As soon as they made their way into the kitchen, Benny helped the man to a chair.

The man’s wife quickly tried to soothe her still crying youngest.

Benny scanned their surroundings. This was the restaurant’s kitchen. And even here it was abandoned in the commotion.

The cooks had obviously left it in a hurry when the bandits attacked the front of the restaurant. Kitchen utensils and ingredients lay scattered all over the countertops. Pots and pans were upturned with their contents splattered all over the floor. Delicates plates lay broken. Several freshly cooked food and ready-to-served dishes were already set on trays.

Something of the stoves was still on and the food was burning on the pan releasing a horrid stench. Benny quickly headed towards them and switched them off. Luckily they functioned the same way as the ones back home so Benny had no problem how to operate them.

He then turned to the man and his family.

“Are you alright, um, Mr. …?”

“Azalea, Rupert Azalea. T-thank you for getting us out of there…”

His wife nodded in agreement.

“Thank you!” “Thank you Kuya!”

The two daughters said in unison.

Benny blushed. “Uh, no biggie…”

“Are you by any chance an Adventurer like your friends?”

“Err…no… I’m just someone caught in the crossfire. Speaking of which, I still don’t think it’s still safe here so please go out the backdoor.”

Benny clenched the man’s cane.

“Sorry, but I’ll borrow this for a while.”

“What about you?” the man’s wife asked in genuine concern.

“I have to go back and see what I can do for my friends.”

After making sure they went out, Benny went back to the front of the restaurant.

Even though Benny had no real intention in going back to the war zone, he felt rather uncomfortable being there right now. He wasn’t used to startling compliments like that. Another reason was that he really was worried for Tenryu and Nia. So he quickly slipped back out through the door. Meanwhile on the outside the fighting resumed again. Tenryu slashed his way through the remaining bandits.

Benny watched from behind the bar, clenching the cane.

With Tenryu releasing flaming attacks and Nia sending the plants to fight, they quickly decimated the whole gang of thieves!

Eventually only Cactus Hun was left!

Tenryu approached him, with sword at hand. “It’s just you and me, Shorty!”

Cactus Hun looked extremely angry, with veins were popping all over his face. He looked down at his henchmen who lay defeated at his feet.

“You bunch of useless losers, can’t do anything right! Looks like I have to everything myself!”

He pulled out a pair of pistols.

“Let’s see you try!” Tenryu ran forward his sword. He was about launch another full-flaming attack.

Cactus Hun aimed and shot his pistol.

BANG!

Unlike his cronies, Cactus Hun’s shot was different. It looked like a small glowing paintball had been fired. Tenryu was about to slash at it when Nia seemed to realized something.

“Tenryu, don’t!” she yelled at him.

Not waiting for him to respond, she sent a wooden arm to grab Tenryu and pulled him away from attack. The bullet zoomed right pass him and straight into an upturned table.

“Nia!” yelled Tenryu while flailing his limbs, “This again?!”

“Keep your head down!”

Nia pointed her Umbrella to the ground.

The branches she was manipulating had converged around her and form a large wooden shell. From the panicky look in her face, Benny assumed that something bad was about to happen so quickly ducked beneath the counter.

His instincts were quickly proven to be right.

As soon as the bullet smacked onto the table, it along with the surrounding area were enveloped in a pocket of swirling air and then exploded! The explosion caused violent winds to blow in all directions. Even from behind the counter, Benny was bombarded with strong winds as though he were in the full brunt of a hurricane! The liquor bottles at the bar were flying out of their shelves and nearly hitting him! Tables and chairs were being tossed around.

Benny could also hear screams and yells. Knowing that he had already evacuated the customers, it was clear that those yells came from the bandits that were already defeated. From the sound of it, it seems they must’ve have been carried in the wind and tossed around, Benny flinched from hearing sickening crunches and slamming of bodies.

Nia was protected by her shield of wood but some pieces were being splintered off from the force of the wind!

