Chapter 31: Clash of Flames and Shadows: Gabriel’s Trial by Fire
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VROOOOOM!!!
A massive surge of energy hurtled towards Gabriel at an alarming speed, the air crackling with the intensity of the oncoming attack.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely—seconds turned into months, and minutes became years as the concentrated fireball advanced, inch by agonizing inch. Gabriel's mind raced, struggling to find a way out of his predicament, but no solution presented itself.
Then, in an instant, the energy collided with the ground.
BOOOOM!
The explosion threw Gabriel violently through the air. He landed hard, the impact jarring his entire body, and blood spilled from his mouth as he struggled to regain his breath.
...
In a spacious classroom, a group of people watched anxiously as the holographic projection flickered before them. Mr. Hanz, the teacher, cast a worried glance at the screen, while Principal Dalhmer stared intently at the unfolding scene. Breaking the tense silence, one of the onlookers asked the question that had been on everyone's mind: "Principal, are we sure we're not going to help that student?"
Despite his confident reply, the tight grip Principal Dalhmer had on his armrest betrayed his concern. Having witnessed Gabriel's combat skills firsthand, he held high expectations for the young warrior. "Hang in there!" Mr. Hanz silently prayed, his eyes never leaving the screen.
As the holographic projection continued, Principal Dalhmer muttered under his breath, "Young man, don't disappoint me." His gaze remained fixed on the display, observing every move Gabriel made, silently willing him to exceed expectations.
...
A Few Moments Earlier
Gabriel had been staring at the concentrated ball of energy slowly advancing toward him, as if time itself had entered a slow-motion sequence. Suddenly, like a light piercing through darkness, inspiration struck him. He quickly checked his HP and available skills. Seeing that everything he needed was in place, he formulated a plan.
Without hesitation, Gabriel cast [Cursed Totem (☯️)] between himself and the oncoming fireball, intending to use the indestructible totem as a shield.
The concentrated energy collided with the totem.
BOOOOM!!!
-2,500
While the Liger sustained damage from the summoning of the totem, Gabriel, too close to the center of the explosion, took significant damage.
-1500HP
...
Struggling to his feet, Gabriel coughed twice, his chest heaving. He wiped the blood from his mouth and took a deep breath before casting [Healing Wind (☯️)] on himself. His wounds began to close as his HP gradually recovered.
He looked up to see the Raging Inferno Liger staring back at him, its eyes burning with a fierce intelligence that Gabriel found unnerving. "You're tough," he muttered, steeling himself for the next round of battle.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him shook as the Liger let out a thunderous roar. Gabriel's body tensed as he braced himself for the impending attack. The Liger charged at him, teeth bared and claws extended, ready to strike.
Gabriel reacted swiftly, activating [Yang-Soul-Harmony] to redirect the negative status effects back to the Liger before immediately switching to [Yin-Soul-Harmony]. The DoT (Damage over Time) effect Gabriel had inflicted took its toll on the Liger, adding to the ongoing damage caused by the [Burning] status. The Liger roared in pain, losing 3160HP and an additional 1200HP.
However, with [Yang-Soul-Harmony] deactivated, the conversion of negative effects into positive ones ceased, allowing the [Scorch] effect to take hold again. Gabriel began to feel the burn as his HP steadily decreased. Yet, he remained focused on the challenge ahead. "165,688 HP left! What a tough nut to crack!" he muttered, noting the Liger's resilience.
The two opponents stood locked in a tense standoff, staring each other down like gunslingers in an old-west showdown. Five seconds passed, during which the Liger took a total of 26,770 damage from the DoT, while Gabriel endured 200 points of damage himself.
Gabriel had the option to negate the damage by reactivating [Yang-Soul-Harmony], but he chose not to, unwilling to alert the Liger. He knew the creature possessed a cunning intelligence, having already adapted its strategies after just a few seconds of combat.
"It's time!" Gabriel said to himself as he checked his remaining mana.
