The Golem Mage

609: Final Bout 3 609: Final Bout 3 The reason Yama dwelled on these thoughts was simple no matter how many resources an academy or clan poured into a mage,

Without the natural affinity and experience gained from tough combat situations, the mage would ultimately lack true proficiency and would never become anything better than a greenhorn.

Alec’s progress, however, showed no signs of someone who had been artificially boosted with resources.

Instead, he emitted a sense of raw determination, as if he had climbed his way up from the very bottom.

This notion irked Yama, especially considering he himself, despite being bestowed with the best resources his clan had to offer and has also been in combat situations, struggling to defeat Alec, who had been rejected by the Blaze Clan and had to work his way to this level.

He knew all this cause he had investigated Alec and actually most already did after he too his team to the top eight.

“I told you it’s too late!” Alec declared as he finally retaliated, instead of just defending or deflecting Yama’s punches, as he sent his fist hurtling towards Yama.

A resounding boom reverberated through the arena as their fists collided.

While onlookers might assume the two were equally matched in strength, Yama recognized in that moment just how wrong that assumption was Alec’s unleashed power surpassed his own.

For Alec, it was with full confidence that he attacked, because he never doubted his ability to clash against another Tier 5 mage in a contest of strength.

With his stats boasting over 200 points and the added augmentation from the still-active Flame aura enveloping him, Alec stood with unwavering confidence.

Yama staggered backwards anticipating that Alec would seize the newfound advantage and exploit it further, but he was instead taken aback when Alec simply stood still.

It was at that moment that Yama realized something was amiss with his surroundings.

Engrossed in the intense exchange of moves with Alec, Yama failed to notice the small rune arrays that had materialized in the air after Alec’s Terra Bullet detonated were now expanding.

From their original size resembling small balls, they had now grown to the scale of two joined doors, radiating a mesmerizing light that reflected upon the ground.

Unfortunately, Yama found himself stepping directly on the illuminated arrays, along with Alec.

As Yama glanced down at the array beneath his feet, unease gnawed at him, realizing that he had played right into Alec’s hands.

He attempted to leap away, desperate to escape Alec’s array domain.

But as he made the motion to move, everything suddenly shifted.

The once-illuminated rune lights on the ground emitted a sinister black glow, coalescing and etching themselves into the earth as pure runes, as though intricately drawn by an unseen hand.

But it had been made possible due to the residual heat emitted from the three large arrays still suspended in the sky.

Long blazing black chains emerged from the pivot points of the array.

These chains snaked through the air, swiftly entangling themselves around Yama’s legs, leaving him completely immobilized within the confines of the array.

Caught off guard by their stealthy approach, Yama hadn’t noticed the chains converging upon him.

Nevertheless, he remained undeterred, confident that breaking free from a mere two chains holding his legs wouldn’t pose much of a challenge.

With a surge of strength, Yama exerted himself, successfully breaking free from the two chains that had restrained him.

However, as he shifted his gaze towards Alec in the midst of his triumph, a sinking feeling washed over him.

He soon realized that various blazing black chains were now rising from different locations within the array spell.

This unexpected development prompted Yama’s expression to drop, filled with uncertainty as to his next course of action.

Recalling the arduous struggle he endured to break just two of the blazing chains earlier, despite exerting his full strength, Yama couldn’t fathom how long it would take to overcome the multitude of chains that were now heading towards him.

He grimly accepted that the current circumstances were far from favourable.

So he decided to summon his golden hands to clamp down on some of the chains to help mitigate the pressure, but unfortunately, they were incredibly fast and nimble, easily evading the golden hands until they reached their target.

At first, Yama managed to resist their pull, but with each chain that entangled him, he became more immobilized.

Eventually, he could barely move, his body only able to tremble slightly as countless chains imprisoned his legs and arms.

[> Mid-Tier Spell – Flaming WheelFirst Form – Portal Jump