Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives

Warlock Ch 175. Restless

"Admit it," Damian taunted, his voice brimming with confidence. "I'm getting under your skin."

Cassius chuckled, brushing dust off his cloak as if Damian's relentless assault was no more than a passing inconvenience. "Under my skin? Hardly. But I'll give you this—you've improved."

"Improved enough to corner you?" Damian lunged forward, his movements enhanced by [Spectral Surge], his spear burning with dark flames and corrosive energy as he launched himself toward Cassius.

The energy emanating from Damian's attack sent shockwaves across the room, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he propelled forward. Cassius barely had time to summon a barrier. "[Prismatic Dome!]" he barked, his voice sharp with concentration. The shimmering dome materialized just in time to absorb the brunt of Damian's attack, but even the powerful barrier strained under the force and shattered.

The collision was catastrophic. The impact sent a massive shockwave through the hall, shaking the foundation of the building and leaving cracks spiderwebbing across the barrier. Cassius gritted his teeth, his usually calm demeanor faltering for a split second. He summoned another [Hellfire Spear] to counter Damian's. Both spears clashed. But while Damian held it like a weapon, Cassius simply held it with his Telekinesis power.

Damian's spear burned brighter, the dark energy swirling around it like a living entity, pushing harder against Cassius'.

"I can see it!" Damian shouted, his voice raw with adrenaline. "You're struggling, Cas! You can't hold this forever!"

Cassius' smirk returned, albeit faintly. "And yet, here I am… still standing." With a flick of his wrist, he sent a burst of concentrated dark fire energy outward, forcing Damian to disengage. The explosion sent both of them skidding back, the force leaving a crater where they had collided.

Damian barely managed to stay on his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His body ached, his mana reserves dwindling, but he couldn't stop now. He glanced at Cassius, who stood at the edge of the crater, his usually pristine cloak singed and tattered.

"You're cornered," Damian said, his tone steady despite his exhaustion. "I'm not letting up."

"Cornered?" Cassius laughed, the sound rich with amusement. "Do you think this is me cornered? You're bold."

"You're deflecting," Damian countered, his eyes narrowing. He gripped the spear tighter, the weapon pulsing with energy. "I'm closing in, and you know it."

Cassius didn't reply immediately. Instead, he stepped forward, his movements deliberate. The tension was palpable, the oppressive weight of Damian's [Dark Dominion] still pressing down on everything. Cassius' gaze was sharp, calculating, but Damian noticed something—a flicker of fatigue in his mentor's eyes.

"You've pushed me farther than I expected," Cassius admitted, his tone quieter now. "But don't let it go to your head."

"Oh, it's already there," Damian quipped, a grin tugging at his lips. He dashed forward again, his body a blur as he activated [Shadow Step] mid-charge. He reappeared behind Cassius, his spear already in motion.

Cassius turned just in time, his hands glowing with mana as he caught the spear mid-strike with his own. The clash sent another wave of force through the room, the ground beneath them shattering further. Damian pressed down with all his strength.

"You can't keep up, Cas," Damian growled, his voice strained. "You're slowing down."

"And you're running out of tricks," Cassius shot back, his grip tightening on the spear. "Let's see how long you can keep this up."

Damian gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he poured more mana into the spear. The flames and darkness around it surged, licking at Cassius' hands and forcing him to release his grip. Damian spun the weapon in his hands, aiming for a follow-up strike, but Cassius was already moving.

With a burst of mana, Cassius propelled himself backward, creating distance between them. Damian didn't let up, closing the gap almost instantly with another burst of [Spectral Surge]. His spear struck again, and this time, Cassius didn't block. He sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid, and retaliated with a wave of mana that caught Damian in the side.

Damian stumbled, the searing pain momentarily breaking his focus. He hissed through clenched teeth, his body screaming at him to stop. But he couldn't. Not now.

"You're relentless," Cassius said, his voice tinged with something that sounded almost like pride. "But even you have limits."

Damian wiped the sweat from his brow, his grip on the spear unwavering. "Then I'll break them," he said simply, his voice laced with determination. He raised the spear again, its energy flickering but still strong. "Because I'm not losing. Not to you."

Cassius chuckled, shaking his head. "You're as stubborn as ever, Kaelan."

The use of his old name hit Damian like a jolt, but he didn't let it distract him. Instead, he channeled the emotions it stirred into his next attack. He lunged forward, the flames and darkness of the spear blazing brighter than ever. Cassius met him head-on, their energies clashing in a burst of light and shadow that lit up the entire room.

The impact left both of them reeling, but Damian could see it now—the cracks in Cassius' armor, the signs of wear and tear. He had him cornered, and this time, he wasn't letting up.

"Time's ticking," Damian said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "Let's finish this."

Cassius smirked, wiping a streak of dirt from his face. His robes were tattered, his usually pristine appearance marred by the intensity of their battle. "You're right. Let's finish this."

Damian didn't wait. He raised his hand, channeling everything he had left into his spear. "[Shadow Inferno Strike!]" he roared, the weapon bursting to life with swirling flames of darkness and blinding energy. The training hall seemed to warp under the sheer pressure of his mana, the ground trembling as he launched forward.

Cassius countered immediately, summoning his own spear—a mirror of Damian's—but cloaked in shimmering fiery fire. "[Hellfire Spear!]" he bellowed, meeting Damian head-on. The collision was catastrophic. Flames, shadows, and light exploded outward, the force sending shockwaves that obliterated the walls of the training hall. The impact was so massive that both warlocks were thrown back, slamming into opposite sides of the room.