"Over my life, you say?"
Stenn rouse further up in the air. Letting his blue robe flicker madly against the pressure overwhelming pressure he started to exclude. The bloody smell in their arena seemed to slowly grow weaker when coming in contact with it as well.
"You are one hundred years too early, Mr Michael!"
Just after his shout had echoed into the room, some sort of immaterial mist began to circle around him. Gathering and thickening, until shooting itself at Michael in the form of a large human hand.
"Vapor Magic: Water Drain!"
The translucent hand absorbed all the surrounding moisture as it closed in on his frame. Too bad that just before it grabbed him, Michael also chanted something of his own. Letting the powerful voice overpower the remanences left by Stenn.
"Gold Magic: Gold Throttle!"
The fingers shooting out of the vapor hand were about to curl around him, threatening to turning his bestial body into a dried husk.
But before any contact was made, a strong gold light enveloped him.
Everything from the fur, to the hair on his head, all changed into a radiant yellow color. Even his eyes turned into glowing gold coins.
The blinding shine was hard to properly make out. However, if you focused onto Michael, you would see the misty hand which previously held him down dissipate into thin air. No, it was almost as if the vapor started to sizzle into nothingness.
Left to watch his attack be nullified like this almost caused Stenn to vomit blood with his mouth wide open and shock filled eyes.
'I...I have never seen or heard about something like this?! What I cast was an expert level spell! How was it ruined so easily?!'
As the light and fog disappeared, Michael's hairy figure once more became visible. Standing in the same spot with a mocking smile as he looked up at Stenn.
"I bet you're thinking about what I just did? Well, although this spell has no offensive power, it can purify energy constructions quite well. So even if you use your fancy master rank magic at me, I can still destroy it. That is one of the main powers gold has...."
'Well, it only works on ranged attacks. And the energy drained is much greater than the attacking spell.. But he doesn't need to know that.'
The two went back to starring at each other. Letting a heavy silence cast it's shadow over them.
This brief moment of peace was, however, interrupted by Michael, who's body was beginning to morph rapidly.
All the bones in his body cracked and bent in different direction, while his skin turned into a hide made up of sickly red and green scales, holdin lines of hair between the chinks. Turning his figure melted itself into something resembling a beastman dipped in a pool of boiling metal and plastic.
After the outer layer stopped, four bone spikes shot of from his back and finished the show.
There he now stood. Just as deformed and mutilated as always. Eyeing down the wizard with the two hollow eyes.
"I bElLiVe iT Is mY TuRn..."
And with that, he threw himself at Stenn like a missile. Creating a bursting sonic boom which rattled away all the fossilized remains circling around their stage.
....
"F*** what the hell is this damn barrier made off?!"
Behind the large vault laid an unimaginable amount of gold and jewelry spread around in boulder sized patches. The walls on all sides were covered in large bookshelf, containing an inconceivable amount of aged knowledge.
These two main elements made the golden room emit a metallic smell which was mixed with a hint of old paper. It would definitely make you nauseous if you chose to stay inside for too long.
Meanwhile, if you ignored all the treasure on both of your sides and continued to traverse deeper in, you would eventually find an alter.
No, more like a wood pedestal sealed within a glass sphere. Only allowing one to see the item displayed.
There laid a type of thorny brown flower inside which peacefully rested within. The white petals on it's tip each shot out in different directions, almost like a pair of antlers. They emitted a green glow whuch covered the entire body in a ball of light.
Before this weird artifact stood a blond haired elf, currently covered in a black robe which rounded out it's limbs like any normal pair of clothing would.
Jenkins was at this point in time, sitting in front of the glass sphere while pressing some sort of red alarm clock into it. Small transparent letters were constantly flying in and out of his little gadget, and each time a new set of signs were absorbed, the clock would slightly turn, while the screen sealing it out would crack. Creating marks resembling strands of white silk.
He tried to concentrate on his job. However, several loud hammering noises kept echoing to his location in the form of deafening gong slams. Like a baseball bat being thrashed against a sheet of metal.
Sweat started to trickle from his forehead as Jenkins struggled to maintaining his concentration. The strain generated from the clock also did not decrease, further bothering him.
