Martin had never been interested in offensive magic; instead, he had always favored life spells, particularly the [Dust Removal] spell. It was versatile and effective, allowing him to control the battlefield without drawing attention to his intentions. Today, however, he had a plan that required a different approach.

As he prepared to unleash his strategy, Martin deftly unfurled a series of scrolls containing various spells. Each scroll represented a significant investment, and he knew he had to maximize their potential. With the flick of his wand, he activated the first scroll, sending a flurry of magical energy toward Kerry.

Fire, lightning, earth, water, wind… each scroll activated in quick succession, propelled by Martin’s precise control. He had trained for moments like this, his fingers dancing along the wand as if he were playing a video game. In a previous life, he had been a peak-level hacker, and now he channeled that same skill into manipulating magic.

Kerry, a fourth-order swordsman, found himself on the defensive. The scrolls bombarded him from all angles, and despite his training, he struggled to keep up. A fire spell singed his hair, and dirt and grime coated his once-glorious armor. The crowd watched in stunned silence, unable to comprehend how Martin—a second-order magician—could dominate someone with Kerry’s skill.

In a matter of moments, Martin had unleashed hundreds of scrolls, each worth a small fortune. The realization hit the onlookers: this wasn’t just a clash of magic and swords; it was a display of wealth and power.

Kerry was enveloped in a cloud of swirling dust and smoke, making it impossible to see his condition. The last flame scroll ignited, illuminating the area momentarily before the dust settled. Martin, panting and exhausted, kept his wand trained on the lingering cloud, his heart racing with anticipation.

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“Did I really just beat him?” he wondered aloud, a mix of pride and disbelief washing over him.

Debbie approached Martin, her eyes wide with shock. “You actually defeated him like this? This is... unbelievable!”

Martin couldn’t help but smile, but then his expression turned serious. “How much did this cost? How many scrolls did I use?”

Debbie frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Wait, I thought we only had seven scrolls in stock? You wrote a hundred in a few days?”

“Uh, well…” Martin stammered, feeling a bit sheepish. “I may have gone a bit overboard…”

Debbie’s expression shifted from shock to concern as she glanced at the dust cloud. “He won’t be dead, right?”

“I hope not,” Martin replied, trying to convince himself. “But I might need to check…”

With a wave of his wand, he cast [Dust Removal] again. The dust parted, revealing Kerry in a defensive stance, sword planted firmly in the ground, looking far more composed than he should have been.

“Is he posing for the afterlife?” Martin muttered, incredulous.

Debbie’s eyes widened in recognition. “No, that’s a defensive position! He’s using the God of War technique!”

“Wait, what?” Martin exclaimed, just as Kerry surged to his feet, a fierce light igniting in his eyes. Enveloped in a glow, he looked like a warrior reborn, his power amplified.

In a split second, Kerry charged, his speed now exponential. He closed the distance between himself and Martin in an instant, rage etched on his face. “I will kill you!” he roared, grabbing Martin by the throat and lifting him off the ground.

Martin struggled to breathe, panic surging through him. Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a glimmer of determination sparked within him. He still had one trick left.

With a quick gesture, he pointed his wand at Kerry’s armor, now marred with the remnants of their clash and dotted with strange black lines. Those lines were remnants of his earlier spells, inscribed with a simple fire matrix.

Activating the magic, Martin grinned as Kerry’s armor suddenly ignited into flames, catching the swordsman off-guard.

“Now that’s how you fight fire with fire!” Martin shouted, relishing the moment as chaos erupted around them.