The proposal had come, as Rudelion had subtly intended, from Lathel himself. After their last insightful discussion in Rudelion's dorm, Lathel, ever eager for practical application, had sought him out during Mana Theory class.
"Rudelion," Lathel had begun, his voice earnest, "your insights into Mana flow and internal sculpting have been truly revolutionary for my training. Justia and I have been practicing, and we've already felt a significant improvement in our control. But… it's still theoretical. We were hoping, if you had the time, if you would consider… a mock battle? To help us truly understand how to apply these principles against a powerful opponent. To test our evolving prowess."
'A mock battle,' Rudelion had thought, a flicker of strategic satisfaction igniting within him. 'Excellent. The perfect opportunity for comprehensive intelligence gathering, disguised as mentorship.' He had maintained a thoughtful, slightly hesitant expression, as if weighing the request. "A mock battle, you say?" he had mused aloud, his voice carefully neutral. "Such engagements can be… illuminating. Very well. I accept. Let us meet tomorrow, in Training Ground Beta, after the morning cultivation session. It is sufficiently large and equipped for such an exercise, and relatively private."
And so, the following afternoon, Rudelion found himself in Training Ground Beta, a vast, circular arena enclosed by Mana-dampening wards and reinforced observation platforms. The air hummed with latent Mana, a stark contrast to the quiet scholarly atmosphere of his dorm. Lathel and Justia stood opposite him, their Mana signatures distinct against the backdrop of the training ground. Lathel's Mana was a vibrant, eager pulse of pure light, while Justia's was a steady, resilient shield, radiating a cautious determination.
'This is ideal,' Rudelion mused, his gaze sweeping over them. 'A controlled environment. No external interference. I can push them, observe their limits, and map their combat styles in detail. And they will emerge from this feeling stronger, more reliant on my guidance. A win-win, from my perspective.'
Lathel, clad in light training armor, held a practice sword that shimmered with Mana. Justia, in similar attire, had her hands free, ready to conjure her defensive Arcana. They looked formidable, a classic hero-and-companion duo.
"Rudelion," Lathel called out, his voice echoing slightly in the vast space. "We're ready when you are. Just to be clear, this is about understanding our weaknesses, not about winning. We're grateful for your willingness to help us."
"Indeed," Rudelion replied, his voice calm, projecting an aura of composed power. He stood unarmed, his uniform flowing around him. 'Unarmed is best. It emphasizes my control, my reliance on Mana alone. It also subtly disarms them, making me seem less threatening, more like a true mentor.' "My objective is to challenge you both, to push you beyond your current limits, and to illustrate the true potential of your Mana. There will be no lasting harm, of course. Are you prepared?"
"We are," Justia said, her voice firm, her Mana tightening into a subtle defensive posture around herself and Lathel. 'Good, she's already on guard. Her defensive instincts are excellent.'
The academy referee, a stern-faced Arcana Master named Randy, raised a hand. "Combatants, are you ready? The wards are active. The exercise begins on my signal." He paused, then dropped his hand. "Begin!"
The moment the word left his lips, Lathel moved. He was fast, faster than Rudelion had anticipated for someone primarily focused on Mana. His Mana-infused blade cut through the air, aimed directly at Rudelion's chest. It was a powerful, direct strike, imbued with nascent divine light.
'Aggressive. Good.' Rudelion didn't dodge conventionally. Instead, his body shimmered, Abyssal Blink activating for a fraction of a second. He reappeared a mere meter to the left, his initial position still holding a faint afterimage. Lathel's blade cut through empty air.
"He's fast!" Lathel exclaimed, his Mana surging as he spun, preparing for another strike.
Justia reacted instantly. A shimmering Mana Construct: Wall, transparent and robust, materialized directly between Rudelion and Lathel, absorbing the residual kinetic energy from Lathel's missed swing and blocking his immediate follow-up. 'Her reaction time is excellent. Her defensive Mana is quick to deploy, solid.'
Rudelion, however, didn't engage the wall. His form flickered again, Abyssal Blink propelling him effortlessly around Justia's newly erected barrier, placing him directly to Lathel's flank. Lathel, momentarily off-balance from his missed attack and Justia's defensive spell, was vulnerable.
'Time to test his evasion.' Rudelion didn't attack. Instead, he simply extended a hand, unleashing a controlled burst of Arcane Pulse. It wasn't designed to harm, but to disrupt. Lathel's Mana signature, already in motion for a counter-attack, was suddenly jostled, his footing faltered, and he stumbled two steps back, regaining his balance with a surprised grunt.
"What was that?" Lathel gasped, his Mana momentarily disoriented.
"A Mana disruption," Rudelion explained, his voice calm, didactic even in the midst of the mock battle. He remained in motion, circling them with an almost ethereal grace, forcing them to constantly re-evaluate their positions. 'Keep them guessing. Force them to react, to adapt.'
Justia's Mana flared, a brilliant Sacred Shield enveloping both her and Lathel. 'Impressive. Quick, and her Mana utilization is efficient for a full-body shield.' She then began to channel, her Mana condensing. "Lathel, I'll provide cover! Try a concentrated Mana Bolt!"
