Seventeen remembered a class he took a month ago.
"You guys might've heard about this in high school. There are actually two types of codes.", he looked at the students, "Can anyone tell me what they are?"
"Anyone except Minerva.", he corrected himself. Minerva frowned and put her hand down. She was the one who answered everything. He wanted to give the others a chance.
"Attribute Codes and Original Codes.", Damien answered.
Seventeen nodded, "That's right. I'm glad Damien that you haven't forgotten the lessons you studied last year."
Damien frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"
The others laughed and Seventeen chuckled, "Just a joke Damien. Don't get upset."
"Whatever.", he scowled and sighed.
"Jokes aside. Just as Damien said. There are Attribute Codes and Original Codes. When using the former, magia from your Reserve is converted into your attribute by the magia core and is channeled outside through your magia paths."
"Attribute Codes are effective and easy to master. But they are also common and are limited by the attribute of the warlock unless you have multiple attributes.", Seventeen explained.
"Now original codes are different. They are much more powerful and hence, more difficult to master. Our Headmaster spent a whole year mastering a single Original Code. Despite the apparent difficulty, every warlock must have mastered at least one Original Code."
He continued, "When using an Original Code, pure magia is not converted into attribute magia by your core but it is directed to your magia paths where you can apply your code. The hard part is to make your core direct the magia to the paths without converting it to attribute magia. It requires precise magia control and a lot of training."
Seventeen smiled, "The beauty of Original Codes is that they are your own codes, created by you, hence every Original Code is unique. The only limit.", he tapped his head, "Is your imagination."
He remembered that class as he saw the greatsword of the Dragon Knight ignite with crimson flames and they started swirling around the blade, following the rotating runes.
Original Codes are really amazing. And Seventeen is now going to get a face full of one. He tried to get out of the way but the massive presence is keeping him in place. It was probably a part of the Code due to its initiating time.
Seventeen released his presence and the one pressing him down lessened. He tried to move again but failed. He looked down and saw why. His legs were encased in super hard earth which did not even crack as he struggled with all his might.
Vicaris had trapped him. He aimed his sword at the android.
"Seventeen!", Zephyrus yelled as he tried to move but he was also trapped by the earth. Both of them hadn't noticed the earth hardening around their legs.
Seventeen gritted his teeth. If he isn't going to dodge it, he's going to have to face it. He can't use Code Cancel since he didn't have enough magia for one.
So Seventeen held Nyx up and focused magia into the blade, concentrating it at a rapid pace.
Time slowed down as he remembered another class, one taken by Ruth.
He was free during that time so he decided to hear her lecture.
"When you concentrate the intensity of magia at a certain level, where the magia density is close to or becomes infinity, it can break not only the laws of magia but also the physical laws of the world. Even space and time will be affected.", she explained.
"What does that mean?", Arthur asked her. Ruth smiled, "It means that something interesting will happen, we just don't know what it is. It can be anything."
She glanced at Seventeen before saying, "We call this condition the Magia Singularity. It is really hard to achieve Singularity since you need immense concentration. It even has the possibility of damaging your Mindscape. The strain of focusing all that magia can also damage your core and magia paths."
These words echoed in Seventeen's head as he increased the intensity of magia. He has to achieve Singularity. It is the only way since nothing else can stop an Original Code.
Either that or breaking the earth trapping him which he knows will take time. And that's what he does not have right now.
'More. More. More!', he thought as he absorbed magia rapidly from the environment and directed it towards the blade.
These messages popped up in his vision as he further increased the intensity but he dismissed them. He felt a buzzing in his head as his circuits are going way over their capacity. It won't be long before they start popping.
He saw the space around Nyx warping and cracking as it reached close to the Magia Singularity. The blade was glowing so bright that it looked like he was holding a blade of pure energy. Liquid magia trickled from his nose and eyes as the strain on his body increased.
Vicaris has done charging up his attack. He exhaled and released it.
{Dragon's Roar}
The runes flared and a powerful crimson beam shot out of the blade right at Seventeen. He saw the powerful beam of energy coming at him. He gave one more huge burst of magia to the blade and a whistling sound filled the air. Space distorted as if parting away for the blade.
Seventeen had achieved Singularity and at that moment he created his new sword style. He swung down with all his might as the beam reached him.
'Seventeen Style eighth form: Reality Slicer'
It happened fast.
