[Third Person's PoV]
Stephen raised his hand, and Kordath froze in place, time completely halted for him.
Asta gripped his sword tightly, not hesitating to swing it across Kordath's torso. They all expected a large, deep gash to form. However, the blade only grazed Kordath, failing to penetrate as deeply as Asta anticipated. Worse still, the strike disrupted Stephen's time magic, breaking Kordath free from its effects.
Kordath didn't hesitate. He flexed his muscles and threw a single devastating punch toward Asta.
Asta braced himself, angling his sword to block with the flat side.
BOOM!
The sheer force of the punch sent a shockwave erupting through the battlefield. Everyone was flung backward, and Asta was hurled into the air, streaking like a comet. His trajectory smashed him through the temple walls, causing them to crumble under the impact.
"Asta!" his companions shouted in shock and disbelief.
Their disbelief wasn't just from the sheer force of the attack—it was because Kordath had used no magic to enhance his strike.
Stephen moved swiftly, his hands weaving through the air as he summoned an eldritch whip. The glowing tendril shot out, latching onto Asta's ankle as he broke through the city's protective veil and tumbled toward the open ocean.
The whip coiled securely around Asta's leg, and with a firm pull, Stephen reeled him back to safety.
Kordath's eyes burned with fury as he glared at the group. "You dare! You trash not only scratch my sacred scales but also draw my blood?! I'll sentence you all to a fate far worse than death! Starting with you!"
He raised his hand and disappeared from where he stood.
[Time Magic: Temporal Velocity]
Stephen activated his magic, accelerating his movements beyond mortal perception. In a blink, he darted past Kordath, who appeared as a blurred silhouette, and reached Vanessa. Scooping her up by the waist, he slid away from danger.
Even as Stephen moved at incredible speed, he noticed with amazement that Kordath's eyes tracked him effortlessly.
BOOM!
The spot where Vanessa had been standing was obliterated, leaving a massive crater. Cracks spread outward, splitting the ground and causing a localized earthquake. Buildings began to crumble as debris filled the air.
The terrified civilians, who had been bowing in submission, screamed in panic. Paralyzed by fear of Atlantis's wrath, they hesitated, unsure whether to flee or stay.
"Keep a safe distance, alright?" Stephen said firmly, setting Vanessa down without breaking his focus on Kordath.
Vanessa, still shaken, raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you ask if I'm okay?"
Stephen glanced at her briefly, his reassuring smile cutting through the tension. "There's no need. With me around, you'll always be fine."
Vanessa blinked, then scoffed lightly, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Stephen's expression quickly hardened as he turned back to Kordath. The enemy slowly lifted his fist, dust and small pieces of rubble falling off from his fist.
Kordath's gaze sharpened. "Time magic, huh? So this trash is a little more than just trash. This trash might just be a bug after all."
Yami extended his hand and caught Asta by the scruff of his neck, lifting him up despite being soaked and battered.
Asta winced, his face etched with pain. "I can barely feel my arms..."
Yami glanced down and saw the state of Asta's arms—they were bruised, slightly red, and bleeding, with droplets of blood running down his skin. Yet, Asta's hands gripped his sword tightly, refusing to let go.
"Wait until Stephen has a chance to heal you," Yami said, narrowing his eyes as he assessed the battlefield. "Looks like he's going to be busy for a while."
Stephen's gaze darted to the frightened civilians scattered around them. Without hesitation, he clapped his arms together.
[Arcane Magic: Mirror Dimension]
A shimmering wave spread outward from beneath Stephen's feet, racing toward Kordath as he charged. In a flash, the magic enveloped both Stephen and Kordath, pulling them into a separate dimension while leaving everyone else behind.
"What the—?!" the group exclaimed.
"THAT IDIOT!" Magna shouted in frustration.
"No… That was a smart move," Yami said, letting out an annoyed sigh.
"How?!" Magna demanded. "He went and trapped himself with that monster!"
"Because you're all weak," Yami replied bluntly, ignoring their astonished expressions. "Before you start complaining, take a good look around you."
The group turned to survey the destruction Kordath had caused with a single punch. Buildings lay in ruins, cracks spread like a spiderweb across the ground, and debris was strewn everywhere.
"If they fought out here, we wouldn't have been able to protect everyone," Yami explained. "The city—and its people—would've been obliterated. That monster is on a whole different level compared to Vetto. Stephen needed to focus solely on the fight without worrying about keeping you all safe."
Frustration burned on their faces, which made Yami smirk as he got an idea. "It's frustrating, isn't it?"
They all nodded.
Yami turned to Wanda, who was visibly straining. "Hey, how're you holding up?"
"I'm slipping…" Wanda admitted, sweat beading on her forehead. "They've got strong mental fortitude. I can't keep them trapped in their minds forever, they're 50 people after all."
Yami nodded, turning to Noelle. "Release the old man and the others."
Noelle complied, and Yami addressed the High Priest. "Gather your people and hide them. I know this city has a place to keep everyone safe—every city does. Use it."
"Huh?" the High Priest blinked in confusion.
"We, the Black Bulls, are taking over your city and treating it as a training ground!" Yami declared proudly.
"Eh?!" the Black Bulls exclaimed in unison.
The High Priest and his family exchanged bewildered looks. "Eh?!"
Even the bowing civilians looked up in shock. "Eh?!"
"What are you waiting for, old man?! Move it! We don't have all day!" Yami barked before turning to Wanda. "When they're gone, release five at a time. Those five will be your training partners until we run out—or until Stephen gets back. Surpass your limits if you want to live!"
Inside the Mirror Dimension
Kordath froze, glancing around at the strange environment. "Where… are we?"
"Your burial ground," Stephen retorted, spreading his arms as magic circles materialized in his palms.
"You're amusing, human," Kordath said with a humorless chuckle. "Ignorant bugs like you always amuse me, thinking you're strong without understanding the depths of the ocean's power."
Kordath's tone turned arrogant as he continued, "Let me educate you. The strength of the Merpeople is more than ten times that of humans. Our bodies have adapted to the crushing pressure of the ocean, our skin made nearly impenetrable to survive the horrors of the deep. We are the chosen guardians, blessed by destiny with unfathomable power, while you humans serve no purpose beyond warring among yourselves."
"Wow…" Stephen said with a look of awe.
"In awe, aren't you?" Kordath smirked.
"I am…" Stephen nodded. "It's impressive how much you'll babble without me asking a single question. I wonder how much more I can learn if I just let you keep talking."
Kordath's smirk vanished, replaced by cold indifference. "Congratulations. You've earned a privilege few can claim. You'll die by my hand, you insignificant subspecies."
"Uh-huh," Stephen replied dryly, his tone unimpressed.
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