Noel sat atop his horse as he and Kenzo had entered Marigold all the way from Baska. After having evaded the country side, he'd have made the switch somewhere halfway to Marigold. "Race you to the Farmlands!" He'd yell at Kenzo, kicking his horse in the back with his heel to make it accelerate. Gaining a slight edge over his guild mate. There was a reason why he wanted to travel towards the farmlands. He was searching for a quiet suitable spot for what was about to unfold. As they arrived at their destination, Noel stopped Mustang near a random plain of grass. It had rained the night before, making the ground somewhat slippery. "Hmm this will do." He'd turn his head to Kenzo. "Let's leave our horses here, I have something to discuss with you Kenzo." The tall Advent World mage said, shortly followed by him raising one leg over his beloved car, getting off of it with certain grace. He'd anker a rod of iron into the ground, and bind a rope around it so he'd stay in his spot.

It has been a while since the two had been in their respective guild together. Perhaps their social status had been elevated to best friends in the meantime. He had become familiar with his guild mates ability against large creatures - but hadn't seen his skill being performed against his peers. Even if Noel was a rank higher than his guild mate, he'd still expect him to perform well. As he formulated his thoughts, he'd gesture to the plains with his hand. Suggesting that they walk deeper into the plains, and further away from their horses. Most of the area was quite flat, with an occasional tree providing a small amount of shade in the afternoon sun. As Noel was a few steps away from his horse, he'd explain the reasoning for them being here. "It has been a bit since the tournament has been over. I thought this could be a good opportunity for a spar." He'd tell his guild mate.

At this plain, there were many stretches of land around it ranging up to many miles where no soul remained. If anyone came in their vicinity, they'd be visible from afar to Noel. Other than himself, Kenzo and their horses nobody entered his visible spectrum. "Maybe we should setup a few rules among ourselves, if you are down for it I mean?" Noels equipment resided in his backpack that he had brought over from Marigold. They'd certainly have some time before starting.

Noel was slightly ticked that he was called old, leaving him wanting to throw his stonerang at Kenzo to teach him better social hygiene but withholding. It'd be best if Kenzo was in peak condition heading into this. Once they were on the plains, he'd react upon Kenzo's response with a bit of dialogue. "Same, I think this shall be very fun." His guild mates smile showed that he was confident in his own abilities, which was quite a satisfactory for Noel to see. He'd hope that he'd retain this level confidence regardless of the outcome of this battle. This interaction made Noel more determined to show Kenzo what he was about - perhaps without having to hold back. Anti magic was Kenzo's niche, just as Gravity was his own. Noel began concocting a plan mentally.

Just as his guild mate used some kind of parlor trick to summon his gear from a petite portal, he'd set down his backpack on the grass. It was quite heavy, Noel wouldn't let it seem heavy though - as he had quite the strength of his own. He casually unpacked it, unloading each piece meticulously on the ground so the correct order in which he'd wear each individual item. Since Noel had a rank up on Kenzo, he thought it'd be fair to handicap himself. "Hm, well. First to hinder a limb of the other wins?" He'd reply to his guild mate as he pointed at his helmet and his mail, openly exposed on the ground. "They're quite sturdy. I'm guessing your sword will break it if hit once or twice." His handicap was telling his guild mate what each and every piece of his equipment did, or excelled in. He'd point at his Raven Night Ring. "This one lets me turn into a raven." And then of course his amulet and his stonerang. "The amulet reduces magic damage, the pebble I believe you're already familiar with." He'd flash his guild mate a cheeky smirk. Next he'd put his right hand on the hilt of his newly acquired weapon and draw it out. It was quite small, but its edge looked like it didn't intend on its victim live a happy life after being struck by it. "This ones named Baruimbas. It doesn't hinder the user from being afflicted with binds." He wasn't going to reveal why he chose this weapon just yet.

Last item on the menu was his left arm, demonic in nature. His guild mate might not have seen it yet. "This arm of mine is like a cannon, any spell cast with it is enhanced in damage." Noel crossed his arms for a moment, if his guild mate had any questions about his arsenal this would be the time to ask them.

He'd carry on and start equipping the aforementioned equipment next. Slipping the ring around his ring finger on his right hand. He didn't count on the abilities of his amulet to do most of the carrying, but put it on regardless. Maybe Kenzo had a few magic tricks up his sleeve that he wasn't aware about. While equipping himself, he'd have figured out a strategy to deal with Kenzo. "How about we start at a fixed distance away? I'm thinking fifty meters." Noel was curious how his guild mate would react. It had always been in his system that a battle begins before any action starts. Setting himself up with a large distance like this was going to aid him, and disadvantage Kenzo. He'd put on his armor, and his helmet next. With his sword already drawn out, he'd look around the area one final time. The only living beings close to him and Kenzo were the horses, and they were at least seventy meters away at this point of the adventure.

