"Guh!" I let out groaning sounds, trying to escape the cementing pool before I became completely stuck, but...
"It's too late!" Stefan screamed, electricity buzzing from his fingertips.
A giant magic circle appeared above my head, covering the whole expanse of the hardening puddle that entrapped me in an instant.
It was at least ten feet above, and the sparks of energy around it told of bad news.
My eyes returned to Stefan who was now smiling, obviously done casting the great spell about to envelope me.
"Dark Lightning Return!"
>KRIIIIKKKKKKK!!!<
Sparks flew as multiple purple flashes of lightning burst out of the circle, all charging straight down.
'T-this is... High-Tier Intermediate!!!'
Before I could complete those thoughts, though, the burst of electricity connected, surging through the area of impact which generated a deafening explosion.
>BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!<
Chunks of tiles from the stage flew about thanks to the sheer pressure of the attack, and remnant flashes of lightning crackled.
>SHUUUUUU< Smoke rose from the completely solidified pool of cement which had cracked apart as a result of the spell's overwhelming power.
"That was an Intermediate Spell of that High-Tier. There's no way you could have dodged it in time... especially since it caught you by surprise. Plus, lightning is one of the fastest elements there is. You're done for!" Stefan said as he approached.
Smoke filled the area of impact and the roasting smell of burning earth tingled on the nose. Based on the destruction he caused, it was fair for Stefan to assume victory over our battle, but...
"... The match isn't over yet, genius!"
Stefan jumped in shock as he sharply turned his head behind him. The pure expression of confusion that enveloped his face was such a sight to see.
"Y-you... h-how?!" He frantically yelled, beads of sweat appearing on his face.
"Look closely...." I pointed directly at the wave of smoke that ascended from the point of impact Stefan had targeted.
I saw his stiff neck slowly turn in disbelief as he captured the sight I showed him.
His back was turned at me, so I couldn't see his expression anymore, but judging from how the young boy's body spasmed, I knew he had realized my trick.
"Y-you... you dug your way into the ground!" Stefan returned his gaze toward me, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"That's right!" I sharply responded.
My body had no scratches or marks on it, making one wonder how I was able to pull off such a feat.
Once the battle started, I coated myself with an ultra-thin barrier that a person wouldn't even be able to distinguish from my actual body. I made the layer to be sturdy, though, enough to withstand low-level Intermediate Spells.
Still, I pretended to be overly cautious of his electric whips and fell for his trap, even though I could clearly see a gathering of Stefan's Mana on the ground before stepping on it.
I had thought it would result in an explosion or something, instead, I was met with a cementing pool. His lightning spell also formed above me, and I realized it would be a bit too much for my current harrier to handle.
Instead of tanking the spell, I used SPELLCRAFT to control the surplus mana around me in order to easily separate the rock beneath me, allowing me to completely sink into the ground right before impact.
I made a tunnel and swam back aboveground, a distance from Stefan, before revealing myself—completely unscathed.
Of course, I wasn't going to explain any of this to Stefan, who just stood and stared at me dumbfounded.
"I suppose... it's my turn now!" I smirked.
Stefan was powerful and talented, I had to give him that. Which was why it would be pointless and even dangerous to try stretching out the match any longer.
"You should probably go on the defensive now," I advised.
It was up to the boy if he heeded it or not.
"[Dark Lightning Storm]"
The flabbergasted boy became even more shocked by the time I revealed the trick up my sleeve.
>RUMBLE!!!<
A storm cloud formed above Stefan, darkening his vision. Instantly, torrents of wind blew, bombarding him in all areas as he tried to figure out his bearing. Even if the boy tried escaping, the whirling wind surrounding him would prove that to be a difficult task.
'It's no use!'
Combining Wind Magic and Lightning Magic to form a High-Intermediate Spell, close to the peak point of that level, the storm that had formed was going to let out discharges of lightning after forcibly trapping Stefan in its range.
I watched as he struggled, coating himself with all forms of enhancements. Unfortunately, it was nothing more than a powerless child trying to swim against the harsh currents of a raging sea.
"Guarkk!!!" He let out in pain.
As a result of my generosity, I decided it was time to end things.
"Fall!"
Instantly, the thick cloud gave off the glow of purple light, and rumbles of thunder came from within it. Stefan noticed this and looked above him.
It was too late to do anything other than receive the Spell!
>BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!<
Even greater destruction than the earlier spell was caused, thanks to the focus of my lightning attack on a single point.
The ground shattered, and vibrations filled the earth. The audience seemed to recoil as a result of the brilliant flash of light and the echoes of thunder.
Finally, once the single strike hit, I dispersed the cloud, using the remnant wind to brush away the smoke that rose from the heated point of impact.
'That Spell is enough to kill, but... I intentionally delayed in the cast to give you enough time to react and defend...' I smiled, noticing Stefan's unconscious body on the floor.
He had several burn marks on his body, but none were too serious. It seemed he indeed blocked a lot of the attack in time, causing most of the damage to reflect in the surrounding areas. Still, he couldn't completely rid himself of its force.
Even as he was in an unconscious state, I saw the look of determination still glued to the boy's face. He really tried his hardest, didn't he?
"You fought well, Stefan... you fought well."
