Valerian, The Legendary

240 Magnum Magister Valerian.

The two people stood facing each other. Ignis was breathing heavily, as he was looking at the two of them. Libra bent down and picked up his sword from the ground. He was very surprised by Valerian’s ability to maneuver around his attack and that too at a fast speed.

Valerian looked at the middle-aged man and asked, “Your sword is made of Mithril?”

Libra was surprised, and asked, “How do you know?”

Valerian shrugged his shoulder and asked, “I have seen it before, a grandmaster in Calix City. He was awarded by the previous emperor.”

Libra recalled and nodded in affirmation. Then he asked, “How will you fight against this weapon? Do not say that it is unfair. A weapon is also a part of my strength.”

Valerian thought for a bit when Ignis mumbled, “Despite looking his valiant looks, this old man sure is cheap.”

Adele pinched Ignis on his shoulder and said with a glare, “Don’t be rude.”

Fortuna sighed and looking at the thinking boy she said, ‘Use the wooden sword. It is strong enough to hold up against mithril.’

Valerian replied, ‘Thank you.’

.....

Then he took out the wooden sword from his magic pouch and then assumed his stance. This was the first time he was really participating in a sword fight. Libra did not hesitate, as soon as the child had taken his stance, the Emperor charged at him with full force, this time the ground was deformed.

Valerian moved forward as well, and the two of them clashed, this time the weapons clashed and issued a clanging sound. The Emperor was surprised but he did not stop attacking. Libra was an accomplished warrior, every time he attack, it was pointed at a vital spot and he retracted his sword as well, as the two of them fought more, the advantage in experience became evident.

However, Valerian was not to be looked down on, he was simply a sponge, absorbing everything that the Emperor was displaying. Adele watched from the side and said, “Val is such a genius, he is not letting His Excellency exploit him with the same trick again and again.”

Ignis nodded and said, “This guy is not simple, when Azu was out for her trial of freedom, he almost killed me. I was left with a hole in my chest under his attack, and then if not for him casting a healing spell on me while there was still time. I might have died for him.”

Fortuna cast them a look from the corner of her eye and then she turned back to look at the battle. Valerian was evolving as he fought and now, he was even surprising the Emperor with his skills. Fortuna wanted to say something when she sensed a few people approaching the training area. Three people approached the field, Fragrantia, Azula, and Vertex.

Usually the dragon princess would spar in her original form, but Valerian bought Ignis and asked her to hold back from changing the form. Fragrantia looked at Ignis and asked, “Who is winning?”

Ignis nodded and said, “Equal footing.”

He was still tired and recovering. Adele said, “Mother, Valerian is a genius.”

Fragrantia smiled and said, “I told your father-in-law about it but he was intent on incurring shame from the duel.”

Azula said, “I bet father would win.”

Vertex said, “Valerian will lose in a few, father is strong.”

The two children were confident in their father, this was supposed to be a natural reaction. Fragrantia said, “Let’s make a wager, if Val wins, you two will yap around like a duck for me.”

Vertex was surprised and Azula took a step forward and asked, “If father won, then I want your azure diamond.”

Fragrantia chuckled as she placed a hand on the diamond hanging from her neck. She said, “You greedy imp, fine. I will give you this one if your father wins.”

Vertex stepped up and said, “I want a mithril dagger.”

Fragrantia replied, “Have it your way, but I want to see you two proud peacocks, turn into ducks.”

The attention turned toward the battlefield and the people became anxious.

...

Valerian and Libra were standing in a stalemate, none of them could gain an advantage, while Libra was thinking about how to beat this child, Valerian was thinking about how to get stronger. He did not care about a loss against the Emperor of the nation, he only wanted to improve himself. Suddenly, his mana eyes caught the sight of the battle aura circulating around Libra’s blade.