If Kenzo had no further requests in terms of rules, and the distance between the two had been decided he'd add one final detail before walking away from Kenzo. "Let's have both of our lemurs at the center, maybe have them give some sort of starting sign." Noel let Kenzo decide what that starting signal should be, whether they'd just simply throw dirt into the air or something else random but still clear to both participants. Jet curiously begun to dig out a spot which he decided should be the center and awaited further instructions. Noel turned his body to face Kenzo, walking backwards to arrive at a spot far away enough.

Noel thought that Kenzo might do something mischievous with his intention to bring it the first to knock out. Maybe he thought that he had the edge on him - getting a knock out on Noel wasn't easy. He'd have to aim for his vitals, or his sword dealt more damage than Noel anticipated. Interesting thought, he'd think.

Battling to Noel was like a game of chess. Deciding which side was black, and which was white was something that was decided prior to the game starting. Both sides ample with various different strategies with one clear goal that both sides shared; checkmating the king. In this battle, Noel wanted the checkmate to be the disabling of a limb - Kenzo desired the checkmate to be a knock out. Mentally, Noel approached this from another mind set, a level up from Kenzo's perspective. To Noel, it mattered more that he'd pick the side of the board.

White, the beginning side; it's power rivets in it's initiative. During a marathon, they'd be the one beginning at the front of the group. They will force the rest of the group to match their speed, who follow the game by their rules.

Black, the side that reacts upon the first move made by white; ever desiring to match their speed, they will be able to tell what their opponent does before they do it themselves. Having let the other party have initiative, they remain passive and lurk while responding perfectly to White's movements. Until they see an opportunity where White slips, letting them have the dominant initiative that used to rule their movement.

Noel decided to be white. "Fair game, kusoyaro - you better keep that sword steady." Scars caused by his magic were more tolerable than a lacking limb as a result of a mean cut, he thought. But it was most likely in his guild mates best interest to limit the potential financial damage. It seemed that the boy had brought an elixir to ease some of those thoughts. The lemurs were meant to be responsible over it. Noel made a mental note to avoid having them in the blast radius, but wouldn't stop from using his more potent abilities as a result. He'd just feel bad over it a bit more.

Kenzo took note of Noels items, it rather satisfied Noel seeing him keenly observe his words. It meant that he was serious about this bout, and wasn't one to be overtly honor-bound. Pragmatic, which was something he aspired to be as well - to see someone much younger than himself actively pay this amount of attention and seriousness gave him a strange euphoric hope for the future.

When Kenzo didn't fall for his fifty-meter distance start bait, he knew something was up. Was there large gaps of air in the young boys mind, or was he a Sun Tzu' inspired Machiavellian mastermind? Noel truly felt amused, even before the battle starting. This growing curiosity began expanding. To what capacity had Kenzo trained? "You're alright with it? Heh, you just made me think of a nickname I could give you. Showtime." The Advent World wizard chuckled, agreeing to the stones being used as a starting signal with a head nod. Jet curiously inspected the rock given to him by Kenzo - thinking it was a nut before being smacked by the other lemur, who took more in of the conversation the two had. Jet had been exposed to too much of Noels spells to actively pay attention, conditioned to be chill about it at this point. "No funny business, I promise." Noel replied to Kenzo as they began moving away from each other.

Once comfortably far away enough from Kenzo, he'd start raising both of his hands - in await of a queue given by one of the lemurs. When both Advent World members were far away apart enough, one of the lemurs threw the rock into the air. Noel experienced the moment in which the rock descended from its top point to the ground in slow motion.

His way of dealing with warriors was going to become apparent as he decided to use a specific combat strategy within his playbook; named Operation Supercharge. His past operations, for example 'The Spearhead Operation', was used to defeat a wicked Daeva Eye member and also a part of this playbook. During this operation, he had the initiative. He knew certain details of the enemies infrastructure; namely the other day when Kenzo had sent him down on his ass while he was flying. He harbored a long range nulling ability - it wasn't like he'd easily forget the amount of ass pain this little shit had caused him.

In the same instant the stone had hit the ground, Noel punched the air with his right arm to cast a spell called Smokescreen. From the halfway point of the recurring impact onto the plain a large eight meter ray ran across the ground at high speeds. Heavily breaking apart the grass and the ground, and creating a large cloud of dust close to the center point between himself and Kenzo. Before the spell had begun creating havoc upon the ground, Noel in the same moment of the stone landing continuously kept on moving away from Kenzo even while the stone was being dropped. Not stopping after he begun walking away from Kenzo initially. Having turned his body somewhat, Kenzo was to his side as he continued accelerating. Encircling the rising dust cloud prior to his plan becoming apparent.

