Chapter 38 Line Duel

📖Lussuria📖

“Rune”-“Rune”

“Power”-“Power”

“Ignite”-“Ignite”

“Fire!”-“Fire!”

The runes echoed as blasts of magic flew across the courtyard, slamming into each other.

A line duel was a duel between two runic mages. At face, it was an extreme game of stone parchment scissors. In the advanced level, there were a vast amount of options and the caster's strength could outweigh their weakness to a specific element if they were proficient enough. There was also the issue of sustain. You could either out-sustain your opponent or attempt to counter them.

Lussuria and the tracker repeated their blasts one after another. Lussuria only had knowledge of two elements: wind and fire. She had to make sure the tracker didn’t know that. So, she stuck with basic runic power until he decided to change the element, then she would counter it. Lussuria was exhausted, so she had to rely on countering rather than overpowering. She needed to deduce what element he could potentially swap to. As Lussuria contemplated his element swap, a smile formed on her face.

Lussuria wondered in sarcasm which element he would swap too.

(“This guy is a joke.”)

“Rune”-“Rune”

They both formed the next rune. Her eyes were peeled on his lips. As they curled to speak the next word, she already knew what was coming.

“Lighting”-“Wind”

As the tracker finished saying ‘lightning,’ his eyebrows raised; he knew she got him.

“Bolt”-“Gust”

“Release!” -“Release!”

The tracker’s rune charged with electricity, while Lussuria’s charged with a pressurizing wind. Both runes fired. The lightning bolt was aimed right at her, but Lussuria didn’t blink as the wind shifted its direction causing it to fly right by her, hitting the castle wall. The wind blast in turn hit him, sending him flying into a pillar, collapsing it.

“Get up, I am not done embarrassing you.” Lussuria said, her chin up and hand at the ready as she approached.

The tracker arose, staring at her in question at what just happened, before he came to his conclusion.

“Everyone gets one I suppose.”

“Don’t you mean three? Struck by my guard, my sister, and now I? How many times until you learn your lesson about opposing us, blackened fool.”

The tracker threw his hand forward chanting much faster, she did the same.

“Rune“-”Rune“.“Power”-“Power“.“Ignite”-“Ignite”. “Fire!”-“Fire!”

The blasts flew at each other followed by another explosion. After the dust settled, a second blast suddenly appeared, flying towards the tracker. The blast smashed into him, sending him back into the ruble he just crawled out of.

Lussuria’s eyes were blue, her veins began to glow as ice began forming on her temples again.

“That one was for Gravis. You have far more punishment to sustain for what you’ve done to us. Get up!”

Lussuria’s poise of dominance was shifted to defense as a blast of bright red fire instantly flew from the ruble towards her.”

Lussuria’s frostblood was still active and she quickly fired back.

“Ru-p-i-re!”

The blasts collided just a couple of feet in front of her. Lussuria barely matched it with her frostblooded cast.

“What?” She looked at him in question.

His eyepatch was off, revealing a demonic black star on his eye.

“A witchcraft rune, on your eye?”

“You're right about one thing, we are not done yet. You think your one-word cast matters? How about instant casting with no words!” The tracker slowly emerged as his eye flashed repeatedly, launching one blast after another.

“Ru-d-ar-d!”(Rune-Defense-Harden-Hold)

Lussuria summoned a large defensive rune just in front of her acting as a shield. The blasts hit the rune one after another, in a non stop barrage. The defense rune began to crack, Lussuria couldn't hold it for much longer. She looked behind her to one of the surrounding pillars. The defense rune fractured one final time before shattering, right as it did, Lussuria dove behind the ivory pillar.

“If I recall correctly, that’s your third use of the frostblood in this fight. That’s not even accounting for the uses earlier in the day. I guess your limit has been reached.”

Lussuria was breathing heavily behind the pillar, her eyes reverted to silver. The ice on her temples grew more pronounced.

“It’s called efficiency. Is it a surprise that Regalia’s best, brought you to use such forbidden magic? I guess I'm just that good. Speaking of limits, I wonder what the cost of that witchcraft is?” Lussuria smirked before gritting her teeth. The crackling sounds of ice on her temples sharpened.

"It’s blood.” The tracker replied, blood pooled in his eye, filling the dark star. Multiple red runes formed in front of him. The next barrage began, blast after blast, he decimated the pillar Lussuria was hiding behind, forcing her to run to another, and another. Lussuria ran from pillar to pillar, darting out like an exposed hare with a trail of rubble behind her. Lussuria slid to one final pillar, in the corner of the courtyard.

