Volume 03, Chapter 101

  Training Before Duel [6]

  —Whoosh!

  A gust of wind surges past Dominic. In an instant, Célestin’s presence appears by his side.

  Dominic barely reacts in time, his eyes widening at Célestin’s speed.

  Fast—too fast!

  Dominic grits his teeth, relying on his heightened instincts. If he blinks, it will be over.

  Célestin whispers calmly, gathering Mana in his outstretched hand. "Temporal Blade."

  A sleek blade of glowing, pale-blue energy materializes instantly.

  Without hesitation, Célestin swings it downward toward Dominic. However, Dominic’s [A+] Instinct kicks in. He sidesteps just in time, skidding across the ground, and points one of his revolvers at Célestin, already channeling Mana into the weapon.

  But before he can pull the trigger—

  —Clang!

  Célestin kicks the barrel upward, forcing the shot wide.

  Dominic adjusts swiftly, raising his other revolver—but Célestin anticipates it, gripping Dominic's wrist and pinning it down.

  “Tch!” Dominic grunts, trying to bring his first gun back up—only to have that wrist caught as well.

  ‘What the hell…?’ Dominic thinks as he struggles to break free.

  Célestin’s grip is iron-strong. He even holds the conjured blade casually in one hand, his expression composed and relaxed.

  Dominic frowns deeply. Despite being only [C] Rank and Dominic being [D+] Rank, the difference should not be this wide. And yet, he feels overpowered.

  And another thing—if Célestin is genuinely this powerful, why does he not simply finish him with that blade? Dominic’s instincts whisper that he is missing something critical here.

  “Célestin,” Dominic pants, “how are you this strong? And why are you not striking me down with that sword already?”

  Célestin smirks calmly, amusement sparkling in his eyes. “Look closer, Dominic. If I attacked you with this blade, you would be dead instantly. It would be boring.”

  Dominic frowns in confusion before suddenly noticing something vital.

  Célestin’s entire body is subtly shimmering. He is infusing Mana directly into his muscles and joints!

  Dominic’s eyes widen. “You are channeling Mana directly into your body… boosting your physical abilities!”

  “Exactly!” Célestin chuckles, tightening his grip. “Mana is not limited to conjuring spells. You can infuse your physical body with it to temporarily boost strength, speed, and endurance. You can also use raw Mana defensively, creating simple shields or armor.”

  Without warning, Célestin shifts his balance, pulling Dominic forward sharply and kicking him hard in the stomach.

  “Gah—!” Dominic gasps painfully, stumbling backward.

  Célestin swiftly releases Dominic’s wrists, pivots, and delivers a rapid punch aimed at Dominic’s face.

  Dominic, seeing the incoming attack, instinctively reacts—

  [Tactical Tumble]

  Dominic performs a swift backward cartwheel, narrowly evading Célestin’s punch. Mid-air, his body inverts gracefully; he adjusts his aim, gathering Mana swiftly into his guns again.

  —Bang!

  A purple, Mana-infused bullet surges forth, shooting straight at Célestin’s chest.

  Célestin calmly raises his sword. As the bullet hits the edge—

  —FZZZT!

  It shimmers red… and disintegrates into nothing.

  Clark, watching the intense battle from afar, can only stare with wide-eyed awe. Who knew his big brother was this skilled?

  Dominic stands firm at a distance, both revolvers aimed steadily at Célestin, breathing heavily but steadily.

  “If I can directly infuse Mana into my body to boost myself physically or defensively,” Dominic asks, narrowing his eyes, “how is that different from using spells designed for the same purpose?”

  Célestin smiles approvingly at Dominic’s curiosity, straightening his stance as he speaks clearly:

  “Think of Mana as raw energy—direct fuel from your soul. Spells are crafted from your mind’s intention and imagination using that energy. Mana alone can reinforce your body, but only at a basic level. A spell takes that same energy and refines it, strengthening its purpose and effectiveness.”

