"You're okay?"
"Yeah..." The white-scaled Monster muttered.
"Come." The Commander's tone seemed to imply both an order and a challenge.
A challenge that neither Mark nor Elisa wanted to run away from.
Even though they had been attacked, even though they were on their way somewhere, running away wasn't an option for them.
"Zephyr's hit... Were still heavier." The white-scaled Monster continued.
"Don't tell me you think you got that strong. From absorbing a Growing Yeti and an Olga."
"Well, those two... Olga?"
Elisa arms lightly pushed Mark's body forward, and the latter pushed himself off the ground.
"Focus." She said.
Mark stood up and stared at the Commander whose Aura forced him to plant his feet in the ground.
'If it's the same or at least similar to how Aura was inside the Dungeon for me then... He can feel things entering his Aura. No, more than that. Since it takes up this much space, he can feel our every movement. Plus, I'm still intrigued by that... He let me go the moment I was about to activate my Ice Manipulation, even though I had consciously tried not to move or show that I was about to use it-'
"What now? Got scared?" The Commander sneered.
'If he can feel our movements, then a surprise attack of sorts won't work. What's needed is...'
'I'm surprised he's not even answering him.' Elisa thought to herself.
The white-scaled Monster extended its palms towards the Commander.
'To overwhelm him with information.'
Small flames appeared in front of those palms, before growing in size, spinning around rapidly, and taking on the appearance of,
Great Fire Ball-
Great Fire Ball-
Great Fire Ball-
'No need to mix in the Flame Of Chaos Skill. Not going for damage here...'
Elisa, who had remained crouching behind Mark, grabbed her bow.
'That's what they're going for? She should know that it won't work though... Mm. She doesn't have much of a choice. Either go along with whatever he does or inform me of their plan.' Lin thought to himself.
A volley of Great Fire Balls was shot towards him.
The 7 Great Fire Balls should have been enough to hide both Mark and Elisa visually. But in truth, they only hid the Commander.
'Those eyes can see through Mana with ease but,' Elisa let go of the Wind Arrow, and the bowstring moved with great speed. 'This shouldn't be bad.
Aimed at Lin's chest, the Wind Arrow pierced the air.
It didn't take long before,
BOOM-
The Wind Arrow passed through one of the shot Great Fire Balls, provoking a series of explosions.
'They're running through the smokescreen. Circling around me together? I would have expected them to split up...'
"What do we do?" Mark asked.
"Do whatever you want."
"This isn't the time to be grumpy-"
"It's not that." Elisa interrupted. "Let's get out of the Aura for now."
The white-scaled Monster nodded, and both jumped back twice.
Before the smokescreen could completely fade, Mark extended his arms towards the Commander once more.
Great Fire Ball-
Great Fire Ball-
Great Fire Ball-
'They're losing speed the instant they pass through the Aura. But what really disturbs me is... I need to use something else for that-'
An idea passed by Mark's mind.
"Let's try that."
"That?" Elisa asked as she took aim.
A Great Fire Ball appeared in front of Mark's palm.
He didn't shoot it.
Instead, his palms were placed on each side of the blazing sphere and,
Condense-
Not without resistance. But eventually, the Great Fire Ball's flames had the size of a small tennis ball.
'Now... Flame Of Chaos.'
The small sphere of burning fire was coated red.
But Mark didn't stop there.
More. More. And more Flames Of Chaos were added.
Until the sphere grew unstable.
Until his Fire Control Magic Skill had trouble keeping it in check.
Mark curled his hands around that sphere.
'If I add any more, I'll lose control. Precise control... Is what I need.'
The fingers of his right hand touched those of his left.
The heels of his hands were connected.
With his fingers directed towards the Commander,
'Give it... Just enough space.'
His fingers parted slightly, leaving a narrow route.
A narrow escape route, for the contained energy to take.
Four Curving Wind Arrows were shot in quick succession.
