⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅
The impact of Victor and Orion's blows echoed across the open terrain, where mountains surrounded the area like sleeping giants. With each clash, the ground trembled, cracks spread, and rocks tumbled down the hills. Orion, now in his monstrous form, exuded a dark aura that distorted the air around him. His bestial body radiated pure destructive power, and every swipe of his claws could devastate entire mountains.
Victor, even at a disadvantage in terms of raw strength, didn't retreat. He moved with precision, his swift attacks landing repeatedly on Orion. However, the dense mana barrier surrounding his opponent was a problem. Every punch Victor threw was dampened before reaching Orion's actual body.
He's using some kind of barrier—I can't break through it... Victor thought, dodging a brutal blow that fractured the ground beneath his feet.
He was fast enough to stay in the fight, but his mind was divided. Serena lay unconscious just a few meters away, too vulnerable to react to the chaos around her. If Orion chose to attack her, Victor wasn't sure he could stop him in time.
Orion roared and charged with fury, his claws slashing the air. Victor jumped back, his body instinctively adapting to the insane pace of the fight. He tried to counterattack, kicking Orion's knee, but the impact was nearly nullified. The shield absorbed all the force of the blow.
"YOU WON'T WIN!" Orion bellowed, madness and hatred gleaming in his eyes. "I'M STRONG! STRONGER THAN YOU!!!"
Victor backed off slightly, assessing the situation. The shield was nearly impenetrable. Even with constant attacks, his blows couldn't truly reach Orion. And with Serena unconscious nearby, he had to divide part of his focus, limiting his movements.
I can't fight properly like this... I need a strategy.
Victor watched Orion more closely as he dodged another destructive attack. Then he noticed something subtle: the shield wavered slightly when Orion moved more aggressively. Maybe there was a pattern... a weakness.
If I can figure out how that shield works...
He leapt back and focused, activating his [Analytical Perception]. The skill began processing combat information, analyzing the barrier's structure, using his senses at maximum intensity in search of a clue. The energy around Orion pulsed in almost imperceptible intervals, absorbing and redistributing force. Victor clenched his fists. He needed to test something.
Orion attacked again, unleashing a crushing punch. Victor didn't dodge completely, letting himself get grazed. The blow sent him flying back, but in that moment, his perception caught the barrier's subtle fluctuation.
"Got it..." Victor murmured, his golden eyes rising to meet his enemy.
» Orion's power, in human terms, has reached 40,000 Mna. «
The information echoed in his mind. Victor didn't fully understand the concept of Mna yet, but he knew it represented a level of strength he hadn't faced before. And if he wanted to win, he had to act fast.
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his stance. If he wanted to break that barrier, he had to strike at the precise moment, at the weak point his analysis had detected. His hands clenched, ice and fire pulsing across his skin.
"I'm going to use everything I have." Victor smiled, feeling adrenaline course through him. He didn't know how this fight would end, but something inside him told him he was ready to find out.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
I felt the ground tremble with each blow we exchanged. Orion was a walking fortress, every attack of his carried the weight of a cataclysm. My fists burned from striking the dense mana barrier around his body—using fire or ice wasn't working either.
Every time I thought I'd made progress, it was like punching a giant pillow that absorbed everything without taking real damage.
I can't get through this barrier... My eyes followed Orion's every move, but my frustration grew. I knew that even with my speed and physical strength, I was running out of options. I couldn't afford to go on like this.
"I need an opening..." I whispered to myself, dodging yet another blow that shattered the ground around me.
The air was heavy, charged with Orion's energy, distorted by his dark aura. I needed to figure out how to break that defense more efficiently.
If I'm going to use everything I have, I'll need all my senses. [Adaptation] is helping me keep up with Orion, and I've got fire and ice thanks to my manipulation skills. So...
Element switching... I nodded to myself, trying to process the idea. The problem was that I'd been relying on brute force alone, but Orion wasn't just any opponent. He wasn't going to give in easily. A strike with ice, followed by fire... It was time to test the theory.
Orion advanced, and I matched him, starting to alternate between ice- and fire-enhanced strikes. The thermal shock should, in theory, destabilize the shield.
» Limited effect. Impact insufficient to break the barrier. Opponent is adapting mana flow. «
Damn. He was smarter than I thought. My analysis detected a change in Orion's mana flow—he was adjusting to the variations, neutralizing my strategy almost as fast as I could apply it. Impressive, I admitted, even as the sound of our punches echoed around us.
