Ace couldn't do anything to fight back.

Ace: So tell me, you're an air magic user, am I right?

Max: Isn't it obvious.

Ace suddenly laughed.

Max: hmmm..? Did I said anything funny.

Ace: No, not at all. It's just that...

Ace clenched his fist and hits the ground.

The magic circles released a huge amount of air blades directly at Ace.

Julie: What's he doing?! He's crazy!

Max: That idiot!

When the smoke clears up, Ace was knowhere to be found.

Max: hmm?! He disappeared?!

Julie: Where did he go?!

Ace suddenly came down from the sky and landed 6 meters from his past position.

Ace: phew, that was close.

Max: H-How did you dodged my air blades?!

Ace grinned.

Ace: I'll tell you after you defeat me.

Max: tsk. Don't get cocky kid!

Ace: I could say the same thing to you, old man.

Max: I'm only 19!

Max is focusing on his magic circle, while Ace is just standing there, waiting for Max's attack.

Julie: What is he doing? He's not doing anything about Max at all.

Max: Take this!

Max pointed at Ace, then, a life-size magic circle appeared in front of him.

A large hurricane of air blades appeared out of the magic circle, and head straight towards Ace.

Ace: *smirked* Is that all you've got?

Ace clashed his fist against the hurricane.

Max: I will not lose against a kid!

Ace: *grinned* But you already have.

Max's hurricane was broken.

Max: It can't be!

Julie: H-He broke Max's final blow?!

Ace dashed towards Max and was about to punch him, but he stopped his fist for about 2 inches from his face.

Ace: Now, we know who is superior.

Julie rushed towards them.

Julie: Max! Are you alright?!

Max: I'm fine.

Ace pat Max in his back.

Ace: That was a great fight. You're pretty good.

Ace starts to walk away, back to the guild.

Julie: A-Ace! How did you do defeat Max.

Ace stops and turned around.

Ace: The reason I defeat him is because he is using too much magic.

Max: How did you know?!

Ace: It takes a lot of magic to summon magic circles in the atmosphere, not to mention, you summoned 15 all at once.

Julie: How did you dodged that attack anyway?

Ace: The answer to that question is the ground I am standing on.

Julie head towards the the place Ace was talking about.

Max walked away and head towards the town.

***

Julie went back to the place that Ace was talking about and saw that crystals was just 3 feet below the ground.

Julie: Crystals?! So that's how he dodged it. He knew that crystals was harder than steel. Thanks to his strength, he punched the ground, and crystal flew up in the air due to the impact, and he quickly jump up. And thanks to the crystals, he has 2 seconds to escape before the air blades reach him.

Ace walks towards Julie with a smile in his face.

Ace: You're pretty good in determining stuff.

Julie: How did you know that crystals was down there.

Ace: Well, the moment I backed up, I saw a shiny crystal in the ground. And I used that opportunity to use it against him.

Julie's POV
  I'm worried about Max, he used to be so good at fighting, but something's bothering him, something is making him do stuff like this.

***
Max is walking back towards his inn.

Max: Damn it! If only if I was stronger. Not only I was defeated by those two, I was also defeated by a kid.

Back at the guild...

Ace and Julie have finally returned back at the guild.

Trent: Hmm..? So? Who won?

Ace smiled and pointed at himself.

Julie: Ace defeated Max.

Every guild member: WHAT??!!!!

Trent: He really defeated Max?!

Julie: Yeah, barehanded.

Trent: I can't believe he lost, he isn't used to be like this.

Julie: Yeah.

Ace: Is that so? Well, what kind of person is this Max?

Trent: Well, when he joined the guild, he's a kind of person that motivates his fellow guild members. He got into class A due to his strong magic.

Julie: But now, he changed. He's pushing himself way too far.

Ace: Maybe he was just pissed that I'm stronger than him.

Suddenly, Max walks back at the guild and head straight towards Ace.

Max: Hey newbie..

Ace glanced at Max.

Max: Can I make a mission request.

Trent and Julie was surprised on what Max just said.

Trent: Are you serious?! A class A wizard is asking a newbie for a mission request?!

Julie(worried): Max...

Ace: What kind of request.

Max hands out two fliers at Ace.

Max: I want you to hunt down this two.

Julie and Trent also looks at the fliers. And they were surprised at what they saw.

Trent(Scared): T-These people are..

Julie: You've got to be kidding me.

Ace looks all serious.

Ace: Hey, Max..

Max: What?

Ace(confused): Who are these people?

All the people at the guild was facepalmed.

Trent: You've never heard of these two?!

Ace: Nope.

Julie: These people are wanted criminals. People say that their magic is very deadly.

Max: Please! Will you accept my request?

Ace thinks deeply.

Julie: There is also a reason why they are very deadly criminals, it is beacause, they are part of a group called...

Trent: Guild hunters.

Ace: Guild hunters huh. Sounds interesting.

Max: So will you accept my request?!

Ace: Sure. I will accept this request. *grins*

***
At an unknown location... A guild called Lone Wolves was crushed and burned down.

Person 1: Looks like we've accomplished another mission. We've killed 636 guild members including the guild master. Am I right, Hansel.

Person 2: That's right, Gretel. This is our 26th guild assault. And our next target is a guild called.... Pixies Scale.

Hansel: Shall we go then?

Gretel: *grinned* Let's go.

To be continued...