I thrust both palms forward and unleashed a violent torrent of Fire and Electricity magic. The arena lit up like a supernova—but Leal?
Gone. The bastard moved like wind slicing through fog, dodging my spells like they were slow-motion snowflakes.
[Notice: Fuse possibility detected.]
What is it, Cherubim?
[Fusing Conceal and Mana Perception will unlock an advanced ability: Divine Eyes. You'll see through high-level concealment and detect mana signatures with greater precision.]
Do it! Now!
[Note: Fusion will consume a significant amount of mana. Confirm?]
I'm in the middle of a brawl and you're asking for permission? Hell yes, confirm!
[Confirmed. Initiating fusion…]
{Fusing Mana Perception + Concealment…}
A surge of heat flared in my chest as my mana burned away. Crap. That means my toolkit just got limited. No big finishers for now. I'd have to rely on elemental basics and raw grit.
I dashed forward and blasted fire point-blank—he flipped backward mid-air and lashed out with a snap of his fingers. In an instant, thick white threads shot out from behind him, binding me like I'd just walked into a damn cocoon.
[Notice: Mystic Thread skill successfully imitated.]
[User can now create and manipulate magical threads. Versatility and sharpness scalable.]
"Shit," I hissed, struggling inside the webbed prison now pinning me to the ground.
So this was his plan—bind me, suppress my power-ups, and end it without giving me a window to recover. Smart. Real smart.
Leal just clicked his tongue and folded his arms, clearly unimpressed.
"This technique would've wrecked Leo," I muttered, shifting slightly.
I ignited my Fire magic—flames licked the webs, but they barely smoldered. Tough bastards.
Switching tactics, I pulsed Ice magic instead. The threads crystallized instantly, and I shattered the frozen cocoon with a surge of strength and a blast of flame.
Leal's eyes narrowed. He flicked his hand again—phantom threads punctured into my skin from thin air. No anchor point. Just raw magic clinging to me like parasites.
And then—pain.
He was pulling my limbs like a marionette, trying to control my body like I was a meat puppet.
I gritted my teeth. Warrior's Rage kicked in. The pain became fuel.
"I get it now," I said, glaring at him. "You're not just any fighter. You're the Puppet Master."
Leal's brows twitched. I activated my newly fused skill—
Wait. No mana. Right. Cherubim's fusion still drained me.
He pulled harder, threads slicing into my flesh—but nothing. My body wouldn't budge. His skill had no effect.
"What…?" Leal breathed, the disbelief flickering in his emerald eyes.
"Bad matchup," I smirked.
I coated the arena in a layer of Ice magic, frost crackling across the floor. Then I layered Electricity, Fire, and Wind over my arms, heat and voltage sparking off my skin.
The tension snapped like lightning between us—and we both surged forward at once.
I skated across the icy terrain, steam rising from my heated soles. Leal's threads shot out like whips, slashing toward me.
I summoned Ice Spikes mid-charge. He sliced them mid-air, wielding his threads like flexible blades. His movements were surgical—efficient and merciless.
I lunged with a cross infused with all three elements—Fire for burn, Wind for speed, Electricity for stunning force.
He caught it. Wrapped my arm in threads and redirected the blow.
But I wasn't done.
My other fist followed—a hammer of raw momentum. He dodged again, spinning to deliver a counter-blow. His fist connected with my ribs—solid impact, not Leo-level destructive, but enough to make me grunt.
Then he vaulted, slicing through my remaining ice spikes with aerial finesse, landing behind me and sweeping my legs.
I hit the ground and rolled—just in time to dodge a web lashing down like a guillotine.
Veteran fighter. Years undefeated. I should've remembered that.
But I wasn't done.
I threw up a pillar of fire that engulfed the field.
Leal burst through it, fists aimed for my skull.
I raised my hand to parry, but he used his own thread as a bungee—yanking himself down mid-air to launch a surprise uppercut.
Sneaky bastard. But not strong enough.
I caught his fist mid-air.
The look in his eyes—the moment of horror—told me everything.
"Bad matchup," I whispered again.
I drove my fist into his jaw like a falling star and planted him into the arena floor. The shockwave cracked the stone beneath us, sending a tremor through the coliseum.
For a moment, nothing.
Then the silence broke.
Roars erupted. Cheers. Screams. Applause. The entire coliseum was on its feet.
I raised my hand. Not for show—but for respect.
But then—
"Why?" Leal's voice cracked through the noise.
He was standing again. Shaking. Bleeding. But standing.
"Why come here? Do you know what you are, Summon? You're a disaster wrapped in flesh. There's no safe place for you because you are the storm people run from."
His steps were weak, but his eyes burned with desperation.
"You're a threat," he spat. "Not just to me. To everyone. Your kind leaves nothing behind but ruin. You should've stayed hidden."
[Notice: Fusion complete. Divine Eyes acquired.]
[Fusion in progress… merging with Psyche…]
[Failed. Retrying…]
[Failed. Attempting alternative…]
[Insufficient mana. Converting stamina into mana...]
[Mana increased. Merging successful.]
[New Active Skill Acquired: Theia.]
[With Theia, user can now pierce high-level concealment and perceive mana levels in detail.]
Woah—
As Cherubim reported the change, the world shifted.
A glowing wall I'd never noticed before vanished—and Leal's aura blazed before me, blue and immense like a tidal wave about to crash.
Name: Leal BertrandAge: 300Race: Hybrid Elf (High Elf & Dark Elf)Magic Skills: Creation, Necromancy, Sympathetic MagicAttributes: Ultra-SpeedMana Level: Maxed (Medium Class)Major Skill: Dragon Tamer
[Confirmed: Imitated Skills Acquired—Teleportation, Creation (Weaponry), Necromancy, Dragon Tamer]
My jaw dropped. "Is this for real?"
Leal narrowed his eyes, reading the shift in my gaze.
"You've seen it now, haven't you? I can tell. Imitator."