"Battle Start!"
As soon as Judge Dredd gave the signal, Nero used his skill, Lightning Step, and immediately appeared in front of Lux, slashing him with his sword.
He already knew that the Rock Golem standing beside the chubby teenager had a skill that could forcefully taunt people into attacking it, allowing Lux to use that opportunity to unleash an attack of his own, just as he had done to Vall.
Nero didn't know the exact mechanics of this ability, but having his freedom taken away from him for a brief moment was something that he didn't want to happen, so he decided to take the initiative to fight Lux in close quarters.
Summoners, in general, were weak when it came to close combat, so he believed that he could overwhelm the other party as long as he went toe to toe with him the first opportunity he got.
Lightning sparks flew in every direction as Nero's sword landed on Lux's body.
Everyone thought that the match would be instantly over, but to their surprise, Nero's blade was met with Lux's right hand that had transformed into the claws of a dragon, sending sparks flying in every direction.
Nero frowned, because that single blow alone was enough to tell him that he had greatly underestimated his opponent. He wasn't just fighting against a Summoner, but against someone who also specialized in close combat!
"You have hidden yourself quite deep," Nero said as he backed away a safe distance away from Lux. "As expected of someone that has entered the Semifinals."
"You're faster than I thought," Lux replied as gazed at his opponent in the distance.
Lux's entire body was covered by a blue set of armor, which was different from the dark-green one that he had worn in his previous battle against Vall.
He had equipped the specialized armor that he had prepared specifically for his fight against Nero, gaining increased resistance against the Lightning Element.
—---
< Lux's Dragon Regalia >
(Lightning Awakened Form)
Rating: Pseudo-Legendary
Requirements: Apostle Grade D
– An armor that was forged for the sake of protecting someone that was important to him.
+50 to all Stats
+500 to Defense
– 50% Resistance to the element of Lightning
– Has a moderate chance to nullify any lightning based damage that the wearer of this armor will receive.
– This armor can absorb lightning damage and use it to coat its entirety with lightning that deals damage to anyone within two meters of its wearer.
– This Armor is bound to Lux Von Kaizer
Active Skills: Lightning Flash, Lightning Strider, Lightning Body
Passive Skills: Improved Lightning Reflexes, Improved Concentration, Beast Bane, Improved Elemental Resistance, Absorb Lightning, Indestructible, Auto Fit
< Lightning Flash >
– Create a dazzling radiance that has a high chance of temporarily blinding your enemies.
—--
< Lightning Strider >
– Teleport anywhere within a twenty meter square radius.
—-
< Lightning Body >
– Coat your body with the power of lightning that deals damage to anyone within two meters of you.
—--
< Improved Concentration >
– Raises all of your stats by 10 points each.
< Improved Lightning Reflexes >
– Your awareness is raised to a higher level, giving you the ability to dodge blows, as well as execute maneuvers that require fast movement.
—-
< Beast Bane >
– When fighting against Beast Type Monsters, increase physical and magical damage by 20%
—-
< Improved Elemental Resistance >
– Decrease all Elemental Damage by 20%
—---
"Let's dance," Lux declared before using the skill, Lightning Strider, to instantly teleport in front of Nero and deliver a punch to the latter's face.
Nero's fast reflexes allowed him to dodge Lux's attack and launch a counter-attack of his own, which the Half-Elf blocked with his clawed hands.
The Lightning Strider skill was a skill that was highly effective in close combat. It was quite different from Lightning Steps, which allowed someone to move extremely fast in any direction they wanted.
Although both fighters seemed to be teleporting all over the arena, it was only Lux who was using the teleport skill, while Nero was using his Lightning Step to the fullest.
"I thought My Daddy was a Summoner?"
"He also specializes in close combat? I've never heard of Summoners like this!"
"Such crazy talent. He moves so fast despite the fact that he's quite chubby. His speed isn't any slower than Nero's!"
It was a very common knowledge in Solais and Elysium that most Summoners weren't proficient in close combat. This was why when people fought against them, they would first target the Summoner, instead of their Summons in order to end the battle.
Of course, there were exceptions to this rule.
Iris, who was a Beast Tamer, could also be considered a Summoner in her own right. However, because she had practiced the Kaizer Sword Arts, alongside Lux, ever since they were little, she was proficient in melee combat as well.
However, no one knew this. Iris' Summons were always there to protect her, so everyone thought that she didn't practice any form of martial arts.
Lux had only been a Necromancer for a little more than a year, but during his childhood, he had trained as a warrior under Vera's tutelage.
Although he wasn't able to put these powerful techniques into practice due to his weak constitution, their forms and executions had been ingrained in his body, waiting to be unleashed at the right moment.
Two blurs clashed against each other repeatedly, sending sparks all over the arena.
Orion simply stood and watched the battle unfold without interfering in it. Lux had ordered him to not take any action unless he specifically told him to move.
The Half-Elf had spent a lot of time studying the Dragon War Arts that he had learned through the rewards that Keoza had given him. He even subtly modified them to work alongside the Kaizer War Art that he was more accustomed with, creating a new style that worked only for him.
Lux called this new style Kaizer Dragon War Art, which he was now using against the brown-haired teenager, whose true strength he was experiencing for the first time.
"Dragon Claw!"
"Lightning Slash!"
The ground burst apart, sending dirt, and rubble flying in every direction, as the two powerful attacks collided in the center of the arena.
Lux was about to follow up his attack, but his sixth sense warned him that he should distance himself from his opponent.
The Half-Elf had experienced many life and death scenarios in Elysium, and had learned to take heed to the warning of his senses, so he immediately teleported away.
A second later, black lightning bolts emerged from Nero's sword, decimating the place where he stood just a minute ago.
"Abyss Lightning Bolt," Lux muttered as he landed several meters away from the brown-haired teenager, whose sword had been enshrouded by black lightning.
Crackling sounds spread in the arena as the black lightning bolt from Nero's sword spread into the armor covering his body.
"Abyss Lightning Body," Nero said as lightning crackled around him like living snakes that were looking for something to bury their poisonous fangs on.
Lux took a deep breath as he took a fighting stance. His Abyss Touch [EX] wasn't active because he didn't want to alert Nero of this ability of his from the get go.
He knew how cautious Nero would become once he perceived that Lux had an ability that could get past his defenses. The Half-Elf was looking for the perfect opportunity to activate this skill alongside a powerful attack that would catch his opponent by surprise.
"Tempest Fury," Lux chanted as the wind element circled around his body, bestowing the power of Wind Elements to his attack.
The two fighters gazed at each other before disappearing from where they stood. A few seconds later, loud explosions spread across the entire arena as both fighters unleashed their ranged, and close combat skills against each other, trying to get the upper hand, in a battle that was getting more intense, with every passing minute.
