Two.... No, three....

Three dragons.

There are three dragons made of lightning itself. They are not the lizard variants of the western but the serpent-likes of the eastern. I wager they are at least thirty feet in length.

They give out a radiant blue but the hue possesses such intense brightness that it dyed the world white.

These dragons seeks out and gulps down any monster showing hostility towards Lubac, the Court Alchemist. Few monsters tried to pounce onto Bartholomew, Cormac, and Tom but they were chased down and eaten all the same. The swallowed monsters are being charred into cinders in the body of the lightning dragons.

Not long after, the monsters attacking them began realizing the magnitude of the threat and started making their retreat.

When all monsters have gone out of sight, the dragons vanishes into nothing. Lubac then slumps to the ground like his battery has been cut off.

With just a slight glance over his shoulder, he greeted me. "Took you long enough."

I look to Tom but he just shrugs. He didn't exactly know what happened either.

"Was that your magic?"

"Yes. Adept-level lightning magic, Storm Guardians." Lubac explained in between his ragged breathing.

I sigh.

I walk towards him and lend out a hand. "Thank you." I said my thanks.

"I didn't do it for you. I'm just.... not keen on facing your wrath."

[Tsun....dere....]

Shut up. Stop putting labels out randomly.

"I know but it didn't change the fact that you did help me and save them. So thanks anyway. Come on, we gotta keep moving."

His gaze alternate between my eyes and my lent out hand. He sighed and eventually took my offer.

Tom comes forward to Lubac. "T...Thank y...you."

"I don't need your thanks." I heard Lubac saying under his breath.

Even Bartholomew and Cormac came forward and bowed their heads repeatedly.

[Maybe things will get better from now.]

I will slap the shit out of you. You have just planted a flag.

[Geh. Nothing we can't handle.]

"Your arm...." Lubac's eyes turn wide. "What happened?"

Tom was about to ask but he might have guessed what happened.

I explained to the confused alchemist about how I am able to gain physical traits or abilities from the meat that I ate. It might just be my imagination but I could have swore that his eyes were sparkling for a moment there.

[Let's just hope that's our imagination.]

Yeap.

Although.... that magic.... Can I....

[No. You can't.]

Why not?

[You don't have the aptitude for it.]

Huh? What do you mean?

[From what I have analyzed, yo.... we do not have any magic aptitudes.]

Um.... meaning?

[Which means by law of the Arcane Arts, we are not suppose to be able to learn any magic but we still did.]

How is that possible?

[I don't know. I have been looking for answers but there's none. No matter how much I look into it, I can't find any reason that we are able to learn these magics.]

What can we do to know more?

Kai is silent but I feel like he's pointing at someone.

Oh.

Lubac, the Court M... Alchemist. He should know about stuffs like this.

[Yeap. It is very possible]

Now.... You wanna go ask him?

[If he can hear me, sure. I would even bring cakes and teas for the occasion.]

I sigh.

Fine. I guess I have to do it.

[Gambateh~]

I will hit you.

----------------------------------------

It hasn't been that long but seeing the Kalas and the Goliaths brought assurance to my heart. I use to regard the Kalas attacks as the fastest but a certain zealous female warrior changed my opinion. Maybe it's because I have became adapted to her speed, I'm seeing Kalas' swipes in slow motion.

Well, not that speed matters too much anymore since I have a variety of long range attacks. In fact, not a whole lot of monsters dare to even approach us. Good job, Kai Ming.

And I use to hate my tail too but after a few battles, I came to embrace my tail as the fifth limb. A very flexible limb. I'm currently trying to pick things up with my tail. It ain't easy though. I still have a long way to go but I'm getting there.

After all those times, a straight walk without any ambush every few feet is a refreshing breeze to enjoy. Well, I don't mean the place smells good but it is very relaxing when no monsters are trying to get the drop on you at every corners or turn.