"YOU'RE NOT THAT STRONG!" Orion shouted, laughing as I tried to keep up the pace.
I already knew he wasn't going to give up, but I wasn't about to either. I just needed a split second, a tiny gap in his defense. With trained eyes, I saw an opening in his stance. It was now or never. With all the strength I had left, I rushed toward him, focusing all my power into my right fist.
"Now!" I shouted, as my punch struck Orion's jaw.
The impact reverberated. For a brief moment, everything was silent. I had landed the hit.
Blood trickled from his mouth. I had finally done real damage, but it wasn't normal—I had used my own energy as if it were a physical attack. So I had just done something like Orion's shield.
My fist throbbed, but the feeling of finally breaking through that barrier was indescribable. Yet, instead of being shaken, Orion laughed. A deep, dark laugh. His eyes gleamed with something even more intense.
"YOU DARE HIT ME?!" His voice roared with beastly rage. "I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DEFY THE STRONGEST!"
» Skill activated — [Greed Aura]. Orion's power is increasing exponentially. «
I saw the change immediately. His body radiated even greater force, as if the punch had inflated his ego, feeding his thirst for power. The dark aura around him intensified, and before I could react, he lunged with brutal speed.
The blow came faster than I could process. A devastating punch slammed into my chest. The impact was unbearable. The air was knocked from my lungs, and for a moment, my vision blurred. I felt my body launched like a cannonball.
The mountains in my path weren't obstacles. The first, I crashed through with a deafening boom, shattering tons of rock. The second collapsed the same way, the sound of stone colliding ringing out as my body tore through the air. Even after the third mountain, I still felt the brutal impact when I finally hit the fourth, which stopped my trajectory.
I was buried in dust and debris, bones vibrating, mind dazed from the impact—but I was still conscious. Conscious and very much alive.
From where I lay, the only thing I could hear was Orion's insane laughter echoing in the distance.
"IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT?!" he shouted, his voice full of arrogance and glee.
I was injured, but not done. I knew my resistance was high, even for a monster like him. I took a deep breath as my [Analytical Perception] began processing the data from the last blow.
Yeah... That hurt... But now I'm far from Serena—and so is he... I thought as my head cleared.
Orion's laughter grew louder as he approached. He thought he had defeated me, that the blow had decided everything. I knew it hadn't. And without meaning to, I felt a smile form on my face.
"You really think that's the best I can do?!" I shouted, my voice echoing across the mountains, sharp with provocation.
For a moment, silence fell over the area—only to be broken by mocking laughter.
"You're still standing?!" Orion laughed louder, his heavy steps shaking the ground as he returned. "You're pathetic, Victor! Think you can beat me with that useless endurance of yours?"
I laughed back, unable to hold back the provocation. He wasn't yelling this time—it meant my words had hit a nerve. Something inside me enjoyed taunting him, testing how far his arrogance would go. I knew it was dangerous, but I couldn't help it. The adrenaline, the pride... it all blended into an uncontrollable urge to laugh in his face.
"Useless endurance, huh?" I looked directly at him. "Funny, I was thinking the same about you."
Orion roared with rage, his dark aura growing like a storm about to explode. I could feel his power reaching absurd levels, far beyond what he'd shown so far. That hit that launched me through mountains? He was just getting started.
My [Analytical Perception] kicked in immediately, processing the new surge of energy emanating from Orion.
» Orion's power is increasing rapidly. [Greed Aura] is amplifying his physical strength and aggression as his ego is challenged. «
Of course... The angrier he gets, the stronger he becomes... I thought while trying to map the flow of his rising energy. But that also makes him more predictable.
My skill worked in real-time, processing all incoming data, but something bothered me. My own mana flow... was a complete mess. Unlike Orion, who manipulated his energy with lethal precision, mine was erratic, like a river branching aimlessly. I could feel the immense power inside me, but I couldn't control it. It felt like every strike wasted energy and left me vulnerable.
The smile was still on my face, but I knew if things stayed like this, it would only be a matter of time before he found an opening and took me down. I had to do something.
I need to see how Orion does it... how he channels mana...
My eyes locked onto Orion's body. The [Greed Aura] around him spread, but now that I was focused, I could see how his mana flowed. It was a continuous stream, without interruptions—a perfect energy cycle that amplified his movements and attacks. Every step, every strike was reinforced by that intense flow.
I have this energy too... I just don't know how to use it properly... yet.
