chapter 4 - Confident or Stupid?

Note: I chaneh Ark of embodiment into Creator(Tensura) skills 

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He stared intently towards Mereoleona who kept grinning in his direction as Caelum gave a light stretch since they were going to have a training session in combat once more. Their location was far enough where no one would disturbes them sparring. Caelum only started a year ago and absorbed everything though to him like a sponge and had been reading martial arts from the books he had bought.

Though, knowing and actually executing the martial art are harder than expected. Regardless of the setback his talent in everything allowed him to adapt with the hellish training. He was only 7 yet appeared to be 10 years old and had developing muscles. Caelum's long hair was tied in a ponytail with his bangs left out akin to Arthur leywin. 

The young boy took a quick glances at his 'Fiancee' who gave a cheerful smile waiting in anticipation as he gave wave before focusing his attention to Mereoleona.

"You two can flirt later. For now, get ready and see what you've got."

"Try your best, Caelum!"

"Thanks, Sapphire. Prepare yourself, Lioness."

Caelum freely said looking at his opponent who is considered one of the best upcoming mages who had yet been defeated even once against anyone that isn't the young boy before her nor the girl behind her. Mereoleona saw his expression and temperament turned cold, emanating an intense killing intent despite having no experience killing.

He had trained using Sapphire help in giving him real enough dreams to get used to the bloodshed. Though, it was difficult and at times wet himself in the bed but gradually adapted to it but still remained aware of everything rather than just being another killer. 

Her power is related to dreams and night, capable of creating an illusionary world for Caelum to train. Though, she was severely weakened due to how small the energy of the world they were in and how weak her vessel is. If she wanted to go all out then it would likely collapse the world itself. She was the ocean and the black clover verse being a cup of water. 

Regardless, Caelum quickly adapts and learns how to handle himself in killing. Mereoleona smirks, feeling his intent to fight and quickly prepares herself. The young boy took a stance and took a deep breath that caused everything to slow down. He covered his body in Mana skin to protect himself from their incoming battle before vanishing into thin air and appearing in front of Mereoleona trying to strike her abdomen. Unfortunately, she instantly evaded his attack and tried to strike him.

However, Caelum vanished once more and appeared behind her prepared to kick her head. Mereoleona was able to block the attack and strike him causing him to cross block. He was pushed several meters away while Mereoleona was intrigued at how he was able to appear in different places. 

"Brat, how did you get behind me!?"

"Ain't in hell I'm telling you!"

Caelum smirked trying to provoke her, which only caused Mereoleona to be more interested to fight him rather than find out the truth. She lived in a simple way and complicated conspiracy wasn't for her.

'It took me a while to perfect but thanks to [Creator ] I was able to make the skill.'

[Hey don't forget about me!]

'Hehehe your help was much needed.'

What he did was perform the skills [Shundō] and [Koku Shundō] that allow him to instantly move in blinding speed by gathering energy into his feet. It was easier said than done considering that one needed to have no dust trail upon moving. Furthermore, the [ Creator ] skill has been an amazing help in recreating certain skills.

The [ Creator ] Skill is capable of Skill Creation which Allows the user to freely manipulate their energy and create any skill/ability they desire. Analysis that lets the user fully analyze anything they touch and any skill that they see used directly and Anti-Skill that lets their body composition invalidate skills, abilities or magic the user touches. 

This however, does not work on physical phenomena, such as burning of oxygen due to fire. It also cannot counteract two or more properties when it comes to magic and arts fusion.

It basically lets him create whatever he wants as long as he has the energy to recreate the skills or magic and nullify their ability to use magic or skill for a certain amount of time. 

"Caelum look out!"

Sapphire shouted when Mereoleona moved in, flashed and upercutting Caelum who stepped back evading her attack before performing onslaughts of strikes that she took head on. Anyone watching would be baffled seeing an adult fighting a young boy but the aura the two emanated would make them rethink. 

Their clash intensifies with each fleeting moment, Caelum analyzes and learns everything that Mereoleona was both terrified and excited at his talent to grasp everything. His strike grew heavier and more powerful enough for Mereoleona to take it more seriously. 

"Don't you dare faint!"

She clenched her fist tightly and struck him with more power than before. Caelum saw it coming but barely dodged it and was launched a dozen meters away into the air. Mereoleona didn't feel anything after hitting a child since she even threw Leopold into a cliff last week. 

'Damn, I didn't expect that punch to hurt but…'

It was fortunate that he had Mana skin erected around his body or he would already have broken bones. He calmly flipped into the air and seemingly stepped into empty air surprising Mereoleona before she was struck with force enough to push her several feet. 

She stared at him with a ferocious gaze and flared his magical energy forgetting that she shouldn't use her magic against someone who doesn't have a grimoire yet. Caelum frowns, stepping back that confuses her since he just stops the intent to fight anymore.

"Let's take a break for now, lioness."

