Itsuki and Akeru stared at the closed gate, the sounds of the Orcs on the other side not phasing them.

Akeru: How do you plan to get this open?

Itsuki: I have an inkling of an idea…

Itsuki summons a black katana with blue writing on it along with accents.

Akeru: A new sword?

Itsuki: Benjiro told me what the spell was…it is known as an Ungraded Spell, a rare spell with no Grade. This one allows me to summon a weapon that fits my soul. On top of that, it can be enchanted with different magic. The book said it had no name, but Benjiro called it Spell Smith.

Akeru: A lame name, but if that is what it is called, no point in arguing.

Itsuki: Pyrowind!

Itsuki put his palm on the blade, and the katana blade grew and turned into a giant wind blade engulfed in flames.

Akeru: So it is essentially Pyrowind…but instead of a projectile, it is an actual blade. Intriguing, but how will that open the gate?

Itsuki thrust the katana into the wooden gate. He sliced up and pulled the katana out of the gate. He backed away as now only did the gate completely get cut in half suddenly, but it all caught on fire.

Akeru: 4 months of training for that…? Not bad…

Itsuki: Don’t talk like you could even remotely do this!

As the gate burned away, the Orcs played a horn as a whole flock of them came running at Itsuki. Itsuki slashed horizontally, and the Pyrowind came off of his blade, cutting through all the Orcs in one slice.

Akeru: Incredible! But we have more coming!

She was correct; an army came from both sides of the camp to try and pinch Itsuki. Itsuki sighed heavily.

Itsuki: Good grief… Akeru, get back some for me!

Akeru: R-Right!

Akeru ran away and gave him distance as the horde of Orcs within range of him.

Itsuki: Pyroball! Dim!

Itsuki summoned the dark cloud around him, the Orcs noticed the spell and started to cover their mouths so they could breathe, but the darkness suddenly combusted into flames, catching them all on fire. Itsuki cast Chill quickly around him to keep the fire from burning him. Then, as the Orcs burned, he used Chill to melt the ice and put off the flames around him.

Akeru: Amazing! But, we seem to be missing-

Akeru screams as the Orc King grabs her from behind her neck and lifts her.

Itsuki: Akeru! Damnit…

Itsuki aimed his palm at the Orc King as he remembered his training with Benjiro. Benjiro had set up two logs and went to Itsuki in the courtyard where they trained.

Benjiro: I want you to use Galewind on the left log. I’m going to use Gale on the right one.

Itsuki: What will that accomplish?

Benjiro: Just do it, you idiot…

Itsuki glared as he used Galewind on the log, cutting it completely in half. Before he could boast, Benjiro cast Gale on his log. Benjiro cut up his log into toothpick-sized pieces from just one gust of wind.

Itsuki: How the hell?!

Benjiro: The Grade of the spell is irrelevant. It’s how it is used. For example, Gale should be used for more precise cuts while Galewind should be for heavy cuts, as you can see. But not only that, a Grade 1 strength-wise can have the same strength as a Grade 12 would have…it all comes down to the user. Remember that, boy…it could save your life or someone else’s.

Itsuki snapped back to reality as he cast Gale at the Orc King.

Akeru: Just a Gale?! Are you trying to get me killed?!

The Gale hit the Orc King’s fingers surrounding Akeru’s neck, completely severing them and forcing him to drop her on the ground. She landed on her butt and ran away from the Orc King and behind Itsuki. The Orc King, with his bone club in his other hand, smashed the ground in rage. The ground started to split apart as Itsuki aimed his palm still at the Orc King.

Itsuki: This should do it…Galewind!

Itsuki summoned a larger than usual wind blade that cleanly sliced the Orc King in half. Akeru sighed relief as she looked around for any other Orcs, to which there were none left.

Akeru: That was incredible; glad to see the training paid off!

Itsuki: Let’s go turn this in. We should have enough to get a Gold Rank after this…then we head West.

Akeru: Right, let’s get that amulet, partner!

The two left the now-former Orc base and went back to the city for the final time, for now at least.