I closed my eyes for a brief second, took a deep breath, and focused on what was inside me. Slowly, I tried to make my energy follow a more efficient pattern, mimicking what I saw in Orion.
But then a thought hit me like lightning. Serena... She was still there, vulnerable, and I needed to protect her. What was I doing? I couldn't lose myself in the heat of battle. She trusted me, and this fight wasn't just for me. I had to win—for her. I'm protecting Serena... I can't fail her.
For a second, I felt a weight in my chest, as if responsibility was pulling my focus back into place. I don't want to mess this up... I can't make a mistake now...
But at the same time, something inside me roared. The adrenaline of battle surged in my veins, and I couldn't contain the feeling. I was enjoying it. It was something I couldn't control, like it was in my DNA—in my race. The desire to provoke Orion, to see how far he'd go, consumed me.
"You know, Orion... The more you talk, the weaker you sound," I said, my voice dripping with provocation.
For a moment, Orion's eyes narrowed, his rage rising to a new level. He leaned forward, muscles tense, ready for the next strike.
"I'LL DESTROY YOU!" he roared, charging with such speed that the air around him cracked with energy.
It was a nearly painful effort to try and adjust my mana flow in time. Like trying to tame a wild beast. Even so, I felt a slight improvement—my defenses were a bit more solid, my movements a bit more fluid. It wasn't perfect, far from it, but it was a start.
Before I could finish the thought, Orion was already upon me. His claws gleamed, and the next impact was like a meteor hitting the earth.
Pain exploded through my body, but quickly faded, as always. My body mimicked human pain, but the sensation was much lighter. The force, however, couldn't be ignored. The blow launched me through the air once again. This time, the impact was even more brutal, sending me crashing through multiple mountains, tearing through rock like paper.
Even so, as I flew through the debris, the fear I felt at the beginning of the fight was gone. On the contrary, I was happy.
When I finally stopped, buried in rubble, silence reigned for a moment. My body, though aching, was already adjusting. I was learning, slowly, how to deal with this.
Orion's voice, now distant, echoed with a triumphant tone.
"YOU'RE NOTHING!" he roared, his voice reverberating across the battlefield.
I, however, was calm. Serena... Don't worry. I'm protecting you.
I didn't know much about battles in this world, but the excitement of learning, of testing my limits, was taking over.
A guy like this, Orion... I'm going to destroy your fantasies. When you reach your peak, I'll bring you down—as punishment for your actions.
The silence didn't last long. Orion charged at me again with the same fury as before, his aura more intense than ever. Stones around him trembled, pulverized by the mere presence of his growing power. But something inside me had changed.
I was beginning to understand. The chaotic mess that was my mana flow was starting to align. Each strike from Orion, every movement he made, became clearer in my mind. I could see the patterns, the way his energy flowed through his muscles, fueling his attacks.
When he lunged again, something clicked inside me. My feet moved effortlessly, and my body dodged his strike almost automatically. The rock beside me exploded as Orion's fist crashed into it, but I was no longer there. I had read his attack, predicted the flow of his energy, and for the first time, my own mana responded accordingly.
I moved with fluidity, and each time he struck, I dodged, narrowly escaping, yet every movement of mine felt more calculated, more precise. My [Analytical Perception] was in perfect sync with my body, and I was finally beginning to feel control over the energy I possessed, the same energy that had once seemed uncontrollable.
"How... how are you keeping up with me?!" Orion roared, his voice filled with disbelief and rage. Each missed blow only fueled his frustration.
I laughed. The sound escaped effortlessly, spontaneous, maybe a little arrogant. He had no idea what was happening.
"Don't you get it, Orion?" I said, dodging another of his attacks. "I'm growing."
As his strikes grew more desperate, I began to feel something different. An idea formed in my mind.
What if I could concentrate all this energy at once? Not just use it to move or defend, but to explode in a single strike?
Suddenly, I realized I was smiling again, and excitement pulsed through my veins. I was still learning, just beginning to grasp the basics of mana manipulation, but I knew enough to make a mess. My pride pushed me to test this, to unleash everything at once.
I focused on the mana flowing inside me, trying to gather every scattered particle and force it to circulate around my body. The sensation was strange, like holding raw force I barely understood. But it worked. I felt the power building, a growing pressure ready to explode at any moment.
"You think you can beat me just by dodging my attacks?!" Orion shouted, his eyes bloodshot with fury.
I punched his face with all my strength, knocking him from the mountain to the ground below, where he crashed in an explosion. Blood began to flow from his mouth and eyes.
