Umi remained silent for a moment before slowly removing his hand from Waffle's head.
He stepped back a few paces, moving calmly, his gaze never leaving his opponent.
Umi raised his hand and began counting his fingers one by one, unhurried.
Waffle was confused, panting as he struggled to break free from his condition.
Umi held up three fingers, let out a soft chuckle, then lowered his hand.
"Hey, Waffle."
He looked up.
Immediately, the countless ice spikes pinning Waffle shattered into pieces.
Waffle staggered, trying to keep his balance, but half of his body was still covered in ice.
"I'll give you five minutes to run… Within those five minutes, I will use only three techniques to defeat you."
Umi's voice echoed calmly as he raised three fingers again.
"But… those three techniques are ancient magic."
Waffle flinched and stepped back.
Seeing his reaction, Umi asked softly:
"You don't know what ancient magic is?"
The wings on Waffle's back spread wide and began beating rapidly.
He stomped the ground and shot into the air.
He rushed forward at great speed, but his wings refused to obey him, causing him to crash back down and struggle to stand.
Waffle raised his head, his voice trembling:
"The Demon King… and Van Ouderwets… are the only ones I know who can use ancient magic…"
Umi frowned slightly, clearly puzzled.
"The Demon King, I know… but who is Van Ouderwets that you keep mentioning?"
Waffle roared and tensed his entire body.
At once, the ice covering half of his body shattered.
But that half was already gone—he was left with only half a body and a single arm.
Panting, he muttered:
"Van Ouderwets… Nautilus… Kronos…"
Immediately, he spread his wings and flapped them as fast as he could.
His body tilted forward as he tried to escape.
But he flew unsteadily, and suddenly his wings stopped moving, causing him to crash heavily to the ground.
Waffle looked up, looking around in panic.
In the distance, Umi was slowly walking toward him, each step radiating cold air.
"Time has started."
Umi raised his palm.
"Minervar Inspirend! Avolokites De Vora!"
Instantly, two gigantic ice hands burst from the ground on either side of Waffle.
Umi let out a light laugh.
"Perhaps you've never seen ancient magic… then I'll show you."
Waffle struggled to stand.
Above the two massive hands, another hand twice their size appeared, making him look like a tiny pebble trapped between three towering mountains.
He roared and immediately spread his wings, trying to escape.
He shot outward.
Behind him, the two giant ice hands slammed into each other and shattered.
The enormous hand above collapsed downward, crushing everything beneath it.
A shockwave burst out, blasting Waffle far away.
His wings tore apart, and his body slammed into the ground.
Trembling, he lay there, reaching to touch the half of his body that was gone.
Waffle roared in fury, slamming his hand into the ground.
"Impossible! How can you overpower me in just a few minutes!?"
In the distance, Umi chuckled.
He extended one hand forward.
A drop of icy water appeared.
It slid off his hand and fell to the ground, creating a small ripple that spread outward.
From the center of that ripple, a glowing ice sword slowly rose.
Umi walked forward and grasped it.
—
"This is the second technique I will use…"
His voice remained calm.
On the other side, Waffle trembled as he stepped back.
But the ice sword was suddenly thrown down right in front of him.
Waffle froze, then looked up in confusion.
"Tormenting someone who can no longer fight… would make me no different from you demons."
Umi pointed at the sword.
"Pick it up. I'll give you a chance to live."
Waffle panted, slowly bending down to pick it up.
Umi smiled.
"Then… let's begin."
He raised both hands high and closed his eyes.
Immediately, an ice wand appeared in his right palm.
"Minerva Gebaseerd! Alastor De Vugel!"
Umi lowered his left hand.
A circle of ice formed on the ground, expanding outward.
He swung his other hand.
Large patches of ice appeared along the circle.
From each of those patches, a massive pillar of ice rose from below—shaped like the head of a deer.
Dozens of enormous ice deer heads emerged, surrounding both of them.
"The Essence of the first Heliria race's mage… disciple of the Grand Mage Nautilus!"
Umi declared, raising his wand.
At once, all the deer heads opened their mouths.
From within, Divine Deer burst forth, carrying a mysterious blue light.
A melodic sound filled the air.
The Divine Deer ran across the sky, filling it completely.
They formed a beautiful blue vortex above, each step producing a sound like music.
Umi lowered his wand and spun it lightly.
One Divine Deer descended from the sky, circling Waffle and forming a glowing blue ring around him.
Umi swung the wand.
Immediately, the Divine Deer changed direction and charged straight at him.
Waffle flinched and raised the ice sword to block.
The Divine Deer collided with the sword—
And dissolved into white mist, releasing a soft, melodic sound like music.