In Continuation
"Huh?" Marcus muttered, glancing at Urioh. "I feel... stronger. Why did you give me this?"
Urioh crossed his arms. "I prefer a fair fight. No tricks, no ambushes. Now, show me what you're capable of."
As he spoke, his mere presence sent a shockwave rippling outward, throwing Yaxoc and Moonlight to the ground. Only Marcus remained standing, shielded by Urioh's restrained but immense power.
Urioh smirked, gesturing with a single hand. "Come. Let's settle this."
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Urioh and Marcus walked into the desolate battlefield, their footsteps crunching on the cracked ground beneath them. The sky loomed heavy with gray clouds, casting an ominous shadow over the scene.
"So this is it," Marcus muttered, his voice carrying a mix of nostalgia and unease. "The battlefield where that tragedy unfolded five years ago..."
Urioh glanced around, his expression unreadable. "You recognize this place?"
"Yeah," Marcus replied, his gaze distant. "Over thirty enemies raided this field. They slaughtered more than six hundred participants."
Urioh smirked, the memory seemingly amusing to him. "Ah, the infamous incident. I was around for those tournaments, you know. Funny thing—they didn't even invite me, despite my signing up."
He took a step forward, his presence alone making the air feel heavier. Urioh lowered into a fighting stance, his grin sharp. "Prepare yourself, Marcus. This will be your last fight."
Marcus mirrored the stance, his muscles tensed. "Keep telling yourself that..."
The wind picked up, swirling around the two combatants as if heralding the clash to come.
Urioh moved first, closing the distance in a blink. His fist shot forward, aimed directly at Marcus's chest. But Marcus twisted away at the last second, countering with a flurry of strikes that sent Urioh skidding backward.
"Impressive," Urioh said, brushing the dust from his cloak. "But I can tell you're holding back. Stop wasting my time."
Marcus frowned. "What are you—"
Before he could finish, Urioh was already on him, delivering a devastating kick that launched Marcus across the battlefield. He hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop amidst the rubble.
"Agh..." Marcus groaned, pushing himself up slowly.
Urioh let out a mocking laugh. "This is the so-called 'Legendary Magician'? The one with mastery over all four elemental spells? Pathetic."
Marcus's eyes narrowed as he wiped the blood from his mouth. "Don't think you've won yet. I wasn't using my full power."
Urioh's smirk widened. "Then stop holding back and show me what you're made of!" He unsheathed his blade, the Sword of Restricted Hope, its sharp edge gleaming menacingly.
Marcus stepped back, gathering his energy. "Fine. If you insist."
He raised his hands, chanting rapidly:
"Ice Magic: Glacier Hell."
"Fire Magic: Hellish Boomerangs."
"Cloud Magic: Massive Fog."
"Plant Magic: Flower Daggers."
"Water Magic: Tsunami."
The battlefield erupted into chaos as Marcus unleashed his spells. Hundreds of flower daggers materialized, streaking toward Urioh like a relentless swarm.
"Flower daggers," Urioh muttered as he observed the attack. "An old favorite among plant users. Predictable."
With a single leap, Urioh shot into the air, the sheer force of his jump cracking the ground beneath him. He swung his sword with precision, slicing through the daggers mid-flight.
Marcus grimaced and summoned six advanced flower daggers, their tips glowing with a lethal green hue. He hurled them at Urioh, their speed far surpassing the previous attack.
"Two out of six should hit," Marcus calculated under his breath. "Even with his ZZZ+ speed, these daggers are designed to double their trajectory."
Urioh effortlessly deflected four, but two found their mark, piercing his arm and leg. He winced slightly but remained composed.
"Poison?" Urioh said with a smirk. "Amusing. But unfortunately for you, I've long since adapted to toxins, you fool."
Before Urioh could react further, a massive wave crashed into him from both sides, slamming him into the ground.
"Agh!" Urioh coughed, water dripping from his face as he struggled to rise. "Clever... I'll give you that."
Marcus wasn't done. The battlefield was quickly enveloped in thick fog, and three flaming boomerangs soared toward Urioh from different angles.
Urioh chuckled under his breath. "Trying to blind me, are you? Smart. But spells are your forte—combat is mine."
With a roar, Urioh leapt again, the sheer force of his movement dispersing the fog entirely. The boomerangs spiraled out of control, flung harmlessly away.
"COMBAT!" Urioh bellowed as he dove toward Marcus, his blade aimed for a decisive strike.
Marcus barely dodged, the edge of the blade grazing his shoulder. He leapt back, breathing heavily as he analyzed Urioh's movements.
"His speed... It's unreal," Marcus muttered. "He's as fast as Yaxoc... No, maybe even faster. This guy is dangerous. Very dangerous."
Urioh grinned, his blade dripping with raw power. "What's wrong, Legendary Magician? Is that fear I see?"
