While the opponent had yet to enter a combat-ready state, Mira took the opportunity to cast a series of beneficial enchantments upon herself and Veridith.

  In battles against formidable foes, particurly those whose strength vastly exceeds that of one’s own, the impact of supportive magic cannot be overstated. Indeed, it could even be said that the outcome of such a battle may well hinge on the effectiveness of auxiliary magic.

  But such a vital role inevitably pces one in the crosshairs of the enemy.

  “It’s been a while since I st fought head-on. I wonder if I’ve grown rusty.”

  The sleeve-bde on Veridith’s left arm sprang into motion, spinning rapidly before being gripped like a dagger in her hand.

  Her right hand, meanwhile, shifted halfway into its dragon form, a powerful yet nimble dragon’s cw repcing her formerly delicate and fair hand. The cw was covered in green, shimmering dragon scales.

  Upon seeing this, the masked man’s brow twitched.

  “…I didn’t expect another non-human aside from that beastman. And a dragon, no less… This is turning out to be more interesting than I thought.”

  No sooner had he spoken than his form vanished from view in an instant. With a sharp ‘cng,’ he materialised before Veridith, his sword cshing against the protective armour of her sleeve-bde, sparking and producing a piercing sound.

  “Tch! Magic tools are such a hassle.”

  The masked man had immediately recognised Veridith’s sleeve-bde as a magic tool, and one of exceptional quality. The materials, craftsmanship, and the enchantments engraved upon it were all of a very high standard, to the point that a blow from him—at a strength level equivalent to the ninth tier—had left no visible damage on it.

  Seizing the opportunity while the masked man’s dual swords were locked against her sleeve-bde’s protective pting, Veridith shed out with her right cw.

  Empowered by the strength of her dragon heritage, amplified by the enhancement from Mira’s magic and the strengthening effects of the enchantments, Veridith’s strike was more powerful than any of her previous attacks—even those made while fully in her dragon form.

  The masked man, sensing the strength of the blow, opted to retreat to avoid injury.

  “‘Rain of Light’,” Mira chanted.

  As the masked man withdrew, Mira summoned a wide-area spell. Needles of light, like raindrops, descended from above, encompassing everyone within its reach.

  Of course, this wasn’t an indiscriminate assault. The 'Rain of Light' spell could be controlled by the caster, affecting different individuals in varying ways. Allies would receive healing, while foes would experience the sharp, piercing pain of the light as it assaulted them, striking them like needles. It was both a nourishing rain and a destructive storm.

  Yet, the spell had no effect on the masked man. Just like the earlier magical attack Mira had cast, the light dissipated the moment it reached his vicinity.

  ‘This… strange ability…’

  Mira’s mind raced, trying to understand why her attack had been nullified.

  ‘Is it an attack with insufficient tier to affect him? No, that can’t be it, or else he wouldn’t have needed to avoid Veridith’s strike…’

  Mira watched as Veridith, now with dragon wings sprouting from her back, engaged in a rapid battle with the masked man.

  Had Mira not been a talented mage, able to expertly wield magic and keep up with the speed of the fight, Veridith would likely have been defeated already.

  ‘The difference between me and Veridith… Close combat versus magic?’

  That, perhaps, was one of the biggest contrasts between them. Such abilities were not rare, and any power capable of countering magic defence could achieve something simir.

  Yet, there was still one more question.

  ‘Why wasn’t my first attack nullified?’

  Rather than engaging in a fruitless "harmless smoke," it would have been far better to simply negate the attack outright. Though the masked man certainly had the potential for such an ineffective response, such occurrences were rare.

  In that case, it was time to consider the difference between her first magical attack and the ones that followed.

  ‘…Could it be…!?’

  Suddenly, a fsh of insight struck Mira.

  “Veridith!”

  “Rar?”

  At the sound of Mira’s voice, Veridith paused and briefly withdrew.

  By this time, Veridith’s once-immacute white robes were stained red, sliced by sword strikes, with even the underlying garments torn in pces. Yet her body remained unscathed, a testament to the healing and supportive magic Mira had been continuously casting. Without it, Veridith would have likely fallen dozens of times by now.

  But Mira’s magical reserves were not infinite; they couldn’t keep this up for much longer.

  “Veridith, I need to confirm something. You go first…”

  With the masked man still arrogantly underestimating them and refraining from pursuing, Mira expined her pn to Veridith.

  “…Understood. Leave it to you then.”

  Veridith and Mira exchanged nods before Veridith surged back into the fray.

  “…So, nothing’s changed after all, has it?” The masked man’s voice held a note of amusement as he observed Veridith and Mira’s apparent dismay. He remained utterly at ease, showing no sign of exertion.

  “Seems I had too many expectations. Well, this is…”

  Suddenly, from behind Veridith, hidden by her form, Mira unleashed a brilliant fre of light. The intensity of the glow was so sharp that even the masked man flinched, though Veridith, prepared and facing away from the light, was not unduly affected.

  “Take this!” Veridith shouted, seizing the magical crystal Mira had provided, shattering it in her hand. A powerful light magic surged forth, crashing toward the masked man.

  “…Hah! You still don’t understand? This attack will have no effect on me!”

  “I know that already,” Veridith replied, grinning.

  “What…?”

  Veridith, confirming the ineffectiveness of the spell, followed the pn and took flight, creating space for Mira, who had been waiting patiently.

  “No effect from light magic? How about this?”

  Mira conjured a massive serpent of water, which shed forward toward the masked man with unstoppable force.

  She had compared her previous spells and realised that only her first attack, unlike the others, had not been of the light attribute—meaning it was the only one not dispelled by the masked man’s mysterious ability.

  After Veridith had used the light-based spell stored within her magic crystal, Mira had been certain that the masked man’s power specifically negated light-based attacks.

  To ensure her success, Mira had also employed an attack with physical properties, but now, it seemed this clever pn was unfolding perfectly.

  “Aaaaah!!”

  The colossal water serpent struck the masked man with immense force, the pressure causing his bck attire and even his skin to tear apart, as the once-transparent serpent became soaked in blood.

  “Aaaah! …Damn you! I won’t let this go!”

  With a final, desperate surge, the masked man broke free from the water serpent, clearly draining his reserves of strength, and unched himself toward Mira, who had depleted her magical energy and was now vulnerable.