Tenryu was bombarded by the winds. His hand tightened on his sword, so it wouldn’t blow away. But the wooden hand kept a firm grip on him, preventing him from being tossed around like the bandits. However, small debris acting like shrapnel was also flying and scratching his exposed face and arms.

The wind soon died down.

Benny peeked from behind the counter and saw the devastating damage. Where the table was once was, a large hole had been bored into floor. Cactus Hun’s bandits were thrown all over the place like they were ragged dolls. From the contorted expressions on their faces, they were also clearly in pain and looked severely injured.

“Boss…why us…?” the bandit closest to Cactus Hun groaned. It was the same one who attacked the restaurant in the first place.

Cactus Hun spat in his direction.

“Ya should’ve dodged it if ya didn’t want to get hurt!”

Tenryu slashed his way out of the wooden hand. “They couldn’t move at all! And you did something as dangerous as that?!”

Weren’t you the reason why they couldn’t move in the first place? Benny thought with a sweatdrop.

“These yellowbellies were in the way. I was aiming for ya…” He pointed his gun at Tenryu.

“You-” Tenryu rushed in at him.

“No! Tenryu wait!” Nia yelled out to him.

Cactus Hun quickly fired a volley of shots.

It turns out he was quite quick on trigger. Everything that was shot was enveloped smaller wind balls. Tenryu managed dodge and deflect the attacks with his sword. However, a couple of them managed strike Tenryu’s right knee and left elbow! Just like the table before, those parts of Tenryu’s body were enveloped in swirling balls of wind and then exploded!

Tenryu fell to the floor yelling in pain. His sword clattered to the floor and its flames extinguished. Benny stared from behind the counter in horror. He couldn’t see any blood but Tenryu was clearly hurt.

Cactus Hun approached him until he was looming over him. A triumphant sneer was on his face, “Not much of a hotshot now, huh?”

“No, Tenryu!”

Nia tried waving her pink umbrella but then Cactus Hun fired his other pistol at her direction, or rather, at the plants. Immediately the plant displays all exploded! Without its main body, the wooden arms Nia created collapsed to the floor completely lifeless.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed you and yer little Magic, girlie…”

Nia stared in shock at the ruined plants then glared back at Cactus Hun, “I should’ve guessed… Those guns can use Vacuum Implosion Magic!”

Cactus Hun gave her a nasty grin as he twirled his gun, “For a girl, yer pretty sharp. These here guns can use that there special type of Magic! Vacuum Implosion or whatever it is…”

“It’s a type of Air Magic that utilizes air pockets and vacuums to cause devastating attacks! A lot of people got severely injured whether using that type of Magic or being hit by it! The destructive force it can bring to the surroundings makes it dangerous to use!”

Although astounded by the information Nia had on that Magic, what she said really brought a sense of unease in Benny’s stomach. Looking at Tenryu who still trying to get up, it was with dread that he remembered the boy got a direct hit from it.

Cactus Hun simply snorted as though he had heard that fact so many times already, “It’s because it’s dangerous that I like to use it!”

Nia tried to use her Magic on the remaining plants.

But Cactus Hun was quick as well. He shot right at the plants and they exploded in a swirl of winds. It wasn’t as strong as the big one earlier but it was strong enough to knock her off her feet. Nia fell to the floor. Her umbrella flew off her hand and rolled away.

“Ya stay there ya little chickadee or those plants won’t be the only thing that’ll blow up!”

Tenryu’s hand flew at the man’s ankle. The glove on his hand went ablaze in flames. It burned Cactus Hun’s ankle and causing him to cuss painfully. Cactus Hun turned his attention to Tenryu and tried to shake him off. Though the boy was clearly in pain, it did not stop him from maintaining his grip and glaring back at the man.

“You leave her alone!”

“Yer the one who should be worried for himself!” the man kicked him in the side. Cactus Hun aimed his gun right at him. “But I’m going to snuff the little flame of yers once and for all!”

