Chapter 54
thick smoke billowed from the ground in front of Spailo. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the swirling cloud. As the smoke gradually dissipated, a familiar figure emerged from behind it, casually waving his hand to clear the lingering haze. A signature smile rested on his face.
Spailo froze for a moment before muttering in disbelief:
"SBYAM BRIUS?!"
Sbyam chuckled softly, his tone laced with amusement:
"Ooooh, my student, Spailo! It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Spailo smirked in return, his voice dripping with sarcasm:
"How delightful… standing before the greatest sorcerer this world has ever known! Am I really this lucky?"
Sbyam smiled lightly as he replied:
"Perhaps lucky… or perhaps it's a sign of something else. Who knows?"
Spailo's grin turned sly:
"We'll see whether this encounter turns into a duel or just a passing coincidence."
Sbyam's tone shifted slightly, though it remained confident:
"I've heard that your skills have become extraordinary. Would you allow me, as your former master, to assess your level?"
Spailo let out a mocking chuckle:
"My skills are dangerous, Master Sbyam. Make sure you're ready for the consequences."
Sbyam's smile remained unwavering:
"Don't worry. Even in the toughest battles, my white hair has never been stained."
Spailo fell silent, his gaze filled with both scorn and challenge. Sbyam, in contrast, met his eyes with an unshaken smile, both men poised for a confrontation that was certain to ignite the battlefield.
—
Sbyam, with a mocking smile and a taunting tone:
"Are you ready, my student?"
Spailo, his expression confident and his smile laced with challenge, did not respond with words. Instead, he simply stared at his master.
Suddenly, Sbyam vanished from his spot, surging forward at a speed akin to light itself. His fist, engulfed in crackling black sparks that danced like living entities, was aimed directly at Spailo.
But Spailo, as if anticipating the attack, raised his hand with unwavering confidence and blocked the strike head-on. The impact was deafening, sending shockwaves that shattered the ground beneath them. A fierce whirlwind erupted, consuming the battlefield in chaos. Yet, amid the destruction, neither took their eyes off the other.
Spailo, tightening his grip on his master's fist, smirked:
"Is that all you've got, Master Sbyam?"
Sbyam, chuckling lightly, his eyes gleaming with challenge:
"Don't be so hasty to meet your end, my student, Spailo!"
---
At that moment, the black sparks around Sbyam's fist flared violently, as if a beast had broken free from its chains. Suddenly, the sparks surged from Spailo's hand, flooding his body entirely. Darkness consumed the surroundings, leaving Spailo trapped in an abyss of pitch-black void.
From within this abyss, a formidable black aura erupted from Sbyam's body. This was no ordinary aura—air itself bent beneath its pressure, the earth fractured, and space distorted. With an arrogant smirk, Sbyam unleashed his aura toward Spailo.
Like a raging storm, the dark energy tore through everything in its path before crashing into Spailo, whose body was still enveloped in the black sparks. The force of the impact restored the world's clarity for a moment—but at a great cost. The sheer power sent Spailo flying through the air like a helpless puppet, before he crashed like a meteor into a crumbling building. The wall behind him shattered entirely under the impact, and blood poured from his head in torrents, like rivers breaking free.
---
Despite the pain, Spailo slowly lifted his head, his eyes burning with defiance, a smirk lingering on his lips.
On the other side, Sbyam observed him with the same unwavering confidence.
Then, in an instant, both figures vanished simultaneously, their movements like intertwining lightning bolts. In the blink of an eye, they clashed again, the force of their collision generating a deafening shockwave.
At the moment of impact, Sbyam drove his crackling black fist toward Spailo's face. But Spailo dodged with fluid precision, retaliating with a swift kick—his foot ablaze with fiery red sparks. The kick struck Sbyam's side with immense force, sending him flying momentarily.
Yet, with an inhuman grace, Sbyam regained his balance midair and landed firmly on his feet.
Likewise, Spailo landed effortlessly, his gaze locked onto Sbyam. A tense silence hung between them, but the intensity of their challenge was undeniable.
Sbyam, smirking:
"I didn't expect that from you."
He waved his hand casually, his tone laced with sarcasm:
"There's some skill in my student after all."
Spailo, laughing mockingly:
"Skill? That was just a warm-up."
---
Before Sbyam could respond, a sleek black shard shot toward his neck at blinding speed, attempting to sever it. Yet, the moment it touched his skin, it halted abruptly, as if colliding with an invisible barrier. The shard trembled violently, struggling to force its way through, but to no avail.