  Dominic raises an eyebrow, intrigued. “In other words, raw Mana enhances your physical abilities superficially—but a specialized physical enhancement spell amplifies that boost significantly?”

  Célestin’s grin widens. “Exactly! Pure Mana infusion gives fast, flexible, but moderate results. Spells, on the other hand, focus Mana into specific forms, boosting its power and efficiency. The trade-off is simple: Mana infusion is quicker and easier to use, but limited; spells take more time and control, but give stronger and more accurate results.”

  Dominic nods, a spark of understanding igniting within him.

  “Got it. So, it is about speed versus specialization.”

  Célestin spins his glowing blade casually, smirking confidently.

  “Now, let us see if you can apply that knowledge in practice, Domy. Ready for round two?”

  Dominic nods, drawing a slow breath to center himself. Carefully, he begins gathering Mana into both of his guns again—but this time, he simultaneously tries channeling it through his body.

  Maintaining steady control of Mana distribution in both his body and weapons proves extremely challenging, especially under the stress of a sparring match.

  Dominic can already feel sweat forming on his brow.

  Across from him, Célestin calmly raises a palm in his direction.

  “Time Bomb.”

  White orbs of flickering temporal energy burst forth, scattering toward Dominic.

  Dominic’s eyes widen. He has read about this spell in the web novel—these are not ordinary explosives. They age anything they touch rapidly, corroding even the strongest barriers.

  Quickly, he pours Mana into his legs, accelerating his movement.

  —Whoosh!

  Dominic leaps high and clear, much higher than his normal physical limit. He lands in a tight roll just as—

  —Boom!

  Behind him, the white orbs detonate. Where they strike, the ground ages rapidly, grass wilting and dirt turning gray in an instant.

  Not pausing, Dominic immediately resumes his charge at Célestin, gathering more Mana into his legs while aiming his revolvers ahead.

  Célestin stands unfazed, casually gripping his glowing Temporal Blade.

  [Vanguard Volley]

  Dominic opens fire rapidly, unleashing a barrage of Mana-infused shots toward Célestin.

  —Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Célestin parries effortlessly once more, but Dominic is not discouraged.

  Instead, he sprints faster, closing the distance between them.

  —Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

  Again, Célestin swats each shot aside, leaving only small sparks of dissipated Mana.

  Dominic is now dangerously close. Célestin’s eyes widen slightly.

  ‘He is trying close-quarters combat…? But Basic Gun Arts excel in mid-to-long range. What is he thinking?’

  In that instant, Dominic suddenly shifts one gun downward, aiming at the dirt directly between them. He releases a single, Mana-packed shot.

  —Bang!

  The bullet explodes against the ground, instantly kicking up a thick cloud of dust and smoke.

  Célestin instinctively shields his eyes. “A smokescreen?” he mutters.

  He quickly understands Dominic’s intention. ‘Not bad…but unfortunately for him, it only works if the enemy cannot sense Mana.’

  Dominic circles around swiftly, positioning himself silently behind Célestin.

  Channeling Mana once more into his legs, he springs upward, spinning into a kick mid-air. At the same time, he aims both guns behind him, firing another technique:

  [Gravity’s Gambit]

  —Bang! Bang!

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  The recoil from both guns propels Dominic forward with incredible force, boosting the speed and momentum of his airborne kick.

  But as Dominic’s foot connects with Célestin’s head, it passes straight through like mist.

  Dominic’s eyes widen in shock. ‘An afterimage—?!’

  He tumbles through empty air, off-balance, crashing roughly onto the ground and rolling across the dirt.

  Dominic gasps, quickly regaining his stance, searching frantically for Célestin’s presence. He strains his senses, trying to detect the other’s Mana signature.

  Before he can refocus properly, a sudden message flashes before him:

  Dominic grits his teeth, frustration rising. He has already used most of his Mana, and he has not even touched Célestin yet—

  Suddenly, his instincts scream danger.

