The cool, analytical gaze of Referee Randy, an Arcana Master renowned for his impartiality and sharp observations, followed Rudelion's effortless movements as he returned to the center of Training Ground Beta. The first round of the mock battle had concluded, leaving Lathel and Justia breathless, their Mana reserves noticeably depleted, yet their eyes alight with a renewed sense of purpose. Rudelion, conversely, remained unruffled, his golden-blonde hair immaculate, his heterochromatic eyes betraying nothing but serene composure.
'Randy is observing intently,' Rudelion noted, acknowledging the Mana signature of the referee. 'He likely wonders about my unique Mana affinity and the seemingly effortless speed. Good. A little mystery adds to the legend.'
Lathel and Justia had used the brief respite to hydrate and mentally regroup, their hushed conversation filled with animated whispers about Rudelion's speed and the unsettling Mana disruption technique. They now stood with a fresh determination, their postures subtly altered, their Mana signatures resonating with heightened focus.
"Ready for the next round?" Lathel called out, his voice clearer, a new resolve steeling his tone. He held his practice sword with a firmer grip, his silver hair still slightly damp from sweat, but his eyes burning with renewed intent. "We've discussed our approach."
Justia nodded beside him, her sapphire eyes fixed on Rudelion. Her Mana, though still recovering, felt more coiled, like a spring. 'They've learned. They've adapted. This is precisely what I wanted.'
"Excellent," Rudelion replied, his voice calm, radiating confidence. "Adaptation is the mark of a true Arcana Master. Show me what you've learned." He made no move to prepare, standing relaxed, his arms loosely at his sides. 'This display of casual readiness will further emphasize my control, my lack of effort. It will challenge their perception of my power.'
Referee Randy raised his hand once more. "Combatants, are you prepared? Second round. Begin!"
The moment Randy's hand dropped, a subtle shift occurred in Lathel and Justia's Mana signatures. They didn't rush forward as before. Instead, Lathel moved to Rudelion's right, while Justia moved to his left, attempting to flank him. Their Mana, instead of being singular bursts, now flowed between them, creating a subtle, almost invisible link.
'Coordinated movement. They're trying to limit my evasion, forcing me into a corner. And a Mana link? Impressive. Justia is actively using her defensive Mana to support Lathel's movements, making him less predictable.'
Lathel initiated the attack, but this time, it was a feint. His Mana-infused blade flashed, but it was a wide, sweeping horizontal strike, clearly meant to funnel Rudelion away from his path. Simultaneously, Justia began channeling, a dense Mana Construct: Wall shimmering into existence, not between them, but behind Rudelion, cutting off his direct retreat.
'A pincer. Predictable, but well-executed. They're learning to box me in.' Rudelion didn't Abyssal Blink backwards. Instead, his form blurred, his Void Step activating with heightened precision. He shifted between Lathel and Justia, appearing momentarily in their tight formation before flowing past Lathel, creating an opening in their coordination.
Lathel, momentarily caught off guard by Rudelion's internal penetration of their formation, stumbled slightly. Justia, however, reacted instantly, pulling her Mana back from the flanking wall and redirecting it into a quick, sharp Mana Pulse aimed at Rudelion's immediate vicinity, hoping to disorient him.
'Faster reaction time from Justia. And a better understanding of Mana disruption, even if it's a basic pulse.' Rudelion allowed the pulse to brush against his Mana Shield. It was a negligible force, barely a ripple. He wanted them to feel a momentary success, to push harder.
He then initiated his own subtle counter. He extended a hand towards Lathel, not to attack, but to project a low-level, continuous Mana field around him, making Lathel's Mana feel slightly sluggish, heavier. It was a localized distortion, a fraction of his true Abyssal Field capability, but enough to introduce subtle resistance into Lathel's movements.
"My Mana feels… thick!" Lathel exclaimed, his Mana signature showing confusion as his sword swings became subtly slower.
Justia immediately sensed it. Her Mana surged, sending a counter-wave of purification into Lathel's Mana field, attempting to clear the distortion. 'She's actively trying to cleanse it. Her supportive abilities are truly excellent. I need to test their endurance.'
Rudelion smiled internally. 'This is good. They're pushing their limits. Now, let's see if they can think on their feet.' He began to conjure several Mana Construct: Wall barriers simultaneously, not as a solid blockade, but as a series of shifting, transparent panels that appeared and disappeared around the arena, creating a dynamic maze. They weren't meant to trap, but to constantly break their line of sight, forcing them to re-adjust, to rely on Mana sensing rather than sight.