“Stop!” screamed Nia, getting to her feet.

“No!” Benny yelled.

***

Then everything froze.

It was like someone had clicked on a pause button a video. Cactus Hun held his gun right at Tenryu but he didn’t pull the trigger. Nia still looked like she was getting up but she didn’t move another inch. Some of debris and dust cloud hung in midair.

“W-what’s going on?”

“It seems you and your friends are in quite a pitch with this last one.”

Hearing the voice caused Benny to jump.

“It’s you again!”

The voice chuckled, “Well, it doesn’t matter as you seemed to be in a bind right now…”

“But how did this-” Benny stared at the frozen scene around.

“I manage to freeze time just for a moment…”

“Freeze time? You have that kind of power?”

“Yes, but if something is not done, Tenryu’s or even Nia’s life will be in grave danger… Vacuum Implosion Magic, huh? If it hits you physically it could break your bones.”

“Then Tenryu…he could be seriously hurt!”

“He’s hurt but not grievously injured. In fact, he’s quite resilient…Not even a boulder rolling down a mountain would crush him. I should know since I’ve seen that happen many times…”

“Is that so…” Benny sweatdropped again, “Just what kind of person is Tenryu?”

“Listen Benjamin… I only have a few moments so how about I give you some pointers on how to deal with this guy?”

“But can’t you do something? Can you stop this man like teleport him away or something?” Benny asked him in panic. To be honest that idea just popped out of his head.

“Nice idea but alas I cannot...”

Benny listened in disbelief, “You can freeze time but you can’t stop this man?”

“There are things I can do and not do. Intervening physically with this bandit is unfortunately not one of them… To be honest, it’s taking all of my power to maintain this pause in time…”

“Then there’s nothing you can do?”

“No, as much as I want to I could not…”

“You’re pretty useful, huh…” Benny grumbled with sarcasm.

“You wound me with your words even though it’s true…I can’t do anything about it…But you, on the other hand, can…”

“Me? But what can I do?”

“Use your power to help your friends…”

“Power?” says Benny, blinking, “I don’t have any power!”

“Yes you do…it’s the same potential that everyone has…but not all of them can reach it….I am talking about the power of Magic, of course!”

Benny stared at nothing, “Magic? I can’t use Magic!”

“What did you did earlier just now? Speaking of which, you have the means to do so…you borrowed that cane didn’t you?”

Benny just remembered he was still holding onto the cane.

“And that’s not all. You have that precious book of Magic.”

Benny pondered for a moment and then remembered the book. It was then he noticed that his bag grew warm again. Benny took it out of his bag and he was surprised to find it glowing in soft golden light!

“This…this is!”

“I’m pretty sure you already know what it is. It is Spellbook handed down for generations in your family. It contains Magic and knowledge of great power…”

“Then this book…it really is Magical!”

“A Magical Spellbook, that’s right…”

Benny then remembered the other thing it did in the forest, “It was the one that generated that barrier that kept protected me, right?”

“That’s all on you…”

“Wait a minute…I didn’t-”

The voice chuckled, “You may not have said the words, but your thoughts and feelings were enough. Subconsciously, you asked for protection so a barrier was generated for you.”

“So that was Magic?” says Benny.

“Yes, although you were unaware of it then…”

“But if this book allows me to use Magic when I’m not aware of it…then how am I supposed to use it when I want it to? I don’t even know how to control it!”

“Have you already forgotten? That cane you are holding can help you.”

“You mean this thing?” Benny holds up the cane.

“Yes. Its purpose is to channel Magic into a form. But like Magic it depends on you…always remember that. Without a user, any form of Magic is useless…It can bring harm to the enemy or to protect the ones you care about…”

“I can see that! But how am I supposed to use Magic to help in this situation?” Benny scratches his head in frustration.

“Picture a form you wish Magic to take…let the energy of Manna flow through you as though you were breathing air. That’s simplest method I can advise you with.”

“Okay… Maybe that’s too simplistic.”

