Chapter 119: Alaric’s Full Power

The battle raged on within the chamber.

Alaric, right now, found himself firmly on the defensive.

Brita, currently wielding her ornate staff, was a force to be reckoned with.

Her movements were fluid and precise, the staff an extension of her will, weaving intricate patterns of dark energy and ice.

Alaric evaded a sweeping strike of the staff, the obsidian gem at its head pulsing with malevolent light.

’This staff,’ he thought, ’it’s not just a focus for her magic. It’s absorbing the ambient magical energy, amplifying her spells, and giving her an insane degree of control.’

Brita followed up with a thrust, the staff aimed at Alaric’s chest. He ducked under the blow, feeling the rush of dark energy as it passed overhead.

He retaliated with a quick ’Flame Burst’, hoping to create some distance. The flames erupted from his hand, but Brita simply twirled her staff, creating a swirling vortex of dark energy that absorbed the flames with ease.

’She’s even absorbing my flames!’ Alaric thought, a flicker of worry crossing his face beneath his mask. ’This is bad. Really bad.’

“You fight with rather great ferocity, masked mage,” Brita said, her voice laced with amusement. “But ferocity alone cannot stand against true power.” She raised her staff, the obsidian gem glowing brighter. “Witness the true might of the shadows!” She began to chant, her voice resonating with dark energy:

“From the abyss, where shadows dwell,

Rise forth, dark tendrils, weave your spell.

Embrace the darkness, let shadows bind,

’Shadow Tendrils’ ensnare his mind!”

Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, snaking towards Alaric. He quickly cast ’Swiftwind Step’, dodging the first few tendrils.

He then launched himself upwards using a ’Wind Blast’ directed at the floor beneath him, narrowly avoiding the grasping shadows. ’Shadow Tendrils,’ he thought, ’classic dark magic. But with that staff… they’re much stronger than they should be.’

Brita pressed her advantage, twirling the staff and unleashing a barrage of ’Ice Spears’. Alaric, still airborne from his ’Wind Blast’, twisted his body mid-air, dodging the first spear. He then used a ’Flame Burst’ directed downwards to propel himself in a different direction, narrowly avoiding the rest of the icy projectiles.

He landed gracefully, rolling to his feet. His face, hidden beneath the mask, was etched with worry. He was completely on the defensive now, forced to constantly evade or defend against Brita’s relentless attacks.

Brita’s close combat skills with the staff were also significantly better than he had anticipated. She moved with a grace and fluidity that belied the weapon’s size, using it to block, parry, and strike with incredible speed and power.

Alaric attempted to close the distance, hoping to disarm her, but she easily deflected his attacks with the staff, sending him stumbling back with well-placed strikes.

Alaric, using his intelligence, used a clever trick. He cast ’Flame Ground’, directing the flames to erupt beneath Brita’s feet.

Brita quickly jumped back, avoiding the flames but creating distance between them. Alaric immediately took advantage of this and launched himself towards her, hoping to grab the staff.

Brita, however, was ready for this. As Alaric lunged, she swiftly brought the staff down in a powerful arc, forcing him to duck to avoid a severe blow to the head.

Alaric rolled away, narrowly avoiding another strike from the staff. He quickly regained his footing, casting ’Wind Wall’ to block a volley of ’Ice Shards’ that Brita had conjured. The ice shattered against the wind, creating a shower of icy fragments.

’I need to create an opening,’ he thought, ’or this is going to get ugly.’

He knew that the ’Silent Barrier’ wouldn’t hold forever. If it was hit with too many powerful spells, it would shatter, alerting the other members of the Phantom Assembly. And if that happened, he wouldn’t be able to save Rowena, Helena, and Petra.

Brita, sensing his desperation, pressed her attack. She began to chant again, her voice echoing within the ’Silent Barrier’:

“From frozen wastes, where blizzards rage,

Rise forth, icy winds, in a chilling cage.

Envelop him now, in a frozen tomb,

’Glacial Prison’ seal his doom!”

