"I've noticed it."
Stars looked at Givale in confusion, "What?"
"His weakness."
"Everyone has a weakness, Akiol is especially not an exception."
"Not a physical weakness."
Stars paused for a moment before asking, "What kind of weakness then?"
"He's too kind. He's willing to throw away any qualms with those who wronged him for a peaceful outcome."
"That doesn't sound like a bad thing. Who doesn't want a peaceful outcome?"
"What if it comes and bites him later?"
"I don't think I have ever witnessed a case like this. Since Akiol has yet to fail when it comes to making amends."
"I have a feeling it's going to here."
Stars took a closer look, immediately he sucked in a cold breath, "He isn't using my power up? Nor Aura?!"
"Exactly, do tell him not to die okay? I don't want to, especially this soon."
Stars was about to relay the message, however when he saw a beam heading towards Akiol he froze!
-<>-
"There's a limit to what you can do with your mana lines. Using your inner mana to strengthen your body is standard, but only those who specialize in spells can unless this mana outward."
Sitting cross-legged Akiol frowned, "Then is refining your mana lines wrong?"
"No, it's not wrong. Rather what you're lacking is the ability to control ambient mana."
Frowning Akiol tried to picture it, "That seems incredibly inefficient."
"But it has its uses. Master it and you can create a foothold anywhere. Solidify it and you can manifest a barrier to block surprise attacks. Apply it to your weapon and you can cut anywhere there is mana."
"If that's the case how do you defend against such an attack?"
"Like I said! Solidify the mana. You learn this not only to gain an edge in combat, but also to defend against those who can do the same. This is Mana Control!"
-><-
Akiol felt the mana swirl around his hand. Raising it up the beam slammed into his palm. He failed to stop its momentum, but he wasn't consumed by the beam. Instead it pushed him back.
Akiol had realized something more and more interesting about this game. The principals behind mana were almost a carbon copy of the kind from his world, with a little practice he found that he could operate like he could from his past world.
The game held so much likeness to his past world, was it coincidence? Perhaps something more?
Akiol had used the mana to create a small barrier around his palm. He wasn't sure if this would stop it, and he was correct.
Akiol slid across the ground, for the beam did not stop for another three seconds.
Slowly the beam faded, Akiol stood there unharmed and relieved. True grit his teeth and appeared in front of Zealous, "You idiot!"
Wham!
Zealous doubled over, True had slammed his fist into their stomach. Zealous spat, "Why are you being so kind?! He almost stopped our rise to the top!"
"Almost! Yet we're still number one! Why are you so obsessed over this?!"
"If we don't show everyone we will not be taken advantage of, we will be taken advantage of!"
"I don't care! I do not wish for my Guild to be feared! Our Guild is a place meant for people to join when they are down. A place for us to be together, not this!"
"Why can't you see? The way we are mocked, the way they look down upon us?"
"I don't care about outsiders, I care about our Guild members. Let them say what they want, we are Infinity Base. A home for those who need one."
"We can't keep those same ideals, we are the top Guild. We have to make changes!"
"The top? Who cares about that? I want a home, not a business. I want a place for players to gather and chat happily, not worry about the war with our next enemy. The position as one of the top never concerned me. You're blinded by hatred and power, so I ask that you step down from the position as Vice-Leader."
"That's exactly why. . . that's exactly why you cannot remain Guild-Leader!"
Several red orbs appeared and flew towards True. They slammed into him, doing massive damage.
True was covered in wounds, but still they remained strong, "Andrew! I don't wish to fight you!"
"Then don't! Just die!"
Akiol watched this and sighed, True was a really kind person. A rare type of individual Akiol has ever come across. It was a shame they wouldn't fight Zealous. So. . . he will in their place.
Tick~
Tock~
Akiol appeared above Zealous. He was quite surprised, he hadn't intended for this at all! What had happened?
Still he quickly adjusted, forcing his body to move he slammed a foot into Zealous face. Due to him using just Aura compared to Zealous' Berserk Skill, their stats were relatively equal.
