Axel: You ready, boy?
Haruki: More than ever, old man
Claire: You sound so confident. Do you really think you can beat us both?
Haruki, Claire, Axel, Amanda, and Lea were at the training ground on a dawning sun. Amanda and Lea were on the side stands. Only Haruki, Axel, and Claire were on the grounds.
Haruki: Watch me.
Haruki said with a confident smile. He wielded a wooden single short sword on his right hand with a round wooden shield on his left. He was wearing brown leather armour over a training uniform, a white tee, and dark navy pants.
Axel: Hooo- It seems like our boy is feeling confident now. I prefer if you don't take us lightly.
Axel's voice turned deeper. He was emitting potent killing intent. He was wielding a wooden battle-axe with a massive shield with a lion on it, while his armour was the same as Haruki's.
Claire: Oh my… I hope you turn down that a little, will you, Axel?
Axel: What? This amount ain't nothing to him!
Claire: I asked you to turn it down because I finally have the chance to him in his place.
Right behind Axel's massive shield was Claire. She wasn't wielding anything. And like Axel, she too was wearing leather armour with a training uniform underneath. But unlike him, she was emitting a far worse killing potent. It was piercing Amanda's receptors, who was in the stands.
Amanda: Wha- COOL IT DOWN!! IT'S JUST SPARRING!
Amanda tries to shout it across to them, but Lea, behind her, stops her and shakes her head. Amanda was confused. So, Lea pointed towards the training ground again, specifically at Haruki.
Amanda: Hmm?
Amanda took a closer look at Haruki. Her eyes couldn't believe it. Rather than seeing a knee-shaking frightened boy, she saw an unshaken statue with a large grin on his face, which almost looked like he was laughing.
Amanda: That fool… He really thinks he can win, doesn't he?
Lea giggled a little when she took a look at Amanda.
Lea: How can you already forget about what happened about four months ago, Amanda-sama? And here I thought you and Haruki were close…
Amanda: Fueh!?? ARE-ARE-ARE YOU STUPID? W-who said I'm close with him?...
Amanda was taken by surprise. Her face flushed in redness.
Amanda: …d~o you think me and him are…close…? AH! DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY! I was just asking because I needed to know what others think! Because if everyone else sees us close… See…us…close…? Then, the problem is it wasn't with me, is it?! It's that dense fool for not realising it!!
*Lea: Just too easy*
Lea was just enjoying the sight of the ever-so-red Amanda, who was filled with red love and anger, cursing Haruki.
Amanda: Maybe if I can injure him, I can take care of him …
Lea: Um, if I may interject, Amanda-sama…*If I let her go any further, Haruki might never walk again*
Lea was worried that a certain maiden in love took a sharp turn into the dark side of love.
Amanda: Hm? What is it, Lea? Ah, you asked me a question, right? Let see…
(Lea sighed in relief)
Amanda: 4 months ago… Ah! I re…member...
Amanda slumped her shoulder upon succeeding, remembering what happened four months ago.
Amanda: …I ate your lunch, wasn't it?
Lea: That happened two days ago…And now I know who ate it.
Lea glared at Amanda.
Amanda: M-moving on…*Ahem*. If you're talking about four months ago, then only one thing comes to my mind. You are talking about our fight with him, isn't it?
Lea: Yes, the one we both fought and lost miserably. The funny part is, it was just a year ago when he lost to you.
One year ago,
Claire: …the truth is, you can't use magic
Haruki: Huh?
Claire: Sorry…
Claire turned away. Haruki trembled in disbelief
Haruki: Th-is is a world of magic,r-right?
Claire:…yes.
Haruki: It's….a lie, right? There is no way. Come on. Tell me it's just a prank.
Claire did not mutter a word. Her eyes clenched. The Haruki, in denial, staggered backwards.
Amanda: Haruki!
Amanda ran out to reach the back of Haruki.
Haruki: ….dont touch me.
Haruki swatted her outreached hand away with the back of his left hand. It shook Amanda.
Haruki: Why….WHY IS IT JUST ME!? I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!!
