Jared Murphy’s ultimate Earth Magic was something incredibly simple: unparalleled Body Enhancement Magic.
However, with the backing of elemental spirits, including Earth elementals, and a specially contracted Earth spirit, a gnome, his power could continue to strengthen as long as he had Magic Power.
However, such potent power, unfamiliar to him, came with recoil. After just a few attacks, the Boy’s body was wracked with agonizing pain.
“…This is difficult.”
He gazed at the Progenitor, who had fallen to the ground, and let out a soft sigh. He was aware that despite the differences in appearance and even voice, he hesitated in his attacks. He had come prepared to take Olivier’s life, yet here he was, faltering just hearing that she was alive. He couldn’t help but be disgusted by his own weakness.
At the same time, he pondered how he could get Olivier back. Unfortunately, Jared couldn’t think of a way to take only the Progenitor’s life. With the faintest glimmer of hope, he found himself clinging to it naturally.
“…Good, very good, Jared.”
“I don’t think it’s not working, but stop bleeding from your nose and laughing, it’s creepy.”
The Progenitor, not even having a swollen cheek, just bleeding from their lips and nose, stood up laughing cheerfully. Feeling a sense of unease, though still somewhat eerie, Jared readied himself for the next attack.
The attacks were effective. Unlike before, he wasn’t blocked by a barrier, unable to do anything. Eventually, he would be able to defeat the Progenitor. But that would come with the loss of Olivier.
Jared felt uneasy, questioning if his choice was the right one.
“Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, then I shall also meet you with Body Enhancement Magic. It may not have the explosive power yours does, but let’s see which is superior.”
With a thud that caved in the ground, the Progenitor vanished.
“See? I can do this too, easily.”
The voice came from Jared’s vicinity.
“–Tch!”
The Boy, realizing he had been approached with incomprehensible speed, attempted to attack, but before he could, a blow struck his abdomen, lifting his feet off the ground. In the next moment, a shock ran through his back, sending him rolling. The impact felt like his innards were being torn apart, and the nausea was overwhelming.
“–Gulp, gah, gehp, gehp… Haa, haa.”
As he immediately stood up and took a defensive stance, the Progenitor remained frozen in the posture of having just swung a fist. He realized it had all happened in a single instant.
“Ultimately, battles are just clashes of power. It doesn’t make much difference whether we exchange Magic or fists at the distance between you and me.”
“No argument there, though I can’t freely unleash my Magic anymore.”
“That’s the choice you made. But you have no regrets?”
“What are you talking about, regrets?”
“Even after being chosen as a Court Mage of a nation in this era, you abandoned all your previous Magic with the resolve to cast it all aside. Did you not have even a shred of regret?”
“I regretted it long ago. The moment Olivier was taken over by you.”
“You always put Olivier first, don’t you? I find it enviable, and at the same time, a little… bothersome.”
The Progenitor’s form shimmered once more. Jared’s body was enhanced. His reflexes were equally so. Yet, the Progenitor appeared to have vanished, meaning he had to be moving at a speed that surpassed the Boy’s reflexes.
“–Tch, again!”
Jared spat out hateful words and reflexively turned around upon hearing a faint sound behind him. There stood the Progenitor, just about to throw a punch.
Bracing himself against the approaching attack, he took a defensive posture with both hands. In the next moment, a shock ran through his left arm as he took a hit. He wasn’t blown away, but the Progenitor’s attack inflicted Damage on Jared, pushing him back several steps.
“I’ll continue.”
As declared, the Progenitor didn’t hold back. Jared found himself on the defensive. Fists and kicks rained down from all directions, slipping past his defenses. In no time, Jared was bleeding, and Damage accumulated.
–A few minutes later.
Jared lay sprawling on the ground, bleeding. Before him stood the Progenitor, looking calm.
“Still not enough.”
Jared didn’t have the leeway to ask what wasn’t enough.
“Not yet, more, Jared. You are supposed to be stronger than this. Your ultimate Earth Magic isn’t just this. Perhaps you’ve only just acquired it and can’t control it fully. But I can’t accept that.”
“…What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying, show me your true power—Yo!”
His abdomen was kicked with the tip of a toe, sending him flying into the air. The enhanced blow inflicted Damage not only on Jared’s exterior but also on his interior.
“—Ugh, aah…”
The sight of the Boy, spilling blood from his mouth and rolling on the ground, was pathetic, making one doubt if he possessed the true strength the Progenitor spoke of.
“What is it that’s lacking?”
He kicked again.
“You have a reason to fight. You want to get Olivier back, and even if it’s impossible, you must kill us both.”
A third, a fourth time, the Progenitor continued to kick the defenseless Jared.
“You gained this power for that very purpose. Even if it meant abandoning everything from your past, you gained power to achieve your goal!”
Again and again, the Progenitor’s foot dug into Jared’s body.
“Still not enough! Still! Still! You are strong, you’ve overcome every difficulty until now! And yet, why are you being so pathetic, rolling around getting beaten by me!”
He couldn’t count how many times he’d been kicked. The relentless, persistent attacks, repeated to the point where he could barely breathe, made the Boy’s consciousness waver.
“You’re not even resisting after being treated like this? Or can you no longer do so?”
His head was stomped on, trampled. Even so, Jared didn’t have the luxury of feeling humiliation anymore.
“Now! Resist! Jared Murphy! You’re going to kill me, aren’t you! You’re going to take Olivier back from me!”
Jared reached for the foot on top of his head. He grabbed the ankle, intending to put all his strength into it to break the leg—but he couldn’t.
“…What is that! Where did the spirit you had when you punched me go! I can’t believe it, but you’re not thinking of saving me, are you?”
Thank you for always reading!
I am taking a break from replying to comments. Please understand.
