Even if I’m a master too, I’d die if I got hit by that.
Theo immediately discounted using Gladio for this battle. It had enough combat ability, but it was also a bad matchup for Pan Helliones.
Lloyd Pollan’s Aura Ability, Pathfinder, was much better used to find a possibility of victory in tricky situations. The ability to find the opponent’s weaknesses and loopholes was useful, but he would struggle to survive even one hit from Helliones. Theo could use Gladio as an emergency shield, but it seemed like a waste to consume the automaton that way.
However, Theo had learned something. The heavy sword’s destructive power was obviously amazing, but it was difficult to strike precisely. Moreover, Pan Helliones needed time to gather the level of destructive power he had shown at the beginning.
He still didn’t have a clear path to victory, but Theo could at least form a plan to attack.
Huuk.
As the last of the dust was swept away by the wind, it revealed the greatsword again. Pan Helliones was holding it crosswise. Theo’s senses twanged as they warned him.
It’s coming again!
Pan Helliones’ second swing caused a tsunami.
Kwaaaaaaah!
The first attack had made the ground ripple outward, but the second attack tore the air apart like a dragon’s roar. The shockwaves exploded parallel to the ground and crushed everything in its path. The horizontal sword seemed to split the world in two.
This was the Super Heavy Sword, Pan Helliones’…
Second Technique, Over Horizon.
If Theo tried to defend, he would be split in two.
“Kuok!” Theo hurriedly leaped upward.
He looked down with a shocked expression; however, he didn’t have a moment to relax. The blows were comparable to master level spells, but the speed at which Pan Helliones swung his sword again was unimaginable. The shockwave from his second swing was still radiating outward, but he had already sent two more shockwaves at Theo in the sky.
Theo hadn’t imagined that Pan Helliones was capable of continuous attacks with such power! Each individual strike was weaker, but a slight graze would still kill Theo instantly.
Theo desperately dodged to the side. The storm-like shockwave was already a natural disaster.
Damn, he releases a shockwave every time he swings his sword!
It was absolutely ridiculous. Every time Pan Helliones’ sword moved through the air, it would compress space to the point of creating a shockwave. Multiple shockwaves started to overlap as they tore the ground up. This wasn’t swordsmanship. The blade didn’t even need to make contact. Just like a fly falling without being hit by a hand, the shockwaves were enough to kill.
I’m running out of room to dodge… I can only avoid it four more times before getting trapped. I need to change the situation somehow.’
It wasn’t easy, but Theo frantically tried to come up with a plan as he roused his magic power. The shockwaves were acting like Pan Helliones’ sword and shield. It was a medium range attack, and acted as a barrier to keep opponents from closing in. Theo would need 7th Circle spells to break through it.
“I guess this is as good a place as any to test it out.”
He still had enough magic power, so Theo aimed both palms at Pan Helliones, who was still unleashing shockwaves in his direction. Mediocre firepower wouldn’t break through that wall. He needed overwhelming strength from one of magic’s most powerful attributes, fire.
Inferno.
He considered Hellfire, another 7th Circle fire spell, but Inferno sacrificed everything for pure firepower. Theo’s seven Circles rotated to create a vortex of flames.
Kuooooh!
As the wind blew hard behind him, Inferno’s flames met the wall of shockwaves.
The amazing air pressure caused by the sword trembled, but it stood firm. At the same time, it couldn’t break through Inferno. The atmosphere was being distorted by the heat, and it seemed like Pan Helliones would be turned into charcoal immediately.
No, this won’t work.
However, Theo shook his head. Inferno was slowly breaking through the shockwaves, but was also weakening. Once it broke through six shockwaves, the flames faded away.
“It’s too slow. He could swing a dozen times before my spell breaks through his shockwaves.”
He needed a spell that combined firepower and speed…
“Ah.” Theo was reminded of when he had been exploring the Aiolos divinity.
He thought of the Lightning Wind Phase, from the East’s Eight Trigrams Theory.
Since ancient times, wind and lightning had always been closely related. One theory even claimed both attributes were in a mutually beneficial relationship. It didn’t matter if they were right, Theo’s Sorcery would bridge any gap between them.
Wind and lightning converged as his perspective expanded.
Pajijik!Paijijik!
A whirlwind of blue lightning crackled above Theo’s palm. He had successfully cast Lightning Vortex. The wind amplified the lightning, while the lightning pushed the wind to spin faster. As the spell grew in power, it formed a roaring lightning dragon. It was a cycle of power that surpassed the laws of nature. Marquis Fergana’s lightning was nothing in comparison.
“Go.” With Theo’s permission, the lightning dragon dove, claws outstretched.
Kwarururung!?
A roar shook Helliones’ eardrums, and his face instantly hardened.
“… How interesting. Let’s see how it measures up,” Helliones said.