Zealous stepped back in surprise. Upon seeing Akiol he was filled with fury, "You! You dare stand in my way again?!"
Akiol pointed Stars at him, "It's clear your ideals no longer match with what Infinity Base is. Since your Guild Leader is holding back, I'll finish you in his place."
"I'll come back! I always will!"
"The same result will always happen."
"Just you see!"
Hundreds of orbs appeared above Zealous. He shot them forward at high speeds. Akiol tilted Stars up slightly, a small black hole appearing at the tip. It began absorbing the attacks, drawing in the others.
Akiol began dodging the rest, a series of afterimages appearing. Zealous grew frustrated and sent even more attacks than before.
They all shot towards Akiol at once. Upon seeing so many attacks Akiol was aware he could not dodge. Instead he pointed Stars and commanded, "Repulse."
The attacks were destroyed simultaneously, now that an opening was created Akiol dashed towards Zealous.
They raised a barrier in protection, but that was smashed through by Akiol. With a flick of his wrist the sword slashed across Zealous throat, but Zealous dissipated like many times before.
Akiol already knew this trick and shot into the sky with [Leap]. Yet Zealous also knew what Akiol was going to do. Several beams suddenly shot towards Akiol from different directions!
~ ~ ~
"W-What incredible control of mana!"
Stars was puzzled by the sudden exclamation, "Is there something wrong?"
"Wrong? No, in fact this is incredible! You're aware how spellcasters use mana right?"
"Someone uses their own mana to create a rune, this is followed by a chant for instructions. Then their mana and the natural mix together to create the spell right?"
"Yes, but there are others. One is purely runes, for instruction and execution. The Elves favor this one. The other is by purely manipulating the natural mana into doing what you wish. This final type is incredibly hard to master, it takes a long time for you to gain complete mastery over it!"
"And he did the last kind?"
"I saw it once before, when he fought against mother. However I thought it was something else. Now that I have seen it like this. His control over mana is amazing!"
Stars was pleased, Givale was finally understanding the greatness that was his wielder. However there was something that was bothering him, "How do you know all of this?"
"During my time in the Tower Mother would usually explain the way the world works. One of such times was about mana. She even showed me the types of mana control. I just haven't seen it to this degree."
"Akiol is definitely the greatest."
"I wonder why he doesn't use magic as well."
"Wouldn't it be difficult to cast a spell without directions?"
"Yes, but with this control he surely can do it. So why not?"
Stars pondered for a moment before answering, "Perhaps he doesn't need to."
"Doesn't need to?"
"He has a friend who uses the second type of mana control. Since she uses spells perhaps he never worried about needing to use spells if she helped out."
"I don't think I have seen this person before?"
"Ask him later, I'm sure he wouldn't mind showing you them."
"Alright. . ."
~ ~ ~
The mana swirled around Akiol's sword. He swung with a spin, a beautiful circle of mana created. The circle expanded around him rapidly, disassembling the beams.
Since his ascent hadn't been slowed he eventually rose to the same height as Zealous. A red barrier flashed, but Akiol smashed through it with ease. Zealous prepared to use the flash to distance himself. However when he executed it the entire thing was absorbed into the sword!
Akiol slashed across Zealous chest, a deep gash forming. Zealous panicked, the damage Akiol did was simply astronomical. He had only 17% HP remaining!
It didn't help that his HP was constantly draining due to his Berserk Skill.
The two began to fall, Akiol gripped Zealous and rotated, throwing Zealous to the ground.
A small crater formed and Zealous HP dropped lower. Do to the specifics of his Berserk Skill the skill canceled. Akiol landed on Zealous and stabbed his sword into their head. Zealous' HP dropped to zero and died.
Akiol freed his sword with a sigh, it was a shame someone with such power was consumed by it.
Suddenly Akiol heard True ask something. Completely baffled by the question.
"Would you like to join our Guild?"