Lathel nodded, his earlier surprise replaced by fierce determination. He began to gather Mana, his raw divine light condensing into a radiant orb. 'A standard hero's Mana Bolt. Powerful, but predictable. Let's see if his 'Internal Sculpting' has improved its precision.'
Rudelion did not wait for the attack. He extended his own hand, activating Mana Construct: Wall directly in Lathel's path, a shimmering, transparent barrier. It wasn't meant to block. 'It's a target. A way to gauge his improved precision.'
Lathel unleashed his Mana Bolt. It surged forward, a brilliant projectile of pure light. But this time, it was noticeably more focused, less scattered than Rudelion remembered his earlier attacks being. It struck Rudelion's Mana Construct: Wall with a resonant clang, not shattering it, but causing it to ripple and distort for a moment before the Mana dissipated harmlessly.
"He contained it!" Lathel exclaimed, a mix of triumph and frustration in his voice. "My Mana Bolt was more precise, but his barrier held!"
"An excellent demonstration of improved control, Lathel," Rudelion complimented, his voice genuinely approving. 'He's learning. My guidance is effective. This will only deepen his reliance.' He dissolved his Mana Wall and then, in a blink, was behind Justia.
Justia, however, was ready. Her Mana flared, and a powerful Arcane Ward materialized around her, just as Rudelion attempted a subtle Arcane Pulse aimed at her Mana conduits. The ward absorbed the disruption, her Mana signature remaining steady. 'Her defensive instincts are top-tier. She anticipates well, reacting to presence, not just sight.'
"You're quicker than you seem, Rudelion," Justia stated, her voice calm, her eyes sharp as she spun to face him, positioning herself defensively in front of Lathel.
'Indeed,' Rudelion thought. 'She is a formidable support. Her composure under pressure is remarkable.' He didn't engage her directly. His goal wasn't to defeat them, but to push them, to force them to reveal their limits. He began to move with Void Step, an evolution of Abyssal Blink that allowed him to move with impossible fluidity, almost phasing through the air, leaving shimmering afterimages that confused their senses. He circled them like a predator, constantly shifting, never allowing them to set a firm target.
Lathel fired another Mana Bolt, trying to anticipate Rudelion's next appearance. This one was even more refined, striking closer to his projected path. Rudelion responded with a series of rapid Abyssal Blinks, making him appear to be in three places at once before vanishing entirely, reappearing on the opposite side of the arena.
"He's too fast!" Lathel grunted, growing frustrated. "We can't pin him down!"
"Focus on predicting his movements, Lathel!" Justia advised, her Mana forming protective runes around them. "He leaves no trace Mana for Mana Sensing, but his patterns... there are patterns!"
'Clever,' Rudelion acknowledged. 'She's trying to find the cracks in my Void Step. I need to diversify my movements.' He continued his evasive maneuvers, but subtly varied his rhythm, breaking any predictable patterns. He wanted to see how they reacted to prolonged pressure, how their Mana reserves held up, and if they possessed any coordinated attacks.
Lathel, spurred on by Justia, began to unleash a barrage of Mana-infused sword swings, each one followed by a precisely aimed Mana Bolt. He was pushing himself, his Mana blazing with righteous fury. Rudelion dodged, weaved, and Abyssal Blinked, forcing Lathel to commit fully, to expend his Mana in a furious, yet ultimately futile, assault.
Justia, meanwhile, was not idle. She was casting subtle Mana reinforcement spells on Lathel, bolstering his speed and strength, while simultaneously maintaining her Sacred Shield around them. Her Mana flowed steadily, but Rudelion could detect the subtle strain. 'Her defensive spells are Mana-intensive. How long can she maintain this level of protection?'
Rudelion decided to increase the pressure. He performed a series of rapid Abyssal Blinks, appearing dangerously close to Lathel, just outside his striking range, then vanishing again. Each appearance was accompanied by a subtle Arcane Pulse, aimed not to harm, but to momentarily disrupt Lathel's Mana flow, jarring his concentration.
Lathel grunted with each disruption, his movements becoming slightly less fluid, his Mana a little more erratic. "He's trying to break my concentration!"
"Maintain your Mana flow, Lathel!" Justia urged, her own Mana flaring as she reinforced his concentration with a quick, supportive spell. 'She's actively counteracting my disruption. Her support capabilities are excellent, vital to Lathel's combat longevity.'
Rudelion then shifted tactics. He manifested a series of Mana Construct: Wall barriers, not to block them, but to create obstacles, to herd them, to force them to break their tight formation. He enclosed them, not fully, but subtly, narrowing their escape routes.
Lathel, confronted by the sudden barriers, had to commit to breaking them. He swung his Mana-infused blade, shattering one wall, then unleashed a powerful Mana Bolt to destroy another. This rapid expenditure of Mana was exactly what Rudelion wanted.
'Exhaustion is a powerful teacher. Let's see their Mana economy.'
Justia, seeing Lathel's Mana rapidly depleting, began to channel a more powerful Mana recovery spell. Her Mana signature pulsed intensely, focused entirely on Lathel. This was her vulnerability.
