“Argh…”
The pain was excruciating.
Being flung through the air like a ragdoll felt like every bone in his body was being shattered.
But despite the agony, Alex resisted the urge to use [Destiny Shift] to undo the damage.
He had a good reason for holding back.
If Isolde, the [Grand Mage Master], realized that Alex could reverse actions, he would undoubtedly find a way to counter it.
That was Alex’s greatest fear.
Without the ability to undo his mistakes, he would be vulnerable.
And in a battle against someone like Isolde, weakness meant death.
Alex’s mind raced as he glanced at his orbs, hovering around him like silent sentinels.
Each orb held immense power, capable of turning the tide of the battle in an instant.
But which one should he use?
The decision was critical.
One wrong move, and it could all be over.
But before he could make a choice, the world blurred.
Fwish! Slam!
Isolde was faster than Alex had anticipated.
In the blink of an eye, the [Grand Mage Master] closed the distance between them.
With a swift, precise motion, Isolde’s [Staff Blade], a shimmering weapon of pure energy, sliced through the air and cleanly decapitated Alex.
Alex’s head tumbled through the air, his vision spinning.
But as he expected, he remained conscious, his mind still active even as his body crumpled to the ground.
From his detached perspective, he could see Isolde standing over his lifeless body, a cruel smirk twisting the mage’s lips.
“Pathetic worm,” Isolde sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.
He didn’t stop at decapitation.
With brutal efficiency, he brought his [Staff Blade] down again and again, severing Alex’s limbs and reducing his body to a bloody mess.
It was a gruesome sight, but Isolde had a clear strategy.
He knew Alex had the ability to revive himself, so he wasn’t taking any chances.
By continuously attacking, he ensured that even if Alex did come back, he would be killed again instantly.
It was a simple plan, almost embarrassingly basic.
But the worst part was that it worked.
Under normal circumstances, Alex would be trapped in an endless cycle of death and revival, his energy and resources draining away with each futile attempt to survive.
But Alex wasn’t entirely helpless.
He still had one card left to play.
Destiny Shift!
[Undoing Isolde’s actions…]
In an instant, time rewound.
The last five seconds were erased, as if they had never happened.
Isolde’s [Staff Blade] never struck.
Alex’s body was whole again, his head firmly attached to his shoulders.
Even Isolde was back in his original position, his expression shifting from triumph to confusion.
“Huh?” Isolde muttered, glancing around as if trying to piece together what had just happened.
His eyes narrowed as they settled on Alex, and a slow, knowing grin spread across his face.
“Oh… I see now.”
“You can undo specific actions.”
“Clever.”
“But you shouldn’t have revealed your trick so easily.”
Alex knew he would be found out the moment he did that.
But even then, Isolde had figured it out far quicker than anyone else he’d faced.
Most opponents took time to understand the mechanics of [Destiny Shift], but Isolde was different.
His intellect was as sharp as his blade, and he wasn’t going to let Alex’s ability go unchecked.
But even so, Alex wasn’t ready to give up.
He had made his choice.
Staff Blade!
Isolde wasted no time.
The blue energy blade materialized again at the tip of his staff once more, and he lunged forward, closing the distance between them in a flash.
“IT WON’T CHANGE ANYTHING, THOUGH!” Isolde roared, his laughter echoing through the air.
Alex braced himself, his mind racing.
He had already decided his next move.
The [Bleeding Dragon Claws] on Alex’s hands glowed with a sinister light as they clashed against Isolde’s [Staff Blade].
The two combatants exchanged blows, their movements a blur of speed and precision.
Alex hadn’t expected a grand mage to be so adept at close-quarters combat, but he quickly realized that underestimating Isolde was a mistake he couldn’t afford.
Isolde swung his blade with deadly accuracy, but Alex was ready.
Destiny Shift!
[Undoing Isolde’s swing…]
The attack was erased, and in its place, Alex retaliated with two swift strikes of his claws.
The sharp, glowing talons tore through Isolde’s chest, leaving deep, bloody gashes in their wake.
