The peak of his current power.

Some days later, after more time spent training, dealing with everyday life and managing to arrange a date with Johana, it was finally time for that little duel of theirs. Borrowing Amelia’s car, Aoi drove Will, Johana and Nanami to her friend’s old training place, the log cabin in the mountains with a reinforced barn for combat training.

As they got out of the car, Johana looked around the dry scenery and asked, “Are you sure it’s okay to bring me here?”

“There’s nothing important here,” Aoi said. “And doing this anywhere else would draw attention. If you decide to work with us, I’ll even lend the place to you whenever you need it.”

“Hahaha! Tempting offer.” Johana walked over to the barn and knocked on one of the walls. “Yeah, it’s sturdy. I could actually get some proper training done here.”

Meanwhile, Nanami approached Will and gently pinched the short sleeve of his t-shirt. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Will smiled wryly. “Can’t say I’m not having second thoughts, but we’re here already.”

Nanami sighed. “I made some painkiller potions. You know, in case you can’t even move after this.”

Will chuckled. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Will…”

“I’m kidding. Really, though, thanks. Just remember that I didn’t come here to get my ass beat. I want to win this.”

Maybe it was impossible, maybe it wasn’t. Finding out was one thing Will was here for, at least.

The four of them walked inside the barn and closed the doors behind them. The inside, as always, was empty. Its walls were reinforced to resist the strongest blows both physical and magical. With how much Will had learned about magic, the feat now looked even more impressive to him.

“Alright, let’s get this started,” Johana said, walking to the other end of the barn and turned to face Will. She was dressed in a black tank top and yoga pants. At a glance, Johana had gotten ready for little more than a workout, but Will remembered Ishtar said Amazons were used to fighting wearing even less. “We’ll fight until someone gives up or can’t continue. I’ll try not to kill you, but I won’t make any promises. If you win, you can ask me to do whatever you want.”

“And if you win?” Will asked. “What do you want from us?”

Johana groaned and rubbed the back of her head, messing up her long blonde hair. “Nothing. Consider this an apology to the princess.”

“Apology?” Nanami asked.

“I’m the one who brought her to this world, at her mother’s orders but against her will. Dragging a soldier that’s ready to die away from the battlefield… I did it, but I didn’t like it. I can’t just agree to whatever you say, so I’m giving you the chance to convince me. Sounds good?”

“Not really, but you look like the type to only do things on your own terms.”

Johana smiled. “Correct. Now… Shall we?”

“Would you give me a moment to get ready before we begin?” Will asked.

Johana raised an eyebrow, but immediately smirked. “Sure, go ahead.”

Will took a deep breath, then another. He closed his eyes. Inhale, exhale.

He hadn’t been standing idly by all this time. Aoi kept training him every other day, teaching him things and sparring with him, and Will practiced his control of aether every day. He had gotten to the point where he could assist Ishtar with her spells instead of the other way around.

One of the first things Aoi taught him when they started training was strengthening magic. Reinforce something, make it stronger, more durable, sturdier. She taught him to apply that to his own body. Making it stronger meant more speed, more power, less pain, fewer injuries. It was a delicate skill that required precise control of one’s aether for optimal results. But despite all his practice, Will still hadn’t reached that optimal control. Aoi said it would come with time, but that there was a way to compensate in the meantime.

“Brute **** it with raw output,” she told him.

This would be his first time actually trying out this idea. Aoi never did give him time to prepare before sparring, and this… would take a bit of time.

Will felt his body heating up. It was the familiar sensation that came with using aether. He felt the faint tensing of his muscles as they were strengthened. At this point, he would barely feel a punch to the gut from a regular strong man.

It wouldn’t be enough. Johana would still blow him away.

He increased the output for the strengthening spell, pouring more aether into it. His muscles tensed further, his heart rate increased, his skin felt hot. With this, a bullet would probably only leave a small scratch.

It wouldn’t be enough. Johana would still crush his bones.

More. He didn’t have the skills yet, but thanks to Ishtar, he had power. It wasn’t pretty, but he would use the weapons he had. His muscles felt like they were close to the point of tearing, his heart thundered inside his chest, a dull headache made it feel like his brain was throbbing.

He opened his eyes and glanced at his own hand and arm. They were a bit red, as if he was overheating. A thick aura oozed off of him like purple flames.

Will found himself smirking. This would have to do.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he told Johana. “I’m ready.”

The amazon woman was now looking at him with eyes wide open.

“Ahaha… Ahahaha!” She began to laugh, her lips curling into a small smile that quickly turned dangerously feral. “Good! GOOD! Ooooh, this might actually be FUN!”

In the blink of an eye and with a flash of white light, Johana’s previously empty hand was now holding a large, metal halberd. She gave it a couple of swings like it was made of paper, cutting the air before resting it on her shoulder.

“I was planning to have a fist fight, but if you’re showing me such an intense aura…” The amazon shivered in excitement and bit her lip. “William, was it? Don’t die, kid. You and I are gonna have words after this. But first, show me all that power isn’t just for the spectacle! SHOW ME A GOOD TIME!”