Chapter 45: Sage Defeat (2)

The help Mephisto provided was both simple and powerful.
It was the ability to stop time.
Of course, time didn’t stop for the Sage.
But it was enough to prevent him from controlling the other students with his mind manipulation.
This meant he could face the Sage alone.
However, this method had its drawbacks.
It meant the Sage would become aware of Mephisto’s intervention.
Of course, the Sage already knew Mephisto was up to something.
But even so, knowing someone is scheming and knowing they’ve outright betrayed you are two entirely different matters.
In other words, Mephisto was also taking a considerable risk.
Furthermore, there was another disadvantage: the number of people who could face the Sage was severely limited.
“Why does it have such a drawback?”
“Completely stopping time is no easy feat. A single misstep could lead to divine intervention. That’s why a balance must be maintained.”
Mephisto didn’t view God favorably either.
But unlike the Sage, he had absolutely no intention of trying to usurp God’s position.
So, if the Sage felt wronged by God and was trying to take his place.
Mephisto, on the contrary, was closer to the side that sought to exploit that injustice to the fullest.
Besides, there was no guarantee that the situation would improve with the appearance of a new god.
If anything, experience taught him that things would only get worse, never better.
“So, because the opponent is one, we must match them with one on our side.”
“Precisely.”
By maintaining balance, they minimized any grounds for God’s intervention.
Simply put, it was for show.
Indeed, there was no harm in being cautious.
After all, Yushin had been severely harassed by God before.
The very reason Yushin was here, suffering, was because of God.
That damn流动の神 (God of Flow).
Anyway, the task at hand was clear.
He had to catch and crush the Sage before he could accumulate any more power here.
And naturally, the one to face the Sage was none other than Yushin.
“In my view, you have the highest chance of success.”
“What about the principal and Athena?”
“Haven’t you defeated the Sage yourself before?”
“…”
“The difference between having experience and not is immense.”
“That’s not wrong.”
As much as she didn’t want to admit Mephisto was right, Ban Serin had no choice but to agree.
The mere fact that he had the experience of winning was incredibly important.
Of course, if you were to judge by specs alone, he would probably be the weakest among the so-called powerhouses.
But it wasn’t as if there were no ways to overcome that.
Enhancement magic.
He possessed the basic magic to strengthen the body.
Of course, the opponent could dispel the magic, but that was a matter of the mage’s skill.
“It’s a matter of pride. I absolutely cannot lose.”
“The same goes for me.”
This time, not only Ban Serin but even Mephisto cast enhancement magic on Yushin.
To be precise, Ban Serin cast the enhancement magic herself.
Mephisto’s role was to prevent the Sage from easily dispelling Ban Serin’s enhancements.
He said he was applying the way a devil keeps a contract.
Anyway, thanks to them, Yushin was able to regain the specs of his prime.
Yushin moved his body around with a surprised expression.
‘To think this was possible.’
“How is it? I can make adjustments.”
“This is more than enough. It’s the perfect state for control.”
“That’s a relief. You can win with that, right?”
“Of course.”
In reality, the chances were fifty-fifty.
No, considering the time limit, it could even be seen as a negative.
But he showed no sign of defeat.
Yushin genuinely believed he would win.
The difference in mindset creates more than one might think.
Even in a very disadvantageous situation.
If you go into a fight already defeated in your mind, that fight is as good as lost.
Because he knew that well, Yushin believed he would win.
“Yushin, you can do it.”
“I know.”
Athena, the only one here who knew Yushin’s past, directly instilled strength in him.
Yushin nodded his head, his face full of confidence.
“What’s everyone gathered here for?”
That is, until a familiar and chilling voice was heard.
The first to react were Yushin and Ban Serin.
Ban Serin extended her hand and used magic.
Teleportation magic.
It was to move everyone except Yushin and Mephisto to a safe place.
Naturally, the Sage, who had mastered all magic, couldn’t possibly be ignorant of teleportation.
