Reborn with the Conquest System-Chapter 47: Duel

’The roof of the keep looks as depressing as I imagined.’

Magnus thought, moving across the football stadium sized roof. The entire ground was caked in dried blood, some green and some red.

He stood at the edge of the arena. The lack of wall meant it was easy to throw off enemies if needed, while the mostly smooth surface was running around easy.

’Dodging is probably going to be the easiest way for me to deal with them.’

The three shamans took the opposite corner of Magnus, their eyes firmly glued to him.

The chieftain walked up the the middle of the arena, and like an announcer began listing the rules while looking at Magnus.

"Three rules. You’re free to move around and do whatever. You’re only allowed to use spells to harm or your enemy. It ends when one party dies."

"Acceptable. So who’s first?"

"You fight us three, since we refuse to—" The oldest shaman was cut off.

"Weaklings? Cowards? Scared?" The chieftain cut him off, making a grimace.

"You!" The oldest shaman yelled, yet noticed the intense gazes of the surrounding orcs.

’We’re not afraid, but we dont need to show courtesy to a human! But this might make us seem weak... Bodir damn it!’

"Bagu. Go fight him."

The youngest of the shamans nodded, moving opposite of Magnus. As for the rest, they all backed off to the edges of the roof, forming an encirclement, with each one wielding a massive shield.

’Another Arena? Seriously?’

The chieftain slammed his shield into the ground, "Begin!"

Magnus eyes locked onto the shaman, his hand stretching out towards the enemy.

"Lightning bolt!" he shouted.

The magic stored in his heart stirred, before flowing to his arm. A crackle of electricity appeared on his fingers, causing the orc to panic.

"Aak Rin TAAAL!" a panicked shout from it prompted a thin veil of fire to appear around him, and he braced for impact.

The lightning bolt left Magnus hand, traveling through the air.

It traveled barely an arm’s length length before it fizzled, dispersing into normal mana.

Everyone went quiet, staring at Magnus. The shamans faces contorted into one of pure rage

Only then did Magnus realise one small problem.

’Say... How do I use mana?’

[Pffft.]

Trying once more, he pulled the mana from his heart, and once more it began to flow towards his outstretched hand.

"Lightning bolt!" he shouted, this time more desperate.

’Work, please!’

The lightning travelled for two meters this time before fizzling again.

’I think I’ll get the hang of this soon enou—WOAH!’

He rolled to the side, a fireball passing next to him, before crashing into the wall of orcs behind him. A few screams rang out as the orcs dropped their shields, their hands charred.

"How dare you mock us!" The young shaman was by now thoroughly enraged, it’s eyes having turned red.

Yet a system window prompted Magnus to ignore his opponent. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

[Focus. You can draw it from your heart already, and you know how to guide it, but you need to know how to shape it.]

’Ah, that makes sense.’

His eyes focused on the opponent who finished chanting another spell. Two blurry shapes shot out towards Magnus, each one cutting through the air with a whistling sound.

"Lightning BOOOOOLT!"

Magnus shouted with all his heart, his thoughts intensely focused on the sensation of the mana. It was as if he had become one with nature, and his view shifted as he closed his eyes.

A 3D map of the surrounding area appeared in his mind, with everything visible down to the tiniest details. Now, the lightning at his tips felt as if it had become part of his body, flowing according to his thoughts.

He willed it, and the lightning shot out from his hand, striking against the shamans fire barrier.

’I succeeded! I really — FUCK OFF!"

He opened his eyes once more, rolling to dodge a massive shard of ice.

’Let me revel in power you disgusting orc! More power! I need more power!

" LIGHTNING DRAGON!"

An even bigger amount of mana began to flow towards his hand, slowly gnawing away at his available mana pool. Yet it began to coil around his arm once it arrived. He shouted it again, his other hand also stretching out.

"Goooo!"

Both of his hands shot out a massive lightning dragon, both of which were aiming towards the shaman.

A trace of panic emerged in the shamans eyes as it crushed a bone from its belt, the dense inscriptions on it flickering to life. A thin veil of green light enveloped him entirely, creating a perfect bubble.

Tzzzt!

The lightning dragons struck the bubble, both of them moving to coil around it under Magnus deliberate control. As the two magical energies collided, they began to rapidly neutralise each other.

The shield began to show faint signs of cracking while the two dragons kept becoming smaller.

A panicked howl escaped the shaman as it began to chant something while reaching for its bag. Yet more cracks spread across the bubble like a spider web, and finally—

Crack!

The green shield shattered, the shaman inside exposed to the two rapidly enclosing dragons, an unresigned look in its eyes.

TZZZZZZZT!

HOOOOOOOOWL!!!

The two dragons moved all over its body, evaporating flesh where they had passed, as if they were alive and feasting on it. Within a few seconds, it’s body stopped spasming as it fell forward, entirely charred and devoid of life.

Half of its head was missing, both arms and one leg had also been consuming. Finally, a large hole was visible in its chest, through which one could see the other side.

Silence fell across the roof once more.

Magnus, only slightly exhausted, fell to the ground with a wide smile etched on his face.

’This is amazing. No wonder people turn into disgusting mages instead of fighting like real men.’

[91/97 MANA LEFT]

The two shamans gazes were glued to him, yet beneath their deep hatred he sensed a familiar emotion.

’Fear. Well, let’s see if they can still look at me with hatred after I fry another!’

He shot up from the ground, yelling with all his might.

"NEEEEEXT!"