[Skill Activation: Outsider’s Enhancement X3]

It took only a few seconds before Syr granted Joe his request. He didn't even offer push back like he usually did.

Joe couldn't help but wonder if Syr’s permission was even necessary? The body and mana belonged him. If Syr said no, could he have outright blocked Joe from using his skill. Joe wasn't sure, but he doubted that was the case. The way he saw it, Syr was an adviser, someone with no real power to influence him. He had just gotten used to asking for his permission, he never really thought about it untill now. Not that it mattered, he got what he wanted.

Mana swirled around him like a whirlwind, it wrapped around his muscles sending an abundance of energy coursing through them freely. Joe's senses where sharpened and he felt like new life had just been injected into his veins.

[-495 Mana Pool Points]

[Current Mana Pool: 1, 385]

[Total Skill:162>226]

[Total Strength: 155>215]

[Total Speed: 130>190]

But it wasn't entirely smooth sailing, the mana carried a heavy load with it. Joe could feel it empowering him but also twisted tightly around his bones threatening to snap them at any moment. It confirmed something Joe already knew, he didn't have much time left.

Joe had experienced this same thing against the Great Wolfin so it wasn't exactly a new feeling. The last time he used this skill things didn't end well for him. Shelly wasn't here, if things went wrong, he was completely on his own. Joe knew this, that's why he vowed to finish this quickly.

He moved his fractured shoulder, although [Outsider’s Enhancement X3] did lessen the pain it was still agonizing. He could feel and hear the cracks of his bones widen as he moved to clutch his mana tool with both hands. He made sure the blade was straight and his grip was solid, he gritted his teeth through the pain determined to see the battle through to the end.

He crouched, his legs pressing down on the surface. Deep cracks manifested instantly. From Joe's grip the black blade's handle glowed. It radiated a white light that blended with the darkness. A single rune etched itself on the handle. Joe could feel the black blade's weight grow but he maintained a solid stance.

[You Have Released 1 Seal From The Mana Tool - The Black Blade.]

[-20 Mana Pool Points]

[Current Mana: 1,365]

[Total Skill: 226>246]

In a flash, his body bolted towards Mikey leaving nothing behind but a trail of dust. Joe reaffirmed his grip, before he swung the black blade ferociously. That produced a black arc that curved through the air as it made its way towards Mikey.

As the arc approached, mana exploded from Mikey's form. He then charged straight for the slash. Using his injured arm, he waved the slash aside, deflecting it to the right side of the room. It tore through an iron cage before slicing a part of the wall cleanly in half. [Skill Activation: Mana Reinforcement]

A large gust if wind seeped through the opening and the entire building rumbled. Debris fell from the ceiling and the was threatening to cave in on itself.

Mikey seemed to pay no intention to the damage, he continued his charge and closed the distance in a split second. Upon entering Joe's close quarters, he unleashed a flurry of jabs. [Skill Activation: Strong Fists Barage]

Joe used his mana tool to block the strikes. Each time Mikey's fist struck the blade, Joe could feel his bones vibrate. It was like striking hard iron. The left hand packed the most punch but they were both fierce.

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Mikey threw an unconventional uppercut that deflected Joe's blade up. This left Joe's midsection wide open, Mikey delivered a palm strike that plunged deep into Joe's midsection. [Skill Activation: Strong Palm]

Joe spewed a large amount of blood and was sent tumbling back. He mainted has grip on the black blade, he rolled over some spiky rocks on the surface that pirced his hands. When his momentum stopped Joe shot up to one knee, still a little dazed his gaze darted to Mikey's form. But he was gone.

That's when Joe saw a mana signature free falling from the sky. He glanced up and saw Mikey's knees descending upon him. Acting on instinct, Joe dragged himself up and jumped back just in time.

Mikey struck the floor with both his knee, it shook once again threatening to break apart. [Skill Activation: Falling Knee Drop]

Joe drifted and came to a halt a fair distance away.

The dust around Mikey cleared and he was back on his feet. The floor was marred with cracks and the marks of Mikey's knees were still implanted to the surface. “Not bad, It's not everyday someone avoids my falling knee drop.” Mikey said, his voice oozing confidence.

