"—Hopefully, you learn never to underestimate evolution again."
"Yes, Sir." Lou'both forced his words out as he watched the Mystic Pattern fade.
His expression at this moment was horrid and clearly put his irritation on display. The brain stitched onto his skull wobbled as he took large strides backwards.
The raging Hilvar made him worry.
"Now I am sure... That green stick has peak-level Rank 3 [Energy]... It's at the same level as teacher's [Mana]!" Lou'both cursed the High Orc that was rapidly approaching. The temperature was rising with every step Hilvar got to him.
"Shit! It really is a problem!"
Lou'both hurriedly left a few Mystic Pattern sequences behind him, hoping that their explosions could slow his enemy down. Overpowering a High Orc whose strength was nearing the very limits or was likely there already, seemed bleak.
Especially since Lou'both knew himself well.
He was a whole rank below the High Orc, and on top of that, he was not a fighter. If he wanted to win, he had to resort to his superior wisdom and strategic capacity.
Thinking of this, his mismatched eyes had narrowed just as he left his third sequence behind.
"Before I can prepare, though..."
He had to get rid of a pesky insect.
Boom!
A small explosion occurred from a sequence he threw out. It blew up the air— where there should've been nothing.
A violent blast of pure energy tore apart everything in its way. Whether it was physical, mental, or spiritual.
It gave the distant Athelei a pang of nausea. The last thing he observed with those few wisps of his was a small smirk on that Ogre Magus' face.
'... He can really sense my presence. I thought I was safe since Lady Karire, a Rank 3 Artist as well, couldn't do the same.' The angel massaged his forehead as he monitored the situation using his other wisps— while keeping distance this time.
'I wonder if he can still sense my other wisps..? Could it be an innate ability? The talent of Ogre Magi? Could it be one of the effects of his [Bone Detonation] circle? Perhaps it can also be an ability given to him by his teacher...'
Many guesses swam through Athelei's mind as he continued his sneaking around.
He watched as Hilvar arrived before Lou'both, swinging his greatsword as if he was slamming a mountain down onto his opponent.
The area around Hilvar was distorted. The heat was bending the light around him, while pillars of blood-red steam rose from the wounds he sustained from the explosions he crashed through.
Boom!
Hilvar's sword was met with a cone-shaped explosion just as he was about to slice Lou'both's head off.
It suddenly looked as if the High Orc lost his balance.
With a rapid, sudden spin though, such an issue was prevented, and instead, it allowed Hilvar to land a hit.
Slash!
"GraaAAH! You dare!" A deep gash had been made on the Ogre's chest.
Lou'both looked grandly pissed as his fight or flight response forced adrenaline to surge throughout his hulking frame.
And in his growing anger, Lou'both sent out several more sequences, each with slightly differing effects.
Energy bursts of different shapes and sizes allowed him to barely contend with the speed and strength of a powerful High Orc.
Cones, spheres, and abstract squiggles parried or blocked Hilvar's relentless strikes. Shockwaves endlessly shook the area they fought in, bringing about mass destruction to the once-majestic kingdom-city.
The match seemed even until the other High Orcs made their arrival. And, as if expecting such a scenario, Lou'both grinned.
Athelei squinted as he witnessed a High Orc frantically roar while swinging its sword. It rushed straight towards Lou'both who deftly sent a few sequences out.
A barrage of explosions battered the High Orc, announcing its death. Its corpse then ended up being a bomb that Lou'both used against Hilvar.
BOOM!
Compared to the small and weirdly shaped explosions earlier, a much larger, spherical burst of energy blossomed from the corpse. It shook the ground and annihilated boulders. The Nightwalkers' suicidal powers could barely scratch an Ogre, but this one could batter one to death.
[Bone Detonation]!
This was the power of a Mystic Pattern circle!
Hilvar could only redirect the force of the explosion to help him dodge. His joints would creak, and his sword threatened to snap. Despite him gritting his teeth till his gums bled, however, he was still in the fight.
But after three more exploding comrades were sent his way, Hilvar roared.
"Idiots! Stop killing yourselves! Let me deal with this pig myself and stop hindering me!"
A gleam of Tangible Will fully burst out at this moment.
But the High Orc army didn't seem to listen.
Another barrage of corpses flew towards Hilvar.
"Khhkkk!" He had no room to dodge this time, and thus, he defended with a burst of [Energy] while supporting himself with his newfound Tangible Will.
A deep, mocking chuckle rang in Hilvar's ears as he staggered slightly and caught his breath. Fighting a prepared Artist despite being a rank above them was difficult, especially with an Artist so well verse in destructive abilities.
"It's too late to command them now," Lou'both smirked, "The [Emotion Seed] in their minds have properly sprouted. Yours should soon bloom too, barbarian."
