Bab 171: Right of the Strong
-Gaja pov-
'This is the end.'
'No matter how much potential or strength you may possess, in the face of a stage 0 spell even stage 1s like you can do nothing more than bow your heads.'
---
-Grim pov-
*Badump* *Badump* *Badump* *Badump*
Facing the wrath of Gaja's True Lightning Magic, Grim felt the blood in his body begin to boil and his heart beat in anticipation as he confronted the large stretch of lightning descending from the sky head on.
'Without my elf form I can't access my [Union Magic] and none of my [Demon Slaying] spells are strong enough to deflect, counter or block this attack by themselves. Honestly speaking, I have no way of defending against this.'
But- THIS WAS PERFECT!
*GRINS*
'To think I'd get the opportunity to fight someone this strong the moment I entered the Heart Kingdom! What a fucking jackpot!'
'I couldn't ask for a better situation!'
Run away?
Why would he run from a fight that could force him to surpass his limits and get stronger?
Wasn't this what he wanted? To put everything he had on the line? To push himself to the very brink of destruction? To prove that no matter who or what he faced, that he was the strongest?
If he ran now, could ever call himself the strongest even if he reached the top?
Win or Lose, the moment you turn your back and run away from an enemy, that's the moment you lose the right to look down upon the world.
"Ha...Ha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
'He's laughing?'
Hearing the sound of Grim's voice ring out from below, a small frown crept its way back onto Gaja's face.
'Was seeing a stage 0 spell to much for him to handle?'
Watching as the gigantic bolt of lightning was about to reach him, Grim's laughter abruptly stopped as his mind drifted back to the mana training he had done a week prior.
The 3 cores of beating any opponent in a one on one.
Power
Speed
Technique
As long as you are better at two of these things compared to your opponent, your chances of winning will be close to 100%
'If I can't him beat with power, then I'll cruch him with speed and technique!'
Closing his eyes and taking up a familiar stance, the lightning crackling around his figure suddenly began to slow down and travel in reverse before eventually converging into his sheathed sword.
*Inhales*
Using his current level of mana control, he governed the flow of lightning into the sheath.
With his newly enhanced mana sensitivity, he controlled the compression and quality that entered.
And with HyperFocus active, none of the extra lightning magic seeped out or escaped his perception.
With all three abilities working together in tandem, for the first time since entering this world, Grim's mana wastage had dropped down to 0 as he performed a dramatic unsheathing and unleashed his spell-
[Breath of Thunder: First Form - Thunderclap and Flash, Raikiri]
---
-Gaja POV-
This... This is impossible!!
Watching as his Stage 0 spell was cut right down the middle and split into two at the hands of a stage 1 mage! Gaja couldn't believe his eyes and was rendered speechless.
Dodging his [Tenjiolia]?
Acceptable.
But this?
WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS?!!
He had no way to explain this!
Since when were stage one mages capable of this?! Did he get it wrong? Was Grim actually at stage 0? No, while he definitely had the potential, his spell clearly wasn't at the level of stage zero.
Then was it affinity?
He quickly denied that one to.
They were both using lightning magic. Hell, he was even using [True Lightning Magic] for gods sake!
So what was it? What allowed a stage 1 like him to break a stage 0 spell?!
"One." Grim's voice suddenly sounded out grabbing Gaja's attention.
'One?'
Not understanding what he meant by that, his eyes suddenly focused on Grim's figure only to be take aback by the view.
Breathing heavily and clearly exhausted, the smile on Grim's face couldn't be hidden as he stared up at the Heart mage and raised his middle finger.
"If I'm a one, then I'm a one above zero you salt and pepper haired bitch."
'One above zero?'
"Hah...Hah...Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha."
Suddenly throwing his head back and unable to hide his smile, the usually stern faced Gaja couldn't help but let out a heartfelt laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
'How long has it been since someone has managed to truly surprise me?'
Finished laughing, he back looked back down at Grim with a certain level of respect.
"Okay, I admit it. Out of all the stage one's I've seen, you're the strongest."
"Heh obviousssly..."
Unable to hold on any longer, Grim's vision began to darken before his consciousness completely shut off. But even as he fell out of the sky, his smile persisted.
"What a handful." Gaja smiled before racing down to catch him.
---
[Throne Room]
"GRIM!!"
Seeing the unconscious Grim being carried in Gaja's arms, the black bulls and Mimosa raced over to check on him.
"What happened to him!" Noelle questioned sending a look of accusation Gaja's way.
Following her lead, both Asta's and Finaral's grimoires opened up as the two got ready for battle.
Ignoring them, Mimosa's sole focus lay on Grim as she began casting her healing magic.
Realizing that things were about to get out of hand, Smurik the Spirit Guardian of wind and the one who tested the others on their magic stages did his best to calm the Clover kids down before looking at Gaja for an explanation.
"He's fine, he just exerted himself during our fight."
Looking at each other, the Clover kids thought about before suddenly coming to a silent agreement.
'It definitely sounded like something Grim would do.'
Seeing that things had calmed down, the queen now dressed in her royal garb called Gaja over.
"My queen." He got down on one knee and lowered his head.
"So?" She smiled. "How was he?"
"He... He was more impressive than you described."
"Oh?"
'For Gaja to give someone such an assessment. I wonder what Grim did to impress him?'
As if reading her thoughts, Gaja's next words caused Smurik, Queen Lolpechka and the water spirit's faces to change.
"He broke my Stage zero spell."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone