Return of the Unrivaled Spear Knight
chapter-169

“Ah!”

The audience members seated in the front row were startled by the storm that suddenly manifested right in front of their noses. The host was even sent flying like a rag, but no one really paid any attention to him.

Theta used all of his mana to create miniature twin cyclones. It seemed like a downgraded version of the base spell, but it was actually stronger than the base spell.

Theta smiled as he looked at the twin cyclones in his palm.

“Have you ever heard of a battle of the attributes?”

“...” Joshua remained silent as his navy blue hair fluttered amidst the fierce winds.

Theta ignored Joshua’s silence and continued. “You know, mages are simpler creatures than you might think, and they all like frivolous confrontations. However, mages have something in common with knights, and it is the fact that they always want to become stronger, or in other words—raise our class.”

“I’m of the same mind as the other mages. My heart would always become filled with joy whenever my number of Circles increases.”

Theta's smile deepened as if the mere thought of it brought him bliss.

“The most efficient method of gaining a Circle is to focus on a single attribute that is based on one’s talent. A fire mage, for example, will only need to learn one elemental spell for them to be considered a mage of that certain attribute…”

“As an example, let’s take Rune Flare, a 4th Circle fire magic spell. It doesn’t matter even if a fire mage can only use Rune Flare, as long as they have a decent enough grasp of Rune Flare, they would then be considered a Class 4 Fire Mage.”

“...”

Theta’s eyes shone brilliantly as his robes fluttered amidst the intensifying wind before continuing. “The formula for comparing classes is complex and difficult, but once you get down to it, you will notice that every attribute adheres to certain fundamental concepts…”

“Honestly, I think that’s the reason why mages are so proud of their own chosen specialties, and that’s probably the reason why I love wind magic very—very much as well. And it’s the same reason why I enjoy battles.”

Theta started pushing his hands together, eliciting a repulsive force. However, Theta eventually managed to combine the twin cyclones into one massive storm.

“...!”

Whizz!

The storm generated a sound that could easily destroy anyone’s eardrums, yet Theta was smiling in a depiction of a childlike joy while trapping a natural phenomenon only the gods should have been able to manipulate between his hands.

The concept of combining two independent storms into one typhoon seemed absurd, but Theta managed to accomplish it. Of course, he had to fully unleash his mana, which meant that the feat required the entirety of a Class 6 Mage’s mana to generate power equivalent to a bonafide Class 7 Mage.

If this weren’t absurd, then most mages would have been able to muster strength a degree higher than their rated strength.

“Every attribute has a synergy with each other. So which do you think is the strongest when certain attributes have an inherent advantage over the other?” Theta momentarily looked at the miniature and smiled. “Wind is the strongest, and I’ll show you why.”

At that, Joshua chuckled.

Theta's forehead creased as he frowned and asked, “What’s funny?”

“You sounded like a child cracking a joke.”

“...” Theta’s eyes quivered.

Joshua explained, “If what you said is true, then even if it takes time, I believe that it’s only appropriate for a mage to use every attribute equally rather than specializing in one. Shouldn’t it be better for a mage to learn spells from every attribute and adjust which spell to use according to their circumstances?”

“So you’re a bigger idiot than I thought…” Theta grumbled. “The synergy exists, yes, but spells can never overcome the barrier between classes. 3rd Circle spells can’t defeat 4th Circle spells, even if the 3rd Circle spell is water and the 4th Circle spell is fire. It has always been the case, you dumbass, and that is the reason why every mage chose to specialize.”

“...”

“A jack of all trades can’t defeat a master of one.”

Theta's voice was brimming with confidence. After all, Joshua’s Bronto was of the lightning attribute, while he had never really used water magic spells. As such, Joshua’s lightning would never be anything more than a trivial trick in front of him.

“You actually believe that?” asked Joshua.

“What?” said Theta, seemingly confused.

“Someone has already done it, and you know him. He is skilled enough in all attributes that he is capable of challenging the Tower Master.”

At that, Theta closed his eyes. A few moments later, he opened his eyes once more and said, “I have been neglectful, so I’m just going to tell you this for the first time. His name is forbidden in the Magic Tower.”

“...” Joshua didn’t know what to say.

“And that traitor will never be able to surpass me.” Theta stared directly at Joshua and continued, “No more gossip. Show me Bronto’s strength.”

“As you wish,” muttered Josuha.

He then mustered one of the four energies twisting within him. Joshua could finally manipulate each of the four energies individually, and that was what he did as an immaculate white current of electricity poured out of him and onto the stage.

Joshua’s encounter with Duke Altsma in Rev helped Joshua manipulate the demonic power within him, while his divine power was elevated at the castle of the Rebreccas, but this was the first time Joshua could manipulate Bronto’s energy.

‘When I saw Ulabis’ annihilation flames, I really think that Bronto has more abilities than even I had no idea about.’

Today, Joshua intended to use this chance to enhance the limits of Bronto’s strength. After all, growth was not just about letting time pass by.

“...!”

An impossible scene was made impossible as an immense bolt of lightning crackled through the cloudless sky, terrorizing the audience with its thunderous roar.

“That’s definitely not something you can see every day…” Theta’s uneasy expression disturbed the audience members as well.

“Hey, are you sure we’re going to be okay? The mage made a literal typhoon while the other summoned lightning with thunder!”

“Wait, I thought you wanted to watch this fight so bad? What happened to that? As for me, I’m going to watch this fight even if it kills me!”

“Well, uh… I guess I’m a bit scared. I don’t want to miss this, so I’m going to keep on watching. I’m sure the mages will protect us!”

The audience members started muttering to themselves as the audience stands became filled with excitement and turmoil.

“Everyone! This is a fight between a Class 6 Wind Mage and the monster of Avalon! We can’t afford to hold back! We have to unleash the entirety of our mana to protect the audience!” exclaimed one of the senior mages hired by the organizers of the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle.

In response, the mages around him started contributing most of their mana without holding back.

“I thought that lunatic is surrendering? What the hell is he doing?”

“Shhh! He might be able to hear you. And have you really seen a mage who isn’t whimsical at all?”

“Yes, he’s a mage, but he’s too much!”

“If you have time to speak, then you best spend it by contributing more mana!”

The mages broke breaking into a cold sweat despite their collective might as they fended off the buffeting winds. The barrier isolating the stage from the audience stands took on a darker, more distinct form as more and more mana was used to coalesce it.

Meanwhile, Joshua didn’t pay any attention to the ruckus as he immersed himself in his own thoughts.

‘What is growth?’

Honestly, Joshua didn’t have to be concerned about his growth. From Lugia’s explanations, the root of it was the boundaries separating the level of growth.

‘It’s not just about the physical growth my body had undergone over the years, but rather my power and enlightenment. This is a great chance for me to experience new growth.’

Joshua’s eyes gleamed as lightning surged around him.

‘Years ago, I accidentally gained enlightenment of Level 6 of the Magic Spear Arts. Now, with Bronto’s power, I will be able to break through this wall, though it might not be perfect.’

Even in his previous life, Joshua had not reached Level 6 of the Magic Spear Arts. Now, both heaven and earth started trembling as Joshua took his first steps into exploring the unknown realm.

Crackle!

All of a sudden, a bolt of lightning descended and struck Joshua’s head.

“...!” Theta stepped back in shock. He could hear the sizzling crackles of the lightning bolt, and he couldn’t help but ask blankly, “A-Are you okay?”

However, Theta’s eyes soon widened as his question was soon answered. Bathed in a torrent of immaculate white lightning, Joshua lifted one of his hands as if the lightning bolt that struck his head was just an illusion.

The six Masters stared wide-eyed at the stage. They were awed by the power Joshua was displaying to them.

“Hey, this power…”

“What is this?!”

“A human being can actually display this much power?”

The three Masters from the non-imperial powers was shocked beyond comprehension.

“Crazy bastard…!” Theta cursed as alarm bells rang in his mind.

Theta muttered a curse as the alarm continued to ring in his thoughts.

The idea of having a casual match had gone down the drain. He knew that if he didn’t give everything he had in this match, he could lose his life. As such, he took a deep breath and started spinning the circles in his heart as fast as he could. Every iota of mana slumbering in his body cascaded out of his hands and into his mighty typhoon.

However, it seemed as if Joshua still had the upper hand.

“If the flame of Ulabis is an annihilation that reduces all things to ashes, then my thunderbolt is a power that does not permit life.”

Joshua’s right hand was not occupied by Lugia—rather, a blinding spear of brilliant lightning sat in its place. The spear was a manifestation of Bronto’s power, and it looked like the amalgamation of every lightning in this world.

“Aaaahhhh!” Theta squeezed as much of his mana as he could into his typhoon before frantically launching it toward Joshua.

Joshua became the target of the uncompressed fury of a raging typhoon, and it tore through the Gold River Stones, which was the material used to create the huge coliseum of Reinhardt. As such, it was a no-brainer that the typhoon’s wind could easily tear through human flesh.

Joshua took on a stance as he stared at the approaching typhoon.

‘Now, this is fun,’ Joshua muttered to himself.

When his words fell, he hurled the spear in his hand toward the typhoon.

‘Sugahak’s Vengeance.’

The spear tore through the air, and it penetrated the eye of the typhoon in one go.

Boom!

A dazzling explosion inundated the skies.