“Where do you think you’re running to in front of me?”
“I allowed it, you son of a bich.”
“!”
However, the Sage couldn’t stop the teleportation.
In that brief moment, Yushin had appeared and kicked the Sage away.
Yushin glared at the Sage and said.
“Let’s have a proper fight.”

Yushin.
The Sage was also aware that the Hero had grown weaker.
But that attack just now, it had the power of the Hero in his prime.
‘How on earth did he regain the strength of his peak days?’
But, befitting a Sage proficient in all magic, he soon figured out the reason.
‘So he was strengthened using magic.’
‘Dozens of enhancement spells are layered on him.’
He had certainly used a clever method, but dealing with that much wasn’t difficult.
Rather, the Sage felt a sense of disappointment.
‘Is that all the power you have?’
The Sage stretched out his hand to dispel all the magic cast on Yushin.
But the moment he thought it was dispelled, Yushin once again moved his body in a big way.
Slice!
“!”
In that fleeting moment, the Sage felt it clearly.
The fact that his right arm had been severed.
‘What in the world is happening?’
‘I should have dispelled the magic.’
“Did you really think I’d come here without a single countermeasure against you?”
Yushin openly mocked the Sage and continued his assault.
The most important thing against a mage is not to give them distance.
That was already a failure from the start.
The remaining time was, at most, about an hour.
If he didn’t corner the Sage before the magic’s effect wore off, it was obvious he would be the one to be taken down instead.
Fortunately, the start wasn’t bad.
Starting a fight against a mage in close combat is the best situation for a warrior.
And the Sage knew that fact as well.
Although they were now enemies, they were once close companions who had adventured together.
Therefore, they knew each other all too well.
“Do you think you can win just by dragging this into close combat?”
“Of course not.”
“As it should be.”
If he were a being who could be defeated simply by engaging in close combat like an ordinary mage.
He would never have been called the Sage.
Soon, a fist was thrown.
The Sage could also use enhancement magic.
But it was beyond comparison to a mage with no combat experience fighting with enhancement magic.
The Sage had enough close combat experience to rival most frontline fighters.
This was because the Hero’s party had often faced such worst-case scenarios.
Thanks to that, the mage had to survive on his own somehow.
In other words, you couldn’t survive in the Hero’s party by being good at just one thing.
That’s how he became a top-class close-quarters combatant.
But.
Compared to Yushin, the Hero who had only ever fought in close combat, it was true that he was relatively lacking.
In reality, the Sage was constantly being pushed back.
‘As expected, I’m at a disadvantage in close combat.’
Strength enhancement, acceleration magic, and more.
Although he had applied far more buff spells than Yushin had received, he was being continuously pushed back due to the difference in experience.
But he couldn’t shake Yushin off either.
If he tried to shake him off somehow, Yushin would notice immediately and instead close the distance to keep up the pressure.
If he pushed back the pressure, he couldn’t create distance, and if he kept enduring like this, he would slowly be worn down and eventually die.
The price for starting on the wrong foot was considerable.
KWA-ANG!
An ice pillar that deflected Yushin’s blade flew towards him like a beast.
But to Yushin, who had returned to his prime, it was nothing.
Crack! Clang!
The sound of shattering glass echoed.
The moment the ice pillar broke into pieces, Yushin could see it.
The Sage’s form, closing the distance in reverse.
It was a completely unexpected move, but Yushin’s body was already reacting first.
The Sage’s hand, cloaked in flame, instantly pierced Yushin’s heart.
On the surface, it looked like the match was decided.
But the moment he pierced Yushin’s body, the Sage realized it wasn’t the real body but a clone.
“Lightning Blade.”
To counterattack Yushin, who had perfectly gotten behind him, was an action born from experience.
He had seen this kind of move, getting behind someone, countless times.
Dodging the lightning blade, Yushin retreated backward.
But he maintained a distance he could close again at any time.
The Sage and Yushin faced each other.
Soon, their swords began to clash once more.