I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

Chapter 724: The Duel starts - part 4

What is happening...?

Kraven’s mana vessels were overexerting themselves from the sudden doubling of mana. The body had never been prepared for this level of power. The vessels were cracking and straining under the immense pressure.

Since Julian had used this technique for the first time in this body, he had not been aware of this dangerous side effect.

He wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand, breathing heavily.

"Two minutes..." he muttered under his breath. "I only have two minutes to withstand this."

Aldric’s smile widened as he noticed the blood.

"Already feeling the backlash?"

The commander asked, his voice carrying genuine respect mixed with warning.

"Merging with an independent summon is not a toy, young lord. The more power you take back, the more the body has to pay. Those vessels of yours are breaking as we speak."

Julian straightened up, ignoring the burning pain spreading through his meridians. He could feel several of Kraven’s mana vessels already fracturing.

Each second that passed, more micro-tears formed, leaking mana and causing internal damage.

He had to end this quickly.

"Two minutes," Julian said aloud this time, his golden eyes burning with determination. "That’s more than enough."

"Keke..." Aldric laughed, the sound mixing with the rumble of thunder around him.

"Then come! Let’s see how long you can last before those vessels completely shatter!"

The commander charged forward again, storm energy exploding around his fists.

"Storm Sovereign. Lightning Cataclysm Barrage!"

Dozens of thick lightning bolts rained down once more, accompanied by razor-sharp wind blades that sliced through the air.

Julian moved.

Despite the pain, he pushed the doubled mana through his fracturing vessels and countered.

"Flame Devourer Domain!"

A swirling dome of golden-red flames erupted around him, devouring the incoming lightning and wind attacks.

But this time the dome was unstable.

Cracks of leaking mana appeared on its surface as his vessels strained harder.

Aldric didn’t let go.

He closed the distance in a burst of wind and threw a devastating punch.

"Gale Sovereign. Thunder God Fist!"

Julian met the blow with his own flaming palm.

BOOOOM!

The collision sent another shockwave across the training ground. Julian was pushed back several steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth again. He could feel two more vessels in his right arm beginning to crack.

One minute and forty seconds left...

He gritted his teeth and forced more mana through the damaged channels, ignoring the searing pain.

Aldric pressed the advantage, his griffon-enhanced body moving like a storm incarnate.

"You’re slowing down, young lord! The backlash is already eating you alive!"

Julian’s eyes flashed with cold resolve.

"Not yet."

He took a deep breath, enduring the agony as another vessel in his core started to fracture.

The battle continued at a ferocious pace. Every clash caused more damage to Julian’s mana vessels, but he refused to back down. Time was running out. He had less than two minutes before the doubled mana would completely overwhelm Kraven’s body and cause a catastrophic collapse.

Sensing Julian’s weakening state, Aldric’s attacks grew more aggressive.

Meanwhile, outside the containment barrier, the Duke had sweat covering his entire face.

At first, it had been a shock to learn that Kraven was truly an Arch Mage. But what surprised him even more was how capable his son actually was.

Kraven was successfully matching blows against Commander Aldric, a veteran who stood at the very peak of the Arch Mage realm.

Technically, Kraven was barely holding on. His reckless decision to copy the commander’s fusion technique without understanding the consequences was extremely dangerous.

The young man was clearly damaging his own mana vessels with every passing second. Yet despite all of that... it was undeniably impressive.

The same stunned expression could be seen on Cathy’s face.

She stood frozen near the entrance, chills running down her spine. She still clearly remembered that night in the garden when she had boldly approached the young lord and tried to seduce him. At that time, she had thought he was just another arrogant noble with some hidden talent.

Now, watching him trade blows with Commander Aldric on equal footing, she felt genuine fear.

This is not the same person... she thought, her hands trembling slightly. If he is already this strong...

**

Back inside the training ground,

Julian took a deep breath.

The pain in his meridians was growing worse by the second. Several of Kraven’s mana vessels had already cracked, and more were on the verge of shattering. He could feel the doubled mana raging inside him like a wild beast trying to tear its way out.

"Commander,"

Julian called out, his voice steady despite the agony.

"This will be my final attack."

Aldric nodded, his eyes burning with excitement.

"I am ready, Lord Kraven. Come at me with everything you have!"

Julian paused for a moment.

He could use the purity of his original God Realm mana and defeat the commander instantly if he wanted to.

A single burst of that divine power would overwhelm Aldric completely.

But that would be far too suspicious. The commander, the soldiers, and especially the Duke watching from outside would immediately realize something was deeply wrong.

No, Julian concluded. Let’s just use a little bit of it. Enough to make it look like a desperate last-moment struggle.

He closed his eyes for a brief second.

Then he opened them.

At that exact moment, the entire training ground went eerily silent.

The roaring flames, the howling wind, even the crackling lightning... everything seemed to hold its breath.

The Duke’s eyes widened in alarm. He immediately reached for his own mana and poured it into the containment shield, strengthening the barrier with everything he had.

"Everyone!"

The Duke shouted urgently.

"Use your mana to protect yourselves! Now!"

The soldiers were shocked by the sudden order, but the raw urgency in the Duke’s voice left no room for hesitation. They instantly channeled their mana outward, creating personal shields around themselves and reinforcing the main barrier.