Something clicked in his mind and the prince pushed Libra away and opened up the distance between them. Libra was surprised but the next moment, he sensed the ground ripple. Valerian had cast the rippling spear spell on the ground and then he cast a few earth walls between him and the middle-aged man.

He also cast death vines on the walls, to prevent Libra from jumping high and trying to get to him. This move confused the people, but the next moment, Valerian stood up with his eyes closed. Ignis asked, “What’s happening?”

The rest of the people were confused as well, but then they saw Fortuna standing up from the ground, the beast let out a low roar. The people were surprised but then they sensed the earth shake and then a huge wall slowly formed around them. Fragrantia asked, “What is happening?”

Her voice was calm, and Fortuna said, “Behold, Magnum Magister Valerian.”

The people were shocked when they heard this, Fragrantia asked, “What do you mean? Did he really master the fundaments of magic and then also broke past the limit of a master?”

Fortuna nodded and said, “This guy was born an Archmage. That is why his speech defect did not stop him. Just now, he broke through the barrier of the masters. It may sound far-fetched to you, but this child was given a head start ahead of the others. This is why it took him so much time.”

The rest of the people were surprised and Azula said, “Yes, I remember that when Rectus was traveling with me, he was discussing this issue with his sister, and Valerian had always been a blessed Archmage.”

Adele was the most shocked one here. She looked at the boy who was now surrounded by crimson wisps of battle aura circling around him. Fragrantia said, “Vertex, look at him, closely.”

The boy did as he was told. Slowly, the battle aura increased in quantity and it formed a cloak around Valerian. On the other side, the stone walls he had prepared for Libra were sliced apart by the Emperor.

He was quick and sharp in his attacks, watching Valerian breaking through did not stop him and the man stepped forward with his blade. Fragrantia wanted to stop him, but Fortuna moved. The tigress flickered from her position and then appeared in front of Libra. Then she swung her paw at Libra with her hooked claws intending to tear him apart.

The claw and the sword clashed, but instead of the bloodied paw, the sword was flung out of Libra’s hand and the tigress let out a roar that shocked the Emperor. Fragrantia and Azula held each other’s hand, the sense of oppression that came over their hearts was something that they both could not imagine.

Fortuna held her anger from tearing this man into shreds and said, “Emperor Libra, mind your own majesty, do not take cheap shots on a boy while sparing. Otherwise, I do not mind turning this battle into bloodshed.”

She was warning the Emperor with such ferocity that the people were shocked. Libra did not know her reality and was going to rebuke her when Valerian’s voice sounded, “Fortuna, I will handle it.”

The tigress snarled and said, “If you lost, I will break all your bones, Valerian. Do you understand? I will not allow a weakling to be my companion human.”

Valerian nodded and said, “Go.”

Fortuna left to the side after glaring at Libra once more, and Fragrantia and Azula put their hearts down in their chests. His battle aura had now turned into armor around his body, his breakthrough was complete. His silver eyes had a tint of crimson in them. Valerian looked at Libra and said, “You might be thinking that your pride was harmed, but if you can win this battle, then I will have her apologize to you.”

Libra clenched his fists and asked, “If I lost?”

Valerian straightened his back and said, “I will tell you the reason why you should not mind her.”

Libra flickered from his spot and the next time he appeared in front of Valerian was with a sword condensed of his battle aura, slashing down at Valerian’s neck.

The boy did not waver, his battle aura was quickly condensed into a spear and stabbed toward the chest of the Emperor. Libra stepped hard on the ground and instead of retreating, he moved forward, he intended to shift his body to let the spear pass through his shoulder, and then his sword will rest against Valerian’s nape, however, the young man seemed to have presumed this, and the spear moved in a blink and a stab wound appeared in his wrist.

Libra was surprised and the next moment, Valerian dissolved the spear, and closed the distance, before he punched the man in his guts. The impact was so strong that Libra opened his eyes wide. Then he fell down on his knees.

Fragrantia heaved a sigh, and Libra clutched his guts as he curled up on the ground.