The arrogance in the guy's tone rubbed Alex the wrong way. He was about to finish him off with a single blow but then decided to indulge in the absurdity of his opponent's words for amusement.
The green-haired youth announced proudly, "I am Mark Steel! The world's strongest mage! Just one look at you with that sword, and I know you're a pathetic warrior. You've done well to get this far, but I'll show you that warriors can never defeat mages!"
Despite his over-the-top confidence, anyone ranked in the top 200,000 of the global tournament had to be strong. As soon as Mark started talking, he floated into the air, putting distance between him and Alex. He was wearing the "Holy Angel Wings" and "Holy Angel Armor," two pieces of divine equipment, though his other gear was a mystery.
Alex casually smiled, looking up at the airborne mage. "If I take you out in one hit, that'll probably just frustrate you, so how about I let you attack me ten times before I finish you off? If you can even scratch me, I'll admit mages are as powerful as you say."
"Arrogant fool!" Mark shouted, his face turning red with anger. With a wave of his green staff, a sinister green light shot toward Alex.
"One," Alex murmured, easily dodging the slow-moving attack with a simple sidestep. He hadn't even activated his "Overwhelming Suppression" aura.
Earlier, while checking his abilities, Alex had discovered that he could toggle his aura at will. This was a relief because if "Overwhelming Suppression" was always on, any enemy would immediately have their attributes reduced by five or six levels—a power so overwhelming it could cause unwanted problems. Alex figured there was no need to crush everyone's hopes in a multiplayer game by making things that unfair.
Mark felt a terrifying pressure from Alex, but he couldn't gauge his true strength. Seeing Alex "barely" dodge his first attack only fueled Mark's rage. He quickly began casting a more powerful spell. Dark green clouds swirled above him, and multiple beams of green light, sharper and thicker than before, materialized, shooting down at Alex like dozens of deadly arrows.
"Two," Alex counted, calmly weaving through the green beams with ease. His SS+ level agility made the barrage feel like nothing more than a light drizzle. Mark stood dumbfounded, questioning whether his eyes were deceiving him.
Meanwhile, in East Sea City, those watching Alex's fight were wide-eyed with astonishment. They could understand Mark's earlier boast, as he spoke in the "universal language," but Alex's reaction was beyond anything they had expected. Watching him casually dodge the mage's attacks with such grace was thrilling.
Even if Alex had ended the fight instantly with an attack dealing tens of thousands of damage, it wouldn't have shocked the spectators as much as his display of speed. It wasn't just about his damage output anymore—this speed proved Alex's power far exceeded anything they'd seen before.
Growing bored, Alex decided to mix things up. He unsheathed his "Blade of the Strong" and began slashing at the incoming green beams, effortlessly turning them into harmless particles of light.
But that wasn't the most impressive part. The real shock came when Alex casually swung his sword, sending the green energy beams back toward Mark, who couldn't dodge in time.
-14,444.
A damage number floated above Mark's head, leaving the spectators speechless. Mark was strong, and his skills were powerful, but against someone like Alex, his attacks were nothing more than toys. Alex had deflected five of Mark's beams back at him, causing a total of 70,000 damage.
Despite being severely wounded, Mark wasn't dead, thanks to some protective spell or ability that reduced the incoming damage. Still, he was utterly humiliated as Alex toyed with him.
Frustrated and enraged, Mark unleashed one powerful spell after another, trying to overwhelm Alex. But by the time Alex counted to ten, Mark was at his breaking point.
"You're not a warrior! No! You must be a Shadow Assassin or a legendary Shadow Ninja! If you're so tough, stop dodging and fight me head-on!" Mark screamed, desperation and anger dripping from his voice.
Alex couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity. "So, standing still and letting you hit me is your idea of a fair fight?" he asked mockingly. Then, with a cold, amused smile, Alex gestured for Mark to come at him. "Alright, use your strongest attack. I won't move. If I do, I'm a dog."
Mark's face twisted into a crazed expression. Laughing hysterically, he began chanting an ancient, dark incantation. Green clouds filled the sky once more, and a menacing energy pulsed around him. Even through the screens, those watching could feel the eerie, sinister power building.
His hair and eyes glowed an unnatural shade of green, and a sickly light emanated from his lips as he chanted. Whatever spell he was casting, it reeked of evil.