'Faster... And tighter... Don't give him time... To keep up!' Mark added a tiny bit more energy to the sphere in his hands and,I think you should take a look at
PHEW-
Elisa couldn't hide her surprise.
'The same... As that Fire Spirit's!'
'Now... The instant energy gets away, replenish it. Keep filling ti with Mana... The correct amount... The correct... Timing! The correct way to keep it going. To keep it from simply exploding!'
Mark smiled nervously, as the laser-like beam of energy moved with great speed towards the Commander, shrouded by the cloud of dirt that had risen due to Elisa's Wind Arrow Attacks.
'There's no way he'll react to this! It's too fast for-'
The white-scaled Monster, whose lips had been twitching nervously, froze.
His eyes narrowed, as the cloud of dust started settling.
"Entertaining." The Commander commented.
ƥandasnovel·ƈom The next second, Mark's hands started moving.
In unison, they moved. Transforming the beam into an incredibly long laser blade.
Randomly and erratically, the beam drew all kinds of shapes.
And everytime, Lin's Gauntlets were there to stop and prevent the beams from reaching him.
"Those Gauntlets. They use some kind of Anti-Magic. I'm hazy on the details, but attacking with-"
"He moves too quickly. No..." Mark interrupted. "You wouldn't lose in a contest of speed against him."
"Of course not."
"He reacts fast. Too fast... It's almost like..."
It felt disturbing. Eerie. Perhaps even creepy.
In an instant, the images of different enemies he had fought came to mind.
Those that were faster than him.
Those that could react faster than him.
Those with whom only his vision could keep up.
This was different.
"Almost like?" Elisa repeated, a knowing smile on her face.
"Almost like he moved to dodge before the attack comes his way. As if he can already tell what is going to be shot, where, and-"
"Hahahaha!" Elisa laughed for a bit, before making her Timeworn Elven Daggers spin and turning her gaze towards the Commander.
"What's so funny?"
"That's exactly what it is. He can read the flow of Mana perfectly. He can detect the activation of Magic Skills. He can detect which Magic Skills are about to activate. He can see through Magic Attacks, through smoke, and through our bodies."
"Huh? Why didn't you tell me earlier? Wait... You got all that from fighting him? How much time did I spend knocked out-"
"Well, I got it from more than fighting him." Not giving any time for further questioning, Elisa continued. "He hasn't taken a step since earlier. Strange, isn't it?"
"It is."
"Why do you think that is?"
Mark was surprised by the question. Still, his eyes didn't leave the Commander.
"It's easier to control Aura that way? Without moving? I can't really see anything else, since he can't attack from far away... Or is that a bluff?"
"No." Elisa chuckled. "It probably isn't a bluff. Controlling Aura? In a way, that's true. If he was running and chasing after us, his Aura wouldn't that fierce and imposing. It wouldn't cover such a large area either."
"So it is about controlling it."
"It isn't."
"Then?"
"What is the Aura of?"
Mark direct his gaze towards her for a bit.
"A Commander?"
Elisa nodded.
"Oh..." Mark seemed to realize something. "A Commander Of Sloth."
"You got it. Just like Yarnha is stronger in her Territory, he is stronger in his Territory."
"This whole place is his Territory so-"
"It's not that simple. His Territory can also be... Sloth."
"I don't really get it."
"Then..." Elisa bent her knees. "Let's fight and see if you figure it out."
She leaped forward.
But after taking about five steps forward, she turned around.
"What are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"How am I supposed to hide behind you if you stay there?"
"That's what you were doing?"
A shining and mischievous smile on her face.
"Are you my Knight or not?"
"Feels more like I'll be used as a Shield."
Elisa turned back around and stared at the Commander while making her Timeworn Elven Daggers spin.
"You've been promoted from Horse to Shield."
Mark brought a hand to his neck.
"Shut up, will you?"
Elisa chuckled cheerfully.
"I'll be tailing you, okay?"
Crack- Crack-
"Do what you want."
