Know Your Place!

As Ryan and Wayde's exchange of fists raged on, each blow struck with the force of a thunderbolt. The very air crackled with magic and each clash sent shockwaves reverberating through the maze.

But even as Ryan fought with all his might, he couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom that hung over him. Wayde was a formidable opponent, his power seemingly boundless. And with each passing moment, Ryan could feel his strength waning, his resolve beginning to falter.

Despite that, he clung to his desperation and unfulfilled desires, continuing to fight back, which seemed to irk Wayde.

Finally managing to land a significant blow, Ryan's fist landed squarely on Wayde's jaw, launching him tumbling backwards and his sight to black out momentarily.

He had been awaiting the chance to catch Wayde off guard, feinting all kinds of attacks before mustering all his strength into a single strike.

But it seemed as though all he achieved was infuriating Wayde.

He had poked the bear that had been playing with its prey.

"Foolish kid," Wayde sneered, glaring at Ryan as he regained his footing. "Know your place!" he bellowed, launching Ryan backwards before ascending back into the air.

Wayde was finished toying with the youth, who was struggling to even remain conscious.

Ryan was battered, covered in wounds and scorches from fighting the golems, and worst of all was the strain from overusing his Mana Vision and sensory abilities. He felt as though his skull was cracking while constantly tightening around his brain.

It was debilitating to the point that he was struggling to even think straight.

If it wasn't for his life being on the line, he would have collapsed long ago.

But there was one saving thought that Ryan clung to. 'He can't be in much of a better state than me, even if he plays it off well. He should also be running low on mana, which is starting to show. I'm sure if I can just hold out long enough...'

It was the only hope that Ryan had, as he returned his focus to the floating mage, who no longer had any hint of amusement on his face.

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to kill you or not, but if I let you continue to develop, you might become a thorn in my side," he stated, but there wasn't a trace of remorse in his voice.

"I will become the most powerful mage and take over the Qidius Family. There can't be two tigers on one mountain, so one of us will die here and now. Spoiler, it won't be me," he added, before laughing wildly.

However, this time his laughter was evil and filled with malice.

'What a cringe, psycho,' was Ryan's immediate thought, but that was wiped from his mind when the powerful mage began to draw out the last of his mana reserves.

The tension between them reached its zenith. The floating ring, a prize they both sought, could only be claimed by one of them, and neither seemed willing to back down...

-

The raggedy mage hovering in the air, his casual demeanour replaced by a profound and powerful aura, emanated an overwhelming presence that sent shivers down Ryan's spine.

Wayde was no longer holding back and was now after his life, releasing a thick killing intent that made Ryan's hairs stand on end. However, Ryan still didn't back down, the fire in his eyes burning as brightly as it always had.

Locking eyes, Wayde's voice echoed with a sense of deranged arrogance. "I would never let an insignificant kid stand in the way of my ascent to power. I, one of the rising stars, as well as the future young family head of the Qidius Family, cannot be defeated by the likes of you."

"Still, I must thank you for helping me get here. If it wasn't for you, I would have given up on everything and likely ended up killing myself not long after. But that ring is mine, and this is where you will die! Hahaha!"

Wayde's maniacal laughter reverberated around them, but it only fueled Ryan's determination. He had long caught onto Wayde's true intentions and character, a twisted ambition that sought to dominate and control, but needed him to get through the maze.

Now that was behind them, and Wayde was no longer holding back.

-

Persistently striving to close the distance, Ryan found himself ensnared in a net of helplessness woven by the formidable mage, Wayde. With each determined advance, Wayde effortlessly thwarted Ryan's efforts, flinging him away like an insect.

"Is this truly the extent of your abilities?" queried the floating mage, who was baffled by how someone as talented as Ryan was only capable of so much.

After merely a few days in the maze together, Ryan's progress had been unbelievable, which left him wondering. 'If he can only use basic magic, how long has he been able to use magic? It doesn't make sense for someone so talented to be so lacking in skill. But it also doesn't make sense that he can wield that much mana and conceal his mana core if he wasn't well-trained.'

'No matter, he will die here either way,' he laughed to himself, before outstretching his hand as though throttling an invisible spectre.

Closing his hand, Wayde hoisted Ryan into the air, his throat constricted in an unyielding vice. Against Wayde's mastery of magic, Ryan was utterly defenceless, clawing at the invisible grip around his neck.

"This, dear boy, is the Qidius Grip - a fundamental technique within my family's lineage," Wayde explained casually while tightening the grip around Ryan's neck.

Suddenly, Wayde's control over the force shattered, and Ryan fell to the ground, gasping for breath.

Meanwhile, Wayde was shocked.

"How…?" Wayde's voice was tinged with bewilderment.

'This guy is genuinely unhinged. If I hadn't managed to slip into that Mana Form and cut off the flow of mana from his hand to whatever was choking me, I'd be a goner right now.'

Ryan stared death in the face; managing to use Mana Projection had saved him.

'I really don't have time to wrap my head around this shit...' Wayde cursed internally, feeling more on edge the longer it took to crush Ryan.

And so he attempted to use the Qidius Grip a second time, which was to no avail, with Ryan severing the flow of mana again.

But Ryan couldn't rely on doing so, with the backlash of using Mana Projection being even worse than his Mana Vision. He was also sure that Wayde had other forms of magic in his arsenal, which left him doubting there was any way to defeat him...