Reborn: My Two Systems at War

Chapter 39: A Turf War, part 2/2: Razor Duel

As the tiny droplets of blood sprayed the ground and walls red, the battle seemed to stop.

<Basic Telekinesis VI (8%)> --> 10%

"Such a fearsome incantation..." The elder mage, his cane still wreathed in fire, whispered by Tia's side.

Tia stood rooted, her hands quivering, intoxicated by the surge of her newfound might.

As someone who was previously a witch, she more than realized how terrific it was. She could now seamlessly weave potent spells into her Esper powers, directing and maneuvering them as naturally as an extension of herself.

'With this, my power will skyrocket!'

"Cease! I challenge you to a duel!" An age-old voice boomed across the battlefield, pulsing with such commanding energy that the henchmen halted in their battles, instinctively parting to make way.

An elderly Asian gentleman made his way through the parted crowd. Dressed in a sharp, sophisticated black suit, his black fedora shaded his features. A finely crafted katana hung from his belt, its sheath grazing the blood-speckled ground as he moved.

Pausing at a distance, he offered two respectful bows: first to Sebas and then, with equal reverence, to Tia.

"Sebas, Razor Witch, let us end this bloodshed with a single duel of honor! I, Takomato Hikaruc, challenge you to a duel. Pick your representative."

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'Razor witch?' Tia felt like her new nickname was more than fitting after she showed her new terrifying power.

She briefly glanced toward Sebas, who was nodding, and whose eyes were saying it all: We have hired you, so fight.

In the murky depths of the criminal underworld, principles were governed by honor, respect, and might. There was no turning back.

"I will fight." Tia declared, moving forward with measured steps, her fingers subtly gravitating towards her wand.

The man in the sharp suit subtly nodded, his hand poised over his katana's hilt. His eyes, radiant with inner vitality, seemed to shimmer with the life force coursing within.

'He looks skilled.'

The clashes and chaos halted abruptly, with each gang falling into line behind their chosen champion. Tia wasn't a fool; she already knew the duel wasn't in her favor.

'I am a caster, and at this distance, I should be at a disadvantage.' However, Tia's heartbeat only revealed a slight nervosity mixed with the thrill of a battle.

'Sadly for you, I am not only a caster, I am also an Esper.' She offered the Asian gentleman a courteous smile and assumed her stance, her eyes alight with anticipation. Her focus sharpened to a razor's edge as she waited for the signal to start.

Hikaru subtly shifted his stance, his left knee bending slightly while the other stretched back. The muscles beneath his suit rippled, betraying the formidable strength and agility unfitting of his age.

'This world is truly nuts...'

Tia steadied her breathing. Sebas positioned himself, arm raised high. A hush enveloped the yard, every eye transfixed, every gangster's attention directed to the imminent showdown.

'Sebas, if you wanted, you could have refused this.' The old mage was shrewd, and she knew it. His victory was already secured. Even if she lost and died, he would still have the opportunity to slay Hikaru from the side, only at the cost of small damage to his honor.

Tia pushed away all extraneous thoughts, seeking clarity within the depths of her mind. Silently, intangible tendrils of her power spiraled outward, ensnaring her form and weaving a protective shroud that enveloped every inch of her being.

"Start!" The word boomed across the yard, and the world seemingly slowed down as Tia's mind reached perfect clarity.

Her surroundings blurred into streaks of color, the very air whistling as she darted sideways, propelled by the raw physical force, her hair trailing like a comet's tail. Parallel threads of her cognition busily constructed the luminous glyphs of the razor spell.

'I need space.'

Concurrently, the ground beneath Hikaru splintered and burst as he sprang forth with the agility of a praying mantis. His katana, unsheathed and gleaming, sliced through the atmosphere, generating spiraling air currents in its wake.

Tia just smiled as she smoothly slid out of its path. The blade passed by and hit nothing but the empty air, the residual wind ruffling her dress and hair.

The expression of shock and perplexion was visible in his eyes.

'I would bet that I am the fastest caster he ever saw.'

The tips of her wand pulsed, and a wave of invisible force shot out, sending ripples through the clouds of smoke.

With an unnatural speed, the man moved, and his blade gleamed as he swung it with shocking strength behind it, creating an explosive burst of air that shot out.

The two forceful torrents met in a cataclysmic clash, producing a sonic boom that cleared the smoke, revealing a clearing nearly the expanse of a tennis court. Concurrently, the glowing runes materialized and solidified in front of Tia's wand, poised for the next move.

'Huh? Did he just cut my attack? This time, Tia was the shocked one, her anxiety quickly growing as the black shadow of the man already launched toward her, and the glowing tip of the katana quickly approached her neck.

Once again, her body was propelled like a human rocket by her own mind while she waved her wand.

A wave of fire and raw kinetic force exploded out and passed through the magic array, turning into a massive tornado-like vortex of destruction that flew straight against the man's incoming blade.

The sprinting man swung his blade again and launched an explosive shockwave in response.

'Predictable.'

A triumphant spark lit up her eyes. At that moment, she knew with certainty that victory was hers.

With a mere flicker of intent, the twin whirlwinds diverged to either side, and the katana's shockwave met only void; its force was so immense that it ripped the very stones from the ground in its wake.

Before she could even blink, the burning vortexes of sharp blades of fire had already smashed into him, his body vanishing in the elemental maelstrom.

'It is done.'

The katana clanged against the stone floor, and as the flames faded, they revealed the scorched and battered form of the warrior. He remained upright even though he ceased to breathe.

<Basic Telekinesis VI (10%)> --> 15%

<Basic Pyrokinesis I (60%)> --> 75%

Tia froze still, smiling in relief.

'Even warriors have class here instead of being dump muscleheads, just relying on their superpowers, steroids, and body augmentations without having even a semblance of proper technique.'

"Victory is ours!" The Wolf Gang's triumphant shouts filled the air as they held their weapons high, celebrating. Across from them, their opponents dropped their weapons, their faces pale with defeat.

Sebas watched the scene, his face unreadable. After a moment, he uttered in a hushed tone, "Innate magic..."