My world-tree system-Chapter 75 - 74: Face to face

Without further hesitation, he let his mana explode. Golden tattoos appeared on his skin, stretching down his arms, torso and up to his neck, instantly increasing his strength tenfold. His grimoire unfurled beside him, floating open, its pages vibrating under the intensity of his power.

He quickly drew his katana, the blade immediately emitting a luminous golden aura, fueled by his warrior intent. He placed himself firmly in front of Joker, ready to do battle.

Joker watched the scene with amusement, raising an eyebrow slightly, clearly intrigued.

- How interesting! You seem determined to give me a real show, Foster. I love it!

Without waiting, Foster charged. His katana sliced through the air, leaving a luminous trail of blade intent behind him. Joker didn’t lose his arrogant smile, dodging the blow with almost humiliating ease, sliding to the side in one fluid motion.

Foster gritted his teeth. Without slowing his pace, he pivoted and threw his left hand forward, projecting a fireball directly at Joker. The flame exploded in a blinding flash, lighting up the dark elf’s face.

But Joker didn’t move. He simply raised one hand, palm open, and absorbed the attack as if it were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

- Come on, you can do better than that!" he scoffed, sounding almost disappointed.

A second later, Joker disappeared in a wisp of dark energy, reappearing immediately behind Foster. His hissing voice sounded close to Foster’s ear.

- Let me show you how to have some real fun.

Foster swiveled in a hurry, narrowly parrying a lightning blow that Joker had launched with a shadow blade that appeared out of nowhere. The impact resonated in his arms, causing him to grunt.

Joker laughed, delighted by his opponent’s resistance.

- Well done! Do it again! Show me what you’re really made of, guardian!

Foster stepped back, regaining his footing. He had to change his approach if he was to survive this confrontation. He briskly reached for his open grimoire:

- Roots of the World Tree]!

Instantly, thick silver roots sprang up from the ground, trying to encircle Joker, to trap him, to hold him back. But Joker dodged each attack with almost insulting ease, dancing between the roots as if they were nothing more than predictable, harmless obstacles.

Foster gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with restrained rage. He lunged forward once more, linking blows and dodges, multiplying feints, each attack reinforced by the blade-like intent glinting on his katana. But Joker remained untouchable, fluid as a moving shadow, laughing with an almost childlike glee at each dodged attack.

- Ah, Foster, Foster... So much effort for nothing!" sang Joker, bending elegantly under a blade that almost cut his throat. So much determination, so much useless ardor!

Frustration mounted in Foster, but he refused to give up. Gritting his teeth, he launched a rapid series of fireballs, combined with a frontal attack from the katana. Joker stepped back slightly this time, surprised by his sudden aggression.

Taking advantage of this opening, Foster rushed forward:

- Take that!

He struck with a powerful, precise and concentrated blow. Joker finally had to raise his dark blade to block the assault. The two weapons clashed, sending a shockwave through the room. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

But Joker was still smiling.

- Good, Foster, very good... but not good enough!

His smile widened dangerously, and suddenly a purple aura enveloped the dark elf. He pushed Foster back with a violent blow, sending the elf rolling to the ground in a cloud of dust.

- Let’s see how long you can entertain me like this," he said, his voice echoing like a cheerful threat in the silent room.

Foster struggled to his feet, panting, still holding the egg to him. His body still glistened with golden tattoos, every second bringing him dangerously close to the fateful limit of his spell [Authority of Judgment]. He had just three minutes, three tiny minutes to turn the tide of a fight in which Joker largely dominated.

But Joker, far from being intimidated, seemed to revel in Foster’s urgency. A cruel smile spread across his dark face, lit by an unhealthy glint.

- Foster in a hurry?" he said, as if reading Foster’s mind. Don’t tell me your little spell has a time limit, does it?

Foster’s face paled only slightly, but it was enough for the Joker to understand.

- Owww, how cute.

No sooner had these words been uttered than Joker lunged at him with terrifying speed, brandishing his shadow blade surrounded by a vortex of purple energy.

- Danza of the Abyss]!

Foster felt the air vibrate around him as shadows sprang up from the ground, taking the form of spectral blades that shot towards him with deadly precision.

- Cocoon of the World Tree]!

Foster’s grimoire reacted immediately, invoking its defensive spell. Silver roots emerged at full speed, forming an impenetrable shield in front of him. The shadows struck hard, but were repelled by the protective plant barrier.