Marcus staggered backward, his fingers brushing his neck as warm blood trickled down. His eyes widened in shock as he realized the faint cut across his skin.
"What the—" Marcus muttered, his voice edged with alarm.
Urioh stood before him, casually pointing his sword, its edge glistening with crimson. "Well, well... Looks like my blade grazed your neck. See how the blood drips? Vulnerable, aren't you?"
Marcus clenched his fists, his fear turning to resolve. "No. I'm not done yet."
Urioh smirked and swung his sword with deadly intent, aiming to finish him. But Marcus countered, spinning into a precise manji kick that sent Urioh flying. The impact cracked the ground where Urioh landed.
Dusting himself off as he stood, Urioh gave a sharp chuckle. "Not bad. But it won't be enough."
Before Marcus could react, Urioh dashed behind him in a blur, swinging for his back. Marcus instinctively ducked and retaliated with a solid punch to Urioh's gut, making him stumble forward.
Without missing a beat, Marcus followed with a kick to Urioh's face, then unleashed a flurry of strikes. His final move, a spinning hook kick, sent Urioh flying out of the battlefield, crashing through rubble.
Marcus didn't let up. He dashed toward the airborne Urioh and slammed him down with a sledgehammer punch. The force cratered the ground in the middle of the ruined city as Marcus landed.
Breathing heavily, Marcus stood tall over Urioh. "Are you done?" he asked, his voice steady and firm.
Urioh's response was a low chuckle that grew into laughter. Rising to his feet, he dusted himself off once more. "Are you?"
Marcus's eyes widened as dozens of robotic drones emerged from the shadows, encircling him with mechanical precision.
"What the hell is this?" Marcus growled, his head darting to keep track of the hovering machines.
Urioh smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "You've fallen right into my trap. These drones aren't just for show, you know."
Urioh began moving in a blur around Marcus, using the drones as both a distraction and a shield. Marcus's heart pounded as he tried to track Urioh's movements.
"Damn it... He's using these things to keep me off balance. And those drones... they look ready to fire at any moment!" Marcus muttered.
Steeling himself, Marcus raised his hands and called forth his power. "Water Magic: Tsunami!"
Twin walls of water surged forth, crashing through the drones in an overwhelming torrent. The machines sparked and shattered, reduced to scraps in moments.
Marcus barely had time to breathe before Urioh reappeared behind him, his sword poised to strike.
"Say goodbye!" Urioh roared, his blade slicing through the air toward Marcus's neck.
But Marcus twisted away just in time, countering with a powerful kick to Urioh's face that sent him reeling.
"Not so fast!" Marcus shouted as he leapt onto a nearby building, using its height for cover. He began bounding from one rooftop to another, gaining distance to reassess the battle.
Urioh wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his grin never fading. "Run all you want, Marcus," he called out. "I'm not done hunting you yet."
As Marcus sprinted across the rooftops, his heart pounded with urgency. Spotting Yaxoc in the distance, he shouted, "YAXOC!"
Yaxoc turned, his expression shifting to concern. "Marcus! Did you take down Urioh?!"
Shaking his head, Marcus yelled back, "No, not yet! You need to take Moonlight and get out of here!"
Yaxoc frowned, confused. "What?! Why?!"
"Because this guy isn't just some hunter!" Marcus exclaimed. "His sword is infused with some twisted, Negative energy! If he stays, he'll wipe us all out! Warn the other Z+ Saviors—they need to retreat!"
Before Yaxoc could respond, a blur shot toward him. Urioh struck with a devastating kick, sending Yaxoc flying across the battlefield. Without missing a beat, Urioh grabbed Marcus mid-sentence and slammed him through one building after another, the sound of shattering concrete echoing through the ruins.
"HAHAHAHA!" Urioh's maniacal laughter filled the air. "TELLING OTHERS TO ESCAPE? TOO BAD, NONE OF YOU ARE GETTING OUT OF THIS ALIVE!"
With one final throw, Urioh sent Marcus crashing into a wall. Marcus groaned as he struggled to stand, blood dripping from his battered body.
"This guy... He's insane..." Marcus muttered through clenched teeth.
Urioh strode toward him, his sword resting casually on his shoulder, exuding an aura of menace. "Any last words?" he mocked, as a swarm of drones circled overhead.
Before Marcus could answer, the sky erupted with sparks as all the drones exploded in unison. The shockwave revealed two figures stepping into the fray: Virusela and Moonlight.
"Marcus!" Moonlight cried, rushing forward. But before she could reach him, Virusela extended a hand, stopping her in her tracks.
"Not yet," Virusela said, her voice calm but firm. "This guy isn't like the others. He's far more dangerous."
Urioh wasted no time, dashing toward Virusela with a swing of his blade. She sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a punch that landed squarely on his weapon. A glitchy shimmer coursed through the blade.
Urioh stumbled back, his sword flickering erratically. "What the—" His eyes narrowed. "A glitch?"
