Chapter 173: Shield

Chapter 173: Shield

A flute. Yep. You heard me.

I mean, its cute.

But it doesnt exactly scream deathmatch.

I challenge you to a duel to the death, you worm!

You sure, Atticus? I have nothing against you, really. I mean, you are a douche, but Id rather not kill you just for that. Cant we just have a normal duel?

You killed an innocent Elf, worm! he shouts with veins popping from his neck.

Innocent? The murderer guy that some [Archmage] had placed there to kill me? Were you actually there?

Man, how are people this dumb? Like, how can a person be so blind? Has he been riled up by someone else? Is he just a puppet?

Atticus, listen to me, I go on, if you die, thats it. You have your whole life in front of you. But Im also not going to let someone trying to kill me off the hook. If you want a match to the death, Im killing you. But, if I can, Id rather avoid that. So, please, cant we have a normal duel? If you defeat me, then Ill concede a match to the death. What about that?

Are you mocking me, worm?

This worm thing is slowly getting under my skin.

Okay, I go up to him and extend my hand. For a second, he looks confused. Lets shake hands before I kill you, Atticus. To the death it is.

I grab his hand and feel the cool but strong armor on my skin. Shaking my head, I start heading back to put some distance between us. This time, theres no shield-breaking kill or get killed.

Its really frustrating. Why cant people be more reasonable? Why does he think he can win just like that?

To the death! the [Archmage] whose name I still dont know shouts. Atticus is wearing the famed Thousand Trees Armor! Its one of the few national treasures not owned by the Royal Family!

Well, thats why he thinks he can kill me.

Aim for the armpits. The enchantment on the armor doesnt cover that part.

[Greater Chain-Flash]

I cover the field in [Flashes], blinding everyone. Atticus, as I had thought, doesnt seem fazed by that. He has some artifact that grants him at least partial immunity. [Flashes] are great as utility spells, but they lose efficacy once your adversary knows what to expect.

Or thats what I want him to think.

[Light Overcharge]

[Overcharged Polarization Field]

[Light Acceleration]

[Light-Bended Reality]

[Overcharged, Accelerated: Advanced Light Lance]

Usually, I would play it safer and be more lenient. But this bastard basically sneak-attacked me as soon as he was legally allowed to. So, its time to dance.

As the lance shoots, I can see him sneering at the flashes, but his eyes are partially narrowed. He cant really see, can he?

[Advanced Mana Sense]

The spell matrix is not finished yet, but Im not done casting. Instead, I take a good look at his shield and do something thats usually very taxing on my mind. Almost too much. Almost.

I cast [Light] ten times. And then ten times again. And again. And again. The strain is almost too much, and I can feel blood spilling from my nose and eyes. The shard of ice lodged in my side puts me in a universe of pain, but my mind is focused. Its single-mindedly focused on the bastards shield, on his hubris. He could have attacked again right after instead of mocking me. But he didnt. And its going to cost him his life.

I can feel the insane pressure multi-casting is putting on my brain, but I dont care. Breaking an already formed spell is hard but not impossible. Not technically.

I push and push, creating more and more [Lights]. Ill need a Mana potion after this, but who the fuck cares. I can feel the spell matrix of the shield starting to crumble, to dissolve into nothingness.

Its almost done.

With a simple pop, the elaborate shield that Atticus has cast disappears. But hes too busy laughing at me to notice.