Still, the whole place hasn't stop shaking though it has breaks as intervals. The unstable roof is still sending down chunks of rocks at us. We should be sprinting but Tom is having a hard time with recognizing the paths since the geography have been greatly altered by the quakes.

We make stops at every turn and splitting paths. And every time we stopped, I would ask Lubac some questions.

"Heh?" Lubac blurted out when he heard my question. "Pardon? I'm not sure I heard your precise question."

"You heard me right. Can someone without any magic aptitudes actually learn magic?"

"There's you." came the short answer. "You were very notorious in the party for being the only one without spark. In a precise manner, we call people like you a blank."

I'm guessing what he meant by "one without spark" is someone isn't able to use magic but what's a blank?

"Someone who came from a lineage of capable Arcane Arts practitioners but they are sparkless. The runt out of the litter."

Wow.... that's depressing.

[I know, right?]

"I'm well aware of my condition but I'm asking if there's anyone else or a way for a blank or a sparkless to learn magic."

Lubac brushes his goatee beard. "There is one story but as a scholar, shouldn't you already knew about that?"

"My amnesia is worse than I thought."

"That's a very sever amnesia."

I see doubts in his eyes but he and I say nothing of it.

"So, what's this story you spoke of?"

"It's actually less than a story but more of a long-winded hearsay."

"Let's hear it. Tom is still shuffling through his memories so I guess we have some time?"

He sighed. "There was a scholar, sparkless just like you but he has a deep penchant for death arts, necromancy."

[I like where this is going.]

Me too.

"And so, he looked for ways, no matter the costs or legitimacy. He managed to acquire the means to use Arcane Arts but he made himself an enemy of the whole Sagax race in the process. While the details are quite gruesome for a lot of people, researchers like me, we are a lot more interested in how he acquired magic despite having no aptitudes."

"And what did you find?"

"In the necromancer's papers, he found two ways to enable a sparkless to use magic. The first one is diabolical and the second method is much too unconventional and convoluted. One is to forcefully reconstruct or restructure the entirety of a sparkless' Mana flow structure. It is a very painful and delicate process. Many have died from his experiment and none of these victims were in a state to be sent to an undertaker."

[What? Don't look at me.]

You gotta admit, it sure sounds like what you and I have been doing, tampering and restructuring Mana flows. I did help Tom get better at magic, didn't I?

[Yes but we aren't that good, yet. From what I can guess from Lubac's story, the necromancer didn't just reconstruct. He also added new variables into the equation in the process of the reconstruction which made it possible.]

Okay.... I'm not even going to pretend I understand what you said.

[If the necromancer merely rearranged, then even I can do it in theory but I can't. Which means, the necromancer didn't just rearranged, he added something else while rearranging.]

So what you are saying is that, I'm given five matches and I can made a "3" from the five matches. By rearranging, I can also make a "5" from the five matches but I can't make an eight unless I have two additional matches?

[Yes. That's the concept.]

Huh. I see.

"And what's the second one?" I asked.

"A blessing of the Gods."

Is it just me or....

[Yeah, I find it weird too that a person like him believes in Gods but this is to be expected from an Isekai.]

Ah... Touche.

"Though personally, I have never witness such miracles before but there's a lot of whispers about sparkless being chosen by the Gods and given a chance to prove their worth to the world."

"To prove their worth to the world? How do they do that?"

"By saving the world. They are called Heroes, chosen by the Gods to battle against the evil of these worlds."

"What evil?" The only evil I can think of is Aedrox and family.

"The demons."

"Majins?"

"No. Not them. Demons. Actual demons. The Majins merely descended from demons but they are not demons. You put them in the same room, they'll kill each other. The Majins hate demons as much as the other Sagax race."

I see. There is a hero system in this world.

[The hero could be the one we are suppose to guide. You know, as the "Harbinger".]

No. I'm not going to follow what that bastard said.

[It did said it's inevitable.]

Not if I can help it.

"If you're asking such questions to get a better understanding ofyourself, I can say that you might just be a late bloomer."

"A what?"

[Late bloomer? Our beard grows at a much older age?]

