Heir of Synthesis: The World Mage

The arena became filled with a peculiar atmosphere. All the spectators discussed the events in a daze, while the more powerful ones sent mental messages to the other Elders who were present in the second phase of the Trial.

It didn’t take long for the news to spread.

Priam had fought an enemy he couldn’t defeat, and used some kind of sacrificial Magic Art to secure first place.

When the two of them were already standing at the center of the martial stage, the expressions of the people in the stands became somewhat gloomy. Even though the strength the Elders had described Priam as having earlier was more impressive than anyone else’s, now everything had been lost. No one believed Gangrel could lose.

Priam took a deep breath. At that moment, the Ether inside his body began to circulate slowly.

During the previous fight against Hemakra, his life force had been burned in exchange for several times more Ether. In the final attack, he burned 90% of all the extra Ether he had gained; but the little he had left was already almost equivalent to all the Ether he would normally possess.

In other words, he could fight. But to everyone in the arena, his lack of life force would make all of his strength seem much fainter and more fragile. It was as if Priam were an old man, with all his muscles and bones weakened by time.

But...

Priam wasn’t worried in the slightest.

"Listen carefully," the Grand Elder’s voice rang loudly throughout the arena, "killing is forbidden. The winner will be decided if one side surrenders, falls unconscious, or falls down and fails to get back up after 5 seconds."

Priam and Gangrel gave slight nods.

"That’s all. Fight with everything you have, because your destinies will change greatly depending on this result."

The Grand Elder spoke and waved his hand. At that moment, a bluish barrier appeared, creating a dome of energy around the martial stage. Only the two of them were trapped inside.

Priam’s expression was completely calm. But in Gangrel’s eyes across from him, he saw clear contempt and mockery, along with an almost perverse cruelty.

The corner of Priam’s mouth twitched as a faint mocking smile appeared.

In Gangrel’s eyes, Priam was now nothing more than a toy he could crush or shape however he wanted.

Flaris, Shione, and Lumiere forgot to breathe. Even though the two hadn’t exchanged words, the atmosphere was filled with a strangeness that was difficult to describe.

Seeing that both were already prepared, the Grand Elder didn’t hesitate and waved his hand.

"Let the battle begin!"

The moment those words rang out, the previously noisy arena suddenly fell silent as everyone focused on the two of them.

However, their gazes weren’t directed at Gangrel, but at Priam. The level difference between them was 4 levels; however, after hearing the almost exaggerated praise from the Elders who had seen Priam fight earlier, no one mocked or underestimated him.

Now, even more people wanted to see at least a glimpse of his talent, and they also wondered whether he would be capable of performing another miracle... even though they considered that ridiculous and impossible.

The expectation of a dramatic ending was, in some ways, part of human nature.

"Hehe..." Gangrel suddenly laughed sinisterly. "If you had chosen not to step onto the stage and surrendered directly, I really wouldn’t have known what to do. Fortunately, you didn’t disappoint me and obediently came here. It’s already too late if you want to surrender now. Today will be the most unforgettable day of your life!"

Priam curled his lips in disdain but remained silent.

"Looks like you’re feeling confident, huh? Haha... I know, since I’m such a fair person, let’s do this: you can attack me 10 times. If I move even a centimeter from where I’m standing, you win. What do you think?"

Gangrel’s voice, full of mockery, echoed throughout the arena, causing people to narrow their eyes. This young man didn’t have the slightest trace of the heroism he usually displayed. It made it clear to everyone that he deeply hated Priam and couldn’t control himself.

Priam’s lips moved slowly. "Doesn’t your face hurt? Those black marks on your face look a little strange, but they really do suit you."

His words were like a poisonous dagger piercing Gangrel’s chest. His expression darkened.

Everyone in the arena focused on his face, clearly seeing the black marks from the... branch, which were still there. They refused to disappear no matter what he did.

Fortunately for him, Priam had only had time to land a single strike with his branch earlier. So it was just one mark, something that could be disguised and sometimes wouldn’t even be noticed by others. But Priam had poured oil on the fire, and now everyone was focused on that detail.

"YOU!"

Priam slowly continued, "I never imagined that not only were you ugly, but that you also talked so much nonsense. Fortunately, you have two good brothers, otherwise your father and mother would be ashamed of having produced something so... peculiar... as you."

Gangrel immediately entered a state of extreme fury.

A faint red aura flowed around him. At the same time, small light-green dots appeared around him, like tiny pulsing stars.

"Receive my attack... Wind Shear!!"

A sword appeared in Gangrel’s hands, pointed forward, and instantly, a storm of wind erupted. He truly attacked with everything he had, disregarding everything else, wanting to destroy Priam.

That entire storm surrounding him transformed into the silhouettes of several swords, causing a wind so powerful that even the audience was frightened as it blew toward Priam.

The power of the sword made all the more experienced people in the arena murmur in admiration.

"...what terrifying swordsmanship!" Flaris said in surprise, her face filled with fear. She also used swords, so she could clearly see the power behind that move.

"The clan’s most powerful Magic Arts have always been available to him, which is why he’s had time to learn whichever ones he wanted. With a single strike, even someone at the same level as him would be almost incapable of enduring that attack," Aella said beside her with a sigh.

The storm and the sword silhouettes attacked simultaneously, but Priam remained motionless, as if he were already terrified.

"Quick, dodge, kid!" someone in the stands suddenly shouted.

Only when the storm and the sword silhouettes drew near, violently whipping his hair and shirt, did he finally react...

"What!"

Suddenly, Priam seemed like an erupting volcano. An intense dark crimson aura ignited around his fists, like a demonic flame.

The Blood-Feast Fists activated, and a powerful life force was felt by everyone in the arena.

He simply punched forward, striking the storm of sword silhouettes with a precise blow.

**BANG! BANG! BANG!**

The repeated violent impacts were so deafening that the weaker spectators thought they would go deaf. But their eyes were wide open, and everyone stared at the scene in complete shock.

With a single strike, Priam suddenly seemed to become a sovereign. As he collided with the storm of sword silhouettes released by Gangrel, everything was shattered layer by layer until it disappeared completely...

However, the power of Priam’s strike did not dissipate. It continued advancing like a wave of bloodthirsty power, slamming into Gangrel’s body and nearly making him stumble backward from the suffocating attack.

"Wha... WHAT!?"

Gangrel’s hands and soul trembled simultaneously, while his face revealed a strong expression of disbelief.

Although that strike had not been anywhere near his best, it was already one of his most powerful sword techniques.

When he unleashed it, he hadn’t believed Priam could face it head-on. He thought Priam could only dodge with all his might. With that conviction, he firmly gripped the sword’s hilt and stared at Priam, waiting to pursue him with lightning-like speed the moment he tried to evade.

After catching him off guard, he would attack relentlessly to gain the advantage and finish him off brutally.

But... he had never imagined that Priam wouldn’t dodge the attack, but would instead confront it head-on... and with a single strike, completely nullify his attack.

In the stands, the most shocked people were undoubtedly the Grand Elder and the Elders who had seen Priam fight before.

How was that possible?

His life force... how was he able to use it again?!