First of all, I would like to apologize for slow update. I was trying to learn how to create stories by observing others works that's why I wasn't able to publish more chapters. but this time I publish more not promise though.
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The stillness made the two incapable of talking to each other. No one made the first move yet even after showing that weapon.
While Andre on the other hand, quietly observed him as if he had known him. Then, he made a bitter smile upon realizing the person on the opposite side.
"I see... You're Lacner right?"
"You know me?"
Hearing his response caused him to chuckle.
"Of course, you're quite famous before for being the first Ss-rank at the age of 16. However, that record of yours was destroyed by another student this year."
"What exactly are you trying to convey?"
"Nothing, I just want to say for a genius like you that you stayed at this level for quite too long. It's been almost five years since you achieved this level. So why is it that you... a person considered a genius that was written in history hasn't been able to reach SsS-rank yet? What's restricting you?"
Isn't that the same as telling him the reason?
For some reason, Lacner had finally understood what he was trying to say.
"I don't believe that just because I've stayed at this level doesn't mean I'm incapable to go further. just because the people around me considered me as a genius doesn't mean I can easily reach the power beyond."
In Lacner's case, he doesn't believe a genius can easily enter that level just because the people expect him to do so which is completely the opposite for Andre who believes that if the people considered him a genius, means he can easily reach it. In better words, andre is just being jealous of his capabilities.
For other people, Andre's statement is laughable. However, even if millions of people agreed with Lacner doesn't mean he will change his way of thinking. Humans were built to be different from each other the moment we're born even if 99.9 percent of people in the world agreed on whether it's wrong or right. That's just what humans are. They believe and walk the path in the environment they received rather than the truth everyone knows.
"Is that so?"
"Then... Blood Battle-Ax art... Ax Rampage."
By performing a combat stance, a visible red aura expands out of his body blowing the air away from him.
"Killing you is the best choice I ever had this year. After all, we're the opposite."
"That goes the same for you too."
"!..."
Lacner responded frigidly.
"Lightning creation magic. Spear of Judgement!"
A long seven meters spear appeared on top of his palm.
Swish...
Boom...
Chaos and the destruction of trees is the only result the moment he swung it.
[Wakanda waste of oxygen]
"Heh... Would you look at that? That's some nice spear you have there. Isn't it?"
Just like Andre's weapon, Lacner materialized it through mana control.
The two frigidly stared at each other attempting to read each other minds.
Swoosh...
Klang...
Klang...
Boom... Boom-...
The two desperately dashed against one another as they collided their weapons attempting to get the first blow.
Boom-...
Boom-...
Everywhere they go only destruction and huge explosion that destroyed the surroundings can be seen. At this rate, it won't be a matter of time before completely destroying the small forest.
With their speed, they're like lightning, competing for the first place of destroying the area.
Bang-...
Bang-...
Swish-...
Klang-...
Boom-...
"Hahaha. This is fun. This is the first time I fought a person on the same foot like me." Said Andre in amusement while blocking as well as countering the constant attack from his opponent.
His maniac expression shows that he is of no concerned about what was happening in his surroundings. Therefore, His focus is fully locked on Lacner.
"Huff..."
Swish-...
Bang-...
In response, Lacner exasperatedly shoved him away in a single attack. However, Andre effortlessly blocked it by using the handle of his Ax as a shield. Nevertheless, he was still pushed dozens of meters away from Lacner.
Their gaps widen and Lacner didn't let this opportunity for someone to take it away from him.
He formed a certain posture for the preparation of his technique and poured a decent amount of mana into his spear. A ball of lightning appeared at the tip of his spear.
Zzzz-...
"Lightning magic, Lightning flash!"
The thunder spear released a massive lightning bolt moving toward Andre at breakneck speed cutting through the dense mist.
Seeing it coming, Andre let out a grin. By the looks of it, even in the face of this massive energy, Andre remained unfazed.
"Blood battle Ax Art. Demon chop"
He added mana into his Ax before swinging it against the massive lightning bolt.
Swung-...
Split...
Amid the half lightning bolt, Andre stood there with his Ax as well as his fearless expression.
"If you think you would win against me like that then you're mistaken-"
However, before he could even finish his sentences, the lightning bolt unexpectedly solidified on it's own without giving Andre the time to dissect it.
Boom-...
The massive smoke generated by the explosion engulfed the lifeless forest.