Amanda: Haruki…
Haruki: YOU KEEP CALLING MY NAME LIKE IM SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING! SO WHAT….
Haruki turned around.
Amanda: Huh? Red eyes?
Amanda caught Haruki by his eyes. His sea-blue pupils were drowned in redness.
Haruki: What…do….you want me to do now?
Tears were swelling up in his eyes. Amanda just realised what Haruki was feeling. It wasn't the anger of the inability to use magic. It was the feeling of powerlessness. Losing strength to the despair, Haruki dropped to the floor on his fours.
*Claire: Being unable to use magic…*
*Axel: …he is unable to fight in a world where we follow nature's one and only rule, survival of the fittest...*
*Lea: …Without a way, he will have no will to fight, putting his life in constant danger, let alone finding a back to his world.*
Claire, Axel, and Lea had their head turned away. They were feeling the same heaviness as him. They could not even utter a word of sympathy or encouragement. Only just then….
*SWISH*
Suddenly a wooden sword slid towards the grounded Haruki.
Amanda: …pick it up.
Axel: Huh? What are you doing, Lil' Miss?
Lea: Amanda-sama!
Claire: Amanda…
A few feet from the sword was Amanda. She was holding a sword of her own.
Amanda: Y-you bastard….dont look down….pick it up.
Haruki was staring down at the floor where the sword was while glancing at the feet in front of him. Losing his will, his arms of his gave up. He couldn't move an inch closer to the sword. Feeling helpless, he started to crawl back…back away from the wooden blade…..
*THUD*
The loud sound of a wooden sword clashing with the flesh penetrated the silent ground. Amanda strikes Haruki's head with an overhead strike. Blood was pouring from the point of impact and was dripping from his face down onto the Earth.
Amanda: Pick it up… or I'm going to beat you up until you do.
Claire: You…AMANDA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Amanda didn't respond. She just shadowed over the wounded Haruki with a cold glare. Just as Amanda reacted to Claire, Haruki gave the same shoulder towards her.
Amanda: Tsk
She clicked her tongue in frustration. She wound up her sword once more and-
*THUD*
-and slashed his face. Even though the blade is blunt, it leaves a shallow cut on his face.
Axel: Amanda, that's enough!
Axel darted towards Amanda. But before Axel could reach her, Amanda reached into the pockets of her pants and took out a parchment. The parchment seems to have a red sigil pattern on it.
Claire: You wouldn't dare!
Before the words of her mother reached her-
Amanda: Encircle me! {ENCIRCLEMENT OF FIRE!}
As soon as she finished screaming the words, the parchment in her hand burnt up to ash. In an instant, the Earth rumbled around Amanda and Haruki.
Claire: Axel! STOP!
Upon hearing her words, Axel hit the brakes. Just as he stopped, the rumbling Earth let out an enormous roar of fire from the ground, and it was only a hair width away from him. A tall fire rose from the ground and surrounded Haruki and Amanda in a circle.
Axel: Claire! Can't you do anything about it!?
Claire: This is a grade 5 defence magic she devised onto a parchment. Only she can dispel it instantly. Anyone else, It will take time.
Axel: Even for you?!
Claire: Regrettably…
Axel: Amanda! STOP IT!
Bewildered, Axel turned his attention towards Amanda, still striking her blade at the grounded Haruki. Haruki was getting heavily bruised. There were red swellings on his arms and shallow cuts on his face, and exposed body parts.
Haruki: stop it…
The spiritless Haruki let out a small voice.
Amanda: You-
But it only had a reverse effect. It only made her strike Haruki harder. The wounds on Haruki began to get worse. There was already a fountain of blood spurting from his temple to his mouth.
Haruki: Please…stop it…
The spirited-broken Haruki said it in a teary voice.
Amanda: SHUUUUUTTT UUPPPP!
Amanda aimed her sword at his face and swung it laterally. It sent Haruki flying, and he landed on his side at the edge of the fire.
Haruki: *cough* *cough*
Haruki coughed out a pool of blood. While drowning in his own blood, Haruki started to lose his vision.
