Chapter 570: The Grand First-Year Combat Festival: The New Sun Alchemist of Britannia IV

The Golden Sun Lances surged upward from Maxwell’s Mass Sun Alchemy Circle, rising rapidly from the platform toward the sky.

Above them, the Scarlet Flame Lances descended from Ravenor’s Mass Flame Alchemy Circle, dropping rapidly toward the incoming Golden Sun Lances.

The two armies of Alchemy weapons were moving directly toward one another.

The Golden Sun Lances were ascending.

The Scarlet Flame Lances were descending.

Their paths crossed in the middle of the battlefield.

Neither side slowed down.

Neither side changed direction.

The distance between the two groups disappeared within moments.

As the two Alchemies clashed...

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The first collision caused the air between them to explode.

Then another.

Then another.

The Golden Sun Lances and Scarlet Flame Lances struck one another at different heights, some colliding in the middle of the sky while others met closer to the platform.

Every collision produced another violent explosion.

Scarlet and gold flashed across the battlefield.

A gust of violent wind tore through the middle of the sky and across the platform where Ravenor and Maxwell were.

The force of the collisions was so great that the wind didn’t simply spread outward.

It twisted.

It rolled across the battlefield, throwing dust and broken pieces of the platform into the air.

The edges of Maxwell’s clothes moved wildly.

Ravenor’s coat was pulled backward by the pressure.

The Force Field surrounding the arena trembled harder as the wind slammed into it.

It shook.

Then shook again.

The trembling increased.

But that was all that happened.

The Force Field held again.

The barrier didn’t break.

It did not even show a visible crack.

That was just how strong the Force Field had been made.

The people inside the arena were protected from the true force of the collision.

Without it, the wind alone would have been enough to throw ordinary spectators from their seats.

Scarlet and gold filled the explosions as numerous large balls of fire and Alchemical Cognis were created from the collisions between the two Alchemies.

The battlefield almost disappeared beneath the flashes.

For a moment, it was difficult to tell where the platform ended and the explosions began.

In the air...

Ravenor glided past the explosions.

His body moved through the spaces between the blasts with a level of control that made it look as if he already knew where the next explosion would appear.

He did not stop his Mass Alchemy.

His Cognis continued flowing.

The Scarlet Flame Lances that had been destroyed during the collisions were replaced.

One after another, new Scarlet Flame Lances formed within his Mass Flame Alchemy.

The newly formed weapons immediately joined the battlefield.

They moved toward Maxwell again.

Maxwell was doing the same.

His Sun Alchemy continued operating even while he moved.

The Golden Sun Lances that were destroyed were recreated.

His Cognis flowed steadily into the Mass Sun Alchemy Circle, maintaining the enormous amount of Alchemy that covered the battlefield.

Neither Young Alchemist needed to stand still to maintain their Mass Alchemy.

They continued fighting while simultaneously controlling hundreds of weapons.

As Ravenor continued moving through the air, part of his skin began to get cut by the wind pressure caused by the clashes.

A thin line of blood appeared along his cheek.

Another small cut appeared near his arm.

Ravenor noticed the pain.

But his scarlet eyes remained fixed on Maxwell.

He did not look away.

He did not try to block.

His attention remained on his opponent.

Then...

Whoosh!

Ravenor flew out from between the numerous explosions.

His body emerged from the scarlet and golden flashes, and he began descending toward the platform.

He was now closer to Maxwell.

Much closer.

The moment Ravenor cleared the largest explosion, his hand moved.

He took out a sword.

It was long, with a scarlet gem attached to the area where the blade connected to the handle.

The body of the sword was covered with markings made from Alchemy Symbols.

The symbols were arranged along the blade, following its length.

Ravenor held the weapon in one hand.

His grip tightened.

A small amount of Cognis passed into the sword.

BOOM!

Scarlet light spread across the Alchemy Symbols.

The markings glowed.

Flames suddenly burst from the sword.

The scarlet flames wrapped around the blade and extended beyond its original length, increasing the size of the weapon.

