The dust lingered for a few seconds before gradually settling, small fragments of broken earth and scorched metal tapping against the arena floor. When the view cleared, the barrier around Nova and Harry was still intact, its surface smooth and unchanged.
Across the field, Veynor lowered his hand slightly. He hadn't expected the attack to break through, but the consistency of the shield drew his attention. There had been no visible strain, no instability in the mana structure. That alone told him enough.
Kael didn't pause once the barrage ended.
"Spatial Magic: Teleportation."
The space beneath his feet distorted, and his figure disappeared. A moment later, he reappeared to Harry's right, outside the remaining dust cloud, already moving. His hand closed around the sword hilt as he stepped forward, drawing the blade in one clean motion.
As soon as his feet settled, space compressed around the sword. He slashed without hesitation. The movement was tight and efficient, the distance between him and Harry folding inward so the blade reached Harry's chest almost immediately.
Harry reacted on instinct. He brought his wand up. "Protego."
A translucent shield formed in front of him just in time.
Kael's sword struck the shield directly. The compressed space behind the strike increased the force, and the shield cracked at once. Fractures spread across its surface before it broke apart.
The brief resistance was enough.
Harry twisted his body and stepped back as the shield collapsed. The blade passed through the space he had just vacated, cutting through the air instead. He staggered back two steps, boots scraping the stone, breath quick but steady. The shield was gone, but he wasn't injured.
While taking deep breaths, Harry cursed. Altough his soul magic doesn't restrict magic from his world, but it makes its power five times more weaker. Each and every spell, is five times unless the spell involves domain of 'Soul'.
At the same moment, Kael disappeared again.
A sword slash cut through the position he had occupied a second earlier. The Demon Dweller Sword passed through empty space as Nova pulled it back, his stance controlled.
Nova looked at rusty old black sword in hand and frowned. He looked at Harry, or more specifically at the grimoire. Since by showing this Soul Magic, we have already provoked the final boss, so adding the mid plot mini boss doesn't really affect much.
Then, without hesitation, Nova directed his energy into the blade.
The dark surface of the Demon Dweller Sword began to brighten, light spreading evenly from hilt to tip. The black metal shifted fully into white, the glow consistent and contained. The surrounding air tightened slightly as the energy density increased.
Nova added more of his reality altering energy, reinforcing the blade. Thin lines of light traced along its length, as the sword started glowing. He then swung forward in a straightforward motion.
(AN:- REMEMBER THAT MC DOESN'T HAVE MAGIC, HE HAVE REALITY ALTERING ENERGY)
A broad wave of sword energy released from the blade, moving toward both Kael and Veynor.
Veynor reacted immediately. The elemental gems flashed and constructs around him rearranged, earth and metal forming a reinforced barrier. Wind and lightning flowed across its surface, reducing the impact as much as possible.
Kael reappeared farther back, space folding as he avoided the main path of the attack. Even so, the remaining force pushed him backward several steps, his boots leaving shallow marks across the arena floor.
The sword energy struck Veynor's defense directly. Cracks spread through the elemental structure before it broke apart, the mana dispersing into the air. Veynor took a single step back, his expression tightening as he absorbed the result of the exchange.
Suddenly, Kael's expression changed.
He pulled his sword up in front of him just as Nova appeared directly before him, close enough that there was no space to react. Their blades met with a solid clang, the impact ringing across the arena.
Kael's jaw tightened. His arms trembled as the force traveled through his sword and into his body, pushing him back. He was forced to retreat three full steps before he could stabilize himself.
His eyes flicked to Nova's weapon. The grooves along the Demon Dweller Sword were glowing again.
Without hesitation, Kael vanished, reappearing at the far end of the arena. But before he could even fully reorient himself, Nova flashed behind him and then stepped directly into his path, cutting off his retreat again.
A sharp sense of danger hit Kael.
His grimoire flared open, pages turning rapidly as he reacted. "Space Magic: Spatial Barriers."
The space in front of him hardened instantly. What looked like empty air solidified into a layered barrier, wrapping around him in a tight defensive formation.
Nova didn't slow down.
The Demon Dweller Sword struck the barrier head-on. A powerful shockwave spread outward, the impact echoing through the coliseum. Kael's eyes widened slightly as he heard a clear cracking sound travel through the spatial construct.
He didn't wait.
Kael teleported away at once, but Nova followed immediately. Kael barely managed to raise his sword in front of him before Nova's next strike landed. The blow sent him flying backward, his body slamming into the arena wall with enough force to fracture the stone.
Dust fell from the impact point as Kael slid down slightly, struggling to regain his footing.
Nova lowered his sword and smirked faintly. That strike had carried roughly seventy percent of his true strength. He hadn't broken into the next realm yet, but his current level was already more than enough to handle opponents like these. Harry's presence here wasn't about necessity—it was only because the rules demanded a partner.
Nova turned his attention to the other side of the battlefield.
Harry and Veynor were already engaged.
Harry's breathing was steady now, his expression focused. After realizing that his spells from his original world were weakened fivefold under the influence of soul magic, he had abandoned them entirely. There was no point forcing techniques that had lost most of their effectiveness.
Instead, he decided to use second spell he got from his Grimoire, the spell that also increased his debt to Nova.
Harry's breathing stayed steady, his focus settling fully. Once he realized that spells from his original world were operating at barely one-fifth of their usual strength under soul magic interference, he stopped using them altogether. Continuing with weakened techniques would only waste time and leave openings.
He shifted his stance slightly and glanced at his grimoire. He knew the cost tied to the next spell. It would increase his debt to Nova, but right now that concern came second.
He raised his wand and spoke evenly, "Soul Magic: Soul Contract."
His grimoire responded immediately. The pages glowed softly as they turned, stopping on a single spread. In front of Harry, space opened into a clear, stable gate. There was no distortion or elemental surge—just a clean opening formed by soul energy.
A large white tiger stepped out.
The creature was massive, its body long and solid, built with dense muscle beneath thick white fur. Faint silver patterns ran naturally along its frame, not glowing, but visible enough to stand out. Its paws were broad, claws extended slightly as they touched the stone floor. Its eyes were sharp and alert, scanning the arena with calm awareness rather than aggression.
Once fully out, the tiger released a low roar. The sound was deep and steady, echoing across the arena without shaking it.
The audience reacted immediately.
Among the commoners, murmurs spread as people leaned forward, trying to understand what kind of magic this was. Some pointed, others simply watched in silence.
The nobles straightened in their seats, expressions turning cautious. This wasn't an elemental summon or a familiar mana construct, and that difference was clear to them.
In the captains' section, conversation stopped. Rill watched with open interest, Charlotte's attention narrowed onto Harry, and Fuegoleon studied the summon carefully, saying nothing.
Back on the battlefield, the white tiger positioned itself in front of Harry, standing still, its presence steady and controlled.