Natural Counter

"Char, why don't you re-summon your skeleton? It will be in better condition that way," Anne suggested as they wait for the last match.

"Well, I have my reason. And the skeleton doesn't really need to be re-summoned, with its regeneration magic it is already in top condition since it can't feel fatigued," he replied.

If he re-summoned the skeleton, then the magic tattoos would disappear as it had used them, Char doesn't have time to give it another tattoo, so it's better to keep it summoned.

"Alright then, but you never tell me you have so many magic items, why do you need to join this competition if you are actually that rich?" she asked him.

"Oh, it's not a magic item, it's a magic circle that I make. It's still incomplete, so the cost to make one is sky high compared to its utility," He said.

"Can you make one for my imp?" She asked again.

"I can make you one for two magic crystals, but after you use the magic circle, if your imp gets killed, then it loses the magic circle, is that ok?" he asked back.

"Ugh... do you think I have a single magic crystal? I would not be so desperate for this tournament if I actually have money!" she retorted.

Despite the price, she did not say that he was charging too much. For a normal magic item, people would need to pay for tens of magic crystals.

The tattoo could only be used in one instance, but if they keep it for an emergency, then it could actually be a lifesaving tool!

Char actually only needs one mana crystal to finish one simple magic tattoo, but he charges another mana crystal for his services.

"Hahaha... I can give you one when you have the money. Anyway, do you have any idea who is our next opponent?" he changed the topic after laughing awkwardly.

"Now that you bring it up, I'm rather pessimistic about this match. Our next opponent is too strong in my eyes," she grimaced.

"Are they that strong? How many percent is our chance to win this fight if we were to fight them?" he grew concerned.

"Our opponent is a living armor and a holy horse. They work together as cavalry fighters, so we need to beat both of them together. If I'm to judge then I'd say 15%, unless you have another secret weapon it's pretty unlikely that we win."

"Damn! A living armor and holy horse! Both are top-class creatures!" Char cursed.

A holy horse could evolve to be a pegasus or unicorn depending on which direction the summoner chose, they are known to be able to walk through the sky and give good luck.

A living armor on the other hand could evolve to better material, from iron to orichalcum, they could be worn by the summoner or even another creature.

A high-level living armor really sought after because it could arm a whole army with armor and weapons, it was basically free war supplies.

"Will we fight an armored horse, then?" he wondered.

But when they reach the arena for the final fight, rather than an armored horse, the living armor mounts the white horse like a cavalry.

It carried a long sword on its right arm and a shield on the other arm, it actually looked like a real knight.

The moment their fight started, Char and the others were about to get moving and gang up on the cavalry, but white light gathered at the horse's forehead.

Then, a beam of light went straight to the skeleton. It could not even dodge the lightfast attack. Once the light dissipated, it had turned the skeleton into a pile of bones.

"Smite? No! that is purification magic! it actually has purification magic!" Char lamented as the magic was the bane of any undead creature. On other creatures, it would not be that effective, but to undead creatures, it was really effective.

He was still aghast when the horse charged at them. He quickly rolled to the side just in time to dodge the horse and its rider's attack.

It turned around and went for another charge. Its target was the Imp, as the term of the fight was to kill the summoned creatures.

His brain went to overdrive when he felt a movement in his pocket, "Anne, tell your imp to lead the horse to the pile of bones, it's our only chance," he quickly said.

She nodded as the Imp suddenly ran toward the pile of bones. The horse and its rider went after it, but it put the pile of bones in between them so they would need to pass by it before they could reach it.

"Now!" Char pulled the bone in his pocket and threw it at the pile. Once it touched the pile, they were about to assemble themselves into a complete skeleton, but the horse was going to smash them to pieces with its charge.

"Explode!" Char command as mana gathered toward the skeleton, like crazy. It exploded with such force that it pushed him back a few meters.

The skeleton did not get purified fully as some part of it was carried by Char, when the bones reunite with each other, the skeleton gets restored to its full power as the purification only wiped its consciousness inside the pile of bones and none of the bones were broken.

The explosion was way bigger than middle finger magic as it was the skeleton's full body that exploded.

The sole power of the explosion amazed the audience, but they thought it was from the magic item Char threw at the bones.

"I envy rich people, they could actually throw money like throwing a pebble," some audience members thought.

"Yeah, if I have that much magic item then I can also win the tournament!" another contestant that loses in the first round said.

While the audiences were busy commentating, the dust settled, and half-broken armor raised with its sword pointed forward.

"Damn, that actually did not kill both of them!" Char cursed disappointedly.