The Magician of Sound

For the next three days, Kai ended up meeting with Leslie continuously, discussing their project. After learning that there were so many programs and measurements needed, Kai needed to contact Ayaka for all her measurements, saying that he was making a present for her.

Ayaka, of course, answered every single question, expecting the present.

Unfortunately, he also said that he hadn't found anything yet for Michelle and Tasha, so he apologized personally to them.

After three days, Kai finally met Arnaud again over a coffee. The two stared at each other for a few minutes as Sofia stood behind Kai while Roselyn waited behind Arnaud.

"You won't budge off your requirement?" Arnaud opened his mouth first, uttering a question.

Kai nodded. "Five people… I, Sofia, Sir Jules, and Roselyn. You can choose the last one. There is no guarantee of success, but you will surely get something big when you have reached there. I will be the one in charge of this operation."

Arnaud closed his eyes for a few seconds before coming up with four conditions. "First, we are allowed to record the process for documentation. Second, we can do anything for you other than you telling us to sacrifice our lives. Third, if the situation has gone wrong, we are to call the Union to send reinforcements. Fourth, if we fail now and want to do it again in the future, you are to do it with us again, but we will send more people this time. You are not allowed to reject it."

Kai narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment. "I understand. I will agree to it, but only when we are in agreement that you are allowed to call the Union for reinforcement. After all, our level of emergency is different."

Arnaud agreed without hesitation. "Alright. I will accept the terms. I will finalize the contract, so you can sign it tomorrow. The dispatch will be at least three days from now unless you have another requirement."

Kai nodded and stretched his hand. "Deal."

"Deal." Arnaud shook his hand with a serious expression before joking around. "Do you know how much those people poked on me?"

Kai shrugged. "You're an S Rank Magician too, right? Are you participating in this mission? Or is it someone else?"

"It's me because I have more knowledge regarding this area. My magic is Lightning Magic, but it's a different approach from your sister."

"I know. Do you want a spar to know each other's power? I don't know about your and Sir Jules's power… While I can somehow understand the extent of Sir Jules's power through Sofia, I don't know anything about you."

"Sure thing. This will be a light spar, so we don't need any virtual field. We will just use the school training ground to trade some blows. I think without a weapon is enough, right?"

"As long as you use your magic a little, I'm good." Kai agreed, thinking that it should be enough to measure Arnaud's power.

"Then, let's go." He nodded.

The two then stood up as Roselyn sweatdropped, wondering what kind of fight would happen in school since those two were S Rank Magicians.

Obviously, when they entered the school, both Kai and Arnaud became a trending topic as many students stopped what they were doing to watch their fight.

Arnaud took off his suit and pulled his long-sleeve until it was above his elbow. Kai also did the same and had Sofia taken care of the vest while stretching his body.

"What is this?"

"Are two S Rank Magicians going to fight?"

"This is only a spar it seems."

"Still, it's exciting to watch Sir Arnaud's fight."

"What do you mean? You should know that his opponent is the rising star Kai Carter, right?"

The students kept whispering with each other before an old man suddenly appeared in the middle of the field.

"Oi, oi! Do you guys want to do something exciting without telling me? I'm the principal at this school, you know."

"Temporary!" Arnaud corrected him with a poker face.

"Do you want to fight Arnaud? I don't mind teaming up with him." Jules's eyebrows twitched.

Arnaud only shrugged. "This is only a light spar. No one will win in this fight."

"Whatever. I will become the referee. Any objections?"

"Do what you want." He shrugged while Kai nodded his head casually.

"Fine. Then start." Jules once again pulled another absurd move, completely stopping their rhythm for a second.

Even Kai widened his eyes, looking at Jules with a dumbfounded expression. "What?"

Suddenly, Arnaud appeared next to him as if taking advantage of his shock to hit him with his foot, but the situation turned out otherwise.

Arnaud crashed to the ground a few meters away from Kai.

