The Transmigrated Author

Chapter 76: A Quick Finish (2)

[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Main Stage]

I stood on the platform, waiting patiently for the match to start. But looking at Carlos, a smug grin plastered on his face, watching me with predatory eyes.

As the announcer's voice boomed through the arena, he moved a bit closer.

"Bet you're regretting stepping onto this platform, nobody?" His tone dripped with condescension. "This isn't your little practice range - it's the real deal. Muller versus some rando? Hardly a fair fight."

I kept my expression carefully neutral, refusing to give him even the slightest of annoyance. Let him waste his breath, He'll need all the air he can get from me.

The announcer began the traditional countdown, I held out my crossbow armed and ready.

"Three..." Carlos smirked, his wand beginning to glow.

"Two..." He mouthed something, a taunt no doubt.

"One... BEGIN!"

Before the word had fully left the announcer's lips, Carlos was in motion. Words of power flowed from his mouth, and his wand danced through the air, weaving magical patterns.

"Flames of fury, heed my call!" he screamed, voice rising in intensity.

WHAM!

Twin circles flared into the air, spitting out blasts of crimson fire that seared the air. The heat washed over me, the stench of burnings smoke sharp in my nostrils.

[Sixth Sense (Passive) Has been activated!]

SHAW!, SHAW!

But I was ready. I sidestepped the first blast, my body weaving through each blast of fire, as I hoped he'd be running out of mana with each shot.

As the flames hissed past, missing me by inches. Should I use Mitigation to deflect these blasts? Each shot was a projectile... if I could thread them back through my portals carefully, might it create the opening I needed?

Fire rained down from the same conjured portals, each blast forcing me to move even farther away from him.

The platform was soon a scorched landscape, the relentless assault turning the pristine white surface into a blackened battlefield.

"Hah!"

Carlos's laughter echoed over the roar of the flames.

"I knew you were nothing but a low-rank with a miracle run for the ages! All those sloppy dodges... how long can you keep that up?"

His taunts to piss me off were probably working. I gritted my teeth, weaving and twisting, desperately trying to find an opening in this relentless barrage.

When is this guy going to hit his limit? Even powerful mages had their mana pools. This frustration was so annoying - just one moment, one slip-up, and I could probably close in on this guy but he was not even allowing me to get any shots off.

The moments stretched into what felt like an eternity. Carlos's attacks, while repetitive, showed no sign of weakening.

haah...haah...

My breath came in ragged gasps, the heat becoming oppressive. Had I underestimated him? This wasn't about showcasing power, it was raw attrition, a battle to outlast the other.

My mind raced, searching for weaknesses, for patterns in the rain of fire. But the flames and Carlos's mocking voice blurred my focus. I'd built my strategies on outwitting my opponents, not outlasting them. Was this the end of my quest run?

I had to do something or else he's gonna scorch me when I'm not looking.

Instead of maintaining the exhausting evasion, I lunged forward, crossbow raised. Risky... reckless, even. But Carlos's relentless attacks had trapped me in a cycle of defence, and I needed to break free.

TAK!, TAK!, TAK!

Arrows flew from my crossbow mid-stride, forcing Carlos to react. He flinched, not expecting the sudden aggression.

"...Tch."

Two, maybe three arrows found their mark before he reacted, his fingers weaving a hasty shield spell. The rest of the arrows clattered harmlessly against the mana barrier.

Fuck... these mages and their ratty tricks.

His focus had only been delayed for a moment, but it was enough to see the potential for a counterattack.

Instead of retreating, I pressed forward, trying to close the distance before he could cast another portal of flame.

As I ran towards him a smile suddenly crept up on his face and I realised something...

He saw it coming.

A new portal was summoned directly in my path, ready to unleash another fire blast.

I'd never been the type for mercy, not in a world as unforgiving as this one.

tap... tap... tap...

My walk towards Carlos was slow and steady. Every step echoed with all the anger burning within me.

All he could do was watch, his battered hand shakily forming the familiar weaving pattern of conjuring a portal.

wham!

It was pathetic. Another portal was summoned a miniature circle of its former intimidating form. He pushed what little magic he could muster towards it, a desperate last-ditch attack.

[Succesful Parry!]

With a smile, I activated 'Projectile Disarm', my hand swatting through the air with disdain. The unstable portal shattered, the fiery blast scattering before it could fully form.

Horror washed over Carlos's face, This was the face of his defiance crushing the last remnants of his pride.

CLICK!

My crossbow clattered to the side, no longer needed. Now, it was time to get close and personal.

"Wh-what are you doing?" Carlos gasped, his voice barely above a ragged whisper

"I su-"

BANG!

He started, a pathetic attempt to surrender, but his words were cut short as my fist connected with his jaw, followed by a flash of black lightning crunched through the arena.

[Critical Hit!]

"...argh...argh..."

He howled in pain, as his attempt at a defensive spell dissolved as he recoiled now on the ground vulnerable.

I stood on top of his body I crouched, clenching my fist ready to beat the life out of him.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Blows rained down on him, each one fueled by a greater feeling of satisfaction. His face was a bloody mess, his pathetic attempts to shield himself useless.

Gone was the arrogant smile, replaced with tears of agony and blood flowing out of his face.

[Critical Hit!]

[Critical Hit 2x!]

[Critical Hit 3x!]

With every punch, black lightning flashed from my fists that vibrated through his bones and sent shockwaves of pain through his battered body.

This was no longer a tournament match, This was just a beautiful feeling.

My hands felt the splatter of blood dropping onto his face with each strike, continuously hammering him.

This was the price to pay for being a dog to a human.

BANG!, BANG!, BANG!,

My attacks continued until Carlos was nothing more than a whimpering, broken mess on the platform.

With a growl of disgust, I dragged him up by his ruined face. A strangled cry escaped his bloodied lips.

uggh...uhh...h-h-el-p...

The scent of fear mingled with the coppery smell of blood. I saw the guards ready to intervene, concerned. But they hesitated, uncertain of how to react in the face of such rampant brutality.

"...!"

With a snarl, I hurled Carlos towards the edge of the arena. He landed in a crumpled heap, barely a few paces from the edge. Muttered moans drifted from his direction, along with desperate, scrabbling attempts to crawl away.

_________

Authors Notes:

- Casting a medium for a portal is the same price for most mages but those who are skilled at summoning portals can use about 1% of their mana.

- Regular Mages have to expand about 5-8% of mana each time they summon a portal but maintaining the portal expends a lot of energy and mages tend to lose their control after using 60% of their mana.