The sword became heavier.

Larger.

And more dangerous.

Maxwell moved his eyes toward Ravenor.

He saw the weapon.

He saw Ravenor descending.

And he saw the scarlet flames covering the blade.

Boom!

Ravenor landed on the ground.

The force of his landing cracked the platform beneath his feet as if a missile had smashed into the ground.

The impact sent broken pieces of stone outward.

Dust jumped from the cracks.

Ravenor bent his knees slightly from the landing before straightening himself.

And landing with him...

The Scarlet Flame Lances came down from above.

They had originally been descending toward Maxwell.

But before reaching the ground, their movement changed.

Their downward motion rapidly became forward motion.

The Scarlet Flame Lances turned in the air.

Their pointed ends aligned toward Maxwell.

Then they shot forward.

Maxwell reacted immediately.

His golden eyes followed the incoming attacks.

The Sun Lances around him changed direction as well.

He controlled them with his mind.

The Golden Sun Lances that had been moving through the battlefield pulled backward, turned around, and rushed toward the incoming Scarlet Flame Lances.

The two groups collided.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Another large explosion erupted at the center of the platform between Ravenor and Maxwell.

Scarlet and gold swallowed the space between them.

The ground shook.

Dust rose.

The Force Field rippled.

But Ravenor wasn’t going to wait for his Mass Alchemy to overpower Maxwell’s Mass Alchemy.

He wanted to fight Maxwell directly.

He wanted to close the distance himself.

Whoosh!

Ravenor’s body faded from his position.

Maxwell’s eyes moved toward him.

The movement was fast.

Far too fast for an ordinary Alchemist to follow.

Yet Maxwell caught it.

He continued controlling his Sun Lances while tracking Ravenor’s movement at the same time.

The Golden Sun Lances continued colliding with the still incoming Scarlet Flame Lances.

Explosions continued appearing around the battlefield.

At the same time, Ravenor moved through them.

Both Young Alchemists didn’t need to move their hands to continue controlling their Mass Alchemies.

They could use their minds.

Their hands were free.

Their attention could remain on the opponent directly in front of them while their Mass Alchemy continued fighting somewhere else on the battlefield.

The level of multitasking wasn’t something any random Alchemist could do while utilizing Mass Alchemy.

Controlling hundreds of Alchemical weapons already demanded an enormous amount of concentration.

Doing that while moving at high speed and fighting another Alchemist at close range was something else entirely.

And yet these two could do it.

Almost effortlessly.

Whoosh!

Ravenor landed right at the back of Maxwell.

Maxwell felt the movement before completely turning around.

His body shifted.

His eyes moved.

"He’s too fast, using that Lady of Ash speed technique."

Maxwell gritted his teeth while grabbing one of his Sun Lances.

KLANG!!!!

A large burst of sparks erupted as the two Alchemies clashed.

Maxwell swung his Sun Lance upward.

The golden weapon blocked Ravenor’s long Alchemy sword.

The scarlet flames covering Ravenor’s blade pressed against the Sun Lance, causing the two weapons to grind against each other.

Sparks flew between them.

Ravenor’s sword had become heavier because of the flames surrounding it, yet Ravenor moved it rapidly and fluidly.

He twisted his wrist.

The sword slid away from Maxwell’s Sun Lance.

Then Ravenor stepped forward.

His shoulder rotated.

The sword came back from the side.

Maxwell shifted his stance and brought the Sun Lance across his body.

KLANG!!

The weapons collided again.

Ravenor immediately changed the angle.

KLANG!!

Maxwell blocked again.

Another swing came from the opposite direction.

KLANG!!

Maxwell stepped backward.

The sole of his boot scraped across the damaged platform.

Ravenor followed him.

KLANG!!

Maxwell’s arms shook slightly from the impact.

Ravenor didn’t give him time to recover.

The long heavy sword moved again.

KLANG!!

KLANG!!

KLANG!!

KLANG!!

More sparks rapidly ignited as the two Young Alchemists clashed weapons while their Mass Alchemies continued colliding.

