Chapter 198 - Duel

The moment Ren was going to use his right hand to chop at Harold's neck his body suddenly stopped moving. He then noticed Harold's golden eyes looking at him. Harold was now about ready to attack with a kick. Ren using a greater amount of force was able to move his body and evade. 

Once Ren evaded the attack he backed away and looked at Harold in surprise. Harold, on the other hand, was also looking at Ren surprised. Though unlike Ren, Harold's surprise only lasted for a moment before he smiled in a crazed manner and started laughing. 

"As expected of my ancestor, you're able to force yourself free from my special ability." Ren didn't bother to talk to Harold as he once again disappeared from his sight. This time Ren got behind Harold and was about to attack, but then a mana barrier halted Ren's attack. 

Of course, the mana barrier wasn't enough to stop Ren's attack but it was enough to delay him giving Harold enough time to turn around. Once again when Harold's gaze fell upon him Ren couldn't control his body.

Harold already knew that he wouldn't be able to hold Ren using his ability but that didn't matter as it gave him ample time to move back and attack using spells. Ren might have the advantage in speed but stopping his movements for even a second leveled the playing field. 

As the fight went on Harold was amazed to see that he was able to hold his own against Ren. Even though he knew that the current Ren was not even a tiny bit comparable to his former self Demon Lord Kretos, but still fighting a legendary being such as him to a standstill was amazing. It was at that moment when Harold felt like he might actually win he saw Ren's expression change. 

Ren started to smile a very vicious smile at Harold. The moment Harold saw that smile of Ren's he remembered a part of the stories he heard about Demon Lord Kretos. The moment he shows that smile of his was the moment his opponent has been acknowledged and inevitable defeat was to follow. This meant Ren has acknowledged Harold as a worthy opponent and he was about to get serious. 

"You're pretty good but I guess what you've shown me is all you got. Then I shall give you the honor of witnessing what I have." The moment Ren said those lines he snapped his fingers. Harold was confused as to what happened, there were no physical changes and nothing out of the ordinary appeared. Harold wasn't sure what happened but he was positive that something has happened. 

Ren who had snapped his fingers waited for a little bit and then his smile grew even fiercer than before. Harold was about to speak when he suddenly felt Ren's mana output spike to an absurd amount. 

Feeling the ever-increasing mana Ren was releasing made Harold want to puke. Ren was already exuding powerful mana awhile ago that outclassed most people, but now he was exuding a different level of mana. This was the result of Ren massacring every monster on his trip using the scythe.

The current Ren was more powerful than he was a few months ago. When Harold felt that suffocating amount of mana, instead of feeling fear he felt excited. Mana so powerful that you'll be forced down in one knee, it was like he had entered the stories he so loved. Right now at this very moment, Harold was in front of Demon Lord Kretos. 

"I have isolated your whole shop, now no matter how strongly I go at it no one would even sense us. So, if you have any other tricks up your sleeves you better use them now or else this would be over." Ren was getting truly excited as he wasn't expecting an opponent such as Harold. Though Harold's overall specs were weaker than Ren's, he was still able to fight back due to his special ability, 

In the past, there had been no race that had such an ability that could stop one's movement. There had been monsters that could have done something similar, but this was the first time Ren saw a humanoid being use such an ability. 

'This must be due to a mutation by mixing different races.' Ren was amused by the ability Harold had and was excited to imagine that there might be a whole kingdom of ability users. The battles they would have...

While Ren was getting distracted by his imagination, Harold was trying his hardest to move his body. But it was difficult to even stand upright as the force of Ren's mana was making his body unconsciously shiver in fear. The gap of power between them was too great. 

"Hmmm, it doesn't look like you have anything more to show me. So do you yield?" Ren seeing how Harold was struggling to even move looked a bit disappointed. Seeing the disappointed look on Ren's face made Harold feel devastated. This wasn't what he wanted, he didn't want to show such a pathetic side of his. But unfortunately, due to his upbringing, Harold hasn't been in any real battle which made him unable to cope with what was happening. 

"Why should I yield? You haven't even admitted that you're Demon Lord Kretos. So come and show me the extent of your power." Harold struggled a bit and was able to stand upright to look Ren in the eye as he said this. 

Looking at Harold's false bravado made Ren sigh.

'This is getting boring.' Ren turned around and once again issued a warning at Harold. 

"This duel is over, you are not a match for me. I'm leaving but I hope you remember what I said. You can continue your business here, provided that you don't do anything foolish."

Seeing Ren was about to leave, Harold mustered every ounce of power he had and dashed towards Ren. "Wait!"  Harold tried to reach his hand out and grab Ren. He didn't want the first meeting between him and his idol to end like this. As Harold was getting near Ren he suddenly felt a massive force hit his head and was now slowly losing consciousness. As he was about to faint Harold thought he heard Ren's voice. 

"Thanks for the fight."