Lea: Amanda-sama! Please stop!
Axel: CLAIRE!
Claire: Just a little longer!
Amanda kicked the sword on the floor towards Haruki. It stopped within the arm's reach of Haruki.
Amanda: I'm telling you once more… If you don't pick up the sword and defend….you will die.
Haruki: …stop.
Amanda: Make me!
Amanda started charging at Haruki.
*Haruki: why…are you coming after me….is defeating me once is not enough for you…how many times must you beat me to for…you…to…leave…me…Eh…why does my heart hurt…why do I feel disgusted…*
Haruki's vision started to get clearer. His eyes were focused on the sword.
* oh, I see…My goal…yes. I need…to survive…I need to…stop her…with or without magic… I cannot die here….move….move….*
Haruki crawled towards the sword. He extended his arms to reach it.
*Almost…there….I will definitely…*
Amanda was charging at Haruki. She had her sword over her head, aiming to strike Haruki on top of his head.
*SURVIVE THIS*
Amanda: YAAAA!
Amanda swung her sword downwards.
Claire: DONE! STOP HER!
The fire around the duo disappeared.
Axel: AMANDA!
Lea: AMANDA-SAMA!
*THUD*
*!!*
Claire: Huh?
Axel: WHA-
Lea: !?...
Claire, Axel, and Lea were standing in disbelief. Amanda's sword meets not the flesh but…the Haruki's grounded sword! Haruki was kneeling on one of his knees and was holding the sword upwards, blocking the incoming attack.
Haruki: Eurgh…
Haruki let out a small groan. His head was pointing downwards.
*Haruki: Too…heavy…Need to hold…a little while….*
Amanda: Finally….
Haruki: Huh..?
Haruki saw small drops of water were falling from above.
*Haruki: *water drops?...Rain?*
Amanda: Finally….*sob*…you picked it up
A sobbing voice was coming from the source of the water droplets. For some reason, Haruki felt a sharp feeling that pierced his heart. Slowly, he lifted his head.
Haruki: Why…are you crying?
Amanda had her face overflowing with tears from both her eyes. Haruki's eye widened in surprise while the other 3 was frozen in ice with the situation.
Amanda: "Why?" you ask? You…*sob*…idiot. You told me. You told me to get ready…. But now, you are hopeless! I was going to wait for you… I was really…*sob*…really going to wait for you …And now…..RIGHT AFTER YOU TOLD ME YOU JUST BROKE IT! IF THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU DECLARE,…THEN NEXT TIME, JUST DON'T TELL ME!
Haruki: what…*cough* cough*…you want me to do? I'm powerless…like what Claire said…
Amanda: Why you!
Amanda got agitated. She pressed down her sword on the blocking sword, making Haruki bend lower.
Haruki: …urgh!
Haruki let out a small groan.
Amanda: You are the only one who thinks that you are powerless! Mom only told you that you can't use magic! You self-loathing idiot!
Haruki: don't…call me that…..
Haruki was at his wit's end. He was gritting his teeth
Amanda: You know what? Maybe if you die right here and now, we might save us a troublesome idiot.
Haruki: shut up… don't call me an idiot….
Amanda was kept on throwing insults over insults at Haruki.
Axel: Amanda. That's-
Axel stepped forward. But before Axel could complete his sentence, Claire stopped him in his tracks and shook her head.
Claire: He needs this-no; he needs her. Trust me.
Axel wanted to refute, but after realising his current position in the situation, stopping Amanda now would only waste the efforts that she put in. So, he stepped back in result.
Claire: He needs a breakthrough. He just woke up from his demonic powers but now, my blood is running in him. All he needs is a final push…
Axel: Uhh, Claire, is that normal?
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Claire: W-what?
Axel and Claire had their eyes fixated on the two fighting, specifically Haruki.
Amanda: You are just a sore loser; admit it!
Haruki: SHUT UP!
Amanda: MAKE ME!
