Shun smiled and slammed his hand against the ground—
But before he could cast anything, a block of ice burst forth in front of him, intercepting the incoming fire serpents.
"Shun, what are you doing? What happened to the plan?"
"I ran out of mana."
"…Are you serious?"
"Sorry, sorry. But I've recovered now." He exhaled lightly, then frowned. "By the way, how do they know my position? The mist should limit their vision."
"Mages can enhance their sight with mana. It lets them pierce through obstructions," Rakina explained quickly. Then her voice dipped, curious. "That reminds me, I still don't know your innate ability. I only know it enhances your fighting prowess."
Shun hesitated. "…It's aura manipulation."
She grunted in acknowledgment.
"Can you still follow the plan?"
"Yes. Just tell me where they are."
She conjured an ice spike just above his line of sight. Its tip angled to his right.
"What's this?"
"It's pointing at their location."
"…Sweet."
He didn't hesitate. He moved, trusting the icy arrow as if it were his own eyes.
But then, the spike suddenly twisted, shifting into an exclamation mark.
"Huh?" he muttered, puzzled—
A massive fireball emerged from the mist.
Shun leapt aside.
BOOM!
The fireball smashed into the floor, erupting in a violent explosion. A shockwave tore through the space.
Shun was caught mid-movement. The blast flung him a few meters away. He landed with a rough tumble.
Rakina took cover behind an ice wall. The mist vanished in an instant, shredded by the explosion.
The shockwave rattled Shun's vision and mind. Everything blurred for a moment.
An opening revealed itself.
In the distance, Lucias raised his arm and swung it downward.
Rakina's mouth opened, about to warn him of the incoming danger. Shun, dazed, didn't even register it.
"Underestimating me, aren't you!"
Zirgo's voice snapped her attention away.
He appeared right in front of her—too fast—fire glowing in his palm. He lunged.
"Kahk!"
The strike connected. A sharp breath escaped her lungs. Pain exploded across her ribs. His palm released a burst of flame, hurling her through the air. She hit the ground, bouncing once before sliding to a stop.
On the other side—
Lucias swung down. A translucent arc sliced through the air toward Shun.
Shun was still in his trance.
Move… I gotta move! He screamed internally, but his body refused.
The floating exclamation ice above him seemed to gain a will of its own. It rotated, dull edge facing him—
Then it launched.
The impact smacked his head, jolting him out of the haze. His body rolled aside just in time—
Swoosh!
The arc flew past, grazing inches from him, splitting the space behind into jagged scars.
Shun flipped forward, landing in a crouch. He stabilized his position, then glared at Lucias.
He dashed—
But before closing the distance, he tapped the ground. Spikes shot up toward Lucias.
Lucias sliced through them effortlessly.
But by the time he realized—
Shun was already there.
A heavy cross punch swung for his chest.
Lucias anticipated. He pivoted sharply on his lead foot, changing his angle. The strike missed. He countered, gaining a perfect position.
The difference in battle experience was clear as day.
Crap! Shun gritted his teeth. He couldn't back down; the inertia had already set in.
Lucias slashed.
Space itself followed his blade.
The force sent Shun flying. He crashed into the floor with a bone-rattling thud. Blood gushed, spraying violently.
Lucias stared down at the young man sprawled before him, torn open, blood pooling fast. His eyes were empty. Barren.
Lucias turned his gaze to Zirgo.
"Should've double tapped."
Lucias' eyes widened. He spun back—
For just a moment, he saw it.
The deep gash across Shun's body… knitting back together. Ominous energy pulsed like veins of black lightning beneath his skin.
Before Lucias could even think about how—
A blurry fist filled his vision.
SMASH!
His cheek caved from the impact.
He staggered back, but a powerful grip snagged his clothes, holding him upright.
Shun yanked him close—then let go.
Flurry.
A storm of punches crashed into Lucias' face, chest, ribs.
[You've harmed Lucias' mana canal!]
[You've harmed Lucias' mana canal!]
[You've harmed Lucias' mana canal!]
Messages flooded Shun's vision, but he didn't care. He kept going.
Lucias tried to fight back.
Magic particles gathered desperately in his palm—
Nothing.
Shun noticed.
So blocking the mana canal prevents him from casting. Hah.
Another realization clicked.
Despite Lucias' superior level—forty, two entire stages above him—he seemed slower. Heavier.
Why?
Then Shun understood.
Each hit didn't just hurt. It weakened him.
Lucias realized it too. Despair flashed in his eyes.
But then—brief hope. His gaze sharpened. He saw a path to victory.
Lucias caught Shun's fist with his palm.
But before he could counter—
His hand went limp. His strength melted away.
What is he trying? Shun wondered, confused for a brief moment.
Maybe he's trying to use an artifact—
That's when he sensed it.
A faint, ominous energy. Leaking through Lucias' pores. Crawling in. Breaking his mana canals. Weakening his nerves.
Lucias' lips trembled. "What… what are you?"
Shun's eyes were empty.
"I'm Shun."
THWAK!
[You've harmed Lucias' mana canal!]
"And I'm really pissed you tried to kill me."
He kept punching.
Lucias struggled. Managed to shove Shun away for a second. He prepared a spell—
But his body swayed like he was drunk. His mind fogged. He couldn't string a single thought.
Shun closed the distance instantly.
Another punch. Lucias collapsed.
The hit snapped him from his haze for just a second—enough for one terrified thought.
"W-what are you?! Why does every hit send… waves of weakness instead of pain? How is it possible that each strike blocks my mana canals?!"
Shun didn't answer. He didn't care.
He just kept hitting.
He lost count of the punches.
All he wanted was silence. As long as Lucias still grunted, still made a sound, he wouldn't stop.
Though, truthfully… these punches shouldn't even hurt. His body weighed over five hundred kilos, his strikes should break bones—
But it was still a curse. It didn't boost raw strength.
Right now, his punch was only that of a level fifteen hunter. To someone level forty, two whole stages higher, it was laughable.
And yet…
Each blow ate Lucias alive from the inside.
[You've harmed Lucias' mana canal!]
Shun drew back his bruised fist, ready for another—
But paused.
His breathing was harsh. Ragged.
Then—
A faint presence. So faint, he almost ignored it.
Then he spoke. Calm. Cold.
"You are like a dog. No… a machine. You obey without question. Without compassion. How many have begged for mercy before you killed them?
Your existence is a mistake. And I will correct it."
Shun's fist blurred forward—
But suddenly, something soft yet unyielding coiled around his arm.
The punch halted. Barely an inch from Lucias' bloodied face.
"That is all, boy."
"Haa… haa…" Shun gasped for breath. "And you are…?"
He glanced sideways.
A woman stood beside him. Beautiful. Black wolf ears with white inner fur. A tail, sleek and strong, wrapped firmly around his arm.
Her golden eyes stared into him.
"I am Yukki. One of the Fools."