Ryan stood behind the collapsed form of Wayde, his hand soaked in warm blood from the improvised weapon he had employed. With a sharp shard of debris in hand, he had pierced his former companion from behind, leaving Wayde in a state of agonised turmoil.
Meanwhile, Wayde's voice had grown hoarse from incessant, piercing screams that echoed through the underground chamber. Each scream sent shivers through Ryan's frame, struggling to remain resolute.
However, in the end, he was merely doing what Wayde intended to do to him and still would do to him in a heartbeat if he could.
The deranged mage had been consumed by his insatiable desires and ambition. Being entrapped in the underground labyrinth, unable to attain the treasure it contained, merely made him even more desperate.
But in his pursuit of power and freedom, he had grossly underestimated the young mage he once regarded as an insignificant pawn.
Toying with Ryan, displaying all kinds of magic and highlighting the disparity between their skills, knowledge and capability, Wayde displayed his sadistic nature. By doing so, he used a large amount of mana and was driven to drain the last dregs of his reserves, summoning a final, devastating attack.
The power behind the assault was so immense that even in peak condition, Wayde doubted he could have confronted it unscathed, let alone the inexperienced Ryan who was barely conscious.
However, fate had a different plan.
In an astonishing twist of events, the fledgling mage, previously toyed with and seemingly obliterated, inexplicably materialised behind Wayde. Devoid of mana and energy, Wayde had no means to detect the sudden shift, let alone anticipate it.
He stood utterly defenceless.
Gone was his former arrogance and unshakable confidence.
All that was left was a vulnerable and drained mage who had no way of protecting himself.
Wayde struggled to even stand, let alone maintain his Natural Forcefield, a cornerstone spell of the Qidius Family. Thus, he was helpless to defend against the stabbing attack that surprised even Ryan himself, leaving both mages in a state of bewildered astonishment.
Everything had happened so suddenly, within a fraction of a second, and just like that, the tides had turned.
-
As Ryan's life flashed before his eyes, an indelible image of the Warlock imprinted itself upon his mind. Time appeared to slow to a crawl as Wayde's devastating final assault hurtled towards him, and the thought that the Warlock would be his last contemplation before death filled the young mage with frustration.
Yet, as this realisation settled in, a latent instinct that had guided him thus far began to stir, subtly nudging him toward something greater. Whether it was the hand of fate or the influence of a future version of himself aiding in his survival and growth, Ryan couldn't say for certain. Regardless, he understood that he wouldn't have reached this revelation without it and the Warlock's cryptic influence.
Recalling how the Warlock manipulated space, folding it in on itself to move seamlessly from one location to another, Ryan marvelled at how he had abruptly grasped the enigmatic concept. Even the most basic of magic had once been far beyond his comprehension, but in the dire moment, he felt an inexplicable confidence in his ability to replicate the Warlock's feat.
Expressing it in words was challenging, akin to explaining how some dogs instinctively knew how to swim. It felt like an innate skill, something woven into his very being. That's how Ryan perceived it, and all he required to draw on the innate ability was the memory of the Warlock's extraordinary demonstration and the imminent threat that allowed no evasion or defence.
In that remarkable instant, Ryan steeled his mind and body, enveloping himself in a shroud of mana that facilitated his transcendence through space. Similar to the principles of Mana Projection, it was an out-of-body experience, yet incredibly, he remained within his corporeal form. It felt like entering a hazy, dream-like state where time stood still, allowing him to glide effortlessly to his chosen destination.
However, he quickly realised that this ability demanded more of him than he had anticipated, particularly given his wounded, drained, and fatigued state...
-
Spatial Warping, a phenomenon similar to teleportation, was a form of Spatial Magic that only a select few in all of Aria had mastered. What made this all the more astonishing was that Ryan, who had only discovered the existence of magic less than two weeks prior, had managed to execute it.
The sheer improbability of the feat would cause a stir throughout the entirety of Aria.
Capitalising on the element of surprise he had gained, Ryan lunged towards Wayde instantly. In a rapid sequence of events, he thrust a sharp piece of debris into Wayde's back multiple times.
Suddenly, however, Ryan's body betrayed him as he began to vomit uncontrollably, his vision blurring as dizziness overcame him, causing him to stagger backwards.
From Wayde's vantage point, it seemed as though Ryan lacked the resolve to finish the job, which was partly the case. However, it was mostly because of the repercussion of Spatial Magic, affecting all mages regardless of their skill level.
Most mages knew better than to employ Spatial Magic when their physical condition was compromised - a lesson Ryan had just learned firsthand.
Normally, Spatial Rifts had a minimal impact on him, which was a feat in itself. But this time felt different, as if an invisible force was twisting and contorting his insides. Despite his empty stomach, Ryan's body continued to convulse, attempting to expel something that wasn't there, leaving behind a disturbing mixture of stomach acid and blood that burned his throat as it surged upward.
Observing Ryan's distressing state, Wayde, though weakened and bloodshot-eyed, began a slow crawl toward the altar bearing the floating ring.
'If I can just...' the deranged mage hadn't given up just yet, despite the blood streaming out of the wounds in his back.
Meanwhile, the ring and altar astonishingly remained unscathed, emanating an awe-inspiring aura even after Wayde's devastating attack.
As he approached the altar gradually, leaving behind a trail of blood, a sinister grin played across Wayde's face. Envisioning a future where he obtained the ring and tormented Ryan until the very last breath escaped his body, his hatred for the young mage was the only thing keeping him going.
'I'll kill him!'