Haruki and Amanda were trying to break their stalemate. But, a reddish-black aura enveloped Haruki, and his bright blue eyes hinted at redness in the middle. His aura was pulsating throughout the whole area.
Axel: He is glowing red and black! That is terrible, right?
Claire: I-I don't know
Axel: What? That is the same as before, isn't it?
Axel was indicating when Haruki was fighting against his transformation into a demon.
Claire: No, it's different…This aura is not the same as before. Feel it…
Claire closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The Haruki's aura was the wind to Claire's dancing long black hair.
Claire: This is it…
Axel: 'What' is it!?
Claire smiled at Axel and said-
Claire: His power
Claire gazed back at Haruki, who was gaining ground from his grounded position by the minute.
Amanda: You think that is gonna stop me?!!
Amanda exerted a stronger downward force on her sword, but Haruki did not hinder him.
Amanda: Gergh! [FLAME BURST]!
Amanda held out her right hand and shot out a burst of flame.
Lea: That's taking too far, Amanda-sama!!
IT WAS A DIRECT HIT! The flame gulfed Haruki in red.
Haruki: Ah-AAARGGHHHH!
Axel: AMANDA! What are you doing?!
Axel rushed out and, from behind, grabbed Amanda by her neck.
Amanda: Eh...?
Amanda looked up and saw Axel, whose eyes were filled with fear. Those eyes shacked up Amanda into reality.
Amanda: W-what is it, Uncle? What happ-
Amanda just happened to gaze at what was in front of her. It was the same scene she saw a while ago. The same fire burning the same person by the person who lost herself.
Amanda: N-no…Not again….There is n-n-n
Axel: Claire! HELP HIM!
Haruki: AAHHHHHHH!!
Amanda covered her ears. Her knees gave out, and she fell on her knees. But the agonising scream can still be heard.
Axel: *tsk* CLAIRE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! PUT OUT THE FIRE!
…But there was no response. Axel then turned his head towards Claire…who looked to be lost in thought
Axel: CLAIRE!
Lea: MASTER! Look at Haruki!
Lea, who was beside Claire, pointed at the fire
Axel: HE IS BURNING. NOW IS NOT-
??: Who is?
Axel froze. He thought that he heard a dead mans voice, but that wasn't the case. He turned towards the fire, only to see…
Haruki: What? You look like you just have seen a ghost.
IT WAS HARUKI.
Axel: You....Haruki?
Haruki: You know someone else named Haruki?
Haruki joked as he walked towards Axel. Haruki's shirt was completely burned, and there were holes all around his pants. But what caught Axel's eyes was that there were, surprisingly, no wounds or scars, nor burning marks on Haruki.
Axel: H-h-how are you still fine? Weren't you screaming in pain just a minute ago?
Haruki: Uhhh, yeah…but it wasn't because of the fire. I didn't feel the fire at all.
Axel: Then-
Haruki: It was my wounds…they were….’closing' up by themselves. It was painful as hell.
Axel: So-
Haruki: I know you have a lot of questions but give me a moment?
Haruki looked down at Amanda, who had her ears closed shut all this time. Reading the room, Axel nodded in approval and backed away.
Amanda: No…Not again…I didn't mean it….
The disbelief of her actions has pushed her to a corner. Haruki approached Amanda, who was on the brink of craziness. He placed his hands on her shoulder and shook her gently. Amanda looked up.
Amanda: Haruki…?
Haruki smiled gently…
Amanda: No…Haruki should have at least had some wounds on him…*mumbles* if this one has no scars, that means…AH…HARUKI MUST HAVE DIED! NOOOOO!
Amanda was slowly losing herself as she was screaming in agony.
Suddenly, Haruki had an idea. He grasped Amanda's shoulder, leaned his head back a little, and…
*BAM*
…and thrust his forehead head-on with Amanda's forehead. A classic headbutt.
Lea/Claire/Axel: Oouuu
Haruki/Amanda: AH….OOWWWWWW
Both Haruki and Amanda held their foreheads in pain while rolling on the floor. The other 3 couldn't do anything.
