Valeria Susano has a theory about Lance's power, and explains what she thinks is the cause of his transformation. You see Mages who possess powerful magic always have limits. If one was to push past their limit forcibly, they were often side effects like, Exhaustion, Extreme pain, Broken Bones, Paralysis, and sometimes even Death.
Valeria believes that Lance during a crisis, pushes past his limit and experiences a mental breakdown. This theory explains Lance's sudden boost in strength and change in personality in his Dark state, but to prove her theory to the King, Valeria sets up a fight between Blast and Lance. A fight that would definitely push him to his limits, and show everyone exactly what he's capable of.
Lance still sits in his cell oblivious of all that was going on, when suddenly the doors are blown off by none other than Blast.
Blast: Are you Lance Grey? (The huge man asks)
Lance Grey: Um...Yes. (Lance replied, a little scared and confused)
Blast: Fight Me! (Blast yelled, eager for the fight)
Valeria Susano: I'll take it from here honey. (Valeria said as she pushes Blast away)... Hi Lance, we're Elite Mages. I'm Valeria No. 6, and that's Blast No 4... We're here to help you. (Valeria tells him softly)
Lance Grey: How? (Lance asks)
Leon then enters the cell, with a serious expression on his face.
Leon Chronos: By showing everyone what you can do. (Leon answered)
Lance is brought up to speed and knows what he has to do, but doesn't like it. He is taken to an enormous arena that is packed with people, among those people is Elizabeth and the New Mages.
Lance faces off against Blast, with his friends and family around, he is hesitant to reveal the monstrous side of himself. So he decides to fight normally for a while, a decision he would come to regret.
Lance starts off by releasing his Dark Cloud which jets towards Blast, who smiled and then blasts it off with a massive explosion. Lance now realises that it won't be so easy to fight Blast and tries another tactic, he begins to run in a big circle with Blast in the middle, he releases his Dark Cloud once more, but this time it serves as a camouflage. A giant ring shaped Dark Cloud now surrounded Blast, who simply waits in anticipation.
Once Lance is sure Blast doesn't know where he is, he summons the Poison Cloud and shot it at Blast from behind. Blast stomps his feet on the ground, resulting in another explosion which erupts from the ground like a volcano.
The heat from the explosion burns away both the Poison and Dark Clouds, and they disperse instantly. Revealing Lance's location.
Blast: Stop insulting me boy! (Blast yelled as he ran towards Lance with his explosive speed)... Fight me like a man! (Blast yelled as he punched Lance in the gut)
Blast's punch sends Lance flying and he smashes into a wall, much to the dismay of everyone in the audience. Lance struggles to get back up as his mother is in the audience yelling at Blast.
Elizabeth Grey: Leave My Son Alone You Bully! (Elizabeth yelled with tears in her eyes)
The crowd is also booing Blast, and hurling insults at him.
Blast: Come on kid, you're making me look bad. Fight me with your true strength, show me the power that took on Leon. (Blast tells him)
Lance sits on the floor with his back against the smashed wall behind him. Then the Hyena appeared to him.
Hyena: Master, let me help you. (Hyena tells him, with no one else able to see it)
Lance Grey: No... I refuse to be your puppet. (Lance replied weakly)
Lance sluggishly gets back up, with blood dripping from his forehead he fired the Poison cloud once more. Blast fired an attack of his own and they both collide, but Blast's power is stronger and easily destroys the cloud, hitting Lance with another explosion.
Hyena: Let me help you, together we can end him. (The Hyena tells him confidently)
Lance Grey: (Pants) No, no killing... If I agree to your help, you must give me control of my own body. (Lance says, making a deal with Hyena)
Hyena: Oh master... You were always in control. (The Hyena replied with a smile)
Lance Grey: Okay then... I agree to your help. (Lance tells the Hyena)
After Lance gave his consent, Hyena entered Lance's body... His injuries heal, his teeth become sharp, his fingers become claws, and his body is covered in darkness as he smiled.
Dark Lance: I, Am, In, Control!!!!!!! (Lance roared deafeningly).
Blast: Yes!... Finally the fight begins! (Blast yelled in excitement)
With blinding speed Dark Lance reaches and punched Blast in the face before he could even react. The punch barely moved Blast as he returns the favour... Both combatants were now continuously punching each other, seemingly equal in strength.
Dark Lance then spiked his fist and struck Blast in the gut. But the spikes simply shatter as they hit Blast's body.
Blast: Hah! You surprised by my rock hard abs! (Blast yelled as he grabbed Lance by the head, smashing him into the ground and resulting in a large crater being created)
Suddenly the whip like tendrils of Dark Lance shoot out of his body and wrap around Blast's neck. Smashing him against the ground. Dark Lance gets back up and so does Blast, the two rushing each other and continuing their punch fest.
Guy in the Audience 1: Woah, what kind of power is that kid using? (The guy asks his friend)
Guy in the Audience 2: Who cares, a commoner is beating an Elite Mage. When last did you see that happen? (The friend replied excitedly)
Guy in the Audience 1: Oh yeah! kick his ass kid! Show those Nobles what Commoners can do! (The guys yelled)
Meanwhile Elizabeth Grey watches in dismay as her son fights like a wild animal. But she refuses to believe he's a monster.
Elizabeth Grey: Fight Lance! Fight with the power in your heart!!! (Elizabeth yelled, encouraging her son)
The crowd is now supporting Lance as he continued to fight on equal footing with Blast... Leon and Valeria stood by the King's side, watching the fight in disbelief.