"A late bloomer. For most people, their talent for magic manifest at the age of four but there are some whose talent only manifest at a later age. The latest by twelve years old."

I see. I was twelve when I join the Nines. Did my "prominent" family gave up on me when they realize I'm a blank even after reaching twelve?

[Seems likely.]

Yeah. Must be some family I had.

"But when this expedition was formed, you are already fifteen but still sparkless. Everyone thought you would be this way forever but it appears not."

So that's why they don't find it too odd of me that I can suddenly use magic. That could be the reason but how did I end up with such Arcane Arts?

As if hearing the questions I asked in my heart, Lubac explains "And also, most late bloomers are very strong. No one knows the reason yet but three quarters of every late bloomers in the world, they are all capable of advanced-level or even adept-level spells upon awakening their talent."

What is this? Shounen plot devices in full throttle?

[I'm starting to wonder if the authors draw inspiration from this world or the other way around.]

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

I'm not even going to pounce on that. I will fry my brain from thinking that.

[Weakling~!]

Shut up.

"So, does this explains why I can do what I did?"

Lubac rubs his chin. "That, I am not sure. There aren't enough data yet to come to a solid conclusion. If there is another similar subject, that might help."

Data? That's kind of a modern word for a medieval setting. Huh....

"Which is why I said, you will be a very interesting subject."

I hope it doesn't involve me strapped on an operating table.

Then, we all heard a growl from somewhere.

"If we can make it out of here." Lubac added.

And the tremor worsened.

"Another explosion?" Tom asked.

"Close."

"Too close."

[No. It's not another explosion. Something is digging through the piles from the collapse.]

"No." I relay Kai's answer to them. Of course, Bartholomew and Cormac doesn't understand Common so Tom converts it for them.

Then what is it?

[Just look back.]

And I did.

Oh.

That's.... big?

[Too big. Recognize it?]

Familiar but.... I don't remember it being this big.

[A variant.]

Looks tough.

[Its Mana ain't worth noting but seeing as how it survived the collapse, we must take its physical abilities into a huge consideration.]

Yeah, I know.

"What is it? What's coming?"

"You're about to find out, old man."

As soon as I finished my words, the mountain of debris fields trembles and something burst out from the piles.

A monster that I once dubbed the demon ape.

Although.... its much bigger than I remember.

This Goliath.... It's more than six feet. I don't think it's suppose to be this tall. Double the size, I guess?

[When it's bigger than the rest, it must be....]

an Alpha or a leader perhaps. Must be some sort of a law among the many laws of the jungle perhaps? I think. The leader is always bigger than the rest of the pack.

"Another evolved magic beast." Lubac has a hollow voice when he said that. "Incredible. To think every beast here is capable of evolution."

Hmm? "Evolved? Evolution? Is there a difference in just growing in age?"

"Huge." Lubac answered. "Evolution gives a huge boost in power. It's something like the equivalent of human ascending into another level of peerage. Not every monster or beast can evolve but those that can, they are something that nations will go through great lengths to keep a close eye on."

Evolved monster are that big of a deal, I see. "Can a human evolve too?"

Lubac lets out a weird laugh. "Heh! Sure. Only in peerages or if you have a tiniest drop of blood of a beast or monster in you."

[I don't think Lubac is trying to be funny.]

I think he has finally lost it.

The Alpha Goliath smash its fist on the ground. I think it's trying to remind us that it's here.

I wonder how many times have I neglected the presence of the main star of the scene.

The Alpha Goliath lets out a howl. It doesn't felt piercing to the ears but it does disrupt your senses and throw your balance off.

The Alpha Goliath took off sprinting straight at me.

I hurl a huge piece of rock at it with [Psychokinesis] but it didn't even stop his charge.

It raises its fist.

[Dodge it. It's too powerful.]

I click my tongue and comply with Kai's words.

He was right. The Goliath missed but the shockwave unleashed from its punch hit the far side walls.

