'Above everything, I am a mage. I did not spend a normal lifetime in my previous life. I lived for a thousand years, building my powers, researching magic, and training anyone who would visit. Never once did I lose a fight, whatever stood in my way. Even a god proved unworthy of anything but a pyrrhic victory.

What I mean to say is… Why does this world have so few good spells?'

Morten moved like a blur across the trampled grass, swinging his flaming blade in a wide arc. The fire didn't behave like ordinary flames—it separated from the edge with purpose, casting a wall of searing heat that expanded outward in a deadly wave.

Nova vanished from his position, moving with such speed that Morten's eyes couldn't track him. One moment, he stood directly in the path of certain incineration, the next, he was gone—leaving only bent grass and disturbed air where he'd been.

Morten spun, searching frantically for his opponent. He found Nova standing calmly twenty paces away, small hands extended forward. Five orbs of pulsing violet energy materialized around Nova's fingers, each crackling with arcane power.

[You have learned the skill: Greater Homing Missile (Master - 97%) {Grade 9}]

[You fire five powerful missiles of pure arcane energy toward the target, nearly impossible to dodge.]

The missiles launched forward with blinding speed, leaving trails of shimmering light as they curved through the air. Each adjusted its trajectory in real-time, homing in on Morten with unnatural precision.

Morten reacted instantly, stepping sideways with unexpected agility for his size. But the missiles altered course, curving sharply to follow him. Cursing under his breath, he brought his blade around in a desperate defensive pattern.

The first missile struck his sword with explosive force. Violet energy collided with crimson flame, creating a deafening blast that sent shock waves across the clearing. The second and third missiles hit in rapid succession, each impact rocking Morten back a step. The fourth and fifth missiles slammed into his torso, detonating against his chest with enough force to shred his heavy coat to ribbons.

Nova didn't hesitate. Before Morten could recover his stance, Nova thrust his palm forward. A crackling bolt of lightning—blindingly bright and perfectly aimed—shot from his fingertips.

Morten twisted his body with surprising reflexes, bringing his sword up to intercept the lightning. His lips curled into a satisfied grin as the bolt struck the red blade. But his triumph lasted only a fraction of a second.

Instead of being absorbed or deflected, the lightning flowed like water along the metal. It surged down the hilt, into Morten's arm, across his chest, and down his legs before grounding itself through his feet. His body jerked and convulsed as electricity coursed through him.

Smoke rose from his clothes as he dropped to one knee. The blade trembled in his grip. "What the fuck was that?!" His voice came out as a strangled growl.

Nova allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. 'These guys should really try to get a grasp on physics... But I made that spell hoping they wouldn't, so I guess it's my fault.'

"Oh, you have time to talk? Does that mean you give up?" Nova kept his voice light, almost playful.

Morten's face twisted with rage. "Fucker! Fine, I'll take you seriously."

'I was expecting a trick up his sleeve. Let's see what comes up.' Nova braced himself, watching Morten's every movement.

Morten was still on his knees, keeping his eyes focused on Nova. Then he vanished.

Nova sensed danger a split second too late. The only warning was a sudden wave of heat against his back as Morten's flaming blade closed in.

'Fuck! Need to protect!'

The wind-cloak immediately started to blast the blade with air. It slowed the attack, but not enough. Nova's secondary barrier engaged next, shattering into fragments of light as the sword cut through it.

In desperation, Nova's body responded with one final defense. His skin flashed to a metallic gold, hardening just before impact. Sparks flew as the blade met resistance—but still it cut through.

The red-hot edge sliced deep into Nova's back, carving a five-centimeter gash through muscle and tissue. The wound cauterized instantly from the blade's heat, filling the air with the sickening smell of burnt flesh.

Nova shot forward from both the impact and his own desperate evasion attempt. His body tumbled through the air, making it hard to think straight.

'Ffffuck! That sword perfectly counters my troll regeneration! How did he just appear behind me like that? Even the cloak made it seem like he teleported, but that... Does he have another enchanted item?'

Nova crashed to the ground, carving a deep furrow through the grass as his momentum carried him forward. Dirt and torn vegetation flew around him as he finally skidded to a stop.

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His back burned with white-hot agony, but his mind remained clear, analyzing options. He needed a counter to Morten's teleportation ability, but nothing efficient came to mind.

'I'll need to create a stronger barrier. That one was just for smaller attacks. It will consume more essence, though...'

Light shimmered around Nova as he channeled his essence into a new protective spell. A transparent dome of energy formed around him, pulsing with power that bent the air.

[You have learned the skill: Focused Barrier (Master - 64%) {Tier 9}]

[Your body is protected by a shell of light, capable of redirecting all its protection to withstand a single blow automatically.]

"That's some impressive defense," Morten said, pointing his sword at Nova. Despite the damage from the lightning attack, confidence radiated from his posture. Scorch marks still decorated his skin where electricity had coursed through him. "But I have more up my sleeve. Are you ready to surrender?"

"You'll have to knock me unconscious if you want to win, because I'm not giving up." Nova squared his shoulders, ignoring the burning pain across his back.

"Have it your way."