“You’re fond of those anime shows reading light novels, right? Then picture yourself as a main character and think of how a hero character does Magic. That’s another way of putting it.”

“Hang on…how do you know about that?”

And also…is this guy seriously suggesting I act like I have Eight-Grader Syndrome? Benny thought.

“As for the Spellbook…it will aide you…when you need it…” The voice started fade away in an echo.

“Wait, please!”

“Good luck…”

“No wait!”

The voice no longer replied.

***

Then everything started to move again. He turned around and saw Cactus Hun clicking the barrel of his gun, pointing it right at Tenryu’s forehead.

“You leave him alone!” shouts Nia finally getting up and running at them.

“I thought I told yer stay there, girlie!” He aimed his other pistol at Nia and was about to fire.

Desperate do something, Benny was about to do aim cane (though he had no idea how to use it but forgot that essential part in the moment) when his eye caught something small and white gleaming. He thought it was a pearl but soon realized it was the last potion bottle of Nia’s. It was the one she said was her most dangerous potion.

Reacting to the moment, Benny grabbed it. Nia said it was dangerous but what choice did he have?

With all his might, he threw it at Cactus Hun!

SMASH!!!

The bottle smacked Cactus Hun right on the head! It knocked the huge hat of his head revealing a rather large bald spot. A nasty bruise began to form where the bottle hit him. The little bottle had smashed into pieces and the contents soaking Cactus Hun.

But nothing happened.

The man cursed in profanities that Benny hadn’t heard off.

“What in tarnation? Who threw that?!” yelled Cactus Hun, rubbing his head furiously.

“Eh? It didn’t do anything?!” Benny stood up from his hiding place.

“Benjamin…you threw that?” says Nia in total shock.

Tenryu was just as dumbfounded when he saw the whole scene but grinned widely.”Nice one, Benny!”

“Y-Yes…but what isn’t it doing anything?”

Nia realized something, “Um, Benjamin…that was just a hand lotion…”

A hand lotion?

“But you said it was a dangerous potion!”

“I was just kidding at that time!”

She was just kidding?

“Now she tells me…” Benny says in dismay.

“HEEEEEYYYY!!!” Cactus Hun was now fuming mad, “Why, ya little runt! How dare ya throw that booze at me? I’ll give ya what’s coming for ya!’”

He then turned his pistols at Benny and fired several times.

Benny literally had to doge a bullet (actually Benny counted at least seven) by throwing himself down on the floor behind a table. The bullets missed him by several inches above his head. So it wasn’t his greatest idea throwing a bottle at an enemy’s head (especially one with a pair of magic guns.)

Even though it was futile Benny still tried to pacify things.

“Please sir! Stop this madness right now!”

“Ya think ya can get away that easy?! Ya should’ve thought about that before throwing a bottle of whatever that was at me noggin!”

Cactus Hun fired another round and shot it at the counter. But it seems Benny’s luck was still good as he managed to avoid the attack again by being shielded by a sturdy side of the counter.

“You were trying to hurt my friend!” snaps Benny. As he did so, he was scanning the book for some kind of attacking spell. “I won’t let you hurt any of them if I can help it!”

Tenryu looked at Benny, “Benny…”

Despite the situation, Nia had to smile that Benny already considered Tenryu his friend even though they just met.

However, they couldn’t help but worry because despite Benny’s brave and touching words he was obviously a non-fighter. Something Cactus Hun was quick to point out.

“And what exactly can ya do?” the bandit aimed his pistol, “Besides hiding behind that there table like a little yellow-bellied varmint!”

Cactus Hun fired at the side of the table! Realizing he was unshielded from that angle, Benny leapt away but the exploding winds caught him and he was blown away. He never felt such pain before! It felt as though an invisible forced had just punched the air out of his lungs!

“Benjamin!”

“Why you…!” Tenryu grits his teeth, struggling to get up.