It howls again. It was a less disorienting howl. Probably a battle cry or something along that line.

{Element that incinerates and obliterates, fire that engulf my enemies in a flash, Firebolt} "Element that incinerates and obliterates, fire that engulf my enemies in a flash, Firebolt"

Tom and Lubac chant in unison and fires a fire bolt at the Alpha Goliath.

The bolts exploded on contact. Although it didn't hurt it but it did robbed the Goliath of its vision for a few seconds. I slipped behind it and use [Sever].

My magic and my hand bounced away from its hide.

Ah... shoot.

Another monster that resisted my [Sever]. This one didn't even receive so much as a scratch.

It turns and swing at me. I escaped my predicament with [Spatial Leap].

At that moment, the whole place trembled again and another piece of rock fell. It falls directly on the Goliath.

It didn't dodge. It didn't need to. It's not even faze by the rock which has broken into smaller pieces from hitting it.

[It is expected to meet such tough customer. If it's not strong, it wouldn't have made it out.]

I see your point.

"Lubac, can you use the lightning dragons spell again?"

"I have already use it once today and I haven't ate for one day now, what do you think?"

I guess that's a no, in asshole language.

While I was distracted....

[Incoming.]

.... the Goliath came attacking.

Woah, it's faster than it looks but nothing I can't handle. I tried to at least repel it but not even [Force Push] affects it. This monster's defense is too high.

{Element that inci....}

"Tom! Look out!"

The Goliath went for Tom when it heard him begin chanting.

[Intelligence?]

A small degree but I think so.

I save Tom from getting pulverized with [Spatial Leap].

And another rock fell from the roof but it hit no one but the ground.

Still, not good. Whole place is coming down but we can't move further away. Without a guide of any kind, we might as well be running to our death. There's no time for us to get lost.

The Goliath begins its assault again. I dodged its fists and counters with jabs as heavy as I could dish out. I feel my knuckles breaking against its tough hide.

Damn, it's really tough.

[If we are asking directions, there is one.... person... we could consider asking.]

Person....?

Oh.

That thing. Hmm.... Not too sure about that but..... It is worth a try but let's take care of this SOB first.

Sidestepping an attack, I countered with a point blank overloaded [Force Push] right in its face. I was successful in making the massive ape stumble but that's it. It shake its head like it's shaking off a mild headache. No wounds.

Plan B, then.

Shrouding myself with red lightning, I rush at the Goliath at a speed that it can't track.

[Lightning Serration: Lv. 1 increased to Lv. 2]

[Lightning Serration: Lightning Clad - Acquired]

[Lightning Serration: Storm Rush - Acquired]

Although [Spatial Leap] is instantaneous, [Storm Rush] has better Mana consumption and if I'm moving at such a speed, there won't be any difference to an opponent that can't keep up.

My jabs are faster thus I'm hitting harder. Each jab forces the Goliath to take a step back.

It keeps missing its counter attacks due to my speed.

It's apparent that vexation is building in its eyes.

The vexation is at its peak, its next move is already anticipated by me.

When single target oriented attacks don't work, it's always a resort to area-oriented attacks. In the case of a Goliath, they smash their fist into the ground to create a shock wave.

I distance myself from it and charge up a [Thunder Spear].

The Goliath sees my action and stops its smash. It knows it's pointless to unleash that attack.

[This one is smarter than most monsters we encountered.]

I noticed but doesn't matter, I fire the charged up [Thunder Spear] in my hand.

At the same time....

"Element of tranquility and rage, winds that shred my enemies, Wind Scars."

{Element of tranquility and rage, winds that shred my enemies, Wind Scars.}

I heard chanting and then blades of wind assaulted the Alpha Goliath. With just a swing, it disperses away all the assaulting wind and my [Thunder Spear].

"Tom, Lubac, what are you two doing?"

"Helping, you idiot."

"H...Help."

Fucking hell, you idiots!

The attacks provoked the Goliath. Its eyes flared up and it went for the two.