He dropped into Nebenhut stance, intending on receiving the lightning dragon head on! The lightning dragon almost seemed incensed as it flashed toward him.
This was the Super Heavy Sword, Pan Helliones’…
Fourth Technique, Mountain-Buster.
… And the ground soared.
“Crazy. This is just utterly nonsensical!”
Theo found himself repeating the same thing today. He didn’t see the process, but he recognized the principle behind Pan Helliones’ attack. He was clearly swinging his sword; however, it wasn’t at the lightning falling from the sky. Rather, he had dug the sword into the earth and sent earth flying upward with a swing!
The dirt was dug out so hard that it skyrocketed toward the sky. The tsunami of soil smashed straight into the descending lightning vortex!
Some people might laugh at Pan Helliones’ actions, but Theo realized that this was the perfect countermeasure to lightning magic. The best way to offset lightning was to ground it. Half of the lightning was reduced by the dug-up earth, and the rest was erased with a few sword swings.
Paaaang!
Unsurprisingly, Pan Helliones’ greatsword was able to defend against the lightning vortex without much difficulty. 𝚍ｏ𝚟𝚕.ｏｒｇ
“Hrmm.” Pan Helliones looked down at his hands with narrowed eyes, ignoring the astounded Theo. He had thought he’d dealt with it perfectly, but he could still feel effects on his body. His right hand was numb from the intense lightning, while his left hand was in pain.
His eyes narrowed as he muttered, “… How wonderful. My judgment was correct.”
Theo descended just in time to hear him, “Judgment?”
“I didn’t have to come to this risky place. If Sir Clovis had prioritized killing me instead of saving his sister, or if you called the White Tower Master here, I would’ve lost.”
He was right. Pan Helliones had orchestrated this duel in his own way, but this battle would’ve been his execution if one thing had turned out differently. In fact, Theo was also curious about why Pan Helliones had done something like this.
Pan Helliones met Theo’s eyes. “There’s one reason why I let Sir Randolph’s treachery be and allowed myself to be placed in this risky position. Theodore Miller, I have to kill you here.”
It was a pure bloodthirst.
Theo’s expression froze before he said wryly, “You… Did I do something to you?”
Pan Helliones’ eyes were cold. “I hold no personal grudge against you. Sir Clovis’ betrayal and Rebecca, both nothing compared to getting your head. I willingly took this risk to bury you here.”
Helliones hadn’t killed Randolph despite knowing of his betrayal because he didn’t want to waste power fighting him. Instead, Helliones had taken an unpredictable risk to create this situation because he felt like he had to kill Theo now.
Dangerous.
The chill down Theo’s spine grew colder as he read Pan Helliones’ resolution in his eyes.
This guy, he wants to kill me here.
Pan Helliones had relied on his intuition alone and orchestrated a situation where he could fight Theo alone. This was the almost bestial instinct that had allowed Pan Helliones to survive countless battlefields.
However, that wasn’t all. This swordmaster had experienced war with Meltor several times, so he had accumulated a lot of experience in battling magicians. It was very likely that he would use every bit of his cunning and knowledge to kill Theo here.
Theo would have to bring out all his wild cards in this fight.
If he didn’t kill Helliones, then he would die. Theo had understood this intellectually, but this was the first time he truly felt it. Helliones was Andras’ knight, one of the Empire’s Seven Swords and one of the top 10 magician killers on the continent.
Just like how Meltor’s magicians had become adept at countering melee fighters, Helliones was a killer who was used to dealing with magic.
Keep thinking. What skills haven’t been used yet? What other tactics do I have left?
Several choices went through Theo’s mind.
Should he attack while trying to avoid getting hit? Dismissed. He wouldn’t be able to protect himself from the shockwaves. Pan Helliones would be able to hit him at least thrice before he could narrow the gap.
Should he close the distance using lightning? Maybe. There was no guarantee that the shockwaves wouldn’t hinder him as he tried to pass through them. Moreover, he wasn’t invincible in his lightning state, so there was a possibility of being damaged by an aura defense.
“Dammit, there isn’t anything without weaknesses.”
According to Lee Yoonsung’s memories, one effective technique was better than many ineffective tricks. It was like how Pan Helliones didn’t need swordsmanship after a certain level.
… No, wait a minute.
“Strength?”
Theo was reminded of a higher order spell with an overwhelming destructive power which his opponent wouldn’t be able to resist. It was a power which had already transcended the 7th Circle before he completed his Sorcery.
Abraxas, the spell which surpassed even the god sword by resonating two opposing attributes.
Hwaruruk.
The moment he thought of it, Theo’s hands started to burn with a red and blue color. The heat and cold were several times more intense than when he had fought Hyde. Muspelheim’s flames and Aquilo’s blood were igniting his fighting spirit as he brought them together.
Okay.
This was the spell that would determine victory or defeat.