Michael stepped forward, the weight of his body pressing firmly into the earth with each movement.
He loosened his shoulders again, feeling the taut pull of strength under his skin.
“Let’s keep this simple,” he muttered, eyes flicking to Spartan.
The undead mage, clad in tattered robes tilted its head in response—silent, but attentive.
Michael narrowed his gaze. “Attack me.”
The moment the words left Michael’s lips, Spartan moved.
There was no hesitation—no pause for thought.
Spartan’s undead body surged forward with an unnatural fluidity, the tattered remnants of his robes barely moving in contrast to his quick, powerful strides.
Michael’s feet dug into the earth as he braced himself.
The ground trembled beneath him when Spartan’s fist slammed towards him.
The air itself seemed to crackle with the force behind that strike—strong, but still measured. Neither Spartan nor Michael wanted to injure the other.
With a slight shift of his hips, Michael moved just out of the way, the blow missing his head by mere inches.
He felt the rush of displaced air from Spartan’s attack, the strength and force of it.
It was enough to create a small gust, kicking up the dust beneath them.
But Michael wasn’t done. As Spartan’s arm moved past, Michael reacted with surprising agility. He raised his arm and locked it with Spartan’s. A clash of limbs that sent a shockwave through the earth beneath them, cracking the ground where their limbs collided.
Spartan’s undead flesh groaned under the impact, but Michael’s enhanced body held firm, no sign of strain.
The difference in their raw power was clear now.
Michael was indeed stronger.
However, this didn’t mean victory just yet.
Spartan pulled back and spun, bringing a sharp kick aimed for Michael’s side. It was fast, but Michael was faster.
He leaned back, the kick grazing his ribs. His body, reacting before his mind could even think, twisted in midair, feet digging into the ground as he pivoted just enough to catch himself.
Spartan’s kick shattered a nearby tree instead of finding its mark—splintering the thick trunk like a toothpick.
Spartan paused, eyes locked on Michael, sensing the shift in the air.
Michael hadn’t even used his full strength—he was testing his limits.
Spartan’s undwas flesh tightened, muscles tensing in preparation for the next round.
Michael exhaled slowly.
As Spartan lunged again, Michael sidestepped—barely. He barely touched the ground before spinning, his leg cutting through the air in a smooth arc that barely touched Spartan’s side.
Spartan responded by using his own weight to bear down on Michael, locking him in a brief grapple.
Their bodies shifted and moved in an intricate dance, testing power, endurance, and resilience.
Each strike, each movement, created small tremors in the earth, a testament to the raw force they were unleashing—yet neither of them caused any permanent damage to the other.
Even as Spartan’s fist connected with Michael’s chest, Michael’s body absorbed the blow, no more than a mild discomfort. Spartan’s body absorbed the return blows with similar ease.
Michael gritted his teeth as he focused on the sensations—on the overwhelming strength within him.
It was a mix of both exhilaration and the sheer weight of newfound power that made every moment feel heightened. His body was a vessel, but it was still learning how to control itself with this new strength.
The ground beneath them cracked again as Spartan’s booted foot collided with the earth.
This time, however, Michael reacted almost instinctively, pivoting away from the strike.
Spartan’s foot sank deep into the ground, leaving a massive indent as he lost his balance.
Michael took the opportunity to nudge him with a hand on his back, sending him sprawling forward—spinning him mid-air with the slight force.
Spartan regained his balance quickly, his limbs bending with unnatural agility.
However, the undead didn’t attack again.
Michael ordered it not too.
Because.
“Now, let’s use magic!”
Michael wanted to up the stakes!
As he spoke he immediately casted a spell.
His fingers danced in mid air forming a magic circle.
It happened in a flash and the spell was ready.
“{Bone Spear}”
The spell erupted from Michael’s fingertips in a burst of bone-white energy, forming a jagged spear that hovered before him.
“Here it comes!” Michael muttered, and with a swift motion, he hurled the spear at Spartan.
The projectile streaked through the air with deadly accuracy, aiming for Spartan’s chest.
Spartan reacted instantly and dodged.
The spear hit the ground behind him, faltered and exploded in a burst of bone shards that scattered around Spartan, but none of them found their mark.
Michael’s eyes narrowed.
He formed another magic circle in the air, the runes glowing brighter than before. His mana surged.
With a gesture, a wave of energy shot toward Spartan, transforming into a series of Bone Spears that rained down upon the undead mage.
For a period of time the undead high human had no choice but to keep dodging and dodging.
Until it stopped.
As Michael prepared to summon another volley of spears, Spartan launched himself forward.
With a movement faster than Michael had anticipated, Spartan closed the distance between them.
The undead mage swung a fist, aiming directly at Michael’s chest.
Michael barely had time to react, sidestepping just in time to avoid the full force of the blow.
However, Spartan’s fist still grazed his side, sending a sharp jolt of pain through Michael’s body.
Michael hissed through his teeth, focusing on regaining his balance. His body was stronger now, but his instincts were still catching up with the new strength.
Michael stepped back, raising a hand to halt Spartan’s next move.
“Enough,” he said.
Spartan froze, his undead form tense, awaiting further instruction.
Michael stood tall, his mind running through the exchange.
Just as he expected, he was simply better than before.
If one didn’t use {Detect} on him, Michael believed he could easily pass as a combat-type Awakener.
His personal strength was undeniable.
Michael exhaled, turning to survey his surroundings.
A wry smile crept onto his face.
“Seems like we got carried away.”