– Era of the Wastes, Cycle 217, Season of the Setting Sun, Day 85 –
“The spear,” said Xuan.
Terry had tried to avoid using expensive items. In fact, he had tried to avoid using items in general. He kept some in his storage bracelet, but did his best to not use them in battle. He had already learned that Xuan always knew which items Terry had used in the battles before.
Unfortunately, sometimes, Terry couldn’t avoid it. Sometimes, Terry needed a magic weapon to get through his other battles. Whenever Terry could, he would gather equipment from his opponents and try to use them, but often, Terry had no idea how to use them properly. Consequently, Terry’s own items still made their appearances.
“Which spear?” asked Terry while trying to keep his expression blank. He hadn’t used a spear in his battles today.
“Whatever spear you have with you,” said Xuan indifferently. “Don’t try to get smart with me. Otherwise, I’ll take the storage bracelet with all its contents.”
Still have to try… Terry spoke up: “Are you sure that you don’t want to—”
“I want your items, not the stuff that you collected from other contestants,” stressed Xuan.
Terry threw his imprinted barrier spear on the ground. This was the first piece of magic equipment he had bought from the money he had earned hunting non-magic animals. He had given the second imprinted spear to Calam before they had gone to Tiv.
Xuan frowned slightly. “More valuable than that fire-aspected spear but…”
“I still have the whip,” reminded Terry.
“No,” growled Xuan.
[Terry, this isn’t good.] Rafael appeared composed on the outside but his voice was weak. [We’re meeting him way too often.]
[I know,] said Terry. He sighed and reminded himself in his thoughts: Focus. He addressed Rafael through thought transmission: [I have an idea but I’m not there yet.]
[Oh?] Rafael raised his eyebrows.
[I’ll explain when I’m sure,] said Terry. [Until then, can you tell me more about that entrance ticket?]
“Oh and…” Xuan spoke up loudly. “Don’t try to come here without items or, you know, someone might have to die before we leave the arena.”
Rafael’s expression darkened. Sooner or later, Terry would run out of items from his original equipment. [Maybe it’s best if we break off the alliance when we face another opponent.]
Terry was taken aback. [I want to get out of here.]
[Just like everyone else around here,] grumbled Rafael. [Why are you—?]
[I mean that I want to get out,] stressed Terry. [I want to get back to Arcana. You can help me get there quicker and I can help you claw back a chance to get what you want. If you are willing to risk it…]
They didn’t have much time to chat. It had been their last match of the day and they were being ushered back into their cells.
As soon as Terry was back in his transparent cell, he dispersed his mana to check for people watching. When the air was clear, Terry threw the scale he had taken from Xuan up and transfixed it with the Immovable Object spell.
Time for training… A fierce glint entered Terry’s eyes.
***
Yesenia looked up from the chess set. “How long are you going to stay in the city anyway?”
“Not much longer,” replied Yana. “The frontline with Tiv might be off limits until the situation with the Valkyrie and Arcana has settled, but there are other battles to be fought.”
“Do you know where you’ll be deployed next?” asked Yesenia. “Supporting the march into the Union up north? Defending the south from the Wastes?” She smirked. “I don’t see you as the type to linger around the Lich Kingdoms in the east.”
Yana rolled her eyes. “No idea yet. I’ll stick to General Eli. It has served me well so far.”
“Yeah, I can see that,” said Yesenia and smiled. “If you choose to retire from active duty, you could probably move directly into the Popular Wing given the renown of your division.”
“Boring,” exclaimed Yana with a grin. She picked up her pieces. “I’ve no desire to retire yet. First, I’ll get my own division and then I’ll get my name into our military history.”
“Lofty ambitions,” said Yesenia. “I believe you can do it.” She finished setting up her pieces. “But if you have to leave soon, what are you going to do about Terry? You haven’t clarified his situation yet, have you?”
“No, we haven’t,” said Yana while shaking her head. “We have applied for a temporary shadow license for one of our scouts.”
“Good luck.” Yesenia snorted with amusement. “The bureaucracy has crept into many corners again. It’s been too long since the Hall has cleaned up the administrators. I wouldn’t count on the application going through before the Rising Moon.”
