"Wow, Ethan is already so strong?"
Yuno stared at the projection screen in a daze, unable to process what he had just witnessed.
Having bonded with the Wind Spirit as well, Yuno understood the potential of its abilities. The greatest strength of the Spirits wasn't just their magical powers but their ability to merge with their hosts through Spirit Assimilation.
However, achieving Spirit Assimilation was no easy feat. It required unparalleled control over one's mana and a strong bond with the Spirit itself. Unfortunately, Yuno hadn't yet mastered this skill.
Moreover, Ethan's Magic Zone was nothing short of extraordinary.
Despite being on equal footing with Ethan when they each acquired their respective Spirits, Yuno realized he had fallen behind once again, and this time, the gap was significant.
"Wind Binding Magic: Wind Cloak!"
Ethan was slightly surprised that he had defeated Langris so easily.
After all, in the original series, Langris was portrayed as a formidable opponent.
Perhaps his reliance on superior numbers had made him complacent, or perhaps he hadn't anticipated the battle unfolding as it did.
Turning to face the remaining four adversaries, Ethan smirked and taunted, "So, are we still continuing this?"
His words visibly irritated the four.
Six against one, yet two of them had already been taken down. This was an unprecedented humiliation.
But with only four left, how could they possibly win?
"An opening!"
Without hesitation, Ethan's figure vanished from his spot.
His taunt wasn't an attempt to end the fight but a distraction to seize the upper hand. He knew there was no room for negotiation. Either they would defeat him today, or he would crush them entirely.
"Wind Creation Magic: Hurricane Falcons!"
"Wind Creation Magic: Spiral Sphere!"
Whoosh!
As four giant falcons of wind descended from the skies, the four adversaries were momentarily stunned.
They scrambled to counter with defensive magic.
Meanwhile, Ethan, leveraging his incredible speed, darted straight toward Nebra.
Among the four, their magic types included Mercury, Fire, Wind, and Water.
Mercury magic, while versatile, had no inherent advantage against wind. Targeting Nebra was the most strategic choice.
"Spiral Sphere!"
Ethan's eyes gleamed as a compressed sphere of spinning wind energy formed in his palm.
As a transmigrator, Ethan viewed magic through a unique lens. To him, mana was just another type of energy, akin to inner strength from martial arts novels or chakra from anime.
If the energy was similar, then techniques from one world could inspire those in another.
Thanks to his mastery of Spirit Assimilation and the Magic Zone, Ethan's mana control was among the finest.
Every moment he had spent in seclusion before the tournament had been devoted to refining his techniques for moments like this.
Boom!
The Spiral Sphere collided with Nebra's Mercury Shield.
"Not bad," Ethan silently praised.
Nebra, as the younger sister of Nozel Silva, leader of the Silver Eagles, had quick reflexes.
But the Spiral Sphere's power was far from ordinary.
The immense rotational force tore a hole in the Mercury Shield.
"No way... my Mercury Shield..." Nebra exclaimed in disbelief.
The Spiral Sphere was now mere inches from her back.
Hmm?
The perfect opportunity was at hand. A direct hit would instantly reduce their numbers to three.
However, Ethan dispersed the Spiral Sphere and leapt to a nearby treetop with fluid precision.
"Damn it!"
"Just a little more..."
The other three clicked their tongues in frustration.
If Ethan had delayed for even a fraction of a second, he would have fallen into their magical bindings.
While Nebra might have been eliminated, it would have been a worthwhile trade. After all, there could only be one Captain in the end.
"Tch... lucky for me, I'm not as reckless as you fools, letting your guard down after thinking you've won."
Ethan's words hit them hard.
Though their expressions didn't betray much, shame and embarrassment coursed through them.
He was right. Relying on their numerical superiority, they had underestimated Ethan, believing he wouldn't escape their grasp.
If they encountered him, he would be eliminated—simple as that.
None of them had prepared themselves mentally or physically for a true fight.
In their minds, Ethan was merely an appetizer before the main course of this competition.
But now, that appetizer had become their biggest challenge.
"Nebra, can you restrict his mobility? He's too fast..."
"No, I can't keep up with his speed. All I can do is defend..."
"Carol, what about you?"
The other three turned to Carol, the Wind Mage among them.
Among the four, Carol was the only one with a speed advantage.
"I can barely keep up. Here's the plan: I'll focus on attacking and limiting his movement. The rest of you should look for an opportunity to strike!"
The group quickly strategized.
However, when they turned back, Ethan was already gone.
"Chase him! We can't let him escape!"
Without hesitation, the four pursued him.
This battle had given them a profound understanding of Ethan's terrifying strength.
If they let him slip away, the roles of hunter and prey might soon be reversed.
Should even one of them fall, Ethan would lose all fear of their collective might.
No matter the cost, they had to eliminate him today!
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