I didn't answer. Instead, I landed beside him, raised my right hand, and let my mana expand around my body. The energy flowed like a river, but instead of dispersing, I kept it there, circulating, growing in intensity. I was creating something new. A skill that was mine alone.
The energy began to swirl in a vortex around my body, in hues of blue, lilac, silver, red, and green.
"[Aura]" — The name came naturally, as if the skill had always been with me.
Suddenly, an intense light burst around me. It was an explosion of colors—shades of purple, distorted green energies surrounding my body like a living shield, but much more powerful. The ground trembled, and the pressure of my mana began to destroy everything around me. I could feel the rock beneath me disintegrating, the distant mountains cracking under the weight of the energy I was releasing.
Orion stared at me, frozen for a second. The terror in his eyes was palpable. He could feel what was about to happen.
"Please, don't get up after this."
Before he could react, I let the [Aura] explode. All my mana was released at once in a devastating attack. The wave of energy spread in all directions, demolishing the surrounding terrain, destroying mountains like they were made of sand. A blinding light consumed everything as I unleashed my mana at full force.
Orion was engulfed by the explosion, his figure vanishing into the rainbow glow surrounding me. I felt the overwhelming force of my own skill tearing through the mountainous region, turning the battlefield into a wasteland of pulverized stone.
When the light finally began to fade, the battlefield had completely changed. The terrain once filled with mountains was now a giant crater spanning 12 kilometers, with Orion at its center, collapsed, covered in dust and rubble. His aura had vanished, and he lay motionless.
I stood up, panting but satisfied. I could feel my body vibrating with the remaining energy, though exhaustion was beginning to take hold. I had released too much at once, and it would take its toll.
But in that moment, I didn't care. I did won…
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Orion rose again, but quickly fell to his knees, his body heavy, his lungs burning with every breath. The battlefield around him had become a crater devastated by Victor's [Aura]. His [Greed Aura] was dissolving, as was his strength. Pain enveloped him, but it was a different kind now—not just the pain of flesh, but of the soul.
He knew the end was near.
As his body slowly lost its consistency, fragmenting into energy, his mind, for the first time, was clear. In those final moments, a cruel clarity struck him like an invisible blow.
He raised his eyes to the sky, obscured by dust and chaos, but his mind traveled far from there. He thought of his companions... the Fifth... and that organization of white-hooded figures he had served with blind loyalty.
Shadowy figures, powerful ones, who had fed him promises of greatness.
But now he saw the truth.
They never helped him. Never even cared.
"If... they had helped me... maybe... I would have won..." he muttered, his voice a weak whisper, swallowed by the wind.
But even as he said the words, he knew they weren't true. There were no excuses. He had been used and discarded like a dull blade.
I was deceived.
His chest tightened as he faced that reality. The pride that had sustained his existence crumbled like a rotten wall. His whole life had been built on illusions, hollow ambitions forged by the words of others. Everyone said he was a prodigy destined to be powerful, and he had lived for that. And now, facing death, he saw the truth more clearly than ever:
He had never been strong.
His eyes drifted to Victor. The boy... the monster... No, something more. His presence was like a blinding star.
Orion had always believed that strength was something to be taken, earned by crushing others underfoot. But Victor... Victor was different. Even after everything, even after utterly defeating him, he could still show an expression like that toward someone like him. Pity.
"Ah... I see now..." he whispered, his voice heavy with bitterness. A dry laugh escaped his throat, devoid of joy. I never moved forward. I was never strong.
The weight of his existence collapsed around him. The emptiness he had always tried to ignore now embraced him like a cold hug.
Then Victor's voice echoed.
"Now it should be okay. You were very strong, Orion. I'll pray that if you get another chance, you'll be a better person."
The words cut deeper than any blade.
What are you saying? How can you say that?
Without realizing it, a tear formed in his monstrous eyes. It was a strange feeling—warm, heavy. Something he had never allowed himself to feel before.
Victor turned away, and Orion saw a clear image of his back as he walked off. Strong. Unshakable.
You... you...
One last spark of pride ignited in his chest, only to be consumed by the inevitable truth.
I see now... You are truly strong. Far stronger than I could ever be...
His body dissolved into small particles of energy, scattering in the wind. His dreams, his ambition, all fading into oblivion.
And in the end, all that remained was silence.
The world would continue spinning without him. But that battle would never be forgotten by his opponent. That monster who had been more human than him in his final moments.
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