“Then you get out!”
Jared shouted, clenching his fist and kicking off the ground.
The Progenitor’s face showed a slight surprise, but without haste, she attempted to parry the boy’s blow—but failed.
“Uraaaaaaaaahhhh!”
His punch, imbued with all his strength, struck her body along with the Progenitor’s arm.
The Progenitor, hit hard in the abdomen, stumbled backward with her eyes wide open.
“I-It’s surprising. I never thought you could land a blow on Olivier’s body.”
“I may have needed to say this earlier, but I am here with the resolve to kill Olivier.”
“—Hmph.”
“Of course, I intend to die myself afterward.”
“…I see. You have no intention of crying and saying you can’t fight now, do you?”
“Of course not. That would be too late. You’ve already done something you can’t take back. So, all that’s left is to defeat you.”
“Very well.”
The Progenitor, who had been holding her abdomen, deepened her smile.
“Then, let’s move to a more suitable place to fight.”
And then, she snapped her fingers.
The next instant, Jared’s vision warped.
“Wh-What.”
“Don’t worry. We’re just moving.”
While feeling a dizzying sway, Jared, who refused to close his eyes, watched his world change. From the garden of a mansion in the Capital City to a plain with nothing but grass.
“This is on the outskirts of the Capital City.”
“Did you know? Then I’ll skip the explanation. No one will interfere here. We can fight to our heart’s content. My objective might even be fulfilled.”
“What is your objective?”
“Whether you learn that depends on you.”
“I’ll defeat you before that.”
Though surprised that the Progenitor used ancient transfer magic, he chose to ignore it.
She was a legendary being, after all. It was endless to be surprised by her every action. Jared’s only task was to defeat the Progenitor.
“Come on! Jared Murphy! Show me your power! Did you gain new power to defeat me?”
***
Jared and the Progenitor’s fists collided. A roar echoed, and a shockwave swept across the grassland.
“—Hmph. You’re not using your signature Earth Magic, are you?”
“I am using magic already!”
Clenching the fists they were using to clash, she pulled hard towards herself, then unleashed a full-powered kick at the off-balance Progenitor. The blow, which flexed like a whip, roared as it approached the Progenitor.
—Gaaang!
Without any hesitation, the Progenitor cast a barrier without incantation, blocking Jared’s leg. The sound and impact, as if bones would break, reverberated. But without losing momentum, she swept her leg through to the end.
“Ooooooooohhhh!”
With a beast-like roar, Jared kicked the Progenitor, barrier included, flying. However, he had not inflicted any significant damage. She twirled her dress and spun in the air, landing silently on the ground.
“I see, I see… You’ve abandoned all your magic.”
She looked at him with a gaze that was both exasperated and understanding.
“So what if I have?”
“No, it’s just… you must love Olivier dearly to go this far.”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“Not at all. In fact, I envy you. Few humans can discard everything they’ve cultivated for love. At least, I don’t know of any.”
The Progenitor, who had begun a life-or-death struggle, smiled at Jared, her enemy.
“The magic you are using is Body Enhancement Magic. However, if it were just that, you couldn’t have kicked me away. My barrier is strong.”
The Progenitor continued, as if confirming.
“It’s a Secret Technique within Earth Magic, so rare that almost no one uses it. It’s just a relic passed down through generations, but it’s incredibly troublesome.”
Ignoring her words, Jared kicked off the ground again. In an instant, he closed the distance and threw a punch at the Progenitor. She raised a barrier, but he delivered his punch regardless. A dull thud echoed, and though the boy’s blow was blocked, cracks began to appear on the barrier the Progenitor was maintaining, lagging behind the impact.
“An evolution of Body Enhancement Magic would simply convert all magic power into physical prowess. But yours is different. You are receiving backup by gaining the blessings of the earth and spirits!”
With a creaking sound, the barrier began to fracture. In the Progenitor’s long life, this was the first time her barrier had reached its limit.
“Fuh, ahahahaha, amazing! Truly amazing! I chose the wrong place to fight! If we fight in a place with nothing but earth like this, you will continue to gain power until your body breaks! Your single blow surpasses even high-level magic! I can’t withstand attacks like that many times!”
The Progenitor cried out with apparent joy, and her barrier finally shattered. Jared stomped his foot firmly and swung his fist. The next moment, the boy’s fist connected squarely with the Progenitor’s right cheek, sending her body flying through the air.
