The defensive magic shattered. Leaving Tsucko completely surprised as he had poured enough mana into the defense that it should have been able to stop even the most powerful magical cast.
Tsucko took a strong step into the soaked earth as the rain continued to pour. He lifted his right hand across his chest and felt the burn causing a sting to run through his body
["Third-degree burn. . .And that's not all."] Tsucko turned and looked behind him. Where a crater had been carved into the earth where the mana cannon beam had hit. [ " If that hit me directly. I would most certainly be dead."]
" How does it feel?" The smooth but deep, refined voice of Galliard cut into the silence following the attack. " The cells in your skin are dead. . , Even if the beam misses, it torches anything within a 5-centimeter radius. Striking on the cellular level."
He emerged from the dust that had been kicked up from the attack. His right hand seemed to have smoke emerging from the mana-made pitch-black metal. . .It was hot.
[" Like a high-powered rifle from back home. Or a machine gun after firing absurd amounts of ammo. . ."] Tsucko searched his mine attempting to come to a conclusion about Galliard's right arm.
" That look in your eye is revolting," Galliard spoke bitterly. " Your eyes are the color most associated with hope. But you think of nothing but yourself." Tsuckos eyes widened and his lips began to curl. " Even now. . . You don't care about the soldiers fighting for your cause. You could care less about them. . .They are simply tools to use to achieve whatever it is you're after."
Tsucko let his hands rest at his side. Soon after mana wire appeared on the right. Gallieard could sense another build-up in his left hand. Usually, he would assume it was his fire magic but after what happened moments ago.
[" I didn't sense the mana build-up when he used fire magic. Thats how he caught me in mid-air. . .Luckily my arm was my saving grace there." His eyes locked on to the left hand of Tsucko, where a yellow hue began to surround it. [" So then. What is that?"]
"You're wrong," Tsucko spoke with his face twisted into another one of his psychotic smiles. " They aren't fighting for me." Galliard's eyes narrowed slightly. " They are doing this for the same reason I am. . .Either it's a personal goal, pride, maybe the thrill of the fight. . .They are all fighting for personal reasons."
" Tsk!" Galliard clicked his tongue. Why'll he didn't completely understand why people would willingly fight a war? He knew it was something they would do. Seeing as many in his own ranks fight for the same personal interests.
" I simply put them in places and plan our attacks. They have no interest in my gains for doing this only theirs."
". . .You took advantage of their pure minds. I doubt many of them will still be willing to fight after what they see today. The horrors of war affect everybody.[ Even me."]
" Na! I doubt that. . .I'm sure once this battle is over they will have changed, but their will to fight will be even stronger. . .Besides, even if they do refuse to fight. I'm sure I can convince them using some outlandish methods."
" You truly deserve to die. No man with such morals shall live in this world." Galliard's right arm had stopped smoking. " Luther!" He then suddenly called out to someone.
A flash suddenly crossed Tsukcos line of vision stopping next to Galliard...Tuskco's smile vanished as the man who caused him to be struck by the beam stood before him. A boy, no older than 17 stood next to Galliard.
" you should have left," Galliard spoke, seemingly scolding the boy.
" I know sir. . .But I feel that I'm the only one capable of assisting you." The boy had short orangeish hair. He was short, shorter than both Tsucko and Galliard. " And with all due respect. I don't know if you're capable of winning this even with your arm exposed." Hearing the talk. Tsucko figured they were relatively close outside of simply military stuff.
" . . .You might be right. So I'll ask you" Luther's eyes widened slightly as Galliard spoke. " Can you keep up with me?"
A smile crossed Luther's face. Galliard shared a similar expression as Tsucko too grew a smile once more. Although his was much more ominous than theirs.
" Yes sir."
" Okay then. Fight by my side."
Both of them brought their hands up in ready positions. Tsucko hunched over slightly his left hand facing up toward the sky with the yellow hue surrounding it. His right with mana wired dangling to the floor glowing brightly.
" Then I'll kill you both." His eyes met Luthers. He then spoke in a whisper to himself. "But I'll start with you. In order to break him." His eyes slowly drifted to Galliard.
" Shwim!!"
Luther dashed and in one singuler stepped closed the distance between him and Tsucko. Tsuckos eyes still couldn't keep up with his speed. That would be their key factor to winning.
"Swish!"
Luther attempted a punch but was dogged leaving him confused. There should be no way for Tsucko to see the attacks coming, even predicting them would be difficult.
Tsucko twirled his fingers on his right hand sending a couple strands of mana wire his way. He flipped backward evading and dashed away in the blink of an eye. . .Now it was Galliard's turn.
Galliard sprinted in a straight line for Tsucko. Mana wire was sent his way. he evaded it gracefully outside a couple of rips in his suit once again. Once he closed in he threw a quick right which Tsucko parried and counted with a left.
Galliard stepped back and away avoiding the punch and threw a kick as a counter.
" Thwack!"
Tsucko blocked this with his right, but the force sent him sliding into the wet terrain slightly. Galliard dashed back in as Tsucko sent more mana wire his way which he blasted away with a short burst from his right hand.
" What!" Tsuckos eyes widened. [" So he can use it in short bursts then."] He avoided a combo of punches and dashed back. [" That one was much weaker, only enough to blast away my mana wire. . .There must be some condition."]
Galliarrd continued the pursuit. He dashed in and sunk to the floor placing his right hand on the ground. Tsucko guarded his face but a kick didn't come. . .Until he dropped his guard, he was met with the heel of Galliard's right foot.
This sent him sliding once more and Galliard continued to put pressure on. Tsucko fliched his fingers sending all 5 strands of mana wire his way. Suddenly Galliard stopped seemingly in response to this and held out the palm of his right hand.
As the mana wire grew closer it began to split into smaller mana molecules and was absorbed into the hand. Tsuckos face was that of pure shock.
" Bam!"
From beneath. Luther had dashed in without him noticing and through a gut punch. Tsuckos instincts were the only thing that saved him from taking severe damage as he dropped his arms forming an 'X' over his stomach.
[" I see"]
Both Galliard and Luther were going to continue the pressure. . .Then suddenly Tsuckos lips curled once more. . .Smiling was almost natural for him, but it always gave away something. Anytime he smiled, it meant he was certain about something.
" Hey." He lifted his right hand and pointed at Galliard. Specifically his right arm " So how many uses does that thing have?"
Galliard froze. His face was that of confusion but also of slight terror.
[" Did he figure it out?"]
" Ha ha." Tsucko let out a short menacing laugh. " I already knew it was a ritual, but now I know exactly what you gave up...So, how many uses do you have left!?"