Chapter 409 On Both Sides Of The Barrier!

409 On Both Sides Of The Barrier!

"Come on, now. Let's play for a bit! Let's have some fun!" Zino shouted excitedly as sparks of blueish lightning moved up and down his arms.

The white-scaled Monster had remained unmoving for a bit, deep in thought.

'More my time inside the Dungeon, I know that Aura is somehow linked to one's mind. Fighting spirit, anger, resolve... All of those influence the strength and quantity of Aura produced. That and Titles. As a General of Wrath, he might be something like a Berserker? But in a different way than that Commander. His Title will influence his strength the more his resembles a General Of Wrath, the more he acts like a General of Wrath, the angrier he gets. That's why...'

"Come on!" Zino leaped forward, his claws imbued with lightning. 'He's fast...!'

Slash-

Mark jumped back.

"Ha! So you can at least dodge this. Good! Good!"

Slashes, leg kicks, punches.

"Huh... You're pretty boring." Zino muttered after his clenched fist landed on the white-scaled Monster's side. The power was enough to push Mark a handful of steps away, but not enough to make his feet leave the ground.

"All you're doing is-"

The white-scaled Monster suddenly took a leap closer. The General Of Wrath's lips curled upwards, just as they had started curling downwards.

Mark threw a punch, but it was blocked. The claws on his left hand moved, but his wrist was grabbed before those claws could reach. Flames rose from his left arm. But he was pulled with such strength that his whole body was lifted into the air. BAM-

Mark's back was slammed against the ground.

He quickly extended his right hand towards the enemy. But Zino was well aware. The General's hand moved to block whatever was going to come from that right hand but...

Zino jumped back.

"Cheap trick." He snorted, obviously amused. It took no effort for his hand to form a fist, shattering the ice that had been formed around it.

'He's not taking me seriously. You want to have fun, huh?' Mark's lips curled slightly. 'I'm glad.'

He quickly got back onto his feet.

'There was a time when this would have made me so angry. Enraged by it... So insecure.'

The General's fists collided, and gauntlets of lightning covered them.

"Let's pick up the pace, okay? I really want to have fun!"

Zino's movements were swift, but Mark's eye did not leave him.

'Those eyes looking at me from above... Not seeing me like a threat... Just like the eyes those used to have, taking pity on me, feeling sorry for me... Oh, how angry it used to make me.'

The white-scaled Monster managed to dodge or block close to every hit.

'But I've shown to many that I shouldn't be underestimated. Guardian upon Guardian... They underestimated me, and I showed them. It felt good proving them wrong, but it always enraged me. That's why I'm glad. I'm glad that I've grown enough...'

Three Fire Balls were shot. They were cut in two by the General's claws. The explosion they left in their wake felt even less threatening than the sparks born from the collision of their claws.

'To feel happy about being underestimated. I'm glad that I've grown enough... That I can now see it as an opportunity.'

The white-scaled Monster spread its wings.

"Going to fly away?"

The next second, hundreds and hundreds of purple and venomous particles were emitted into the air.

Just when the General was about to step back, spikes exited the ground, aimed at his back.

"Ha!" Attacked from both front and back, Zino jumped into the air.

'Nothing more fun than seeing a variety of tricks and Magic Types, right? Since most can only use one or two Magic Types.'

The hairs covering the General's body stood on end. 'That venomous cloud... It's only there to hide his next move?!'

Not only that but,

'The ice couldn't even reach his skin. His speed, strength, and power I can try to deal with but...'

"Let's keep this going!!"

'What's up with that thick pelt?!'

The distance was quickly closed and a clenched fist collided with Mark's cheek, sending him away.

The instant, his feet touched the ground, he leaped forward.

'I need him to underestimate me more! I need him to drop his guard but...!'

"That's it! Light up that fire in you!! Let's have some fun, Monster!!"

The white-scaled Monster suddenly stopped.

"Huh? What's up with you?"

Mark momentarily scratched his nose.

'What am I doing? After this? Even if I beat him then... What am I doing about Laylah? About Krista? What am I doing... About... Elisa?'

The white-scaled Monster opened its hands.

Slap- Slap-

'I need... To focus. I'll deal with that... When I get to it. None of that matters if I don't get past this. This... Is a test. And I'm planning on passing.'

Mark's hands slapped his cheeks a third time for good measure.

'Nothing matters... If I don't get past this. Which means that while I'm here, nothing else matters.'

The General suddenly felt a shiver go up his spine, causing his lips to curl up further.

"Yeah..." Mark nodded. He raised his fists before shouting, "Let's have some fun!"

Shivers went up and down the General's spine at those words.

Zino stared with a wide smile.

'Electrifying!' He could barely contain himself.

Both leaped towards one another.

With each exchange, Mark's movements grew a bit faster.

With each exchange, he could block and deflect a bit better.

With each exchange, his focus grew sharper!

But the reason why he could focus, was because he did not know.

Messages that should have reached him didn't, as he had muted the System earlier.

[Your Underling "Krista" is Evolving rapidly!]

[Your Underling "Krista" is Evolving rapidly!]

Unbeknowst to Mark, the fighting wasn't restricted to within the Barrier.

"You'll probably fetch a good price. Or maybe I'll skin you instead?" A peculiar-looking being resembling an Ogre, though too short and skinny to be one, sneered as he tapped his palm with the rolled-up whip he held in his other hand.

The Lioness opened her mouth wide.

ROARR-

Krista faces off against a Commander of Wrath!!