The battle had split into two fights at the same time.

Their bodies fought on the platform.

Their Mass Alchemies fought across the entire battlefield.

Every few seconds, another explosion appeared somewhere behind them.

Every few seconds, another spark burst between their weapons.

Ravenor’s sword came from the left.

Maxwell blocked.

Ravenor changed the angle and struck from above.

Maxwell raised the Sun Lance.

The weapons met.

Ravenor pulled the blade back.

Maxwell attempted to push him away.

Ravenor twisted his body and slipped to the side.

The scarlet blade passed beside Maxwell.

Maxwell turned.

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

Then they attacked again.

KLANG!!

KLANG!!

KLANG!!

KLANG!!

The whole fight platform continued to be filled with loud explosions and the sound of weapons clashing.

Scarlet light could be seen moving rapidly from one position to another, while the golden light remained near the center, blocking every attack from the scarlet light.

"Wooooooooaahhhhhhhh!!!"

The crowd erupted with massive excitement.

"I don’t know what is happening but... GO MR. MAXWELL!!!"

"SIR RAVENOR BURNWICK!!!!!"

"YEAHHHH!!!!"

"You got this!!!"

Many voices cheered loudly as the clash became more intense and rapid.

Some spectators leaned forward.

Others stood from their seats.

Several people pointed at the Holographic Screens, trying to follow the movements being displayed from different angles.

The sound of the crowd mixed with the sound of explosions and weapons.

More and more gusts of wind began moving across the fight area.

They twisted through the platform like small tornadoes, carrying dust and pieces of broken stone.

The wind struck Ravenor’s clothes.

It pulled Maxwell’s hair backward.

Neither of them stopped.

Even while the two continued to fight, their Mass Alchemies continued to move.

Maxwell’s Sun Lances moved upward into the air.

They spread apart.

Then they changed direction.

Their golden points turned downward.

They began descending toward Ravenor.

Ravenor’s scarlet eyes caught the incoming movement.

His gaze shifted upward for only an instant.

The golden lances were already approaching.

His view became covered by his Scarlet Flame Lances.

They moved into position in front of him.

The Scarlet Flame Lances collided with the incoming Sun Lances.

BOOM!

The explosion covered Ravenor’s view.

The golden light disappeared behind scarlet flames and smoke.

In that same moment...

Ravenor jumped.

His body rose from the platform.

He spun in the air.

The scarlet flame long sword moved with him.

His entire body rotated as he swung the sword in a wide circular motion.

The scarlet flames wrapped around the blade as it completed the rotation.

Then Ravenor stopped the rotation and moved the sword vertically downward.

He brought the blade directly toward Maxwell.

KLANG!!!

Maxwell blocked with his Sun Lance.

He held the weapon above his head.

The scarlet flame sword slammed against the golden weapon.

The impact forced Maxwell’s arms downward.

BOOM!!!

The ground beneath his boots cracked heavily from the force he blocked.

Cracks spread outward from his feet.

Broken pieces of the platform flew into the air.

Some struck the ground again.

Others remained suspended for a moment before falling through the smoke.

"Nnngh!"

Ravenor pressed harder.

His body remained suspended in the air while he pushed the sword downward.

The flames around his weapon burned brighter.

Maxwell’s arms shook under the pressure.

The Sun Lance held.

But the force behind Ravenor’s attack continued pushing it lower.

Maxwell’s boots dug deeper into the damaged platform.

His body leaned backward for a moment.

Then he corrected his stance.

His left foot shifted.

His right boot pressed harder against the ground.

Boom!

Another crack spread beneath his foot.

Ravenor continued pressing downward.

"Nnngh!"

Maxwell gritted his teeth.

The scarlet flames reflected in his golden eyes.

"You sure you’re really in the Adept Alchemist rank?"

Maxwell couldn’t help but ask.

His voice came through the pressure between them.

Ravenor didn’t reply.

His expression remained focused.

He simply kept pushing all his strength into the sword, trying to force Maxwell down.

The scarlet flames continued burning around the blade.