King Augustus Brave: His power is incredible, he's actually winning against Blast. (The king said as he watched anxiously)
Valeria Susano: Don't worry my king. Blast is only getting warmed up. (Valeria said confidently)
Leon Chronos: She's not kidding. Blast is still holding back, it's only a matter of time before he gets serious. (Leon said, thinking about intervening if Blast takes things too far)
Dark Lance increases his punching speed, overwhelming Blast who could now only block with his fists.
Blast: This is exciting. Let's fight like real men!... Megaton Blast! (Blast yelled as he hit Lance with an explosive punch, which knocked him away with ease)
The Megaton Blast was so powerful that it literally melted the ground, turning it to lava beneath Blast's feet. Dark Lance had managed to dodge but is still scorched by the explosion, his healing ability going to work fixing the damage.
Blast: Come on, you scared Lance Grey. (Blast taunts as his fists burn with energy)
Dark Lance's chest begins to open up, transforming into a giant mouth on his body.
Blast: What the hell is that?! (Blast yelled, shocked by the horrifying sight)
Hyena's Mouth Of Dark Lance's Chest: What's the matter Blast?!... Scared?! (The mouth mocked before beginning to laugh, revealing Lance's organs)
Blast takes a couple steps back, hesitant to continue fighting. But that won't be the case for long, so Hyena explains his plan to Lance, and he agrees to do it.
As Blast gains the courage to attack, the mouth on Dark Lance's chest spewed out the Poison Cloud. The Cloud covers Blast so fast that he doesn't destroy it on time, and inhales some of it. The poison blurs Blast's vision and slurs his movements instantly, making him stumble.
Dark Lance then leaped into the air and created a sword of dark energy. Day suddenly became as dark as the night for some reason, as Dark Lance slashed with his sword. The Dark sword lengthens, clearing the darkness and hitting Blast from above with enough force to crumble the ground beneath his feet.
Blast caught the sword with his fiery hands, and reciprocated with another Megaton Blast. Releasing another powerful explosion. The blast hits Dark Lance successfully, sending his body crashing to the ground, with his black blood littering the arena.
The crowd gasp as they watch Lance's broken body land on the floor with a loud thud. Dark Lance still manages raise his upper body, and then stared at Blast laughing. The mouth on his chest was also laughing, as they are both driven to madness.
Blast is creeped out by the sight, and when he tried to approach. The black blood on the floor erupted as thin spikes which stuck into his flesh, threatening to impale him in multiple places. Blast is now unable to move, and stared at his trapper in disbelief.
Dark Lance: I.... Win (Dark Lance said before he collapsing, the spikes turning back to blood and covering Blast's body afterwards)
Leon rushes to Lance's aid to help him, for he had now reverted back to normal. But Valeria is already there and heals Lance instead.
Valeria Susano: Total Healing. (Valeria said as she casts a healing spell, fixing Lance's body in an instant)
Leon could only help Lance laid down properly and rest, while Blast was still yelling in the distance.
Blast: Hey no fair! I want a rematch! (Blast yelled at the top of his loud voice)
Leon stared at Blast with anger in his eyes. Prepared to teach him a lesson.
Leon Chronos: Then why don't you fight me! (Leon yelled back)
Blast: Finally! The fight I came here for!... Don't think I'll hold back Leon! Nuclear Man! (Blast yelled as his body is suddenly engulfed in flames, the heat from the flames strong enough to drive people from their seats and out of the arena)
Lance wakes up and sees Valeria by his side, creating a barrier that shielded them from the radiation of Blast's flames.
King Augustus Brave: Enough! (The king yelled, stopping the two from fighting)... Lance Grey, you are free to go. Though your power seems to be dangerous, you obviously have some control over it. I only ask that you be careful, this power you possess puts an enormous strain on your mental health... Use it wisely. (The king advised before he leaves)
Lance is surprised by how things turned out, after all that he did in the fight he was sure that everyone would think he was a Demon. But turns out even if a giant mouth appeared on your chest it doesn't mean you're a Demon, It just means you have a weird ability like most Heart Mages do. Afterall Heart magic affected the body, so Lance Grey to the entire kingdom, is just a kid who can use empowerment magic that transform his body.
Blast waits for the king to leave before reigniting his body with the Nuclear Man technique.
Blast: Come on Leon! Show me what you've got! (Blast yelled)
Leon is happy with the news about Lance, but still has to deal with the annoying Blast. Running forward, Leon appeared in front of Blast in moments, with his fist charged up for an attack.
Leon Chronos: Sealed Time Punch! (Leon yelled as he combined his Seal and Time Punch, the Seal removed Blast's flames, while the Time Punch hit him with enough force to send him crashing out of the arena)
Lance Grey: Amazing. (Lance said in awe)
Valeria Susano: Yeah, they sure are... Did you know they both held back when they fought you? You may want to remember that... Because if you ever use your power to hurt others, know that the Elite Mages can, and will stop you. (Valeria threatened)
Lance Grey: I wouldn't want it any other way. (Lance tells her truthfully)
Valeria Susano: (Smiles) I must leave now, and heal my man... Take care, Lance Grey. (Valeria tells him before she exits)
Leon Chronos: You okay kid? Need me to heal you? (Leon asks as he walks up to Lance)
Lance Grey: No I'm fine, Miss Valeria already did a good job of that... I feel great! (Lance said happily)
Leon Chronos: Good, because your mom's outside with Lora and the others. (Leon said, letting Lance know his mother is just outside the arena)
Lance Grey: Really?! I have to let her know I'm okay! (Lance yells as he runs off to go meet everyone)
As Leon and Lance leave, Hyena stands and watches Lance from a distance.
Hyena: You're going to be a Great Demon again, Master. (Hyena said with a smile as he looked at Lance, but sees a Giant Dark being instead)
Next: End Of Training.