Benny managed to maintain a firm grip on the book to prevent it from flying away. Amazingly, the book felt as though it were glued to his hand. Like it didn’t want to move out of his hand and it was trying to hold onto him!

“How’s that little boy?” Cactus Hun gloated, “That’ll teach ya little varmints to respect yer betters!”

Even thought he was in pain, Benny glared back at him, “Respect? An outlaw like you who robs people and hurts his own subordinates…”

“Now I wouldn’t be saying like that…more like a high-risk trader, that’s what I do!” Cactus Hun smirks. “And as for my grunts…they should know better than to stand in my way!”

Benny felt outrage flooding in him. This thief was justifying himself and his crimes. He didn’t care how many people he’s hurt as long as he gets what he wants.

“Someone like you don’t deserve even an ounce of respect!” shouts Benny in disdain, “Talk about high and mighty! You’re nothing more than a self-righteous midget with a bald spot!”

There was a moment of shocked silence.

Benny then realized he may have said too much. “Err…Did I just blurt all that out?”

“Yes…” nods Tenryu and Nia.

Cactus Hun’s face swelled and was puce with rage!

“Ya got quite a big yap! I’ll shut that up…permanently!!!”

Two gigantic spheres of intense, swirling wind began to form in the mouth of the gun. Benny knew that this was really bad times a hundred! He could even feel the air being sucked away from his lungs!

“I’ll blow ya away with my strongest Magic!!!” Cactus Hun laughs in an insane way.

Tenryu and Nia knew from experience that this Magic Spell was no parlor trick but an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal Magic! If it were to hit Benny, there wasn’t anything else to say in that regard…

“Benjamin, get out of there!” shouts Nia, franticly looking for her Wand.

Tenryu tried to get up but his injuries in his arm and his leg prevented him.

Benny could only stare, completely frozen as Cactus Hun readied his deadly Magic.

“Take this ya brat! Double Cyclone Canon!!!” says Cactus Hun as he fired!

The two gigantic balls of wind collided with each other and were swirling together, forming a deadly vortex that was destroying everything in their path! Cactus Hun was laughing in triumph as his spell made it ways towards Benny. Tenryu and Nia stared in horror, helpless as they see their friend about to be crushed by the villain’s Magic!

Benny clutched the book close to his chest and raised the cane. The first thought that came to mind was the words…

“Light Sphere!” Benny just realized he had said the words out loud.

At that moment, just as the destructive spell nearly reached Benny, he felt that familiar warmth coming from the book. The crystal on the cane glowed with bright light!

Out of nowhere a sphere of golden light enveloped him! The Wind Magic collided with the barrier of Light Magic! The barrier proved to be stronger as not only had it completely stopped the Wind Magic in its tracks and dispelled it!

Cactus Hun stared in shock, “W-what?!”

From where they were, Benny friends were also gripped in shock.

“It’s a barrier made of Light Magic!” whispered Nia. She caught of her umbrella which rolled underneath some debris.

Tenryu grinned, “So Benny had it in him…”

Benny stared around in bewilderment up to see the golden barrier. It didn’t disappear immediately like the last time. It continued to glow there all around him! He could feel warmth washing over him and the aches he was feeling seemed to melt away. As though this barrier was protecting but healing him as well!

Cactus Hun was shaking in disbelief, “That’s impossible! Nothing could stop that spell before!”

Benny looks at his foe, looking quite as stunned as he was. Apparently the bandit wasn’t used to having his pride broken, so he mistook that look for a smirk.

The man aims his pistols again, “Just because ya made that pathetic-looking barrier stop my Magic the first time doesn’t mean I won’t fire another!”

He fired another double wind ball spell but as it reached Benny’s barrier it proved to be not pathetic as Cactus Hun says it so. The enemy’s wind attack clashed with the barrier and disappeared.

Amidst all that, Nia grabbed her umbrella and quickly rushed to Tenryu’s side to help him. “This is a nasty injury…but easily treatable!”