A swirling vortex of icy wind erupted from the staff, engulfing Alaric. He quickly cast ’Flame Shield’, creating a protective barrier of fire around himself. The icy wind crashed against the flames, creating a cloud of steam.

Alaric felt the intense cold trying to penetrate his shield, but the flames held strong. ’Glacial Prison,’ he thought, ’that’s a powerful spell, even without the staff’s amplification. With it… it’s terrifying.’

As the steam cleared, Brita launched herself into close combat, using the staff to deliver a series of rapid strikes.

Alaric barely managed to block the first few blows, his arms aching from the impact.

Brita’s close-combat skills with the staff were proving to be a serious challenge

She moved with a speed and precision that was far beyond what he had expected. He was forced to constantly dodge, parry, and evade, barely managing to keep up with her relentless assault.

He tried to disarm her again, using a ’Wind Slash’ to create a distraction and then lunging for the staff.

But Brita anticipated his move, using the staff to deflect the ’Wind Slash’ and then delivering a swift kick to his chest, sending him stumbling back. ’Her footwork with that staff is incredible,’ Alaric thought, catching his breath. ’It’s like she’s been training with it her whole life.’

He needed a new strategy. He couldn’t keep fighting like this. He was constantly on the defensive, and he was starting to tire.

He needed to find a way to turn the tables, to take control of the battle. He looked at Brita, her emerald eyes burning with a fierce determination. He knew that she wouldn’t give up easily.

He had to be smarter, faster, and more resourceful.

He decided to use the environment to his advantage.

He cast ’Flame Ground’ again, this time directing the flames to erupt in a line between him and Brita.

The flames created a wall of fire, temporarily separating them.

As Brita hesitated, Alaric used ’Wind Blast’ directed at the ground behind him to propel himself backwards, creating more distance.

He then used ’Wind Blast’ again, this time directing it towards the ceiling, launching himself upwards.

Brita, seeing him fly upwards, quickly conjured several ’Ice Daggers’ and launched them after him. Alaric, while mid-air, twisted his body, dodging the daggers. He then used ’Flame Burst’ directed downwards to propel himself towards Brita, landing gracefully behind her. He quickly cast ’Wind Bind’, attempting to restrain her.

Brita, however, reacted instantly. She spun around, using the staff to deflect the ’Wind Bind’ and then delivering a powerful backhand strike that sent Alaric flying across the stage.

He crashed into the edge of the ’Silent Barrier’, feeling a jolt of pain shoot through his body. He quickly regained his footing and staggered back, his breath catching in his throat.

He glanced at the ’Silent Barrier’, noticing the faint cracks spider-webbing across its surface. ’Damn it,’ he thought, ’it won’t hold much longer.’ He had to end this, and fast. But Brita, empowered by her staff and the potent black magic, was proving to be a formidable opponent.

He watched as she advanced, her emerald eyes gleaming with triumph. The obsidian gem on her staff pulsed with dark energy, casting eerie shadows that danced across the stage. She held the staff with an air of effortless grace, yet Alaric could sense the raw power that thrummed within it.

’She’s toying with me,’ he realized, a grimace twisting his face beneath the mask. ’She’s enjoying this.’ He could see it in her eyes, the almost sadistic pleasure she derived from his struggle.

Brita stopped a few feet away, her smirk widening. “You’re weakening, masked mage,” she purred, her voice laced with mockery. “Is this the best you can do? I expected more from someone who dared to interfere with Lord Vortan’s plans.”

Alaric remained silent, his eyes fixed on her staff. He knew that any attempt to attack head-on would be futile. He needed to find a weakness, a chink in her armor. But with the staff amplifying her magic and enhancing her already impressive combat skills, he was struggling to find one.

Brita twirled her staff, the obsidian gem flashing. “Perhaps a demonstration is in order,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Allow me to show you the true extent of my power.”

She began to chant, her voice rising in intensity, the words resonating with dark energy:

“From icy depths, where glaciers sleep,

Awaken now, in a chilling sweep.

Frozen shards descend, a deadly rain,

’Icicle Barrage’ bring forth the pain!”

