Supreme Magus

Chapter 1414 - Evolutions and Demons (Part 2)

While Solus filled his body with fusion magic, treated his wounds, and shared with him a part of her vitality, Lith was free to fully focus on the Demons.

Jakra stopped for a moment, staring in awe at the gigantic shadows that towered over him and so did Lith. It was the first time that, instead of looking like humanoids made of darkness, the Demons resembled how they looked in life.

A four-headed Hydra that looked like Sedra wrapped its long necks around Jakra while a Wyvern spat a black mass that closely resembled flames on the Emerald Dragon.

A Lindwurm charged in outrage, quickly followed by several species of lesser Dragons that Lith had never seen before. Yet all their fury and power couldnʼt exceed Lithʼs and they only managed to stop Jakra for a few seconds.

Seconds that Lith exploited to use Invigoration and rack his brain in search for the missing piece of the puzzle.

ʼWhat the heck am I doing wrong? Why no matter how many spells I cast and how much elemental energies I circulate does my core remain bright blue?ʼ He thought as his memories flashed in front of his eyes.

”Dominance isnʼt something you can perform as a conscious action. Itʼs a reflex you merely guide along the right path.” Faluelʼs voice echoed in his mind.

”True magic isnʼt about hand signs and words. Itʼs about imagination and willpower.” Lithʼs own voice as a child said.

”When the time comes and youʼll gain the power necessary to break free, donʼt try to resist nor to control its flow. You must become one with that power but without letting it take over your mind, just like you did with Epphy until now.” Baba Yagaʼs voice said.

Then, everything made sense as the images of his date on the beach with Kamila resurfaced. He remembered her words about having fun and how the sand had formed a mosaic of Carl without Lith putting any effort or focus behind the act.

ʼF.u.c.k me sideways, Kami was right. Iʼm so focused on my work, on my paranoia, that I never learned to just enjoy what I do. Magic is more than a tool, itʼs more than a sequence of runes. Magic is everything I am.ʼ Lith thought.

ʼJust because I donʼt think about it, it doesnʼt mean that my core stops beating nor does my mana flow stops. Everything I do, everything I feel is an act of magic. I donʼt control the power, I am the power. How could I have been so blind?ʼ

What gave them meaning was the experience he had piled up, the moments he had spent doing nothing but stupid tricks to entertain the kids or to make Kamila laugh after a bad day.

Training and studying had given him power, but only stopping to contemplate his achievements and to enjoy the marvel that magic was had allowed Lith to truly understand its meaning.

Very few reached the violet core simply because they failed to see it as something more than a power source. Those stuck at the blue core considered magic as they did with their clothes and their equipment.

Something they owned instead of something they were.

ʼSolus, I need you to stop helping me. Donʼt cast spells against Jakra and stop using fusion magic on me.ʼ Lith said via their mind link.

ʼHave you gone insane? Itʼs only thanks to our joined efforts that you are barely holding out.ʼ She replied.

ʼI know that, but Faluel was right all along. Being together makes us stronger but at the same time, it hinders our personal growth. I finally understood why I went this close to the violet core against Qisal and failed ever since.

ʼBecause back then I didnʼt think, I acted. And the only reason I managed to do that is that you werenʼt there to help me.ʼ Lith shared with her his revelation, making Solus curse.

ʼDo you trust me?ʼ He asked.

ʼAlways.ʼ She stopped doing anything but draining the world energy to weaken Jakraʼs Origin Flames and using all the energy she got from the mana geyser to enhance Lithʼs equipment.

Solus had merged her stone form with his sword and armor for a while, but her active role in the battle had kept her from changing their properties much. Now that she had gone to a passive stance, she focused on their pseudo cores, controlling them as a power core would.

At the same time, Lith stopped casting spells consciously with his body. He just visualized what and where he wanted to conjure his spells and willed for it. Alas, knowing and doing are usually worlds apart.

Now that the barrage of weak but annoying Spirit Spells was gone, the Emerald Dragonʼs sword reached its target with increasing frequency. Without Lithʼs body casting advantage, Jakra could focus on readings his movements and patterns.

Dragonclaw pierced Lithʼs left shoulder first and then opened a long cut from below the armpit to the hip. Whenever Lith focused too much on the blade, Jakra would switch to a one-handed grip and punch him with the now free hand.

The hit would make Lith falter and focus on the fist long enough for the blade to strike. It was a simple but effective strategy that made use of the Emerald Dragonʼs superior skills.

Neither their battle experience nor their mass could be compared. The 500 years spent inside the Golden Griffon had been a nightmare, yet they had also forced Jakra to fight some of the best warriors of the Kingdom non-stop.

Compared to that, Lithʼs 19 turbulent years were barely a speck of dust.

The fight turned for the worse with each exchange despite the help from the Demons of Darkness. They were too weak and made of darkness, not Chaos so the Kingslayer armor was enough to deal with them.

Its barriers kept them at bay while its automatic counter spells destroyed their ethereal form. Lith, however, didnʼt give up and neither did the Demons.

”You truly are an anomaly, little brother. I had never seen a faulty bloodline power before. This will make our fight last even less.” The Emerald Dragon said.

”I only agree with your last statement, big brother.” Lith said while resuming his attack with renewed fury. He daydreamed about a hail of spells manifesting around Jakra and attacking him from every side, yet nothing happened.

The strike, however, came faster and stronger than the Emerald Dragon had expected, forcing him to block it instead of his usual dodge-and-counter routine. The clash between War and Dragonclaw sent shockwaves solely throughout his body, leaving Lith unaffected.

”What the f.u.c.k?” Jakra said while completely unaware of the wave of Demons of the Fallen that charged at him from behind.