Episode 329: Clash of Fire and Ice
Albert was a man with a gentle expression, as if he wouldn’t hurt a fly.
However, the killing intent emanating from his body froze Yuma, Rui, and even Akito to the bone.
“Oi oi, what’s with the overwhelming pressure, old man! This is no joke!”
“Yu, Yuma…”
While Akito and Rui were bewildered, Yuma glared up at Albert.
“So, you’re going to judge whether we’re trustworthy in a fight… You have a gentle face, but you’re still a martial arts fanatic.”
Yuma also grinned.
“Fine by me! Let’s have a rematch, “Flame Emperor Albert”!!”
◇◇◇
Yuma was led by Albert to a large vacant lot next to the art museum.
The neatly trimmed lawn reflected the sunlight. Yuma and Albert stopped a short distance apart and faced each other.
A pleasant breeze blew between them.
“It’s been about half a year since I fought you, hasn’t it? I was surprised by your strength when I first saw it.”
Albert spoke with a smile. Yuma directed a sharp gaze at him.
“I never thought that the foreigner I met at the ramen shop would be the strongest Seeker. You were even stronger than the rumors said.”
Both of them had Earbud Translators in their ears, so there were no problems with the conversation.
“I’m glad to hear you say that. I don’t know why you’re walking around freely, but I feel like you’ve gotten stronger than before. Have you been through many battles?”
“You can find out how strong I’ve become by testing it yourself.”
Yuma and Albert grinned and entered a battle stance.
Rui, Akito, and the members of Prometheus who were watching nearby held their breath at the extraordinary tension.
Yuma was the first to move. He activated “Metallization,” and the moment he started running, he transformed into 【Black Armor】. Many of the Prometheus members had seen 【Black Armor】 in Japan.
The members’ expressions, including Mia’s, tightened at the sight of the black, ominous monster.
Yuma in 【Black Armor】 charged straight in. However, Albert showed no signs of panic.
Remaining calm, he raised both hands to chest height. Flames swirled around Albert, and he quietly opened his mouth.
“…Volcanic Eruption.”
The ground beneath Yuma’s feet instantly turned into magma, exploding and blowing the ground away.
Yuma managed to avoid it, but Albert didn’t let up. He repeatedly turned the earth into magma, causing explosions one after another.
The figure of the 【Black Armor】 was obscured by fire and smoke.
Mia thought, “He got him!” but what emerged from the smoke was the 【Black Armor】 with blue patterns engraved all over its body.
The patterns shone vividly, lowering the surrounding temperature.
“Ho, amazing. I feel a much stronger Magical Power than when we met in Japan.”
Ignoring the impressed Albert, Yuma ran. If he was covered in “Water Magic” all over his body, even Albert’s explosive flames would be nullified.
Thinking so, Yuma clenched his right fist and punched at Albert.
“Eh?”
Yuma let out a surprised voice. Albert, who should have been in front of him, had disappeared. Looking around, Albert had moved behind him.
He was smiling and beckoning, as if saying, “Over here, over here.”
“You bastard!”
Yuma immediately turned around and punched at Albert. However, no matter how many times he hit, he couldn’t touch his body.
Looking at Albert’s feet, he saw that he was creating small explosions on the soles of his feet to increase his movement speed at the moment of moving.
It was a method of movement that Rui also used. But the level of skill was too different.
And even when his fist was about to hit, it was deflected by the “Magical Barrier” that was stretched around his body.
He was reminded once again of Albert’s skillful fighting style.
–This old man… is strong!!
As Yuma hesitated, Albert shook his head in exasperation.
“Your power isn’t just that, is it? You can go all out, you know.”
It was a clear provocation. However, if he used the Bloodstained Ore, he might end up killing Albert.
They were going to fight together after this. He couldn’t do that.
As Yuma was troubled, Albert’s cheeks softened into a smile.
“If you’re not going to get serious, then I’ll have to come at you!”
Albert waved his right hand, and flames erupted around him, changing shape. What appeared was a flame Dragon with a long body.
Moreover, three of them raised their heads at the same time.
“Ugh!? This is–“
Yuma looked up at the Dragons and was speechless. It was definitely Third Tier Fire Magic.
Albert was effortlessly using advanced magic that even Yuma could only use by transforming into a fire monster.
As expected, the name of the strongest was not just for show.
While Yuma was hesitating, Albert held out his right hand.
“Go… and burn everything to the ground.”
The three Dragons began to move at once. They swam through the sky, snaking and attacking the 【Black Armor】.
At that moment, Rui, who was watching from a distance, shouted.
“Yuma! Use it!!”
What Rui threw came spinning through the air. Yuma grabbed it firmly with his right hand. It was the “Pickel” that he had entrusted to Rui before the battle.
He thought that Albert, who was not a monster, wouldn’t need it, so he had Rui hold it, but this was no time for such leisurely thoughts.
Yuma gripped the Pickel tightly and poured Magical Power into the head.
The “Water Magical Power” that had increased greatly during the England expedition. The Pickel shone blue and began to freeze with a crackling sound.
“Don’t underestimate me!”
When he slammed the Pickel into the head of the approaching Dragon, it exploded at that moment.
Frost was scattered around, and the flame Dragon disappeared. Two more Dragons attacked, but Yuma calmly swung the Pickel.
The Pickel, transformed into an ice hammer, swept away the flame Dragons.
The two Dragons exploded, and a large amount of fire spread around, but it was extinguished by the frost.
Yuma readjusted his grip on the ice hammer and glared at Albert in front of him.
Albert, too, smiled as he stared at Yuma in 【Black Armor】.
“You’re strong after all. It seems like I can’t defeat you with half-hearted power.”
Albert put both hands in front of his chest. A Fireball was created inside his hands, and it seemed to be raising the temperature with a flickering flame.
“I wonder if this will work?”
Yuma felt a chill run down his spine at Albert’s eerie smile. The created Fireball was dyed black.
–That’s… Fourth Tier Fire Magic! Can a human create something like that!?
Yuma was bewildered, but he wouldn’t get away unscathed if he took it head-on. He had to get serious too!
Yuma focused his mind on the Chimera’s Jewel. The 【King】’s Jewel showed no reaction. If that was the case, then this was all he could use.
The Jewel on his left hand shone intensely. Streams of water gushed out around Yuma, gradually taking shape.
Water wings spread on his back, and crystal protrusions grew on his shoulders and head. The power of the Crystal Dragon was drawn out by the Conglomerate’s ability.
Finally, the head of an Ice Dragon was reproduced on his left hand.
“Let’s settle this!”
The Dragon head on his left hand opened its jaws and gathered Ice Magical Power. Yuma and Albert, who had enhanced the extreme fire and extreme ice, released their techniques at the same time.