of Fire? Let's see how well your flames handle… mercury."
Gray:
"Mercury Magic: Shot No. 1 – Ricochet."
The sphere pinged forward, becoming a high-velocity bullet of silver.
Kaito ducked—but the bullet struck a tree, bounced off the ground, ricocheted off a statue, and curved back—slamming hard into Kaito's ribs.
He staggered back, coughing, his body shaking from the unexpected impact.
Gray still hadn't moved his hands.
Three more mercury spheres floated lazily into the air, orbiting him like tiny silver moons.
Kaito (gritting his teeth):
"You smug bastard!"
With a furious roar, he charged again. Flaming wings erupted from his back as he blitzed forward with his sword ready.
Kaito:
"Flame Drill!"
A swirling vortex of flame spun from his sword, howling like a storm of fire. Just as it was about to connect—
Gray whispered:
"Shot No. 2 – Scatter Rain."
Dozens of mercury droplets burst outward in a fan, each one slicing through the air like razor-sharp raindrops.
The droplets collided with the spinning vortex, destabilizing its form mid-spin. Sparks exploded in every direction as fire clashed with liquid metal.
Kaito roared, still pushing forward, becoming a beam of fire himself.
Gray didn't move.
He waited.
And just as Kaito brought his sword down—
CLANG—!
He was reflected back.
Kaito's eyes widened as his own momentum reversed. A sudden mirror shimmered in front of Gray—Mirror Magic: Flow Reflection.
Kaito was flung backward, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact, sending dust and flame scattering.
Kaito (furious):
"FIGHT ME PROPERLY!!"
His body surged with flame, now fully ignited. Even Gray could feel the shift. Kaito was finally getting serious.
Gray (calm):
"You want proper?"
He sighed, pulling his hands slowly from his pockets.
Then—he drew his blade.
Kaito's rage erupted. In a flash, he closed the distance, bringing his flaming sword down with all his might.
CLASH!
Steel met steel. The force of the impact cracked the ground beneath them. Kaito poured his full strength into the strike.
Gray was pushed back—but only slightly. As he was thrown, he used mercury magic to form a vertical, soft cushion beneath him, absorbing the fall like a liquid cloud.
Kaito:
"Flame Sword Magic: The Phoenix Roar!"
He swung his blade in a wide arc from above. With the motion, a massive phoenix of fire burst forth, shrieking as it dived toward Gray.
Gray's eyes narrowed.
Gray:
"Mercury Magic: Wall!"
A wall of thick mercury rose before him. But the phoenix twisted, curving around it to the side. Intelligent.
Gray summoned another wall—then another—but the phoenix dodged around them all, adapting, twisting with aerial grace.
It slammed into Gray.
He crossed his blades to block the hit—his reflection magic sparked, but it wasn't enough. The phoenix's overwhelming force pushed him back, skidding across the field.
Gray (thinking):
This isn't just an attack. It's Kaito's focus… his full magical force. That's why I can't reflect it directly.
Still locked in defense, Gray slid back—
And then—a presence behind him.
Kaito (grinning):
"Let's end this."
Fire burned on his blade as he dashed toward Gray's back, ready for a finishing strike.
Too close.
But Gray—
Smiled.
Gray (coldly):
"Total Reflection."
With a subtle shift of his shoulder and a twist of his blade—he redirected the phoenix.
The fiery beast, guided by the angle of Gray's defense, slid past him and turned back—straight at Kaito.
Kaito (shocked):
"What—?!"
BOOM!
The phoenix slammed into him with full force. Kaito was blasted backward, his body skipping off the ground from the impact.
But even in that chaos, he stood—barely. Gasping. His blade trembled in his grip.
This fight… wasn't about strength. It was about tactics. And Gray had outplayed him.
Kaito stood, barely balanced, panting, bleeding. His eyes glazed—but burning.
Then—
Gray sensed it.
The air changed.
Magic surged around Kaito.
Kaito (grinning):
"Fire Zone."
A circle of blazing red flame appeared beneath their feet, sealing both of them in. The heat skyrocketed. The air wavered like a desert mirage.
Kaito (growling):
"I'm going to kill you with this…"
He gripped his sword tightly, drawing it back—both hands wrapped around the hilt. At the tip of the blade, fire began to condense.
More… and more… and more.
A giant wall of flame formed, coalescing into a sphere larger than any before.
Kaito (roaring):
"You'll DIE IN THIS, YOU BASTARD!"
Flame Magic: Sphere of Flame!
The massive orb shot forward—howling like a star falling from the heavens.
Gray raised one finger.
Mercury began to swirl.
It condensed sharply around his fingertip—taking the shape of a trigger.
Gray:
"Shot No. 3 – Piercer."
CRACK—!
The sound was like a thunderous rifle blast.
A single mercury bullet launched—precise, fast, lethal.
It tore through the air—pierced straight through the incoming sphere, collapsing its structure from within.
Then—
it struck Kaito.
Right in the chest.
Blood burst from the impact point. Kaito stumbled.
The fiery sphere behind him imploded, disappearing before it could reach Gray.
Gray walked forward slowly. His footsteps echoed across the scorched ground.
Kaito stared down at his chest—a hole. Blood seeping. His fingers shook. His sword fell.
Gray (quietly):
"I don't enjoy killing. But you and your comrades… didn't leave me any choice."
Kaito's eyes fluttered. The light inside them faded. He collapsed.
Finished.
Gray picked up Kaito's blade and sheathed calmly and takes it with him. His eyes shifted to the horizon.
The night was fading.
The sun was rising.