"I hope you stay safe, Liam," Ray muttered softly as he removed the Divine Shield that had been placed around Liam's body. He adjusted the shield, ensuring it was properly secured. "Heaven's Sanctuary," Ray whispered, the Divine Shield's new attribute wrapping around Liam in a protective cocoon. "I'm not that heartless to leave you uncomfortable."
Ray turned to face the locked door, his thoughts racing. He gave Liam one last glance before opening the door slightly. Before fully stepping out, he activated his Mark [Disguise], and in a flash, his appearance shifted, mirroring Liam perfectly. With a smirk, Ray said, "Goodbye," closing the door behind him as he stepped into the hall.
Ray's thoughts swirled as he walked toward the arena. "The system can't practice their host's abilities... that was one of the system rules," he muttered. "But being sinful helps me with that. When outside Liam, I can only use half of his abilities, thanks to the Greed skill." He conjured a Divine Shield in his hand, the yellowish hue a clear sign of his reduced power. "Guess this is as close as I get to using his true potential," he sighed, frowning. He glanced at the shield in his hand, its golden brilliance nowhere to be found.
As Ray walked into the arena, the roar of the crowd washed over him. He surveyed his opponents: a woman in Guardian Armor, another with a Cloak of Dark Night, a third holding a Heavenly Staff, and a fourth wielding a Phoenix Bow. "And here I am, bare-handed," Ray sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I should have suggested to him to buy some weapons or armor, but... dungeon raids make that easy to acquire. Oh well."
The announcer's voice boomed over the arena. "The fights will start now! The mode for this is a showdown—whoever is the last person standing will be the winner!" With that, all the competitors sized each other up, their nerves palpable. The first to make a move was the girl with the Cloak of Dark Night, vanishing into thin air. Ray raised an eyebrow, watching the invisible figure. "You're hiding without even revealing your name? Now, before we start fighting, let's reveal our names," Ray said, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"I'm Rachel," the girl with the Phoenix Bow called out, aiming her weapon at Ray.
"Then I'm Julian," said the man with the Heavenly Staff, his voice steady.
"I'm Sanala," declared the one in Guardian Armor, her stance imposing.
Ray grinned, stepping forward. "And I'm Liam. What about you, invisible girl?"
A sigh echoed from the shadows. "I'm Natalia. I'll only come out when there's one person remaining."
"A coward's play, huh?" Ray said with a smirk. "Then what should we do?" he turned to the others.
"Let's do 1 vs. 1, since there are four of us," Rachel suggested.
"Okay, no problem for me," Julian agreed.
Ray nodded. "I'll fight Julian, then," he announced, catching Julian off guard for a brief moment. The moment passed, and Julian accepted, though his expression betrayed a flicker of uncertainty.
Ray kept a close eye on the invisible Natalia, staying vigilant. "Just in case," he muttered, activating Focus to ensure he wouldn't be caught off guard.
Julian stepped forward, his face serious. "Surrender if you like," he said coldly.
"I don't want to," Ray replied, his voice filled with amusement. "I want to have fun."
Julian glanced toward Rachel and Sanala, who were already engaged in their own battles. "Alright, then," Julian said, his tone shifting. "Let's start." He pointed his wand at Ray, ready to cast.
Ray grinned and rushed forward, the challenge set in his mind. As he closed the distance, Julian slammed his hands down onto the ground, chanting a spell. A blue barrier surged to life, enveloping him in an impenetrable shield.
Ray cursed under his breath. "I can't break that... not without Liam's full power..." He paused for a moment, then smirked. "I need Liam's true skill power, or..." He stopped mid-thought and sighed. "Wait, I'm a mage, not a fighter. Could you hand me one?" he called out to Julian, feigning helplessness.
Julian raised an eyebrow, hesitant, before tossing a small wand with a red gem on it. "Fine. But you'll return it after you lose."
"Thanks," Ray said, catching the wand with a grin. "Now, let's have a fair mage battle. If I win, you'll think you've aged and couldn't hold your position, Cain."
Julian's eyes widened at the mention of the name, but he quickly masked his shock. "You're bold. I'll accept your challenge."
Ray made the first move, sending Ice Shards flying toward Julian. Julian countered with Fireballs, the two spells colliding in a burst of light and heat.
Ray muttered a spell under his breath. "Luo Cathera!" Vines burst from the ground beneath Julian's feet, attempting to ensnare him.
"Castevera!" Julian shouted, summoning a glowing Javelin of Light that sliced through the vines, aimed straight at Ray.
Ray's eyes widened in panic. "Ah, shit," he muttered. "I can't stop that."
Thinking quickly, he shouted, "Raglanca Valenia!" Flames erupted from the vines, forcing Julian to backpedal. "Almoria Glossa!" he added, summoning a massive water surge that exploded between them, creating a thick cloud of steam.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the steam cloud swirled around them, obscuring the view of the battle. Ray began to move swiftly to avoid the javelin, now floating through the steam, unsure of where it would strike next.
Ray quickly opened the Mark Tab, only to realize it was empty. "Oh, that's right," he muttered, "Liam marked everyone, not me." Embarrassed, he cursed under his breath. "I didn't want to use this spell, but I have to... just for the experiment."
"Palestine!" Ray called out, summoning a brilliant light visible only to himself. He quickly noted that the spell created a mana mist around him, which Julian might be able to use to track his movements.
"Dalia Valessa!" Ray said, creating a body double that dashed forward, acting as a distraction.
Ray smirked. "Now for the experiment." He summoned Divine Shield barriers around the body double, encasing it in layers of protection. The double ran forward, luring Julian's attention.
Out of nowhere, the body double was pierced by a Javelin of Light, leaving a hole in its chest. The real javelin lodged itself in the wall behind the double, leaving a massive crater.
"Ceolaria Vangelia!" Julian shouted, summoning a violent windstorm that swept the steam away, restoring his line of sight.
Ray winced, realizing the Palestine spell was starting to hurt his eyes. "I guess I should remove this," he muttered, the light blinding him.
"Are you trying to kill me?" Ray taunted. "Is it because I know some of your past?"
Julian's eyes hardened. "No. I used that spell to test you."
Ray smirked. "I knew it. You just wanted to see what I could do."
The fight was far from over, and the true test of power was just beginning.