It wasn't like a magician like himself was going to be running in a straight line towards a warrior - who profiteered from close and personal. So he began moving generally towards Kenzo's direction in a circular way - following the blind spot that his spell had provided him in an attempt to get closer and end up in a range where he could strike him with his magic. This circular motion gave him the ability to remain at his fastest possible running speed, as he had been accelerating for quite a while.

The Advent World wizard knew he had to first bait out his silencing ability, so he could safely cast other spells at will. Noels initial expectation was for Kenzo to move in a straight line to him, if there were deviations to his assumption that led him closer than he'd like, then Noel dynamically begins to alter his course - while retaining the speed in order to ensure a healthy distance between himself and his opponent. Passing by Kenzo to require him to make a full body spin while remaining at least ten meters away from was an opportunity he actively sought out. If at any point of his initial sequence of actions Kenzo had visibly come within thirty meters of Noel, he'd begin to charge his demonic arm towards Kenzo and launch it towards him while attempting to move away from Kenzo while maintaining the same speed. Berial's Prowess, a perk that came with his demonic arm enhanced the spells damage, making it more more than a minor blip on Kenzo's radar. Kamehameha was used as a ray of gravity that Noel chose to target Kenzo with whenever he was close enough where Noel could feasibly hit him. Being ever aware of the volatile movements his opponent could make, he was ready with whatever dish Kenzo could serve him. Establishing a minimum of a ten meter distance was something Noel worked towards sustaining.

Kenzo ran a circle around his own starting position from the rough twenty five meter distance away from the center as the rock dropped to the ground. Most likely amping up speed before the initial exchange. Noel thought it was somewhat amusing, as he had build up plenty of speed while going to his starting position, and not having stopped since then - meaning he was already going full speed as the battle begun. Though he couldn't see Kenzo after the activation of his smokescreen, so when Noel popped out next to the smokescreen, Kenzo was still roughly thirty meters away.

When Noel popped out from next to the smoke, it appeared that Kenzo was too far away for him to activate his spell. Though when the two started moving more directly towards each other, and he could effectively reach Kenzo with his kamehameha spell, he'd have activated it and charged it at the warrior. This meant that his other spells could land as well. In this moment, operation supercharge had been put onto full effect.  He knew of one effective way to beat this warrior, most of his arsenal relied around his weapon. Kenzo being within the range of his already cast A rank spell, it meant that he could activate a couple of other spells and be within the effective range of Kenzo.

For his next trick, Noel took a leap into the air as Kenzo begun to raise his sword in an attempt to block Kamehameha with his sword at roughly twenty meters away from him. It was a bait, while also at the same time giving Noel a height advantage - allowing him to see more. This movement allowed him to see Kamehameha connect with Kenzo's sword clearly, while performing his own actions at the same time. Going at full speed into the air, he managed to fly for a couple of meters into the air - taking a sharp right instead of whatever movement had been done up to this point. This was to force Kenzo to take a sharp turn if he was persistent on running at him, reducing his speed greatly - including his own. With his demonic arm pointed at Kenzo's general direction, he'd activate his next spell: Black-Hole. Mid-air, the male activated one of his most potent abilities. A magic circle appeared under the feet of the warrior, along with a black orb appearing out of thin air in the same instant. This orb came to be spawned between Kenzos legs, causing instant destruction the same moment it appeared had it not been cancelled out. Due to his previous spell having to travel towards Kenzo, black hole would have landed a split moment after kamehameha had - since the spell manifested in its target location instead of having to travel.

After the activation of this spell, Noel begun descending to the ground once more. During this great leap, the words, "Eat shit, bitch." Could be heard from Noel, teasing his guild mate. As he was setting up Kenzo for checkmate, an amalgam of different spells cast by the Advent World wizard each differentiating in potency served a singular purpose; to defeat his opponent.

If he had received visual confirmation of Kenzo's armor breaking or severely denting after his black hole spell, he'd follow up with another spell - or if he had used his most potent ability, the same ability that caused him to come crashing down from his flight a few full moons ago in order to cancel out the spell. In this context, before reaching the ground he'd clap his hands, the demonic modifier of his arm taking into account of the spell output since it was a part of its activation. A gigantic white magic circle appeared as the male begun the motion of him clapping his hands. The outer edge of the circle was a few meters away from Noel, keeping him safe from the effects of the spell, while Kenzo was moving roughly at the center of the spell. As the clap came to be be, its effects were immediately noticeable as a white shroud of destruction came to ascend from the ground up.

