After the ceremony, Liebe, Alysa, Licht, and Fate went back to HQ.
Licht said, "Well, now that the tedious stuff is done, the lab report came. It appears someone has been poisoning the forest with the compound IReNE."
Liebe said, "Interesting. Guess we just have to skip the forest, since I doubt even cutting down the whole forest can cure the soil."
Licht said, "It won't."
Liebe said, "And see what you can do about it, ok? And check a new route."
Licht said, "Sure, give me three days."
Liebe said, "Sure. Looks like everything has fallen into place. Also, one more thing: if you are free, want to train? There is something else."
Licht said, "Will you let me go if I refused?"
Liebe said, "Of course not. I will just drag you out."
Licht said, "Thought so. So, what's so different?"
Liebe said, "There is this thing where I can feel my mana changing from black to golden, but it takes time to charge, I guess. And even though this thing is golden, I don't feel any pain. Rather, it makes my darkness—"
Licht said, "Now you are kidding. Golden mana? Not feeling pain from it? Bro, you and holy are like water and oil."
Liebe said, "Let me try it."
Licht said, "Sure."
Liebe summoned Gelda.
Gelda said, "You asked for me, Lord?"
Liebe said, "Make a portal for somewhere in the middle of nowhere."
Gelda said, "Understood," as she made a portal to a desert.
Licht said, "Looks like Gelda doesn't hold back."
Liebe said, "Now, try to block it. I can only use this three times a day, but I never got a chance to see how far I can go in a single full charge."
Licht said, "Now I'm getting excited. Then I doubt I have to hold back."
Liebe said, "I doubt not."
Licht said, "Ok then."
Liebe said, "Give me 600 seconds."
Licht said, "Sure."
As Liebe began to charge, Licht could sense it—the golden mana. What is this? It's holy magic? No, holy isn't the correct word. Sacred is more like it.
Liebe said, "I'm ready."
Licht said, "My chant—don't—"
Liebe said, "Now! Dark Magic: Vesta Grand Strike!"
Licht said, "Licht Magic: Divine Light's Piercing Execution!"
As their attacks clashed, in an instant, Licht was overpowered. After the dust settled, Licht said, "Are you trying to murder me in my first few seconds of glory?"
Liebe said, "Sorry, didn't know. But like I said, I was sure you would survive."
Licht said, "Like hell I would have! If I didn't dodge, there would be two of me right now!"
Liebe said, "That's a fancy way of saying you would be cut in half."
Licht said, "Look behind me."
The sand behind Licht was nothing, and it was more than 10 km. Not to mention, some of it had been turned to glass.
Liebe said, "So, this is what I can do. But it's weird; it was just one attack, yet half of my mana is gone for."
Licht said, "Honestly, after seeing this, I'm not surprised. But, dumbass, be more careful."
Then Gelda emerged from the portal and, seeing the devastation, said, "I'm sorry, random individuals, for disturbing you. I must have come to the wrong place."
Liebe said, "Unfortunately, it's the right place."
Gelda said, "So, how did you create this much devastation?"
Liebe said, "Great question."
Licht said, "We went and did stuff, and this happened. And I can see how you clean those Skelos bosses in the Empire."
Liebe said, "I can say the same for you. No wonder you and M killed the other ones."
Licht said, "It was the two of us at day, and you did it alone at night."