Joe slowly rose to his feet, his eyes never leaving Stan's figure. That was a really close call, if all those customers had not vacated when they did. They would've all been reduced to ashes by now. Joe could only hope that the few seconds he brought the store owner where enough for her to escape through the back door. He was too reckless, If he didn't confront Stan in such a tight space. Maybe the store wouldn't be up in flames right now.
Joe clenched his teeth, cursing his inability to think ahead. The flames were spreading, going from one store to the next. Some of the townspeople did their best to put out the spreading fire, while others just retrieved everything they could from their stores before making a run for it.
Joe was lucky to survive Stan's attack without sustaining major injuries. The Black Sheep played a huge role in mitigating the damage he would've taken. The Skill [Elemental Block] proved its worth. Joe's body was a little hot, but no major damage had been done fortunately.
“I'll make you pay foe what you've done, You bastard!!” Joe threatened through gritted teeth.
“You'll make me pay huh? I'd like to see you try!”
Stan's words were followed by a glowing red light that appeared around his bracelets. The light came from 2 inscriptions, one on either side. The inscriptions looked like runes, Joe had no idea what they meant.
[Mana Tool - Mana Bracelets: Unsealed]
[Number Of Removed Seals: 1]
[The Mana Tools Flame Bracelets: Have Added +25 Attribute Points To Stan's Skill Attribute]
“Seals? Is that what those runes are?”
Flames sparked and manifested as they engulfed Stan's hands. [Skill Activation: Flame Control] The flames shifted and morphed into balls of fire that Stan held with both his palms. [Skill Activation: Fireball] Stan smirked at his creations, “this is what you get for sticking your nose were it doesn''t belong!” The flames hissed and crackled as Stan hurtled them towards Joe.
The fireballs blazed across the field In the blink of an eye, but Joe wasn't running away. [Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement] he reaffirmed his footing, before he launched himself towards the incoming fireballs. Mana emmited from every part of his body, and it also encompassed The Black Blade.
[-115 Mana Pool Rank Points]
[Current Mana Pool: 1,980]
[Total Skill:45>89]
[Total Speed: 54>94]
[Total Strength: 52>92]
Joe roared as he swing the black blade twice. He parried both fireballs to the Sky where they went on to explode like fireworks.
Stan's eyes widened at Joe's flawless counter. He looked to launch another attack, when Joe vanished before his eyes. The only thing that lingered were the remains of his mana. Panicked, Stan's eyes darted around. And that's when he caught it, a feint trace of a shadow coming from his right.
Joe had already devoured the distance.
With a horizontal swing of the blade, Joe aimed to decapitate Stan right then and there.
Stan however had other ideas.
He crouched at the last possible second. Joe's blade whistled past his shimmering head. Looking to take advantage, Stan lunged foward with his left foot to center himself. He clenched his right fist and flames immediately erupted around his hand. With all the force he had, he threw a straight jab that struck Joe square on the stomach. [Skill Activation: Flaming Fist]
A searing heat immediately shot through Joe’s body on contact. The Black Blade's [Elemental Block] skill did cushion the blow, but that made little difference. His body forcefully doubled over and saliva flew out of his mouth, when Stan drove the punch deeper. His grip on the black blade was comprimsed and it clattered to the ground.
Stan wasn't done. He sprung upward, generating the momentum needed to land a crunching uppercut just underneath Joe's jaw. [Skill Activation: Flaming Fist]
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Joe's body flew upwards uncontrollably, the charred skin covering his chin slowly peeled away. Joe's vision started spinning around In circles and he found himself grappling to stay conscious. When his body reached its peak, gravity took effect and he plummeted towards the earth.
But as Joe descendend. An orb of fire struck his body. It changed his course and propelled him further up for a brief moment. [Skill Activation: Fireball] Joe was unable to hold it any longer, he screamed in agony as his body fell and collided with earth.
The surface cracked as it endured his weight. He landed a few meters away from where he was, and dust immediately submerged his form. Joe couldn't see and his ears rang loader than a church bell. His limbs were limp, refusing to move an inch. How he remained conscious wss probably due to the Black Sheep reducing the damage he would've taken as much as it could. His shear mental strength could've also been another reason.
The smoke cloud parted way and Joe laid flat on his stomach, not too far from Stan. His vision returned and he could see Stan’s sadistic smile as he looked down on him like an insect. He was mumbling something, but it took a few seconds before Joe could register his words.