"What!? Why stop when things are getting interesting!?"

"It's already been a few hours since we started fighting. We'll continue later since I heard that the Silva household and your cousin are here."

Mereoleona wanted to refute but the servant came in calling for her and decided to let it go. 

"Brat, hope you're ready for later!"

'These woman…'

He muttered looking at Mereoleona's fading figure while shaking his head considering the possibility of having his way with her in the future. She was simple minded and by defeating her would submit herself to him. 

Caelum recalled the time the two took baths together and though he had mentally of adolescence still had a growing body which didn't make him aroused. However this doesn't mean he didn't enjoy her naked body. 

[ Darling, just be patient and you'll eventually enjoy both mine, sapphire and Mereoleona in the future. ]

"She's right, you know. Anyway, let's go and have some lunch."

Sapphire walks to him, receiving a nod from Caelum as he uses [Creator] to clean his body from the dirt and sweat. Few minutes later, the two had laid a blanket and began having their meal feasting on the meal that he had bought in the system. 

"It seems your magical energy has reached magic knight level and your control isn't far from the Vice captain." 

Sapphire commented on gauging his level of strength in terms of magical aspect considering his martial art and hand to hand combat was variable that tilted the outcome of a fight. Caelum nodded since he is still limited in things that he is able to create because of his small Mana capacity. 

However, he had been trying to recreate the mana core stages from [ The Beginning after the end ] to help him convert the mana around him and help his control. Additionally, he made magical circuits to evenly spread the energy through his body causing the small amount of energy into pure and desne Mana. 

He is essentially performing cultivation but in a magical way. The breathing technique helped in regards to Mana control and increased the potency of his ability.

"Hmmm? Who's there!?"

Caelum heard rustling of the bushes spreading his Mana sense with the addition of Ki sense to accurately see the one hiding. However, he soon calmed down when two young girls came out shyly approaching them with Leopold leading the way.

"Big bro Caelum!"

"Hello there, Leopold. What are you doing here?"

He patted his head while staring at the two young girls who took glances. Caelum smiled in their direction since he knew exactly who they were. A silver haired and vermillion haired young girl only meant they were Noelle Silva and Mimosa Vermillion. 

"I was just showing them around! Mimosa, Noelle, this is-"

"Caelum, it's nice to meet you Noelle, Mimosa."

"No need to be anxious, I'm sapphire. Do you girls want to play hide and seek?"

"R-Really?"

"Hide and seek?"

Noelle nervously said since she never had anyone wanting to talk to her and always being neglected by her own family while Mimosa excited to play with them. Caelum always liked the two, especially Noelle who had been tormented by her brother and sister. 

"Yes, it would be fun!"

He excitedly said and played hide and seek with Caelum being the seeker which was just cheating when he had extreme senses that allowed him to find them rather quickly. Noelle was still anxious around them but Caelum kept her company trying to open up. 

Noelle reminds him of his sister, Liliena, that he misses each passing day along with his mother. Though time stopped in his world it was still painful for him but use it to keep him motivated. 

Once they were bored of playing hide and seek, Caelum took them into a beautiful place where flowers bloom causing the young girls to be in awe. 

"Wow, it's so beautiful!"

"I like this one better."

Noelle and Mimosa took a closer look into the flowers while Caelum sat down watching them at the same time making flower crowns like he used to with his sister. Sapphire smiled when he placed one into her along with a flower ring. 

"Hope you two like these."

The two turned to look at him and felt something in their head before they saw what's on their head. It causes their eyes to beam in happiness at the flower crown that Caelum gave them.

"Whoa you look really pretty, Noelle."

"Y-You two, Mimosa."

"Who do you think wore it better, Darling?"

[I really wish I had a body right now…]

'Just a little bit more and you'll have your own body.'

Caelum reassures Cereza who calms down while he looks at the three girls who are waiting to hear his opinion. 

"I think the three look beautiful regardless since you have different looks and charm. Overall, all of you are cute."

He gave his honest opinion dodging the choosing path since Caelum was never one who liked deciding and if given the chance would take the one he wanted. Noelle and Mimosa seem to be charmed by his words and blush. They were innocent and developing crushes. 

After a few minutes, they were playing and chatting with Noelle and Mimosa. He then senses malicious intent in the surroundings pondering who it belongs to. 

'It seems someone sneaked into the mansion…'

Caelum doesn't know if their confident or plain stupid trying sneak into lioness dent. He guessed the former and spread his senses trying to find them. It only took him a few seconds to locate around 5 individuals with malicious intent. He glances towards Sapphire who nodded, erecting an illusion to distract Noelle and Mimosa since it would get messy. 

He walks away from them and vanishes into thin air while emanating a dense and pure Mana around his body. Caelum could go all out without holding back anymore. It was unfortunate for the assassin to boldly sneak into their mansion in hopes of kidnapping them.