【Guoooooohhh!?】

Right now, I can see the “Ruler of the Sky” hovering in midair.

But he—Sansthita—isn’t flying under his own power.

He’s being blasted away by a magical attack.

His opponent in this fierce battle is…

“Tidal Wave!”

…Rey, who’s extending her hand and focusing her energy.

The last spell she cast was a storm-like gale of intense wind.

Now, water is gushing from her fingertips with the force of a raging flood.

Sansthita has taken the brunt of an advanced water spell, sending him flying even further.

He’s slashed by blades of wind, soaked to the bone, and flung by a powerful water jet.

At this rate, it seems impossible for him to glide freely through the skies.

The so-called "Ruler of the Sky" is really…

【Tch—this level of magic!】

But, as expected of a top-tier magical beast, Sansthita quickly regained his footing as the spell's power weakened.

Landing gracefully, he charged toward Rey. His beak began to glow faintly from within.

I could guess why he wasn’t flying—he was preparing to unleash some powerful magic. Sansthita is rather clumsy, so he can’t handle multiple spells simultaneously.

His speed on the ground is impressive. While he’s known for flying, we often forget that griffons have lion bodies and are naturally swift predators.

Before I knew it, he reached Rey. By then, he was already prepared to cast his spell.

Rey raised her sword, striking a composed stance. Her form was just as impressive as the first time I saw her practice.

Sansthita extended his razor-sharp claws. With magical enhancement, his claws could easily tear through steel.

However, his strike sliced through empty air.

Rey elegantly dodged the attack, showcasing her agility.

Next, Sansthita prepared to lunge with his beak.

Rey, stopping her previous footwork, planted her feet firmly on the ground to face him head-on.

Even I could tell Sansthita was about to unleash magic from his beak. Of course, Rey knew too.

Sansthita’s glowing beak collided with Rey’s sword.

A sharp, metallic clink echoed.

Without hesitation, Sansthita opened his beak further, revealing an intense light that had been building up inside.

Rey raised her sword to intercept the incoming spell. Suddenly, an aura of light rose from her entire body.

She intended to meet the attack directly.

The radiant energy surrounding her body focused into her sword.

“Gaaaaarrrgh!”

“Hyaaaaah!”

Sansthita unleashed his beam, while Rey countered with a surge of energy from her sword.

“Wah, it’s so bright!”

A torrent of light filled my vision, blinding me completely.

“Mii!”

Ivy, ever the problem solver, healed my stinging eyes with a casual wave of her paw.

When I slowly opened my eyes, the light had subsided.

Standing there was…

【Guh…】

Sansthita.

But his body was battered and bruised.

His once-pristine feathers were singed and ragged, with scorch marks visible all over. A faint red glow still emanated from his chest, where the flames hadn’t completely died down.

【I’ve… hit my limit…】

His strength gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.

Thankfully, I could see his chest rising and falling. He had only lost consciousness.

With Sansthita on the ground, a small figure became visible behind him.

It was Rey, kneeling on one knee.

Her breathing was labored, but she remained conscious.

“Haa… haa…”

After a few deep breaths, Rey stood up.

Though parts of her armor were scorched, her injuries were minor.

Ivy, attempting to signal the end of the match, clapped her forepaws together… or tried to.

Realizing her paws weren’t long enough to meet, she stopped mid-motion, looking momentarily sad. She quickly shook it off, pounding her forepaws on the ground instead.

“Mii!”

With that, she healed both Rey and Sansthita using recovery magic.

This duel between Sansthita and Rey was a mock battle, orchestrated by Ivy herself.

Her strict training philosophy meant they had to give it their all, knowing she’d heal them afterward.

The results were beyond expectations.

It was easy to forget how strong Sansthita was—perhaps because he’d grown too tame. But today, he reminded me why he’s called the Ruler of the Sky.

Compared to the time he was thoroughly defeated by Shannon and Ivy, his movements had noticeably improved.

Living with Ivy and occasionally enduring her harsh training had clearly made him stronger.

And Rey, who managed to best such a formidable foe, was equally remarkable.

There’s no doubt she’s on the level of a top-class adventurer.

Considering her strength, I should probably inform the Marquis or guildmaster. Skilled fighters like her should be on their radar.

“Mii, mii mii!”

“—Bruno, what is Lady Ivy saying?”

“She wants you to fight her next.”

“T-that’s… No, I mustn’t back down! I humbly accept the challenge!”

Rey and Ivy, now enlarged, began their battle.

As I turned my back, a dazzling rainbow of light erupted behind me… but I decided to ignore it.

Rey’s screams echoed faintly, but surely that was just my imagination.

Leaving the chaos behind, I approached Sansthita, who was clawing the ground at the edge of the field.

He looked dejected, his eyes shimmering with tears as he drew something in the dirt.

Looking closer, I saw it was a drawing of himself surrounded by adoring griffons.

…Sansthita, how are you so good at drawing with claws that big?

【I… I lost. Beaten by some upstart newcomer… It’s frustrating. But I’ll get stronger. One day, I’ll stand proudly beside Lady Ivy and Brother Bruno. That’s my place.】

He seemed truly downcast.

—It’s okay, Sansthita.

The others may be amazing, but you’re growing stronger too. One day, you’ll prove yourself and surpass everyone’s expectations.

When I reassured him, Sansthita pounced on me in a tearful hug.

And so, we spent the time together playing until Rey eventually passed out from Ivy’s training.

Of course, Ivy immediately pushed Sansthita aside afterward… no surprise there.