Amanda: What was that for, Ha…ruki? Wait? Haruki?! You… you're alive?!
Haruki: Didn't I tell you? Of course, I am still ali-?
Haruki stopped abruptly as he a glimmer on Amanda's face. A single, solitary tear flowed from her right eye and onto her cheek. Realising what was happening, Amanda quickly wiped her face. But it was futile. More and more, tears were forming.
Haruki: Amanda?
Amanda: Eh…*sob*…N-no….This is-
Haruki jumped forward and grasped Amanda with his arms in a split second. Grabbing her tight in his arm.
Amanda: Eh? Haruki?
Haruki: *sigh* Honestly, you are a pain to handle. You are a short-tempered earnest idiot. Getting angry so quickly and doing regretful things, then crying in regret after what you have done. But *sigh deeply*… in the end, your short temper and earnestness saved me…
Haruki held Amanda tighter. He laid his head on Amanda's shoulder and whispered.
Haruki: Just when I was about to lose hope, you…rather than comforting or sympathising with me, you told me to pick up my sword. They didn't realise what you were trying to say to me, but when you told me to pick up my sword…you actually meant to say to me…to pick yourself up, isn't it?
Amanda: …
Amanda was silent …
Haruki: …You don't have to say anything in return. Don't even bother saying "I'm sorry" because you saved me. No matter how harsh your method was, you saved me. So…
Haruki pulled back from the hug and gazed into her eyes.
Haruki: Thank you for saving me…
Amanda: Haruki….
1 year later
Amanda: ….and after that, he edged closer, and our lips embraced with both of our hearts intertwined in love. Ah
Lea: If I remember it correctly, before your delusional kiss, Haruki collapsed onto the floor due to Magic Exhaustion. But just before…pfft. Excuse me. He collapsed…He said, "What's with your duck face?". You lost all colours on your face. It was indeed a sight to behold for all 3 of us.
Amanda: NOOOOO!!!
Lea was trying to hold back her laughter while Amanda was bathing in red of embarrassment.
Lea: *sigh*… But still, to know that it was only a year back. He became way too strong for the like of us, right, Amanda-sama?
Amanda: *She is always so good at changing topics.* Y-Yeah, he became way too strong. And in only a year worth of training, he can go against the likes of Uncle and Mom together, and they are the strongest in the demon world.
Lea: Even though it is one year of training, we can't call it one year WORTH of training.
Amanda: Ah… You are talking about his skill [Muscle Memory]. That skill where he just needs to watch and touch the person for a certain amount of time, and he can grasp everything about that person's skills. With that skill only, he managed to grasp 600 years worth of Uncle's training and skills in just 4 months of training.
Lea: And it was his own skill. It was quite creative for someone who can't use magic. It all started on that day…
Lea explains Haruki's orb nature, the dark, ominous orb he was fated with ever since he arrived here. Generally, everyone in Foronia, the name of the world Haruki is in, has an orb in them, either by birth or… forced into them. Its size and nature are unchangeable once it is in its host. Unlike Earth, Foronia has a dense mana atmosphere, causing one to struggle to survive here without it. With only the orb's power, one can live here since the orb passively circulates the mana inside and outside its host.
Haruki's orb is called the Demon Lord's Heart. Its ominous power was known to consume the host's humanity and bring out the pure evil side of a human. In other words, a demon. But through Haruki's persistence, Haruki managed to gain some time before his demonification, a phase where a normal being turns into a demon. But during his 3-round battle with Amanda, his dormant demonic power got out of control, causing him to restart the demonification. Still, by drinking Claire's blood, the demonic power that was meant to consume the human Haruki was instead used to power up the vampiric power he got from Claire's blood.
Initially, to become a demon, they were supposed to have an absurd amount of mana in the orb, which is the blood of magic, to go out of control. For a demon lord, the size of the orb which stores the mana is relatively large. Compared to an average demon, Haruki's orb size is twenty-fold. Averagely, demons have twice the orb size compared to humans.