After landing, the male had continuously moved to the right - forcing his opponent to take a sharp turn in order to pursue the mage. Had the warrior persisted after all of these spells, and attempted to come within a closer range of the Advent World wizard, he'd tap his foot on the ground as he moved - this activation being quite simple, and not halting his movement. He'd activate a spell named Sensus, allowing him to utilize vibration sense in order to feel every minute detail of Kenzo's movement. This ability lets him easily avoid Kenzo's sword if needed. His eyes begun glowing with a blue hue. If needed, he'd interrupt his own course of movement in order to avoid impending doom. Moving as fast as he could at the time, he'd move in order to ensure that Kenzo couldn't lunge at him with his sword. As the male somewhat diverted from the original battle location, several dead trees had been introduced in the new area.

The spell meant to make the first point of contact was eventually cancelled out by Kenzos sword - since this ability was enhanced by Noels arm, the mana spent to cancel it out must have been increased. Noel assumed he had the advantage, being able to fire off potent spells from range all the while draining Kenzos mana. He was sure that as a mage, he could win this war of attrition. The only issue was going to be the size of his arsenal. It felt lacking when facing off against an opponent like his guildmate. The mistake was assuming that Noels arsenal solely relied on his magic spells. There were conventions that relied on using melee strategies that he had at his disposal as well. His spells were comparable to nukes, whereas using his dagger was more comparable to guerrilla operations within the league of ones oppressor - only done when no other solution presents itself.

Witnessing his black hole land effectively upon his opponent proved that this strategy had some merit to it. Operation Supercharge was about putting your opponent into a pocket, and giving them no quarter - forced to respond upon a chain of reactions set off by the side that held the initiative; that side being Noel. His armor was torn apart, sadly his next ability was cancelled out before it could have any real effect. That bastards nullification took care of it real quick. Unknowing to Noel, his opponent at this point of the fight seemed to pass out. With sensus active, the male knew he had to rely on his dagger for the next phase - he had a few more tricks up his sleeve but relied on him getting closer to Kenzo. He'd ready his dagger towards the incoming smoke from the collision of his own dispelled magic, and the black hole cracking the ground. The way he dispelled his last offensive spell was quite peculiar, as if he did it from a range - instead of having touched the spell with his sword. Once the smoke dissipated at Noel came to a halt roughly five meters off Kenzo, he'd see him collapsed on the ground.

Noel didn't quite drop his guard yet, it might have been a trap. He's heard of an adversary once who played dead, once his captors were tying him up they'd have dropped their guard allowing him to deliver fatal blows once their backs were turned. The male wizard wasn't a fan of becoming a story to be retold much like the ones he had going through his mind, so he'd stay on his guard until the smoke completely dissipated - which meant that his dagger was pointed at his opponent, ready to strike back should he have energy remaining. It seems like this wasn't the case though, as Kenzo remained eerily on the ground. His heart beat didn't quicken, his breathing didn't change - nothing moved unusually. Through the use of his spell sensus, he could determine this. He'd spin his dagger around his finger, with the edge safely away from his body - and then re-sheathed this blade. He'd then reach into his pockets and pull out his entrusted stony friend. Worryingly chucking the pebble at Kenzo from a fair distance, he'd watch him closely for reaction. There was none he could pick up through sensus. The fight was over. "Phew, good fight konoyaro."

His nakama was most likely overwhelmed by the bursts of mana he'd have to channel to keep himself safe, even going as far as succumbing against one of the effects of one of Noels spells.

While letting his guild mate nap on the field, Noel went to fetch the horses and then used a wooden bucket to throw water in Kenzos face using water from a nearby river. It didn't do the job, since Kenzo had a steady pulse Noel wasn't that worried. He'd take his guild mates ring off his finger, and activated it to put all his broken equipment into. They could have it repaired in town. "Next time. Next time we fight again, you will probably beat me." He said to Kenzos unconscious body. With most of his own offensive arsenal being laid bare, he was convinced Kenzo would adapt from this interaction and learn a lot from it.

After Noel put Kenzo on the back of his own horse, he'd lead his horse while sitting on his own, navigating back to town where he could put Kenzo in a bar and order beer for his unconscious body. He tried convincing people in the bar that he was just really drunk and couldn't keep his eyes open anymore. More than an hour or so passed while Noel thought it was funny, and it still was - but he needed rest too. The large expenditure of mana had accosted him more than he would have liked. He brought Kenzo to one of the rooms in the inn, and put him in one of the beds - on his night shelf he'd put a health potion along with a note under it. In the note he could read how Noel brought his ring to the blacksmith so he could repair his items and return the ring to him in the inn in a few hours. The note also described that he had fought well, despite the circumstances - and that Noel looked forward to fighting him again once he was at a later stadium of his progression. And as usual, Noel after a short rest disappeared into night life of Marigold for the rest of that day.