When Joe looked at Mikey's knees, they were impervious to the damage. Even though he fell from such a high altitude, there was no scar in sight. It was like that knee drop did nothing to him at all. He was truly a monster.

Joe studied Mikey's hands, his knuckles were covered in crimson. Sure he was durable, but punching the black blade with his hands still did s number on his fists.

His lnjured arm was still leaking blood and after Joe destroyed his mana point, the mana flowing through his limb was limited. It still flowed but not nearly as freely as the left arm. It was like by destroying his mana point Joe had placed a giant boulder in front of a flowing stream. Yes, some of the water would slip throughout but it wouldn't be as large as it would've been if the blockade was removed.

Mikey was definitely hurting, Joe could definitely kill him. But he needed to do it quick. He could feel the strain on his muscles intensify with each passing second. He took measured breaths trying to keep his body standing. Despite his knees begging to crumble.

[Outsider’s Enhancement X3]had gotten Joe close but it still wasn't enough. He needed something, something more. Only one thing came to his mind. An all or nothing attack.

He exhaled, as he adjusted the grip on his mana tool. [Mana Tool Skill: Charge] Like some kind of black hole, all the mana around the black blade was immediately sucked into the mana tool.

[The Black Blade Is Gathering Mana]

[10 Seconds Before The Charge Is Complete]

Joe smirked, he threw a gaze at Mikey. Just 10 seconds. If he could just hold on for 10 seconds, he could kill that monster once and for all.

Before Joe even moved an inch, Mikey was already on top of him. He swiped his fingers like an animal looking to ravaged its prey with claws. [Skill Activation: Wild Fingers]

Joe could only use his sword to deflect all of Mikey's swings. Each finger was as hard as steel as it made contact with the blade, but Joe stood firm.

Mikey resorted to using his fingers, in an attempt to poke holes into Joe's form. But in his case they went just fingers they felt like flying bullets. [Skill Activation: Finger Drills]

Ome finger grazed Joe's cheek drawing out some blood. He began to lose ground, as he found himself being slowly pushed back. He drifted on the concrete giving up more ground than he would've liked. His blade started to feel the strain Joe could see pieces of it being chipped away every time Mikey attacked.

It made sense, without the mana to protect it the black blade was exposed. Luckily for Joe he didn't have to wait long before his blade was back in full strength. Because just like that 10 seconds had passed.

[Mana Tool Skill: Mana Slash]

[Total Skill:246>492]

Joe leaped back creating distance between him and Mikey. He swung his blade with full force digging deep into the floor. He uprooted a large chunk of the rocks and dust with was immediately propelled Mikey's direction.

The dust and debris created a smoke cloud with the purpose blind and suffocate him. Joe didn't wait for the smoke to die down or for Mikey to burst out.

He used the opening to swing his blade vertically, unleashing large arc that went directly for Mikey. It cleaved through the smoke before making direct contact with his figure.

A large gust of wind erupted and blew everything in the room away. Joe was flung backwards and was sent tumbling. He halted a fair distance away, an intense pain surging through his body. But that wasn't the worst part, when he tried to drag himself up, his limb contorted and snapped. He was pinned forcefully to the ground as audible cracks ravaged his body from all over. He scrammed, his voice filling the air with agony. Blood seeped down his lips as he struggled to breathe.

Joe's eyes blurred but he wouldn't allow himself to pass out He had to see it for himself, he had to be be the first to see Mike's corpse.

The smoke around Mikey cleared. And his figure was revealed standing. Both his arms were leaking blood profusely and his skin had turned red. His muscles enlarged as he looked to have grown almost double his original size. His veins popped out from all over his body and a faint steam could be also seen leaking from his figure. He was still heaving, breathing. Mikey was still alive.

Joe's heart shattered.

“That is it Syr. That was everything I had and I still couldn't do it. I hate to admit but we're dead. It's all over.”

[You Haven't Tried Everything. It's Risky. But There's Still Something You've Yet To Use.]