Morten disappeared again—that same instantaneous teleportation technique. But this time, Nova was ready. A formation he had hidden in the ground during their short conversation flared to life.

The earth beneath them erupted with force, sending both Nova and Morten flying through the air. It was the same formation he had used against Annelie in the void—simple but devastatingly effective.

Nova flew higher than Morten due to his lower weight, but that was also part of his plan. A flash of light activated another formation, propelling Nova downward with frightening speed. He aligned his body like an arrow, pulling back his arm and clenching his fist. Wind whistled past his ears as he accelerated toward Morten.

The overseer tried to bring his sword up in defense, but gravity and momentum worked against him. Nova slammed into him with the force of a meteor.

His fist connected with Morten's solar plexus, delivering a blow powered by all eighty thousand points of his physical strength. A thunderous crack split the air. Morten folded over Nova's arm. His face contorted in silent agony as all the air explosively left his lungs.

The red sword—his prized weapon—slipped from nerveless fingers and tumbled toward the earth below. Nova seized his opportunity, wrapping his arms around Morten's waist from behind. They continued their diagonal trajectory through the air, now locked together.

Morten struggled weakly, trying to pry Nova's iron grip from his midsection. His lungs fought desperately for air that wouldn't come.

"You can tap my hands if you're giving up. Otherwise, prepare to greet the ground with your head."

Morten refused to concede, instead jabbing at Nova with desperate elbows. The awkward position made his strikes ineffective—glancing blows that couldn't generate enough force to break Nova's grip. Even his best attempts barely registered against Nova's superior physical resistance.

Then, suddenly, they teleported. The landscape blurred and shifted around them as they appeared in a different spot in the air. Nova felt the familiar disorientation of instantaneous movement, but his grip remained firm.

'Hah, a shame your trick takes us both to a different place now. This wound in my back is hurting, but this attack should end it. I wonder if they have suplexes in this world.'

Nova twisted mid-air, channeling his immense strength into sending Morten headfirst into the earth.

They hit with a thunderous impact that shook the clearing. Morten's head and upper body plunged into the soil like an arrow into a target. Nova landed on his feet, using his momentum to drive his opponent deeper into the ground. A cloud of dirt and pulverized grass erupted around them.

Nova released his grip and stepped back, breathing heavily as he surveyed his handiwork. 'Now that's a suplex. Although I wish the ground were harder so he wouldn't just sink in...'

The dirt shifted and bulged as Morten began to move. With their superhuman strength, the soft earth posed little resistance, more like packed snow than solid ground. Soil and grass roots tumbled aside as the overseer struggled to extract himself.

Suddenly, the disturbed earth collapsed inward—Morten had teleported again. Nova sensed the shift in essence immediately and spun to locate his opponent. The overseer reappeared fifteen paces away, staggering to his feet with one hand clutching his chest.

'Ah, I guess escaping wasn't included in our bet. Not a bad idea. I would probably fall asleep first, after all.'

"A clever plan," Nova called out, deliberately stepping into the shadow cast by a nearby tree. "But you're still predictable."

Morten didn't turn, only focusing on his escape. He vanished again, reappearing another dozen paces farther away.

Nova melted into the shadow beneath his feet, becoming one with the darkness. He felt the cool embrace of the void as his consciousness stretched through the network of shadows across the clearing. In an instant, he located the new shadow Morten cast on the grass.

Before the overseer could take another breath, Nova erupted from the darkness directly behind him. His small fist connected with the base of Morten's spine with a sickening crack. The impact drove Morten face-first into the dirt, creating another small crater in the soft earth.

"Short range teleportation against shadow-stepping," Nova said, standing over his fallen opponent. "Not the best matchup for you."

Nova grabbed Morten's ankle, maintaining his grip to prevent any further teleportation attempts. With a single pull, he flipped the man onto his back, letting his dirt-covered face meet the open air. Morten gasped for breath, but the sudden intake triggered a violent coughing fit. His lungs still hadn't recovered from Nova's devastating punch.

"Interested in giving up now?" Nova asked, maintaining his hold on Morten's ankle. "You have no weapon, your body is hurting all over, and your stomach is bleeding internally. Unless you have some healing skill, you're probably going to die if we continue. And I'm definitely stronger than you in a grappling fight."

Morten's eyes found Nova's through a mask of dirt and sweat. "...What were the terms again?" His voice came out as a wheeze, pain evident in every syllable.

"You mean what I'll have you do?" Nova kept his stance relaxed but ready. "You'll be a spy for us, monitoring the king's movements from the inside and making sure he doesn't learn of our plans to free the children."

"...And I'll live as long as I don't betray you, or the king finds out?" Morten propped himself up on one elbow, wincing at the movement.

"Exactly. I'll forgive all your past actions, unless you have a hobby like child killing. But you seem like a straightforward guy."

Morten's shoulders slumped in defeat. His breathing came in short, pained gasps as internal injuries made themselves known. The professional mask he'd worn throughout their fight cracked completely, revealing a man forced to confront his own limitations. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he met Nova's gaze. "...Fine, I surrender."

And with a silent click, the contract locked into place.

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