Chapter 434: Bastion
"Bastion."
With that word, whispered in wonder, the spell resolved. I looked up, my fear, embarrassment, and anxiety forgotten, as mana arced from the rims of the titanic magic circles surrounding our sparring ground, converging in a small, pulsating dot five hundred feet above the earth.
The mana began to expand outward, flowing like liquid sunlight around an invisible sphere, forming shimmering curtains of golden light that extended toward the ground. Delicate arcs of energy coursed through the membrane of Protection Magic like veins, and a soft, humming resonance vibrated deep within my bones.
The barrier touched down less than a second later. It was unseen by everyone else, but Bastion extended beneath the earth as well, forming a complete sphere of protection around us. The spell typically had reflective properties, but I chose to omit those this time. The thought of something like Magma Shot ricocheting endlessly, gaining power with each bounce, until it finally struck something...it was a terrifying thought.
"So, what’s this about?" Gayron asked, eyeing the barrier with suspicion. "I half expected you to be stalling for time to cast some grand spell on me, but you’re just... making an arena? But protection only works if you’re stronger than the attack, so—" His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Are you looking down on me?"
I tilted my head, my tail twitching in confusion. "Sorry?"
Looking down on him? In truth, it was the exact opposite. I was afraid he would accidentally hurt someone, so wasn’t it natural to create a barrier to protect our audience?
"Whatever," Gayron shrugged, dismissing the barrier with a wave of his hand. "If you want to waste your mana on a seventh-circle spell, be my guest. Just don’t use it as an excuse when I overpower you."
Battle maniacs were strange creatures. I knew that, but I still couldn’t help shaking my head. Whatever he was going on about made no sense to me. Maybe that was the point, a distraction tactic to throw me off balance.