"Wind, heed my command—Blessing of the Wind!"

Wude poured every drop of his mana into the mightiest third-tier spell—a support-type magic. Green light shimmered over Elisa. Her movement speed, once matched to her opponent’s, suddenly surged.

"Just in time! Life Magic—Spiral of Grass!" Elisa swung her staff. Grass before her shot upward in a spiraling coil, ensnaring the "Feral Boar."

The spell wouldn’t seriously harm it—only slow it slightly. Riding Wude’s wind boost, she darted behind a massive tree and pressed her staff to its trunk.

"Tree within trees, great tree among trees…" Elisa chanted rapidly.

Before reaching Ascendant Sovereign rank, powerful spells required incantations. Only weaker spells could be cast instantly, depending on skill. Thanks to the delay from her Grass Magic and Wude’s Blessing, she finally had time.

"Squeee!!!" The Feral Boar roared, bursting free. Eyes wide with fury, crimson light flared across its body—a clear self-enhancement.

Alreis stepped beside Wude, subtly shielding him. The creature wasn’t smart, but if it targeted Wude? With only sixth-tier strength, she wouldn’t risk it.

Luckily, the boar fixated solely on its attacker, power peaking. With a thunderous stomp, crimson light shaped into a cone—and it charged Elisa.

Elisa felt locked on. She knew this instinct—the predator’s prey-fixation honed by wilderness survival. This strike was unavoidable, even with Wude’s wind boost.

"But perfect timing! Life Magic—Great Treant!"

Golden light enveloped the ancient tree. It shuddered violently. Thick enough for two to encircle, the boar charged blindly, unaware of the change.

*BOOM!!* A deafening crash echoed. Leaves rained down. Blood trickled from the boar’s head; its body trembled, dazed.

"Now! Thorn Bind!" Thorns erupted from the trunk, coiling tightly around the disoriented beast. Even its tough hide bled under the sharp spikes.

"Brother Wude, now!" Elisa gasped, mana spent.

"Coming!" Wude drew his longsword. "Take this!!!"

Though the boar was tough, his blade—forged from Frisi—pierced easily in its weakened state.

"Squeee!!!" It shrieked. Crimson light flared again, mingling with blood, grotesque.

"Not so fast!!!" Elisa strained to control the thorns. Depleted mana didn’t matter—Life Magic let her will guide the spell through the vines, unlike other magics lost once cast.

"Squeee!!!" Wude withdrew and thrust again. The boar’s struggles weakened… then stilled. Neither noticed the faint crimson flash in its eyes.

Nothing happened.

*These two really saw nothing.* Alreis quietly retracted her spatial magic. Moments before death, the boar could channel power into a single "bristle"—a fatal prick for either of them. She’d caught it just in time. She hadn’t known this ability existed. A new-world creature, too weak to warrant attention… until now.

Still, their coordination impressed her. Wude was weak—but strong for a blacksmith. Could raw strength alone reach fourth-tier? She doubted it. That hide needed more than a sharp blade.

"Good eats today!" Wude dragged the boar free, grinning at Alreis and Elisa.

"Brother Wude’s grilled meat?" Elisa’s eyes sparkled.

"Excellent," Alreis agreed. Poor as he was, his cooking satisfied her. Years of fending for himself as a single man… *Wait—I’ve been single just as long. Why can’t I cook? Oh right. Ascendant Sovereigns run on magic.*

"Alreis, handle the cleaning," Wude said. After all, she was *supposedly* only skilled in second-tier water magic—just enough to rinse food.

First and second-tier magic barely aided daily life. Third-tier granted support spells, like Wude’s Blessing. Real combat utility began at fourth or fifth tier.

Alreis pulled a knife, cleaning and butchering the boar. After over a month of Wude’s "guidance" (read: nagging), she’d finally learned.

Elisa stood guard—ostensibly the strongest—and used recovered Life Magic to clear the area, humming happily.

Until she saw *them*.

Alreis sliced meat, rinsed it, handed it to Wude. He whittled skewers, threaded chunks, roasted them over flames. One by one. Peaceful. Picture-perfect.

Elisa’s resentment thickened to near-tangible levels. She marched to Wude.

"Brother Wude, I’m done—let me help!"

"Oh! Elisa, rest. Nothing left for you."

*Crack!* Alreis almost heard a heart shatter—and felt a flicker of satisfaction. *No. Stop. Too dark.* She watched Elisa slump against a tree, poking the dirt with her staff.

"I’m unnecessary… truly unnecessary…" In that corner, human darkness surfaced.

"Aren’t you going to comfort her?" Alreis nudged Wude’s shoulder.

Wude blinked. "I thought you’d dislike her after how she acted…" he whispered.

Alreis shot him a withering look.

"Alright," Wude sighed. *Right. Ascendant Sovereign. Magnanimity and all that.*

He grabbed a nearly done skewer, stepped behind Elisa. "Elisa. Time to eat."

"W-Wude!" She spun, eyes bright, and flung herself at him.

Wude lifted the skewer just in time.

"Brother Wude… feed me." Her wide eyes locked on his.

"You’re such a kid," he chuckled, bringing the skewer close. "Open up… Ah~"

"Ah~ Mmm! So good." Elisa beamed. "Brother Wude… I love you most."