Even though mana is necessary for magic, Haruki lacked 2 aspects in using magic. One is a Valve. Valve is an invisible hole in parts of your body that allows the user to release their mana in the form of skills. Valves vary in numbers and sizes depending on the nature of their orb. The Valve's size defines how powerful the spell the host can use, while the number of Valves determines the frequency of spells cast in a minute. But unlike the orb, the size and numbers of the Valve can be increased through vigorous training. It means Haruki too can use magic if he trained
…but
Haruki lacked a critical aspect of magic, the Line, which lies inside the orb. Its form is in a shape of a wavelength. This determines the raw power and casting speed of the magic user. The Line's height of the wave determines the power of the spell, while the number of waves of the Line determines the casting speed. This is the true nature of the orb, and it is unchangeable, no matter how much effort or training is put in.
That is the predicament Haruki is in. Haruki's Line is static. It has no amplitude nor frequency…meaning he is a Null, a non-magic user. It was deduced due to the orb being damaged during the first demonification.
Lea:… and because of that, he cannot use magic. I still don't see how he is going to win this battle. He is up against the most powerful magician and warrior in the demon realm.
Amanda: Don't look down on him. I
Lea: Amanda-sama… are you putting the money on him because you want on dates with him for the past couple of weeks?
Amanda: Gergh- IT WAS NOT! OK?.... Well, I wish it was…*sigh*
*Amanda: Well, it's not like it was not well spent…" *giggle*
"Lea: Amanda-sama is giggling…she must have gone crazy."
Amanda: You know, I feel like I'm forgetting something…
Haruki: OI! COULD YOU ALREADY START THE BATTLE ALREADY, YOU INCOMPETENT IDIOT?! OR ARE YOU THAT INCOMPETENT TO EVEN CAST A SPELL?
Amanda nearly fell on her back but was quickly supported by Lea.
Lea: Now, do you remember, Amanda-sama?
Amanda:…Yeah. But first.
Amanda stood up straight, took a deep breath…
Amanda: IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO WIN ANYWAYS!
Amanda shouted back at Haruki, who now has a cross on his forehead.
Axel: Hahaha…Seems like you lost your only supporter.
Axel was holding his stomach and laughing while Claire was snickering at him.
Haruki: …Let see who will be laughing after this.
A chill was mixed in with the words that slither down Claire and Axel, building up their ego. Their ego was only pumped some more by Haruki's angry glare.
Axel: You…you really have no idea, do you?
Claire: Don't worry, we will show him. The true powers of the strongest demons in the realm.
Axel and Claire raised their weapons and arms. At the same time, blue particles and white particles were emitted from Claire and Axel.
They are 2 main types of magic that branch into many more types
Exactly how it sounds like,
[FIRE] is a rare type of magic. [FIRE], or red magic, is boosted as the strongest type of magic for its raw firepower. Due to its rarity and potential for warfare, many kings and nobles are chasing red magic holders. It is often used as offence magic, but it does not mean it is not capable in the defence department.
[WATER] or blue magic is the ability to manipulate the element water. Blue magic is a jack of all trade, master of none. It is balanced in both attack and defence. Its capability is endless, but at the same time, it is limited. It solely depends on the holder's potential. It is common magic, but it is rare to find one with potent magic potential for blue magic.
The brown magic, [EARTH], is often famous for its high durability. Many countries often find themselves stocking up on mages with potent brown magic because they depend on them to boost their defence and raise massive walls to prevent enemy attacks.
[WIND] magic, better known in Foronia, green magic, is the ability to control the wind. It is not an attack or defence magic, but instead, it's a support magic. Wind magic is another common magic, but unlike water magic, it is not an everyday type of magic. So, it is regarded as useless for common folks…but for adventurers and knights, it's a different story. This common magic is actually useful for people who are always on the battlefield. For example, green magic users manipulate the wind to map out the locations when scouting a dungeon or enemies. For swordsmen, they can use wind magic to boost the speed of their swords to inflict a more significant wound on their adversaries. The same concept can be applied to archers for their arrows.
The second main type of magic is called
And what gives them these skills is either their tenacity on pursuing one or….
