Chapter 70

After enjoying a wonderful meal, Cyril and I had gone outside the capital.

We moved to an open plain where there would be no interference and no collateral damage to the surroundings.

Still, the food was amazing.

Especially the main dish, the roast beef, was cooked to perfection, and the sauce that accompanied it was exquisite. The wine served was a strong, fragrant one that perfectly complemented the roast beef, enhancing its flavor.

Next time, I want to come here with Kuna and Anne.

In front of me, Cyril did a light stretch, took off his coat, and changed into more comfortable clothing.

Despite being quite old, as Kuna's father, his lean but thoroughly trained body was impressive. The clarity of the magic flowing through his body was astounding. It was hard to believe that he had been restrained.

He was the only one I couldn't defeat, even when I reached Rank 6.

My heart raced involuntarily. It was a mix of anxiety, fear, and excitement.

I wanted to see how far my accumulated strength since then would take me.

"Before we start, let's set some rules. How about the fight ends when one of us has less than half of our blessings, or if one of us concedes? We don't want to kill each other. If I were to kill you, Kuna would probably hate me for life."

"I don't want to kill my girlfriend's father either."

In the game, Cyril wouldn't hesitate to kill, but he's still a good father now. I can't just give up on him. ...Kuna loves this man.

"Let's start the fight when this coin hits the ground."

Cyril said this, made a fist, and placed a coin on his thumb.

"Got it."

Cyril flicked the coin with his thumb.

The coin spun and flew through the air.

The moment it hit the ground, I started running.

"【Mysilver Alchemy: First Form Spear • Pierce】"

My opponent was unarmed. I attacked with the spear's range.

The first strike with the spear, while charging, hit Cyril...

"【Mysilver Alchemy】"

The moment Cyril muttered this, the spear melted.

Wait, this spell is exactly the same as mine? Impossible. Even for Cyril, it shouldn't be possible to copy a spell on the first try.

I had no time to think. I used magic to repel the melted mysilver to prevent it from being used against me.

I gritted my teeth but didn't stop my momentum.

Stopping abruptly would create an opening. I couldn't back down now. I attacked with my bare hands.

The key was 【Magic Power Release】.

Unlike 【Miasma Release】, it didn't use miasma but simply infused aggressive magic power, which was more than powerful enough.

I disrupted his balance with a feint and finished him off with 【Magic Power Release】.

I used the magic 【Automatic Close Combat】, which allowed me to perform optimal actions with reaction speeds that surpassed human reflexes.

Once activated, it would surpass even the most skilled.

My punches, kicks, and elbows attacked from every angle.

Combined with 【Body Reinforcement • Ultimate】, it was impossible for anyone of the same rank to counter.

This strategy became possible only after I gained Rank 2 computational power.

I attacked with this.

"Is that all you've got?"

"Damn."

However, he easily evaded my close-range punches.

It was as if he could predict my next move. Even with multiple feints, he still read them. This was strange; the patterns of 【Automatic Close Combat】 were irregular and unpredictable.

Then...

"【Geological Change】"

I activated a new spell. It was a small-scale spell, so I could use it alongside the two close-combat spells.

The next strike was a right-hand swing. Cyril couldn't dodge at this timing and had to block it.

Considering his strength and stance, he would need to take a step back and brace himself.

I softened the ground where he would brace himself. This should throw him off balance.

Cyril's lips curled into a smirk. But it didn't matter.

My punch hit, and as expected, Cyril took a step back to brace himself, losing his balance on the soft ground.

Now.

"【Magic Power Release】!"

My magic-infused palm strike hit Cyril's stomach.

It was hard, like hitting a rock. How much training did he do to get like this?

But the hardness was meaningless against the destructive power of 【Magic Power Release】.

This was the end.

"Too soft."

But Cyril was unharmed.

He had struck his own side with a palm strike, which was undoubtedly 【Magic Power Release].

My magic was canceled out by his. What a brutal countermeasure.

Caught off guard, I created an opening.

Cyril caught my temple with a high kick as he fell. I was blown away.

I rolled twice, three times, and finally got up.

My head was spinning. If Cyril had been in a better position, I would have lost consciousness.

"Let's try this again. Is that all you've got?"

Cyril asked with a thin smile, not even out of breath.

I stood up and thought.

Why, why...

"Why can you use 【Mysilver Alchemy】 and 【Magic Power Release】? Why can you read the patterns of 【Automatic Close Combat】!?"

These techniques were effective against Cyril in the past.

But the current Cyril knew them all, could execute them, and had countermeasures.