Maxwell’s shoulders trembled.

"Nnngh!"

He pushed upward harder.

The Sun Lance rose a little.

Ravenor’s sword followed it back down.

Their weapons remained locked together.

Neither gave the other enough space to escape.

Maxwell’s arms shook more violently.

His breathing became heavier.

"Nnngh!"

His Cognis surged.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Maxwell shouted.

A powerful wave of Cognis burst out from his body.

The force cleared the smoke and dust surrounding both of them.

The air around Maxwell opened.

Dust scattered outward.

The broken pieces of stone around his feet were pushed away.

The golden light from his body became brighter.

Ravenor’s eyes narrowed.

The sudden surge of Cognis forced him backward.

Ravenor’s body was pushed away from Maxwell.

He immediately maneuvered his body in the air.

His feet failed to touch the ground.

He was still moving backward.

Boom!

Ravenor slammed the long sword into the platform.

The blade struck the ground.

The scarlet flames surrounding it spread across the damaged stone.

The sword dug into the platform and stopped his body from moving backward any farther.

Ravenor’s body settled.

His hand remained on the sword.

His scarlet eyes gazed toward Maxwell.

The golden light around Maxwell was no longer something Ravenor could ignore.

An immense level of bright Golden Cognis was flowing out of Maxwell’s body.

The energy moved around him in waves.

His clothes shifted from the pressure.

His hair moved backward.

The ground beneath him continued cracking.

Ravenor watched.

His grip on the sword tightened.

Then his attention shifted.

He also controlled all his remaining Scarlet Flame Lances.

The scattered scarlet weapons changed direction.

One by one, they moved toward him.

They crossed the battlefield.

Some passed through the remaining smoke.

Others moved around the explosions.

Soon, the Scarlet Flame Lances were gathering around Ravenor.

Maxwell watched them.

He still held the Sun Lance.

Then he threw it aside.

The golden weapon flew away from his hand and dissolved into light before reaching the edge of the platform.

Maxwell raised both hands.

Then...

Clap!

He joined his hands together.

He wasn’t executing an Alchemy.

It was something different.

The remaining Sun Lances responded.

The hundreds of golden weapons scattered across the battlefield suddenly changed direction.

They moved toward one another.

One after another, the Sun Lances flowed together.

Golden light gathered in the air.

Ravenor noticed this.

His scarlet eyes narrowed.

He immediately placed his hands together.

The Scarlet Flame Lances around the battlefield reacted.

They began moving toward the same point.

The level of power coming from Maxwell’s attack wasn’t something Ravenor could handle without making his own power equivalent to the attack.

He knew that.

So, he gathered his remaining Scarlet Flame Lances.

The scarlet weapons moved through the air.

They crossed paths.

They merged.

Their flames wrapped around one another.

The number of individual lances rapidly decreased as they combined into something much larger.

The Golden Sun Lances did the same.

They continued flowing together.

The light became brighter.

The energy became denser.

And within only a millisecond...

A large Sun Lance and a large Scarlet Flame Lance formed above both boys.

The two enormous weapons hovered over the battlefield.

One shone with golden light.

The other burned with scarlet flames.

Neither Young Alchemist wasted any time.

Ravenor pushed both hands forward toward Maxwell.

Maxwell did the same.

The air grew more turbulent from this action.

The Force Field surrounding the arena trembled as the pressure between the two attacks increased.

Dust lifted from the platform.

Small pieces of broken stone rose into the air.

The massive attacks moved.

Fast.

The large Scarlet Flame Lance moved forward from Ravenor’s side.

The enormous Golden Sun Lance moved forward from Maxwell’s side.

The two attacks traveled toward each other.

The air parted around them.

Scarlet flames twisted around the surface of one.

Golden light flowed across the other.

The distance between them disappeared.

The crowd watched.

Nobody needed to be told what was about to happen.

The two massive attacks were already moving toward the same point.

Faster.

Closer.

Closer still.

Then...

KRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...

The sound stretched across the arena.

The two attacks collided.

...BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!