Reincarnated With A Glitched System: Why Is My MP Not Running Out?

Chapter 1932: An Unexpected Match

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Unlike Aquarina, who had always been passionate about Alchemy, my brother and my friends who had just arrived showed little interest. They didn’t ask Master Felicia to take them as apprentices, which came as a relief, I didn’t want to watch them suffer under her nearly impossible demands again.

I was genuinely curious about the strength they had gained and wanted to spar with them, but asking felt too rude. From what I remembered, Mist and Lara didn’t truly enjoy fighting and only did so when necessary.

I wished I could be more like them, but for some reason I loved combat and seeing how much others had grown. Still, I considered it wrong to force anyone into a spar, so I kept quiet.

That changed the next morning when my brother unexpectedly requested a duel!

It happened over breakfast. He spoke about the power he had acquired, then turned to me with a gentle smile and asked if I would allow him to spar.

”I know it sounds strange—I just came back—but... big sis, you’ve always been so strong. I want to see how far I’ve come compared to before,” Zephyrus said.

”Oh?! Really?” I asked, surprised. ”I was actually hoping to spar with everyone, but I know you girls don’t really enjoy fighting.”

”Ah, well... it has been a couple of years. We’ve grown stronger too,” Mist nodded. ”But I still don’t particularly enjoy it. I’ve never really enjoyed fighting... I just do it because it’s needed.”

”I prefer playing, pranking, eating, and adventuring with friends,” Lara added with a warm smile. She hadn’t changed a bit from how she used to be. ”Fighting is... well, a necessity in this world. I understand that. But I don’t really like it.”

”Ah, that’s completely fine,” I said, nodding. ”I won’t force you girls, but perhaps we could have a harmless magic duel later?”

”Magic Duel?” Mist asked curiously.

”It’s a duel where magicians clash their spells against one another without wounding the fighters,” my mother explained. ”It focuses more on showcasing the level of their spells and the craftsmanship of each magic circle. It’s especially popular among the Capital’s magicians. Nobles often use magic duels to settle disputes. Whoever demonstrates superior magic control and power wins, or whoever exhausts their mana first.”

”Huh, that’s interesting!” Lara said brightly. ”Maybe we can try that later...! But first I want to explore this place. Maybe we should go around the mountains and see what’s new out there?”

”I agree. Sparring isn’t really my thing, but we could go hunt in a dungeon,” Mist suggested. ”I don’t mind hunting, that’s why I’ve been mastering my bow and arrow.”

”Sounds good. We were planning to visit a few dungeons anyway,” I replied. ”But that can wait for later, right everyone?”

”Yeah, I guess so,” Aquarina agreed. ”I’m more interested in this sparring match you two are planning... Can I fight afterward? I really want to show off how strong I’ve become. Doing alchemy is fine, but it’s starting to bore me.”

”Well, sure,” Zephyrus said. ”It depends on how I end up after the fight...”

”Haha, don’t worry, your big sis will go easy on you,” I said with a giggle.

”No... please, don’t go easy on me this time,” Zephyrus replied, his tone suddenly serious. The atmosphere around him shifted noticeably. ”I want you to go all-out, big sister.”

”...?” I felt a little confused. ”Well, alright. Sorry if that sounded offensive. I’ll take you seriously and go all-out. But let’s start small, alright?”

”Hm,” Zephyrus nodded. ”Is there a good place where we can spar?”

”Go outside,” Felicia said. ”I’ll build you a floating platform.”

”Really? Thank you,” I replied gratefully.

Once breakfast ended, we headed outside without delay. My brother seemed unusually nervous, gripping his golden rapier tightly. His eyes looked slightly different, distant, as though he were deep in thought. Then he quickly refocused, furrowing his brows.

What was he doing? It almost felt like he was having some kind of mental conversation, with himself, or perhaps something else? Maybe his Familiar?

Well, we would find out soon enough.

RUMBLE!

Master Felicia demonstrated her astonishing Alchemy skill. She lifted massive chunks of the nearby mountains and shaped them into a gigantic platform floating high in the sky within minutes, leaving everyone in awe.

”I-Incredible...” Zephyrus breathed heavily. ”So this is the power of the Witch of the Blue Mountain...”

”That’s just the surface,” I said with a smile. ”Master Felicia is probably the strongest hero.”

”...?!” My brother looked stunned. ”S-Stronger than mom and dad?”

”Yes,” I nodded confidently.

”...” He stood speechless, struggling to reconcile the idea that such a small, adorable-looking blue-haired half-elf and half-dwarf woman could be ”the strongest.” But that was simply my honest assessment based on everything she was capable of doing.

Still, perhaps I was wrong. Maybe my parents had grown even stronger since then.

”Well, let’s forget about the old heroes,” I said with a smile, drawing Ruby, my living sword.

Her blade surged with flames and dark shadows blending with radiant light. Multiple elements converged into a shimmering chromatic aura.

”You ready, little brother?”

I pointed my sword at him. He felt the pressure from a mile away as we both stood on the vast stone platform suspended high above the mountains.

My brother nodded, unsheathing his golden rapier. It glowed with infused magic and spiritual energy, a powerful artifact, likely soul-bound to him and forged by the Celestials.

”I am. Anytime, come!”

He assumed a simple defensive stance, waiting for my approach. He clearly intended for me to charge first so he could evade and counter with a precise thrust.

Well, let’s play along.

RUMBLE!

The instant I stepped forward, the ground cracked beneath me. Dozens of boulders exploded into the air as flames surged around me. My aura transformed into dozens of roaring dragon heads.

I moved at lightning speed, my movements enhanced by [Electricity Boost] while [Thunderclap] charged my muscles—especially my brain—with electricity, accelerating both my movement and thinking.

My sword rushed downward in a split second, unleashing immense pressure toward my brother from above.

However, instead of dodging, he met me head-on. His aura blazed with golden flames as his arm suddenly became wrapped in radiant golden armor.

CLAAASH!

Using his rapier, he intercepted my devastating blow, strong enough to split a small hill, and began pushing back.

”Oh?”

I was surprised by the sheer strength he was exerting.

He had truly grown.

”Please, sister, take me more seriously!”

He roared, his aura exploding outward in immense waves of golden flames that engulfed me in a massive blast and forced me back.

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