“Never mind that just hurry it up! We need to help Benny!” Tenryu flinched as she held his elbow.

Cactus Hun caught sight of them, he aimed one pistol at them, “Didn’t I tell ya to stay where you are, you little girl!”

He fires a Giant Wind Ball at their direction.

“Oh blitz!” Tenryu cursed, “Nia get out of here!”

“What! But-”

Seeing this, Benny aims the cane towards them. “Light Sphere!”

The book grew warm in response. Just as the dangerous Wind Ball approached Tenryu and Nia, another sphere made of light enveloped them! The Wind Ball smacked right into it and was immediately dispelled!

“There’s another barrier?!”

From inside his sphere, Benny was staring back at them with the look of relief.

So this is Magic, huh? He thought.

Cactus Hun’s gripped the handles of his gun, his fury and frustration to the breaking point.

“Another one of those, darn bubbles?! Don’t get cocky, ya darn brats!”

In his frustration, Cactus Hun fired a volley of shots, in both directions! Even with those numerous attacks, they simply bounced off the barriers and were quickly dispelled! Cactus Hun did not let up in his attacks as he continued to assault. Yet the barrier still proved to be quite resilient.

“You can’t hide in there forever!” says the bandit with sinister sneer at Benny. “If I take down the caster then it’s all over for all ya!”

Cactus Hun prepared to fire another bullet at Benny’s direction. Benny knew he couldn’t maintain the barrier for another big attack.

“Prepare to die, ya twerp!” Cactus Hun laughs like a maniac. “Take another hit of this! Double Cyclone-“

Benny was prepared to receive another dangerous attack.

When suddenly from out of nowhere, Tenryu leapt in and slashed his flaming sword right at the barrel of the guns. The bandit’s spell was stopped before it began to take form! The guns had been damaged so badly that it instantly caused an explosion!

But Tenryu managed to avoid that and quickly jumped out of the way!

Cactus Hun however wasn’t so lucky. He was caught by the explosion and was sent flying away! As the cloud of dust settled, Tenryu stood there with his sword over his shoulder. Both Cactus Hun and Benny were stunned.

“Tenryu!?” gasped Benny from within his shield.

Just a minute ago, he remembered seeing Tenryu down on the ground unable to move. But the now the boy looked as though he hasn’t suffered any injuries at all.

“Thanks for shielding us back there, Benny!” Tenryu grins at him.

“It really saved us! And it gave me time to heal Tenryu!” adds Nia as she joins Tenryu, her umbrella aloft.

Cactus Hun stirred, looking dazed. When he saw Tenryu standing there he looked at disbelief, “Y-you?! How are you still-?!”

“Vine Entanglement!” says Nia, her Wand aloft and its tip glowing.

Suddenly, a thick vine grew from the ground and wrapped itself around the bandit.

“W-what is this?!” Cactus Hun struggled against his leafy restraints, muttering curses.

Tenryu approached the man, the sword leaning over in shoulder. His face had a menacing look that sent chills down Benny’s spine. Tenryu was clearly angry.

“Hey Shorty, you think you can just get away with all that you’ve done?”

Tenryu’s sword burst into flames. The heat was stronger than before! So strong that Benny could even feel it from within his barrier.

“You’ve stolen and injured from a lot of people, treated your own comrades like dirt and gave me quite a painful blow! People like that really ticks me off! But what I really can’t forgive…”

Tenryu gritted his teeth, holding his burning sword aloft.

“Is that you tried to hurt my friend!!!”

“N-no, wait let’s make a deal!” Cactus Hun pleaded.

“I don’t make deals with the likes of you! But I’ll gladly give you payback!” Tenryu’s sword glowed brightly as a Magic Seal appeared at the tip.

Tenryu brought down his sword pointing it directly at Cactus Hun.

“Flame Dragon Style: Dragon’s Fire Breath!”

