Ian finished speaking.
CHIII!
Three slender, pale purple beams erupted from his fingertips, ripping through the air.
In the blink of an eye, they crossed a hundred meters, aiming straight for Gunnar’s brow, throat, and heart.
Frost Ash Beam: Extreme Compression—Triple Shot.
"Courting death!"
Gunnar roared. Without dodging or evading, he threw a direct punch with his right fist.
The force of his punch tore through the air, carrying the dark red Bloodline Rule as it smashed violently into the three beams.
BOOM!!!
A piercing shriek erupted as Ice and Fire annihilated each other.
A thick layer of ice crystals formed on the platform’s surface, only to be blasted apart by intense heat a second later.
Amid the turbulent, pale purple Energy, a web of fine cracks appeared on the surface of Gunnar’s fist.
But he just flicked his hand, and as a light flowed from the dark red scars, the cracks healed instantly.
"Is that all you’ve got?"
’He wasn’t some ordinary Level Two Elemental Wizard.’
Gunnar grinned savagely and stomped his foot.
The ground exploded, leaving a three-meter crater and sending rubble flying.
His three-meter-tall body charged like a raging bull, right fist raised again, aimed straight at Ian’s face!
Ian’s eyes turned cold.
As the fist came crashing down, he fully activated [Mimicry], his body gliding to the left like a phantom.
At the same time, he raised his left hand and made a grasping motion with his fingers.
A black dot the size of a Rice Grain shot out silently, its trajectory cunningly difficult to predict.
It traced a wide arc, bypassing the force of the punch to fly toward the opening under Gunnar’s right ribs, exposed by his swing.
Gravity Collapse Ball—Penetration Mode!
Gunnar seemed to have expected it, blocking with his left arm.
The dark red scars on his forearm flared with light, and his muscles knotted like blocks of iron.
VMM!
The moment the black dot touched his skin, the Gravity Field erupted.
But this time...
Gunnar’s forearm muscles caved inward like granite. Fine cracks appeared on his skin, but only a single bead of blood seeped out.
"Are you trying to tickle me?"
He grinned, redirecting his right fist into a sweeping blow.
The force of the punch smashed toward Ian’s side like a heavy hammer.
Ian’s pupils contracted.
’My Gravity Collapse Ball in penetration mode could even shatter Selas’s Wraith Barrier.’
’But it can’t break through this guy’s physical defenses?’
He didn’t take the hit head-on. With a slight adjustment of his Gravity Field, he rapidly retreated backward.
The force of the punch grazed past his side.
With a RIIIP, his Wizard Robe was torn, revealing the skin beneath.
The surface of his skin had the distinct texture of flowing rock.
The instant the force of the punch grazed him, that layer of "rock skin" rippled faintly, like the surface of water struck by a pebble.
It didn’t leave a single mark.
Gunnar’s expression shifted.
"You... you’re a Body Refining Wizard, too?"
"No."
Ian said calmly.
"I’m just... unusually sturdy."
As he finished speaking, he stomped his left foot hard on the ground.
THUD!
A dull echo reverberated from the platform’s surface.
He pushed the [Earth Resonance] ability of the [Rock Bear Potion] to its absolute limit.
Ripples spread out from him across the dark blue crystalline ground.
Star Energy flooded into his body like a tide.
His fatigue was washed away.
The rocky texture beneath his skin became denser and more solid.
It was like a true suit of Rock Armor, clinging to every inch of his muscle.
"Enough with the cheap tricks!"
Gunnar snorted and charged forward again.
This time, he was at least twice as fast as before!
Ian’s expression grew solemn.
’He knew he couldn’t keep fighting a battle of attrition from a distance.’
’Gunnar’s physical strength and regenerative abilities were far beyond his expectations.’
’Even with his Entropy Change Domain at full power, he could only disrupt Gunnar’s Energy flow, not suppress his monstrous self-healing.’
’And his Spiritual Power... he had already used up nearly half of it in the preceding battles.’
’The core area was still ahead, along with Bazaar and other unknown trials.’
’He couldn’t afford to exhaust his trump cards here.’
’If that’s the case...’
