Chapter 194: When Fire Learns to Breathe
Arthur lifted his hand slowly.
His expression changed again, the excitement still there, but now mixed with focus.
Let’s see how far this goes.
His mana rose..
And this time, it didn’t stay around his body.
It moved outward, as the air in front of him stirred.
Then..
A small wind construct formed.
A simple one.
A compressed sphere.
The commander’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Then another formed beside it.
Then another.
Arthur smiled.
"...Oh, this is easy."
The constructs came faster now.
Not just spheres anymore.
They stretched.
Shifted.
Sharpened.
Spinning wind spears formed mid air, rotating slightly as they stabilized.
The commander didn’t hide it this time.
"...You’re joking."
Arthur chuckled.
"I wish."
He flicked his fingers forward.
The first spear shot out.
Fast.
Too fast for something formed that quickly.
The commander moved instantly, stepping to the side as it passed her shoulder.
Another came right after.
Then two more.
She dodged again, her body moving smoothly, but her eyes stayed locked on him.
This speed...
There was barely any delay between formation and release.
That wasn’t normal.. not even close to it.
Arthur didn’t stop.
He kept forming.
Kept firing.
Wind spheres burst forward, followed by spinning spears that cut through the air with a sharp whistle.
He tilted his head slightly as he watched her react.
Casting is faster... movement is cleaner too.
It wasn’t just speed.
It felt... natural.
Like the constructs wanted to move.
The commander braced this time, her mana layer thickening slightly.
A spear struck her guard and deflected, losing its edge on contact.
But another came right after.
And another.
Arthur grinned.
"Let’s see how long you keep up."
She scoffed.
"Try me."
She moved again, weaving between the incoming attacks.
Some she dodged.
Some she deflected.
But none of them forced her to retreat.
Not yet.
Arthur noticed.
Still not enough.
Good.
That meant he could push more.
He lifted both hands now.
The constructs multiplied.
Different sizes.
Different shapes.
Some small and fast.
Others larger, slower, but heavier.
He didn’t just throw them anymore.
He controlled them.
A spear missed..
Then curved back.
The commander’s eyes sharpened as she twisted to avoid it again.
"...You’re controlling them after release too?"
Arthur smirked.
"Would be a waste if I didn’t."
Now it was pressure.
Real pressure.
The space around her filled with moving constructs, each one coming from a different angle.
She moved faster now.
Her steps were sharper, her body reacting on instinct.
A sphere exploded near her, scattering wind currents that disrupted her footing slightly.
Then a spear followed right through that opening.
She blocked it, but her arm shifted back slightly.
"...Not bad."
Arthur’s smile widened.
"Not bad?"
He sent another wave.
"But I just started."
This time he changed it.
The wind around the constructs sharpened.
Thinner.
Cleaner.
Edge formation.
The spears became slimmer, their rotation tighter.
Faster.
Harder to see.
The commander felt it immediately.
Her movements became more precise.
No wasted motion. No room for error.
A spear grazed her sleeve, slicing a thin line through it.
She glanced at it for a second.
Then looked back at him.
"...You’re getting faster."
Arthur laughed lightly.
"I told you."
He didn’t slow down.
If anything, he got more creative.
He delayed some attacks.
Sent others early.
Forced her to react, then punished the reaction.
A larger construct came from above..
She dodged..
Only for two smaller ones to come from her blind spot.
She shifted again, barely avoiding them.
"...Annoying."
Arthur grinned.
"Good."
To him, this wasn’t just a test.
It was fun.
His mind stayed sharp, but he wasn’t stiff.
He adapted as he went.
Each move felt better than the last.
Each control smoother.
And seeing her adjust... that pushed him even more.
She can still handle it...
Which meant he could go further.
He let out a breath.
Then spoke.
"I’m trying something new."
The commander didn’t relax.
"Go on."
Arthur didn’t explain.
He just did it.
His mana shifted again.
The wind constructs paused for a brief moment—
Then changed.
A faint heat mixed into them.
The commander’s eyes widened slightly.
"...Fire?"
Arthur’s expression sharpened.
"Yeah."
He didn’t separate them.
He layered them.
Wind first.
Then fire.
Carefully.
Like guiding one through the other.
It wasn’t perfect.
But it held.
For now.
He formed a single construct this time.
Not many.
Just one.
Larger.
Denser.
It spun slowly in front of him, wind wrapping around it while fire flickered within.
Arthur stared at it for a second.
This... feels different.
Not just stronger.
Alive.
Unstable, but powerful.
He exhaled.
"Let’s see."
Then he released it.
The construct shot forward..
Faster than anything before.
The wind carried it.
Pushed it.
Guided it.
The commander moved instantly, her body reacting the moment it left his hand.
But even she was a fraction late as the construct hit the ground near her and exploded.
Not like normal fire..
It spread.
Fast.
Wide.
The wind carried the flames outward in a burst that expanded far beyond what it should have.
The force shook the training hall.
Dust rose instantly.
Heat followed.
Arthur’s eyes widened slightly.
"...Oh."
That was more than he expected.
The flames lingered for a moment, carried by the remaining wind currents before fading.
Silence followed.
Then..
A cough.
The commander stepped out of the settling dust, brushing her shoulder lightly.
"...You trying to kill me now?"
Arthur scratched his head.
"I mean... I thought you’d dodge it."
She gave him a look.
"I did."
She glanced back at the scorched ground.
"...Mostly."
Arthur let out a small laugh.
"Okay... that was stronger than I planned."
He looked at his hand again.
So this is what the interface meant...
Fire for power.
Wind for spread.
Together..
It wasn’t just an attack anymore.
It was pressure.
Area control.
Destruction.
A slow grin spread across his face.
Yeah... this one stays.
The commander walked a few steps forward, stopping a short distance from him.
Her expression was calm again.
But her eyes were sharp.
"...That wasn’t a beginner move."