  Dominic instantly jumps upward again, just as Célestin appears behind him, legs reinforced with Mana, sweeping powerfully across where Dominic had stood only a moment earlier.

  Célestin’s eyes widen slightly in surprise. ‘He dodged it?!’ he thinks.

  Dominic feels a momentary rush of relief, but it is short-lived.

  Without hesitation, Célestin follows through, pivoting swiftly into a devastating, Mana-infused punch aimed straight at Dominic’s mid-air form.

  Dominic has no room to dodge. Instinctively, he crosses his arms protectively across his chest.

  —BOOM!

  The Mana-enhanced punch connects heavily, sending Dominic flying backward at a terrifying speed.

  —CRACK!!

  Dominic crashes violently into the boulder he had used for target practice earlier, the force of impact shattering it into dozens of jagged fragments.

  He coughs harshly, his body momentarily glowing faintly blue as Shielded Aura absorbs a fraction of the damage.

  Dominic groans weakly, his whole body aching from the tremendous blow. Even with the passive defensive skill cushioning some of the force, Célestin’s Mana-reinforced strike delivers significant pain.

  “Ugh…” He coughs slightly, slowly rising to his feet, and shakes off stone fragments and dust from his shoulders.

  Looking up, he sees Célestin standing calmly in the distance, sword still glowing softly, his expression a blend of pride and amusement.

  “You still alive over there?” Célestin calls out teasingly.

  Dominic spits dust from his mouth, forcing himself to smile despite the throbbing ache.

  “Barely,” he mutters. He raises his revolvers once more, steadying his breath, ready to keep fighting.

  Clark’s eyes fill with worry as he watches Dominic struggle to his feet, bruised and panting.

  “Big brother!” Clark cries as he sprints forward and throws himself in front of Dominic, arms spread wide in a protective stance, his small body trembling.

  Both Dominic and Célestin blink in surprise.

  A moment later, they smile.

  Dominic lowers his revolvers, slipping them into his holsters, and takes a slow step forward, wincing slightly from the pain.

  “Clark,” he says softly, “you don’t have to protect me. We were just sparring.”

  Clark turns toward him, brows furrowed and eyes glistening. “But you were hurt! I saw you hit the rock and—!”

  Dominic rests a hand gently on Clark’s head, ruffling his hair with a reassuring grin. “Yeah, I got hurt, but that’s how sparring works. You learn by pushing yourself.”

  Clark looks down, his small hands clenching tightly. “I did not like seeing you get hurt…”

  “I know. And I appreciate you trying to protect me.” Dominic crouches a little so they are eye level. “That was brave of you, Clark. But next time, if your opponent is stronger, it’s okay to run. You do not always have to fight head-on.”

  Clark hesitates, then nods. “Okay…”

  Célestin steps forward, arms crossed with a proud smirk. “Well, Domy, I think that’s enough sparring for today. You surprised me.”

  Dominic chuckles, rubbing his shoulder. “Glad to hear that. So? How did I do?”

  Célestin raises a brow, clearly shifting into teacher mode. “Alright, here’s your report card.” He begins counting off on his fingers. “Your Mana control has improved significantly, especially how fast you can gather and restrain it now. Pouring Mana into your guns still needs some polishing, but the progress is impressive.”

  He drops one hand and points his thumb back at Dominic. “Your spellcasting needs more practice. The buildup and release of Mana could be faster, and you need to work on sustaining the spell.”

  Dominic nods, absorbing every word carefully.

  “But you know what impressed me?” Célestin leans in slightly. “Your instincts. They’re ridiculously sharp. I threw feints and pressure at you, and you still reacted just in time. No hesitation. No panic. That’s rare.”

  Dominic tilts his head. “Thanks, but… what do my instincts have to do with Mana control?”

  Célestin grins. “A lot, actually. Instincts are not just useful for dodging. They help you feel things faster, especially changes in Mana flow. If your body reacts before your brain catches up, you’re more likely to restrain surges, stabilize fluctuations, or detect threats before they spike. Most people need years to develop that kind of reaction.”

