Feeling the earthen construct rise and build itself from the ground up, Lieren examined its mana structure for half a second, his consciousness seemingly slipping into the intricate weapon itself.
It was of the highest quality it could be, second only to Harita's Night Eater, which itself was now a true marvel to perceive. He had only seen it twice, and been able to bear witness to it through Manavision once. Still, despite his inexperience and lack of great skill, he could still somehow gleam its astounding quality and masterful construction, as well as the mountain of effort and dedication spent into building everything that made the blade itself.
Come to think of it, ever since his unfortunate amputation, he hasn't been using that sword at all, which was a true oddity.
But Lieren didn't have time to think about that right now. There are greater thing on the horizon.
…Well, not great, maybe. Rather, it was just very dire. Extremely.
Instinctively tightening his grip on the brilliant dagger, Lieren struggled to keep his eyes closed anymore. He had to keep them closed, lest he blinds himself with Scorpio's radiance. Of course, that meant that no matter what he did, his adversary's restriction would be kept unperturbed, thus making him lose in the very near future.
Scorpio's grating voice resounded:
"So, you've noticed it, huh. Yes, I can create constructs too. Rather, it would be more accurate to say that I can build them, or maybe even sculpt them, if you would. It's quite the feat, I might say."
Lieren had no choice but to agree.
'Materialization and Manipulation are both insanely difficult categories to excel in. On the contrary, they are also very versatile and powerful categories to be born into because of the astounding amount of possibilities they offer, usually by tapping into other categories… Though, his spell seems to lean more into Manipulation—mostly, even. It's quite astounding, that much is for sure.'
As he marveled at the fine craftsmanship of the earthen weapon, Lieren had no choice but to make a regretful decision.
He had to destroy the wonderful weapon, at all costs, lest he suffer a dire fate with it. He knew for certain that something as intricate as that, and considering someone as insidious as Scorpio—the masterful weapon was bound to have some astounding magical effects. Lieren wasn't willing to risk his Resistance, as well.
Who knew? Maybe, just maybe, it might just go right through his valuable ability.
And so, he enhanced his legs and feet, his back and knees as well, and dashed forward with an explosive step. It wasn't quite strong enough to crack the ground, though.
*clang!*
Sparks flew as the brilliant sword flashed multiple times, waning the intricate weapon slowly, damaging its masterful form. It was a real shame, Lieren could have learned a lot from the way the intricate weapon was made. Sadly, he had no choice but to destroy it.
'…Or I would have been.'
The weapon was too tough, and so was the will of its wielder. Each strike he made only left shards of earth to fly off the thing, which reformed faster than he could damage the thing. Scorpio didn't seem to be moving, or planning a counterattack, at least until his weapon finished building itself.
Was it a condition, perhaps? One that grounded him to the floor until his creation finally formed itself.
'If that's the case…'
Halting his barrage of strikes, Lieren circumvented the angst teenager and appeared behind him using master Feng's flowing battle art, then recalled Vesba's deceptive style and brought his blade forward, carving a deep wound in the man's back. Not much blood flowed out of it — that was, until he pulled the dagger out. When he did, a flood of valuable liquid flowed out from the man's back.
Scorpio stayed silent the entire time, mostly, suppressing painful moans. His hands rested on his forming weapon's shaft.
'…This isn't good.'
Finally realizing the weapon's true value, Lieren gritted his teeth and brought his striking blade up to the man's throat… and felt a wave of pain wash over his abdominal regions.
"Nice try, cretin. You almost had me there."
It was as though all air was sucked out of his lungs as Lieren reflexively took a step back, his feet bringing him a couple feet away, just until his back crashed against intertwining earthen spears jutting from the floor, wall, and ceiling, trapping him like a pitiful caged animal.
The sight of him was truly pathetic.
His eyes were wide open, a product of the wave of pain that's struck his back when he collided with the intertwining outcroppings.
And because of that, he could see it very clearly, the masterful weapon he had admired, praised, and dreaded so much in what felt like hours, but in truth was only minutes.
It was a spear, unsurprisingly enough, and it was a great one. It was the color of the earth, with golden rings in three points of across its shaft, the bottom, middle, and top. Its top ring, especially, was very intricate, less of a ring actually and more of a… bangle, or perhaps a very thick bracelet. There was a single beige gem embedded in the middle of it, shining brilliantly. It seemed to be an opal, or something closely resembling it. Its blade at the vey top was as sharp as a razor, made most likely of earthsteel, one of the elementally-infused alloys made by skilled blacksmiths…
Or a very powerful Creator.
A cold smile appeared on Lieren's face. He had to buy some time.
"So, that bangle, or is it a bracelet, is your proof of participation, huh? It's pretty cool."
Scorpio glared at him with his brown eyes, as if trying to incinerate his very being.
"It's a gauntlet, you cretin. A very powerful one, much more than any one of your pendants, which seems to be nothing more than pretty decorum. Let me guess, you ran out of charges in our fight, didn't you? Fool! This is exactly why commoners like you, and elite nobles like me, were never meant to be in the same place together. It's unnatural and disastrous."
'Ah, so that's how Taurus' pendant works. No wonder it didn't activate; I forgot to charge it.'
The man swept his gaze across Lieren's battered and exhausted body.
"You grew overconfident of yourself, amplifying your strength to heights far beyond what it actually is. You are destined to fail and suffer for your insolence. Even lady Blessen didn't spare you any thoughts and gave you the weakest proof of participation, one meant for cowards and runaways with nothing more to their name other than their fast legs."
Lieren shifted awkwardly.
"Lady… Bless? What does she have to do with this?"
Scorpio squinted his brown eyes, as if perplexed by his words.
"You really don't know anything, do you?... Well that's a given, you're just a commoner, after all."
