noveldrama
Chapter 110: Unfair Duel
Chapter 110: Unfair Duel
Warlock Ch 110. Unfair Duel
Damian pushed forward, the barrier dissolving as he closed the gap. He swung the spear again, the flames casting flickering shadows across the room as the weapon arced toward Malthus.
Malthus raised a hand, summoning a wall of dark energy to block the attack. The spear collided with the barrier, the impact sending cracks spider webbing across its surface. Damian gritted his teeth, pouring more strength into the strike.
"You're better than I thought," Malthus admitted, his voice calm despite the strain in his movements. "But this is where it ends."
The Umbra Devourer roared behind Damian, its movements growing more frantic as it began to break free of [Dark Dominion]. Damian glanced over his shoulder, his heart sinking as he realized his time was running out.
"Guess I'll have to end this quick," Damian muttered, turning back to Malthus. He activated [Spectral Surge], his body moving in a blur as he launched into a final series of strikes, each one aimed to overwhelm Malthus before the Devourer could rejoin the fight.
"Let's see how you handle this!" Damian shouted, his spear blazing as he unleashed a powerful combo of melee strikes and spells, each one pushing Malthus closer to the edge.
But even as Malthus stumbled under the onslaught, his smirk returned, colder and more dangerous than before. "You think you've cornered me?" he asked, his tone mocking. "You've barely scratched the surface of my power."
Damian gritted his teeth, the [Hellfire Spear] in his hand flickering as his mana reserves dwindled. His chest heaved with every breath, his muscles burning from the relentless fight. He could feel exhaustion creeping in, his body screaming for rest, but he pushed it aside. Giving up wasn't an option—not here, not now.
"Good," Damian spat, his voice rough. "I'm not done yet."
Malthus's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading into a hard line. He raised his hands, dark energy swirling around him like a storm. The air grew heavy, charged with a malevolence that made Damian's skin crawl.
"Then let me show you what happens when you push too far," Malthus said, his voice low and dangerous.
The energy around him intensified, crackling with power as he began to chant in a language Damian didn't understand. The sigils on the walls flared brighter, their oppressive weight pressing down even harder.
Damian's eyes widened as he recognized the buildup of energy. It was the same spell explosion he'd seen Malthus use before, the one that had obliterated everything in its radius. His heart pounded as he realized what was about to happen.
"Shit," Damian muttered under his breath. He forced himself to move, activating [Spectral Surge] to blur his form and increase his speed. He needed to close the distance before Malthus could finish the spell.
But Malthus wasn't making it easy. He thrust a hand forward, unleashing a wave of dark energy that tore through the air toward Damian.
"[Shadow Barrier!]" Damian shouted, throwing up his shield just in time. The wave collided with the barrier, shattering it but leaving him unharmed. The impact sent him skidding backward, his boots scraping against the stone floor.
His mana was running dangerously low. Every spell he cast felt like it was draining him dry, leaving him weaker with each passing second. His vision blurred at the edges, his body screaming at him to stop.
'I can't stop. Not now.' Damian pushed forward again, his steps faltering but determined. The [Hellfire Spear] reignited in his hand, the flames flickering weakly but still burning.
Malthus's chanting grew louder, the dark energy around him reaching a fever pitch. The sigils on the walls began to pulse in time with his words, the oppressive weight growing unbearable.
"Just try to survive this," Malthus sneered, his hands glowing with a blinding light as he unleashed the spell.
The explosion tore through the room, a wave of destructive energy radiating outward in all directions. Damian threw himself to the ground, activating [Shadow Barrier] again in a desperate attempt to shield himself.
The impact was deafening, the force slamming into him like a freight train. His barrier cracked and shattered, the fragments dissolving into the air as the explosion subsided. When the dust cleared, Damian was still standing—but barely. His legs shook, blood trickling from a cut on his temple, and his breathing was ragged.
Malthus, too, was wounded. His robes were scorched, his face smeared with blood and soot, and his movements slower than before. But his eyes burned with determination, the same fierce resolve that Damian felt in his own chest.
"You're still standing," Malthus said, his voice carrying a mix of annoyance and grudging respect. "Impressive. But you're running out of time. Your mana's nearly gone, and your body won't last much longer."
Damian's hand tightened around the [Hellfire Spear], the flames sputtering weakly. He could feel his strength fading, his body on the verge of collapse. A voice in the back of his mind whispered for him to give up, to stop fighting, to let it end.
But another voice, louder and more insistent, cut through the haze. 'Keep going. One more step. One more strike.'
"You talk too much," Damian rasped, forcing a smirk on his face despite the pain. "If you wanted me dead, you should've finished the job already."
Malthus's lips curled into a snarl, the mocking amusement in his expression replaced by raw fury. "You arrogant little—"
Before Malthus could finish, Damian activated [Shadow Step] again. His form dissolved into darkness, and he reappeared not on the ground but mid-air above and behind Malthus. With a feral cry, he swung the [Hellfire Spear] vertically, the flames trailing like a comet's tail as it came crashing down.
The blade connected with Malthus's shoulder, cutting through his robes and searing into his flesh with an audible sizzle. The force of the impact drove Malthus to his knees, a cry of pain ripping from his throat.
[Malthus] took 1,530 damage.
Damian landed with a heavy thud, his legs barely holding him upright. He was panting hard now, every muscle in his body screaming in protest, but he didn't let up. He couldn't.