I Own the Evolution Domain

The once formidable, no, nigh impregnable defense that is Gallad’s original spell began faltering underneath Novus’ piercing senses, each node being revealed as his head gets used to this new perception more and more.

He took yet another step, followed with another slash, pushing yet another node to sever into two from the sharpness of the pure blade of mana.

The lattice relying on the nodes’ supply of mana began to tremble with the disappearance of the energy feeding, sustaining its existence; the lack of mana gradually brought the structure of the fire mage’s magic to a gradual collapse as his opponent began seeing through the nature of his spell.

"N-NO!!" trembling as he realizes that the young man in front of him refuses to widen the gap between the two of them, Gallad couldn’t help but scream to himself in an attempt to vent out the extreme panic he is feeling, his feet continuously moving backwards in an attempt to create a distance between the two of them.

All for the sole purpose of trying to figure out something.

Not what makes his spell fail, but rather, what will keep sustaining itself from this point onwards.

And despite the brilliant mind that managed to create such an intricate and extremely powerful spell, there is but one idea that enters his mind, the sole idea he can think of that can deal with the problem in front of him right now.

Mana began raging as the fire mage took in more and more from the air, channeling it into his body before moving it all to the spell he put his entire life on, his face, once unbothered even with the most extreme of heat surrounding him, now raging in red in the struggle of fueling the heat spell, once seamlessly tearing apart his opponent.

Despite not seeing the underlying structure of his own spell as well as the young man does, however, even Gallad himself knew, the fact that there was something extremely wrong with his spell, rendering it far too inefficient compared to how it usually performs.

Still, having only one choice, he continues to pour all the mana he can muster into the heat spell, all while trying his best to create distance between Novus and himself, his instincts screaming that if he allows himself to be caught by his opponent, then it would spell a great disaster for himself.

[Immortal Energy: 590/1166]

[Immortal Energy: 565/1166]

[Immortal Energy: 545/1166]

While Gallad continues to try his best to keep him away, Novus just follows each of his opponent’s steps with confidence in his stride, each step he takes reducing his Immortal Energy.

The only difference now is that he is no longer as concerned as he was before.

[Immortal Energy: 530/1166]

Another step forward closes the distance between the two of them ever-so-subtly, along with it comes yet another swift slash, leaving behind an azure arc of mana that tears apart everything hindering its path.

[Immortal Energy: 520/1166]

Along those hindrances is the very target as to why Novus appears like he is just aimlessly swinging at the air around him, each swift attack, each sever, each cut, and each thrust resulting in the dismantling of yet another node.

[Immortal Energy: 515/1166]

Now, it is no longer the lattices disconnected from the destroyed nodes that are shaking, but even the ones still being powered by the remaining intact nodes began trembling as well, the entirety of Gallad’s spell structure being threatened with complete collapse as the young man chasing him continues to show brutal efficiency in ruining his life’s work.

[Immortal Energy: 512/1166]

The once scorching heat, more than enough to turn Novus’ body into black char, now recedes into nothing more than a normal fire, the sensation still torturous enough that no normal person would be able to take it without screaming from the pain, but no longer anything that can put the young man into an alarmed state.

[Immortal Energy: 510/1166]

Still, he refuses to let his guard down, tearing apart each and every single node that came his way with swift, decisive motion.

[Immortal Energy: 509/1166]

Eventually, even that flame trembles, the heat encompassing the area beginning to feel diluted, pockets of cooler area beginning to form as even the caster himself no longer feels any connection with the spell.

And once that same spellcaster realized that fact, he no longer tried to create distance between himself and his opponent, allowing his body to just stay rooted in one spot as he faced the abomination that made his entire body tremble.

It is no longer just from fear or terror.

Seeing his proudest creation, an original spell that will make even elite mages of the same level as himself tremble in fear, being systematically dismantled by his opponent, Gallad’s body and mind shake with one question, one question that repeatedly echoes in his mind.

’What have I been doing this whole time then?’

Without anyone supplying it with mana, the spell collapsed under the weight of its own grandness. Novus, who had firsthand experience of witnessing the very structure of the spell collapsing, couldn’t help but marvel as he got fully engrossed in the process.

The nodes, once glowing from the massive amount of mana contained around them, gradually lose their luster before disappearing into oblivion.

And without anything supporting them, the lattices fall, turning into nothing but dust, the lack of structure signaling the true collapse of the heat magic.

There is an abrupt drop in temperature as the artificial source of heat collapses, air once barred from entering the scorching domain now rushing towards the only two individuals trapped by such an impressive spell, the comfortable air hitting Novus’ still scorched skin, making him feel like it is a frosty chill instead.

As his body gradually adapts to the stabilizing temperature, his opponent is completely occupied with the stray thoughts filling his entire mind.

Doubt began to tear the depth of his own being along with the collapse of his heat spell, his body feeling completely drained of strength as the confident expression on his face crumbled into maddened uncertainty, his shaking knees collapsing under the weight of his own body, his trembling arms barely keeping him from being planted face flat on the ground.

"I-impossible... impossible... impossible..." that once confident, even proud figure repeatedly spoke to himself as cold sweat began drenching his entire back.

It is only a moment later that he realizes that it wasn’t only his back that was drenched with cold sweat, but his entire being as well, his hair heavy and wet from all of it as the moisture also flows down his face before eventually hitting the ground.

And looking down this ground, it doesn’t take long for him to realize that there is a shadow cast upon his being.

Someone is standing in front of him.

And even without seeing who it is, he knew full well just from the seemingly primordial fear that is making his body tremble.

"You... what are you?" he wants to run; he wants to get as far away from this place as possible. However, his body, frozen by the presence of the student in front of him, could only ask as he looked up.

It was like time froze, then stretched for a long eternity for him as he awaited the young man’s answer.

In fact, it only took Novus a moment to respond to his opponent’s question, a response that came with a faint yet clearly disappointed smile on his face.

"You’re a god... shouldn’t you know?"