Nier returned from the bath wearing new clothes given by the prince. A white shirt and pant. He had checked it of any trap spell but deemed it safe. It was when a guy suddenly came and-
"Lord Magnus has told me to escort you to the battle arena. Please follow me"
After walking for a couple of minutes, Nier reached the battle arena. Entering from the door- he looked around. The arena was large and circular with a rocky field and there was the spectator seats surrounding it which were all completely empty except one seat on which sat Magnus.
On the Arena itself stood a man wearing a white coat and light blue eyes. He turned his eyes to Nier looking at him not with disdain but curiosity.
Nier looked at Magnus and spoke- "What about weapons? How do I use mine?I mean do I just wrap this chain around me? I have a sheath for this but-"
"Hmm...Yes"
"For real?"
"For real"
"..."
"In the real battlefield out there, would you care about not having a storage or being unlucky? They are challenges you have to overcome- offcourse- you will be given storage options in case you are selected"
'F*cking Maya mentality' Nier cursed in his mind. Going down the stairs- Nier didn't say any more words and just walked to opposition.
'You might have cursed me in your mind but this is all to see if you have a cunning mentality...besides- overcoming challenges is the way of the kingdom'
Magnus smiled and declared
"The match will end when either one surrenders or one is no longer capable of fighting. I don't think I need to say something more- so you can start."
Despite the bell being rang- the two combatants calmly analysed their opponents
'He has a whitish-blue mana, which element is that? I guess I should've prepared beforehand for situations like these- he is the strongest squad's vice-leader. His abilities should be famous but I don't know. Anyways- I'll let him make the first move' Nier thought after activating his ability for a second.
His ability didn't take a lot of mana to activate but took huge amount to sustain. That's why Nier used it in periods of seconds while trying to recover. At this stage. He was able to use it continuously for 12 seconds at full mana. And he had almost recovered completely.
'This guy's mana capacity seems dissapointing but my unique abilities and technique should be a secret to him. I'll attack first, he seems like he won't' Skar thought as he dashed forward
'Hand to hand? Is his mana just pure mana? I need to be careful. This battlefield is completely open and there's not much place to hide' As Nier thought that- The image of Skar running towards him suddenly multiplied as several clones approached him.
"What?" Nier spoke out loud as he looked at the approaching enemy.
'What is this? Some unique element? Likely. Doesn't matter...Is he making clones that work like him or are they illusions- I'll check the real one first- That! He is the true one'
Nier determined the real Skar from more then 10 of them with his ability. Only the real one seemed to have mana but he kept a confused look on his face to catch Skar off guard at the right time and took out his chains he had put on his shoulder
'Heh. That's an appropriate reaction. Skar's element and capabilites are so unique that we only assigned him to missions that didn't have too much civilians and all the squad members also keep it a secret. Those who are keen on it and the noble families most likely know about it but you are not one...are you Nier?' Magnus thought as looked at the battlefield with a smile.
Nier took a stance to build up energy and then- whipped forward with the chain like a whip in a swiping motion!
All the clones simultaneously jumped upwards to avoid the whip when Nier suddenly let go of it and rapidly closed it in to the real Skar
"You are in air- you can't avoid this!"
"!"
'He found out the real me instantly! How? This guy!' Skar thought as he looked at Nier below with his fist ready.
Nier concentrated mana on his fist ready to punch when multiple ropes wrapped his hands and waist from different directions. The clones which were mid air each had a blue mana rope in hand.
The positions were reversed as Nier was now trapped and Skar closed in!
Skar concentrated his mana to his fists and punched forward- connecting to Nier's face.
'Did I feel my mana being destroyed?' Skar thought but suddenly- blood leaked from Nier's nose.
"Wait...Are you injured!?" Skar suddenly got flabbergasted looking at Nier.
"..."
"*Sigh...That's just unfair- here, take this" Skar took out a healing pill and presented it to Nier
"..."
"Please...take it- not only is it unfair to you but disrespectful to me" Skar said.
Nier looked at it for some time and after hesitation opened his mouth
"Free my hands- how will I eat it? You'll feed me...Heh"
"..." Skar just smiled
"Eh"
"Yes"
"No way...keep your hands away fro-"
Nier started wailing when Skar threw the pill in his mouth
Magnus looked at all this with amusement. But more than that- he was pleased. The Iron Mountain Squad was the strongest squad of the Kingdom. It had many experienced sorcerers who were very strong. So why would Magnus even give some random d rank adventurer the chance to participate in an important mission? It was information.
Only him and Nier knew that there were traitors in the knights that likely work for the very enemy they are going to search for. Magnus needed to be in the capital for reasons. He felt it was important for someone who knew about the betrayals to be on the mission.
Why not tell someone who can 100% be trusted? Because the betrayal might not be conscious- that's why everyone who was close could be a traitor. Not by choice but by magic.
Now Nier who was the only one aware of it did something even he could not- he was able to figure out the true Skar from his clones. That already was some skill in itself. No- some ability. It was a useful thing for the mission and Magnus was thus pleased.
'Interesting- What else can you do? Nier Silvernova' Magnus smiled as he thought of the future.
The pill took it's effects and the injuries on Nier started healing. He also felt Internally relieved as he closed his eyes.
Nier does have the ability to slowely heal his exterior injuries but due to the lack of mana and later on to keep full storage- he chose not to. Some of it was also to present himself as a someone who came out of battle.
'My chances of victory are miniscule but if my plan works- I'll not lose...and now to get out of these ropes'
Nier thought about everything as he opened his eyes.
It was when-
Nier focused his anti-mana to single points on the ropes that tied him. He didn't need to erase the rope but only get out of it. Luckily the rope was made out of mana or else he would have much more of a problem.
"WHAT!?" Skar screamed flabbergastedly as he felt his ropes be destroyed.
Nier used the shock to send a punch forward connecting to Skar's jaw...almost. Before it could fully impact him. Nier's fist stopped but it still cause Skar to tumble back and rub his jaw.
The clones vanished as Skar cracked his neck. He was serious now. He brought his hands up and slapped the ground as the arena started shaking.
Cracks appeared on the ground as chunks of rock flew and chased Nier.
Nier saw the spectacle with wide-focused eyes. Activating his ability- Nier determined.
'This guy- his element is like mental energy. He is lifting those rocks with mana instead of mental energy. Earlier when he stopped my hands- he uses mental energy...He seems to have understood that my mana can negate his and is avoiding direct fight- not only that- He can make clones, He has such a high ability to manipulate mana that he can make ropes with it. That's really versatile. Tch. I am still weak. There's so much to improve and learn. But with my element that is none. I am restricted. Even so-"
Nier started running away as the rocks flew towards him as he used mental energy to call back his chain. He jumped over one using it as a leverage it avoid another giant one that came. One giant chunk came from above as Nier was mid-air unable to move but he wrapped the chains around the giant rock that flew by which pulled him- narrowly avoiding doom.
*BOOM *BOOM *BOOM
Sound of rocks crashing to the ground echoed throughout the arena as dust completely covered the surroundings.
'Even so- the arena is now to my advantage but I have to find the right time and view...wait- view...mana view. Yep- that's a fine name'
Nier exhaled as he activated his mana view. He did it in the right time as as he saw plae blue light in the dust cloud approaching him.
*SWISH
Nier leaned back as a rope flew by him!
'He can pinpoint my location!?'
Nier using the lean backflipped continously to avoid several attacks and jumped up high as a whip suddenly appeared from the cracked ground! Nier was able to avoid it and used his ability to determine the location of- Magnus!