(INT) means "In Thought" as in thinking.
(MRY) means "Memory" as in remembering something.
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In the damp streets, both men, slightly fatigued, took fighting stances. Their warm breaths formed visible clouds in the chilly air, their gazes revealing a newfound intensity. From that point forward, a shared understanding lingered — one of them was destined to fall.
Markin Razzio & Kade Northwood:
"Earth Magic, Quake ×5 + Colossal Barrier!/Thunder Magic, Lightning Javelin."
Markin summoned a chaotic array of stones, earth blocks, brick debris, and rocks, sending them soaring into the sky only to cascade down, while a colossal wall of rock raced towards Kade with astonishing speed.
Kade hurls his Lightning Javelin at the massive rock wall, creating an opening as he absorbs incoming earth, yet before he can recover, a second colossal wall crashes into him. Attempting to absorb it, Kade discovers his mana intake is maxed out, leaving him vulnerable.
Markin Razzio:
"Earth Magic, Mergence!"
Employing the earth as a seamless slide beneath him, Markin maneuvered.
Markin Razzio:
"Earth Magic, Rising Pillar!"
a sturdy pillar emerged beneath his feet, aiding a swift leap over the colossal wall, precisely as he prepared to invoke Rokugani.
Kade Northwood:
"Thunder Magic, Lightning Javelin."
A Lightning Javelin punched into Markin's stomach, propelling him into the air. As Markin soared, he instinctively expelled spit and shielded his body, anticipating another Lightning Javelin. Yet, in an unforeseen turn, Kade clenched his fist.
The System:
"MAGIC LEVEL UP!"
"LEVEL UP–"
Kade Northwood:
"Thunder Magic, Sparks of Radience."
Numerous small, radiant orbs materialize and encircle Markin. Upon contact with one, Markin experienced an agonizing surge of electricity coursing through his entire being.
In a swift move, Kade pressed his hand onto the summoned earth by Markin, siphoning its mana and dispersing the surrounding rocks. Markin, writhing in pain, encased himself in stones, hurtling toward Kade like a meteor. With a last-minute mana drain, Kade flung Markin into a nearby carriage by his head.
Markin Razzio:
"EARTH MAGIC, COLOSSAL PILLAR!"
With a resounding clap, Markin clasps his hands, conjuring a colossal stone pillar that erupts beneath Kade, propelling him skyward and leaving destruction in its wake as streets and houses crumble under the force of the giant structure.
As Kade soared through the sky, he twisted his body, fixing his gaze on Markin below, lifting his hand towards the sky. Amid intensifying lightning strikes, rain, and storms, time seemed to slow. Kade's hand crackled with electricity as he molded it into a spear, taking careful aim at Markin.
Kade Northwood:
"Thunder Magic, Lightning Javelin."
And as Kade descended from the sky, with his Lightning Javelin at the ready, Markin felt a sudden surge of power coursing through his body, as if he had awakened something that had been sleeping within him.
Markin Razzio(INT):
"I can't die... I won't die... I have so much to live for..."
"SO I CAN'T DIE!!!"
Exhaling deeply, Markin unleashed a fierce war cry, clasping his hands together with unwavering determination.
Markin Razzio:
"EARTH MAGIC, COLOSSAL PILLAR ×2 + RISING PILLARS + ROKUGANI ×10!"
Two towering pillars erupted from the earth, hurtling towards Kade. Gripping his Lightning Javelin, Kade deftly skidded down the colossal structures, evading a relentless onslaught of earthen projectiles and spikes. To complicate matters, smaller pillars emerged from the larger one, creating a labyrinth for Kade to navigate.
Markin unleashed a relentless barrage of rock projectiles at Kade, who, gripping his Lightning Javelin, descended straight at Markin, narrowly dodging the projectiles and towering pillars.
Markin Razzio:
"Earth Magic, Shatterspike!"
Markin followed with massive earth spikes that pierced the pillars, causing them to collapse onto Kade. Amidst the crumbling pillars, a dense cloud of smoke, dust, and dirt enveloped the town.
Markin Razzio(INT):
"He could be down..."
"But that doesn't mean I'll stop!"
Markin Razzio:
"Earth Magic, Shatterspik–"
Kade ruthlessly impaled Markin with a sharp, spiky rock, swiftly removing it from Markin's body and casting it aside. As Markin crumpled to the ground, Kade gripped onto his neck and inserted his fingers beneath the skin.
Kade Northwood:
"Absorption, Siphon."
Markin winced as the veins in his neck glowed red under Kade's grip, the latter draining the last traces of mana from Markin, who groaned in agony until his magic was entirely extracted away.
Examining his palm, Kade sensed a surge of strength coursing through him, accompanied by the appearance of luminous texts that materialized before his eyes.
The System:
"LEVEL UP ×3!"
"MAGIC LEVEL UP×3!"
"MANA POOL LEVEL UP ×3!"
Kade Northwood(INT):
"What a massive spike in power..."
"So I was right, my magic cannot only absorb mana, but can drain magic out of my targets if their mana pool and body is weakened to a certain point."
The System:
"MAGIC: SHAPESHIFT ADDED!"
As an ominous threat plummeted toward Kade, a colossal impact blanketed the area in swirling dirt and dust. Emerging from the disrupted ground, a young woman with cat ears casually dusted her shoulders, dispelling the clouds as she revealed herself.
??? #2(INT):
"Problem solved! That guy's knocked out cold, so I'll just hurry up and fix this mes–"
Suddenly, the woman's peaceful moment shattered as a forceful punch struck the side of her face, sending her tumbling into a carriage. Groaning, she struggled to pull herself out, rubbing her aching head.
??? #2(INT):
"My head hurts so much... I didn't expect him to be that strong."
Kade Northwood:
"Thunder Magic, Lightning Javelin."
Charging forward, Kade throws his Lightning Javelin directly at her, preventing any immediate response. The collision produces a new plume of dust.
Siriana Nerfreno #1:
"Ji-Hyeon! Are you alright?!"
Siriana touches down and approaches the dust cloud, only to witness Ji-Hyeon shirtless, with the only thing covering her breasts was the huge black cloak she wore, emerging with a sly smirk.
Siriana Nerfreno #1:
"O-oh! Uhm, your breast are hanging out, Ji-Hyeon..."
Ji-Hyeon Moon #2:
"Yeah, I'm alright, my head still hurts but I still dealt with him."
Siriana Nerfreno #1:
"Well, you still seem abit beat up, that's new... But I think you should go get some rest."
Ji-Hyeon Moon #2:
"Yeah, I'll head up to the castle, see you there."
Ji-Hyeon disappears around a corner into an alley, vanishing from view.
Siriana Nerfreno #2:
"She's so shameless, she didn't even care she was shirtless."
As Siriana examines the scene, approaching the dilapidated carriage as dust settles, her shock deepens at the sight of the unconscious Ji-Hyeon, her black cloak discarded. It dawns on her that the previous encounter was with an imposter.
Cut to Kade Northwood(same time).
Ji-Hyeon strolled down the alley just as the sun started to rise. As daylight broke, before saying.
Ji-Hyeon Moon/Kade Northwood:
"Shapeshift, Return."
Kade Northwood(INT):
"I did it, my theory worked and I got what I wanted."
Transforming back to Kade, he removed the worn black cloak from his shoulders with a smirk, confidently stepping out of the corner and walking away.
Kade Northwood(INT):
"And now, my path for the true essence of power, begins."