The Book Eating Magician (193+)

Chapter 238

Second #2

Unlike his aggressive answer, Theodore was extremely nervous right now. He had expected someone with Veronica-level strength would emerge, but he hadn’t expected that he wouldn’t be able to see the combat capabilities of a sword demon.

If Lee Yoonsung’s memory was correct, this was a sword ring. Despite retreating 30 meters in two seconds, Theodore was convinced that he wasn’t out of the sword’s range. He just noticed it, but he had already stopped breathing.

Theodore realized that he could lose his head if there was even a small gap between his inhale and exhale. He currently had an unprecedentedly extremely sharp sensitivity, but the time he needed to maintain this confrontation was around 20 seconds more. If he lost his concentration for even a moment, he would die.

‘I need to catch up with that speed somehow.’

Theodore’s breather had only lasted three seconds, but thanks to Gladio’s sacrifice, Theodore managed to get a clue.

Zest’s sword was certainly quick, but the interval between the strikes wasn’t completely zero. It was just such a short gap that it was impossible to catch with human senses. Gladio had been able to respond by reading the orbit of the sword.

If Theodore wanted to catch up with this speed, he needed reflexes at the level of the ancient species, Ulfheðnar, that Superbia had transformed into. How could Theodore reproduce such reflexes?

‘… I can do it.’

It was possible if he used the same technique he had used against Marquis Fergana but at a higher proficiency. If the electrical signals of the nervous system were accelerated to the extreme, the entire world would seem like it had stopped. He might not be able to overtake Zest’s sword, but he wouldn’t fall behind in speed.

Dozens of tactics and ideas mixed in Theodore’s head as he concentrated till he reached his limit. It had been exactly 17 seconds from the start of the confrontation until the conclusion. The moment that absolute death was three steps away, Theodore Miller stepped forward boldly.

Then the murderer raised his sword like a reaper.

“Be prepared.”

Zest’s sword pierced through the air.

Paijijik.

Almost simultaneously, Theodore’s body shone with a blue light. He might not have Gladio’s Aura Ability, but he had Alfred’s extreme sensitivity. His concentration was so extreme that he couldn’t miss the sound of a falling needle.

‘It’s coming.’ The world of his optic nerves was black and white. It was a world where everything stopped. In this slow scenery, Theodore stared at the blade before him. ‘It isn’t just fast. Omitting the intermediate process… It’s a phenomenon that can’t be understood by common sense. Is his Aura Ability the power to interfere with ‘space’?’

Maybe it was ‘time.’ A few speculations came to his mind as Theodore observed Zest’s sword, but he didn’t have the time to ponder.

Saack.

Theodore took a step back as the space in front of his neck was split apart.

‘Kuk! This is ridiculously fast!’

In this black and white world, only one sword and Theodore Miller seemed to move freely. The blade passed by the side of his neck and suddenly cut down the side, then it tried to split him from his crown to his groin. This was when Theodore finally saw a gap, so he extended his hand out and reached for the four elements.