The fog continued to spread into the battlefield until finally covering it completely.
That was my time to act. Hali would probably expect me to abuse my stealth, but this time I had something else in mind.
At the end of the day, fog was just another form of water. I rapidly run my Archana around my body and when lightning was finally erupting from every pore of my body, I sensed Hali make her move.
She was now running at full speed in my direction, in just a second she'd be onto my neck.
Then I focused all my Archana in my spear and simply thrust forward with all my strength. Lightning spreading in every directions, moving through the fog like a specter and rebounding all around.
Seeing my move, Hali promptly tried to erect a water barrier surrounding her to catch all the electricity, although she wasn't keen on spells, her authority over water was truly impressive.
When all the lightning was captured by her water bubble, she cleanly condensed our creation and sent it flying my way.
Is she trying to mimic Seirus? Ha!
"I'll give it to you Hali, you truly are impressive."
Not wasting anymore of our time, I readied my spear to hit the electrified water bomb, but instead of thrusting or slashing, I parried the attack and sent it flying in the sky.
Just a moment later a line of fire lilies was spinning around the shining but lethal orb adding another layer of danger.
Flowery disperse.
Teleporting just above the fruit of our exchange, with my spear already crackling with lightning I swung my weapon like a baseball bat and sent the ball directly to Hali.
"CATCH THIS!"
Hali seeing the danger approaching at the speed of sound, realised that protecting was impossible and hastily focused all her aura on her sword, not even half a second later a surgical cut appeared on the bomb.
Noticing how everything was about to disperse I quickly snapped my finger, the fire lilies exploded all together and reacting to the lightning trapped inside the water ball sent destructive shockwaves everywhere.
I luckily was up in the sky and avoided most of the burn, but Hali was sent flying in the wreckage.
"BASTARD, COME HERE AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!"
Hali was enraged, it was understandable since every time we fought together I would only use close quarters combat and some blinking once in a while. Yet, here I was fighting her with magic,
"Have you forgotten I'm a mage first?"
"As if, we all know you're stronger with a spear then a spell."
Wow, just wow.
"You know what? That was hurtful."
I stood up after roughly landing on the ground, yes I had forgotten to blink back.
"Fine… have it your way. Come."
I got rid of the bad after taste and readied my spear to engage in close combat with Hali.
As if.
While Hali finally rushed to me for the battle she wanted I was already spreading magic circles everywhere around us.
The Lightning created by my Archana hiding my demonic arm which was making the runes I'd use later on glowing.
As thrilling as it may have looked for the audience, Hali and I were extremely comfortable with each other's style, her sword was like an unwavering tide, rushing everywhere, my spear on the other end, was erratic yet elegant, a dance of confusion and destruction.
After a few more exchanges, Hali was getting restless and decided it was time to use her sword art.
At that moment a wide smile appeared on my face, and we shouted at the same time.
"CONVERGENCE!"
"FLOWERY DISPERSE!"
A shocked expression appeared on Hali's face when she found I was nowhere to be found. She hastily looked up in the sky, I did have an habit of appearing high in the sky during tough situations, but I also was aware of such weakness. In fact I blinked just behind her this time. Tapping on her shoulder I grinned.
"What are you looking for? Inspiration?"
Hali abruptly turned around slashing her sword, but I was nowhere to be seen.
From a few meters on her left, I called for her attention again, this theatrics continued for a few moments until she was finally in the position I wanted.
That's when I blinked in the sky. My spear bursting with energy, was ready to perform, Hali looking around was now convinced I'd appear on the ground, so I called for her.
When our eyes met, I released my spear.
"JETÉ!"
"CONVERGENCE!"
As my bident met with Hali's aura blast, all eyes were focused on the friction between and nobody noticed the flowers blooming in high concentration around Hali.
Fire lilies of destruction.
BOOOOOOOM!!!
As the explosion came to reality, shattering completely all the expectations everyone watching had, Hali was sent flying and upon hitting a wall a huge burn mark was visible on her legs and she was coughing up blood.
[winner: Dimitris Damocles]
As soon as the announcement came, I blinked towards Hali and started healing her with my [garden of illusory flowers].
"You've improved a lot Hali."
"Bastard, I'll kick your ass next time."
_______________________
-Odysseus' POV-
As the match between Dimitris came to an end, his family, once again grouped around me, was speechless. And so was I.
I already knew Dimitris was exceptional, his spear prowess was something everyone on the ship bragged about. But this was something entirely different.
He was able to blend perfectly magic and weapon expertise so effortlessly, so beautifully… this was truly art.
I really need to pick up a weapon, I can't fall behind the man I want to protect.
Suddenly a voice came from next to me, Andreas, with his mouth agape, was clearly shocked.
"He… he's a monster… how can something like that be even possible at our levels?"
"I know right? I don't think any of our brothers were this strong at his same stage…"
"Strength is not the only problem, he was conducting the fight from the beginning, it felt like that girl was being moved by strings he was grasping… not even the Owl's champions feel this scary… no offence Brother Odysseus…"
I smiled bitterly.
"None taken, he is my man after all."
