"Two four-leaf grimoires?"
Miles, the leader of the Diamond Kingdom group, froze in shock. As he carefully observed the grimoires glowing beside Ethan Hayes, his surprise turned to astonishment.
"Ha! Who would've thought we'd run into such a big catch here?" Miles laughed, though his eyes betrayed a mix of excitement and malice.
Ethan Hayes and Yuno were names well-known to those keeping a close eye on the Clover Kingdom. Miles knew that if left alive, individuals like Ethan would become monumental threats in the future. Eliminating him now would save countless headaches.
"Forget the mission! Take him down first!" Miles ordered, his tone urgent and bloodthirsty.
The other mages abandoned their initial task, leaving the villagers in the fiery palace untouched. Ethan's appearance had shifted their priorities entirely, like a treasure suddenly exposed before thieves.
Instead of retreating, Ethan advanced fearlessly toward the group, his fiery and wind-charged grimoires floating beside him.
"Ethan, be careful!" Magna shouted, his face filled with concern. He knew the strength of these foes—three of them had power equivalent to the seventh domain, while Miles himself was at the sixth domain, rivaling the strength of a Magic Knight Squad Captain.
Ethan was talented, but he was a rookie, fresh to battle and untested against such odds. Magna thought it would be smarter to regroup and hold out until Asta and the others arrived, not charge head-on into danger.
"Fire Creation Magic—Blades of the Flame God!"
"Wind Creation Magic—Sword of the Wind Deity!"
"Four-Leaf Magic—Gift of the Wind God!"
Ethan's grimoires flipped open rapidly. As he leaped from his broom to the ground, two elemental swords materialized in his hands—one blazing with fire and the other shimmering with wind. The air crackled with magical energy, and Ethan's four-leaf clover enhanced his casting speed.
With a swipe of his fire sword, the ground erupted into blazing flames that rushed toward the four enemies like a wildfire.
The group avoided a head-on collision, leaping aside to evade the fiery surge.
"Perfect," Ethan murmured with a faint smirk.
"Four-Leaf Magic—Wind's Phantom!"
To the spectators, Ethan appeared to still be charging forward, but Magna saw the truth—Ethan had vanished from his spot and reappeared behind one of the Diamond Kingdom mages.
A flash of red flame sliced through the air.
"One down," Ethan said, his tone calm and unyielding as his fire blade claimed its first victim. Without hesitation, he turned to his next target, summoning a torrent of wind to strike like a storm.
"Watch out! This kid's magic is at the sixth domain!" Miles bellowed.
The group staggered, unnerved by Ethan's raw power. They had underestimated him. His unorthodox combat style—charging directly into the fray rather than keeping his distance like most mages—left them on edge.
"What kind of mage fights ?!" Miles thought angrily, gritting his teeth.
"Keep your distance! His magic is strange. Don't let him close!" Miles ordered, his frustration mounting.
The remaining three mages quickly retreated, spreading out to encircle Ethan.
"Mist Creation Magic—Illusory Fog!"
Gray mist billowed out, blanketing the battlefield and obscuring vision.
"Wind Creation Magic—Tempest Surge!"
A powerful gust of wind swirled around Ethan, dispersing the mist in seconds.
Before Ethan could react, a barrage of icy lances hurtled toward him from the mist's edge.
"Ice Creation Magic—Crystal Shards!"
From another angle, another mage unleashed a deadly spell.
"Iron Creation Magic—Thousand Blades!"
The coordinated attacks left Ethan seemingly cornered, with no escape. The ground bristled with icy spikes and jagged iron swords.
Ethan dismissed his elemental swords, shifting tactics.
"Wind Creation Magic—Tornado Barrier!"
A swirling vortex of wind enveloped him, sucking in the ice lances and shattering them.
Simultaneously, Ethan raised his right hand.
"Fire Creation Magic—Inferno Wall!"
A blazing wall of fire sprang up, melting the incoming iron blades before they could reach him.
The battle ground to a temporary stalemate, leaving even Magna speechless.
"He's... incredible," Magna muttered, awe-struck. Ethan was holding his own against four powerful opponents, displaying unparalleled mastery over wind and fire magic.
"Kill him!" Miles roared, his voice filled with rage.
Ethan's sheer potential terrified him. If Ethan survived today, he would only grow stronger, becoming an unstoppable force and a threat to the Diamond Kingdom's plans.
"Kill me? Heh..." Ethan chuckled, his voice calm but mocking.
The unique power of the four-leaf grimoire was not something ordinary mages could comprehend.
"Four-Leaf Magic—Fortune's Blessing!"
The fire-element leaf on Ethan's grimoire began to glow, radiating an overwhelming surge of mana.
In an instant, Ethan's magical energy skyrocketed.
"The... fifth domain?!" Miles stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Ethan Hayes, a mere rookie, had just shattered the boundaries of his previous strength. For a fleeting moment, the battlefield fell silent, all eyes on the young mage whose power now dwarfed their own.