Joker burst out laughing as his attacks were thwarted:

- Oh, not bad at all! But how long can you keep this up, Foster?

Without waiting, Joker lunged again, his silhouette almost blurred by his supernatural speed. Foster barely had time to raise his katana to parry a barrage of vicious blows from Joker’s shadow blade, reinforced by his own dark intent.

Every parry was painful, every blow drew a muffled groan from him, every impact reverberating through his body like an icy wave. Foster was fast, precise, but Joker outdid him, striking with frightening ease and fluidity.

Foster stepped back, barely dodging a shadow blade that grazed his cheek, leaving a burning mark on his skin.

He had to counterattack, regain the initiative.

He raised a hand, quickly forming several flaming spheres of fire which he hurled forcefully at Joker. The fireballs exploded around the Lord of the Apocalypse, briefly illuminating the room.

But Joker seemed untouchable. He dodged each attack with an agile, macabre dance, slithering through the flames like a snake between burning stones.

- Symphony of Shadows]!" Joker suddenly exclaimed.

The darkness of the tomb thickened abruptly, swirling around Foster like a multitude of sinuous snakes seeking to embrace him. Foster felt a crushing pressure on his mind, seeking to paralyze him, to overwhelm him.

- Cocoon of the World Tree]!" he roared, deploying his defensive spell once more.

The silver roots immediately sprang up, forming a protective dome around him, but the shadows hit them so hard that the plant shield was already beginning to crack.

Joker burst out laughing at his opponent’s futile resistance.

- What pathetic tenacity! Is this really the power of the great seed-bearer? What a disappointment, Foster!

The young elf felt anger wash over him, mixed with an overwhelming sense of urgency. His time was running out fast. He had to strike back. Now.

He drew in a deep breath, concentrating all his energy and intent into his katana, which lit up with a blazing golden aura.

- Taste my intent, Joker!" he shouted, propelling himself forward.

But Joker didn’t even flinch. His smile widened as he waited impatiently, arms wide open, provoking.

Their blades clashed, golden light against purple shadows, their mana colliding violently, sending a shockwave that shook the walls of the tomb.

Joker kept up the pressure, forcing Foster to back away little by little, his arrogant smile growing ever wider.

- You fight well, guardian... But your time is running out! sneered Joker. Soon, this pretty light will go out... and you’ll be at my mercy!

Foster grunted, continuing to resist despite the fatigue that was beginning to overwhelm him. His skin was sweating profusely, his muscles screaming in pain, but he refused to give in. He knew that if he didn’t find a loophole soon, his three minutes would run out, and he’d be completely vulnerable.

Joker’s power seemed limitless, his brute force, supernatural speed and instinctive handling of shadows overwhelming.

Foster suddenly realized with horror that he had only a handful of seconds left.

He had never faced an adversary like this. The Lord of the Apocalypse didn’t even seem forced by his efforts. On the contrary, he seemed to be enjoying himself, taking pleasure in pushing Foster to his limits.

Joker let out another sinister laugh, his eyes shining with unhealthy pleasure:

- Run, fight, resist! Make the most of the precious seconds you have left, Foster, because soon you’ll be nothing more than a miserable insect under my boot!

Foster gritted his teeth.

Foster threw himself forward again, every muscle burning under the colossal effort he was imposing on his body. His golden tattoos glowed intensely, but each passing second brought his power closer to the end.

- Stop running away, Joker! he shouted angrily.

He launched another series of fireballs, each one shooting like a golden comet towards his enemy. But the Lord of the Apocalypse merely dodged each of his attacks with disconcerting ease, laughing insolently.

- You’re pathetic, Foster!" said Joker with a cruel laugh. Running out of steam already? I expected more from the famous guardian!

Foster pivoted, throwing his katana in a perfect trajectory, imbued with his blade’s intent. But Joker disappeared in a puff of shadow, dodging the blow with insulting ease before instantly reappearing behind him.

- Too slow, Joker muttered with an evil smile, as he unleashed a violent blast of purple energy that struck Foster in the back.

Pain exploded through his body, sending Foster tumbling to the ground. His breath caught briefly, but he was back on his feet, staggering, exhausted, but determined to keep going.

He couldn’t lose. Not now.

Desperate, he concentrated a fireball in his palm, hurling the attack with all his might towards Joker.

- Die!" he shouted angrily.

The fireball burst forth, hurtling towards his opponent, but Joker disappeared in a haze of shadow and reappeared immediately behind him, his dark blade whistling through the air.