Spailo, with an impressed smile:
"Amazing! You predicted my move?"
Sbyam, smirking, his eyes watching the shard with indifference:
"This is child's play for me."
With an air of absolute composure, he raised a finger toward the shard and muttered in a low voice:
"Immortal Mountain Extension."
In an instant, the shard began retreating as though an unseen force was repelling it. Spailo observed the scene, his mocking smile unwavering.
Sbyam spoke confidently:
"How unfortunate! The Unlimited Technique? It holds no value against me. The 'Immortal Mountain' isn't just a shield—it's an entity in itself, an invisible barrier that separates me from any attack. It cannot be penetrated, bypassed… and most importantly, it cannot even be perceived."
Spailo let out a sarcastic chuckle as he watched the shard being repelled from Sbyam's body. Then, pointing toward his opponent's technique, he spoke with certainty:
"Even if you possess that trait from the Kurmo Technique, it has its limits! You won't be able to sustain it for the entire battle. A prolonged fight isn't in your favor, Master Sbyam... Your strength will gradually deteriorate over time, won't it?"
Sbyam's lips curled into a cold smile as his fist crackled with violent black sparks. Then, in a mocking yet challenging tone, he replied:
"And who said this battle will take long?"
---
Like a lightning bolt, Sbyam dashed toward Spailo—a dark streak tearing through space. Spailo, despite his confidence, remained still, watching his opponent with seasoned eyes. As Sbyam's fist closed in, Spailo reacted at the last moment, dodging with an effortless, dancer-like motion.
Countering swiftly, Spailo launched a punch imbued with blazing red sparks toward Sbyam's face. But with a flicker-like movement, Sbyam avoided the strike as well.
Sbyam then lifted his leg for a powerful kick, yet Spailo responded with incredible reflexes, raising his arm to block. The impact resounded like a thunderclap, shaking the air. In a sudden move, Sbyam grabbed Spailo's shirt and sneered:
"You'll need more than just confidence, Spailo!"
With astonishing agility, Sbyam hurled Spailo high into the sky before vanishing from the ground, reappearing above him in an instant. He delivered a brutal kick, sending Spailo rocketing further into the heavens like a meteor.
Though caught off guard, Spailo swiftly regained his balance, hovering steadily in midair. His mocking smile remained, but his breath was uneven. He barely had a moment to react before he saw Sbyam soaring toward him at speeds surpassing light itself.
Spailo extended his palm toward Sbyam, conjuring a surge of glowing red energy. In a split second, a red spark shot forward, resembling a laser beam tearing through space toward his opponent.
Yet, Sbyam, with a smirk, vanished before the spark could reach him. The attack struck the ground below, triggering a massive explosion that obliterated the landscape beneath.
Like a Ghostly, Sbyam reappeared beside Spailo, delivering a ferocious kick to his side. The impact sent Spailo plummeting toward the earth like a flaming meteor, crashing down and shattering the ground upon impact. Deep cracks spread across the terrain as thick dust rose, shrouding the battlefield.
---
Descending from the sky with imposing speed, Sbyam prepared to strike Spailo's face with a crushing punch. Despite the brutal fall, Spailo had already risen with remarkable agility, his mocking grin still challenging his foe.
As Sbyam's fist neared his face, Spailo reacted instinctively, flipping backward with inhuman flexibility. Sbyam wasted no time; his fist slammed into the ground instead, leaving behind a massive crater while black sparks danced wildly around his hand.
Sbyam smirked defiantly as he withdrew his hand from the impact site. Then, like a streak of light, he lunged at Spailo again. Spailo continued his evasive maneuvers, flipping gracefully backward, maintaining distance.
Suddenly, Sbyam vanished from sight, reappearing behind Spailo like a shadow. His blackened fist was poised to strike. However, before the blow could land, Spailo disappeared as well, leaving Sbyam's punch to hit nothing but empty air.
Spailo materialized beside Sbyam in a sudden flash, delivering a powerful punch straight to his face. The resulting shockwave roared like a storm, sending violent ripples through the surrounding air.
Yet, despite the sheer force of the blow, Sbyam remained utterly unmoved. His mocking, confident smile persisted as if the punch was nothing more than a passing breeze.
Sweat trickled down Spailo's forehead as he thought to himself:
"DAMN IT!! His techniques are ridiculously troublesome..."
