Chapter 119

After launching the opponent into the air, Abel had no intention of chasing him. Instead, he rushed over to check on Kaecilius. After confirming there were no severe injuries, Abel prepared to teleport them away.

Suddenly, the ship beneath them shook violently. Abel looked through the gap he had created in the hull and saw a massive wave rising, towering over the dark sky. Atop the wave, the man Abel had knocked away stood, wielding his trident and commanding the sea. With a fierce swing, he sent the colossal wave crashing toward the ship.

Without wasting a second, Abel pulled Kaecilius closer and, with a twist of his wand, vanished just as the wall of water smashed into the ship. Water surged through the cabin, but Abel had already teleported into the air, Kaecilius in tow. They hovered, surrounded by black smoke, as Abel looked down at the ship, now engulfed by the churning sea. The sheer force of the wave left Abel awestruck. Though he could manipulate the weather in a localized area, this display of raw elemental power reminded him of his own limits.

Using the Sling Ring, Abel opened a portal and threw Kaecilius through it for safety. As he prepared to follow, the man reappeared from the sea, his trident glowing with power. Before Abel could react, the trident struck his left arm, sending him flying like a cannonball into the ocean.

The sea surged once more, as if alive, forming a monstrous mouth to swallow Abel whole. But just as it closed around him, Abel vanished in a vortex of magic, reappearing high in the air. His left arm throbbed in pain. Although his protective spells had absorbed much of the trident's force, its magical power still caused significant damage. Abel quickly cast a healing spell, white ripples spreading over the injury, reducing the pain.

But the man didn't give Abel a chance to fully heal. He flew toward Abel with terrifying speed, wielding the trident like a short dagger, aiming for Abel's vital points. Forced to abandon his healing, Abel conjured an invisible barrier to fend off the strikes. Yet the man's movements were unnaturally fast. He sidestepped the barrier and swung a kick aimed at Abel's head.

In response, Abel summoned the Ring Of Frost. A towering ice wall materialized between him and the attacker, but the man's kick shattered the wall into icy shards. Amidst the chaos of broken ice, Abel retreated, casting healing magic to continue mending his wounded arm.

Seeing the attacker close in again, Abel made a split-second decision. Instead of teleporting away, he activated the energy control ring on his left hand. Ignoring the lingering pain, he unleashed a repulsion field. A transparent sphere of force exploded from his body, sending the man flying into the sea below, much faster than before.

While his opponent was forced into the water, Abel quickly healed his left arm. As he did, the sea below erupted once more, and the man, undeterred, soared back up, a massive water column propelling him toward Abel.

Abel's eyes darkened, black smoke swirling around him. He was done playing defense. This unrelenting barrage had gone too far. Even the calmest of people had their limits, and Abel was no exception. If this man wanted close combat, he would face the full extent of Abel's power.

Abel stowed his wand temporarily, forming a complex seal with his hands. Fiery threads of magic wove between his fingers before shooting out, scattering in all directions. Dozens of space portals appeared in the air around Abel and his foe, randomly opening in the void. This was one of Abel's personal innovations, a spatial network designed to counter melee opponents.

He stepped into one of the portals and disappeared from sight. The man, sensing danger, scanned his surroundings, but the array of portals made it impossible to track Abel's exact position.

Suddenly, a red beam shot out from a portal behind him, striking his back and causing an explosion that knocked him off balance. The man spun around, flinging water arrows through the portal, but hit nothing. Just then, he felt a cold slash on his arm—a deep gash appeared, quickly scabbing over, but it was enough to alarm him. He now knew Abel's magic was far more dangerous than it appeared.

Realizing he was at a disadvantage, the man decided to retreat. He turned and rushed toward the sea below. As he descended, he began to relax, thinking he had escaped. But as he neared the water, a massive portal opened beneath him. It swallowed him whole, transporting him from the ocean into a scorching desert, where the blazing sun beat down mercilessly, and the air was devoid of any moisture.

The man landed heavily in the sand, realizing he was trapped in a place with no water to draw from. Desperately, he soared into the air, aiming for the portal still hovering in the sky, his only escape.

Just as he reached the portal, Abel appeared at its center. With a flick of his wrist, a bolt of lava-like lightning shot from his wand, striking the man squarely in the chest, sending him crashing back into the burning sands.