Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1742  Getting Away (Part 1)

Raze was ready to use whatever it took, no matter the cost, to take down Idore, and with his Breakthrough active, as long as he continued to absorb attacks, he could continue fighting. He could feel the power coursing through him, heavier and more overwhelming than anything he had wielded before, yet it also came with a quiet pressure in the back of his mind. This strength was not endless. It was borrowed time, and he knew it.

The first thing Raze did was place his sword back and then thrust it forward.

The mixture of Qi along with his Dark Magic created a quick pulse strike that burst right from his body. It was compact and efficient, a refinement of everything he had learned over the years. However, as the strike went close to Idore, it disappeared, only to reappear behind him, continuing onward before exploding off in the distance.

Raze's eyes narrowed as he watched the distant blast ripple through the sky.

"Quite the strong attack, Dark Magus. I can see you have drastically improved," Idore commented, his voice calm as if they were merely observing a demonstration rather than fighting for their lives. "But you see, we haven't been the same either. I'm sure you are aware and could tell that each of the Grand Magus had been trying their hardest to grow stronger and stronger. It's the same with me. It will be impossible for you to defeat me the way I am now."

Raze didn't respond immediately. He was thinking.

Even in his Breakthrough form, he was still able to use his Dark Magic in certain ways. Although his magic was limited to Dark Magic alone, he could still combine Qi and Dark Magic to activate formations. The mass amount of mana within his body could be used as pure energy to lift himself, something only the highest tier mages could accomplish. There was no need for wind magic to fly.

With a controlled movement, he activated the Dusk Wing formation.

His wings spread slightly, careful not to touch the black orb that hovered just above his head. The orb pulsed with contained gravity and shadow, a silent reminder of what he could unleash. He shifted in the air, approaching from the side.

Raze began to swing his sword at an incredible rate. Each movement was deliberate, refined. A flurry of Dark Magic erupted in arcs and crescents from multiple directions, slicing toward Idore from above, below, and every angle between.

Yet no matter how he moved, no matter how sharp the trajectory, each attack vanished before reaching its target, only to appear elsewhere in the sky.

"It's almost as if he has a giant barrier around him," Raze thought. "A teleportation field. You attack, it touches the barrier, and it exits somewhere else, never allowing anything to reach him."

It wasn't just magical attacks that were affected. He had seen physical strikes from the others misdirected as well.

"If I strike the same point at the same time repeatedly," Raze calculated, "maybe the barrier can't redirect everything."

He thrust his sword forward again, sending another pulsing strike. The explosion that followed in the sky was fierce, causing even some of the others to glance up in surprise.

The power of the strike was nearly the same as the Dark Pulse he once relied on, but this version required only a fraction of the time and a simple thrust. It was proof of what his body could do in this Breakthrough state.

As the strike reached Idore, the Grand Magus calmly raised his hand. The attack halted midair, suspended unnaturally.

Raze's expression shifted slightly.

Idore clenched his fist, and the captured magic began to stretch and elongate, reshaping itself until it resembled an arrow. In his other hand, a bow formed, white and metallic, its surface glowing faintly with stored energy.

Using Raze's own Dark Magic, Idore pulled the string back.

Then he fired.

The arrow tore through the air with amplified force, stronger than when Raze had first released it.

Raze understood immediately that dodging was not the best choice. Instead of cutting it down, he thrust out his hand and formed a small condensed black sphere. The gravity within it swallowed the arrow entirely, absorbing the magic and dispersing it harmlessly.

He felt the strain, but it held.

The others had tensed when they saw the arrow fired, especially Forma, who had witnessed what such redirected attacks could do.

"Oh? I'm surprised you managed to deal with that one," Idore said, faint amusement in his voice. "And here I thought I would be the one surprising you again and again. Regardless, as you can see, you are trying your best while you haven't managed to lay a finger on me."

Raze stayed silent.

"I wanted to show you something," Idore continued. "There are many ways I can beat you. I can tell you're using your Breakthrough, and it appears quite troublesome. So I've decided on the best course of action."

Raze felt a subtle shift in the air.

"I have no reason to fight you directly," Idore finished. "And when you return, all of your friends will be dead."

For a moment, the battlefield felt quieter, even though the destruction around them continued.

A small golden orb was flung forward and stopped right in front of Raze.

Raze stared at it, his mind racing.

The threat wasn't empty. Idore had already shown he could manipulate space, redirect power, and twist attacks with ease. If he chose to avoid Raze entirely and target the others instead, Raze would be forced into a defensive position.

He could not allow that.

The golden orb hovered, glowing faintly, its purpose unclear but undoubtedly dangerous.

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