The ground trembled beneath the massive feet of the giant orc as it moved forward, each step crushing rocks and scattering debris. Ace lay defenseless on the ground, his body bruised and bloodied.
The sight of the beast, towering like a mountain, its twisted face filled with brutal intent, rooted him to the spot. His mind raced, the image of that monstruous creature bearing down on him like an unbreakable wall.
"Physical attacks won't work… and my magical attacks won't have much of an effect either." Every option he considered felt useless, leaving him with nothing but a growing pit of despair. "What options do I have at my disposal?"
"Damn it! Think, there must be something?!" he clenched his fists, frustration and fear warring within him. "Wait. There is."
Suddenly, a memory from his time training with Chris popped back into his mind. The voice echoed in his mind, steady and unyielding. "Listen well, Ace. A Battlemage's strength depends on mostly two things: the skills with his own fighting techniques, that includes precision, speed, flexibility and strength. Then the other is his magic, how he uses it to enhance and support his combat art. Those two factors are what make the most of our abilities as battle magi. That's why for us who use swords, I prefer to say that we are Spellblades. So when fighting against any enemy, always think of how you can make the most about those characteristics."
Ace's breathing slowed as Chris's words resonated within him, and the flicker of hope was enough to steady his shaking limbs as he slowly struggled to stand up. He knew he didn't have overwhelming strength or magic on their own. But if he could merge them, use his magic to the limit to amplify his skill… "I can do this."
Battlemages were mages who used mana to increase their physical abilities as well as infusing their weapons and strikes with elemental magic depending on their attributes, while Spellcasters, on the other hand, were mages who used incantations and/or visualization to conjure spells which can create and affect matter/mana material in various ways.
Ace's eyes snapped up just in the nick of time to see the giant orc raising its massive club high, then striking it with full force, sending a shower of dirt stone in the air.
A large sound could be heard at that moment. Amidst the cover of dust, there was grinding sound in the air.
When the dust cleared, Ace, who barely managed to block the attack, was standing alive though barely.
The beast, taken aback by his sudden movement, roared in fury, preparing for another strike.
"If I only have to defeat you then I simply have to strike you with enough power to make a dent in that thick skin of yours, RIIIIIGHT?!" Ace's voice grew stronger, confidence building as he released a large amount of mana. He tightened his grip on his sword, allowing his mana to surge into it, all while pushing the giant orc back and throwing it off balance.
"Concentrate, breath, refine your mana… and let it run through you. Feel it throughout your body, visualize it, give it shape, release more and more and more. Much, much, more," he repeated to himself in a low murmur, grounding himself in the technique like how he used to with Maria. His breath slowed, steady and deep, his gaze shining with a golden hue as he focused on channeling his mana. His sword gleamed in his hands, the blade and handle extending, covered in his magical aura.
Regaining its balance, the giant orc roared again, shaking the ground. Its patience thinning, it charged toward Ace with fearsome rage. Ace braced himself, setting his stance, the sword and his aura glowing so intently that the air around it crackled. His focus narrowed until there was only him and the giant orc.
"LEEEET'S GOOOOO!!!" he screamed as the mana released reached its peak, swirling around him like a storm. Ace slid into a stance holding the sword over his head, magical energy covering the sword like a veil, every muscle in his body coiled and ready. At the same time, the giant orc, now mere feet away and screaming "GRAAAAAHH!!", swung its club with the force of an avalanche.
"Now!" Ace's eyes sharpened as he took a single controlled, deep breath and closed his eyes, his world narrowing to singular point of focus. As the club came crashing down, he reopened his eyes, and with a slight change in footing, he swung his sword with lightning-fast motion as if it was a natural reflex.
"I. Won't. Lose. I absolutely refuse to lose and die here. "Null Magic: Izanagi
For a moment, there was silence. The air hung still, as if in awe of the battle's end. Ace stumbled back, his body trembling from the strain of his attack, barely able to keep his footing.
"DAAAAMN! Finally done with it haha," Ace exclaimed, his voice a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. He glanced at the massive orc sprawled a few feet away, its once fierce eyes now staring blankly at the sky. The orc had been a formidable opponent, with thick greenish skin and muscles like iron.
Ace managed a weary smile, wiping the sweat and dirt from his face. Admiring the fact that he had managed to bring the beast down. "For an orc he was quite strong and thick-skinned, well I managed somehow. But still though, where is the salamander? And why was that beast here instead of it?"
The adrenaline beginning to fade, Ace dropped to his knees, exhaustion finally overwhelming him.