Lathel, frustrated by the shifting walls and the persistent Mana sluggishness, roared and unleashed a rapid flurry of Mana Bolts, each one focused and powerful, aimed at shattering the nearest Mana walls. His Mana blazed, a brilliant torrent of divine light. He was applying 'Internal Sculpting' well; his bolts were precise, direct, shattering the constructs with efficiency.
Justia, meanwhile, was strategically maintaining her Sacred Shield around Lathel, absorbing any stray Mana shards from his blasts, and continuously trying to purify the sluggishness from his Mana. Her concentration was absolute, her Mana expenditure high.
'They're pouring out Mana. Excellent. Let's see how long their reserves last. And how they react under pressure when their Mana starts to dwindle.'
Rudelion continued his Void Step movements, becoming even more unpredictable, making him seem to flicker in and out of existence, always just out of reach. He allowed Lathel to feel as if he was almost catching him, constantly baiting him into expending more Mana. He would appear, feign an attack that was actually a minor Mana disruption, then vanish again.
"He's playing with us!" Lathel growled, his voice strained. His Mana signature, while still immense, was starting to show signs of fatigue, the vibrant light flickering.
"Focus, Lathel!" Justia urged, her own Mana showing increasing strain. Her purifying efforts were constant, but the subtle distortion Rudelion was maintaining was persistent, like a hum against their core.
Rudelion observed their combined Mana flows. Lathel's was immense but depleting. Justia's was highly efficient but clearly showing signs of being overworked. Their Mana link, while effective for basic coordination, wasn't sophisticated enough to counter Rudelion's precise, multi-layered pressures.
'Time to introduce a new element. Something to test their response to a different kind of threat.'
Rudelion manifested a Mana Construct: Imp – a small, illusory creature made of pure Mana, buzzing around them, not physically threatening, but designed to distract and siphon tiny amounts of ambient Mana, subtly irritating their senses. He created three of them, zipping around like ethereal gnats.
Lathel, already stretched thin, instinctively swatted at one with his sword, wasting energy. Justia, however, focused her Mana, unleashing a quick, contained burst of her sacred energy that dissolved one of the Mana Imps instantly. 'She can dispel. Useful. I'll need to remember that.'
Rudelion then made his move. He appeared directly in front of Lathel, a sudden, startling presence. Lathel, reacting with heroic speed, thrust his Mana-infused sword forward. Rudelion didn't Abyssal Blink away this time. Instead, he allowed the blade to make contact with his Mana Shield. The sword met the invisible barrier with a faint, resonant hum. The Mana Shield held, absorbing the impact with ease, not a ripple betraying the immense force behind Lathel's blow. Rudelion didn't even flinch.
Lathel's eyes widened in shock, his Mana signature spiking with disbelief. "It… it didn't even scratch you!" His sword seemed to bounce off an invisible wall.
Justia, witnessing the impenetrable defense, gasped, her Mana signature reflecting genuine astonishment. 'His Mana Shield… it's far stronger than anything I've ever seen.'
Rudelion simply inclined his head. "My Mana defenses are… robust. However, that was an excellent thrust, Lathel. Your improved precision is clear." He was acknowledging their effort, even in utter failure. 'Maintain the facade of helpful mentor. Never gloat.'
He then dissolved his Mana Shield and, in a blink, was behind Justia again. This time, instead of the subtle Abyssal Chains disruption, he performed a quick, precise Arcane Dispel on the remnant of a Mana reinforcement spell that Justia had placed on Lathel. The spell simply vanished, leaving a slight void in Lathel's Mana field.
Justia spun, her eyes wide. "He dispelled it! My reinforcement spell just… vanished!" Her Mana spiked with alarm. 'He's not just powerful; he has countermeasures for specific spells. That's a different level of Arcana.'
Lathel, feeling the sudden loss of the reinforcement, grit his teeth. "He's forcing us to adapt to every new technique! Justia, what do we do?" His Mana, already weary, pulsed with a growing desperation.
"We… we push harder, Lathel!" Justia declared, her voice strained, but unwavering. Her Mana flared, and she began to channel a more complex Mana formation, a swirling vortex of sacred energy around her hands. 'A defensive counter-attack? Or a stronger shield?'
'Interesting,' Rudelion mused. 'She's preparing a more advanced spell. Good. Let's see what she has in her arsenal.' He maintained his evasive movements, dancing around them, allowing them the space to cast, but always ready to disrupt or counter.
