Raul was faking, Enrico was certain of it. He didn't know why, but the only thing he felt in that moment was rage, and surely if he could, he would tear Raul to pieces. But right now, he couldn't go after explanations or anything else, because he had a powerful opponent who had grown even more confident.
"I thought that guy was strong, but it seems I judged wrong. Now it's your turn."
From Tilios's body, several shadow claws emerged, chasing them. Taking a step back, Enrico lifted his other foot, delivering a kick with a charged impulse, managing to dodge.
"Tsk, I can still feel the pain from that strike."
"Hey Kael, didn't you say he was holding back? Damn it."
Looking to the side, he saw Arvanys desperately trying to escape a claw while her clone moved up into a tree. He still had to answer the others' questions.
"I'm sure he was holding back. That bastard is pretending."
"You're sure? Because if you are, I'm going to kill him."
On the other side, Lan charged lightning in his hand, then raised it and released it upward, making a mini storm of lightning fall down on Tilios.
"This time I got you."
"So naïve."
Tilios appeared in front of him. By stomping the ground, Lan was thrown into the air, and around him several earth spears were created.
'I'm going to die.'
"Flame Impact!"
Enrico appeared in front of him, and with his fists disappearing, all those spears were destroyed. Grabbed by the arm, Lan noticed the fists that made those strikes were bleeding—a warning of their opponent's power. Kaela and Arvanys started circling around them.
'Since that strategy didn't work, I'll test the magic my teacher told me to master.'
The problem was, she wanted to be sure to land the attack, because she could only use it once—it consumed sixty percent of her mana. She saw Kael facing Tilios head-on, buying time, even being pierced but seeming to turn that part into water.
'How can he use this magic while still at circle two? A unique ability? Well, it doesn't matter now.'
Arvanys joined Kael in facing him head-on, creating several snow particles that expanded little by little until the leaking magic began to freeze Tilios's movements. Realizing it, he immediately released shadow magic that destroyed those particles.
"How did you do that? Though I think I understand why."
"You're quite smart for a madman, Kael… so, having fun?"
"Very."
She sighed as she saw Kael rush Tilios again, who was now slowed by her magic's effect.
What she did was simple and difficult at the same time. Her original magic was Snow Blade, meaning she could only create blades with it, but by forcing the separation of the two, she could divide it into two slightly weaker affinities.
"Let's go… Blade Magic: Invisible Cut."
Just with movements of her finger, she created an invisible blade that cut the back of Tilios's knee, forcing him to kneel.
"Triple Fire Arrow!"
Enrico appeared, taking advantage of the moment to hit three arrows into his chest, and Kael created a rotating water blade that cut his back. When it came to Lan's turn, however, he was grabbed by the neck and thrown away like a fly, immediately chased afterward.
"You're the weakest here, so I'll finish you first."
'Damn it.'
Lan began to be beaten by Tilios's stone fists relentlessly, only managing to escape when Enrico appeared again to save him, stopping both fists.
"He really is the weakest, but even a fly can hurt you when it's angry."
A vein appeared on Lan's forehead, but he decided to ignore it and placed his hands on the ground, channeling electricity into Tilios's legs, making them lose strength. He would do his job regardless.
'I didn't want to admit it, but the two of them are right. Damn it, I hate this.'
Seeing that frustration appear on his face, Enrico felt satisfied, because it was the same expression he himself had worn in the story when he began to change.
'He's the type of character who may take time to accept his weakness, but it's something I can at least respect in him.'
Clutching his opponent's fist, Enrico delivered a kick to the chin, sending him upward, then began forming his bow, his fire arrow starting to spin.
'He was really, really irritating, but he never joined the other side, thinking it was the easier path.'
His fire shot pierced Tilios's stomach, making him vomit blood. Enrico had aimed for the heart, but Tilios managed to dodge slightly, even in the air.
'Well, I guess the final blow won't be mine… what a pity.'
With furious eyes, Tilios moved to strike Enrico, but then a fiery explosion erupted from behind, and a fire serpent bit into his shoulder, piercing through and exploding against a tree in front of him after passing by Enrico—who even tensed up for a moment. A hole in Tilios's shoulder made his arm fall to the ground.
"That… damn…"
Looking back, he saw a trail of fire and Kaela breathing heavily, clearly having spent all her mana. Tilios fell to the ground, bleeding nonstop, struggling to stay conscious.
"Looks like it's over, good work everyo—"
"Over? I won't let it end like this. Even if I have to die, I won't let it end like this!"
Shadow magic began to surge from Tilios's body, and a dark arm emerged from it. An explosion burst out as if from his circle, forcing everyone to back away. Enrico clenched his teeth, sweating, while the others panicked, because they knew what had happened.
"Damn it, this guy advanced his circle."
Before he could even move, Lan was the first to be struck, sent flying backward through several trees. This time, Lan was out of combat, and Tilios looked at the rest of them, desiring only one thing.
"I'll kill you all."