"Dark Entrapment of Light!"
"Huh?" Even Novius was surprised at the name. He hadn't heard of that spell before, but that sounded awfully similar to the Divine Entrapment of Darkness that he and Cylix had made. Just the elements were in a reversal...
"Don't tell me you...?" Even Novius was amazed at the possibility of what this implied. "Did you... Just create a new spell?"
If he was to go by the name and what he saw, this spell also used both the element and was similar yet opposite of their spell. They hadn't taught this spell. Did that mean Gabriel had learned the essence of their spell and management to reverse their components?
Even though they taught him how to understand a spell to create their derivatives or new spells, even that didn't expect him to do it on a High Tier Spell! Most people started by creating basic tier spells first.
Just as he expected, this was quite similar to the Divine Entrapment of Darkness. The only difference was that it covered the flaw of their spell.
The Divine Entrapment of Darkness used the Barrier of Darkness with the offensive spell of Light after trapping the enemy, but that's also where its flaw came since a Dark Mage of Novius' caliber could easily break through a Dark Barrier.
To solve the flaw, Gabriel had already decided to change some things in the spell, mainly changing the barrier.
"I was right!" Even Novius realized this much as a powerful Barrier of Light trapped him inside. Gabriel had switched the element of the Barrier.
For a dark mage, it was much harder to get out of a Barrier of Light without putting in a significant effort. Unfortunately, Novius didn't have time for that since, within seconds of the Barrier appearing, an explosion shook the earth, sending the tremors far.
Even Gabriel felt the tremors of the Earth as if an earthquake was coming. The spell was definitely very powerful for someone like him, but he still didn't know if this was enough to take Novius out.
Novius had Dark Manifestation, which made him almost immune for a short time. It was all going to rest on the strength of his spell. He had fulfilled all conditions to account for the dark manifestation of Novius. Now, all it came down to was the strength of his attack.
If his spell was powerful enough to break Novius' Dark Manifestation, he believed it was his victory, but if it couldn't, then this was it... Gabriel was already exhausted. If he didn't win now, he believed that he wasn't going to win later either.
Still, just to be sure, he kept a soul-healing pill in his hand, ready for any situation.
The barrier of light disappeared, revealing the inside, which was covered in smoke.
"It can't be..." Gabriel grimaced, noticing Novius standing in the same place. He looked just like before, perfectly fine. Did he survive the attack? This was bad!
Novius glanced back at Gabriel, flashing his same old smile. "You surprised me..."
He looked down at his left hand, noticing it start to disappear as well as if it was disintegrating.
"What?" Gabriel was surprised to see Novius disintegrate. What was happening?
"Why are you being surprised?" Novius asked, walking closer to Gabriel. His peak tier Magical Staff disappeared. "I should be surprised. A spell modification of the spell that we taught you? And one which could break my defenses too... Incredible."
"What is happening to you?" Gabriel asked, frowning.
"Your attack broke the limit of my defense," Novius answered as he kept coming closer to Gabriel. His body kept disappearing with time.
"This was your victory, young man. He reached out his left hand to touch Gabriel's head, but before he could, his only remaining hand also disappeared.
Novius dropped to his knees, coughing out blood on the ground.
Even though he didn't show it initially, the damage he took was too much for even him. Moreover, unlike Gabriel, he wasn't using any Soul Healing Pills or any other advantages.
"Open your mouth!" Gabriel reached out his hand with the Soul Healing Pill in hand to help Novius.
"Keep it," Novius answered, shaking his head. His eyes had already lost their shine, making him unable to see anything either. "They can't help me. I'm already dead, just living on the borrowed time for a few minutes."
"You are... Dead?" Gabriel also sat on his knees, not knowing what to feel. So he had won the battle, but for some reason, he still didn't feel like he had won anything. Instead, it was as if he only lost here... He lost Gabriel as well.
Novius nodded. "I only borrowed some time to tell you something important… Whatever happens, don't say yes to the Tower!"
Gabriel didn't understand what these words implied. What shouldn't he say no about? Unfortunately, he couldn't ask as Novius also lost his voice soon, unable to speak anything.
He coughed out more blood. He couldn't see now. He couldn't speak or hear either. He didn't even have hands. Whatever he was trying to say was something that was possibly forever lost unless he left some clues on the box he left behind for Gabriel.
Novius dropped to the ground. Even though he couldn't see, speak or hear, he could still feel a warm hand under his head, giving him support. He could only smile.
'Cylix was right... We couldn't be happier. I am glad we met you... Gabriel. But the outside world is more treacherous. Their actions mold your actions, but in that, you might lose your own path... So I hope you are able to stand firm...'
'Achieve what you want to... Don't let the situation influence you to lose your path... Do it, and you'll be a mage that stands on top of not only this world but the entire universe... You have something that others don't... Exception...'
There were so many things that he wanted to tell Gabriel now, but without words, those things could only stay in his heart.
He had so many thoughts in his heart, but they were all buried in him, disappearing forever as his body disappeared forever, turning into a speck of dark light.
Gabriel looked at his empty hands. Finally, it happened... Eventually, they were both gone… Finally, he was left all alone again.
Even though Cylix and Novius were gone, their presence had influenced Gabriel so much that even he didn't realize at the time.
The emotions that he tried to seal after he was betrayed by Maya... The emotions that he never wanted to carry again... He felt that same sadness as he did when he was killed, maybe even more. He also felt angry… more angry than ever.
He closed his eyes and just sat in silence, not realizing that their Speck of Darkness flew straight to his Ring of Necromancy, being absorbed by it.
