Chapter 82 - The Strongest Outlander

It was utterly unavoidable, an expanding wall of pure lightning energy enclosed on Fai as he rode upon his Roc's back. Lightning magic was known for its swiftness and hard-hitting nature in exchange for a lack of control or utility--however, this spell fought against that very concept. Only a complete mastery over the rampant element could result in such a spell, bending and shifting the form of what refuses to be shaped, turning it into a dome of death--acting as both the ultimate offensive and defense.

Dodging was no longer an option, leaving his only choice to be to counteract the attack with something of his own.

Slamming each of his knuckles together, Fai wore an anxious smile as he was brought face-to-face with the sphere of violet lightning, feeling the stinging air that came with it pelt against his skin.

"Monster. This isn't even great magic...Yet look at it."

Fai couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the magic cast against him, beginning to focus on his own counterattack as a sharp inhale filled his lungs. As soon as the breath was finished, flames erupted around the eastern martial-artist.

The mixture of Fai's rampant flames filling the air mixed with Sirius' lightning had caused the air itself to behave oddly, unleashing heartbeats in the form of powerful shockwaves. A constant battle was fought on Fai's behalf as he continued to ramp up his mana, summoning raw flames to combat the approaching wall of purple bolts as he worked on his spell.

A stray bolt retaliated against his hold of the barrier, pelting against his chest and instantly turning his vest into nothing more than ash. His familiar let out screeches of agony as its wing grazed the shield of lightning, repulsing it with a sharp jolt.

"Zhurong: Malevolent Arms!"

Almost a dozen enormous arms of flames manifested from thin-air, pushing back against the constantly expanding barrier. The moment the palms of the pseudo-limbs met with the surface of the aggressive spell, they were instantly met with harsh feedback.

Even though the limbs formed of magical energy were in no way connected to his body, somehow, he felt the electric recoil that surged through them.

"I see...It resonates directly with my mana, so even if the lightning hits a spell of mine...By extension, I'm hit as well. I almost feel like that's cheating--!"

Fai chuckled as he fought against the static attempting to seize his flesh, counteracting it by amplifying his own mana flow. As he had thought, there really was no way to evade this, neither by running away or with a defense of his own.

It all came down to a clash of raw power.

"--Damn, no more time to waste. I've got to do it now-- Zhurong: Benevolent Spear of The South!"

All of the flames generated by Fai had centralized in a sun-like orb above his hand raised towards the stars. It was the forge of the heavens--melding the flames into the shape of a scarlet weapon, taking the form of a spear, the size of which could only be wielded by a giant.

The harshness of the heat set the bird of myth he rode on ablaze, forcing him to relinquish its form as he hovered in the air for a prolonged moment in time.

Not a single step had been taken by Sirius all this time, who welcomed the sight of this fantastical spell crafted by his rival, holding a smile of confidence, not a trance of arrogance to be seen.

--He's serious now, isn't he? If it was anyone else, I'm sure a move like that would wound up with a casualty. Come, Fai.

The vicious flames emanating from the true spear alone were enough to repel the antics of the colossal barrier, forcing Sirius to prepare for a counter of his own.

Fai's complexion shifted to a strained red, his veins pressing against his skin as he forced his arm forward to guide the massive weapon of refined flames. As it pressed downwards from the sky, the spear of the south collided directly with the barrier, bending its shape inwards as the shield of lightning attempted to thwart its path.

Another press of his arm led Fai's spear to victory against the majestic barrier, piercing it as the winds howled in response, unleashing a shock wave that traveled through the surrounding valley, freeing pollen from trees and birds from their abodes. It inched closer and closer to Sirius' position, eating away at the air with its hungering flames.

Brought face-to-face with the approaching sharp, solidified flames, Sirius rose only his index finger with a look of tranquility housing itself on his expression, speaking an incantation unheard by Fai, "Weltall: Singularity."

In the space left between the tip of the spear and Sirius' stance, a spec of utter darkness bore itself into existence. It rapidly expanded in size, displaying that something indeed sat within the void before it unleashed its true nature--inhaling its surroundings with an almighty pulling-force.

"The hell?! Is that a black hole?!"

Fai yelled out, bewildered by the sight of a spell that was clear as day not lightning magic. He landed on his feet, watching as his spear was relinquished to the gaping void formed in the air, warped inside of it and reduced to nothingness.

The moment the weapon formed of flames was consumed, Sirius snapped his fingers--releasing the enigmatic spell from existence.

"...I get it now. You finally mastered it, didn't you? Did you really hide something like that during our mission?"

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Fai huffed as he approached his black-haired rival, who held nothing but a slightly smug smile to himself. Adjusting the cape that laid itself over his shoulders, brushing the kicked-up dust off of its gracious form, Sirius slowly shook his head.

"I didn't master it, not at all."

"Spatial magic...If that's not master of it then I don't want to know what is."

"Did a little thing like that scare you?"

Sirius teased, fixing the collar of his gray uniform with a smirk. Without a moment's waste, Fai began to hop in place on the tip of his toes, cracking his neck side-to-side as his knuckles followed suit, letting his hazel ponytail bounce with his body.

As the lightning Outlander predicted, there was no way in hell that Fai was going to back down from that.

"Lightning magic, spatial magic, blah, blah, blah! I'll take anything on! Come on--"

"Now hold on just a minute!"

It wasn't Sirius who had interrupted Fai's call for battle, temporarily throwing both of the combative men into a pool of confusion. Although the origin of the voice quickly became obvious to both as smiles returned to their once perplexed confusions--turning to see a familiar head of scarlet.

"I didn't think you were going to stay down from that."

"Yeah, a little voltage just warmed up my muscles, is all."

Sora stepped onto the ruined field, replacing his broken armor with a newly formed set. The three Outlanders squared off as the winds picked up storms of loose dirt.

"Sheesh, man, you look like a walking corpse!"

Teasing Sora for his blood and dirt covered skin, Fai let out his giggle that was unbefitting of a grown man.

"A bit of a royale...Let's get this thing started then, shall we?"