"Well, it is what it is..."
"Dark Magic: Dark Doppelganger"
Two dark humanoids rouse up from the shadow laying next to his bowing knees. Immediately bowing before him after fully gaining form.
"Number one can collect some books. while number two gets me some f*** cash!"
The humanoid shadows did not answer back, and immediately ran their seperate ways. Both seemed to hold onto a silver ring which was glued to their index finger.
Jenkins went back to focusing on the task at hand after feeling the pressure of his ego lessen. But deep within his mind, he still held thought about something else.
'Michael... His mind deteriorated faster than I could expect. That guy managed to easily suppress the effect those animalistic instincts had before. But now, it looks like the sudden empowerment of those emotions weakened his mental fortitude by a great deal...'
More sweat kept trickling down Jenkins's forehead. Adding a salty stench to the metallic fervor flowing through the air.
'Not only is he on the verge of cracking, but there are also the side effects to his sudden growth bursts, energy and body vise.'
'His energy level has stagnated due to forcefully increasing durring the reset. And the time spent between each evolution is too short! His body never got the chance to properly adapt, slowly causing the cells in his body to store all the excess energy and move towards self destruction.'
'Well, there is also the flawed evolution potion Halrel made...'
A determined look surfaced beneath the drops of raining water and locks of gold hanging on his face.
'Tsk, I hoped he would last a little longer to... What a waste. But you served your purpose, Michael. So I have made an alternate plan in case you survive this. Take it as a token of my gratitude.'
And so the conversation ended. Rearranging all available mental power onto the red clock squashed between his hands and the glass sphere.
....
Outside the treasury room, the fight had halted.
The remains which were previously spread all over had now disappeared together with the bloody stench.
The surrounding air had turned so dry and tasteless, darring to take more than five breaths would definitely cause you to cough uncontrollably.
But that was not the most noticeable change here. There now laid several dents smashed into every available nook and cranny found throughout the room. Enclosing the two ragged figures which starred at each other down, inside a ring made of holes.
Michael was in his humanized tainted form. And although he didn't look too damaged, you would be able to see multiple cracks running all over his scaley hide.
Every time he dispelled Stenn's spells, a relentless assult would quickly follow. He had tried many times to use all the abilites to his advantage, but learned that even after bringing out the most commonly used arsenal, Stenn would just casually brush it of with an unbreakable barrier created by his energy.
As for the principal, although Michael had never really done any damage to him, the trademark azure robe usually covering his upper body was ripped to shreds, only leaving behind a small skirt for his hips and legs. Fully exposing a thin layer of black rope tightly tied around his muscular torso and arms. Perfectly matching the shoulder lenght black hair and sharp eyebrows.
Stenn looked down the creature standing before and once again aimed both hands at it.
"Vapor Magic: Drought Storm!"
A wave of hot steam materialized before his fingers and shot at Michael. Continuously growing larger and thicker while it neared Michael's cracked body.
However, just as it was about to hit, a gold light instantly destroyed it. Once more exposing the deformed grin resting on the abomination's mutilated face.
'I have tried so many times, but that damn light seems to work no matter what I do...'
While Stenn's thoughts were building themselves up from seprate courses of trial and error, you would find out that Michael's were much different.
.
'F*** I'm almost out of energy and my head hurts like hell... Hope I managed to fool this idiot. Anyways... System, do I still have the old abilites from the [Hel'Börger] transformation?'
.
[Confirmed]
.
His mood brightened a little as the future course of action were determined in a single moment.
'Good...'
.
Michael's body was considered to be at the lower emperor layer after transforming, while Stenn's energy was at the middle one.
Even though his body was much stronger, the incredible difference in density and power measured between his bones and the wizards barrier proved to be too great. Not even when using [Gold Clad] could he do any damage. His bones and skin always cracked each time they clashed. Causing his fighting spirit to slightly wither.
'If worst comes to worst, I'll use the thing Jenkins gave me. However, that is my last resort... Something keeps telling me that I can't trust him any longer..'
Looking back at Stenn who was now standing on the alloyed floor helped him regain some focus back. Remembering that now was no time to have your thoughts wander around.
Stenn saw the determined flash momentarily sink into the hideous front and smiled mockingly.