I move in between them with [Spatial Leap]. The Goliath sends a punch but I dodge to the side, lock its arm with mine, I teleport again and use its inertia to let it crash into a wall.

I blink back to Tom and Lubac.

"What were you two thinking?" I raised my voice.

"I'm thinking that I can't just let a fifteen year old boy fights a tough opponent by himself. What kind of Court Alchemist am I to let such a thing happen?"

"F...friends. H...help."

[They got a point.]

No. They don't. They are not strong enough.

I can't let it happen again. They would just make a mistake and.....

[You can't protect them forever. You do realize that, right?]

I - don't - care. I'm not letting anyone else to die on my watch again.

"Boy, it's coming again."

God damn all of you.

I move all of us away from the Goliath's attack with a group [Spatial Leap].

Its attack incurred a small quake.

Dangerous.

Anymore, it won't just hasten the collapse. It will bring it to us in an instance.

I rush at it once again with [Storm Rush] but it ignored me.

Oh no....

It passes by me and went for Tom and the others. It knows that it can't win against me so it targets the weak ones.

Dangerously impressive.

It smashes the ground and directs the shock wave in a single stream straight at Tom's way.

It even knows how to utilize the shock waves. What intelligence.

Tom managed to dive out of the way but the shock wave hit the walls and trigger another tremor. I evaded a piece of rock dropped at me.

{Element that incinerates and obliterates, tides of flames surge before me, Blazing Wave.}

Stream of fire engulfs the Goliath.

"Element of tranquility and rage, winds that shred my enemies, Wind Scars."

Lubac launches the blades of wind again.

Fire and wind. A fearsome combination. The wind accelerate the growth of the flames and envelopes the Goliath.

[Blades of the Firestorm?]

Tempting name.... but now's the time for that.

But it's fruitless. When the flames subsided, the Goliath is still unhurt. It did nothing but only pisses it off.

Nothing can hurt it. There is so much difference between a normal Goliath and an Alpha variant.

Then, something change in Tom's eyes. He's trying to control the fear in him. I recognize his inner resolution because I also have those eyes before. His hand reach into the satchel on his waist. "Hyx. It's your turn to buy me some time."

We exchange glances. Without any sound, he said "Trust me." with those resolute eyes of his.

[I trust him, do you?]

I sigh.

I suppose I do.

I nod back to Tom.

Don't do something stupid or rash.

I pleaded in my mind and rush at the Goliath which is something rash and stupid. I move to its back and placed my hand on its shoulder. I teleport with the Goliath away from Tom.

The moment we reappear at a different location, it charges straight for Tom again.

[Persistent son of a bitch.]

The Goliath knows Tom is a threat and an easy target. That's why it's aiming for him.

Fucking hell, why does it got to be so smart?

Lubac stands in the way of the Goliath.

Um.... what cha doing?

"Element of destruction in celerity, swallow my enemies with lightning, Storm Dragon."

Unlike the one he used before which has four dragons, this one only has a single dragon but it is impressive and magnificent nonetheless.

The dragon made of lightning collides with the Goliath and pushes it back.

I assist the dragon with [Thunder Spear] but the Goliath crushes the lightning dragon with its bare arms and batters [Thunder Spear] away with ease.

Okay. Aedrox, Vira, and the Alpha Goliath, they are now the top three on the list of things I want to avoid the most, officially.

"Oh shit." Lubac utters.

"I...it's f...fine n...now." Tom assures him. He has been charging a scroll with his Mana. His Mana has depleted from that.

Stepping in front of Lubac, he opens the magic scroll and presents it at the Goliath.

With a determine voice and gaze, Tom said "Move."

He's not telling the Goliath to move. He's telling me who is behind the Goliath to move. I waste no time in arguing and move to join him with [Spatial Leap].

The Goliath can sense and see something was wrong. Its eyes widened at Tom.

For the first time, I see a faint smirk appears on Tom.

"Rest in pieces, you fuck ugly ape." and he said something that sounded nothing like him. Okay... you're creeping me out there.