"You... you call us players, right?"

Those words sent a chill down my spine.

"The development environment and database used by players. Didn't God mention that they were completed with the advice and cooperation of a great magician? What if I was the one who created them? And what if I could access that database?"

Those words made everything clear.

Only this guy could do something like that.

I see, that makes sense. Cyril knew everything from the start.

It was hopeless. With his own potential, he had access to the crystallized wisdom we had built up through our efforts.

A true monster. The undisputed strongest. That's this man, Cyril.

"You... no, Soji. Let me tell you something. I can't be defeated by borrowed power, like the magic someone else created. Besides, if God wanted the magic you and your friends created, there would have been no need to bring you to this world. The database already exists. God could just release the magic in the database. Only a few people have the talent to execute it, but it's not zero.

I laughed.

At this man who was spouting nonsense.

And at this man who called our efforts "borrowed."

"Borrowed, huh? From your perspective, maybe it is. I might be relying on magic created by someone whose name I don't know."

The thousands, tens of thousands of spells in the database.

The information of this world. I didn't create all of it.

"But, you see, it's something we all created and compiled. Unlike a genius like you, ordinary people specialized in their fields, polished each other, and created it. What's borrowed about it? This power, this strength, is something we all created together."

I had created hundreds of spells. They were refined by tens of thousands of people, reaching a level of perfection I could never achieve alone.

In turn, I had refined others' spells, making them even better.

Through this process, I learned many approaches and discovered many principles. I wouldn't let him call it borrowed.

"Hmm, I apologize. But whether it's borrowed or something you created together, that's your strength. How do you plan to beat me, who can counter it? Even with these restraints, my computational speed and instantaneous magic release are slightly better. If we use the same spell, I will win 100% of the time."

"How do I plan to beat you? I won't tell you."

Tricks won't work. If I keep playing small, I'll eventually lose due to the difference in base stats.

Then...

"Cyril, I declare in advance. I'm going to use the 【Particle Accelerator Cannon】. If you're confident, don't run."

We both started constructing the same spell.

The Particle Accelerator Cannon is a technique that accelerates pseudo-heavy metal particles created by magic to 10% of the speed of light.

It was impossible to achieve at Rank 1 because the creation of pseudo-heavy metal particles was not possible.

Our spells were completed simultaneously.

The pseudo-heavy metal particles we released collided with each other.

Cyril smiled.

Yes, his instantaneous magic release was slightly greater.

If the same spells collided, Cyril would definitely win.

But...

"I see."

Cyril said happily.

My spell overpowered his and penetrated, blowing off his right arm.

My spell was an improved version of the Particle Accelerator Cannon, with enhanced heavy metal generation efficiency and a modified acceleration method. This was the logical outcome.

Before confirming the result, I was already running.

I punched Cyril's cheek as he lost balance from his blown-off right arm.

I was determined to punch this idiot father who made Kuna cry.

My fist hit, and Cyril was blown away.

"If you know all the spells we created, just keep advancing. ...Just like we always have. There's a path here for you to follow, even alone."

I placed my left hand on my chest.

I had the accumulated knowledge. That's why, unlike Cyril who only saw the finished product, I could take the next step.

Cyril got up, holding his right shoulder, which was glowing with the light of his blessing, and smiled.

"I concede. You win."

With that, Cyril removed the restraints.

A magical storm blew through the area, and Cyril's right arm instantly healed.

"It's a promise. I'll send you a platinum orichalcum. And someday, bring Kuna to Elsie. When you do, I'll teach you everything I know. I could teach you here, but if I don't say it this way, she won't come back. There are people in Elsie who miss her, and when they hear she has a boyfriend, they'll want to meet you too."

Cyril said this in a cheerful voice.

"Soji, I can trust Kuna to someone who keeps moving forward like you. Take care of her."

"I will."

"If you make her cry, I'll come after you with no holds barred. I'm saying this out of frustration, but my true nature is the wind."

A cool breeze caressed my cheek.

Then, Cyril disappeared.

I confirmed he was completely gone and fell to the ground, spread-eagled.

"What kind of strength is that? It's ridiculous."

Truly, the strongest in the world.

I couldn't have won in a normal fight.

Moreover, he knew all the spells we developed.

He's a real monster.

But knowing that he's trying to protect Kuna, at least for now, is a relief.

I can feel a bit more at ease.

But I have to surpass him eventually. The possibility of him becoming an enemy hasn't disappeared. And most importantly...

"It's embarrassing as a man to lose to my future father-in-law."

I swore, for my pride, to surpass Cyril.