The tide of battle shifted at once.
Most battles between Mana Core Magi did not end quickly. Their vast mana reserves allowed them to fight for extended periods, trading spells and counters until the battle either settled into a stalemate or one side made a fatal mistake.
If the gap in strength was significant, the fight could end swiftly in favor of the stronger Magus. Even then, killing a Mana Core Magus was no simple task. Their defenses, artifacts, and sheer prowess made them notoriously difficult to finish off.
There were two reasons why Berger's battle got over so quickly. First, he used illusion magic, which was extremely tricky to deal with during life-and-death situations. Second, he had help in the form of Blackie, who himself was a powerful Mana Core-level being.