The scroll glows and a gale is unleashed.

Not just any gale.

It travels so fast that it's silent.

A scar appears on the Goliath's right arm.

Another on its left cheek.

Another on its chest.

Another on its left leg.

And soon, its whole body is covered in scars.

Not shallow scars.

Those are deep scars.

This is the last magic scroll Tom had in his possession. An adept-level spell.

When I asked Tom what is called, he replied "Tempest's Wrath."

[Badass.]

The massive gale unleashed didn't just engulf the Goliath but the surroundings too, leaving its mark at every corners.

When the gale died down, the Alpha Goliath wears its wounds like an attire. It then collapses to the ground.

The scroll dries and crumples up. It's now useless.

I put my hand on Tom's shoulder who is breathing heavily. When he look at me, I give him a thumbs up. He smiles in return.

That was a good move.

"Nice going there."

"Last resort."

[Counting chickens already?]

Ah.... God damn it.

[Yeah. I know. It's tedious and frustrating.]

The Goliath. It ain't dead yet.

Lubac and Tom can tell from my eyes which are on the Goliath.

"Stand back." I order them to.

Slowly, the Goliath raises its head and our gaze met.

That's some fire you have in your eyes.

It steadily gets back on its feet. Steam rises from it as its wound closes up.

[Regeneration Ability. Fuck.]

Yeah, I know. Fuck.

I gesture at Lubac to protect Tom and the others. This time, I receive a nod from Lubac.

Assured, I charge at the Goliath with [Storm Rush].

The Goliath breaks off a piece of rock off the ground and throws it at me. I destroy it with [Energy Sphere] mid-flight but the Goliath appears out of the smoke created from the rock's destruction. It made use of the smokescreen provided.

[Impressive.]

But it's not aiming for me. It's aiming for the ground.

[Not good.]

Shit!

I tried to stop it but I was too late.

Its fist connect with the ground and with such force, it shatters the whole floor in that area and its foundation into fragments. There is no longer earth and soil beneath our feet.

Shit!

We all went free falling into the darkness below.

I can't use [Spatial Leap]. It's call leap for a reason. I need to leap off from something solid. Without anything below feet, it's useless.

Shit!

Faces of Muo Li and Clammis flash before my eyes.

No....

Not again.

I can't let it happen again.

What to do!?

[Clam down! Just follow my lead. Clear your mind!]

I took deep breaths, calming and clearing my mind.

I listen to Kai's commands without questions asked.

Those are some complicated requests but I'll even fry my brain for that.

I have to do it.

[Now!]

In an instant, I cast the largest [Plane Displacement] ever, as large as the area which was just destroyed, to act as our foothold. Thousands of needles assaulted my brain.

[Made it!]

Yeah, we did.

Since we have practice it once, it was much simpler to construct a much more massive scale. Still, it strains a lot from the mind.

Good, it's holding but.... the Goliath, it's on the platform with us.

Fuck!

Its glance switch between me and Tom. After a few glances, it rested on Tom.

No. No. No!

I can't [Spatial Leap]. I might loose concentration on [Plane Displacement].

"Ape! Over here!" I screamed at it. "Over here, you stupid monkey!"

It ignores me and continue walking towards Tom and the others.

Lubac cast a fire bolt at it but of course, nothing happened. That's probably the last spell he can cast. Like Tom, he has also ran out of Mana.

Shit. Shit. Shit!

[Provoke it.]

How?

[Speak to it. In their language.]

You think it would understand?

[It does have some intelligence. Take advantage.]

You're right. It's all or nothing now.

"Demon ape." I called out in monster language.

The Alpha Goliath stops and turn towards me. It tilts its head.

"You understand, don't you?"

It growls.

"Then hear me. Your kin, they are all dead, aren't they?"

Its growl got fiercer.

"Crushed by the collapse but do you know who cause the collapse?"

Its growl stopped.