[Jobs]. [Jobs] defines a human in this world, are you worthy or not. These [Jobs] are usually given since birth, but one can only know their jobs once they are 12 years old, considered adulthood in this world. Swordsman, Warrior, Magician merchant and priest are common [Jobs]. There are rare ones like Sage, Saintess ….Hero. Having one of these and you will be revered in a country.
Other than jobs, you can get titles. Titles are gained not from birth but instead from your achievements. If you slay a dragon, you get the title {Dragon Slayer}. If you save a person, you get the title { Savior}. You can also get specialised job titles if you specialise in your pioneer jobs. For example, you were born as an assassin but working as a maid while carrying out assassination gives you the title {Assassin Maid}.
All this information about a person's [Job] and skills are presented on an identity card called the Orb Identity Slate, better known as OIS. OIS comes in 2 colours, white and black. White is used to identifying themselves as humans, while black is for demons. While Claire and co's cards are black, Haruki's OIS is black and white, and his [Job] is Demon Lord Candidate.
*Haruki: Claire's [Job] is a magician. Claire's water control is really troublesome. And Axel's white magic….[Physical Enchanment]. Usually, it only doubles one strength, but Axel's one is actually [Physical Enchantment II]. It means it will quadruple his power. To improve a skill, you need immense commitment and intense training. It would be easier to improve if he was a warrior or a swordsman, but Axel is a priest. I was already surprised when I heard he was a priest, but knowing that skills unrelated to the jobs will have to take four times the effort to improve….only a monster can achieve that.*
Haruki:…and now I'm facing these monsters.
Haruki mumbled under his breath.
Claire: I think it's time to start, don't you think so, Haruki?
Haruki: Yeah.
Haruki then turned his head to face Amanda in the stands.
Haruki: AMANDA! On you!
Amanda: Ugh, fine! Don't die on me!
Amanda pointed her fingers to the sky.
Amanda: {Fireball}!
A ball of fire built up from her fingers and launched to the sky. It then arced its way towards the battleground. Haruki, Claire, and Axel were all grasping their weapons as they watched each other. Tactics and technique were flooding each of their minds as their fireball arced closer to the ground.
*Axel: What is he thinking….*
*Claire: What is he going to do…*
*Haruki: What's their weakness….*
*I NEED TO KNOW!*
As the fireball hit the floor, two figures became dust, and 2 swords clashed. Axel intercepted Haruki nearly at the same speed.
Axel: Kuh…That speed of yours is still unbelievable even if I have seen it 100 times. And this time it is faster. Curse your [Cell Modifier]
[Cell Modifier] is a skill developed by Haruki. Since Haruki is a null, he cannot use magic…
Externally. With a concentrated amount of mana in his body, Haruki spent weeks meditating to improve his [Mana Control]. As it sounds, [Mana Control] is the ability to control mana in his body. Usually, [Mana Control] is for magicians to use more potent spells with lower mana consumption. But Haruki uses [Mana Control] to manipulate the flow of mana by flowing it into his body cells, enhancing them. Unlike [Physical Enhancement], which is temporary, Haruki is able to strengthen his cells permanently as long he constantly supply the cells with mana.
Haruki: Don't lose concentration now, old man!
Haruki delivers a thunderous kick to Axel's face, which he brilliantly blocks with his wrist. Haruki backed off.
Claire: Don't forget about me~. [Aqua Blast]
Claire, unbeknownst to Haruki, has already finished chanting a spell and fired a stream of high-velocity water at Haruki. Haruki dodged the stream with extreme agility and moved fast towards the caster. As he was about to be within striking range, a small shadow appeared on the ground. It gradually became bigger and bigger by the second until it reached the size of a small boulder. Haruki's instinct went off, and he slammed his legs down on the floor to stop. Haruki tried to retreat back immediately, but…
*CRASH*
The huge figure turned out to be Axel. He came crashing down on his two legs and turned the whole ground around him into a crater. Both the deformed ground and shockwave of the landing made Haruki lose his balance. Axel darted towards Haruki without wasting this opportunity and slashed him twice with his blade, but Haruki blocked it.