'Now.' Rudelion didn't attack Justia directly. Instead, he activated Thaumiel's Abyssal Chains, but used only a fraction of its true power, manifesting a single, ethereal, almost transparent chain of Void Mana. It wasn't meant to bind, but to subtly interfere. The chain ghosted past Justia's peripheral Mana field, not touching her, but specifically aimed at the Mana she was funneling to Lathel.
Justia gasped. Her Mana signature, which had been steadily flowing Mana to Lathel, suddenly became turbulent. The Mana recovery spell faltered, then died. Her eyes widened, her gaze snapping towards Rudelion, a flicker of pure shock in their depths. "What was that?" she whispered, her voice laced with an unfamiliar awe. "My Mana… it just… detached!"
Lathel, sensing the disruption in Justia's support, spun, his own Mana faltering from the missed recovery. "Justia! Are you alright?"
Rudelion simply smiled, a cool, knowing expression. He made the ethereal chain dissipate. "A subtle application of Mana interference. It disrupts the flow, rather than blocks it. A useful technique when facing entrenched opponents, or those who rely on external Mana sources." He carefully avoided mentioning the specific skill name or its true abyssal nature. 'Her reaction confirms Abyssal Chains will be a potent tool against Mana users. She felt it, even without direct impact. Good.'
The mock battle continued for several more minutes, Rudelion maintaining his elusive movements, subtly disrupting Lathel's Mana, forcing Justia to constantly expend her own resources to maintain their defenses and recovery. They never truly landed a hit on him. His movements were too fluid, his Mana defenses too robust. He was a phantom, an unbreakable wall, a constant, exasperating pressure.
Finally, Lathel, panting, his Mana reserves visibly depleted, dropped his practice sword, which clattered on the arena floor. Justia, her shoulders slumped, her Mana signature showing clear signs of exhaustion, let her Sacred Shield dissipate.
"We... we surrender, Rudelion," Lathel gasped, wiping sweat from his brow. "You're… incredible. We couldn't even touch you." He looked at Rudelion with a mix of awe and bewildered respect.
Justia, though tired, nodded in agreement, her gaze still fixed on Rudelion, a deep thoughtfulness in her sapphire eyes. "That Mana interference… I've never felt anything like it. It was like my own Mana suddenly forgot how to connect."
The referee, Master Randy, walked over, noting the cessation of hostilities. "Match concluded. Rudelion Von Thaumiel wins."
Rudelion walked towards them, his breathing perfectly even, his uniform unruffled, not a single bead of sweat on his brow. He exuded an aura of effortless superiority, yet tempered it with an approachable, almost serene calmness. 'They are thoroughly impressed. And just a little intimidated. Perfect.'
"An excellent effort, both of you," Rudelion said, his voice genuinely commendatory. "Lathel, your Mana control has improved significantly. Your 'Internal Sculpting' shows great promise. You were more precise, less wasteful. And Justia, your defensive instincts and Mana reaction time are exceptional. Your ability to reinforce Lathel's Mana is truly admirable." He offered them each a slight nod of respect.
Lathel ran a hand through his silver hair. "But we still couldn't lay a finger on you. Your speed… and that Mana disruption. How do you move like that?"
Rudelion gave a subtle, almost secret smile. "It is a technique that combines spatial awareness with precise Mana expenditure. It requires a certain… detachment from conventional movement. As for Mana disruption, it is merely an advanced application of the principles we discussed regarding Mana flow. If you can understand how Mana connects, you can also understand how to momentarily sever that connection." He kept it vague, tantalizing.
'They're hooked. They want to know more. This is good.'
"This mock battle was highly illuminating," Rudelion continued, looking between them. "Lathel, you rely heavily on offensive bursts, but you need to learn to conserve Mana for sustained pressure, and to use it for subtle effects, not just raw power. And Justia, while your defenses are strong, consider how to recover Mana more efficiently mid-combat, or how to subtly disrupt an opponent while maintaining your shield. You were too exposed when channeling Mana to Lathel."
Lathel and Justia listened intently, nodding, soaking in his words. Their Mana signatures, though tired, radiated intense concentration.
"Perhaps we can discuss these applications further," Rudelion suggested, a subtle invitation in his tone. "And explore more advanced Mana concepts. This was merely a surface examination of your prowess."
"We would like that very much, Rudelion," Lathel said immediately, his voice filled with newfound respect and eagerness. "Thank you for this. It was… invaluable."
'Invaluable indeed,' Rudelion thought. 'For me. I now have comprehensive data on your combat capabilities, your Mana thresholds, and your teamwork. I know your vulnerabilities. All without revealing my own true strength, or any of my dangerous Thaumiel offensive Arcana.'
As the trio walked off the training ground, Rudelion leading the way, his stride effortless, the faint hum of his Thaumiel Blood Imprint resonated with quiet power. The first direct combat test had been a resounding success. He was guiding the hero, gathering vital intelligence, and solidifying his position as an indispensable, mysterious mentor. The threads of fate were now firmly in his grasp.