“That’s fine,” said Yana. “I have someone here to take care of it after we’re gone.”
“What’s the latest intel?” asked Yesenia curiously.
“Confusing is what it is,” grumbled Yana. “The scryers are saying he’s practicing disruption discharges.”
“What’s confusing about that?” Yesenia raised an eyebrow. “Terry seems to rely a lot on them.”
“You know as well as I do that he is placed against a wall in the arena,” reminded Yana. “Our person and the felan have faced the lizan wall basically every second day. At the rate he’s losing items, he’ll be fighting ass-naked in the arena soon. Why would he calmly train something as fundamental as disruption discharges?”
“If his skillset is not an act, then Terry doesn’t have much choice, does he?” retorted Yesenia. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Terry is aiming to break through Xuan’s dantian. From what I have seen, the man has some fighting spirit. Commendable. If he manages to survive long enough with that attitude, he has a good chance to earn recognition eventually.”
“Oh really?” Yana leaned in closer. “Do you know what else the scryers said?”
“I’m no fan of unnecessary suspense,” remarked Yesenia drily. “If you want to tell me, do it. If not, just play your game.”
“They said that his disruption discharges are getting worse.” Yana emphasized the last word strongly. “The longer he practices, the worse he gets. Who does that? It’s like he’s taunting us with intentionally bad acting.”
***
Terry dreaded the words that would come next. He had been forced to use it in the previous match. It seemed inevitable now. Terry took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm. It wasn’t time yet. He was getting closer, but he wasn’t ready.
“I’ll take the spear,” announced Xuan in a haughty tone.
[Terry, I…] Rafael’s thought transmission was quiet and low-spirited.
Terry threw his inscribed barrier spear on the floor. Now, he was only left with one from the pair that his accepted mother had sent him to the Libra Outpost.
[Are you sure about the entrance ticket?] Terry asked Rafael. His eyes were still staring at Xuan resolutely.
[Yes, it will become usable after the current moon has passed,] replied Rafael.
Which means after tonight. Terry clenched his fists.
Xuan jeered at Terry. “Whatever happened to your spine and fighting spirit? I remember you spouting some bullshit the first time and now look at you! Do you still believe that you have the right to lecture me?”
Terry mustered his resolve. If they met Xuan again too early, then what he was about to do would be a very bad idea. He knew it. However, Terry refused to simply let go of his lost equipment. He told himself that it was because the equipment would increase the chances of his other plan, but deep down, Terry was aware that the attachment to the gifts from his family and his resentment for the person that took them played a significant role in his behavior.
“How about a bet?” Terry heard himself say.
“Here we go…” Rafael muttered under his breath and he squared his shoulders to appear more confident than he was.
“A bet?” Xuan stared coldly at Terry. “I can take everything I want from you. I don’t see a need to bet. Besides, what could you have left to bet with?“
“If I don’t bring items to the arena, there is no chance for you to get them.” Terry pointed out. “Even if Rafael and I die, you will never get the items or the chance to continue your deal with your devil.”
Xuan’s expression darkened.
“And as for what I have left to bet, how about an authentic crafter’s pendant from Arcana?” Terry spoke firmly. “That is worth more than all the items you took from me so far combined.”
“What’s going to stop me from simply demanding the pendant?” asked Xuan.
“If I don’t bring it, you can’t get it, no matter how much you demand it,” stressed Terry firmly.
“I could just insist on you handing it over,” retorted Xuan. “If you don’t have it, that would be a problem for you.” He moved his eyes to Rafael. “Or more likely for him first.”
“Problem your head!” hissed Rafael. “You think I’m afraid of dying?!”
“Are you so sure that you would like it if only I am left?” added Terry with grave determination. “That deal you have with someone from Thanatos is quite lucrative for you. However, that is only true as long as I play along.”
“Your words make some sense,” admitted Xuan. “Then what is the nature of the bet you propose?”
“I’ll bring the crafter’s pendant and you bring everything you took from me before,” said Terry. “The winner takes it all.”