Flames shot out of the sword like a flamethrower! Only several times stronger! Cactus Hun screamed as the flames engulfed him. In a blink of an eye, the whole side of the restaurant exploded in a sea of flames! Benny couldn’t see anything as he had covered his eyes due to the intense heat. But when the flames subsided, it left an enormous gaping hole with the edges blackened and charred.

As Benny stared dumbfounded at what just happened, the cane in his hand shook violently and the crystal shattered to pieces! It seems he had overused its power.

“Oh, crud… This was borrowed too…”

The sphere of golden light also vanished! He stood up and felt his legs shaking. Benny had never seen something so amazing and frightening at the same time in his entire life!

“And that’ll teach you not to mess with a Swordsmage!”

Nia shook her head, “Did you really need to blast a hole in the side of the restaurant?”

“I wanted to teach the guy a lesson!” snaps Tenryu, sheathing back his sword.

“You could’ve at least done that without causing a mess.”

“Um, you guys?” Benny found his voice at last.

Both Tenryu and Nia looked up.

“Oh, Benny!” grins Tenryu, “Are you alright?!”

“I should be the one saying that! You were injured weren’t you?!”

“I’m fine!” Tenryu waves it off. “It’s thanks to Nia’s treatments than I’ve recovered completely!”

Nia beamed with pride, “I am a Remedician after all! And you should count yourself lucky it was only an impact injury! That Magic is known to cause severe fractures and broken bones.”

Benny flinched at that, vaguely remembering what the mysterious voice said about how dangerous that Magic was.

“I’m just that strong then!” laughs Tenryu but then his legs give way and he collapses to the ground. “I’m beat…”

“Is this a normal thing for him?” asks Benny.

“That’s just the way he is…” says Nia.

Benny glanced around. Everything was a mess! In fact, the entire building blew apart!

“How are we gonna explain this to the owner…”

Benny then noticed that something stirring from the charred hole!

“Look out!”

“What?”

Benny grabbed Nia and flung both of them to the ground, right on top of Tenryu!

“Ow! Benny, what the blitz?!”

“Heads down!” shouts Benny.

And not a moment too soon!

A large ball of wind had narrowly missed them!

When they looked at where it came from they realized that Cactus Hun was not yet defeated! The little bandit was standing by the charred hole where he had been blasted out from. He looked worse for wear, with severe burns all over him and his clothes turned into scraps of burnt rags but he still had that maniacal grin on his face.

“You’re blitzing kidding me! He’s still moving!”

“B-but…how can he-?”

Cactus Hun raised a small pendant. “This here charm can cast a Barrier Spell! See kids? Ya aren’t the only ones with defensive Magic!”

“Blast it…That one took all the Manna I had left!” Tenryu cursed.

Cactus Hun then raised his gun.

“And he still has another gun!” exclaims Benny.

“I’ll admit ya kids have skill and did a real number on me…but it isn’t enough to defeat me!”

He aimed his gun and another sphere of wind appeared. But this time the wind took on a dark shade of black. It was though it was radiating deadliness!

“Game’s over, Varmints! Now I’m gonna to shred ya to bits and leave nothing behind!”

Tenryu tried to get up but was too exhausted.

“Blast it…I used up all my Manna!” Tenryu gritted his teeth.

“There aren’t any plants left I can use! I don’t have any strength to use Earth Magic.” Nia says weakly.

Benny realized they were in a pinch. The cane had already broken and he couldn’t summon up a barrier that can deflect that spell anymore.

What can I do?

Suddenly the Spellbook in his hand grew warm.

“Huh? What the-”

Benny suddenly felt himself going blank, like he was half asleep and his body was moving on its own. He did not know why but he raised the book and it opened by itself.

A page about a certain spell opened up for him.

Benny stood up and started walking in Cactus Hun’s direction.

“Benny?”

What is he doing? He’s in the direct line of fire! Tenryu thought.

Cactus Hun sneered at him, “Oh, a brave one to the end eh? Well you’ll be the first to die!”

Benny’s mouth began moving and chanting words.

