Ragon rushed to hide behind a large rock, his breathing steady as he crouched low. He didn't want Ashar to spot him just yet—he needed time to think, to strategize his next move.
"Where are you?" Ashar's voice echoedd calm, but taunting. "I never thought you'd cower like a child when you're supposed to fight like a warrior."
Ashar walked slowly, his movements deliberate as his sharp ears listened for the faintest sound. He knew Ragon was nearby; it was only a matter of time.
"He knows I'm a mage," Ragon thought, a sly smile forming on his lips.
"But what he doesn't know is that I'm also a warrior. And what I have that he doesn't is knowledge of all his techniques. After all, I inherited them."
Still crouched, Ragon pressed his back against the cool stone and closed his eyes, his mind racing like a fully indexed encyclopedia. He sifted through the knowledge he had absorbed from Ashar's legacy, analyzing his opponent's tactics and preparing to turn them against him.
Meanwhile, Ashar wasn't idle. His mental aura expanded outward, scanning the area with precision. A faint, invisible ripple emanated from him, covering a radius of 60 meters. He could sense every change in the environment—the rustling of leaves, the shifting of air currents, and, more importantly, the subtle energy fluctuations emanating from Ragon.
"Found you," Ashar said, a satisfied grin spreading across his face.
In an instant, Ashar raised his hand, and a brilliant arc of energy slashed through the air. The strike was swift and precise, splitting the massive rock Ragon was hiding behind into two perfect halves. The debris scattered.
The dust settled from the rock's destruction, immediately Ragon rolled to the side and sprung to his feet.
Ashar smirked, his aura expanding around him like a storm. "So, you're finally going to fight. Good. Let's see if you're worth the knowledge you've inherited."
Ragon wasted no time. He slammed his fists together, creating a burst of energy that sent a wave of flame toward Ashar. But before the flames could reach him, Ragon clapped his hands again, manipulating the air currents to spin the flames into a vortex.
The flaming cyclone roared toward Ashar, who narrowed his eyes and raised a hand. With a flick of his wrist, the flames dissipated, scattering harmlessly around him.
"Predictable," Ashar muttered.
But Ragon was already moving. He dashed forward, feinting a punch before spinning low and sweeping his leg at Ashar's feet. Ashar jumped to avoid the strike, but Ragon used the momentum to launch himself upward.
He drew on memories from Olympia. There was a technique he'd read about but never had the skill to use—the Echo Reversal, a skill that combined energy manipulation and timing. It used an opponent's own strength against them, creating an overwhelming force through synchronized counters and feints. But to execute it, Ragon needed to fully merge his warrior and mage abilities.
Ragon spinned on the air and landed with a crouch. Avoiding Ashar as wick as possible. It wasn't what Ashar was expecting.
Immediately, Ragon placed his hands on the ground channeling divine energy into the ground.
A rune circle began forming beneath him—not just any rune, but one designed to mirror and store energy.
Ashar noticed the shift immediately, his sharp gaze narrowing. "A rune trap? Never thought a five star mage like you is that knowledgeable, but it wouldn't last"
Ashar stepped forward, releasing a wave of mental energy to disrupt the rune's formation. Ragon responded by leaping upward, using his reflexes to avoid the shockwave. Mid-air, he twisted and hurled a fireball with compressed lightning at Ragon.
The fireball detonated near Ashar, forcing him to sidestep. But instead of dissipating, the explosion left an electric charged field designed to disorient Ashar's mental focus.
"Interesting," Ashar muttered, his movements slowed as he felt pain from the reaction.
Ragon landed gracefully, his hands glowing with a combination of fire and lightning. He launched a series of rapid strikes. Ragon wasn't aiming to hit—he was using the strikes to create a rhythmic pattern.
"Just a little more," He wasn't just fighting—he was leading Ashar into a carefully orchestrated trap.
As Ashar moved to counter another strike, Ragon activated the stored energy from his rune circle. The ground beneath Ashar pulsed, releasing a mirrored version of his previous mental shockwave.
Ashar staggered, his balance momentarily disrupted. But before he could recover, Ragon stepped forward, his fists glowing with white energy.
"You're not the only one who can manipulate the mind," Ragon said, smirking.
He released a mental projection, an illusion that mirrored his own movements. The projection charged at Ashar, forcing him to block. But the real Ragon appeared behind him, striking with a devastating kick infused with lightning and wind.
Ragon wasn't done. "Hybrid Attack!"
The battlefield darkened as energy from all elements—fire, lightning, wind, and earth—gathered around Ragon. He extended his hands, forming a spinning sphere of raw energy.
"This isn't just your legacy, Ashar," Ragon said, his voice steady. "This is mine."
The sphere expanded, as it created chaotic patterns. Ragon compressed it into a dense, pulsating orb before hurling it at Ashar.
"This… this isn't possible," Ashar muttered, his voice uncharacteristically shaken. "This is a move someone at the Peak of the Earth stage would make. Is this kid really at the five star stage?" Ashar was at a loss of words.
Ragon stood tall, as the Elemental Convergence spinned in his hands like a miniature sun. His golden aura glowed brighter with every passing moment, flames and lightning arcing around him.
"I suppose I should thank you for forcing me this far," Ragon said, his voice steady yet filled with resolve. "The spiritual sea you helped stabilize—it's the reason I can sustain this."
Ashar braced himself, summoning a massive barrier of mental energy. The orb collided with the barrier, and for a moment, it seemed like Ashar would hold.
But then the orb shattered—not into an explosion, but into thousands of tiny shards of energy that bypassed the barrier entirely, striking Ashar from all sides.
Ashar fell to one knee, his breathing steady but heavy. Summoning his full strength, he released his true aura in a radiant burst. The force shattered the remnants of Ragon's Elemental Convergence, dispersing the energy into harmless wisps of light.
His phantom form flickered as he looked up at Ragon, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"You've won," Ashar said, his tone both firm and proud. "I had to use my full power to counter your attack. I must commend you—no star mage has ever forced me to release even 10% of my true aura. You truly are the best fit for my legacy."
Ashar slowly stood, his glowing figure towering despite its fading brilliance. He extended a hand toward Ragon, and in his palm materialized a golden ring adorned with a sigil.
"Here is your reward," Ashar said, handing the ring to Ragon.
Ragon accepted it, his gaze fixed on the dragon sigil etched into the metal.
"This is no ordinary storage ring," Ashar continued. "When the time is right, its true purpose will reveal itself to you. Treat it with care."
Ashar's form began to fade, his voice echoing as he spoke his final words. "Farewell, young man. Use what you've learned wisely."
The cave trembled softly as Ashar's aura dissipated into the air, and the once-vivid environment began to dim. The treasures all faded and entered into the storage ring.
Ragon stood still, his hand clutching the golden ring. He bowed his head slightly, his voice low but resolute. "Thank you, Ashar. I will honor your legacy."
He slipped the ring onto his finger as he was back at the dark forest.