Chapter 77 - CHAPTER 77: Lian vs Brutus Pt. 2

The triangle immediately began to come to life in Lian's mind, a vivid construct of mana. "Ventus Surge, Ventus Aeris," he murmured with determination as a sharp, cutting blade of air came to life beside him, darting toward the block of earth flying in his direction, a swift counterattack. The earth is such a troublesome element- Lian thought, observing the stone block, barely deflected by the blade of wind, his strategy adapting in real-time. His blade had not managed to cut the enemy's spell in two, only scratching it enough to divert the blow, a minor victory but a victory nonetheless. Observing the scene with pride, Brutus laughed slightly as he prepared to unleash his full power against the boy, his confidence bordering on arrogance. "You were so cocky before, yet this is all the strength you have? I will enjoy crushing you!" his voice dripping with disdain. The energy in the arena grew even more intense, the floor vibrating under Lian's feet as the magical runes continued to glow, healing the damage caused by Brutus's ability before their eyes. The crowd, though inaudible inside the ring, appeared like a moving sea as they stood and shouted excitedly, a tidal wave of fervor beyond the barrier. Brutus raised his arms, mana beginning to condense, a palpable buildup of power. "Terra Fortis, Murus Infractum!" he roared, and the ring's floor cracked, rising as it advanced toward Lian like a solid wave, an unstoppable force of stone. With a deep breath, Lian closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing a new geometric pattern in his mind, his focus sharpening like a blade. This time, he would not use a simple triangle but a series of four concentric triangles, a complex and potent formation. "Ventus Surge, Tempestas Cyclum!" he murmured, mana swirling around him like a vortex. A whirlwind of wind formed, spinning at dizzying speed and enveloping his body in a spiral of air blades, a storm of his own creation. Compared to the air blade from before, there was no comparison, a leap in power and precision. The wall of tiles and stone crashed forcefully against the vortex, but, unlike before, the solid wave was not merely deflected—it was shattered by the wind blades, sharp and precise as razors, a devastating counter. Dust and debris flew everywhere as the crowd fell silent for a second, their mouths agape, stunned by the sudden reversal. Brutus's eyes widened in surprise; he had not expected to be outclassed like this, his confidence shaken to its core. As if that were not enough, the wind blades that cut through the stone wall did not dissipate into the air but continued with speed and fury toward Brutus's position, an unrelenting assault. "It is not over yet!" Brutus shouted, determined not to be humiliated in this way, his voice a desperate rallying cry. "Terra Fortis, Golem Pugnum!" he chanted with resolve. With a decisive gesture, he summoned a massive rock hand from the floor, as tall as two men, which closed into a fist and lunged toward the air blades, a colossal counterattack. The impact was devastating; the closed fist shattered into pieces that fell to the ground with a thud as the wind blades dispersed into the air. Brutus was breathing heavily, staring at Lian with gritted teeth, who returned his gaze with a relaxed, calm expression. He was in no hurry to finish him off. After recovering from the fear and anxiety of being on stage, Lian could see things more clearly, his mind now sharp and focused. The guy in front of him, Brutus, was… weak. Sure, weak compared to him. Lian's ability to create spells was far superior to others, and his overall power could undergo a metamorphosis if he used geometric shapes precisely, a unique advantage he wielded with the system itself. After recovering, Brutus frowned. The mere thought of being reduced to this state enraged him. "Damn you, I will not let you do this to me. Prepare to taste my wrath!" his voice a growl of defiance. After a few seconds of preparation and channeling mana— "Terra Fortis, Cataclysmus Solum!" he shouted, slamming both hands onto the floor. The ring trembled violently, and a series of rock spikes erupted from the ground, converging on Lian from all directions like a deadly trap, a relentless onslaught of stone. Observing the scene, Lian realized he should not have given the boy in front of him so much time. Fortunately, he had prepared a countermeasure, his foresight now his salvation. The spikes were swift and precise as they lunged at Lian at high speed. But before they could reach him— he acted with calculated precision. "Ventus Surge, Orbis Ventorum!" An enormous ring of compressed wind formed around him, expanding rapidly and slicing all the rock spikes in half, a perfect defense and offense combined. The triangle Lian crafted for this spell was much larger than the standard one, and the result was evident. Every spike was cut cleanly, and at the same time, Brutus's chest was slashed by the flying air blade, a precise and devastating strike. Blood sprayed everywhere as the ground stained. A faint whimper of pain escaped his mouth as he took a few steps back, staggering. His eyes did not waver as he struggled to stay on his feet. But before he could even speak, a rapid murmur, followed by the whistle of the wind, made his eyes widen with terror, his instincts screaming danger. Brutus had no time to dodge the blow, nor to block it with his arms, before a smaller but faster air blade slashed his chest in the same spot where he had been hit before, a merciless follow-up. More air blades flew with speed, but with less power, toward his position, cutting and lacerating his body in multiple places, a relentless barrage of precision strikes. Blood poured everywhere as the crowd fell silent, the arena holding its breath. Brutus spat blood as his body collapsed to the ground. The damage inflicted by Lian was calculated, high enough to prevent him from continuing but low enough not to harm him permanently, a display of control and mercy. No one had expected this outcome. Even the announcer, who until that moment had done nothing but describe the battle, fell silent. But a second later- the tension broke. <INCREDIBLE! An insane comeback for Lian! Despite being the underdog in this battle, he managed to secure victory with strategy and foresight. He did not fight blindly like Brutus but exploited the boy's weaknesses to win the fight almost flawlessly!> the announcer's voice roaring with excitement. Listening to the announcer's words, the crowd came back to life. The shouts grew louder, but not due to excitement over Lian's victory, but because of the lost bets, a wave of frustration sweeping the stands. Ninety-nine percent of them had bet on Brutus, after all. Only a small portion celebrated, but they did so in secret. They did not want the crowd's enmity, their joy tempered by caution. Among them was Rebecca. Despite the situation, a small smirk appeared on her rosy lips. I knew it. You are strong, Lian. Let us see if you can make me win more money- The referee raised a hand. <Winner: Lian Veyr!> his voice final and authoritative.