"Let's get this started, Troy!"
As expected, he really is fast!
I barely dodged his first punch by jumping back and sprinting away, but I knew more to come. Of all the three faction leaders, he's the only one whose Skill I have no information about. The only thing I know is he has terrifying physical capabilities.
It means there are other options here than holding back.
Upon dodging, I immediately aimed my hand in his direction, released a common fire blast attack, and blasted it toward him. The fire exploded on him, and I watched him burn, but I received no reaction coming from him. He just stood there and did not do anything.
I knew Cherubim was still assessing. I'm buying him time.
"I hate to break it to you, but I'm not a big fan of Fire magic," he said as his silhouette emerged from the direction of my attack, with a menacing grin forming on his lips as the fire died out.
[Confirmed: Fire Resistance imitated skill acquired!]
Damn it!
He jumped towards me much faster than before.
I activated my Ice magic and covered the ground around me with ice at the same time, creating multiple ice spikes on top of them to stop the charging enemy.
But he's much faster.
In one swoop, all the ice blocking him was easily destroyed, and he continued his attack toward me.
I created multiple wind blades and used them to defend myself, but he effortlessly evaded them like nothing while launching a devastating punch toward my face!
"Too slow."
At that speed, I couldn't dodge it. All I could do was jump back while covering my face using my arms coated with thick ice to lessen the impact I was about to receive.
His punch crushed my ice-coated arms.
[Passive Skill: Shield Activated!]
The invincible shield appeared just in time when Leonidas' punch got through my ice-covered arms. It did the job of protecting me from the impact at the exact time.
However, even with it, I still felt the pain as I bounced off the ground due to the overpowering attack I just received.
Damn it!
My fate would have been like the Minitour if Cherubim didn't activate the shield. Imagine what would have happened to me if the shield was not available. I thank God that even if my Skill was imitative, they didn't forget to give me a shield. Man, I would have died! Phew!
With the invisible shield, it was less painful than I thought it would be, given that it appears that he didn't hold back; he actually tried to obliterate my face!
I quickly stood up and checked out my wrists. I saw bruises on them. A little bit of pain but I can manage.
It's a good thing the shield appeared just in time; if not, I'd be dead by now.
"I must admit, to have three elemental magic is already a remarkable feat of its own. You have potential, as expected from someone who had the guts to wear that clothing. It's too bad you can't win against me with that," Leo said while slowly walking towards me.
Yeah, too bad because I don't know what you are talking about.
I stood up. "Really? That's a nice thing to hear."
I activated my Ice magic, strong enough to cover the entire surface of the area around us with ice. I don't care if this will cost me a much larger amount of mana.
From afar, I could hear the screams of the spectators because the Ice reached them.
Leo easily crashed into the ice on his foot. "So, this is the game that you want to play? You plan to confine me in your ice field and bombard me with your Ice magic? Men, I didn't expect it to be this cold!"
"I don't have much of a choice, do I? This is my last resort; give your all."
He smiled. "How predictable. I can't blame you though." He assumed a battle stance. "It just saddens me because I expected more from you. I didn't expect this battle to end this quickly."
As expected, he jumped towards me using his overwhelming speed.
I activated my Ice magic and generated countless Ice spikes attacking him at once, but he already anticipated it and just smashed everything that went his way.
Based on physical strength alone, this guy can crush me to pieces!
He's destroying the ice spikes using his bare hands. Take note, without using a skill, it's just his sheer strength! As expected of a physical user.
I sprinted away from him by heating up my feet using my Fire magic.
"Is that all you've got?" He destroyed the ice spikes, continuously attacking him, and immediately jumped towards me.
He landed a few meters away from me and sprinted for a chase.
I activated my Wind magic and blasted three wind blades towards him, but he easily dodged it by jumping while hurling towards me.
A victory smile materialized on his face while he was flying mid-air.
"Playtime is over, three elemental mage!"
"I have more than that!"
The smile on his face immediately vanished as he was instantly confined inside a massive water ball, another mana-draining skill.
I melted all the ice around us and turned it into a massive water ball.
He tried to swim his way out, but I created a whirlpool inside to make it harder for him.
I know he's strong enough to escape from it, but at least it will buy me more time for my next attack.
I activated my Electricity magic, channeled a huge amount in my hand, and aimed it towards him.
The unnerving roar of the surging electrical energy in my hand became more and more audible as the power built up.
Leo roared while underwater as he looked at me with great rage on his face.
I'm pretty sure you'll survive this. But it won't be painless, either. I unleashed the thunder strike towards the massive water ball; the sound of the exploding water ball and the rumbling thunder strike resonated throughout the area.
As the vapors disappeared, no one was talking. Just looking at the center, their eyes widened while shifting their eyes on both of us.
[Assessment Completed]
It's about time, Cheru-san.
[Imitation magic Skill pairing with Sympathetic Skill... Acquiring new Minor Skill...]
{Permission for Evolution...}
[Evolution Denied]
[Note: Requirements not met. Switching to Lesser Process...]
{Lesser Process: Metamorphosis...}
[Note: Requirements have been met]
{Permission to use Metamorphosis?}
[Note: Pairing will not affect the current skills. The pairing of sub and extra skills will unlock a minor skill. Proceed?]
Yes!
[New Minor Skill Unlock: Kratos]
[Note: Kratos Enhance Unique Skill Cherubim to see and imitate Physical skill]
Damn! Awesome!
[Scanning]
[Confirmed: Warrior's Rage Imitated Skill Acquisition Success]
[Notice: Warrior's Rage physical Ability is Unique to Beastfolks like Leo. The ability to convert 100% of physical damage that the user has taken will be automatically enhanced by two. The effect lasts for an hour with continued use.]
What the hell is this ridiculously short- and over-powered physical skill?
Leo's excited chuckle echoed around the area. "That was fun! I didn't expect you to be this good! You are praiseworthy!" His unscathed body materialized as he walked towards me.
"Now that I'm going to get serious, I hope you still have a few tricks up your sleeve. You've just got my hopes up, so don't disappoint me now, Troy."
As expected from the person known as the Invincible, he proved to me that it's not just a name.
The real fight is just about to begin.
"Believe me, it will surprise you."
Cherubim…
[I'm ready!]