Lieren laughed weakly, noticing the truth of it all. It was true, he had grown overconfident, bolstering his self-worth like never before. It disgusted him, and made him feel special, as well. He wasn't willing to let go, though, lest he finally breaks down and does something that might hurt those he cares about, which was the last thing he ever wanted to happen.
Luckily, he had done his job. At record time, too.
"What's so funny, cretin?"
Lieren flared his mana, pushing Fortification mana to his abdominal wound and leg injury. It was relieving for just a second, until the effects disappeared and he was left with the harrowing pain once again. However, the bleeding had mostly stopped, and his body was beginning to work with him and prevent any more damage.
Lieren smiled—weakly, this time.
"Nothing. It's just I never expected you to tattle on for so long. You really helped me out, thanks for that."
The angst teenager squinted, his brown eyes seemingly becoming plates as a different presence suddenly fell upon the two of them like a crashing wave.
*DUN!*
Lieren's words clicked in Scorpio's head finally, and a face that practically screamed of indignation appeared on it.
"You… you disgusting, ugly commoner… YOU! What the hell did you do?! Are you trying to kill both of us?!"
A manic grin flashed across the boy's face, as if he had truly gone insane. He laughed like a man with a white jacket.
"No, of course not! I'm just trying to kill you! HAHAHAHA!"
As the ground shook and the overbearing presence grew closer and closer, Lieren's laughter rang through the Eavesdrop fight club, reaching all that still held themselves together.
It was only drowned out by Scorpio's own shout, who was well on his way to insanity.
"You monster! Why the hell did you bring Leo over here?! He's going to kill us all…!!"
◇◆◇◆◇
Atop one of the highest points in New Mireton, the tower of the Council of Manas, where various knowledge and wizards gather to fulfill their heart's greatest desires was a lean man with glistening hair. It had been a while, but he had finally gotten its old luster back. It sure was expensive, though!
Harita gazed throughout the maze-like layout of the city. There were various large buildings and splendiferous mansions strewn here and there, but not as much as the small and mundane buildings themselves that clung together like corn kernels, filling whatever space they could. At the very center of the city was the mystifying fountain, marking the entrance of the godforsaken city, as well as the main point of commerce.
A brief smile flashed across his face as he remembered the passing days, as well as the not-so-far past. Those days were quite enjoyable.
His happiest days.
But now… now that those days were behind him and the worst yet approaching from the horizon, he had no choice but to face the inevitable future. There was a cold gleam in his feline green eyes as he watched the cities with vigilance and suspicion, as if the very ground it was built on was going to come alive and swallow him whole.
"What a ridiculous thought. There's no way that'll happen."
Shaking his head at the idea of a giant golem coming alive and wreaking havoc in the godforsaken city, Harita laughed around and sighed. Still, he had not given up.
His target was not most careful, nor was he the most stealthy, but he was sure of his strength. Strength that, if he so chose, could destroy the very city to its last pillars should he so choose.
He just didn't know how the man employed that strength… yet.
That was what he was here to find out.
"Speak of the devil."
Far from where he was, a few kilometers away, was a coldly familiar figure that uncaringly radiated a thick aura of power, confidence, and destruction, as if the very world itself was at the tip of his fingertips, able to make or break it at will.
And yet, he hadn't, the figure, that is… and Harita was here to find out why.
Sparing a glance to his side, where a lone woman with lustrous silver hair and luminous black eyes, as if she was a child of the Sky Beyond. Bian was currently asleep like a log, having spent many sleepless days gathering intel and enacting various clandestine missions all around the city. Of course, Harita himself had helped in that endeavor many times, but was interrupted in between in his search for Lieren, his new master.
Of course, when he had finally found him, the kid had been adopted into some sick game for the hand of a precious maiden, the daughter of the most powerful alliance in the godforsaken city.
Harita still had not figured out why the kid joined in that horrid competition, nor what reasons he had in staying, even after all the chances presented to him to leave. Even the kid didn't seem to know what his reasons where, but was still subtly aware of its existence, like some autonomous machine with a purpose unknown to itself, but was designed to otherwise fulfill its purpose.
Tapping the woman's shoulder lightly, Harita woke Bian up with a few words.
"If you don't wake up, I'll strip you naked."
"…!!" Opening her eyes like a madman, the lustrous woman jumped to her feet, Weeping Maiden — her treasured silver rapier already materialized in her hands and almost at his throat. It was mere inches from injuring him, stopping abruptly all of a sudden when it was but an inch away.
Harita grinned mischievously.
'Works like a charm.'
She squinted her eyes and glared at the lean man with danger in her eyes.
"I told to not wake me up like that ever again. Do you wanna die?"
Harita shook his head with a smile.
"Of course not, do you?"
Bian eyes him suspiciously.
"…What?"
It was only at that moment that she finally noticed Harita's watersteel dagger by her abdomen, dangerously close to her center. It didn't shine but reflect the light of the sun, casting blue rays atop the tower they had infiltrated a few days ago and secured a route in.
However, she didn't panic. Their contract was still in effect, after all. She had nothing to worry about. She said with a raised brow:
"What are you trying to do?"
He smiled.
"The same goes for you."
It was at that moment that a horrifying earthquake shook them to their very core, almost toppling them over.
*rumblerumblerumblerumble*
Harita's eyes grew wide as a crystal ball, shocked beyond belief. A terrible premonition had struck him like a bolt of lightning.
"No way…"
Looking back at his target, he was able to gleam — even from a few kilometers away — the subtle glow of one of the man's rings, rapidly growing brighter and more potent, charging up for one devastating, dire… something.
Leo was about to activate his ability and spell at the same time.
Bian's voice resounded beside him, as if to solidify his morbid thoughts:
"Hey, isn't that where Aries and Scorpio are fighting?"