Of course I was proud of Dimitris and although a little afraid of his rapid growth, that was nothing to be scared about. After all, the real challenge of a mage starts with the 4th circle. That was when most mages would encounter their walls.
After sometime, and the progressing of the next matche Dimitris and Hali reached us.
"Guys, this is Hali! She's my best friend! You better behave!"
Hali blushed a little being introduced by him as his best friend, but I knew there was nothing to be scared of and just to prove me right, after introducing her to his brothers he stood before me.
No words were needed, I stood up, he sat and I sat on his lap, just like the day before.
His arms around my waist, his face deep in my neck and surely, a few seconds later he was already asleep.
"Is that bastard unable to sleep without you?"
"Hali shut the fuck up and let my man sleep."
"Aye aye Captain."
Achante stood up and got ready to move towards her designated area nodding at me.
"Be sure to wake him up, I don't want to be the only one he didn't watch."
I just nodded and let her go.
Hali was happily chattering with the rest of Dimitris' family and I was forced to erect a sound barrier to let him sleep.
This bastards have no respect whatsoever.
Time passed, and as I was waiting for his kisses on my neck, the time for Achante's match arrived.
I was conflicted on what to do, but ultimately I decided to wake him up. There was no need to be beaten up for something like this, I'd get my reward later anyway.
After waking up, he simply thanked me and again propped his chin on my shoulder.
Achante's fight was nothing short of a great show. She was fast to adapt and find counter measures against her enemy.
He might have been onto something with all that stuff about his mother…
This guys from The Lightning Bringer were completely different from their predecessors. The confidence Dimitris had imparted on them was enough to change all their prospects about their abilities and were able to fully display their prowess.
Soon the battle ended with Achante's victory.
The smile on Dimitris' face was so radiant I was afraid of saying anything and just wanted to bask in it.
Sadly, it was my time to go.
"Dimitris, I'm next."
He immediately freed me.
"Good luck!"
I pouted. That was too cold of a send off.
"Give me something more, I even made a sound barrier to make you sleep more comfortably…"
"Haaa, fine."
He stood up next to me and without hesitation kissed me in front of everyone.
Not the passionate one, but a simple stamp on my lips.
In his eyes a clear message: don't you even think of asking for more.
But I was content.
He didn't show the slightest hesitation and went for it, in front of his family. That's my win.
____________________
Still jittering with the remnants of Dimitris' kiss, I arrived in front of my adversary.
Basil, son of the Boar who Roars, was seen as the most likely to win this whole thing, but after Dimitris' display I wasn't sure how much that thought was still held on everyone's mind.
Let's make quick work of him.
"You seem too relaxed, do you even know who you're against?"
"Let's not waste time. I have someone to get back to."
"Hahahahahah!"
A weird laughter escaped Basil's mouth, it felt wrong, unnatural.
"Funny you mentioned time."
A flash of doubt erupted in my mind, why would the mention of time be funny?
Unless…
"You can't be for real…"
"Oh? You're quicker then expected. I was to use this during the finals, but that bastard of the GodKing seems a little stronger than expected."
He reached inside his chiton, but before he could take his hand out, a rainfall of petals and waterways appeared all around us.
Hali and Dimitris were standing before me, Hali was emitting a deep bloodlust, Dimitris however was way scarier.
He took a step forward and everything around him seemed to scream death. His fury was uncontrollable.
_____________________
-Dimitris' POV-
[Dimitris, you need to move.]
What the fuck?
Why was the system acting so strangely? I didn't remember it ever acting this way, or was I forgetting something?
[Dimitris, there's no time. You have a couple of minutes at most.]
A sense of urgency invaded me. I didn't know what was going on, but Odysseus was due to fight now… I couldn't exactly leave, to where anyway?
[Dimitris, Odysseus is in danger.]
When those words entered my vision, my body reacted on its own.
"Hali, there's something wrong. Let's go."
"Yes. My father is telling me he feels something wrong."
Immediately her waterway moved her at light speed and I blinked.
As soon as she arrived in front of Odysseus, we all could feel.
Basil, was hiding something terrible, something that shouldn't be here whatsoever.
I took a step forward. I was furious.
"What's the meaning of this? Why do you have hold of that?"
"Ha, as expected of a monster like you. You can feel it right?"
I didn't waste words and just sent fire lilies his way. Which he blocked with his aura, even the explosion was ineffective.
"Answer. Why the fuck would a pig like you have the king of titans' fragment with himself."
"Why of course, to bring forth war!"
He took out the time fragment and smashed it on the ground. There was no time to react, I blinked Odysseus and Hali to me holding them both.
I shot a glare at the bastard responsible for what was to happen.
"You'll regret this."
"I'm sure I will, if you survive, which I doubt! HAHAHAHAHAH!!!"
[time fissure successfully created.
Target acquired: Hali, Odysseus, Dimitris Damocles.]
The rushing sound of water was the first thing that engulfed us and when I opened my eyes, shock was the first thing that came to me.
Not confusion, not fear.
We were in front of one of the most beautiful wonders of the natural world.
Niagara Falls?!