[Match Found]

Lu Cang sized up the opponent who had appeared 100 meters away from him.

He had a bow slung across his back.

’An Archer, it seems.’

He glanced up at the name. He didn’t recognize it.

His opponent was sizing up Lu Cang as well.

He saw Lu Cang standing with his hands in his pockets, but since he was wearing a Mage Robe, it was obvious at a glance that Lu Cang was a Mage.

But why was he just a kid?

The countdown began—

3...

During this time, Lu Cang tried to cast Magic, but he felt it being suppressed.

’So you can’t use Skills before the countdown ends.’

2...

Glancing down, he noticed a faint red circle of light behind him. Lu Cang realized that before the battle began, neither combatant could cross that line.

’A distance restriction.’

’Fair enough.’

1...

SWOOSH!

The instant the countdown ended, his opponent’s Arrow was already piercing through the air.

In addition to the Arrow coming straight at him, five more fanned out in an arc, curving toward him from different directions.

But Lu Cang didn’t even lift a hand.

WHOOSH—

A swift flash of light blasted through the frontal Arrow and, without losing any momentum, pierced through the Archer’s heart.

An instant kill.

「Light Bundle Instant Flash (Level 201)」

Its two evolutions had both increased its casting speed.

Although it wasn’t very powerful, it was Lu Cang’s fastest instantaneous Magic.

The Archer collapsed, his eyes lifeless.

The victor had been decided.

One win.

[Continue or Stop] A voice echoed in his mind.

Lu Cang chose to continue without hesitation.

[Match Found]

Almost the instant he agreed, a new opponent appeared before him.

’Should be a Warrior, one with a Sword and Shield.’

He held his shield before him, observing Lu Cang as well.

3...

2...

1...

「Light Bundle Instant Flash (Level 201)」x3

BANG!

The light pierced straight through his shield, blasting through his shield and armor to penetrate his heart.

An instant kill.

Even the weakest Level 201 Beyond Magic was difficult for an ordinary Level 2 Professional to block.

Not to mention, Lu Cang had used a Triple Release.

The third, the fourth... the twenty-seventh battle...

Lu Cang won every match. The biggest waste of time, ironically, was the three-second countdown.

"So weak..."

’This endless string of instant kills is getting a little boring. Maybe I should challenge one of those so-called Level 2 Mages...’

Lu Cang was quite curious about where his own strength ranked among those of the same level.

During their half-month journey, he’d heard Iz and the others mention several geniuses.

True geniuses all had the ability to kill Demons of a higher tier.

Kumironi had also mentioned an Assassin she helped with an early Reincarnation last year, saying he was likely the strongest genius Assassin in recent years.

This trip to the Capital was also because Kumironi had been invited to assist with her Level 4 Reincarnation Ritual.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason for going to the Capital. As the High Priest of the Divine Hall of Life, Kumironi had to preside over an event called the Life Celebration every few years.

’Having a job certainly isn’t easy.’

[Match Found]

Lu Cang readied himself by default, but his new opponent, having just spawned in, clearly faltered for a moment upon seeing him.

’A kid?’

’What’s going on? An early Reincarnator?’

’Or... is he a Hider?’

’But he looks way too young, doesn’t he?’

Lu Cang glanced up at his opponent’s name—Monsier.

’Oh, the Genius Mage from the flyer.’

’Indeed, his equipment looks quite refined. A very nice-looking Magic Staff, what appears to be an expensive Magic Robe, a Magic Hat humming with fluctuations of Magic Power, this and that...’

3...

"Hey... did Kumironi perform an early Reincarnation for you?"

Lu Cang hadn’t intended to answer.

Chatting with the enemy during a battle wasn’t Lu Cang’s style, unless he was the one stalling for time.

But on second thought, this wasn’t a life-or-death struggle.

He gave a nod. "Yes."

2...

"In other words, Kumironi believed you were a magical genius worthy of Reincarnation..."

For some reason, Lu Cang felt a surge of hatred directed at him from the other Mage.

"When Kumironi passed through here two years ago, I also asked her to preside over my Reincarnation."

’You talk a lot. You can say so much in just one second.’

’Is this what you’d expect from a Mage? All that practice Chanting Magic must have made him a fast talker.’

1...

"But she refused me."

"Even though she gently told me that I could officially reincarnate in two years and didn’t need to be in such a hurry..."

Lu Cang felt the Thunder Element surge above his head.

「Protective Barrier」

BOOM!

A bolt of thunder suddenly descended from the sky!

"But I still understood what she really meant! She thought I wasn’t worthy!"

The thunder crashed against the barrier, and Monsier’s eyes narrowed slightly.

A single phrase surfaced in both their minds at the same time: No Chanting.

Lu Cang mused inwardly: ’So he can use No Chanting too. I guess that makes him a genius. But this Thunder Strike Skill only has the power of Level 7 proficiency...’

’Looks like he’s achieving No Chanting through his equipment.’

Lu Cang had been about to lift his hand and kill him instantly.

But he was in the middle of spilling some tea about Kumironi.

After blocking the attack, Lu Cang asked in a casual, nonchalant tone, "And?"

’And?’

’So why did she help *you* reincarnate!’

"So, after I reincarnated, it took me less than six months to become a Level 2 Mage! And now, in less than a year, I’ve mastered No Chanting for four different kinds of Magic!"

"Come on, ’genius’! Let’s see if your strength is enough to give me a real fight!"

’A real fight?’

’I suppose I had a real fight when I fought Iz.’

’But when it was just a contest of Magic, I kept losing. Speaking of which, I’ve never actually met an opponent of the same level who could give me a satisfying battle.’

’Is this how Iz felt back then?’

Ice Cones materialized beside him.

He launched them at Lu Cang!

「No Chanting: Ice Cone Skill (Level 7)」

At the same time, he interspersed Thunder Strikes between the Ice Cones—one from the sky, one from the front—both hurtling toward Lu Cang!

Behind Lu Cang, an Earth Spike shot up!

「Earth Spike Technique (Level 7)」

The consecutively cast No Chanting Magic spells boxed Lu Cang in from three sides.

Immediately after, the ground ruptured!

Vines shot up one after another, lashing toward Lu Cang!

「Vine Whip (Level 10)」

’Oh? He actually trained this Tier Two Spell, Vine Whip, to Level 10 on his own.’

Since it was a spell Lu Cang also knew, he could tell.

"I am now on the path to comprehending the legendary Root Magic!"

"With my aptitude! Why wouldn’t she awaken it for me!"

Four spells.

All would strike Lu Cang at the same moment.

At the same time, the Vines blocked every path of retreat.

"Sigh."

A soft sigh.

Lu Cang’s voice drifted over. "Is that all?"

"What do you mean, is that all?"

Lu Cang: "Your so-called genius."

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The Earth Spike, Thunder Strike, and Ice Cones exploded and shattered around Lu Cang, leaving him completely unscathed.

As for the lone Vine Whip, Lu Cang casually flung a ball of Flame at it.

The Vines instantly burst into a great fire and turned to ash.

"What are you trying to say!"

"Nothing."

With his hands still in his pockets, Lu Cang made forty-two Ice Shuttles materialize around his opponent, while the light of thunder brewed in every corner around Monsier.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Punching Pillars erupted from the ground around him like a chaotic field of stone!

Poison Vines rose up, hundreds of deep purple stalks writhing toward the sky like a frenzy of dragons.

"I’m just a little disappointed."