"You pretended to be in shock?" Arnaud made a smirk before raising both hands because Kai didn't even give him a chance to talk.

Kai sent a kick toward him and blew him away again while saying, "No one will give you time to do something. If you see the chance, trick them or end them right away. That's the best way."

"Oi, oi. You're giving a lecture now?" Arnaud complained and saw Kai coming at him with a round kick. Not wanting to be in his mercy, Arnaud rolled a few times and stood up before another kick launched him away.

However, Arnaud managed to maintain his balance this time and landed on his feet. "That kick hurts."

"Don't lie." Kai snorted and jumped forward, sending a punch.

Arnaud deflected his hand to the side as the two began to have normal combat. "You do realize that your strength is absurd even compared to mine, right?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Kai harrumphed and punched straight to his face, only to find Arnaud disappeared.

It turned out Arnaud leaped to the air and made a backflip with his right foot stretched to the limit, trying to hit Kai's head. If Kai took another look at him, he would find lightning sparked around his leg, boosting his speed and power.

Kai turned around and blocked his attack with the Sound Oscillation Shield, only to find that the kick was stronger than he imagined.

It completely shattered his shield and went straight to his face.

Kai raised his left hand to block this kick which had been disabled of its power due to the Oscillation Shield. At the same time, he also smiled and said, "Your kick hurts."

Arnaud couldn't help but smile. "You're lying."

Kai chuckled as he grasped his ankle and spun his body, slamming it to the ground.

Another lightning spark occurred again as it suddenly bounced off the ground, heading straight to Kai.

Two Magic Circles appeared and blocked the lightning strike while Kai punched Arnaud on the ground.

Arnaud was forced to use his exoskeleton unless he wanted a broken bone and took that hit head-on.

Bam.

A small crater was created on the ground as the dust kicked up, hiding them.

Suddenly, Kai's figure emerged to the sky as if he escaped from something.

When the dust settled down, Arnaud finally made his appearance with lightning covering his whole body.

"To think I would be forced to use this first before you even use your exoskeleton. I wonder if I should feel ashamed or say as expected of the rising star of the US Base that managed to kill an S Rank Magical Beast… I'm confused."

"Neither." Kai snorted before looking to his left, finding that Arnaud had appeared when he said that one word.

His left hand was completely in the way of his kick, blocking his kick. At the same time, his right hand supported his left hand to withstand this attack. Yet, he felt dread of this kick and summoned his exoskeleton to protect his body.

And he was right. The moment the kick landed, Kai was pushed back a few meters even though his feet didn't move. "That's a strong kick."

"Well, thank you." Arnaud smiled as he appeared before Kai's eyes, punching his stomach.

Kai managed to react to this as well and used his right hand to stop it, but that position forced him to grab his hand a little as he felt the lightning electrocuting his right hand, making it numb. If he didn't have his Magic Power, it would be dangerous for the body.

"Wait, this Lightning Magic… I feel like…!!!" Kai grasped something indescribable when he saw how Arnaud's body was covered in lightning and how every attack carried that power. To repay him, he took one step back to invite Arnaud before taking another step to transfer all the force accumulated in his lower body to his fist.

"Not good." Arnaud felt something wrong and raised both hands to grasp this one punch from him.

Bam.

Arnaud was launched again before landing on the ground a few meters away from Kai. This time, Kai didn't move at all.

The two stared at each other without saying anything for a minute before Kai and Arnaud lowered their fists at the same time, knowing when to stop.

The two laughed without apparent reasons before Arnaud said, "I'm impressed with your skill. You are known for your sharpest sword, so I feel like I won't have the chance to defeat you."

"No, no. I'm sure that Sir Arnaud hasn't even used half of your power. It's me who should be prepared or I will lose without knowing the reason." Kai smiled. "All in all, thank you for the fight. I feel like I know what kind of magic should be my next magic."

"Hoho? I end up inspiring you? I'm honored." Arnaud chuckled and nodded. "Thank you for the fight."