“Arrogant fool.” Xuan’s red eyes became even colder. “Do you really believe you have the slightest chance to win against me?!”
“What’s with the pointless blustering?!” interjected Rafael. “Either you accept or you don’t. If you’re too much of a coward to even agree to this much—”
“Enough!” barked Xuan. “Fine, I’ll accept. Not only will I have you offer that crafter’s pendant to me, I’ll have you beg me on your knees to take it.”
Terry took a deep breath and clenched his fists. We’ll see about that…
***
Two days later in the audience seats of the Proving Grounds. “Do we have to keep watching these?” A boy asked his little brother. “It’s pathetic. Hitting the same wall over and over again. How many times has he surrendered by now? So boring. Why does this even keep happening? What is everyone thinking? Pick the same match all the time? So boring.”
“Hmph.” The younger boy pouted and ignored his older brother.
“He had a good run, but unless the felan can whip something up, they’re done,” continued the bigger boy. “‘Rising Rookies’, yeah right. They had a good combination but I guess this is it. Xuan is unmatched as a wall in this tier.” He shot his younger sibling a look of sympathy. “I told you if a cultivator can’t get close, they’re done for. How could someone like that be a proper fighter?”
“Rafael isn’t doing too well either, is he?” retorted the young boy. “Weren’t you impressed with the Heavenly Wolf Slash before?”
The elder boy rolled his eyes. “Yeah, of course. As an offensive ability, it’s impressive. However, look at the guy now. A one-trick kitty and if the one trick fails, then he’s out.” He puffed his cheeks and blew air through his pressed lips.
“So suddenly, even the mana martialist isn’t a worthy fighter anymore?” The younger boy took offense. “You’re just following the—” The boy stopped mid-sentence. “It’s starting.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Terry stepped into the arena with determined eyes. Around his neck was the crafter’s pendant. His gaze met the one from Rafael as the felan walked into the arena as well. Next, Terry caught sight of Xuan.
“Did you bring my pendant?” asked Xuan in a mocking tone.
Terry ignored the snub of calling the pendant his already. “Did you bring my items?”
“Don’t worry, I brought my little toothpick and the rest,” sneered Xuan and held out the keen dagger he had taken from Terry before. Xuan was grinning with sharp teeth. “Did you bring my pendant?”
Terry moved his hand to lift the pendant into view for a brief moment. “It’s here.”
“Then let’s start,” growled Xuan. The arena ground quaked slightly as he moved forward. A moment later, he had already unleashed his gravitational field ability.
Contrary to Terry’s expectations, Xuan did not go on the offensive at all. The lizan was waiting for Terry to make a move.
I guess he doesn’t want to lose another scale.
Scale…
Terry thought back to the scale he had taken from Xuan in their first battle. The scale that had acted as Terry’s guiding post for what he needed to break. For one final time, Terry recalled the scene of the deformed scale back in the cell and he took courage from the memory.
[Make sure to preserve your mana, but if you see a chance, take it.] Terry instructed Rafael.
[Got it,] acknowledged Rafael. [Just a quick reminder, buddy, I still have no idea how you want to get past his defenses.]
Terry smiled mirthlessly. He stretched his fingers repeatedly. When he had still been in the Arcana Academy and dreaming about which spells he might learn one day, many of his favorites had been from the space aspect.
Spatial blades, in particular, were often described as unstoppable in the physical realm.
Unstoppable…
Terry clenched a tight fist. He dashed towards Xuan with an instinctive burst technique. He grit his teeth to withstand the increasing pressure of the gravitational field without slowing down. He persevered until he was close enough to target Xuan.
In the blink of an eye, Terry had transfixed dozens of scales and horns on Xuan’s body.
First objective clear.
Terry retreated and took a deep breath.
Xuan was staring coldly at Terry. He didn’t even bother to move his mana to attempt and get rid of the active Immovable Object spells. The spell was only a nuisance if one wanted to move. Why would he need to move? His defenses were impenetrable. All he needed to do was to wait until his opponents gave up under the torment of hunger.
Terry placed several mana refractors along his knuckles and outside of his body.