  Dominic blinks. “So… instinct helps me respond to my own Mana?”

  “Exactly. Controlling Mana is not just a mental process—it’s spiritual, physical, and reflexive. You’ve got the reflex part down.” Célestin winks. “Now you just need to keep training until the rest catches up.”

  Clark, still standing beside Dominic, glances up at them both. “Does that mean Big Brother’s gonna get even cooler?”

  Dominic ruffles his hair again, smiling. “You bet.”

  Suddenly, Dominic’s vision blurs. A sudden wave of dizziness washes over him, making his body feel weightless, like he might float away if he does not anchor himself.

  He instinctively closes his eyes and raises a hand to his forehead, breathing slowly and steadily as the world tilts slightly beneath his feet.

  Célestin and Clark notice immediately.

  “Dominic?” Célestin steps closer, his tone shifting from relaxed to alert. “Are you okay?”

  Dominic manages a weak smile, even as his knees wobble. “I’m fine… Just a little fuzzy. Guess I overdid it.”

  Célestin exhales sharply, already moving to his side for support. “Yeah, no kidding. You’ve been pouring out Mana nonstop, you’re running on fumes.”

  Just then, a soft chime echoes in Dominic’s mind as the familiar System screen flickers to life.

  Dominic blinks at the glowing screen and lets out a tired breath, the corner of his lips lifting slightly. He has made progress.

  Célestin catches the subtle shift in his expression. He cannot see the System screen—or even know it exists—but something about Dominic’s quiet satisfaction tells him everything he needs.

  “Well then,” Célestin says, clapping his hands with finality. “That’s a wrap for today. Let’s get you home before you faceplant in a field of flowers. After I drop you off, I’ve got to head back to Aurelior. My parents are probably sharpening their questions as we speak.”

  Dominic raises an eyebrow. “Wait—you’re not going to watch my duel with Arthur tomorrow?”

  “Nah, I’ll be there,” Célestin replies with a smirk. “I’m just swinging by that love hotel René told us about.”

  Dominic gives him a wary look. “Do not go in alone. I want to be the one to deal with Guzman.”

  Célestin chuckles. “Relax. I’m just scouting the outside. No suicidal hero moves. Promise.”

  “Hmph… fine,” Dominic says with a half-hearted shrug. “Just do not die before my duel.”

  “Noted.”

  Célestin gently places a steadying hand on Dominic’s shoulder as they start the walk back. Clark hovers close to Dominic’s other side, eyes wide with lingering concern.

  “Big brother…” Clark murmurs, glancing up at him. “You were amazing today.”

  Dominic looks down and manages a small, tired smile. He reaches out and ruffles Clark’s hair again. “Thanks, buddy. I’ll get even better.”

  Together, the three of them move through the field of flowers—Dominic limping slightly, Célestin chatting lightheartedly to fill the silence, and Clark sticking close like a loyal shadow.

  Tired. Sore. Drained.

  But stronger than before.

  ════ ?★? ════

  Dominic’s eyes widen slightly in awe, taking in the elegant mansion standing before him.

  Nestled within an exclusive neighborhood in Tokyo, the modern estate is a portrait of minimalist luxury.

  Sleek white walls stand stark against expansive, tinted windows that stretch from floor to ceiling, reflecting glimpses of the lush gardens surrounding the property. The mansion boasts a symmetrical architectural design with sharp lines, contemporary styling, and a spacious open terrace overlooking a pristine swimming pool that shimmers gently beneath the afternoon sunlight.

  “Whoa,” Dominic murmurs, genuinely impressed. “What a beautiful place…”

  “Dominic?”

  He turns swiftly at the gentle voice, breaking into a warm smile as a middle-aged woman with soft, chestnut-brown hair and kind eyes approaches him.

  “Mrs. Williams,” Dominic greets warmly, inclining his head respectfully.

