Chapter 172: A Quick Conclusion (1/2)
[Do I really want to do this? Will it even change anything?] Brenden thought to himself as he drew his sword. His actions felt hollow, like he was just going through the motions. Yet his rage was very much real. He didn't think he could bear the idea of continuing as things were.
Anger fueling his every step Brenden launched himself towards Mike, his mind working on overdrive to prepare a counter for whatever his rival threw at him.
[Judging from his lack of stance, it's probably going to be a blast of wind to throw me off balance followed by some application of Earth Magic to bind my movements in an effort to encourage me to give up.]
Just thinking about the patronizing manner Mike was approaching this fight was getting his blood boiling. Brenden knew deep down that he wasn't really a match for him, something that had been true for as long as they'd known each other. Every step of their journey up to this point had just reinforced that, but it wasn't something he could really accept.
In just the last few weeks, Mike had gone from an amateur caster to a skilled and dangerous mage, capable of making a mockery of some of the most accomplished warriors the central continent had to offer. His confidence while facing the Eternal Blades that night had rattled Brenden, however, he'd chalked it up to Mike's ignorance. That had changed once he'd heard the full story.
[How far have you gone while I wasn't paying attention? Am I even a companion in your eyes? Or am I just more baggage that you have to protect?]
These thoughts swirled through the back of his mind while he ran forward, summoning every ounce of strength and speed his transformed state could provide. As soon as Mike raised his hand, he tensed his legs, ready to dodge whatever spell was flung his way.
But there was nothing he could do.
Searing agony tore through him as the very tissues of his body fought against his movement, freezing him in place. His sword fell from his lifeless fingers, sinking point-first into the dirt of the training yard.
”You asked for me to not hold back, well I'm afraid I can't do that, Brenden.” Mike spoke softly. His head was tilted down slightly, eyes obscured by shadows of the setting sun. ”You would die, if I did.”
The mage raised his arm further palm towards the sky, somehow lifting Brenden into the air as well. ”Perhaps this will give you the answer you are looking for, whatever that might be. I'm just sorry it turned out this way.”
Mike clenched his hand into a fist, and the world went dark.
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When Brenden opened his eyes again, it had already grown dark. He sat up quickly and looked around, spotting Mike standing a little ways away, staring at the night sky. He started talking, seemingly knowing that the beastman had woken without needing to look.
”I wasn't sure if that was going to work, since I've never tried it before, but it seemed quite effective.”
”What did you do?” Brenden asked in a husky voice. He felt numb, as if the answer to the question didn't matter, but he felt compelled to ask it anyway.
Mike glanced back at him for a second, seemingly gauging his emotional state before replying. ”When I reached Tier 2 in Water Magic, I gained the ability to control all kinds of liquids with varying degrees of difficulty. A human's body is mostly made up of water, and I figured a beastman's is probably similar.”
Brenden felt slightly sick. ”You took control of my blood?”
”More like the water in your blood, but I suppose that's close enough.” The mage replied simply, emotionlessly.
[That's it then. Now I know.]
”I'm not sure why I'm surprised. You do the impossible on a whim all the time. Why shouldn't you have the power to render weaklings like myself powerless without even trying?” Brenden growled bitterly.
Mike turned to look at him, golden eyes unreadable. When he spoke it was a hushed tone, little more than a whisper. ”You know, this is the second party I've been in. Although, I suppose the first case was more of a temporary arrangement.”
Brenden blinked. He hadn't known that. Mike had always seemed like something of a lone wolf.
Mike looked down at his hands, his voice taking on a slightly husky quality, as if recalling a painful memory. ”Do you remember the Night of Wrath? It seems that most people have forgotten, what with the demon invasion that took place almost immediately after.”
He nodded. What was Mike getting at?
”I was defeated by a superior enemy that night. One that could have killed me in an instant if that was his goal. One that almost killed the rest of my party in front of me while I was powerless to do anything about it.”
”Wha…who was it?” Brenden asked, utterly floored by the revelation. He'd seen Mike take a beating a few times, but he'd always come out on top in the end.
”A Tier 4 vampire warrior by the name of Brutus, who wanted to deliver me to his master.”
Brenden was speechless for a second. ”You actually fought the Lord of War? I thought he was a legend. What happened?”
Mike met his gaze once more. ”While I was lying there, too broken to do much more than squirm, I was forced to watch as he killed one of my party members.” He paused and took a deep breath before continuing, ”We weren't really close. Had a disagreement right before the attack, actually, but the sheer helplessness I felt then was pure agony. I don't think I'll ever forget the sound of her childhood friend's heartbreak when her lifeless body hit the ground.”
The noble's monstrous laughter rang out from a corner of Brenden's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. That was not something he could bear to deal with right now.
Mike stood still for a second, lost in thought, before he started once more. ”Thankfully, Limit Break activated soon afterwards, and I was able to fight back. Apparently, the resulting light show made quite the impression.”
[Wait…does that mean?]
”You beat him?” Brenden asked in disbelief.
”I did, and all I can say about it, is there is much more to the Limit Break skill than enhancing one's stats for a little while. Or at least that's the case for me.” Mike scratched the back of his head. ”I'm telling you all this so that you'll understand something about me. Thanks to a confluence of circumstances, I am in a position where I can accomplish almost anything given enough time and resources. Even without that, I have access to abilities that will let me bypass my own limitations in times of need.”