In his mind though, Lou'both couldn't help but curse as he grasped at his bleeding wounds. He had sent out his taunts but he never stopped drawing more Mystic Patterns.
Although he was making it look like it was all part of his plan, it was far off from his original intentions. All of this was simply improvisation.
'This [Emotion Seed]—! It's a damn double-edged sword!'
The power he had borrowed from his teacher was what sparked his current predicament, and at the same time, it was what he was exploiting to fix his mistakes.
It could be said that the [Emotion Seed] worked well...
A little too well.
Hilvar witnessed that indeed, his own subordinates refused to listen to reason. He heard the words, [Emotion Seed], but his cloudy mind refused to register what it truly meant.
Rage kept erupting within him. All he wanted to do was kill the Ogre in front of him.
It was a desperate attempt of his mind to fight off the pain and trauma of a time long gone.
His numerous dreams of vengeance resurfaced, adding fuel to his burning hatred.
"Shut up!" That was all he could yell out. A ripple of gas-like Tangible Will created a breeze that seemed to make Lou'both waver.
Even the High Orc army slowed down— but it was only for a minute moment.
It was such a small pause in the battlefield that the only one who could notice it was Athelei, whose many wisps were among the corpses and army ranks.
Athelei's eyes gleamed as the harsh fight between Hilvar and Lou'both continued, 'Could this be the unique effect of Hilvar's Tangible Will? It isn't what I expected!'
A person who honed both their Battle Prowess and Tangible Will usually developed a distinct bloodlust in the process. It was the most common effect of being an Evolver and Dictator at the same time.
Thallium Yan was the best example Athelei knew of.
Bloodlust was essentially killing intent so vicious that the energies of the universe would respond to it. One of its most prominent uses was how it allowed one to weaken any opponents whose own [Will] stats were lower than theirs. Vice versa, it also helped deter any opposing bloodlust auras directed at oneself.
Athelei had thought that Hilvar was developing the same thing.
Now, it was clear that his educated guess was off by a few notches.
Instead of a desire to kill, it was somehow a Tangible Will that likely allowed him to influence people with his words.
"It's perfect for a commander like him..." Athelei couldn't help but compliment such an ability.
It was no wonder that he himself felt his own emotions get riled up. His morale, despite facing an unexpected danger, was overflowing.
If not for his limitless curiosity, perhaps he would've entertained the idea of joining the initial reckless charge even more.
Quickly replacing the gleam in his eyes though, was a trace of solemnity.
"If only Hilvar's Tangible Will was more potent, he might have also had a clearer mind going into this fight," Athelei muttered.
Several more explosions pushed Hilvar back dozens of steps. The High Orc's posture crumpled as he spat out saliva tinged with blood.
Internal wounds were beginning to weigh him down.
"I need to help the High Orcs," Athelei squinted.
He was there to absorb the Stain of Existence that would spawn when a kingdom-city was conquered and the Greater Goblins are exterminated.
So far, even when every goblin on the battlefield had been blown to smithereens, Athelei could not feel any Stain of Existence nearby.
It was now quite clear that perhaps Lou'both was standing against his desired ending.
"...But how will I even help them in the first place?"
BOOM!
Athelei witnessed Hilvar's sword flying into the sky. The High Orc had been disarmed after a series of [Bone Detonation]s. Thankfully, it hadn't come without Lou'both suffering another deep wound, forcing the Ogre into a limp as he retreated in a cold sweat.
Athelei then moved his gaze elsewhere, to where a veil of mystery prevented him from uncovering the secrets within. His narrowed eyes grew narrower.
"There's also Lou'both's teacher who should be hiding there..."
He clicked his tongue, deep in thought.
'I don't have the strength to influence this battlefield...'
Athelei realised that nothing other than the Nefarious Icon he kept in secret could allow him to guarantee the ending he desired—which was a dangerous idea to entertain on many levels.
As for other avenues, he had yet to reach the realm required to even participate in such a battle.
—Rank 1 Dictator.
—Rank 1 Artist.
—Rank 0 Evolver.
Despite his ability to avoid life-threatening attacks, he was at a loss when it came to eliminating enemies.
Especially since his targets were at the monstrous realm of Rank 3 and 2.
But... He had made a vow to himself on the night of his family's death.
It was a vow of control over fate and governance over the endings that he would bear witness to.
'I have no desire to see Hilvar meet his end here.'
Athelei began his calculations. And for that, he needed information despite the risks.
A multi-coloured screen appeared before his eyes.
Inspect had been used.
And at the same time, Lou'both felt a chill course through him.
"What?" He shuddered.
His eyes looked into the distance. A fearsome expression befell his face.
It was a sight that could give children nightmares for the rest of their lives.
"Who dares analyze me!?"