“2... 1... Begin!”

Thus, our fight against Massen Garesade began. Following our plan of an aggressive opener, I activated my armor's overpower function. As runes of power glowed all around my armor, I charged at my lone opponent. He extends his right arm towards me, while he creates and manipulates a projection with his left. His projection is a cross mirror shield, what a curious choice, while it is an anti-magic shield, it's not like it matters what object a projection is, only its form.

As he bends his fingers, fireballs come flying at me. For a moment I scoff at them, but as I decide not to dodge, but instead take them head on, I realize that it is a mistake. Even as the barrier made around me for the competition absorbs the fireballs' damage, I can feel a slight heat. These aren't your regular usual fireballs that I tested this armor against back in Tharaz Eron, they are much more powerful. Regardless, I am almost upon him. I effortlessly bat his projection shield out of the way. Good! He might dodge my attack, but I know that he won't be able to dodge Alexius' follow up. Then, as I attack, he doesn't just dodge my attack. Did he... Slide back?

“Oh! Here it is, his famous combo! Dodging with masterful use of a wind platform while attacking with fireballs!”

The crowd roars as Massen effortlessly creates distance between us, all the while throwing fireballs at me as he snaps his fingers open. I don't know if I should be thankful or annoyed that the announcer explained exactly what was going on... Are we going to lose even with things like this going on? I concentrate on dodging the fireballs, but on the other hand I am unable to close any distance. Meanwhile, he easily deals with Helena's projection, one of the few ways we have to attack him at a distance. The other is...

“Helena!” I call her name before chanting my spell. “Earth, Impale my enemies!”

At the same time, she chants and casts a frostbolt. How are you going to deal with this attack? As our spells reach our opponent and explode in a shower of ice and dirt, I watch expectantly. However, it was as if nothing has happened. Garesade was standing still, a grin on his, holding the... projection of his shield? No, that wasn't right, as the familiar shimmer that identifies something as a projection was gone. It was almost as if he was holding an actual mirror cross shield, and as far the effects of our magical attack indicated... He was holding a mirror cross shield.

“What is this? The shield that we thought was just a projection is an actual shield now that protected Garesade? Is this a new trick of his?” The crowd reacted in delight. “That why we all came to see him, isn't it?”

Can't catch him, can't attack him at a distance with magic and now his shield is back to being shimmery, probably a projection once again. Really, what a tough opponent. I glance at Alexius. He immediately understands me. Instead of going from the same direction, we split up to try and corner Garesade.

It immediately makes things a bit better, now that he is splitting fireballs between the two of us, I can slowly advance towards him while dodging. Alexius is free to just advance as Helena can protect him from the fireballs with her projections, though looking from her face, it's probably using up more of her mana than she expects. Things aren't going great, but we might have a chance if things go on like this!

Getting close, I almost get a swing in, but Garesade zips back once again, but he ends up quite near Alexius, who also almost gets him. This time, he finds himself with his back to the wall. Do we have him?

As I am the nearest, I dash forward, I don't have much longer until my mana starts depleting, and once that happens... I'm not that useful without my armor. He puts his projection between us. Useless! I swing at it, but as I do, it disappears. What? I completely lose my balance and before I realize it, he is in front of me. Oh no. Even before I am hit, I know that there is nothing I can do to dodge. He hits me with his open left palm with an incredible force. A mixture of enhanced physical strength, as well as a dispersing of pure mana. I am thrown and fall on my back, I momentarily lose my breath from the impact.

“Ah, damn. I'm done for, aren't I?”

I can not just feel the weakening of the barrier around me, but I can also see its now red hue around me. Still, even if that wasn't the case, my armor was severely damaged even through the barrier. It crumbles around me. Sorry, my friends, but this is as far as I go, hopefully, that attack of his wasn't without its cost.