Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 23: The Laugh of the King, part 4
After his sparring with Nizivia when he was just learning to synchronize with Luciel's soul, Xavier never again spares all-out with Nizivia. He does not know how fast Nizivia can move ‒ chances are much faster than a year ago. Clearly, Alice in her Ultra Light Zone mode was faster than Nizivia back then. Impressive.
However, Xavier is no longer the individual Alice remembers (in terms of strength and speed).
He was already facing an opponent that was significantly faster than Nizivia. Shiva was so fast that Xavier couldn't react. Compared to Shiva, Alice's speed in the fastest mode cannot be said to be impressive. Half of it does not exist. Even though it did not strengthen its body with the Enchanted Flame Armor or Lightning Armor, Xavier's eyes could follow Alice— no matter how fast his body reacted.
Alice was almost as fast as she could say. If Alice had a [Complete Sensory], Xavier would have to use the Enchanted Flame Armor to win. However, Alice had no [Complete Sensory]; not a single scenario would end with Alice being able to surpass her.
However, for someone without Supreme Magic (or the Crest of Hope, or teleportation, or even life energy) it could be this fast…there are no other words other than “impressive” that can be used to praise him.
And therefore Xavier did not hold back. As soon as Alice was before him with a sword of light swinging sharply, Xavier's shrouded fist which had landed on the girl's stomach before the blade of light had reached her. [Sensory Magic] lets its users predict the movements of a person easily.
Without Alice being able to do anything, her body was so powerful that it slammed into the barrier protecting the audience. The barier was cracked, but not until the break— Alice's body had reduced the force behind Xavier's punch until the power had weakened when it hit the barier.
Alice's body then fell to the floor, she fell in a mask kissing the floor.
What Alice lacks is her attack and defense, Xavier's inner self while teleporting to Alice's side. His Light Zone mode put him on the same level as Dermyus and Reinhart, and her Ultra Light Zone mode makes Alice surpass all commander—but she has no powerful attacking power to defeat a commander with a defense of Gilbert's caliber.
That doesn't mean Alice can beat Lilithia. Lilithia would destroy Alice in an instant.
If Xavier doesn't have [Reverse Law], he won't be able to defeat Lilithia either. Lilithia's gravity is very troublesome. No matter how fast one was, no matter how powerful one was, they would be crushed in the presence of great gravity. [Star Creation] belonged to Evillia was terrible in its destructive terms, but Lilithia's [Absolute Gravity] could be even more terrifying. Moreover, Evillia needed time, but Lilithia could instantly control gravity.
Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. The strongest magic is sometimes the weakest weakness of magic; there is always a natural enemy for anyone.
This only shows that Alice has grown tremendously.
However, he needed to strengthen himself again; alice still could not defeat a level commander without the Light Zone. Always depending on the Light Zone to deal with individuals of the commander level is not a good thing. After all, if under ordinary conditions he could face a commander, imagine how strong he would be in Ultra Light Zone mode!
Perhaps Alice and Herena could learn from each other to bring their [Light Magic] to a higher level, Xavier's inner self while returning Alice's physical condition to its original state with [Reverse Law].
“Evil Mask defeated! The invincible Evil Mask has been defeated! Congratulations, Azet! Congratulations on being the champion of this year's tournament! Congratulations on me...”
...—————...
The results of the match matched what I had predicted, but Evil Mask was quite impressive. His last technique earlier would probably force me to put out my full strength to win. Not bad. Although disappointing because there is no warebeast in the final, but the final this time is definitely the best of all finals ever.
Minner stood up from his chair. “I waited in the palace, Leostya,” whispered to the aide, then darted away accompanied by four elite soldiers who faithfully escorted him.
When Alice regains her consciousness, she finds herself in someone's arms. Panic instantly took over, his eyes spontaneously opening. Alice's instincts screamed, the girl tried to throw herself from the satin-style sling that had hit her. However, his action came to a sudden halt as his eyes managed to convey what he saw to his brain.
A pair of red eyes looked at him from the small hole of the mask that the man who had already defeated him in the arena.
“Good you finally realized. I've asked the other participants, but no one knows where you're staying. You're pretty careful. Tell me, where's your inn?”
Those eyes made it possible that this guy who was bugging him strengthened. Alice could not explain how Xavier had magic that she did not have. Clearly, the chances that he was Xavier were much greater than anyone else.
“You can drop me off. I can go back alone. But take it easy, I will be waiting for you in the arena tomorrow morning. Then I will follow you to Vladivta to listen to what you want to talk about.”
Alice would not say that she was staying at the Wolfgang Inn on the west side of the city.
“I'm kidding. I already know where you're staying. We'll go straight there.”
…Azet sped west of the city. Alice's forehead frowned. How could he know in the direction where the inn he was staying was?
When Alice was still busy thinking about how Azet (who may be his real identity is Xavier) could know the inn where he was staying, the leg of Azet had landed in front of the building in front of which was written the name of the inn where Alice was staying.
“Now I can lower. Or, do you want to be escorted to your room?”
Alice snorted at the teasing question, quickly jumping from Azet's sling.
“Now I have to go, but I'll be here soon as I'm done with my business. Oh yeah, if you're wondering how you're still doing fine despite receiving that blow, it's because I kissed you earlier. That kiss surprisingly made you heal. I can prove it right now if you don't believe me?”
Alice's eyes glared behind her mask.
“Of course I was just kidding. Don't be too surprised like that, Evil Mask.” And Azet instantly disappeared from before Alice at that very second.
Alice's forehead frowned, then she snorted. There's no way Azet is Xavier. It's hard to trust him Xavier.
Xavier wouldn't do a joke like that, would he?
…Can?
Alice could not be sure. In the end he raised his shoulders and turned to step into the inn. Alice in the slightest did not wind up assuming that it was not actually a joke.