In the second circle, mages begin to develop a closer bond with their mana and magical element, assuming a different form. This form can be like the majority—ninety-seven percent of the continent—or unique to the person, with only a three percent chance. Only absurd prodigies can achieve this.
"He didn't awaken any ability…"
Valença noticed that there was nothing different besides the heavy mana being released into the air around Enrico. Even those within the three percent usually don't awaken that ability in the second circle—normally only in the sixth or seventh.
"What's going to happen now that he's reached the same power as the rank Faizes Nartheis?"
She wanted to see everything that would happen from now on—of course, if he needed help, she would help. One step—that was all that happened before Enrico appeared behind Tarcen. And it wasn't by switching places with that strange flame she had seen, it was by sheer speed.
"Incredible…"
Enrico pointed his hand at Tarcen, who tried to retreat but was hit by a powerful fire attack coming from his hand. It was somewhat similar to Valença's Incandescent Ray, but weaker.
"That was my attack? No… it doesn't have the same foundation. It looks more like he compressed a fireball and created something similar."
Enrico's speed increased even more when he used his charged burst, vanishing. Tarcen, trying to keep up, began moving between the puddles left by his last attack. Even so, Enrico had the advantage in speed and managed to dodge every water magic attack thrown at him.
Stepping on a tree, Enrico leapt over it, and his fire arrow took on a better form than it had in the previous circle. It seemed like he could now hold it more naturally, and the flames coming off it were smaller. Pulling back the string of the bow, he fired so quickly it pierced through Tarcen's knee, leaving a hole that began to heal slowly.
Tarcen rushed at Enrico, who took a stance with both arms above his waist. Fire covered them both, and they vanished. Four punches appeared on Tarcen's body, burning his skin. Opening his mouth, Tarcen tried to bite Enrico, who caught his teeth with his hand and, using force, dislocated his jaw, making Tarcen retreat. It seemed like he was looking for a way to defeat Enrico, so his body turned into water as he jumped into the river.
"He fled."
Valença was quite surprised. Of course, that Nartheis had been fighting three people before fighting Enrico, who had just evolved, so he no longer had the same mana as at the start. Even so, he couldn't fight properly.
"His body…"
She started to notice the difference: upon evolving to the second circle, with a body at least above rank 17 in Class S, it had improved even further. From what she knew, only the top ten ranks had reached the second circle—maybe those two girls in her class who seemed to be holding back had also reached it.
"So Enrico is now on the level of the top ten…"
When she realized it, Enrico had disappeared, and she couldn't find him—until an explosion of steam burst from the river and Tarcen was thrown out, landing near the mountain. Enrico emerged from the water, steam rising from his body as his fire magic evaporated the water clinging to him.
Aiming the bow at Tarcen, who tried to return to the water, a massive amount of fire surged from the arrow, which glowed intensely. Once fired, it tore through the air with a roar, leaving a flaming trail. Tarcen was hit by the arrow, which exploded, launching debris in all directions, creating a crater in the ground. The only thing that remained was his core, which seemed to have been thrown away by Tarcen himself upon realizing he would die.
"That boy evolved a lot… but he's still in a dangerous state."
Enrico stood still, unmoving, as if waiting for another enemy to fight. Valença ran to him and grabbed him, laying him gently on the ground.
'At least he doesn't see the lady as an enemy.'
Val'Drakar approached the core, but beneath it, a humanoid earth lizard swallowed it and began to flee. Val'Drakar quickly raised his sword and launched a slash of fire.
"You're breaking the rules, Laflez."
Before the attack landed, a dark portal sucked the lizard inside, and Val'Drakar looked furiously at it.
"DAMN YOU, SAIRAO!"
"Who's Sairao?"
Valença was carrying Enrico on her back, worried about the situation, which seemed serious.
"Miss Valença, follow me and take Lord Enrico carefully—we need to protect ourselves before it begins."
She didn't understand but followed quickly, along with the animals running in the same direction. They arrived at the tree where the fruits were and sat down.
"Stay here, miss. I'll be back in a few minutes. This is a safe place—I'll be right back."
"You're not going to explain?"
He said he would explain later and ran off. An impressive barrier covered the area they were in. Valença carefully laid Enrico on the ground and sat beside him, her mind filled with questions—mainly, whether they would be alright. She calmed herself and looked at Enrico, thinking about the battle she had just witnessed. She also wanted to reach the second circle, and she felt she was close—maybe just a few more minutes, maybe ten? She felt like she had improved a lot in the fight against Tarcen.
"You're getting so far ahead of us…"
Looking at Enrico, who seemed unconscious, she leaned in and touched his face. To her, it once felt impossible to catch up to him—but she always remembered the day she almost gave up, and he showed up saying those words. Valença intertwined her fingers with his and closed her eyes, waiting for those ten minutes to pass.
Though it seemed like hours, only minutes passed before her heart began to race. A second circle appeared within her, alongside the first. The atmosphere began to shift—but instead of letting it explode like it had with Enrico, she contained it, with fire swirling around her as air was forced to follow.
"Haa…"
She let out a relieved sigh that she hadn't hurt Enrico. She leaned against the tree, resting his head on her lap. She felt much stronger now, which meant she had also reached the level of the top ten in Class S.
"This is amazing…"
She ruffled Enrico's hair, not wanting to admit that she had liked doing that for some time—but now it felt more natural. She heard a sound and saw Val'Drakar approaching, but she didn't stop stroking Enrico's hair. She really was enjoying it.
"Forgive me for leaving, but now I'll explain everything."
Val'Drakar noticed what she was doing but chose not to interfere in young people's affairs. He sat down and placed a crystal ball nearby while a light from the tree expanded the protective zone, now covering the animals who appeared calmer.
"It would be good to wait for Enrico to wake up."
"The lord won't wake up unless an enemy appears, so I ask that you don't try anything else with him. It must be hard, the place where he is."
She also wanted him to explain that part, but for now, she preferred to listen to what was happening first.