It had taken a while for him to get everything right. Many times, Terry had cursed at the lack of his notebooks.
Eventually though, Terry had figured it out. He was still relying on the basic idea of spell slicers like in disruption discharges, but what he needed to do now was different.
At Terry’s current level, it was only possible if the target was fixed in place. Fortunately, that was exactly what the Immovable Object was shaped for.
Terry lunged back his arms and together with a burst technique for explosive strength, Terry unleashed discharge after discharge.
Sharp spell slicers were rushing forward at astonishing speed. They hit the refractors that Terry had placed one after the other.
With every refractor the spell slicers passed, their intensity grew and their trajectory was slightly altered.
Until all of the spell slicers hit the exact same spot.
A spot on Xuan’s forehead.
The look in Xuan’s eyes shifted between contempt, surprise, and ridicule. He had prepared for an attack on his dantian but unexpectedly, the Arcanian had chosen to attack his head instead. He snorted with derision. In contrast to his dantian, his head was not a vulnerable target for attacks located purely in the mana realm. Even for physical attacks, Xuan had little to worry about. The protection at his head was the toughest on his whole body.
Terry did not care about what was going through Xuan’s head. He was completely immersed in the process of hurling disruption discharges, sensing the trajectory and impact of the spell slicers, and reclaiming his discharged mana. His mind was racing with all the different things he had to keep track of.
Maintaining the active spells to trap Xuan.
Reenforcing any mana refractor that had decayed or changed shape.
Adjusting his own discharges to hit different refractors so as to impact on the exact same spot from different directions.
“Uhh…” In the audience seats, two boys were glancing at each other. “Has he lost his mind?”
For hours on end, Terry was hurling intense disruption discharges without ever disrupting a spell. While some audience members were impressed with the fact that Terry managed to keep this up for so long without any hint of slowing down or running out of mana, it still seemed undeniably pointless.
“What a farce,” spat Xuan. He inwardly shrugged and closed his eyes to meditate. If his opponent intended to make a clown of himself, so be it. The only worry at the end of Xuan’s mind was that Terry displayed an astonishing amount of mana. Xuan intended to conserve his own mana for as much as possible. After all, he had no idea if the mad Arcanian would finally snap and let his felan companion die to have a shot at victory.
After eight hours of ceaseless disruption discharges, Xuan opened his eyes and subconsciously emitted a growl. “Annoying.” He was beginning to get a headache.
The longer the match lasted, the more people left the audience seats. In the first match between the Rising Rookies and Xuan, there had at least been a few interesting developments, but this match felt entirely stagnant.
“Come on,” said an older boy. “We can come back tomorrow if they’re still at it then.”
The younger boy seemed reluctant but eventually gave in. “...but I want to be here early.”
“Sure,” agreed his elder brother and yawned. “If you insist.”
Terry did not care what the people in the audience thought of him. The days that he was getting excited for their cheering were lost together with his items.
Terry was tired of playing their game. Tired of being played and used for other people’s plans or amusement. He kept his eyes fixed on Xuan and continued his discharges.
It was only during sunrise on the next day that Xuan was beginning to realize that something was wrong. His head was throbbing with a splitting headache. Never before had he felt anything like it. He stared at Terry with disbelief.
Terry could not be bothered by Xuan’s gaze and continued as before.
“You…” Realization dawned on Xuan and in a panic, he moved his mana to try and get rid of Terry’s Immovable Object spells. He had no clue what was going on but he was smart enough to understand that his headache was related to whatever the Arcanian was doing.
Terry harrumphed coldly when he sensed Xuan’s attempts. He dashed forward into the gravitational field to make sure and feed more mana into his compressed spell structures.
No matter how frenziedly Xuan tried to disturb the spells, Terry was faster. Even if one of the spells was disturbed, the next spell would activate at the same location before Xuan had any chance to react.
Terry had finally realized the nature of his oscillating mana, or at least the core of it. It was as Samuel and Ser had surmised, only with a slight twist. It was a false assumption that his Immovable Object spell relied on a single shift to another plane.
From what Terry could gather, the spell worked differently. There was significance in the fact that it required oscillating mana to cast the spell.
