Shinji Matou at Your Service

Anyone with a bit of martial arts knowledge understands that the best way to counter modern weapons is through close combat. This is due to the inherent flaws of modern weaponry. The singular attack mode of firearms makes them less effective at close range compared to cold weapons. Grenades are even worse, as their overwhelming power makes them unusable at close range—unless you're looking for mutual destruction.

From Freddy's perspective, as long as he successfully got close, he had already won half the battle.

Of course, he wasn't careless or underestimating his opponent. Up until now, he had been holding back some strength, prepared to deal with any hidden trump cards his opponent might have. He didn't believe that someone who had made it this far would be so easily defeated.

As expected, his opponent had a backup plan.

The blue-haired, blue-eyed young man quickly pulled out two mini submachine guns from under his coat and unleashed a barrage of bullets at the advancing magician.

The mini submachine gun, or micro SMG, is a classic example of quantity over quality. A single bullet may not pack much power, but in a concentrated burst, its lethality is still terrifying, especially in close-range shooting. Unless you're wearing bulletproof gear or can physically withstand bullets, you'll end up riddled with holes.

Unfortunately, Freddy met neither of these criteria and was riddled with bullets. Even his once-bright sword dimmed.

Wait, how could a silver sword go dull? Since when did a micro SMG become so deadly? There's no blood—wait, where's the blood?

That's right, there was no blood. In the instant the micro SMG opened fire, Freddy's figure transformed from a three-dimensional entity into a two-dimensional shadow, like a silhouette on the ground, unaffected by physical laws.

It was magecraft—Freddy's magecraft.

Manipulating airflow was just the basics, something any halfway competent magus could do. What he was displaying now was the true essence of his magecraft, the reason he held his ground in the mysterious world, and his greatest advantage in entering the Forest of Einnashe.

As he maintained his two-dimensional shadow form, he continued advancing, while the enemy retreated, unloading bullets all the while.

The situation seemed to be at a stalemate, but this standoff was only temporary. Neither magecraft nor bullets were infinite; eventually, one would run out. And clearly, the micro SMG's magazine wouldn't outlast Freddy. The deadlock was soon broken.

As the last bullet flew by, Freddy reverted to his three-dimensional form, his sword thrusting straight at Shinji's throat.

In his two-dimensional state, he wasn't affected by physical attacks, but he also couldn't use physical attacks himself. At such close range, his sword was far more effective than magic.

Shinji seemed panicked, hurriedly raising the micro SMG to block the sword.

But it was futile. Freddy's sword was crafted through alchemy, and the gun's metal was no match for its sharpness, instantly pierced.

The blade didn't stop there; it continued toward Shinji's left arm.

Freddy expected the same outcome as with the gun: the left arm should be pierced, and next, the chest—this was what Freddy believed.

However, reality turned out to be the opposite.

The razor-sharp tip of the sword halted as soon as it pierced through the sleeve of the coat as if it had hit something incredibly hard.

At that moment, Shinji smiled, his feet pivoting 90 degrees, switching his backward retreat into a forward rush. Under Freddy's astonished gaze, he closed the distance and drove his right fist into Freddy's abdomen.

Freddy was surprised but remained composed. He trained in single-handed swordsmanship, and his other hand was also trained in various close-combat techniques. Reflexively, he opened his palm to block the punch.

He blocked the punch, but he couldn't fully withstand the force behind it.

The force was immense, almost inhuman—like being hit by a speeding car. Even Freddy's well-trained, magically enhanced arm couldn't endure it.

He heard the bones in his left arm crack.

Then, the right arm followed. Seizing the moment when the punch landed, Shinji's left arm, equipped with some mysterious device, slid along the sword blade and crushed Freddy's sword-wielding right hand.

He finished with a knee strike, delivering a decisive blow that knocked the famous magus to the ground.

"Conversation's over. It's my victory."

Shinji casually sat beside Freddy, his right hand, which had dealt the crucial blow, picking up the Thompson Contender from the ground, and pointing it at Freddy's head.

"It's your victory," Freddy coughed, blood trickling from his mouth. Though somewhat regretful, he accepted the reality straightforwardly.

Both of his hands were crippled, and his internal organs had taken severe damage. His pride in his martial skills was now meaningless. In this magic-suppressing forest, he had lost the ability to fight.

"So, victorious one, what do you plan to do with this defeated man?"

"Nothing. I'll let you go," Shinji said, moving the gun away.

"Huh?"

"Surprised? True, in the battle for such a super treasure, it's normal to eliminate all enemies to avoid future problems."

"Then why are you letting me go?"

"You should ask yourself. Why did you aim for my lungs with your sword instead of my heart? You didn't intend to kill me, so I won't kill you. Fair, isn't it? Besides, the gun is out of bullets."

The Thompson Contender is a single-shot gun, that needs reloading after each shot.

Facing Shinji's counter-question, Freddy forced a bitter smile.

"Maybe I just wanted to make you part of the Forest of Einnashe's nourishment."

"How do you know I wasn't thinking the same? Look, the blood you coughed up is already stirring the forest."

Shinji pointed, and Freddy saw several pairs of red eyes at the boundary between the Black Forest and the forbidden zone—beasts reared by the forest.

Feeling the bloodthirsty gazes around him, Freddy knew he couldn't delay any longer and struggled to sit up.

"So—I'll be going?"

"Hurry up, don't waste my rest time."

Shinji waved him off impatiently.

Soon, Freddy shifted back to his two-dimensional state, blending into the shadows, ready to escape at any moment.

"One last question—why do you rely on firearms even though you're so strong?"

"Are you stupid from all the martial arts practice? Or has studying magecraft turned your brain to mush? How could you ask such a dumb question?"

Shinji shook his head, a look of annoyance on his face.

"We're not here to duel or study magecraft. We're competing for a treasure, so of course, we'll use every means necessary. Guns and grenades are effective, so why not use them? What's the point of differentiating between magecraft and technology? Without these weapons, could I have won so easily?"

In close combat, their skill gap wasn't as wide as it seemed. Freddy even had a clear advantage in pure swordsmanship. In a straight-up fight, without using special weapons or magecraft, Shinji might win, but it would take much longer.

But with the aid of modern weapons, Shinji defeated Freddy in less than three minutes—this was a victory of mindset. Traditional magus thinking needs an update.

In truth, technology and magecraft don't conflict. Approach research with a serious and rigorous attitude, and fight ruthlessly when the time comes. Who says a scientist who studies weapons can't use them in combat?