"Me. I did. In other words, in the simplest of words for a shit for brains like you, I killed them. I killed your kin, your family." I smirked to increase the dramatic flair.

I can see its fists are trembling.

Good. I got your full attention.

It charges straight at me.

Its punch sent me crashing into the walls. I held steadfast to my focus on [Plane Displacement].

It pins me on the wall and starts pounding me like a Mochi.

This is nothing. I can take this.

This is nothing. I'm used to it.

All in a hard day's work.

I recite those words in my mind like a mantra.

It pounds me until blood oozes and spurts out.

My vision lost its focus and everything becomes blur.

No good, even if I don't feel pain, it doesn't change the fact that I'm receiving damage.

[Master....]

Don't. Concentrate pouring all my Mana to [Plane Displacement]. I can take the punches.

[That's stupid. What happens if you died first or you ran out of Mana first? What then? What will happen to Tom and the others?]

Ah.... I didn't think that far

[Lucky for you, I kinda did and kinda didn't]

Huh?

In my blurred vision, the only thing clear to me is the Goliath in front of me, pounding me away, and the ever glowing cyan vines that is found everywhere in the dungeon.

Cyan vines....

Ah..... So that's you meant?

[Yes. We were going to ask that person for directions later, so we might as well summon it now.]

Good and bad idea. I like it.

Let's do it.

The cyan vines are everywhere. I just reach out and a cyan vine is already in my hand. I grab it and begin absorbing Mana from it.

The Goliath stops its pounding, steps back, and looks at my strange action. It's confounded.

Soon, all the cyan vines in the area begin flickering on and off like a horror movie scene.

Now with [Spirit Sight], I can see the spirits from the cyan vines gathering in one place, forming into a humanoid figure, the phantom that I have witnessed back at that layer.

Lubac opens its mouth without giving out sounds.

Tom stares with his eyes widen.

The two goblins hug each other in fear.

Eew.

The Goliath released me upon seeing the phantom conjured out of nowhere.

Just I was at that time, the Goliath is also intimated by the phantom and it howls at it.

The stupid ape blindly rushes at the phantom. With a flick of its wrist, the phantom sent the Goliath face first into the wall.

To others, it might seemed like the phantom is using telekinesis but it is actually using the spirits in the surrounding. I don't know it can do that though.

More cyan vines emerges from the wall and entangles the Goliath. The phantom proceeds to crush the Goliath with the spirits around it like it's using telekinesis force. I don't know how the phantom did it but it did, the Goliath is bleeding from being crushed.

Spirit Magic is fearsome if one manages to fully utilize its potential. I'm glad I didn't decide to fight the phantom back then.

The struggles of the Goliath shook the whole place. With an undying and unyielding persistence, the Goliath broke free of its restraints.

[An opening.]

Yeah. I know.

All this time, its hide is too tough to be pierced through but now its wounds are lots and large. I could have done it too when Tom hurt it but like Kai said, I counted my chickens too early. I lost my chance to give a finishing blow but now, I won't repeat the same mistake.

[Sever], [Overload], and [Abyssal Javelin], I combined this three spells together into one, enduring the millions of needle sticking into my head.

I fire it at the Goliath as it leaps at the phantom.

It hit.

And off went the Alpha Goliath's head from its neck.

Its lifeless and headless body fell ungracefully on to the platform.

Success. Now, before you pass on, let me have a taste of your soul.

Black Tendrils appears from me and they greedily and hungrily devour the Goliath's Mana Vessel.

Ah.... that feels so rejuvenating.

When I finished my exquisite dining, I feel the tremendous increase to my HP. It is a very massive boost.

Before I can reorganize my thoughts from the conundrum, I find myself once again pin on to the wall, but by the phantom this time.

It gazes at me like its staring deep into my soul.

When it stared deep enough, it flinched back, releasing its hold on me.

The phantom then cock its head left and right. It raise a finger at me, pointing.

{Harbinger.}

It said, in Helix.

Okay....?

[Processing.....]

Now, how do I respond?