What if oscillating mana appears to move because it interacts with the physical realm?
What if the conditions for the Immovable Object were understood incorrectly?
What if the object wasn’t shifted as a whole?
What if…
Terry’s mind had been set ablaze by what he had discovered about the interaction between the Immovable Object spell and a spell slicer created with oscillating mana. The spell slicers had caused physical changes in the transfixed object but only if the spell was active.
This indicated that it was a mana reaction and not a physical interaction. The theory that Terry had come up with related to the way the shift worked and how his naturalized mana acted as a bridge that facilitated the effect.
The Immovable Object spell does not merely shift an object to another plane. It shifts all physical particles of an object to another plane. What if this wasn’t a single shift? What if each particle is shifted individually but all of them collectively?
Terry had his epiphany when he had to explain the effect of oscillating spell slicers on an object under the Immovable Object spell.
Oscillating mana appears to move because the mana latches onto physical particles. Oscillating mana can create the Immovable Object spell because it allows the shifting of all particles together.
What if the particles weren’t shifted to the same plane? What if the collective shift is only facilitated by the common mana naturalization? What if the relation of one plane to the other is set by the impression of the oscillating mana when the spell activates?
What if the impression can be adjusted by disturbing the balance of oscillating mana? For example, with an intense oscillating spell slicer?
Of course, Terry had realized how daunting it was to apply this in practice. Even if his hypothesis was true, using this as a means of attack was like using the smallest chisel in the world as a weapon.
To make it worse, this tiny chisel even consumed mana and it required both concentration as well as preparation.
Despite the drawbacks, Terry was determined to take what he could get. If this was a new tool, then he intended to find a way to make it work.
The growing terror on Xuan’s face told Terry that his new tool was indeed working.
“Unstoppable…” Terry subconsciously muttered. …shift.
After two more hours, Xuan was crying tears of blood. He did not know what was going on, but he had never felt as much pain before in his life. It was as if something was drilling into his brain. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this threatened. His days of comfortable deals had left him unprepared and now the unexpected danger to his life left the lizan shaken. “I SURRENDER!”
Terry stopped his disruption discharges with a distant look in his eyes. “I want my items.” He deactivated some of the Immovable Object spells but only on one of Xuan’s arms. He kept the ones on Xuan’s other limbs, torso, and head active.
“I…” Xuan used his free arm to throw over the keen dagger. “I…” He gulped and did not dare to look Terry in the eyes. “I did not bring any others.”
Without being aware of it, Terry had already transfixed Xuan’s free arm again. He collected his keen dagger and glowered at Xuan. “What did you say?!” Mana refractors were popping up in the area again and the sight terrified Xuan.
“You already sold most of the items, didn’t you?” interjected Rafael, who was now wide awake again. He added a thought transmission for Terry. [Nicely done. No idea what you did, but it was nicely done.]
“You…” Terry could read enough from the look in Xuan’s eyes to know that Rafael had hit the mark. Terry’s cherished equipment was already gone.
“Not all of them,” stammered Xuan. “I can bring the rest if…”
“YOU DARE!” Terry was overwhelmed with rage. He lunged out his arms and began unleashing disruption discharges towards Xuan’s forehead again.
“NO, PLEASE NO!” pleaded Xuan. “I did not know! I did not know!”
“You…” Terry prepared more mana refractors and gathered an immense amount of mana at his fist. He lunged out and…
[Spare… him… please…] A foreign voice echoed in Terry’s head. The enunciation was slow and slightly off. Terry was so surprised that he subconsciously stopped.
[Please…]
[I beg… you…]
[Don’t…]
Terry was taken aback. His anger was still present, but now he became deeply aware of the sight in front of him. The sight of the cowering lizan mana martialist whose eyes were filled with deep fear.
Am I really that scary?
Terry swallowed his anger.
I’m tired of this.
I want to leave.
What’s done is done. Terry spared one last look for Xuan. “Leave! Have fun rotting in the arena, but at least you’ll be comfortable making deals with your devils, right?” Terry stared coldly at Xuan as his spells deactivated.