[Mana: 2,352/3,920]
"About 60% mana left. I need to finish this quickly," Gabriel calculated. He could sense the oppressive weight of the situation and knew that time was running out. Moving swiftly, he cast [Healing Wind (☯️)] on himself to recover. But even as he did, the Liger charged toward him with blinding speed.
Suddenly, a prompt flashed before him, activating the 20% effect of the skill. Gabriel felt a surge of energy course through him, boosting his strength for the upcoming clash.
[MeFirst] Effect experienced! Your attack will hit first!
(A/N: The buff effect ensures that even if Gabriel's speed is 0 and his opponent's speed is 9999, his attack will always land first.)
Energy began to overflow within Gabriel, a sense of empowerment taking hold.
"A buff that ignores speed differences, huh?" Gabriel mused.
He readied himself for the impending confrontation. A moment later, a shadow of flame arrived in front of him, a cunning glint in the beast's eyes. Suddenly, a dark energy enveloped the Liger.
[DamageDown] Effect experienced! Reduce physical attack!
[Silent] Effect experienced! Cannot use skills!
[Shield] Effect experienced! Block damage equal to 3x the caster's HP!
The Liger attempted to replicate its earlier move, but it was caught off guard as Gabriel's attack landed first.
WHOOSH!!! CRITICAL!!
-4,200HP
WHOOSH!!! CRITICAL!!
-3,500HP
WHOOSH!!! CRITICAL!!
-3,900HP
Gabriel had cast his skill just moments later than the Liger, but thanks to the [MeFirst] effect, all of his attacks landed first.
Suddenly, a third attack struck between them.
BOOOM!
-2550HP
The impact pushed the Raging Inferno Liger back, delaying its onslaught. It skidded to a stop several meters away, then began charging at Gabriel once more. As it closed the distance, it tried to activate its skills, but found itself unable to do so, taking additional damage from the totem instead.
-5500HP
-25HP
Gabriel seized the moment, casting another [Light Hurricane (☯)] and dealing three successive hits, causing a total of 7,500 points of damage to the Liger's HP.
Another DoT effect erupted, damaging both combatants.
-5,560HP
-35HP
The Liger snapped out of its confusion, enraged once more. The flames surrounding its body intensified, melting everything around it at an accelerated pace. Fire billowed from its nostrils with each breath.
A DoT took effect, damaging them both while the liger was hit with a critical damage.
10,200HP
-31HP
The Raging Inferno Liger, its body now charged with intense flames, suddenly began to move.
SWOOOOSH!!
Only the Liger's shadow could be seen as it circled Gabriel with blinding speed.
A DoT took effect, damaging them both.
-5,950HP
-35HP
SWOOOOSH!!
Gabriel closed his eyes, casting [Healing Wind (☯️)] on himself.
A DoT took effect, damaging them both.
-6160HP
-35HP
SWOOOOSH!!
The totem faded, and with his skill cooldown now over, Gabriel could have cast another [Curse Totem (☯️)], but he held back, waiting for the right moment.
SWOOOOSH!!
Gabriel stood at the center, observing the Raging Inferno Liger as it ran in a clockwise direction, leaving a trail of fire barriers that coalesced into a flaming tornado. As the tornado grew larger, Gabriel watched cautiously, aware that anyone caught in its center would suffer from suffocation due to the intense heat.
Despite the danger, Gabriel couldn't help but be impressed by the Liger's strategy. He had intended to interrupt its momentum with his [Light Hurricane (☯️)], but he knew that the duration of [MeFirst] had already ended, and any miscalculation could waste his mana. So he waited for the perfect moment to use his AOE skills.
As the Liger completed its final lap, Gabriel saw his opportunity and summoned [Curse Totem (☯️)] in its path. The Liger, forced to dodge the totem, had its momentum interrupted.
Although the Liger managed to avoid a direct collision with the totem, the area-of-effect damage still inflicted 2,500HP. Gabriel seized the opportunity to unleash [Light Hurricane (☯️)], dealing a massive total of 7,500 points of damage. The Liger, caught off guard, struggled to withstand the impact of the spell.
[Stun] Effect experienced! Cannot move!