Virusela smirked. "My virus corrupts your sword's essence. You won't be able to use its power for the next 54 minutes. Let's see how—"
Her words were cut short as Urioh roared, shattering the glitch with sheer force. Before Virusela could react, he struck, slashing through her midsection in one fluid motion. The ground erupted in a massive explosion, forcing Marcus and Moonlight to shield themselves from the blast.
"NO!" Moonlight screamed as Virusela's fragmented form disintegrated into the wind.
Moonlight sprinted toward Marcus, desperation fueling her steps. But Urioh appeared in a flash, his blade slicing silently through the air. Moonlight's legs buckled beneath her as she crumpled near a dumpster, her body wracked with pain.
"AGH!" she groaned, clutching her injuries.
Marcus's eyes locked onto Moonlight's broken form. Something deep within him snapped. His hands trembled as blood dripped from his clenched fists.
"You... hurt her..." Marcus muttered, his voice trembling with fury.
Urioh's grin faltered as Marcus's eyes began to glow—a brilliant fusion of blue and purple energy swirling within. The ground beneath them quaked as an unknown power surged through Marcus, transforming his very essence.
"Well, well," Urioh taunted, trying to mask his unease. "The mighty prince finally—"
Urioh's words were cut short as Marcus vanished in a flash of speed, reappearing with a devastating punch to Urioh's face. The force sent Urioh hurtling across the landscape, obliterating mountains in his path.
Urioh groaned as he tried to rise, but Marcus was relentless. He dashed forward and delivered a thunderous kick, shaking the entire area with the force of an earthquake. The ground splintered beneath Urioh, who lay sprawled, stunned for the first time.
"This ends now," Marcus growled, his voice reverberating with the raw power of his awakening.
Urioh smirked as Marcus's newfound power manifested, but a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Heh, now I see it. The legendary magician doesn't just wield five spells—you've also unlocked an awakening."
Marcus wasted no time, vanishing and reappearing with a devastating punch to Urioh's face. The blow sent Urioh careening through the forest, crashing into a line of trees that splintered and toppled like dominoes. Marcus teleported beside him before he could recover, delivering a precise kick to his ribcage that echoed like a thunderclap.
"Plant Magic: Vine Grip!" Marcus chanted.
Two enormous vines erupted from the ground, coiling tightly around Urioh and pinning him in place. For the first time, Urioh's cocky demeanor wavered.
"Not bad," he muttered. Then, as sparks began to crackle around him, his voice darkened. "But you really think this is enough?"
"Fire Magic: Fireball!" Marcus called out.
A fireball the size of a building hurtled toward Urioh, consuming him in a blazing inferno. His screams echoed through the forest, but Marcus didn't relax.
Something's not right, Marcus thought, his instincts screaming at him. "There's no way he's going down this easily. He's hiding something... something dangerous."
As if on cue, the fireball erupted in an explosion of dark energy. From the chaos, Urioh emerged, smoldering and heavily injured, but very much alive. He stumbled to his feet, a cruel smile stretching across his battered face.
"So... are you done?" Marcus asked coldly, stepping forward with determination in his gaze.
Urioh chuckled darkly, his smile growing wider. "Finally, the Restricted Chromatic Presence has arrived."
Gripping his sword tightly, Urioh's body surged with a malevolent force. The blade pulsed with overwhelming negative energy, casting an ominous glow across the battlefield.
"Prepare yourself, Marcus," Urioh declared, his voice dripping with malice. "This won't be easy. FEEL MY FEAR!"
Urioh charged with terrifying speed, landing a punch that smashed into Marcus's face, sending him flying through the air. Before Marcus could recover, Urioh teleported above him, driving his skull into the crumbling remains of a hospital below. The impact reduced the building to rubble, a cloud of dust rising as the structure gave way.
Standing amidst the debris, Urioh grabbed Marcus by the hair, dragging him to his feet like a broken puppet. "Your pathetic awakening is worthless against me," Urioh sneered, his voice filled with contempt. "When I'm finished, I'll claim the reward I deserve."
With one final, brutal slash, Urioh's blade carved through Marcus's neck, silencing him.
The hospital's remaining staff, injured nurses hiding amidst the rubble, froze in horror. Their eyes widened as they watched the scene unfold, terror etched into their faces. Urioh turned to them, his expression devoid of empathy, his sword dripping with Marcus's blood.
"Allow me, ladies," he said mockingly, his tone cold and indifferent.
Without hesitation, Urioh dispatched the witnesses, leaving no survivors. With slow, deliberate steps, he walked away from the carnage, his malevolent aura lingering like a stormcloud in his wake.
But Marcus's story wasn't over.
Though his body lay still, his soul burned with defiance. The power of his awakening, incomplete yet potent, simmered beneath the surface. Marcus's energy began to pulse faintly, ready to reignite and rise again.