“Argh…” Isolde staggered back, his face contorted in pain.
Blood poured from the wounds, pooling at his feet.
The numbers flashed in Alex’s vision, indicating the damage dealt.
617,248,200! 617,248,200!
Alex didn’t press his advantage.
Instead, he backed away, putting distance between himself and Isolde.
But to his surprise, Isolde did the same.
The grand mage’s movements were deliberate, almost calculated.
It was as if he was setting the stage for something far more dangerous.
And then Alex saw it.
Isolde’s eyes, once a piercing green, were now a deep, ominous crimson.
A wave of dark aura emanated from them, filling the air with an oppressive energy.
“How foolish…” Isolde shook his head, his voice dripping with mockery, “It’s my win.”
Alex’s instincts screamed at him.
Something was terribly wrong.
“FUCK-“
MASTER’S DOMAIN!
The words echoed in Alex’s mind like a death knell.
He recognized what this skill simply by the aura and the tone of Isolde’s voice.
It was a [Forbidden Skill], one of the most dangerous abilities a grand mage could wield.
Without hesitation, Alex tried to undo it.
Destiny Shift!
[Undoing Isolde’s actions…]
Beep!
[Cannot undo that.]
“SHIT!”
A massive dome of energy erupted around them, encasing Alex and Isolde in a confined space.
The transparent walls of the dome shifted and warped, the colors around them darkening until the outside world was completely obscured.
The dome became a void of pure darkness, swallowing everything in its path.
Alex was trapped.
To make matters worse, Isolde vanished into the shadows, his presence disappearing entirely.
Only his voice remained, echoing from all directions.
“Did you not expect that?” Isolde’s laughter filled the void, “Thinking that harming me would give you an advantage.”
“How naive.”
Alex’s eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint Isolde’s location.
But in the suffocating darkness, it was impossible.
He could only rely on his hearing, following the sound of Isolde’s voice.
“Well,” Isolde continued, his tone dripping with malice, “that was your biggest mistake.”
“You should have known that every [Forbidden Skill] works differently, right?”
Alex’s throat went dry.
He had always assumed that [Forbidden Skills] required specific conditions to activate, but Isolde’s ability seemed to defy that logic as he activated it way too fast.
As his [Cursed Eyes of Truth] analyzed the situation, the grim reality became clear.
[Master’s Domain (Forbidden Skill)]
[Traps the user in the master’s domain, restricting their vision and preventing them from casting any spells or skills, leaving them at the mercy of the master.]
[Condition of activation: Bleed severely/Be in mortal danger.]
“Oh no…”
Alex’s heart sank.
The moment he had wounded Isolde, he had unknowingly triggered the activation of [Master’s Domain].
Now, he was trapped in a place where he couldn’t use any of his spells or skills.
Desperately, Alex tried to summon his [Flames of Oblivion], but the system denied him.
Beep!
[You cannot use any spell in this domain.]
Panic set in.
Without his abilities, Alex was defenseless.
The only skills still active were his [Bleeding Dragon Claws] and the [Universal Orbs].
But even those might not be enough to turn the tide.
As if to emphasize his predicament, a sudden movement in the darkness caught his attention.
Fwish! Slash!
Pain exploded in his left arm as it was severed cleanly from his body.
The [Bleeding Dragon Claws] fell to the ground, useless.
“Huh?” Alex gasped, clutching the stump where his arm used to be.
He tried to use [Destiny Shift] to undo the damage, but the system rejected his command.
Destiny Shift!
[Undoing damage…]
Beep!
[Cannot undo that in the master’s domain.]
Alex’s mind raced.
Without his [Bleeding Dragon Claws], his options were severely limited.
The only skill he had left was the [Universal Orbs], and he would have to use them wisely if he wanted to survive.
Taking a deep breath, Alex steadied himself.
He knew the odds were against him, but he wasn’t ready to give up.
The [Universal Orbs] were his last hope, and if he played his cards right, he might still have a chance.
But in the oppressive darkness of [Master’s Domain], with Isolde lurking somewhere in the shadows, Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that he was already out of time.