Jerald hovered in the air, his voice carrying a mocking tone as he called down to Robin, "Brat, I'm really impressed by you. If you surrender and become my apprentice right now, I'll end this battle and forget all about it."
Robin's expression darkened, a menacing smile creeping onto his face. "And why would I acknowledge someone as weak as you?" he replied, his words slicing through the air with cold confidence.
Jerald's face twisted in disbelief. Weak? He was certain he had the upper hand here. But before he could respond, Robin muttered a single word, "Gluttony."
From the ground around Robin, dark, shadowy hands erupted, each one with a gaping mouth at its center, clawing upward as though desperate to consume anything in reach. The forest trembled violently, and Robin's eyes turned completely black, a terrifying void that held an insatiable hunger.
The Gluttony skill was unique, almost sentient in nature, with an instinct to devour energy and strength. After feeling the oppressive force of Jerald's Dark Domain, Robin's Gluttony had stirred to life, demanding power, hungering for the strength it sensed in Jerald. Robin could feel its pull, and he knew he had to maintain control over this chaotic urge. It wasn't Jerald's attack that had made him send Aria away—it was the fear that she might get caught in the ravenous energy of Gluttony itself.
The observers on the cliff watched in stunned silence. King Lion's eyes widened as he took in the sight of his son, now enveloped by the dark energy that pulsed hungrily around him. Aria, watching with a heavy heart, whispered, "Master…" a hint of sadness and worry coloring her voice.
Mary's gaze remained steady, but the duke, recognizing the gravity of the moment, muttered, "Your Highness, after this… the empire will never let the boy go. His mana level is surging to the peak of an Arch Mage."
The empire's general, still hovering high above, observed the scene with a glint of intrigue in his eyes. "Interesting…" he murmured to himself.
For the first time, Jerald felt a chill of genuine fear creep down his spine. This boy, who moments ago he'd regarded as a mere plaything, had transformed into something far more dangerous. Robin was no longer just a child with potential; he was a threat—a dark force rising.
Without warning, Robin lunged toward Jerald, moving with a speed that was almost impossible to follow. Tendrils from the dark, grasping hands on his back reached out hungrily, snaking through the air as Robin closed the distance.
"Dark Domain!" Jerald shouted, his voice filled with desperation as he tried to activate his protective barrier once more. But this time, his Dark Domain wavered, struggling against the relentless pull of Robin's Gluttony. The skill seemed to devour any dark energy in its path, draining away the power Jerald had always depended on.
Robin's fists, shrouded in dark mana, struck Jerald with a force that rattled the ground below. With a swift, brutal motion, he grabbed the older mage and hurled him downwards. Jerald crashed to the forest floor, his body impacting with a tremendous force that shook the ground.
Each time Robin's shadowy tendrils made contact, they siphoned the dark energy straight from Jerald, pulling it into the endless hunger of Gluttony. Jerald's strength was visibly waning, his dark magic no longer able to protect him as he lay struggling, his breaths coming in gasps.
Looking down from above, Robin's black eyes glinted with a cold, predatory gleam. He barely recognized himself, but the sensation of raw power, of consuming strength, felt exhilarating and unstoppable.
Jerald struggled to his feet, swaying as he looked up at the boy who had so easily bested him. His body trembled, not just from the loss of his power, but from the terror clawing at him.
---
[ System Prompt ]
Dark Energy Consumed 1000+
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Jerald felt a surge of horror and fury as the dark energy drained from him. His voice, once commanding, cracked with desperation. "What...what are you doing to me?" he roared, his eyes wide as he grasped for control. He was used to wielding power, not losing it—certainly not to a boy.
Robin, relentless and focused, descended upon him with a storm of dark spheres. Each blast struck like a hammer, forcing Jerald back with every hit. He staggered, his defenses faltering under the onslaught, and for the first time, he felt powerless.
Seeing Jerald's fury only fueled Robin further, his resolve sharpened by the feeling of strength he'd never fully tapped into before. The dark tendrils swirled around him like an aura, feeding off Jerald's energy as he struck again and again, his attacks unrelenting.
"Master! The skill Gluttony energy output is too much for your body please stop using the 5 minutes passed", Malsa said. Robin who was in an uncontrollable energy overflowing from his body immediately tried to take control of his body which felt as if trying to wake up from a strong nap.
Jerald lay on the ground, barely recognizable, his skin shriveled and his face sunken, as if years had been stolen from him in mere minutes. Robin, still grappling for control, felt the remnants of the dark energy tearing at his insides, as though his very heart was being wrenched from him.
"Malsa, how do I take full control?" he gasped, fighting the unnatural force within.
Malsa's response was grim. "Using healing magic to purge the dark energy is your best option, but it will be excruciating—it will reconstruct your muscles from within."
Robin could only sigh. _Why does everything in this world have to hurt so much?_ But he braced himself. "Activate Healing Magic and Divine Body, Malsa!" He sat cross-legged, hands on his knees, a surge of agony tearing through him as healing magic coursed through his veins, driving out the dark energy.
Watching from the cliff, King Lion clenched his fists, his eyes glistening as memories of Robin's battle with the Dark Dragon flashed through his mind. Aria, tears streaming down her face, could hardly contain herself, while the Duke whispered urgently to the King, "Your Highness, he's forcefully purging the dark mana—it's tearing him apart!"
After several agonizing minutes, Robin's cries finally faded, and he slumped, motionless. King Lion, Aria, Mary, and the Duke immediately rushed to his side, only to find themselves face-to-face with the empire's general, who hovered nearby, observing Robin intently.
"A divine power capable of consuming dark energy... how rare," the general muttered.
Turning to King Lion, he said, "From this day forward, your kingdom will owe only fifty percent of its usual contribution to the empire. But remember—within a year, I expect to see this boy enrolled in the academy. Consider this your reward for the spectacle." With a dismissive gesture, he tossed a wooden token at the King's feet, then lifted Jerald's weakened form and vanished, leaving only silence in his wake.
"Master!!!" Aria rushed to Robin's side, her hands trembling as she channeled healing magic into his battered body. Her tears fell, and with each one, her magic intensified, radiating out and causing the trees around them to regrow, green and vibrant, as if the forest itself felt her desperation.
At last, Robin stirred, blinking up at her. "Dad, everyone... how did I do?" he asked with a weak smile.
Mary, standing nearby, couldn't hold back a chuckle. "You brat! That's the first thing you say after making this poor girl cry her heart out?" She smirked, noting the tenderness in Aria's gaze. "It's clear this bond is deeper than just friendship, hmm?"
King Lion sighed, relief and pride flooding his voice. "Robin, I'm proud of you—but I'm just as worried. You're always pushing yourself to the limit." He lifted Robin into his arms with a grin. "Let's go, my little princess!"
"Princess?! Put me down! I can walk!" Robin grumbled, his protests only fueling everyone's laughter.
Aria gave him a tired smile, her face pale from the mana she'd expended. "I'm sorry, Aria," he murmured, seeing her exhaustion.
Mary scooped Aria up gently. "You've done enough, dear. Rest for now."
Together, they made their way to the edge of the forest, where several chariots stood waiting, ready to bring them all back to the castle.