“And that's why kids like you should know their place!”
Stan was about to take a step when something caught his attention.
“Grab all my blades, hurry up, I don't want my prized possessions burning down!”
“Yes sir!”
The voices of an old man and young man came from the Swordsmith store. Stan smiled after he heard those voices.
He pointed his index finger directly at the store. His flames morphed and condensed into a small orb.
Joe's eyes widened, “No… Don't do—”
Booom!
An orb of fire collided with the building setting it ablaze. The screams rippled throughout the entire town. Stan smirked, as he glared at Joe “you see kid, these are the consequences when you mess with Mikey's Big 3”
Stan's face couldn't suppress the Joy he felt, his grin growing larger by the minute.
Joe was forced to watch as the 3 Mana Signatures were extinguished before his eyes.
And in that moment, Joe snapped.
“How could you! How could you! How could you!”
[Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement X2]
[-220 Mana Pool Points]
[Current Mana Pool:1, 760]
[Total Skill: 89>133]
[Total Speed:94>134]
[Total Strength:92>132]
Mana erupted from his figure like a wild cyclone. His eyes consumed by rage. Joe couldn't care less about his physical state. He rose to his feet, his eyes glued to Stan.
From his hand a blue light flickered out, in its wake was the Scorching Dagger. Joe firmly gripped it as he strode towards Stan.
Stan smiled, “looks like the little kid still has some fight in him. But sorry kid, I'm done playing with you.” Fireballs engulfed Stan's hands. They were 4 times the size they were before. [Skill Activation: Great Fireball] Stan threw them both at Joe without a second thought. “Die!”
[The Mana Tools Flame Bracelets Are Enhancing Stan's Flame Control Skill]
The fireballs flew towards Joe at ferocious pace. With betting an eye, Joe swung the Scorching Dagger 2 times. Each time he did, the dagger sliced through each fireball like a knife cutting through butter. [Mana Tool Skill: Flame Severing] The flames blew harmless to the side after being cleaved, leaving Joe completely unharmed.
Stan's eyes were wide In disbelief. “That's… impossible!!” He could see Joe's lethargic steps closing in on him. “That's it it you're dead!”
Like a man possessed, Stan unleashed [Great Fireball] after [Great Fireball]
[Skill Activation: Great Fireball]
[Skill Activation: Great Fireball]
[Skill Activation: Great Fireball]
[Skill Activation: Great Fireball]
[Skill Activation: Great Fireball]
He kept this up for a total of ten successive throws. But with each throw he did, the flames were more unruly and less controlled. [The Mana Tools: Flame Bracelets Are Struggling To Keep Up With The Overload Of Mana] This resulted in Stan's arms and hands being scorched by his own skill. But he didn't care. He wanted Joe dead.
Unfortunately for Stan, things didn't go as he hoped. Joe sliced through all 10 of his fireballs with absolute ease. [Skill Activation: Flame Severing]
[-450 Mana Pool Rank Points]
[Current Mana Pool:1, 310]
[Total Skill: 133>163]
Stan staggered back his mind failing to comprehend what he was seeing.
In a split second. Joe was already infront of him. Before Stan even knew what happened. Joe drove his right fist deep into his midsection. Blood spewed from Stan's mouth as he crumbled to his knees. He clutched his stomach as he screamed in agony.
Joe looked down on him, as he slowly raised the Scorching Dagger above his head. “Apologize, apologize for all those people you've killed.”
Stan's eyes widened, his lips trembled “I'm s—sorry, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I promise…” he went as far as groveling at Joe's feet.
“On second thoughts, I want you scream.”
Stan raised his head. “What?”
“You heard me, I want you to scream like all those people you just killed.”
Just as Stan was about to utter something.
“Ignite!” Joe's voice cut him off.
A wave of fire surged from the Scorching Dagger and engulfed him in an instant. [Mana Tool Skill: Ignite]
[-60 Mana Pool Points]
[Current Mana Pool:1, 250]
[Total Skill:133>168]
Joe stepped back and watched him roll around in a desperate attempt to put out the flames. “'Arghhhh!!” He unleashed a horrid scream, as the flames ravaged his clothing and skin. Joe looked down on him with indifferent eyes.
In just a few seconds. Stan's cries were no longer audible. Joe had reduced him, to ashes.