John looked at Tron, and then at Xavier, saying, "Xavier, you had best let Roselyn's mount eat less today..."
Xavier was slightly angered, saying, "John, what the hell do you mean by that do you mean by that!?"
It's common sense, the less it eats, the less poop. It produces and then Xavier would not need to eat so much "essence."
John waved it off, saying, "Xavier, don't be angry. I was just making a slight joke. Of course, it is impossible for Tron to take the Arcane-dark sphere. Seraph is one frighteningly talented individual."
Only then did Xavier let the matter drop.
But inside, he was panicking. He felt a faint unease right as he looked at the two preparing to face off.
Huo!
Under thousands of gazes, Tron's eyes shimmered with crimson light, and he rushed forward, his hoot step leaving numerous lifelike afterimages in the air as he immediately flashed before Seraph like a phantom.
Seraph snorted seeing this. The mana within her overflowed like a surging river and the runic spell integrated on her chest glowed like a blood moon as she poured mana into it.
While level-zero spells like physique enhancement spells grant one the destructive power of the same level of arcane energy inputted, it increases their overall attributes!
Agility, reaction speed, and strength had been raised to the realm of a 6th-stage Acolyte, 50 times more powerful than a regular adult!
She clenched her fist tightly and punched towards the space before her.
"BOOM!"
Destructive shockwaves rippled out in a circular motion and rode out through the air as they blasted the participants nearby backward like toy dolls.
Seraph remained standing, as the ground beneath her feet cracked into a spider-webbed shape.
"Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!"
However, Tron's face changed slightly as he retreated 5 steps backward. The ground beneath him shattered into dust as he was redirected the resultant force to the ground.
His arm turned numb and he could feel his blood flow stagnating at the moment. However, the cells in his body rumbled like a roaring volcano, and like a sponge, they suddenly absorbed the force and they began transforming and mutating as though they were under intense rays of radiation!
In the next second, his cells had multiplied rapidly, giving birth to newer cells that were stronger and more resilient as they absorbed the old cells to become stronger, faster, and sturdier.
Visibly, Tron's arm and shoulder muscles trembled and the veins from the side of his neck to his right arm bulged out underneath his skin, writhing like snakes within him.
His flushed red face suddenly returned to normal as the blood vessels that spread from his arm to his neck and face like an upside-down root dissipated.
Hua!
As they clashed, the crowd roared.
"This little girl is so good!"
"Again!"
Tron gave a low roar as he kicked backward, forming a blurry streak as he appeared by Seraph's side. His fist was like a meteor, releasing crackling sounds as it broke through the air barrier, blasting at the side of Seraph's neck.
"BOOM!"
It's as if the world had slowed down and Seraph indifferently turned to the side clenching her fist and slamming them against Tron's fist.
"Dang! Dang! Dang!"
Tron's face flushed once more as he retreated three steps backward, forming deep imprint on the reinforced ground of the arena.
His cells rapidly adapted to the intense damaging force and in the blink of an eye, his bulging veins receded and his flushed face turned back pale.
At the same moment, Seraph's face changed slightly.
What was going on? She could feel the force behind Tron's attack had risen almost by a third and her arcane energy had been exhausted even more as she tanked his attack.
Level-zero spells consume way less arcane energy which was why Acolytes could use it for an extended period of time and even some mages prefer using level-zero spells rather than level-1 or level-2 spells because the conglomeration of level-zero spells can prove deadly when used right.
Tron should also be in this category. However, she hadn't seen him use any level zero spells at all. Even during the Arcane Path and the Dark World Trial, he hadn't actively used mana but his body was actively strong. Especially during his last attack at the Crystallius Gorrila.
If she had sensed the surging mana, he she, and the others wouldn't have let Tron take the opportunity to attack the Crystallius Gorrila and enter the portal.
Let's say Tron had evaded her senses and cast the physique enhancement spell, but why could she sense barely any mana from him? Even her mana sense couldn't pick up any fluctuations from his attacks, rendering him almost undetectable just by relying on mana sense.
What is even more astonishing is that his attack had increased even more which should be impossible. Physique enhancement spells are fixed based on the limit of one's mana pool.
For example, a 5th-level acolyte can only release the fist attack destructive power of a 5th-level Acolyte level-1 spell. One could attempt to infuse all of their mana to bypass this limit but that level of arcane magic would rupture their veins, blood, and body and even crack their Arcane Cortex, destabilizing their foundation and ultimately reducing their talents.
Of course, no one would dare risk their future of becoming a magus for a momentary gain unless during a life-or-death battle.
Tron didn't hesitate, his footstep tapping forcibly against the ground, releasing a muffled boom sound as he moved even faster this time.
His body whipped against the air, producing Sonic booms, arriving behind as he slammed his fist against her back.
However, Seraph's movements were exquisite, she weaved like the wind her hand brandishing her spell tool clenched as she punched behind her.
Just as she thought Tron would be sent back, but retreating, Tron suddenly smirked as his body which was leaning backward due to the force was interrupted by his left leg which moved a few inches backward and destabilized the force.