284 Extreme hea (2/2)

”Mmm... Why are you not using any ranged attacks...?” Gluttony wondered, ”In fact... How come you can use magic without a staff...?”

”In order to reach the path of master-class, I had to become one with my affinity... That includes giving up any spell that would go against its principle...” Leona commented.

”I see... That means your affinity blocks you from using long-distance spells...” Gluttony smirked, ”So that's why you just keep covering yourself in fire... That's all you CAN do!!”

The demon then used its own flames to propel his body away from Leona and began to laugh like a maniac.

”Hahahahaha!! So all I need to do is blast you away from a safe distance until you're burnt to a crisp!!”

Gluttony did as he said and began to release a powerful fire breath from his mouth directed at the mage.

Leona used her own flames to stop the attack but the demon just continued attacking.

”Ugh!! Ugh!!” Leona cried as she dropped on one knee from the intensity of the attack.

Gluttony stopped his blast for a mere moment so he could taunt her again, ”What! wrong?? Running out of power?? Getting tired? Getting... HUNGRY!!??”

The demon took a deep breath and returned to unleash a barrage of flames once again.

Leona began to think about his comment and realized he was right. She was using so much fire magic that she was burning all of her calories in a matter of seconds. The more the fight dragged, the emptier her stomach howled, and as a result, the more powerful Gluttony would become.

”Ugh!! I have to finish this fast!!” she whispered.

The mage then stood up and tried to walk past the flames towards Gluttony's direction. The flames continued to push her away but Leona did not give up and just continued to walk forward.

The demon saw her approaching and began to increase the output of his breath.

As she realized that her power was about to vanish at any second, Leona finally decided to give her idea a try and attempted to take control of Gluttony's flames by lowering her cloak.

”Leona! Wait!!” Detra shouted, but it was too late.

The mage didn't realize her mistake fast enough and was completely burned by Glutony's storm of fire.

”Aaaaaghhh!!!” she cried as the flames dragged her all over the arena.

”Hahahahahahaha!!!” Gluttony laughed, ”Mooooorooooon!!! Moron! Moron! Moron! Moron! Moron!!!!!! You think you can take control of my flames just because you have terminal energy?? Moron! Moron! Moron! Only a dragon can control a dragon's fire!!! Hahahahahaha!!”

”Leona!!!” Marcus cried as he almost jumped into the arena to save the mage but was suddenly stopped by Detra.

”Stop!! If you interfere now, we won't be able to rely on you for the later battles!!”

”He's going to kill her!!”

”Ugh... It hurts... It hurts so much...” Leona mumbled. This was the first time since she was a kid that fire ever managed to cause her any harm.

The woman always wondered why people were so afraid of fire despite it never appearing to be that dangerous to her. She gazed at her arms, legs, her, and clothes. Everything had been slightly burned and turned into charcoal. The only reason she was still alive was due to her bracelets protecting her.

”Now then...” Gluttony commented, ”Do you finally understand that you should not play with fire unless you're ready to get yourself burned??”

The demon then burst himself towards the mage like a missile and started to increase the intensity of his flames even more.

Leona saw the demon coming right at her like a humanoid meteor and knew that if that managed t hit her, even with her bracelets or fire cloak, she would not survive.

In a last desperate attempt, she tried to stand up and leaped out of the way by using her terminal energy-powered fire magic to burst her body.

”You're not getting away!!” Gluttony shouted as he switched trajectory in the last second and moved to blast her away inches away from her position.

”Aaaaghhh!!!” the mage cried while being bombarded with dragon fire.

However, this time there was a difference.

In Gluttony's last attack, he was on the other side of the arena. Right now, he was right in front of her.

Leona realized that this was going to be the only chance she had and rushed to activate her fire cloak again.

”I summon upon myself the flames that can melt the absolute cold...

In my hands, the power of the sun itself is the force that I hold...”

Marcus widened his eyes, ”A chanting... She's gonna use all her remaining power in one final move!”

”Oh, no...” Detra whispered, ”I know this spell! Everyone close your eyes!!”

Leona continued.

”Let the blinding light of my power announce my glory to the entire land...

For a force as mighty as this is the last thing you shall see...

BEFORE YOU MEET YOUR END!!!”

And at that moment, just like Leona had said, it was as if the sun itself had landed on the battlefield for an instant and blinded everyone present with its grand light.

Once the glow of the spell vanished and it became safe to see again, all that was present in the arena was the sight of Leona with both hands completely burned on her knees while a pile of ashes that used to be Gluttony started to disperse amongst the wind.

”This is for my temple... Dumbass...” Leona whispered before falling unconscious on the floor.

Marcus hurried to help her but the mage would not open her eyes no matter how much he screamed her name.

”Leona!! Leona!!!”

”...”

”Leona!!!”

And just like before, while everyone was distracted, Knucker took this moment to absorb into him the remains of Gluttony into himself.

”Mmm... Such a shame... He was a really great cook... I'm gonna miss his dishes...” the white-haired man whispered.