  The woman smiles patiently, her eyes sparkling gently. “Dominic, how many times do I have to remind you? You can just call me ‘Mom.’”

  Dominic chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed expression. “Ah, right, sorry! Force of habit…”

  She laughs lightly, shaking her head with playful warmth. “It’s alright, dear.”

  Dominic straightens up eagerly, stepping aside and gesturing grandly toward the mansion behind him. “Anyway… this is the mansion I was telling you about!”

  Mrs. Williams turns, her eyes widening in genuine amazement at the stunning property. “You mean… this is my birthday present?”

  Dominic nods enthusiastically, beaming proudly. “Yes! Happy birthday, Mom! My webnovel earned way more than I expected, so I thought… I wanted you and Dad to have something nice. You both deserve it.”

  Mrs. Williams’ expression softens, her eyes turning glassy with emotion as she stares at the home. Her voice trembles slightly as she speaks, “Oh Dominic… I never dreamed I would live somewhere like this…”

  Dominic immediately notices the hesitation in her voice. “Mom? Is everything okay?”

  She shakes her head slightly, wiping her eyes with a gentle laugh. “Sorry… I was just thinking. Clark, my husband, and I… we spent so many years in that cramped little apartment. It was old and falling apart, and sometimes even unbearable… but it was ours. And despite all the struggles, it holds so many memories—both good and bad.”

  Dominic quietly watches her expression, knowing how deeply those memories touch her heart.

  She smiles softly, turning her gaze back to him. “If Clark could see this, he would be so happy. Your stepbrother always dreamed of giving us a better life. He would have loved to see us here.”

  Dominic nods gently, his voice softening. “…I think so too.”

  Mrs. Williams quickly blinks away tears, giving Dominic a warm smile. “Oh goodness, look at me getting emotional. Shall we go inside? I am curious to explore it.”

  Dominic hesitates briefly. “Wait, what about Mis—I mean, Dad? Where is he?”

  She chuckles softly. “Your dad just started at his new job. I thought we could look around first, to surprise and impress him when he gets home.”

  Dominic relaxes, smiling again. “Okay, sounds good, Mom.”

  Suddenly, the familiar pale blue holographic screen flashes into view:

  Dominic frowns slightly in surprise but quickly recovers, turning to Mrs. Williams with an apologetic smile. “Actually, Mom, can you go ahead without me? I have to quickly take a call, it is from my… publisher.”

  “Oh, of course, dear,” Mrs. Williams nods understandingly, gently squeezing his shoulder before making her way toward the mansion.

  Dominic turns away, facing the screen again, his expression growing serious. “Alright. Tell me what happened.”

  Dominic strokes his chin thoughtfully.

  Dominic’s eyes narrow slightly. “It is simple. Célestin needs to realize that regressions are not always predictable. He should not get complacent, my traps will serve as a lesson. As for Arthur, he needs to experience firsthand the pain and confusion I went through during my first regression. It will strengthen him, make him more cautious and resilient.”

  Dominic’s expression softens slightly, a hint of pride flickering in his eyes. “Exactly as intended. After all, I was the one who deliberately placed that demon orb in the auction house for him. Continue.”

  Dominic’s smile widens faintly. “Good. With mana control like that, he will fare far better than I did when facing Malignor.”

  Dominic feels a quiet sense of hopefulness bloom inside him. Clark’s rapid improvement means their chances against the looming threat of Malignor are steadily increasing.

  Dominic’s expression hardens coldly, his voice becoming casual yet chilling. “Oh, I killed him.”

  There is a brief pause, the screen lingering silently before responding:

  "Dominic!"

  He quickly turns his attention back toward the mansion. Mrs. Williams stands at the mansion’s second-floor balcony, happily waving down to him.

  Dominic smiles, pushing aside his darker thoughts and waving back warmly. “Coming, Mom!”

  He casts one last glance at the fading holographic screen, composes himself, and strides forward to join his stepmother, ready to embrace a brighter chapter together.