Chapter 18: Levaerûn: Challenging the Faction Leader Prt 3

The crowd was going feral. Roars thundered through the stadium like someone had just dropped free pizza from the sky. People were jumping, screaming, even throwing popcorn like it was confetti.

Leo, never one to miss an audience, raised both arms dramatically like he was about to ascend into a boyband concert. A powerful gust of wind spiraled around him, turning his cape into a fashion hazard and making his hair do that anime flutter.

"This is how I use my Wind magic," he declared.

Yeah… no thanks. Getting hit by that would feel like being slapped by a tornado wearing brass knuckles.

With zero chill, he bent his knees and yeeted himself toward me, wind howling behind him like a jet engine with unresolved trauma. His speed kicked up several notches thanks to his activated skill.

Wait... so if he gets a power boost after taking damage, does that mean he's counting all the beatings from earlier too? That's just unfair math.

He was coming fast. I narrowed my eyes.

Only one way to test it.

"Warrior's Rage."

His eyes went full saucer mode the moment I said it. Like I'd just shouted the Wi-Fi password during a blackout.

Then it hit me—not him, the power. A surge flooded through my body, boosting my reflexes to ridiculous levels. Dodging his attack felt like stepping aside from a flying frisbee. Graceful. Smooth.

"You gotta be kidding me!" Leo shouted as he zipped past like a human jet ski.

Everything around us still moved at normal speed. I was just absurdly fast now. Like "did someone just equip cheat codes" fast.

He was still a tick faster than me, but I could see the gears in his head grinding—he wasn't expecting me to copy his move.

With a grin, I activated my lightning magic, coated my hand, and sucker-punched him right in the face.

Electricity crackled. He went flying back a few meters like a ragdoll in a wind tunnel.

I felt the physical boost kick in immediately. My body got lighter, stronger—like I could bench press a centaur. But… so could he. Crap.

Leo wiped the blood off his nose and grinned like I just handed him an energy drink.

"So that's your ability. You really got me there."

This dude was getting excited. I could practically see the "You're Dead Meat" aura oozing off him.

"It should be illegal to have a skill like that," I muttered.

Leo bent his knees again, prepping to launch.

"Yeah? Says the guy who literally just stole it."

Then boom—he shot at me again, louder and angrier than before.

I panicked and summoned my Ice magic to block him, but he just shoulder-checked through it like a minor inconvenience. Didn't even flinch.

"Do you think I should use Hephaestus?" I asked Cherubim.

[Unadvisable. Low mana. No weapon.]

"What if I use my fist?"

[Your body will become char-grilled. Hephaestus requires a weapon to handle its hotness.]

Ugh. Classic user manual problems.

"DON'T LOSE FOCUS ON ME, TROY!"

Leo zoomed in again like a furious tornado. I summoned my shield, braced for impact, and started charging up my electric fists.

The shield barely held for a moment. Then I heard it.

Crack.

THE CRACK™.

Dude punched my shield so hard it started cracking like a phone screen after a bad drop.

Most likely culprit? His terrifying biceps.

I dropped the shield and tried to go for a classic punch combo. Got two in.

He responded with a single punch that sent me flying like a DVD logo in screensaver mode—spinning and everything.

Somehow, I stuck the landing. Barely.

Blood oozed from my mouth.

"Damn, that freaking HURT!"

[Converting mana to hea—]

"Don't, Cherubim! I've got a plan!"

[But—]

"Trust me."

I got another insane strength boost. At this point, I could probably lift a small truck with one pinky. Unfortunately, so could Leo. And I had no idea how many power-ups he was stacking—this guy was basically a muscle-flavored cheat code.

He laughed like a maniac and launched another assault.

"You're unbelievable! Remarkable!"

Pain exploded in my face. I responded by uppercutting his chin, blasting his gut with an electric fist, then zapping him with Water + Lightning magic.

Still not enough.

We traded punch after punch, kick after kick, like we were starring in a "Deathmatch: Dance Edition" musical.

The ground around us shattered. Every hit felt like my bones were filing lawsuits against me.

[Warning: Your body has reached the limit!]

"Hang in there, Cherubim. Just a little longer."

Both of us paused, panting like overworked gym bros. I leaned on my knees. Leo did the same.

Only difference? I looked like I'd just seen the apocalypse. He looked like he was enjoying it.

"Troy, after this," he said, "you should work for me. You'd be a great addition to my faction."

I stood up, wobbling.

"If I lose, all this—uniting the town, fighting for freedom—goes down the toilet."

But I managed to raise my arms.

"What a coincidence. I was about to ask you the same thing… after I beat you."

Leo grinned. "Really? I'll take that into consideration."

He raised his trembling arms. Okay good—he was shaking too. Not just me. Misery loves company.

"Looks like this is the end," I said, activating both electricity and ice magic.

He smiled.

"No. This… is just the beginning."

And he charged.

The ice spikes didn't even slow him. Just plowed through like they were decorative lawn ornaments.

Fine. Physical strength isn't my win condition. I'm a mage.

It was time for my trap.

I melted the ice and re-froze it around him, locking him down just long enough to charge my electric magic for the finale.

He saw it coming—but I didn't care. I was out of juice, running on fumes.

"Cherubim, channel all my mana to my fists!"

[Roger.]

My arms ignited with Hephaestus. It was like dipping my hands in boiling lava. My skin screamed in four languages.

Leo charged at me again.

"WARRIOR RAGE: HEPHAESTUS!!"

We collided. Fist met fist—his cloaked in Wind, mine in divine-level Fire. An explosion tore the ground apart. Our feet skidded from the impact, the arena shaking from the sheer force.

Then—Hephaestus Flames spread to his arm, swallowing his wind magic like it was a snack.

[Hephaestus passive magic unlocked! Physical attacks now deal bonus fire damage. You have evolved Fire Resistance.]

Oh. It worked.

Time to finish it.

I slammed him in the gut twice, the flames spreading. He was launched backward, on fire, flying through the air like a meteor with bad intentions.

Silence.

The entire stadium watched him land in a smoking heap. Unconscious.

The crowd took a beat—then erupted.

"WHAT ELEMENT IS COSPLAAAY?!" someone screamed from the stands.

I exhaled.

"Oh. Looks like… I won—"

And then I collapsed face-first from sheer exhaustion.