Timeless Assassin

Chapter 1072: The Game Intensifies

The choice of move for Mauriss was obvious.

He had now gotten Leo’s golem in a chokehold, and hence, the attack that made the most sense next was one that capitalized fully on that control, as with his opponent restrained and unable to reposition, there was no need for precision or setup, only overwhelming force delivered with certainty.

Hence, when the board revealed their moves simultaneously—

*Flip*

Slam x10.

Explosion x2.

For the briefest moment, the air seemed to still, as both choices settled into reality at once, before the constructs responded without delay.

Mauriss’s golem moved first, its stone limbs tightening around Leo’s construct as it shifted its footing with brutal intent, pulling the already damaged frame off balance while maintaining full control over its upper body, before driving it downward with catastrophic force, as it channeled the full magnitude of the multiplier into a single crushing motion that carried no hesitation and no restraint.

*BOOOOM*

The slam descended with overwhelming weight, the impact crashing into Leo’s golem as cracks split open across its frame, deepening the damage it had already sustained while fragments of stone broke loose under the pressure.

However, at the same time, Leo’s move activated from within.

The fractured surface of his golem lit up along its cracks as energy surged outward from its core, before a concussive explosion burst in every direction, expanding rapidly into a violent sphere that engulfed both constructs at point blank range, as the outward force of the blast radiated far more violently than inward, pushing directly into Mauriss’s golem at the peak of its motion.

*BOOM*

The two forces collided in a violent exchange, as the downward slam crushed through Leo’s already weakened structure while the explosion answered back with equal ferocity, sending a shockwave through Mauriss’s construct as cracks spread across its torso and arms, heat rippling across its surface while parts of its body began to sizzle under the impact.

For a brief moment, everything was chaos, as force clashed against force and stone shattered outward, fragments scattering across the board while the shockwave rippled through the confined space between them.

As the aftermath settled, Mauriss’s golem was pushed back, its grip broken as it slid across the board, its once stable frame now lined with visible cracks while faint heat shimmered from its surface, showing clear damage yet retaining structural stability.

Leo’s golem, however, had suffered far more, as its entire frame had darkened and blackened from within, deep fractures running across every inch of its body as its structure barely held together, pieces threatening to crumble away at any moment as it remained standing only by the narrowest margin.

The difference was undeniable.

For a second, silence lingered between them, the storm roaring around the lone rock as both constructs remained in place, one damaged yet stable, the other barely holding on.

Then Mauriss burst into laughter.

"Hahahahahaha!"

His voice rang out wildly into the storm as he threw his head back, his hair floating erratically while his entire body trembled with excitement, as though the destruction unfolding before him was exactly what he had been waiting for.

"This is beautiful!"

He leaned forward suddenly, his eyes wide with manic delight as he stared directly into Leo, his grin stretching wider as the sheer unpredictability of the exchange seemed to invigorate him.

"You chose destruction at this moment?"

He laughed again, louder this time, unable to contain his amusement.

"I thought you were the careful one!"

His fingers tapped rapidly against the table now, no longer controlled but erratic, as the chaos before him fueled his excitement even further.

"This is exactly what I wanted!"

Mauriss said, his voice lowering slightly as his grin settled into something more intense, his gaze flicking briefly toward the shattered constructs before returning to Leo.

"This unpredictability, I LOVE IT IN AN OPPONENT..."

He gestured lightly toward the damaged board, his eyes gleaming.

"You have spine Leo Skyshard, I’ll give you that.

But the way I see it, you are in some deep trouble as of now....

We do have one recovery card.

However, do you really think I’ll let you use it?

Or will I finish this fight before you have a chance to heal?"

Mauriss asked, as he rubbed his palms in excitement, while Leo remained as stoic as ever.

"I’m going to attack next...

And it’s going to finish this fight."

Mauriss let the words settle between them, his eyes never leaving Leo’s face as he watched for even the slightest shift, for the smallest crack in that composed exterior that refused to give him anything.

"Or am I?"

A faint chuckle escaped him as he leaned back slightly, fingers tapping against the table in a slow, uneven rhythm.

"Am I telling you the truth... hoping that you take it as a lie?"

His grin widened.

"Or am I lying... hoping that you take it as the truth?"

He tilted his head, studying Leo more closely now.

"Because if you think I’m attacking, you’ll evade... and if you evade when I don’t attack, you fall even further behind."

A brief pause followed.

"And if you think I’m lying, then you’ll try to counter... or maybe you’ll try something clever, something reactive... something desperate."

His fingers stopped tapping.

"And if I really am attacking when you do that..."

He let out a soft laugh.

"Then it ends right there."

Mauriss leaned forward again, his gaze sharp and intrusive, as though trying to push his way directly into Leo’s thoughts.

"You see the problem?"

He smiled.

"There is no correct answer for you anymore."

Another pause.

"Every option you have now... depends on me."

His grin stretched wider.

"And I haven’t even played my card yet."

For a moment, silence returned between them, thick and suffocating, as Mauriss simply watched, clearly enjoying the pressure he had created.

"So go on, Skyshard..."

He tapped the table once more.

"Surprise me, blow my mind, and pull yourself back in this game.

Or..... Fail."