With slow, deliberate motion, Sbyam grasped Spailo's fist, which had stopped upon colliding with the 'Immortal Mountain.' From his grip, dense, ominous black sparks slithered like venomous tendrils, creeping up Spailo's arm, engulfing it completely.
Spailo attempted to counter with his other hand, but Sbyam vanished once more, leaving his opponent to strike only empty space. In that same moment, the black sparks dissipated from Spailo's arm, revealing charred, coal-black flesh. Blood dripped from his arm in thin, steady streams.
---
Despite the agony, Spailo's mocking grin never faded as he gazed at his scorched arm, watching the slow descent of blood droplets onto the ground. He seemed lost in thought, almost detached from reality.
Meanwhile, Sbyam stood a few steps behind him. This time, there was no trace of mockery in his expression. His face was calmer, more composed than ever before.
"I never wanted to harm my student... but you are forcing me to break this rule!" Sbyam spoke in a calm voice, but his tone carried a clear threat.
Spailo, who had been listening silently, his expression turned serious. He responded firmly:
"This is for the best. Whether I die here or not, everyone's fate is sealed anyway."
Sbyam sighed deeply, as if his student's words weighed on him more than he expected. He gazed at Spailo with calm eyes and asked in a low tone:
"For heaven's sake, what do you and Brylo know?"
—
A tense silence filled the space between them, both staring at each other intently, as if this confrontation was not only physical but psychological as well. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Golobet appeared beside Spailo.
Sbyam eyed the newcomer cautiously, while Spailo turned to Golobet calmly. Golobet looked excited and eager as he asked in a hurried voice:
"Ha! Have you managed to get rid of that sorcerer?!"
Spailo did not reply, merely looking at Sbyam seriously. Sbyam felt confused by Golobet's words, especially since he had no idea who he was referring to.
Golobet, scanning the surroundings, remarked in astonishment:
"It's obvious that a fierce battle took place here!"
As he looked around, his gaze fell upon a blood-covered body lying on the ground. Moryo was motionless, his face disfigured with blood, resembling a lifeless corpse. Golobet grinned victoriously and said:
"You killed him?! How wonderful!"
Sbyam slowly turned toward where Golobet was pointing, only to find Moryo drenched in blood on the ground. His eyes widened in shock as he muttered in fear:
"Moryo...?"
Golobet laughed in exhilaration and said:
"Good job, Spailo!"
Sbyam stood frozen, his eyes locked onto Moryo. Spailo, his voice cold, stated:
"Moryo is dead. Will you break the rule now?"
Sbyam remained still, as if time had stopped for him. Suddenly, golden thunder struck the ground just steps behind him. The storm that accompanied the thunder was violent, the earth trembling beneath their feet, yet it all vanished at an astonishing speed, leaving only silence once more.
Golobet was stunned, unable to suppress his shock. He whispered:
"What just happened?"
While Spailo kept his gaze fixed on Sbyam, the latter was still staring at Moryo's body. Then, behind Sbyam, a strange entity appeared—Onoko Borna, moving as swiftly as lightning. His fist was aimed directly at Sbyam's head, but the moment it made contact, it suddenly stopped. It had collided with the "Immortal Mountain" technique.
Raizo, who was inside Onoko Borna's body, controlling the Phantom, felt something unusual. He thought in astonishment:
"What is this? Is there a barrier?!"
A moment of stillness passed before Sbyam raised his head and extended his hand backward. A crazed smile formed on his face as he muttered:
"SPACETIME TEAR."
From his fingertip, a violent purple glow erupted, and the surrounding air distorted in an eerie manner. A crack formed in the space before him, resembling fractured glass pulsating with energy. Suddenly, an enormous spark shot from his finger—like a colossal laser piercing both the earth and sky.
The energy was aimed directly at Onoko Borna's head. The latter stared at the dazzling purple light reflecting on his face, but he couldn't react. In an instant, the violet spark pierced through his head, continuing its path into the sky.
All of Kaisima was illuminated by the terrifying purple light, while Onoko Borna's head completely melted, leaving his body to collapse like a lifeless puppet.
His massive body hit the ground with a powerful impact, causing a tremor due to its sheer size. Spailo and Golobet stood frozen in place, their eyes widening in horror as they stared at Onoko Borna's headless Phantom, lying motionless on the ground like a discarded doll.
Meanwhile, Sbyam turned to them with a calm expression and a serious gaze, as if nothing had happened.
End of Chapter.