“What happened to all that bluster? You were so confident a moment ago?” The tracker’s steps on the grass approached closer and closer.

Lussuria had her eyes closed. Waiting.

“Die in hiding, matters not.” The tracker took one more step forward as a pulse was heard. Wind bursted up from underneath him. The green rune he stepped on emitted a sharp spinning wind under him, taking the shape of a small whirlwind. The tracker held his ground and wasn't getting blown away, but plenty of dirt was flying into his eyes.

“Cute, a wind trap. I guess you’re out of magic, considering the strength of this trap is pathetic.” The tracker said with his eyes closed.

Lussuria appeared out of cover, aiming a new rune at him. The rune grew red as she chanted.

“Rune-Fire-Embers-Ignite!”

A small tail of fire shot from the rune, hitting the ground in front of the wind trap. The wind pulled in a small bit of the fire and reacted strongly. The light whirlwind quickly grew in intensity and morphed into a flaming tornado. The mercenary became engulfed in the roaring blaze.

“You were incorrect. That was actually my fourth use in this duel. Like I said, you're a pathetic mage. Not even a witchcraft eye can save you.” Lussuria pronounced with a grin while watching her opponent burn. As the tracker burned Lussuria's smile grew more and more satisfied.

All the grass and plants in the courtyard were destroyed, leaving just a courtyard of dirt. The fiery tornado finally died down revealing the tracker scorched, but still standing. A bloody mist had formed around him, protecting him from some but not all of the flames. He coughed out blood, his body looked ill and lethargic.

“Still standing? I can see why they call witchcraft the devil’s magic.”

“I apologize,” He uttered. “You are a respectable mage, Lussuria of Regalia.” The mist of blood along with the blood from his various injuries started feeding into a huge bloody rune. “I will give you a piece of myself, this ability is a great sacrifice to my life force, a piece of my very soul. You have earned it. The price of true witchcraft magic. Consider yourself lucky enough to witness it before you die.”

The rune started to darken, making a horrific screaming noise. The death rune pointed in Lussuria’s direction. Lussuria raised her hand to finish him off.

“Rune-Power-”

Her rune flickered for a moment and faded away.

(“Am I really out of magic?!”)

The bloody screaming rune finalized into its true form, the symbol on it wasn't of any arcane symbol or shape, it was a figure of death itself.

Lussuria tried to use her frostblood again.

“Ru-p-i-re!” Lussuria’s eyes flashed blue as she threw her hand forward, but nothing came forth. An excruciatingly sharp pain stung in her mind and palm. The ice on her temples grew rapidly around her head like a crown of thorns. “As much as I enjoyed the sensation, I am not a fan of this stage.” Lussuria hunched over in pain, trying to fight against it.

“Emusnoc-Ecifircas-” The mercenary chanted in a language Lussuria didn’t even recognize.

“Damn, I got cheated.” Lussuria complained as she looked upon the spell, trying to think of an idea. But, she had none. She’s only heard stories of witchcraft, she knew it was banned, but it sounded more myth than anything. His blood was the source, and the rune had a shape she could only describe as devilish as well as his chant.”

“-Htaed-Enur!”The tracker finished his cast.

Lussuria readied herself. The bloody runes screeched as the bloody blast fired. Lussuria looked upon the deathly ball of blood and darkness flying towards her. The spell interested her, if she ever had the chance to name it, she would call it the ‘witching blast’.

(“In all honesty, I have no chance of dodging this attack.”) Lussuria sighed as she braced herself.

“You really have to be pushing your limit to go over it.” Lussuria remembered her mother’s words. She couldn't give up, Lilly would be devastated if she died here. What made it worst was the very idea of being defeated by some lesser mage. It infuriated her. Lussuria squeezed her fist.

(“I will not perish to this deprived, witless fool.”)

Lussuria took a breath, thinking of Lilly. If pain tolerance was the merit of her ability, she would take it with a smile. Lussuria threw her palm forward and focused with all her might. Her will, past the pain. Her will, past her node capacity. Her will, past her empty magic reservoir. Four words would become one, and one word would become two letters.

“RU!”

