The crowd of soldiers paused for a moment, shocked by the words that had come from Galliard's mouth. . .He didn't want help. He wanted to fight this overwhelmingly powerful man on his own.
But after a moment. As they felt the intensity build up as the two powerful forces faced off awaiting each other's attacks. The circle of soldiers began to expand outward before some began to depart completely disappearing into the surrounding battlefield.
["Whatever is up with his right hand. . must be something powerful if he's refusing help."] A gust of wind blew from behind Tsucko as a sky of dark clouds began to cover up the sun. Drops of water began to fall slowly, but then quickly picked up as a strike of lightning struck a nearby area.
The battlefield was starting to become pitch black. The only light source coming from magical attacks. Mostly from the True mage leaders the furthest into the battlefield. Who was battling alongside Kalci?
[ " This is the first time I've felt so anxious going into a battle. But it's not because of anything like him matching my mana. I know I can surpass that. . .Something is up with that right arm. . .That mana within that new mana-made pitch-black metal isn't his."]
Another flash of lightning covered the battlefield. Making Gallieard temporarily invisible for Tsucko, but mana detection could not be avoided when outputting that much mana.
Tsucko leaned backward displaying a flexibility unforeseen by Galliard. Tsucko placed his hand on the floor like doing a back handspring and flipped over attempting a kick under the chin of Galliard.
Galliard lifted his chin slightly causing the kick to nearly miss. Tsucko pushed off the ground and launched himself back and away from Gallieard gaining some distance. The rain continued to pour down on them causing a small bit of water to build up near their feet.
The wind gust grew more aggressive causing the rain to come in sideways smakking along Tsuckos face water began to splash into his eyes.
[" Dam this is annoying!']
" Splash!"
The sound of quick steps reached Tsucko's ears despite the violent wind. Tsucko saw the outline of Galliard as he closed the distance.
A kick sailed over Tsucko's head as he ducked. He then threw a quick combination of punches which Galliard easily blocked.
" Thwick!"
One punch sailed past Galliard as he turned to the side avoiding it. He caught it on the retract and pulled Tsucko in!
" Dam!"
Tsucko spat out a singuler curse. Close combat was Galliard's specialty, and Tsucko knew that. His arrogance and wish for an entertaining fight caused him to challenge him where the man was most successful.
Tuscko threw a quick left in an attempt to make him let go of his right, and he did. . .But he was so quick in close quarters that he then Caught Tsukos left before he could bring it back.
" Bash!"
But this time he gave Tsucko no chance to attempt a counter as he quickly landed an elbow on Tsuckos face causing his head to lash back violently due to the force. Then to follow that up Galliard landed a back hand along the right side of Tsuckos face with that mana-made steel.
Tsucko through a kick in response that landed on the thigh of Galliard pushing him back and forcing him to let go. Blood ran down the side of Tsuckos face along with the front of his nose. He brought up his right hand to feel it
Blood was washed away from his palm as he brought it back down. The rain attempted to wash away any blood from the battlefield. But the iron had already soaked into the ground.
[" Besides being tougher. I didn't feel anything strange when his right hand connected. Meaning it must not be a touch thing."] Tsucko began to quickly deduce what was special about that mana-made steel covering Galliard's hand.
" Splash"
The sound of quick steps through the water interrupted him once more as he looked up to find Galliard sprinting at him.
" Swew"
Tsucko then cast mana wire into his right hand. all five fingers and sent them for Galliard. The mana glowed a bright yellow meaning enough mana had been poured into it to cut him in half.
" Tch!"
He clicked his tongue. His eyes danced among the strands of razor-sharp wire as he then avoided each string one by one. Only his expensive-looking suit was cut in a few places which he looked more pissed about than anything else.
" Do you know how much that cost!? Dam Peasant!"
Galliard launched himself into the air. His right arm began to glow as he descended pointing it at Tsucko. . .Who simply smiled as he leaned back on his heels.
" He!. . .Snap!"
He snapped in his left hand a large ball of fire was shot straight at Galliard who had no way of dodging. The ball landed on him and burst into a raging ball of bright flames that engulfed him. Tsucko jumped back as the heat was a bit much for his liking gathering some space as he watched the ball burn.
["Too bad. I really wanted to see what the hand did.] I thought you were stronger-"
Suddenly the ball began to grow into a spiral. Forming a tornado in mid-air, but the longer it went the smaller it grew. As Tsucko looked on he could see that the bottom of the funnel was being sucked into something.
" The Hell!" Tsucko's eyes widened in disbelief. His face was at first that of confusion, but then his lips curled into a smile of excitement. " Ha! Good. . .You've been more entertaining than the rest-"
" Thwack!"
Suddenly something struck Tsucko in the gut with enough force to send him sliding back. He only caught a glimpse of it, someone moving at insane speed dashed in and landed a kick on his stomach.
[" He stayed!?"] Earlier he was struck by someone with that same speed. Someone with magic that increased speed outside of just mana enhancement.
" Splash!"
Again faster than Tsucko could react the soldier dashed in a kicked the water-covered ground causing a mess of dirt and water to fly up in front of Tsucko blocking his line of sight on Galliard. . .Shortly after he sensed a mana build up.
[" Thats him. . .This build-up is intense. Meaning it's something big. I'll use defensive magic in one spot in front of me instead of covering my whole body."
A yellow wall was summoned within the falling dirt. It only covered the space that would block his head from getting hit, but this way he could be sure to block even a fatal strike, and his head would most likely be the target anyway.
As the water and dirt fell Tsucko caught a glimpse of the attack being built up. Galliard had his arm outstretched and his free hand acting as a type of support. His right hand pulsated a mix of purple and black as the mana charged up far surpassed what Tsukco expected.
" Boom!"
A beam of black and purple was fired and pierced through the falling dirt. Tsuckos eyes widened as he saw his defensive mana crack.
" Crash!"
The defensive mana broke with ease. Tsucko desperately leaned out of the way but it still caught him. Burning the spot along his shoulder and neck turning it pitch black.
[" Such power. It shredded my defensive magic. . .I had to de-cast my mana wire simply so I could make sure I blocked this attack. I had accounted for his arm being some sort of mana enhancement but this much!. . ."
His defensive mana wall crumbles. The golden yellow sparks of mana reflected in Tsuckos eyes as they flickered away.