Taking advantage of the knights momentarily faltering due to my intimidation skill, I forcefully stepped forward with my right foot, aiming toward the knights on the left side. The impact of my step gouged the ground. With just a single step, I instantly closed the distance between me and the knights. The movement was so fast that most of them barely reacted.

Suppression skill, on!

“Gah!”

“Gyaa!?”

Of course, if I were to punch the knights at this insane speed, severe injuries would be inevitable. So, just before impact, I activated my suppression skill, striking with just enough force to send them flying—along with the knights standing behind them.

Yes, ever since I inherited the power of the Grate Mage through succession magic, I had always been using the suppression skill to restrain my strength. Without it, this overwhelming power would have made even something as simple as walking or holding objects impossible.

Through training with everyone to master the Grate Mage’s power, I gradually became accustomed to this strength and speed without relying on the suppression skill. At first, I was completely overwhelmed by them, but by using my foresight skill, I was able to perceive time slightly slower, allowing me to control my strength and speed more effectively.

“T-The enemy is just one person! The vanguard unit, move forward! The rear guard, cast support and attack magic!”

The one who had stepped forward earlier now took command of the knights. They immediately reformed their ranks in an organized manner. In the meantime, I continued to strike the knights on the left, ensuring they were only rendered combat incapable rather than seriously injured.

“Physical Up! Protect!”

Clang!

Previously, my punches had been sending the knights flying along with their shields, but now, one of my strikes was stopped by a shield. It seemed the knights in the vanguard had been reinforced with body enhancement and hardening magic from the rear guard’s support spells. I quickly pulled back to create some distance.

“A-Alright! The enemy has pulled back! Now is our chance!”

They responded quickly, as expected. In this situation, taking out the rear guard first is the best approach.

“Air Bullet!”

“Wha—!? He can use magic on top of that insane speed and power!?”

“C-Captain! A massive surge of mana!?”

Air Bullet—a mid-tier wind spell that shoots a ball of compressed air. It isn’t particularly powerful, but because it’s an invisible, high-speed projectile, it’s perfect for targeting the rear guard. Even with my suppression skill, I can’t hold back magic attacks, and I want to conserve my mana, so I intentionally avoid using high-tier spells.

“T-There are so many of them!”

“D-Damn it! Protect the rear guard at all costs!”

Nearly twenty Air Bullets hovered in the air before I fired them all at once, aiming for the robed individuals in the back—presumably the mages.

“Guh!?”

“T-This is the power of a mid-tier spell!?”

The attack was blocked by the knights carrying shields, who had been enhanced with body strengthening magic. As expected, they weren’t weak enough to go down from this alone.

However, I had successfully drawn their attention. By forcing them to hold their shields forward to block the Air Bullets, I momentarily diverted the vanguard’s gaze away from me.

Taking advantage of that moment, I deactivated my suppression skill and closed the distance in an instant, attacking from the side and directly targeting the rear guard.

“H-Hey! He’s coming from this—Gyaah!”

“Damn it! He’s too fast!”

A few of the knights managed to react in time, but I immediately stepped back and launched another spell.

“Air Bullet!”

“It’s coming again!”

“Damn it, we can’t even get an attack in!”

“Gah!”

“Guh!?”

With the rear guard weakened, the knights whose body-enhancing magic had faded were struck down just like before. Seizing the opportunity, I continued to take down more of the rear guard.

This was the combat style I developed through training with everyone. By utilizing physical abilities that no mage should have, I moved at high speed while casting magic, leaving the enemy no chance to counterattack.

Come to think of it, in a document I received a long time ago from Gina, a Grate Mage enthusiast, it was written that the Grate Mage himself would dash around the battlefield, unleashing large-scale magic. Perhaps he used a strategy similar to mine.

“This is insane…”

With this, the knights positioned on the right side of the escort squad were nearly wiped out. All that remained were the unit in the center, led by a man who appeared to be their captain, and the duel’s representative—Pazia.

However, near Pazia stood Sara. I really didn’t want to charge in recklessly while she was there.

“…That is enough. You may all withdraw.”

At the center of the formation, Pazia stepped forward to face me.

“P-Pazia-sama!? B-But we are still standing!”

“Look around you. The knights who were blown away are still alive. If this man had been serious, we would have all been annihilated already.”

“Ugh…”

“You called yourself the successor to the true Grate Mage. Who exactly are you!?”

It seemed he was willing to talk.

“My name is Masayoshi! I am the one who has inherited the power of the Grate Mage Hardy!”

…Honestly, speaking like this was kind of embarrassing. But if I used my usual polite speech, they might underestimate me. Besides, since I might become my country’s representative, I figured I should at least introduce myself properly.

“Masayoshi… I have never heard that name. What do you mean by inheriting the Grate Mage’s power?”

“I will spare you the details, but you may consider it as me wielding a power close to that of the Grate Mage. I am even capable of using the Grate Mage’s ultimate magic.”

“What!? Ultimate magic!?”

“C-Could it be true!? But considering the power of that mid-tier spell earlier, it might be possible…”

“H-Hey… if that’s the case, then maybe we could fight on equal footing with the Bartom Kingdom…”

“I-Idiot! It’s obviously a bluff!”

The soldiers behind Pazia began murmuring among themselves. Showing proof would be the fastest way to convince them, but I didn’t want to use ultimate magic before facing the enemy nation’s representative.

“…Assuming you can use ultimate magic, why do you side with Edward Kingdom?”

“Edward Kingdom? That doesn’t matter. The only person I wish to aid is none other than the Third Princess, Sara.”