His attack sent that Ray flying across the room into what seemed to be the final destination for all who got struck in this duel- the wall.
"Star Flicker", Ray mumbled quietly
Even though Mane hadn't mentioned the name of the technique he used, Ray still figured it out. He was aware that Mane had been able to master the second stage of this high level skill book. Besides, he had seen his son's power level. The speed he had just displayed didn't belong to someone of his power level. It was far greater. Although his son had cast a speed lease, it had only made him slightly faster than before. It wasn't enough to grant him such a massive boost. By his observation, it was about four times the speed of a regular high level earth realmer. This could only mean that Mane had successfully grasped the second level of Star Flicker, a skill that was extremely difficult to comprehend. This was a display of Mane's great talent and perceptiveness. Right when he was in the middle of his thoughts, he felt a sharp wind behind him. He smiled faintly. Although he was thinking about other things during a fight, that didn't mean that he had lost his concentration. Dividing the mind was a skill that many wielders possessed. And he wasn't any different. If he was to be counted as different, it will be because his division of mind wasn't into two like any regular wielder, but three.
"Diamond body"
Instead of dodging the attack, or blocking it, Ray delivered a spinning heel kick towards his incoming attacker. He had employed the use of one of his glows- Diamond Body. This glow was related to the body wielding arts, and made him something like a pseudo body wielder. It hardened his body with outer energy and made it difficult for any opponent to land a good punch- or in this case, kick. And he used this technique for a very good reason.
*Boom*
Mane's leg smashed against Ray's. Their auras exploded, bringing more chaos to the marbles and walls of the room. Both of them were finally knocked back after being locked together for two seconds. Ray had used Diamond Body because he was aware that the attack coming his way was no regular attack. It was an attack that amplified the strength of the user
"Extreme Burst"
This combination skill was extremely deadly, and Ray didn't want to get caught up in it. He had broken the skill off before Mane could use any more to cause any damage. Against skills like Extreme Burst, the best method was to interrupt it. That was exactly what Ray had done. And from what he could see, it was indeed the right choice.
Mane wiped the small trace of blood on his lips and calmed down the surging energy threatening to run rampant in his body. This was the price for having your skill forcefully halted. His momentum weakened a bit, allowing Ray's aura to climb higher and more domineeringly. Yet Mane wasn't worried about this. If this was enough to unnerve him he wouldn't be worthy of being a wielder. He calmly slapped towards the figure that had attacked him from behind. This was one of the Rays, the one he had knocked into the wall initially. This Ray wasn't looking as majestic as it did before. The clothes he wore were tattered and there was a visible wound on his abdomen, the area Mane had kicked a few seconds prior. Although Ray hadn't said much about the cloning lease, Mane was able to make a few deductions from the little he had. First and foremost, although the clones increased the numerical advantage, they weren't as strong as the original. Mane had realised this after his father had knocked him down in their earlier bout. This was because his father had chosen to knock him out, and not just punch him or deliver an attack. Mane had been duelling his father for weeks now. And he knew that his father would never go easy on him. So he was knocked out because his father didn't want to give this secret away- the clone wasn't as strong as him. Let me explain further.
You see, although they had been sparring for only a month, Mane was aware of how much power his father's attacks held. Since the man never held back, each strike was a full powered one. Although Mane had improved, he was able to determine the power of his father's punches with their first few exchanges each time. This meant that it was his father's clone that had knocked him out. And since the sly man didn't wat his son to figure out that the clones didn't have as much strength as he did, he only knocked him out 'generously'. But that action had only served to fuel Mane's doubts.
Secondly, there was a giant hole opened up by the transformation lease. He became all the more certain that his hypothesis was true when his father talked about the transformation lease. He had asked the 3rd about this lease as they shared their lunch, and she informed him that the load it took to handle this lease was immense. Only heaven realm experts could handle the weight of this lease. The only way one would be able to perform this lease with a mortal level strength will be if they use it on a non-living thing. That was what confirmed Mane's hypothesis. His father had stated that he transformed into a shoe. But with the strength of only a mortal realm expert, it was impossible to change the matter of a living being. That meant it was the clone- which was technically not a living thing- that had undergone the transformation. This confirmed his doubts. And that was why he wasn't worried when two more Rays appeared.
*Bam*
The incoming Ray was knocked back about five metres when he came into contact with Mane's palm. Mane looked at the clone and cast a spirit scan. He didn't have the chance to use it before, but he could do so now.
NAME: Ray Duplicate
AGE: Temporary Creation. Will disappear upon exhausting its life
HEALTH POINTS: 1600/2600
DESCRIPTION: A clone made by the Brute King Ray. It possesses 50 percent of the original's power level. Unable to use glows. Cannot use breaths.
"So you noticed?" Ray smiled. His attempts to mislead his son were easily thwarted by the boy's superior intellect. Added to the fact that Mane had a high understanding of spirit scan, it was easy to find out what he wanted to hide. He was sure that Mane had grasped the essence of the technique during his earlier explanation.
"I did" Mane replied. He ignored the clone that was returning to his father's side and continued, "However, I wasn't sure, so I asked the 3rd about your technique. She told me a lot about it. It was enough to let me realise that it wasn't as capable as you are. Plus its aura outburst is clearly weaker than yours by a few levels."
Ray nodded lightly. He didn't seem very worried that Mane had grasped the essence to his technique. In fact, he was pleased that his son had. It was only by understanding the technique that he will be able to master it in the future. And that future wasn't far away. He pushed his thoughts aside and paid more attention to the boy who stood before him. Mane's aura wasn't as chaotic as it was before. He had calmed his surging energy, and his aura was as magnificent as it was when the duel first began. He crouched into his beast form. Ray watched his son calmly and prepared himself for an attack. Both father and son exclaimed simultaneously, each dashing forward with their own attacks
"Flickering burst!"
"Splintering fist!"