Xuan ran towards the arena’s exit. He swayed and it was clear that he had problems with his balance.
Up in the audience, two boys were staring at each other. “What happened?!”
***
“Do you mind sharing what you did there?” Yesenia was escorting Terry for a part of the way back to his cell. “Why did Xuan surrender?” She thought it unnecessary to point out the terror in the lizan’s eyes when he had escaped the arena. “From what I could gather, his dantian isn’t located…”
“...” Terry shook his head. He did not feel much elation at his victory because the main purpose behind it was to get back his lost equipment and this plan had failed miserably.
Yesenia understood the hint and stopped asking. “It’s a good idea to keep some secrets if you want to survive in the Proving Grounds. You’re growing.” She paused and tried another question. “What made you change your mind?” She searched Terry’s gaze. “You have killed in the arena before. You seemed truly infuriated. I would have bet that you would take Xuan’s life. What made you reconsider?”
Involuntarily, Terry frowned. He didn’t know either. There was no reason to do as the strange voice had asked. Xuan had lied. Xuan had taken Terry’s equipment and cooperated with one of Terry’s enemies in Thanatos. Xuan had repeatedly threatened their lives, and with as cruel a death as starvation at that. At least for Rafael, this fate would have been inevitable if Terry hadn’t drawn Xuan’s attention and given in.
Perhaps because he gave us a way out? Terry thought gloomily. If he had insisted on continuing the earlier matches, Rafael would already be dead. He might have done so for selfish motives but… Terry’s frown deepened. I don’t know.
Yesenia observed Terry’s changing facial expressions. “If you can’t speak about it, that’s fine too.”
Terry glanced at her silently. Why does she make it sound as if I’m keeping a secret? I just don’t know.
“Take him from here.” Yesenia ordered two of her assistants. After they had taken Terry away, her expression contorted into a scowl. “Operative? Perhaps I’ve been wrong…” She walked to her office with hurried steps.
Inside the security of her office, Yesenia took out a small crystal from her desk. She infused it with mana and started the recording.
“You told me to inform you about anything unusual about Terry.” Yesenia slightly nodded her head. “Today, they broke through the wall. That’s not the unusual part though. The way he did it.” She creased her brows and shook her head. “It was not what I expected and it was not anything I can explain.
“However, the main reason I’m sending this sound transmission to you is because there was some outside involvement…” Yesenia’s expression darkened. “It was subtle, which means skilled magic, but I believe there was a sound transmission from outside. A sound transmission intended for Terry…”
***
Late in the evening, Terry was looking around the transparent inner cell. The floors were clear because he had already collected all of his belongings into his available storage bracelet.
Terry pressed his mana further through the slight gap where the cell’s door was located. He confirmed with his mana touch that there was no one in the vicinity. The stationed guards were patrolling.
At a distance, Terry used his mana to retrieve the wand that Lori had gifted him from the dimensional bag on the table in the outer cell. He activated the wand’s imprint for Liquify Earth and caught the spell to direct it to a specific location underneath the transparent cell’s door mechanism.
Terry burst his mana and pushed against the wall near the door. With the softened earth below, there was now some wiggle room, albeit miniscule. Terry pressed several pebbles against the wall and transfixed them to maintain the wall and door in their current positions.
Terry guided his mana through the tiny gap that had been opened through his pushing against the wall and cast his empowered Immovable Object spell.
In the past, Terry would have thought this action meaningless. What use was the Immovable Object spell in this kind of situation? Should he restrain himself further?
Terry took a deep breath and double-checked the spell charges in all his active spells.
Fifteen minutes at least.
Terry nodded to himself and then repositioned himself in front of the door.
If my estimation is right, I should be done around sunrise. He grimaced. I better be or this will be very difficult to explain.
If I notice anything off, I need to adjust before it’s too late.
Still, this isn’t like Xuan’s scale. It isn’t actively protected by someone else’s naturalized mana, I should…
Terry inhaled deeply. Nothing to do but try.
Terry lunged back his fist and stared at the transfixed door mechanism. From then on, a rapid and endless succession of intense disruption discharges shot through the night.
***