"You are incapable of damaging me, Mr Michael. But I will not stop you from trying again!"
The mad grin hanging on the beast's face grew more radiant when he heard the provocation. Satisfied with the results he had been waiting for.
"VeRy GoOD, sIR SteNN!"
Michael placed his arms on the ground while raising his hips. Stancing himself like an olympic sprinter readying himself before a last crucial lap.
----------
.
[Immortal Speed: Triples user's traveling rate with the use of energy.]
.
[Mad Dance of Power LvL 2(Charge):
Increases user's physical power by 200% each passing second, stopping when reaching 2000%]
.
[Tyrant's iron fist LvL1: Increase the density of user's fist by 10% with energy]
.
[Element cloak LvL 1: Increases offensive and defensive power of spells by 10%. Activating this will slowly drain energy]
.
[Essence Dance LvL 1: All spells which require the host to use physical power are boosted by 10%]
.
[Hel'denger: Makes your fists and claws emit a corrosive substance which rapidly makes flesh break down]
.
[Hel'Beiner: Can harden bones in your body, increasing impact damage by 200%]
.
[Hel'trasher: Turn damage into physical power, increasing your strength every time you take a blow. This is always active]
.
----------
His entire body violently shook. The malformed scales and mucles tried to expand in order to release this unreal amount of tension being built up. However, Michael kept using his spirit to forcefully hold it down. Further charging himself with the never ending flow of potential swelling within his core.
'And at last...'
----------
[Strider's step LvL 2: User can fling himself 200 meters into any direction. Travelling speed is affected if abilites are used]
----------
His body's violent rumbling increased each passing moment. Making him resemble a rubber strip right before tearing.
Finally, the shaking stopped as he felt himself reach the peak. Hot steam now shot out from every single pore on the scaley body, while his legs started to wildy expand. The never ending flow of white fog sung out from the cracks in his armour. As if his organs had turned into boilers which ran on overdrive.
Meanwhile, the two sticks of malformed mass slowly began to dwarf him as they returned to their natural size.
The charge did not stop once! Not even after both legs halted their growth. It was almost like he was waiting for something to snap the strings which held him in place.
.
Stenn's expression did not change even when seeing the giant tumors fly out of the little monster's body. No care, not even when they dug into the metal floor. Rather, he only became agitated and impatient at this messed up display.
"What are you wasting my time for, boy!"
.
Unkown to him, however, this was the signal Michael had waited for.
The suppressing cuffs holding his legs in place shattered. The metal beneath rocketed out like a wild wave of water. Rolling and folding off, each going their own direction. The aftermath of Michael's jump singlehandedly created two interconnected holes that now laid themselvs where his feet had just rested.
The large mounds of muscle quickly shrunk back after ascending off the ground. Flying back into Michael's body like water to a sponge.
As for the main part, it thundered forwards. No boom was created this time, for he had reached the supersonic speed level. The amount of invincible power generated from this jump had turned his body into a never ending dark red streak. Cutting away every particle and atom darring to stand in his way.
While he approached Stenn at an unfathomable pace, the zone of silence left behind swiftly ended as he exited it. Radiating the pressurized Mach Wave into every single bacteria and object resting within this enclosed space.
Even Stenn felt cold sweat flow down his back as the boom carpet gripped the soul inside his body by the neck.
He could feel, but not see Michael approaching anymore. Forcefully releasing out all the available energy in the form of a panic stricken aura. Surrounding him in a massive blue flame.
After it had covered his body, Stenn then proceeded to throw a fist in the direction of the red line, as his eyes started to glow with an azure light.
The swinging motion of his body seemed to have synchronized itself with the arrow of destruction. Unknowingly planning on colliding with it at the same time.
Michael could not perceive the world around him while in this state, only managing to feel a torch of energy flare up in front of him.
'I have you now..'
He forcefully sendt his ruined arm forwards, as if striking a superhero pose while flying.
Michael felt the blue flame slowly swirl around him. Revealing the location of his enemy.
After fully positioning himself, he then whispered something into the cracked air. Something which only he would ever know what meant
.
"Blood Magic: Thrombocyte Molotov."
.
And so, their bodies connected.