Ian took a deep breath.
Furnace Body Tempering Skill—Full Power!
A Jade-like Radiance seeped out from beneath his skin, enveloping his entire body in an instant like flowing moonlight.
His muscles, bones, and meridians emitted a faint hum as they were tempered by the radiance.
And then...
He began to "grow."
His one-point-eight-meter frame swelled as if being inflated.
Two meters, two and a half, three... four meters!
His massive, four-meter-tall body was corded with muscles like coiling dragons.
The Jade-like Radiance flowed across his skin, mixed with the texture of flowing rock.
More importantly...
The Earth Resonance from the [Rock Bear Potion] was amplified in sync with his transformation!
He could clearly feel the dark blue Star Marrow Vein deep beneath the platform resonating with him.
Every one of his heartbeats triggered a slight tremor in the vein.
Star Energy poured into him like a constant stream, and his stamina recovery rate skyrocketed.
The "Rock Armor" beneath his skin thickened by at least three times.
It was like a true suit of Dragon Scale Armor, clinging to his entire body.
His gray Wizard Robe, stretched to its limit, tore into strips of cloth that hung from his waist.
His long hair billowed as if in a wind, and within his black eyes, a point of faint silver starlight suddenly exploded.
CRACK! CRACK! Ian rolled his massive neck.
"This... is my true form."
Ian’s voice was as deep as rolling thunder, echoing across the platform.
Gunnar’s pupils constricted violently.
He stopped his charge, his blood-red eyes locked onto Ian.
For the first time, his face showed... astonishment.
"You... what the hell are you?"
Ian slowly raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist.
His knuckles let out a series of sharp cracks.
Under the starlight, the Dark Gold, rock-like texture of his skin took on a metallic sheen.
"Marcus, Level One Wizard of Shadow Moon Tower."
He took a step forward.
His four-meter-tall body shot forward like a cannonball, his right fist hurtling toward Gunnar like a meteorite!
Before the fist even connected, the sheer force of it tore through the air.
It carried the pale purple after-effects of Interweaving Ice and Fire, along with the immense pressure of Earth Resonance!
It aimed straight for Gunnar’s face.
"Bring it on!"
Gunnar roared, and without dodging or evading, he threw his own punch to meet it!
A head-on clash was exactly what he wanted.
The two giants’ fists collided in midair.
BOOM!!!
The colossal boom was like a crack of thunder!
Spiderweb cracks tens of meters in diameter spread across the platform, centered on the two of them.
The Rule of Indestructibility and the pale purple Entropy Change Domain clashed and tore at each other wildly!
The piercing shriek of annihilating Ice and Fire, the dull thud of colliding bone, the sound of tearing muscle...
All the sounds blended together.
After dozens of punches, they were evenly matched.
Both were forced back three steps, their feet stomping deep pits into the ground.
But the moment Ian’s foot landed on his third step back...
THUD!
A dull echo reverberated from the ground.
The resonance from the [Rock Bear Potion] dispersed the impact force across the entire platform.
He felt at least thirty percent of the recoil traveling up his arm get absorbed by the Earth.
But Gunnar...
He shook his right hand. Fine cracks had appeared on his knuckles.
Although they healed instantly, his heart sank.
’That exchange just now... his fists are as hard as stone! They don’t feel like flesh and blood!’
’What’s even more terrifying is...’
’The moment our fists collided, I clearly felt that Dark Gold "Rock Armor" on his skin ripple upon impact.’
’Like water dispersing the force.’
’It spread the impact through his entire body.’
"Again!"
The ferocity in Gunnar’s eyes blazed even hotter as he charged forward again.
His fists flew at Ian like a raging tempest!
Ian’s eyes were ice-cold as he met the assault with his own fists.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
The muffled thuds of flesh on flesh were as dense as a drumroll.
With every impact, a fresh set of cracks spiderwebbed across the platform.
Dark red blood and pale golden light flew, splattering and intermingling.
Gunnar’s fists were as heavy as mountains.
Each blow carried savage force, seeking to tear through Ian’s physical defenses.