*Haruki: Kuh! My arms… they're numb.*
Axel realised what happened followed up with a frontward kick on his shield. Even though the shield fully absorbed the impact, the kick sent him flying backwards. Haruki flipped in the air and nearly landed face-first, but his quick movement saved him as he propelled himself with his shield. Haruki planted his sword on the ground to come to a complete stop.
[Aqua Blast]!
"Haruki: Shit! To my right!"
Haruki raised his arms with his shield to guard against the oncoming attack. But the power was too strong and broke the shield guard. The stream followed through the shield and blasted Haruki away.
[Aqua Pump]!
Just as Haruki was about to crash down on the floor, a geyser of water raised from the ground and flung Haruki back into the air.
Claire: NOW!
Axel: Yus!
Axel charged and jumped towards the air bourne Haruki.
Axel: [Kaminari no sutoraiki]!
Axel released his skill, a thunderous strike down on Haruki, which sents him flying down into the arena's walls.
Claire: You went too far there!
Axel: Don't worry, I held back a bit. Let's go check on our fallen "hero."
Axel and Claire went towards to hole in the arena to find the bruised Haruki. But to their surprise…
Axel: Woah Woah Woah. I know your skills are way too powerful, but this is just ridiculous.
Claire: Seems like you should hold back. [Aqua Bullets]!
20 needle-shaped water surrounded the area targeting the hole in the wall. Axel took guard in front of Claire. It seems that "the bruised" Haruki is perfectly fine. No blood or scratches whatsoever.
Haruki: Didn't I tell you before to watch me?
Haruki walked out of the wall with a huge grin on his face.
Haruki: My skill [Cell Modifier] can make my cells rapidly duplicate, meaning I can regenerate infinitely as long as I have mana. The only downside, it uses a considerable amount of mana.
Axel: Crazy as always, huh, Haruki?
Haruki: But of course.
Claire: But now you must be really low on mana, right Haruki?
Haruki's expression suddenly turned grim. His grin was utterly wiped out by Claire.
Haruki: …damn.
Axel: Oh, it that so, boy?
Haruki:….
Haruki glared at Axel with his fighting spirit as he took his stance.
Axel: You still not going to give up? You lost your weapons.
Claire: You even don't have enough mana to survive this fight, let alone win it.
Haruki: The fight ends when one falls down. I'm still standing.
Haruki declared his fight, which only made Claire enraged by his stubbornness.
Claire: You know? I have had it with you. Today is the last day I'm going to see your stubbornness! Don't blame for what happens next.
Claire raised her right arm to the sky. The needles reacted and re-targeted towards Haruki.
Haruki: Only 20? You're only going to embarrass yourself.
Axel: Oi, boy. Any more you are-
Claire: Oh? I see your mouth is still running after all the threats. You brat! I'm going to kill you! [Aqua bullets] x 10
Another 100 needle water bullets were created and targeted at Haruki.
Axel: Claire! This is overkill! Stop it!
Claire: Don't worry…. I'll hold back.
Axel: AS IF YOU ARE! YOU HAVE JUST SPENT 60 PERCENT OF YOUR MANA!
Claire had a crazed look as she looked at Haruki with pure rage. Even though she spent nearly all her mana and looked slightly drowsy, she had only one thing on her mind. Strike him.
Meanwhile, in the stands…
Lea: Amanda-sama, it seems like your beloved Haruki-sama is about to get killed? At this point, you would be freaking out and stopping the fight. But now… you are just smiling.
Amanda: Didn't he tell you "Watch me"?
Amanda replied with a smile.
Claire: I will show you the fruits of your stubbornness!
Axel: HARUKI! DODGE! She will kill you!
But Haruki heeded to none and just started right into Claire's eye and smirked.
Claire: YOU BRAT!
Claire dropped and pointed her arm at Haruki. The needles darted forward at lighting speed at Haruki. Within a second, the needles were a centimetre away from him.
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Haruki: [Resonance]