'I... I won't defeat her easily unless I reveal my own Trump cards.'
Eren admitted to himself, the weight of the challenge urging him to delve deeper into his arsenal. He decided to use a special type of mana that could potentially serve as an apt counter against Nature mana.
Eren wasn't the only one who had been put on edge by the battle.
Despite maintaining a calm demeanor during her battle with Eren, Callista felt a shock reverberate within her. She never could have fathomed that someone like Eren, who lacked any divine blessing, would possess the strength to hold his ground against her within the sacred ground.
"This is unbelievable. Rankers can effortlessly wield spell fusion and elemental fusion from their Expert ranks it seems. It's difficult for us Evokers to digest," Callista mused to herself, observing Eren's adept utilization of various spells to eliminate the creatures she had summoned. She begrudgingly acknowledged that without the advantage of the sacred ground, she would struggle to match Eren's devastating damage output.
Callista had always recognized that the path of a ranker propelled individuals to unlock the true potential of their elemental affinities. This granted them the ability to explore and harness different forms of elemental and Aspect fusion, at least for those rankers possessing the necessary talent and practice. In contrast, Evokers faced the dilemma of excessive choices along their path.
Sometimes, an abundance of choices proved to be a double-edged sword. While rankers may have lacked the freedom of choice during their ranking journeys, they compensated for it by delving deep into the comprehension of their chosen element. Evokers, on the other hand, enjoyed liberation in their path but often found themselves burdened by the overwhelming array of options. Evokers needed an additional source of power, akin to a divine blessing, to maintain their edge against rankers.
'Hmm, I don't believe he'll retreat from this challenge, not when we're so deeply invested in this battle. I should unleash my full strength and bring an end to this,' Callista resolved. Recognizing that Eren would soon launch an aggressive offensive, she decided to catch him off guard by altering her battle style.
One could say that just like Eren, Callista also believed that an overwhelming offense was the best form of defense.
With graceful incantations, Callista unleashed her next set of spells, transforming her arms and legs into flexible vine-like appendages. These verdant limbs retained the general shape of her original limbs but possessed the uncanny ability to stretch and contract at her will, enhancing her agility in both movements and wielding her weapons.
But Callista's transformation did not end there.
Her entire body underwent a profound change, assuming the form of a treant-like entity. Her once-fleshed skin morphed into a hardened bark-like exterior, her eyes took on a vibrant shade of green, and her stature grew in size. The dominance of her mana signature surged, radiating a formidable presence. In this hybrid form, she knew she could stand her ground against Eren's relentless onslaught.
Fully attuned to her modified body, Callista propelled herself forward, charging at Eren with an unyielding determination.
Swoosh. Zoom. Pierce.
Just as Eren plotted to catch Callista off guard with his surprise maneuver, she swiftly turned the tables by launching an unexpected offensive. Appearing before him in her transformed avatar, she attacked him with her expertly wielded Spear Arts.
Caught off balance by the sudden appearance of his opponent, Eren had only just managed to rid himself of the plant monster with its grotesque sunflower face and the leech-like maw. In that split-second of confusion, he nearly mistook Callista for yet another monstrous entity. But before he could react, her strikes found their mark.
"Aaaargh!"
Eren's anguished cry echoed through the battlefield as Callista's spear pierced his right shoulder. The blade effortlessly breached his natural mana defense layer and armor, its tip emerging ominously from the other side. Coated in Eren's own blood, a droplet fell upon the sacred ground, vanishing as it made contact.
The clash between the spear blade and one of Eren's swords left the latter damaged, forcing it from his grip as he attempted to parry Callista's assault. With great momentum, the nameless sword flew behind him, propelled away from his current plight.
It was a swift and unexpected turn of events that caught Eren off guard. Undeniably, Callista had timed her attack to perfection, accurately deciphering his intentions and refusing to wait for him to respond with his own tactics.
Just as Callista prepared to unleash another onslaught, delivering what she believed would be the final blow, Eren, fueled by sheer determination, disregarded the searing pain and caught her swinging spear with his bare hand. The ground beneath them cracked and gave way under the force of Callista's weapon charged by her Spear Arts.
Blood immediately stained Eren's hand as he gripped Callista's spear. The skin on his palm and the back of his hand ruptured, crimson rivulets flowing down his arm, eventually dripping from his elbow.
Sensing imminent danger, Callista's instincts urged her to retreat, to distance herself as far as possible from Eren, even if it meant relinquishing her weapon.
"Hehe. I must commend you for this attack, Callista. I confess, I underestimated the power of Nature mana," Eren said with a disarming smile, despite the serious injury marring his left arm. Calm and composed, his emerald green eyes gleamed with steely resolve as he locked his gaze upon his opponent.
"But we Rankers know how to adapt to the unexpected. We are born without a blessing. So we learn to count on ourselves when everything else fails. Allow me to demonstrate," Eren declared before invoking his next set of spells, leaving Callista and the spectators of the duel utterly speechless.
The four Matriarch's utmost attention was drawn to the battle once again as they felt a repulsive mana ripple in the air. They looked at Eren with peculiar eyes as he unleashed the Trump card that could serve as an apt counter for the Nature mana.
"Screeeeee!"
A deathly scream was released from a new batch of summoned creatures.
Within the sacred ground devoted to the Great Mother, an army of the undead materialized. A tempest of Death mana swirled around Eren as he tapped into his dormant powers as a necromancer.
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