But Ian’s "Rock Armor," enhanced by the Earth Resonance of the [Rock Bear Potion], was far more resilient than he could have imagined.
With every exchange of blows, Ian deliberately adjusted the rhythm of his steps.
THUD... THUD... THUD...
The dull, resonant thuds echoed from deep within the platform like war drums.
The impact force was dispersed into the Earth.
His fatigue was washed away by Star Energy.
His wounds healed at a visible rate under the dual restorative effects of the Jade-like Radiance and the Earth Energy.
But Gunnar...
Although his regenerative ability was also monstrous, every impact sent fine cracks through his knuckles, wrists, and forearms.
They healed instantly, but that healing consumed Energy.
But Ian... consumed almost none.
’Damn it... What kind of monstrous defense is that...?’
The more Gunnar fought, the more unnerved he became.
After countless more blows,
a distinct crack finally appeared on the dark red, hardened layer of Gunnar’s right arm.
Though it healed instantly, his heart sank.
’I can’t drag this out any longer...’
A vicious glint flashed in his eyes. He abruptly retreated three steps and slammed his fists together in front of his chest.
VMM!
The light from his dark red scars flared to its absolute peak.
Indestructible Body—Maximum Burst!
His muscles swelled once more, and the hardened layer of his skin doubled in thickness.
He looked as if he had donned a suit of dark red Dragon Scale Armor.
His aura... skyrocketed again!
"Little Insect..."
Gunnar grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth.
"You should be proud. You’ve forced me to use this move."
"But now... the game is over."
He kicked off the ground, and a five-meter crater exploded on the platform’s surface.
His body shot out like a cannonball, right fist raised.
The force of the punch tore through the air, aimed straight at Ian’s chest!
This punch was at least fifty percent stronger than before!
Ian’s eyes were like ice.
’He knew this was the decisive moment.’
’I can’t dodge.’
’If I dodge, I’ll lose the momentum.’
’Besides... I don’t want to dodge.’
’Then... let’s end this.’
Ian stomped his left foot heavily.
THUD!!!
A deep, muffled reverberation emanated from deep within the platform.
He had pushed the Earth Resonance of the [Rock Bear Potion] to an unprecedented level.
Ripples exploded outward from him across the dark blue crystalline ground.
Star Energy flooded into his body.
The Dark Gold "Rock Armor" beneath his skin swelled to its maximum thickness.
It was like true armor forged from a mountain, clinging to his entire body.
Then, he raised his right hand.
He opened his hand, palm facing the incoming fist.
But this time...
no beam of light shot from his palm, nor did a black dot appear.
He simply... clenched his fist.
At the exact moment Gunnar’s fist was about to strike his chest,
Ian’s right fist shot out to meet it.
The two fists collided.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
The colossal boom was more terrifying than any that had come before!
A massive, twenty-meter crater blasted open on the platform’s surface, sending shards of dark blue crystal flying like shrapnel in a storm!
At the epicenter of the collision, space itself seemed to ripple and distort.
And then...
CRACK.
A crisp cracking sound came from Gunnar’s right fist.
The dark red, hardened layer shattered inch by inch like broken glass.
The cracks spread rapidly up his entire arm.
Skin, muscle, bone...
"URGH-AAAAAH!!!"
Gunnar let out a bloodcurdling scream as his right arm twisted backward at an unnatural angle.
The bone of his elbow joint pierced through his skin, and all the bones in his hand were shattered.
Dark red blood gushed out like a fountain!
"No... impossible..."
He stared wide-eyed, and for the first time, his blood-red pupils showed... terror.
"Your Power... how can it be...?"
Ian slowly pulled back his right fist and opened his palm.
There, a black dot the size of a Rice Grain lay resting.
It was spinning silently.
He stared into Gunnar’s terrified eyes and said, word by word.
"Because... you’re too weak."
As he spoke,
Ian raised his left hand and pointed his index finger at Gunnar’s brow.
Frost Ash Beam—Full Power.
CHIII!
The purple beam was blindingly fast, piercing through his forehead.
Gunnar’s body went rigid, endless terror filling his eyes.
"No! How can I die here...?"
But his consciousness was rapidly fading. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.