- Too slow!" muttered Joker with satisfaction.

Foster felt the blade cut deep into his shoulder. A stream of blood spurted out, splattering the ground. He screamed in pain, staggering back a step. The wounds were accumulating, his battered body was beginning to fail him, and he knew that the time allotted by his spell was rapidly running out.

His mind went blank. Panic crept into him, trying to break his concentration.

Joker took advantage of every weakness, every hesitation, multiplying his assaults, inflicting blow after blow, wound after wound.

- Keep fighting!" Joker shouted, his arms wide open in provocation. I’m having so much fun with you!

Foster gritted his teeth, staggering backwards, trying to catch his breath, but his vision was blurring. His body was bleeding from multiple wounds, his limbs were shaking, and his mana was rapidly running out. He could feel his spell time inexorably running out.

- I’ve got to get to him," Foster muttered through clenched teeth. I’ve got to...

But every attempt seemed futile. Joker was like an elusive shadow, dodging his every attack with humiliating ease, as if reading his every move in advance.

- So, is that all you can do, Guardian?" mocked Joker, his lilting voice echoing around the room. I’m almost disappointed in you...

Foster staggered back, his body covered in wounds, his breath short and ragged. He staggered back a step, exhausted by multiple unsuccessful offensives. His strength was failing dangerously.

Joker paused for a moment, savoring the spectacle, then said in an almost gentle voice, tinged with unbearable sarcasm:

- Let’s get this over with, shall we? I’m getting bored.

The Lord of the Apocalypse charged forward at full speed, shadow blade in hand, ready to deliver the fatal blow. Foster raised his katana to parry, but Joker was too quick. His shadow blade slashed brutally into Foster’s side, causing the elf to cry out in agony.

Foster collapsed to his knees, still desperately clutching the jade egg to his chest. Blood flowed profusely from his wounds, soaking his garment and dripping onto the cold floor.

Joker leaned slightly towards him, smiling cruelly.

- Look at you..." he murmured disdainfully. Did you really think you’d be able to stop me? I’m going to take what you treasure so dearly... And then I’m going to finish you off.

Foster closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the last of his strength slip away. The pain was excruciating, unbearable.

- In the end, I didn’t even see the time-limited consequences of your fate... What a pity... he lamented, reaching a gloved hand towards Foster’s chest.

- No..." he murmured weakly. I... DON’T WANT TO DIE NOW.

Suddenly, the egg lit up with a blinding light.

Foster opened his eyes in surprise. A warm, powerful energy flowed from the shell, slowly enveloping his body, penetrating every wound and instantly soothing the pain.

Joker took a step back in surprise.

- What’s this?" he asked, one eyebrow raised in astonishment.

The jade egg suddenly pulsed with intense light, irradiating the entire room with dazzling emerald clarity. Foster felt his whole body lighten, as if sucked into an invisible vortex, while his immediate surroundings seemed to distort around him. A sudden dizziness seized him.

Across from him, Joker squinted, instinctively recoiling from the blinding glare.

- Well... this is unexpected," he murmured, briefly shielding his eyes with the cuff of his sleeve.

Then, abruptly, Foster was caught. His body seemed to melt into the egg’s intense radiance, crossing the walls of the tomb, the stone, the earth itself, in a fraction of a second. The world blurred around him, every detail disappearing in a spiral of light.

When he regained full consciousness, short of breath, Foster was elsewhere.

Lying on the floor, panting, he slowly opened his eyes, realizing he was in another room, cold and dark. He was still in the tomb, but far from where Joker had attacked him. All around him, the intense light from the egg gradually faded to a soft, reassuring glow.

He struggled to his feet, still shaking from recent injuries, but his wounds seemed to have stabilized. He didn’t understand exactly what had just happened, but he knew he’d just been saved by the strange energy that lay dormant in the egg.

At the other end of the tomb, Joker looked, surprised but amused, at the empty spot where Foster had been standing a moment earlier. A smile at once sinister and joyous slowly played itself out on his thin lips.

- Oh, Foster," he murmured, shaking his head gently, "you never fail to surprise me...

His smile widened even more, as he sheathed his shadow blade in a fluid, elegant gesture.

- But the others... Oh, they’re not going to be happy at all.

He turned slowly, pivoting on his heels with nonchalant grace, and strode off into the darkness of the corridor, his light, cruel laughter echoing in the silence of the tomb:

- This should be fun...