A barrage of ice shards materialized in the air above Alaric, each one as sharp as a dagger. They rained down on him with terrifying speed, forcing him to scramble for cover.

Alaric cast ’Swiftwind Step’, dodging the first few shards. He then used ’Flame Burst’ to melt some of the incoming projectiles, creating a cloud of steam that momentarily obscured him.

But the sheer number of ice shards was overwhelming. Several of them pierced his defenses, grazing his arms and legs, drawing beads of blood. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. ’This is getting out of hand,’ he thought, ’I can’t keep this up much longer.’

Brita pressed her attack, twirling her staff and unleashing another wave of dark energy. Alaric quickly cast ’Wind Shield’, barely managing to deflect the attack. The force of the impact sent him staggering back, further weakening the already fragile ’Silent Barrier’.

He could feel the dark energy seeping through the cracks in the barrier, a chilling sensation that made his skin crawl. ’If this barrier breaks,’ he thought, ’it’s over.’

Brita advanced, her eyes burning with a cold fire. “It’s time to end this, masked mage,” she said, her voice low and menacing. “You’ve proven to be a worthy opponent, but your resistance is futile.”

She raised her staff, the obsidian gem glowing with an intense light. “Witness the power of the ’Absolute Zero’!” she cried.

She began to chant in a powerful voice, the words echoing within the rapidly deteriorating ’Silent Barrier’.

“Frozen heart of winter’s core,

Unleash your chill, forevermore.

Bind him in ice, a frozen tomb,

’Absolute Zero’ seal his doom!”

A wave of intense cold emanated from the staff, engulfing Alaric. He felt his body begin to freeze, his movements becoming sluggish and slow. He tried to cast ’Flame Shield’ again, but his magic was weakening, struggling against the overwhelming cold.

The flames flickered weakly, offering little resistance to the encroaching ice. He could feel the cold seeping into his bones, his muscles stiffening, his breath clouding in the frigid air.

He knew he had to do something, anything, to break free from this icy grip. He focused his remaining magical energy, channeling it into a desperate attack.

“Spirits of the inferno, heed my call,” he chanted, his voice strained, “lend me your power, break these icy walls. Embrace me with fire, a burning embrace, ’Inferno’s Wrath’ unleash your grace!”

A burst of flames erupted from his body, momentarily pushing back the encroaching ice. But it was a desperate measure, a last-ditch effort that barely slowed Brita’s spell.

The ’Absolute Zero’ continued to press down on him, the cold becoming unbearable. He could feel his skin turning numb, his blood freezing in his veins.

Brita watched with a triumphant smirk, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “It’s over, masked mage,” she said, her voice cold and merciless. “Your resistance is at an end.”

She lowered her staff, preparing to deliver the final blow. Alaric, his body trembling from the cold and exhaustion, could barely stand. He took long, ragged breaths, his vision blurring. He could feel the blood trickling down his face from the cuts inflicted by the ice shards. He could barely dodge Brita’s attacks. His entire body was bloodied due to the multiple injuries he had received. He was losing, and he was losing badly.

The ’Silent Barrier’ cracked further, larger fissures appearing across its surface. The dark energy emanating from Brita’s staff pulsed outwards, threatening to shatter the barrier completely.

The icy grip of ’Absolute Zero’ tightened around Alaric, his body shivering uncontrollably. He could feel the cold seeping into his very soul, threatening to extinguish the flame of his life force.

He took another shuddering breath, the air burning his lungs. ’This is it,’ he thought, a small, almost imperceptible smile forming beneath his mask. ’This is as far as I can go with my own strength.’ He had seen his limits, pushed them to the very edge, and now… it was time to stop holding back.

He had been reluctant to unleash this power, not out of fear, but out of pride. He had wanted to defeat Brita with his own skills, his own magic. He had thought that using this… this trump card, would have ended the fight too quickly.

’How arrogant of me,’ he mused, the smile beneath his mask widening slightly. ’Even with Rowena, Helena, and Petra in danger, I was unknowingly extending this fight.’ He chuckled silently to himself. ’I really am a fool sometimes.’

He closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath and letting out a long sigh. He felt a strange sense of calm wash over him, a sense of acceptance. He had done his best, and now it was time to unleash the power he had been holding back.

He reached deep within himself, focusing on the core of his being, the place where the blood essence and the spirit of the Azure Spirit Lion resided. He had never consciously tried to draw upon this power before, but for some reason, he instinctively knew how. It was like a dormant instinct, a primal understanding that had been lying dormant within him, waiting to be awakened.

He felt a warm surge of energy coursing through his veins, a powerful sensation that made his heart pound in his chest. It wasn’t magical energy, not in the traditional sense. It was something… different. Something purer, more primal. It felt like the very essence of life, the raw power of nature itself.

Brita, sensing a shift in the atmosphere, narrowed her eyes. She watched Alaric intently, a flicker of unease crossing her face. The intense cold of ’Absolute Zero’ was still pressing down on him, but something had changed. The air around him seemed to shimmer, to vibrate with an unseen energy.

Then, she saw it. A faint, azure glow began to emanate from Alaric’s body, a soft light that pulsed with a steady rhythm. It wasn’t a magical light, not like the light from a spell. It was something… else. Something she had only seen glimpses of before, something that sent a shiver down her spine.

It was similar to the Dark Beast Essence, a power used by some of the higher-ups in the Phantom Assembly. But the Dark Beast Essence was impure, twisted by black magic, corrupted by dark desires.

This… this was different. This felt… pure. Spiritual.

Brita’s eyes widened in shock. This was impossible. She had never seen anything like it.

“What… what is this?” she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.

As the azure glow intensified, Alaric felt his injuries begin to heal at an accelerated rate. The cuts from the ice shards closed, the numbness in his limbs faded, and the burning in his lungs subsided.

His magical energy also surged, becoming stronger, more potent.

This was the Azure Spirit Lion, its spirit awakening within him, mending his body and empowering his magic.

’So this is it,’ Alaric thought, a sense of awe washing over him. ’This is the power of the Azure Spirit Lion.’ He could feel the raw power coursing through him, the primal energy that made him feel stronger, faster, more alive than he had ever felt before.

The azure glow around Alaric began to coalesce, taking shape, solidifying into a distinct form. It swirled and pulsed, growing larger and larger, until it finally solidified into a majestic creature.

It was a lion.

A magnificent lion, with fur the color of the sky at dawn, eyes that glowed with an intelligent light, and a mane that shimmered like flowing water.

It stood tall and proud, radiating an aura of power and majesty.

Brita stared at the creature in disbelief, her jaw dropping. It was a spiritual beast, a manifestation of Alaric’s beast essence.

She had heard tales of such powerful mythical beasts, but she had never seen one with her own eyes. And the sheer power radiating from it was… terrifying.

“A… a mythical-grade Spiritual Beast?” she whispered, her voice trembling. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

The members of the Phantom Assembly did have spiritual beasts tied to their souls, but the amplification of power that she was experiencing from Alaric was far beyond what she had ever witnessed!

The Azure Spirit Lion let out a soft rumble, a sound that resonated deep within Alaric’s soul. He could feel its presence, its power. It was a part of him, a reflection of his own strength and spirit.

As the Azure Spirit Lion fully materialized, the ’Silent Barrier’ around them significantly strengthened. The cracks that had been spreading across its surface began to mend themselves, the barrier becoming stronger than it had been before. The spiritual energy emanating from the lion was reinforcing the barrier, making it virtually impenetrable.

Alaric opened his eyes, the azure glow now reflecting in his pupils. He looked at Brita, a newfound confidence in his gaze. The small smile was still present beneath his mask, but now it held a hint of something else… something that made Brita’s blood run cold.

“I apologize for the delay,” Alaric said, his voice now deeper, resonating with the power of the Azure Spirit Lion. “I was… preoccupied.” He tilted his head slightly, his eyes gleaming with an azure light. “Now,” he said, his voice laced with a newfound determination, “let’s finish this.”