The green trees that contains an enormous amount of life a few seconds ago were replaced by motionless black trees burned by the collision of the two. Rather than calling it a tree, calling it coal is no different than that.
Clenched-...
The way Lacner clenched his left-hand displays his control over the technique. His actions revealed how he controlled the lightning bolt.
"Did it work?"- Lacner muttered these words. However, he faltered.
"No... There is no way a person like him can be defeated that easily." Lacner asserted and shook his head in denial.
"Haha, of course, such simple techniques like that won't work on me" Andre responded with a smile on his face while walking forward.
And soon his figure came out of the smoke.
"I see..." Lacner muttered.
Lacner instantly understood how his technique didn't work for him.
"A barrier huh..." He added.
A red barrier covering the entirety of Andre can be seen around him. Minor wounds can also be seen all over his body.
"It surprised me how you controlled it from a distance. However, the wounds you inflicted on me are nothing but a scratch. In the end, it does not do that much damage."
Lacner did not disagree with him. Albeit it did damage to him, as an Ss-rank those are nothing sort of dangerous. It won't even hinder him for just a second.
But, what caught his attention is not the wounds but his aura. Andre's aura is drastically getting stronger and tougher over the period of time. It won't be strange if he is just hiding his full strength earlier.
"This time I'm using my full power," said Andre before going ahead.
Swoosh...
At this point, Lacner had no other choice but to go along with him by fighting constantly.
In the first place, Lacner had no ambition of defeating him but killing him would also not be bad for him and everyone. So, as long as he has the power to provide in this battle, he got no complaints about that. In other words, he is not entirely sure of defeating him and all he can do is to provide time for everyone to escape or defeat his subordinates in order to survive as well as to reduce the casualties.
Swoosh-...
Lacner dashed ahead with these thoughts lingering inside his head.
Just like that, another series of battles took place throughout the dead forest.
Boom-...
Klang-...
Bang-...
Boom...
Boom...
Boooommmm...
Several mana symphonies of technique collision, Lightning beam noise, mana slash, screaming while fighting, the sound of an explosion, more trees collapsing, as well as the ground rumbling, could be heard amidst the combat zone in the entire forest. Not only that, as the battle continues, the zone grows. If it weren't for Lacner's protection while luring Andre, the buildings outside the forest would've been destroyed by now because of their large-scale techniques. Lacner is not only fighting Andre but also protecting the citizens at the same time.
In this fast pace constant battle, it's hard to tell which one is on the upper hand. Both were now using their full power along with their several types of techniques and strategies, yet, no one can tell who's winning. The two are fighting equally.
Andre's techniques were nothing that sort of special, all he did was to cut everything that gets in his way and create a different size mana Slashes as an offensive and defensive technique depend on how he used his mana to create them. Yet, he was able to keep up with Lacner who has more precise and destructive techniques than him effortlessly. Perhaps, his ferocious and impulsive nature is the reason why he can keep up with him.
Bang-...
Boom-...
As the battle gets longer, the more we could see who has the upper hand in winning. Is it Andre? Or Lacner?
If we accumulate their fight till now into account, then the winner would be...
Bang...
Klang-...
Klang-...
Klang-...
"Shit. I can't even blink once. No matter how strong the techniques I use, he deflects all of them. I also noticed his aura is getting stronger the more I fight him. Perhaps, is his strength getting stronger while fighting him? No that would be bad for me. I had to finish him now if that's the case." Lacner grits his teeth while fighting Andre in close combat.
That being said, Lacner prepared himself to use the technique. "Lightning magic, thunder thrust"
Thrust-...
Thrust-... Thrust-... Thrust-...
Bang-... Bang-... Bang-...
Lacner distanced himself from Andre before thrusting his spear multiple times at breakneck speed.
Andre obviously had no chance to deflect it. However, he was able to defend himself by using a barrier.
In the next moment, Andre had completely lost sight of Lacner.
"!..."
"Where did he go?"
That is what came out of his mouth before the next thing happened.
[Lightning magic, Divine heaven punisher!]
"!..."
As soon as he heard these words, he upcast only to find Lacner with a gigantic fully charge lightning spear on top of his right hand. ready to shoot him from above.
"Die!!!!!!"
This single word reverberated throughout the area along with the gigantic spear that fell on top of his head.
Andre had seen it coming, however, he didn't do anything and accepted his fate.
BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!