A powerful and thin crescent of magia cleanly sliced through the crimson beam down the middle and traveled its whole length. The crimson beam split and passed on both sides of Seventeen, destroying the area behind him.
A thin line was seen in the path of the attack as it had cut space itself. If one were to hold out a watch near the line, it would stop for a brief moment.
Vicaris was shocked by what he saw. He saw magia being cut, something he had never seen before. He didn't even see the attack as it came at him in the blink of an eye. He increased his defense and tried to shift to the side but it was too late.
The attack sliced through the left side of his torso like a hot knife through butter. He felt a shock through his body as the arc sliced through his core.
His magia paths started disintegrating and the Dragon Knight felt a wrenching pain in his soul, something he hasn't felt in thousands of years.
Zephyrus ducked really low as the crescent passed over his head. It made a whistling noise as it passed and sliced through the walls of the palace and the hard rock of the mountain and into the storm barrier.
The barrier disintegrated as soon as it came in contact with the arc. Zephyrus collapsed on the ground as he started coughing blood and bleeding from his nose. The magia crescent slowly scattered into magia particles after traveling some distance and fortunately not killing anyone except an unfortunate pigeon.
Seventeen felt the earth around his feet weaken. He dropped Nyx and broke free of his restraints. He looked at Vicaris and saw that the guy was still not down.
He gritted his teeth and with his remaining strength dashed forward.
Vicaris was slowly falling backward when he saw Seventeen coming up to him. His defenses are crumbling and his paths are being destroyed. He has lost control of his left arm but his will was still strong.
With a roar, he righted himself, shattering the ground under his feet. He dropped his greatsword and poured all his power into his fist.
Seventeen saw Vicaris getting ready for the final blow. His vision was tinged with blue, warning messages appeared in his vision but he ignored them. He ignited his fist, {Fire Code: Volcanic Fist}.
This is the final blow. With his remaining magia, he's going to end this.
His eyes glowed poisonous green as he used Paralysis vision.
Vicaris's body froze as soon as he saw those green eyes. He couldn't move as Seventeen came closer.
"MOVE DAMNIT!", the Dragon Knight roared as he used sheer willpower to break free from the paralysis. He enveloped his fist in powerful crimson flames as he faced Seventeen. Their eyes locked as they approached each other.
Two artificial beings, one created thousands of years ago and one created in a different world. One will fall and the other will be the victor. This final clash in front of the throne room will decide the outcome.
Vicaris and Seventeen roared as their fists collided. A powerful explosion shook the entire mountain. Zephyrus immediately deployed a barrier around him but it shattered and he was blown back.
*******
Jade Aria was looking for a way through the barrier when it suddenly disintegrated and a thin black line appeared in the sky. Before she could figure out what had happened, her jaw dropped.
The Silent Mountain has been cut in half and half of it has collapsed. Hundreds of boulders now surround the ravaged mountain with some still falling from it.
"Just what happened here?", she muttered as she navigated the boulder field. Suddenly the mountain shook again and a powerful shockwave hit her.
Jade stumbled and lost her balance. Before she could tumble down the boulder someone held her back and stopped her from falling.
"Be careful little one.", a young female voice said as Jade straightened herself. She looked behind her but found no one. She didn't even detect a presence. A single petal of a purple rose floated down at her feet. She picked it up.
'Who was that?', Jade thought. She shook her head, pushed back this incident in her mind for another time, and continued on her way to the mountain.
*******
Back in the palace Zephyrus stood up and shook his head. He looked forward and his eyes widened as the dust settled.
The doors of the throne room were blown away and the black throne could be seen from where he stood. It stood in the distance, unscathed in the middle of the destruction.
In front of the now open doorway, the two figures of Seventeen and Vicaris stood.
As Zephyrus went closer he saw the grim result. Both punches had dealt their blow.
"Oh no.", he whispered as he saw Seventeen. Vicaris had struck his side and now a huge chunk was missing from his torso. Liquid magia trickled from his mouth and eyes. It pooled at his feet from the gaping wound. But Seventeen was still conscious.
Zephyrus turned his gaze to Vicaris and immediately knew who the victor was. The Dragon Knight's left shoulder and arm are missing and Seventeen's fist has driven through his chest and out his back.
Seventeen pulled out his fist and Vicaris stumbled back. The Dragon Knight fell to his knees in front of the android. His voice rattled.
"This is my loss."