“O eti et sajnz əv ðə hɛvənz…ʃajn ðaj rediənt lajt…”

(O eighty-eight signs of the Heavens...shine thy radiant light...)

For a brief moment, Cactus Hun looked at him in confusion. “What’re yer saying there?”

Tenryu felt himself jolt as he listened to Benny chanting.

The words coming from his mouth was in some strange language. The weirdest part was that Tenryu seemed to understand it! Every single word was being translated in his mind in that he could hear the actual translation of what Benny was saying.

All of a sudden, Tenryu was also struck by a sense of…nostalgia.

“What is he saying? Is he talking in another language?” asks Nia, who looked confused at Tenryu, “Tenryu?”

But he was too shocked himself to reply. Tenryu listened as Benny continued to chant.

“Almagest, aj bɛg əv ði…lɛnd ðaj pawər…”

(Almagest, I beg of thee…lend thy power...)

“I think he’s chanting some kind of Spell...” says Tenryu.

“A Spell?” repeats Nia.

“Just what are you yapping there, kid?!” Cactus Hun shouts at him.

Benny didn’t seem to hear him. He continued chanting the strange language that only Tenryu seemed to understand.

“Gæðər ðə θawzənd starz…ɪlumənet ðə darknəs…”

(Gather the thousand stars...illuminate the darkness…)

“I don’t know what yer doing...but like I’m gonna let ya!” Cactus Hun aimed and fired another massive Wind Cannonball!

Tenryu and Nia shouted for him to move but Benny didn’t even flinch. He raised a hand and before the spell could hit them, the deadly Magic vanished!

Cactus Hun stared in disbelief, “W-what?!”

“He dispelled it? And without a Magic Tool too!” gasped Nia, “But how?”

Tenryu’s gaze was still towards Benny and the glowing book he was holding out in front of him. What was that book? And the words that Benny was saying...why does he feel as though he has heard them before.

“Səlɛstʃəl gardiənz hu rul ðə skaj…kəm fɔrθ ænd pərdʒ ðə ivəl bəfɔr mi…”

(Celestial Guardians who rule the sky... come forth and purge the evil before me...)

Benny raised his finger to the sky. From the very point of his finger tip, the sunny sky suddenly transformed into that of a night sky filled with stars! Everyone who witnessed it was shell-shocked by what they are seeing. They also felt an immense Magical pressure coming from the sky.

Cactus Hun’s bravado failed him. He was now shaking in fear.

“W-wait a second!” he says frantically. “Did I say I was going to kill ya? I meant-”

But it seemed as though Benny didn’t even notice he was talking. He moved his finger downward and pointed it right at Cactus Hun!

“Harmonia Macrocosmica!”

The stars that that suddenly appeared in the sky began to shot down like a meteor shower!

In a last ditch attempt, Cactus Hun tried to use his Barrier Charm again but it was no use. As soon as the lights touched the barrier it pierced through like it was nothing! The lights converged upon a screaming Cactus Hun until he was engulfed in a sphere of shining light! It was only for a second before it exploded with intense light and heat!

Tenryu and Nia were also blown away from the shockwave of immense energy generated! They’ve never felt Magic this powerful before!

When the light disappeared, Cactus Hun was in the middle of a large crater. His eyes had rolled to the back of his head and his mouth gaping while uttering a few rattling sounds. He was completely battered and defeated. He was alive but he wasn’t going to do anything else.

“W-what the blitz just happened?” Tenryu stuttered.

“That was a Spell? I’ve never seen Magic that powerful before!” says Nia.

Benny suddenly began to topple backwards!

Tenryu and Nia got to their feet and caught Benny before he totally fell to the ground. He was pale and unmoving. His eyes were closed.

“Benny?!”

“Benjamin, can you hear me? This is bad! I think this is-”

Nia quickly rummaged in her purse for emergency items.

“Benny? Please stay with me now! Benny!” shouts Tenryu.

Tenryu kept on yelling Benny’s name over and over.