"Creation Magic? That's impossible!"
Leibitch gasped, his face filled with shock as the environment changed drastically around him.
Magic was a universal ability in the Clover Kingdom—everyone had it to some extent. But there was a vast difference between simply wielding magic and mastering it. Most commoners used magic only for daily tasks. Those with moderate talent could replicate spells they had learned or inherited, like Fire Magic: Blazing Flame, which Leibitch had cast earlier.
However, Creation Magic was on another level entirely.
It allowed a mage to construct new objects, creatures, or phenomena from their magical energy. Achieving this required a deep understanding of one's magic type and extraordinary control. For most, it was impossible without years of practice—even with a grimoire.
But here Ethan was, using Creation Magic mere hours after acquiring his grimoires.
"Creation Magic: Chain Prison Formation!"
Dozens of metal chains materialized from thin air, enveloping Leibitch in an impenetrable cocoon of steel. More chains surged through the ground like serpents, lunging at Ethan with incredible speed.
Still maintaining his Windstorm Zone spell, Ethan leapt from tree to tree, dodging with agility and precision. His magical reserves were vast, but he was painfully aware of his lack of battle experience.
Leibitch, a former member of the Magic Knights, had survived countless skirmishes. Ethan knew better than to underestimate his opponent.
"Let's finish this now."
The fire-aligned grimoire floated to Ethan's right, opposite his wind-aligned grimoire. Its pages turned rapidly, glowing with a fiery radiance as it released a torrent of magical energy.
"Creation Magic: Infernal Hellfire!"
A massive surge of flames erupted from the earth, feeding on the intense winds of the Windstorm Zone. The firestorm consumed everything in its path, growing fiercer with every second.
Inside his steel cocoon, Leibitch felt the heat closing in. His chains, once silvery and cold, glowed red-hot, turning his supposed sanctuary into an oven.
"How can this be? Another Creation Magic spell... and the sheer force of it!"
Leibitch's face twisted in regret as the realization hit him: Ethan's magical power rivaled that of a Magic Knight Captain.
He cursed his arrogance. If he had gone after Yuno instead, or avoided provoking Ethan altogether...
But regrets meant nothing now.
For ten full minutes, the inferno raged, its intensity focused within a fifty-meter radius. Ethan spared no effort; he refused to leave Leibitch a chance to retaliate.
"Cough… I think it's over… probably?"
Panting, Ethan dismissed his spells, his grimoires returning to his sides.
The battlefield was scorched black, the air thick with heat and ash. In the center lay a charred, unrecognizable figure—Leibitch, defeated.
"Tch, what a mess," Ethan muttered, shaking his head. Nearby, the two noble lackeys who had been bound earlier were little more than cinders.
Although victorious, Ethan knew he couldn't afford to be complacent. He reflected on the fight critically.
"My advantage is in raw magical power," he thought. "But strength alone isn't enough. Without experience, I'm still vulnerable."
Leibitch had been careless, underestimating Ethan's potential. But what if the fight had gone differently? What if Leibitch had waited in ambush, striking when Ethan was distracted?
"There's no room for 'what if' in battle," Ethan realized grimly. "I need more experience."
He had the raw talent, but without skill and strategy, he was nothing more than a paper tiger. His opponents wouldn't always be so foolish.
To gain that experience, there was only one place to go.
"The Magic Knights…" Ethan murmured, clenching his fists. His next step was clear. Joining their ranks was the only way to test his limits, refine his abilities, and ultimately rise to the top.