Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1464: The Punch That Failed

There was one thing everyone could see clearly, Kayzel’s words carried absolute confidence. Whatever his unique trait, whatever affinity or special ability it was, he believed in it completely. He stood with his chest high, his eyes locked on Raze, a confident smile tugging at his lips.

The audience leaned forward in their seats, watching with sharp anticipation. Then, in the very next instant, Kayzel was gone.

He vanished from sight.

One moment he had been standing in plain view, and the next his body was no longer in the same place. In the blink of an eye, he had reappeared on the opposite end of the stadium. The distance covered was so great and so sudden that murmurs erupted instantly.

"What was that?!" one of the spectators gasped.

"Invisibility? Is it the same trait as that other Central Academy student we saw earlier?" another asked, bewildered.

"No, that can’t be it," someone else argued quickly. "Even if he were invisible, that wouldn’t explain it. Look how far he’s moved! His position completely changed in a single instant."

"I saw it," a sharper-eyed spectator muttered. "If you don’t pay attention carefully, you’ll miss it entirely. Everyone, watch closely this time."

Down on the field, Kayzel’s expression only grew more smug. His lips curved into a smile as he spread his arms slightly, soaking in the crowd’s confusion.

"Did you see it?" he taunted.

And then he was off again. His body zipped across the battlefield, cutting left and right in rapid bursts of motion. Dust and loose debris sprayed up into the air as his movements tore across the stone floor. The crowd struggled to follow, their eyes darting back and forth. To most, it was nothing more than a blur, an afterimage racing at impossible speed.

"What is this...?" a voice trembled from the stands. "Is this really magic? Or am I imagining things? He looks like he’s moving with actual super speed."

"I’ve heard of wind mages boosting their speed," another said. "They enhance their bodies with mana, ride the air currents, even glide, but this... this is different. This isn’t wind. This is something else entirely."

"That must mean... this is his unique trait!"

Kayzel’s laughter rang faintly as he darted through the arena. In a flash, he appeared right beside Raze, close enough that his breath brushed Raze’s ear.

"Are you afraid?" Kayzel whispered, his voice dripping with amusement.

And just as suddenly, he was gone again. His figure dissolved into motion, reappearing only briefly before vanishing once more, as if he were a phantom. He dashed around the arena in an endless loop, pausing only for split seconds to let the crowd glimpse his silhouette.

He was enjoying it, reveling in the spectacle, savoring the chance to show the world the power he had hidden for so long.

The guesses from the crowd were correct. Kayzel’s unique trait was, indeed, super speed. It was the ability he had discovered the moment he first learned to manipulate mana. With the flow of energy, he could amplify his speed to terrifying levels, shifting across the battlefield faster than most eyes could register.

At first glance, it might not have seemed like the most fearsome of traits. Speed alone could be dismissed as simple utility, something useful, perhaps, but not overwhelming. Yet in truth, it had far more applications than anyone imagined.

For ordinary mages, battle often meant standing still, anchoring themselves while weaving their spells. At higher levels, they might gain the ability to float or fly, gliding through the air as they hurled their magic. They could reposition themselves strategically, but even then, their movements were nothing like this.

Kayzel was different.

With his trait, he didn’t just move, he tore through space like a storm, turning the battlefield into his playground.

Being able to move at such speeds gave Kayzel countless advantages. He could dodge at the very last possible moment, slipping past attacks as if the world itself slowed around him, and he could deliver strikes that came from the most unexpected angles. Already, he imagined himself advancing to the next stage of the competition, darting between each contestant, eliminating them one by one. In his mind, he saw himself standing as the final victor, the crowd chanting his name, the world recognizing the sheer dominance of his unique trait.

And right now, it seemed his plan was working. Raze hadn’t cast a single spell. To Kayzel, it was proof that his opponent couldn’t even follow his movements, let alone retaliate.

In the Wilton students’ room, where the match was displayed on a shimmering magical screen, the atmosphere was different. Concern colored their faces, and Piba, in particular, wore a grim expression.

"It’s exactly as I thought," Piba said, his voice low and firm. "When he attacked us before, he hardened his body with earth magic. At that speed, with that kind of impact, he created enough force to shatter our bones. I thought it might have been some kind of illusion or trick at the time... but no. For a unique skill to have such a direct, physical effect on the body, this is almost unheard of."

His words weighed heavy on the others. But those from Pagna had seen things most students of Central or Wilton never would. They weren’t entirely convinced. After all, they had once faced a mage capable of splitting his own body into multiple parts, compared to that, speed seemed almost tame.

Even so, worry crept into the room.

"I can’t lie," Panla admitted, folding her arms tightly across her chest. "I’m nervous. At the speed he’s moving now, Kayzel could cast spells from any angle. And we’ve all seen his ability to conjure lingering spells. Raze has handled everything so far, but if Kayzel starts mixing his speed with fast-acting attacks, " she shook her head. "Even something simple, combined with his physical strikes, could be devastating. The teachers won’t be able to react in time."

The reminder silenced the room for a moment.

The teachers, after all, were stationed to intervene if the duels became too dangerous. The tournament had been designed with balance in mind, so that no one competitor would utterly overwhelm another. But here, with the speed Kayzel displayed, even the protectors on standby might not be able to step in quickly enough.

"Raze will be fine." Liam’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. He leaned back lazily in his chair, waving his hand dismissively as if brushing away their fears. His eyes were steady, his lips curling faintly. "If you ask me... he’s kinda slow."

The others turned to him, incredulous, but Liam didn’t flinch. His confidence in Raze was absolute.

Back on the field, Kayzel had finished showing off. The time for spectacle was over. His hand crackled with lightning, mana pulsing up and down his forearm until it glowed with raw power. He tightened his fist, his lips curling into a grin, and then he charged in again, darting straight for Raze’s side.

His arm whipped forward, his lightning-clad fist aimed squarely at Raze’s head, the full force of his speed driving it like a thunderbolt.

But before the blow could land, a hand rose up calmly.

Fingers closed tightly around Kayzel’s wrist, halting the strike in its tracks.

The crackle of lightning sputtered against Raze’s palm.

"You..." Kayzel’s voice trembled, his eyes wide, disbelief plastered across his face. He swallowed hard. "You grabbed my punch?"

The confidence drained from him in an instant. His heart pounded in his chest, the unthinkable reality sinking in. How was this even possible?

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