Justia finally unleashed her spell. A powerful Sacred Barrier erupted from her, not a simple wall, but a dome of shimmering, pearlescent energy that enveloped both her and Lathel. It was thicker, more resilient, than her previous shields. It glowed with immense power, radiating warmth and purity.
'A full dome barrier. Mana-intensive, but incredibly strong. Designed to withstand sustained assault. This is her ultimate defense.' Rudelion mentally recorded the Mana cost and the resonance frequency of the shield. He also noted the tremor in Justia's Mana signature – maintaining such a powerful barrier was clearly taking a heavy toll.
Inside the barrier, Lathel began channeling his own Mana, a golden light coalescing around his sword, humming with intense power. 'A charged attack. Their last resort. Let's see the peak of his offensive power.'
Rudelion watched, impassive. He knew the limits of their current abilities. He could stand there and let Lathel unleash his strongest attack, and his Mana Shield would absorb it without a ripple. But that wouldn't be instructive. He needed to show them the next level.
He decided to make a subtle demonstration of his Mana's unique properties. He extended his hand towards the Sacred Barrier. He didn't blast it. Instead, he activated a controlled, extremely localized application of his Abyssal Field – a subtle distortion in space and Mana, focused solely on a small section of Justia's powerful barrier. It wasn't an attack, but a momentary warping.
The pearlescent energy of the Sacred Barrier shimmered violently at that point, rippling as if an invisible hand had twisted it. A hairline fracture, almost imperceptible, appeared on its surface, then vanished. It didn't break the barrier, but it showed that it could be affected, not by force, but by something more fundamental.
Justia gasped, her eyes wide with terror as she felt the subtle, chilling twist in her Mana. Her Mana signature pulsed with utter disbelief. "My barrier… it… warped!"
Lathel, just about to unleash his charged attack, faltered, his golden Mana fading from his sword as he stared at the faint ripple on Justia's ultimate defense. "What did you do, Rudelion?" he whispered, his voice filled with a new, profound awe mixed with a touch of fear.
Rudelion slowly lowered his hand, his expression calm. "An understanding of spatial Mana, Lathel. All constructs exist within space. If you can influence the space, you can influence the construct." He offered a subtle, almost imperceptible nod to Justia. "Your Sacred Barrier is formidable, Justia. Truly exceptional. But even the strongest shield has a deeper foundation. And that foundation can be… swayed."
Silence descended upon the training ground, broken only by Lathel's heavy breathing and Justia's rapid heartbeat, detectable even through her Mana signature. They were utterly stunned.
Referee Randy, who had been observing with a stoic expression, now looked at Rudelion with a flicker of something akin to surprise in his own Mana. He had clearly seen the subtle distortion.
Rudelion then spoke, his voice gentle, signaling the end of the engagement. "I believe that is enough for today. Your Mana reserves are nearly depleted, and you have both shown remarkable growth and determination."
Lathel slowly lowered his sword, his face pale with exertion and awe. Justia let her Sacred Barrier dissipate, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion. "We… we still couldn't defeat you," Lathel murmured, his voice laced with bewildered respect.
"The goal was not to defeat me, Lathel," Rudelion replied, walking towards them, radiating a calm, reassuring presence. "The goal was to test your limits, to deepen your understanding, and to show you the next step in Mana mastery. And in that, you have both succeeded admirably." He offered a genuine, warm smile, full of the Charisma that could disarm any suspicion. "You adapted to my speed, Lathel. Your Mana control improved. And Justia, your defensive spells and supportive efforts were exceptional. Your Sacred Barrier is truly impressive."
"But that… distortion," Justia said, her voice still trembling slightly, "what was it?"
Rudelion paused, his eyes holding a hint of deep, arcane knowledge. "A glimpse into the fundamental nature of Mana and space. It requires a certain… affinity for the void. A concept for future exploration, perhaps. For now, focus on internal Mana cultivation and precision. That is your immediate path to greater power." He offered them both a subtle, knowing look. "You have both shown immense potential. Continue to train as you have, apply what we've discussed, and you will surpass even your own expectations."
'They are thoroughly impressed. Slightly intimidated. And utterly dependent on my insights for their next stage of growth. Perfect.' Rudelion watched them, knowing this mock battle was not just about testing them, but about subtly weaving himself into their lives, making himself an indispensable guide. The narrative now had a new, powerful, and utterly unaware puppet master pulling its strings.
'Good all according to the plan,' he mused, a quiet hum of power resonating through his Mana core. 'The game is proceeding as intended. And I am perfectly, exhilaratingly, in control.'