Gabriel couldn't tell whether it was luck or skill, but the stun effect of his attack activated, immobilizing the Liger for two seconds and inflicting an additional 12,200 points of damage. Combined with two rounds of DoT, the total damage reached 15,000 points.
Amid the battle, Gabriel knew that the duration of the [Stun] effect was limited, as was the [Silent] effect. Anticipating their end, the Raging Inferno Liger let out a fierce roar, signaling its readiness to continue the fight.
Without hesitation, Gabriel activated [Yang-Soul-Harmony] once more. This time, however, he did something different. Instead of redirecting the buffs to the Liger, he reversed the effect to his advantage. His magic attack was amplified even further, and his HP began to regenerate over time.
A DoT took effect, healing Gabriel and damaging the Liger.
-5,500HP
+25HP
Gabriel was prepared to exchange blow for blow. He quickly checked his mana reserves.
[Mana: 1,620/3,920]
As Gabriel charged toward the Liger, the beast lunged forward with equal ferocity. With a swift motion, Gabriel swung his staff at the Liger as it attacked with its razor-sharp claws. The sound of the impact echoed through the air, a loud, jarring clang reverberating in the surroundings.
A DoT took effect, healing Gabriel and damaging the Liger.
+35HP
-7,550HP
As the Liger began using its powerful skill [Incinerate], a massive amount of fire elements gathered beneath Gabriel's feet. But this time, Gabriel was ready. He didn't waste a moment.
He quickly countered with [Light Hurricane (☯️)], unleashing immense force as his skill clashed with the Liger's, creating a spectacular display of light and energy.
WHOOSH! CRITICAL!!
-3,650HP
WHOOSH! CRITICAL!!
-3,550HP
WHOOSH! CRITICAL!!
-2,800HP
The energy building beneath Gabriel's feet suddenly erupted, releasing a powerful explosion.
BOOOOM!!
-1800HP
[Prompt! Shield withstood the attack, 5,700/7,500]
Gabriel took advantage of the explosion, using it as an opportunity to put some distance between himself and the Liger.
A DoT took effect, healing Gabriel and damaging the Liger.
+30HP
-5,500HP
The Raging Inferno Liger charged forward, covering the ground in mere seconds. Its eyes locked on its target, jaws clamped around a growing ball of fire elemental energy. The energy crackled and expanded, ready to burst forth in a devastating attack.
A DoT took effect, healing Gabriel.
+30HP
Gabriel's heart raced as he watched the Liger approach, its fiery breath building up in its jaws. Determined to defend himself, Gabriel quickly cast two spells in rapid succession, his hands moving deftly through the air.
"Curse Totem (☯)," he muttered under his breath.
BOOOOM!!!
-2243HP
Without hesitation, he cast another spell.
"Light Hurricane (☯)."
WHOOSH!
-2550HP
WHOOSH!
-2,250HP
WHOOSH! CRITICAL!!
-3650HP
The two spells intertwined in a complex dance of light and shadow, forming a swirling vortex of energy around Gabriel. The air crackled with power as the spells took effect, their potent magic rippling through the space between Gabriel and the Liger.
But the Liger was undeterred. With a fierce growl, it unleashed the accumulated energy in its mouth toward Gabriel. The ball of fire hurtled through the air at breakneck speed, and Gabriel braced himself for impact.
BOOOOM!!!
-5,500HP
[Prompt! Shield withstood attack, 200/7,500]
Once again, the explosion flung both combatants back from the center of the blast.
A DoT took effect, healing Gabriel and damaging the Liger.
+30HP
-5,160HP
The massive Raging Inferno Liger struggled to rise, its muscles quivering with effort. But just as it managed to stand, a sudden gust of wind buffeted it, followed by a powerful suction force that drained the life from its body. With a low growl of frustration, the Liger stumbled and fell heavily to the ground, its breath coming in ragged gasps before it died.
A DoT took effect, healing Gabriel and damaging the Liger.
+35HP
-7,295HP
[Prompt! You have killed Raging Inferno Liger! Gain exp 11,000!]