Magus Supremacy-Chapter 865: End Things? (1)

"Space Severing."

"Huh?"

Orion blinked as he suddenly ceased his attack.

No! It was more as if he had been physically forced to stop.

He stared downward toward where his claw—the one previously hurtling toward the mage—should have been.

There was nothing.

His entire arm had vanished from the shoulder down.

He was so profoundly stunned by this sight that he unknowingly released his grip on Grey's hair, allowing the mage to land gracefully.

The young man took several measured steps backward to create a safe distance between them.

Orion blinked, his mind reeling.

He wasn't bleeding, no!

But his limb was simply gone? It was as if the appendage had been totally erased from the fabric of existence.

It felt as though he had never possessed a left arm since the day of his birth.

This visual caused him to be stupefied to the core; he couldn't wrap his head around how such a feat was possible or how the mage had even executed it.

… Yes! He understood it was likely a product of that strange Spatial affinity, but still; how?!

Rising to his full height, Grey beamed, though his previously white teeth were now dyed a gruesome red because of the blood.

His eyes began shining a brilliant, blinding white again, and his hair rose above his shoulders, his entire body coated in a soft, ethereal glow.

"Breakthrough," he uttered silently.

"Impossible," Fenrir muttered in shock.

The Supreme Magus was truly about to breakthrough for the second time in a single day?

No mage in recorded history could breakthrough more than once within twenty-four hours, or else they risked being bedridden for days, if not weeks, due to the sheer strain on their core.

… Well, the original mages of old could attempt this and perhaps breakthrough as many times as they desired.

But it was supposed to be totally impossible for a mage of this current generation to do so, let alone a mere kid.

So how?!

A violent current of wind erupted around Grey, blowing away any loose debris or dust that dared to linger near him.

The skies darkened once more as heavy storm clouds materialized into view, with lightning rumbling and crackling through the dense atmosphere.

Orion was still too dazed by the loss of his arm to even notice this new, terrifying development.

Staring at his trembling hands, Grey exhaled a long breath.

'Five minutes… that's all I have to end this. After taking that pill, I can utilize as many skills and techniques as I want without making a single dent in my mana pool.

But the moment those five minutes elapse, I will be completely drained of energy once more.'

He paused for a fleeting moment before adding a grim thought:

'... Perhaps two weeks of being bedridden as well.'

"How?! What the fuck did you do?! Reverse it! Return my arm, you bastard!" Orion bellowed into the air with a thunderous fury that shook the very ground he stood upon.

Turning to face his allies standing around the area, Grey tilted his head slightly.

"Leave. Things are about to get rough."

Screeeeech—!

Kira could be heard screaming angrily as she rose back into the air from the spot where she had been blasted a while ago.

Thalos remained on the ground, bleeding as he stared at the standoff with a grim, weary look on his face.

Straining against his injuries, the gargoyle flexed his stony fingers, and his greatsword flew back into his grasp with a sharp whistle.

Pushing himself up, Thalos stabbed his greatsword into the cracked ground, using the hilt to pull himself to his knees.

His breath was ragged and laborious, every inhale a struggle, yet he remained determined to see this conflict to its bitter end.

With a final, guttural grunt, he wobbled to his full height, the stone of his body grinding together.

"Ah… thank you Grey, I owe you one."

A smug, familiar voice drifted from behind the mage as the other onlookers continued their retreat.

Without turning around, Grey remained standing firm as a new figure came to a halt side by side with him.

Orion tilted his head, his predatory eyes narrowing in recognition.

"Rivock?"

The direct descendant beamed like a madman, his spirit unyielding despite the carnage.

"Unlike the others, I'm not that damaged, though my Ki was entirely depleted. Thanks to your pill, I can finally join in on the fun."

A fleeting hint of sadness appeared on his face as he stared at the monstrous form of Orion.

"... Unfortunately, since I couldn't kill my father with my own hands, I can at least help take you down, Orion Stormvale."

Earlier, at the height of his breakthrough phase, Grey had opened a miniature portal at Rivock's feet, dropping a

pill onto the ground.

Glancing down at the offering, Rivock had recognized the catalyst almost instantly; after all, he had utilized it once before while fighting alongside the mage.

Without any hesitation, he had consumed the pill, allowing him to regain his full Ki—though only for a limited duration, much like Grey.

Shifting into a combat stance, a pair of shimmering Ki swords appeared in the descendant's hands.

He smirked at Orion, seemingly unfazed by the hybrid's menacing features or the dark aura he exuded.

Simultaneously, lightning gauntlets, boots, and a crackling crown materialized around Grey as he shifted into his own aggressive stance, Clara humming in his grip.

Translucent Ki wrapped around his internal organs, reinforcing his innards and keeping them from failing him during this final exertion.

Glancing at Rivock, Kira, and Thalos, the Supreme Magus gave a silent, resolute nod in their direction.

With a thunderous bang, the four of them launched toward the hybrid with every ounce of speed they possessed, ready to take down Orion once and for all.

This was the only chance they had left. If the time limit elapsed and they were unable to secure victory, only death awaited them in the ruins.

It was a desperate race against the clock, and Grey was determined to make every second count.

'... No matter what, I will cut you down.'

Orion stared at the group rushing toward him without flinching.

His anger was rising to new, unimaginable heights following the humiliating loss of his arm. His tail whipped around wildly, lashing the air as if resonating with his fury.

"DIE!"

He screamed into the air with a force that rattled the heavens.

Twenty thousand obsidian Ki swords suddenly manifested in the sky, looming above the challengers with deadly intent.

The charging combatants briefly glanced up at the dark canopy of blades for a mere second.

Grey's running velocity was incredible, a blur of white light even under the shadow of the looming swords.

"Space Severing," he uttered, not even deigning to look at the sky as he kept his gaze fixed solely on Orion.

'... We end this now.'