Days passed as Yun Jin and Merlin exchanged knowledge under the gentle skies of the garden.
Merlin had improved beyond recognition. He could now maintain his breathing even during intense movement, stabilizing his mana and recovering it faster than ever before. Not only that, he had picked up several martial techniques to bolster his survivability in close quarters.
As for Yun Jin, after repeated experiments with his newfound Spatial Affinity, he had fully adapted to three-meter teleports. Though he still needed to allow a brief cooldown between jumps to avoid overloading his mind, his mastery was growing steadily.
Even beyond teleportation, his understanding of magic had improved across the board.
The rank of his skills hadn't risen yet—but Yun Jin knew better than anyone:
Rank doesn't mean everything.
Standing in a field where hundreds of icy swords were impaled into the ground, Yun Jin admired his handiwork. By studying the principles behind his Ice Affinity, he had modified a basic snow-creation spell into an offensive spell that conjured a valley of deadly ice blades.
It was only the beginning.
“Now all that’s left,” Yun Jin said, turning to Merlin with a grin, “is for us to fight.”
Merlin took a single step back.
“No. Not a chance. Nope.”
Yun Jin blinked, confused. “Why not? After we taught each other so much, it’s only natural to test ourselves, isn’t it?”
Merlin hugged his staff to his chest, shaking his head furiously.
“A swordmaster with three affinities who can teleport instantly... How is a mage alone supposed to fight someone like you?”
Even under normal circumstances, Yun Jin was terrifyingly fast. Now, with teleportation, defensive magic, and refined martial techniques, Merlin couldn’t even picture how a battle would go—it would be a slaughter.
“You never know until you try,” Yun Jin said, tilting his head and flashing a harmless, innocent smile.
“No! Never!” Merlin’s voice was firm, almost desperate.
The truth was, if Merlin fought Yun Jin, he would have to go all out just to stand a chance. But spells weren’t like sword strikes—they couldn’t be pulled back.
Once a spell was cast, there was no stopping it mid-flight. And given Merlin’s unstable mana condition, a single mistake could seriously injure Yun Jin, maybe even cripple him.
It wasn’t a risk Merlin was willing to take.
“Fine.” Yun Jin’s smile faded, replaced by something much heavier.
A sadness crept into his face—so heavy, so quiet—that Merlin instinctively took a step closer.
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“...Are you okay?” he asked.
It startled him. Yun Jin, who always seemed calm, unshaken, and a little playful, looked genuinely hurt... over something as simple as a declined duel.
“I’m okay,” Yun Jin said softly.
But he wasn’t.
This wasn’t the first time Yun Jin had been refused.
In fact, it had happened countless times before.
"Sorry, young master, but we have to decline."
"Our young lord isn’t doing so well, but we’ll contact you as soon as possible."
"I’ll relay the message to my disciple. When he’s ready, he’ll face you."
Over and over again.
Because he was too strong.
From the moment he became the Sword Saint’s disciple, even before that, back when he was a prodigy of the Wudang Sect, Yun Jin had carried the burden of his limitless potential. Later, they called him the Limitless Blade.
But strength was a double-edged sword.
The elder fighters feared the humiliation of losing to a boy.
His peers refused to risk their reputations by challenging him.
Even those who did accept duels suffered crushing, humiliating defeats.
Yun Jin had tried going easy. He had tried holding back. But that only deepened the insult they felt.
Eventually, Yun Jin stopped asking altogether, finding battle only in major tournaments where avoidance wasn’t an option.
And now, for the first time in what felt like forever, he had hoped things would be different—with Merlin.
But I guess not... he thought, exhaling a slow, hollow breath.
It wasn’t disappointment that filled him.
It was loneliness.
Merlin swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. Then, gulping down his hesitation, he offered the best alternative he could think of.
“But maybe... we could do a quest instead? Just the two of us,” he suggested, voice lighter than before. “We can make it a competition—whoever earns the most contribution points win.”
It wasn’t much, but Merlin hoped it would cheer Yun Jin up. He could feel the pressure Yun Jin had been bottling inside, and this way, at least, they could fight 1 - 1 without risking a real duel.
The offer made Yun Jin’s ears twitch slightly. Slowly, a smile crept back onto his face.
“What’s the bet?” Yun Jin asked, a glint in his eye that made Merlin instantly regret speaking.
The boy mage stepped back nervously, his staff clutched tighter in his hands.
“U-Um… I’ll think about it later! Maybe... a favor? But nothing weird again, alright?” he added hastily, remembering with horror the last time he made a reckless bet against Yun Jin.
“Sounds good to me,” Yun Jin said, grinning wide enough to make Merlin shudder.
“Then let’s get going! Time to hunt some monsters!”
Without waiting for an answer, Yun Jin turned and started marching toward the gates, his excitement radiating off him in waves.
Merlin, sighing in resignation, hurried after him.
What have I gotten myself into... he thought.
But despite his nerves, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Because Merlin’s mana capacity had almost doubled over the past few weeks—and thanks to the countless techniques he had learned from Yun Jin—he felt more confident than ever.
Meanwhile, Yun Jin had only managed to enhance some of his existing spells. He hadn't created anything entirely new.
This time... I’ll win! Merlin assured himself, determination burning in his chest.
This wasn’t just about the bet.
It was about proving to himself that he had grown.
That he could truly stand shoulder to shoulder with Yun Jin.