Crystalline ice exploded all over Lussuria’s right arm as a new rune solidified into existence; it was her ru-p-i-re rune, but three times bigger, made of solid ice. The icy rune shot a runic blast that was a combination of runic power and blazing ice. The icy frost blast and bloody witching blast smashed into each other, clashing in a fantastical display of purple sparks. The mystical energies were fighting to push each other back. Both energies began to glow brighter and brighter as they emitted their force upon the other. Both castors witnessed the deadly spectacle.

“A true shame, you would have made an amazing addition to the Daiga mage guild, Lussuria. You should have accepted our offer.” The tracker nodded towards her in respect.

“I never knew there was a magic that can counter frostblood.” Lussuria was only interested in magical interaction.

The witching blast began to grow as the frost blast’s color started to fade.

“The secrets you would have learned. A shame, your life will be extinguished. Fret not though, what is left of you will be used to reconstruct my wounds. You should be proud.”

“I’ll be sure to get hit by the whole thing then. Wouldn't want that…”

The deathly blast ate through her attack, continuing towards her. Lussuria was staring at her death, she wondered what it would feel like in comparison to the pain she was feeling now. Lussuria could no longer move her right arm, she raised her left arm in an attempt to feel more of the attack that was coming. If she was going to die, she would enjoy every bit of it.

A huge slab of earth emerged in front of her. The earthly slab was shaped like a huge shield. The blast hit the shield, exploding shards of rocks everywhere, red and black energy wrapped around the shield shooting past the sides of it. The shield nearly shattered but still held. At the base of the shield, just in front of her, someone was kneeling down.

“I see… you girls… were having fun without me!” The man turned his head towards Lussuria with a hearty laugh. His fist was in the ground with his axe attached to it, his arm looked bloody and mangled, as if the axe was the only thing keeping it in place.

“Ares!?” Lussuria said in surprise. The man responsible for the earth shield was none other than Ares.

“So, he’s using that annoying eye again, he did the same to me. Are you okay? I can take over now.” Ares stood up.

“Hmph?” Lussuria looked away.

“Something up, Princess?” Ares questioned.

“I was actually in the middle of putting him into the dirt, before you interrupted our duel… but, I suppose I can allow you to finish him off as he isn’t worth my time.” Lussuria said, looking away.

“Ha! That’s my girl! In fact, this next one's for you.”

The shield of earth broke into pieces while Ares raised his leg.

“Do you think a little rumble of earth is going to do anything to me? I would suggest you move that axe to your leg but considering the state of that arm, I guess you can't!” The tracker boasted.

“Is that what you think?” Ares smirked as he stomped his leg in the direction of the mercenary, causing a massive earthquake that collapsed that whole opposite half of the courtyard, maybe even the castle itself. The mercenary fell into the gaping hole of earth.

Soon after, Arthur came running in with Crow, along the royal guard being led by Sir Harper.

“Ares, you're alive?!” Arthur called out.

“Yeah yeah I’m solid! I told you! They don’t call me Ares for nothin! Say, uh that quill pusher is still on the run here right. I’ll let you guys handle that, I owe my good friend here a rematch. I have to pay him back for disrespecting Princess Lussuria.”

“That’s right.” Lussuria declared as her steps towards Arthur and Crow slowed. Lussuria stumbled forward into Arthur’s arms. Arthur caught onto her, looking her up and down at all the ice.

“Princess… Will you be alright? Your arm? Your head?” Arthur looked at the crystalline ice that was coating her shaking arm.

“Geez Arthur, your the one that's supposed to tell me everything will be alright…”

“Sorry.. Yeah-”

“I suppose I’ll be fine. If my sister can take this crystalline punishment, then so can I. I have contributed all my mental and magical resources, though. You can no longer rely on me carrying this perilous climb of a castle. You're welcome.”

The tracker crawled out from the chasm of ruble, coughing.

“You didn’t attach the axe to your leg. How could you shatter the earth, let alone that much more powerful?”

Ares raised his eyebrow. “You think the power came from the axe?! HAHAHA!” Ares laughed in amusement. “No, no, no… you see, the axe… is a limiter.”

“Limiter?! I see, you’re an earth elementalist. But if you were that strong, why didn’t you use that power when we were underground?”

“Because, I would have destroyed the evidence and I already got in trouble for that before. I rather not have Crow bickering in my ear again about it.” Ares turned to the group. “Now if you all would excuse me.”

Ares dashed at the tracker, crashing into him and slamming him through the remnants of the upper castle wall.