Volume 03, Chapter 100

  Training Before Duel [5]

  Dominic raises both guns, adjusting his grip as he aims one at the distant boulder.

  Célestin stands behind him, arms crossed. "Alright, Domy, try channeling your magic into the guns."

  Dominic nods, but a sudden thought crosses his mind. How much Mana has he regained during their break?

  'System, how much Mana have I recovered?'

  'Not much, huh?' Dominic thinks with a sigh.

  Mana recovery is not instant. For a Magician or Manaficial to replenish their reserves, they must rest—not just physically, but also mentally and spiritually.

  Physical rest helps the body regulate its Mana flow. Mental relaxation prevents strain from overusing spells. Spiritual rest involves stabilizing one’s internal energy—aligning Mana with the body and soul for a smoother, natural recovery.

  However, since their lunch break had only lasted an hour, his recovery remains limited.

  But it will be enough.

  Dominic focuses, drawing his Mana into the revolvers.

  A deep purple glow radiates from the twin barrels of Galahad’s Judgement. The crimson steel hums with energy, an eerie mist swirling around them as Umbra Magic surges through their Aether cores.

  A small smirk forms on Dominic’s lips as he reads the notification.

  Magicians and Manaficials can temporarily boost their Mana reserves by channeling Mana into weapons infused with Aether. As long as the connection remains, they can draw upon the stored energy. But the moment they lose possession of the weapon, the extra reserves vanish.

  The connection is like a battery pack—offering a temporary power boost, but not a permanent supply.

  Clark, who has been watching closely, gasps in amazement.

  "It’s glowing purple!" Clark blurts out, his eyes wide as he turns to Célestin. "Why is it glowing? Is it because of Big Brother’s magic?"

  Célestin grins at him. "Exactly! You’re learning fast, Clark!"

  Clark furrows his brows, still curious. "But… why purple?"

  Célestin chuckles. "Because it is tied to his Magic Attribute."

  Clark tilts his head. "Why does that matter?"

  Célestin’s smirk widens. "Alright, let me put it this way… Imagine every magician is a power plant, right? Now, a power plant needs a fuel source to produce energy. Some use coal, some use solar, some use wind. A magician’s Magic Attribute is like the type of fuel their body naturally generates."

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  Clark’s eyes light up with understanding.

  "So..." Célestin continues, "Someone with Fire Magic creates Mana that’s naturally suited for flames—like gasoline powering a fire generator. Someone with Ice Magic produces cold, sharp Mana, like liquid nitrogen cooling an engine. But your Big Brother? His soul generates Umbran Mana—shadow energy. That’s why his spells and weapons glow dark purple."

  "Ohhh!" Clark nods enthusiastically. "So it’s like Big Brother was born with shadow power!"

  "Exactly," Célestin chuckles.

  Clark turns back to Dominic, watching intently.

  Célestin observes the glow intensify. "Good. You’ve got the flow right. Now, hold it steady."

  Dominic exhales, feeling his Mana circulate smoothly through the revolvers.

  The guns feel... different.

  Lighter. Stronger. Alive.

  He adjusts his aim, feeling the magic integrate effortlessly with the weapon.

  Then, he fires.

  —BANG!

  The recoil is stronger than expected, but Dominic holds firm.

  A dark projectile screams through the air, glowing purple as it tears toward the boulder.

  —CRACK!

  The massive rock fractures, almost splitting in half.

  Dominic’s eyes widen.

  Clark gasps. "It hit! It actually hit!"

  Célestin grins. "Of course it did. Unlike the Dark Beam, the gun is built for precision and long-range attacks. The Aether cores help stabilize the Mana flow automatically, unlike when you manually control a spell."

  Dominic blinks, processing that thought. "Wait, so what’s the difference?"

  Célestin smirks. "Think of it this way—your Dark Beam was raw energy. You had to manually shape and control its path. That took time and effort."

  He gestures toward the revolvers. "But these guns? They do that work for you. Instead of guiding the energy yourself, the revolvers compress and direct it automatically. That’s why it reached the boulder without fading."

  Dominic nods slowly, the realization sinking in. "So basically... my guns make up for my lack of control?"

  Célestin shrugs. "You could say that. But do not rely on them too much. The goal is not to let a weapon do the work for you—it is to master your Mana completely."

  Dominic grins. "Got it. Balance."

  Clark, still staring at the cracked boulder, tugs on Dominic’s sleeve. "Big Brother, that was SO COOL! Do it again!"

  Dominic chuckles, spinning one of his revolvers in his hand. "Yeah... let’s do it again."

  Célestin claps his hands together, his smirk widening. "Alright, Domy. Now that you have successfully linked your Mana to your guns, let us kick things up a notch."

  Dominic raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

  Célestin’s grin turns mischievous. "How about you try incorporating Basic Gun Arts into your training?"

  Clark, still watching with wide-eyed fascination, perks up. “Basic Gun Arts? What’s that?”

  Dominic glances at him and chuckles. “It is a martial art that combines firearms with close-quarters combat. Instead of just shooting, it integrates dodging, footwork, and melee attacks into gunfighting.”

  Clark’s eyes sparkle with excitement. “Guns and martial arts?! That’s so cool!”

  Célestin nods approvingly. “Yes. And since you have an upcoming duel against Arthur, you will need every edge you can get. So… how about a spar?”

  Dominic’s eyebrow twitches. “A spar? Against you?”

  Célestin smirks. “Why not? You are going to be facing Arthur soon anyway. And let us be honest, you could use the practice.”

  Then, his smirk deepens. “Also, while sparring, I want you to suppress your Mana. Remember what André said earlier? If your opponent underestimates you, you gain the advantage.”

  Dominic nods and exhales through his nose, spinning his revolvers in his hands. “Alright. But do not complain when you lose.”

  Célestin’s grin widens. “That is if you can even hit me.”

  Dominic knows he is going to lose.

  Célestin is a regressor with far more experience than him. Dominic has more Mana, but raw power meant nothing without proper control. Skill and strategy always triumphed over brute force.

  Still… this is a chance to learn.

  Clark jumps in excitement, his small hands clenching into fists. “This is gonna be so cool!”

  Dominic chuckles before turning to him. “Clark, move back. Our spar is about to get destructive.”

  Clark giggles and runs further away. “Okie!”

  The atmosphere shifts.

  Célestin steps away, rolling his shoulders as he positions himself. His stance is loose, relaxed, confident. Too confident.

  Dominic recognizes the trick. A stance like that was bait—a way to lure opponents into attacking recklessly, he thinks.

  Dominic spins his revolvers one last time, then settles into his own stance—one foot forward, knees slightly bent, arms steady.

  The wind stills.

  A tense silence falls over the field.

  Then—

  Célestin vanishes.

  A blur of movement.

  A flicker of Mana.

  Dominic barely has time to react before—

  —WHOOSH!

  A gust of wind rushes past him, Célestin’s presence flickering at his side.

  Fast. Too fast.

  Dominic grits his teeth.

  If he blinks, he will lose.