Chapter 17: Kira's Operation

On the side, Urrutia hadn't expected the situation to veer so wildly off course and seemed momentarily at a loss.

What now? she wondered. I came here to assist Leon with his plan, but now the other side doesn't even want to stop the ceremony? Has my intervention been completely pointless?

She debated her next move. Should I just leave? Or perhaps test this so-called "sage," Kira? He seems to know more than he's letting on… maybe it's worth observing him a little longer.

While Urrutia hesitated, Gray broke the silence with a question. "Come to think of it, how are you doing this? How can the Moon Drop ritual continue without anyone actively performing it?"

Urrutia smiled smugly. "I simply altered the moonlight's timeline."

Except for Kira, who had already heard a similar explanation, everyone else wore varying degrees of confusion.

"Timeline?"

She chuckled. "That's right. My magic, Arc of Time, allows me to manipulate the timeline of objects. I accelerated the transformation of the moonlight. At this rate, in another hour or two, the Moon Drop's power will be complete."

Urrutia basked in the astonishment of her audience until Kira spoke up, his tone both instructional and mocking:

"Listen closely, Cana, Rocky, Gray—take this as a lesson. Never reveal all your abilities to an opponent so casually. The wizard standing before you is an excellent example of what not to do. I've just tricked her into explaining her magic's core function with a few probing questions. A foolish mistake."

Urrutia: "..."

Kira continued his lecture. "Gray and Rocky, this may not be as useful for you since your magic is fairly straightforward, but for someone like you, Cana, the lesson is invaluable. Card magic, while dependent on preparation, is also highly versatile. Your enemy may know you use cards, but they'll never know which ones you'll play unless you tip your hand."

Kira's eyes glinted as he spoke, his voice brimming with authority. "In combat, adapt to your enemy's magic, the environment, and their temperament. Do not rely on a single predictable strategy."

Feeling that the moment called for more instruction, Kira addressed the group as though he were delivering a masterclass. "Take this enemy as an example. Her magic allows her to manipulate time—impressive, but it has limitations. If you ever face an opponent with a similar ability, how would you handle them?"

Gray, still troubled by his earlier failure, asked quietly, "What should I have done?"

Kira gave him an approving nod, as if to say, Good question, my student. Then he elaborated, "Think about her magic logically. Why doesn't she simply use her abilities to age the ice sealing Deliora? Why doesn't she age us into oblivion? The answer is simple: her magic has limits. It likely can't affect living beings."

Though offended, Urrutia couldn't help but acknowledge Kira's deduction. She chuckled nervously. "As expected of the legendary 'sage,' you've analyzed my abilities accurately. But knowing doesn't mean you can stop me."

"That's where you're wrong," Kira countered. "Once we know the rules, the solution becomes obvious. If her magic doesn't work on living beings, then just get close enough to teach her a lesson with your fists!"

Rocky laughed, flexing his arms. "Now that's a strategy I can get behind!"

Urrutia, unimpressed, waved her hand. The ground beneath her rippled and collapsed before reforming into jagged stones. These floated into the air and began to rotate around her like a defensive barrier. The entire sequence was seamless, a testament to her mastery of her magic.

"Let's see you try," she said smugly.

The display left everyone but Kira awestruck. Even Leon, nursing his own wounds nearby, began to reevaluate Urrutia. Was I wrong to underestimate her? She's clearly more capable than I thought.

"You see," Urrutia began, "you can't even get close to me—"

She was cut off by Kira's sudden movement.

"Quick!" he declared. "Heavy Hit!"

Kira cast two spells in rapid succession, imbuing his hands and feet with enhanced speed and power. He surged forward like a missile, breaking through the rotating stones effortlessly.

"What?!" Urrutia barely had time to react. She raised her hands in a feeble attempt to block as Kira's fist came hurtling toward her face.

The punch stopped just short of its mark, mere centimeters from her nose. The sheer force of the blow sent gusts of wind whipping through her hair and clothes. For a brief moment, she thought she had been spared.

"That was close," she murmured.

BANG!!!

The follow-up strike sent her sprawling. Urrutia's world spun as she hit the ground, staring up at the glowing purple sky. Her face throbbed painfully. The moonlight is beautiful tonight... but why does my head hurt so much?

Kira dusted off his hands nonchalantly and turned to his companions. "See? That's how it's done. Don't get bogged down by conventional combat methods. Take the enemy by surprise. Exploit their weaknesses. Victory is about adaptability and creativity."

The group stared at him, a mix of admiration and bewilderment on their faces.

"So this is the path to becoming an S-class wizard?" Rocky asked, still processing what he'd just witnessed.

Kira smirked. "You catch on quickly."

Urrutia groaned from the ground. "So... Word Magic isn't just about creating objects... it can enhance physical abilities too?"

Kira turned to her, his expression triumphant. "Concreteness is just the surface. The true strength of Word Magic lies in shaping language itself. Do you remember the magical props I've created? That's the same principle at work. By layering enchantments through words, I can achieve nearly any effect."

Urrutia, now more wary than wounded, looked up at him with renewed respect—and fear.

As the Moon Drop ritual neared its climax, the air around them vibrated with magical energy. Kira's expression grew serious for the first time. He motioned for everyone to stand back.

"It's almost time," he announced. "Gray, Leon—get ready. This is the moment of truth."

Leon, who had been silently recovering, finally stood up. His eyes locked with Gray's, and for the first time since their reunion, his hostility softened.

The ground trembled as the ritual's power reached its peak. All eyes turned toward the ancient seal holding Deliora.

The battle wasn't over yet.

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