Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 172: (Un)fair Challenge

Warlock Ch 172. (Un)fair Challenge

Damian leaned back and deep in thought. It wasn't illegal, but it wasn't exactly legal either. It was a gray area—one that offered him power without exposing him to the magical government's bureaucracy and scrutiny. He could avoid their endless paperwork and sidestep the senators' constant surveillance. For someone in his position, it was perfect.

A grin spread across his face, slow and mischievous. "Damn it, Cas. I didn't know you were planning on doing that. So, who's the unlucky warlock I'm supposed to fight?"

Cassius' smirk turned into a full-blown grin. "Me."

Damian blinked. "What?"

"You heard me," Cassius said, his tone casual but his eyes glinting with challenge. "If you want to prove you're rank A, you've got to take me down."

Damian let out a disbelieving laugh. "Right. Because fighting my smug, overpowered mentor sounds like a fair challenge."

Cassius stood, brushing imaginary dust off his cloak. "Fairness has nothing to do with it. You've got the power. I've seen it. But the question is—can you use it when it counts?"

Damian frowned, leaning forward. "You're serious about this?"

"As serious as I ever am," Cassius replied, which wasn't exactly comforting.

Damian ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. Taking on Cassius wasn't just about brute strength. It was about strategy, resourcefulness, and timing. Cassius wasn't just a mentor—he was an SSS ranked warlock with years of experience. Beating him wouldn't be easy.

"You know," Damian said after a moment, "this feels like one of those dead-or-alive scenarios you love throwing me into."

Cassius smirked. "Because it is. But don't worry—you won't die. Not unless you let yourself."

"Oh, great. Super reassuring," Damian muttered, but there was a spark of determination in his eyes. He stood, shaking out his tired limbs and forcing himself to ignore the dull ache in his muscles. "Fine. Let's do this. But don't cry when I win."

Cassius barked out a laugh, a genuine one. "Cry? Please. I'll be too busy laughing at how long it takes you to figure out my tricks."

Damian rolled his shoulders, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Tricks, huh? You better bring your best, old man. I'm not going easy on you."

Cassius' expression sharpened, his smirk fading into something more serious. "Good. Because I'm not going easy on you either."

The air between them shifted, heavy with anticipation. This wasn't just a test—it was a battle. A proving ground.

No matter what it took.

Damian exhaled, steadying himself as the training hall buzzed with energy. The faint hum of magic filled the air. His gaze flicked to Cassius, who stood at the opposite end of the room, his posture as relaxed as ever but his sharp eyes glinting with anticipation.

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"So, no servants?" Damian asked, already knowing the answer but needing to hear it.

Cassius smirked, snapping his fingers. Shadow servants appeared, collecting the couch and hauling it out of the hall as if to emphasize the point. "No servants," he confirmed, his voice calm but commanding.

Damian rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen the tension building in his muscles. "Reminds me of the past, huh?" he muttered, his tone lighter than he felt.

Cassius nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah. We used to fight like this to see who was strongest. You always wanted to prove something."

Damian returned the grin, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Guess some things never change."

Cassius reached into his cloak, pulling out a barrier crystal—the kind used for high-stakes duels and exams. Without a word, he tossed it into the air. It shattered, and shimmering walls of magic rose around them, enclosing the space in a protective dome. The barrier thrummed with energy, its countdown timer appearing in golden numbers.

[Time Limit: 30:00.]

"Half an hour," Cassius said, his tone casual. "Defeating doesn't mean killing, but we'll count attacks landed, mana drained, and health lost. Let's see if you've still got it, genius."

Damian smirked, though his heart pounded in his chest. "Right. Let's do this."

The countdown hit zero, and Cassius struck first, raising a hand and unleashing a torrent of glowing shards that streaked toward Damian like a meteor shower.

[Crystal Barrage]

"[Shadow Step!]" Damian shouted, disappearing into a swirl of shadows just as the shards exploded against the floor where he'd been standing. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the hall, but Damian reappeared several meters away, his body flickering with afterimages from his Spectral Surge.

"Still fast," Cassius remarked, not bothering to turn around. "But predictable."

Damian didn't respond. He raised a hand, summoning a blazing spear that crackled with fiery energy. "[Hellfire Spear!]" he roared, hurling it directly at Cassius.

The spear tore through the air, its heat distorting the space around it, but Cassius waved a hand lazily. A shimmering wall of crystal sprang up before him. Despite it didn't counter the spear fully, it absorbed the spear's impact with a deafening crack.

[Crystalline Ward]

"Is that all you've got?" Cassius taunted, his smirk widening.

Damian gritted his teeth. "Not even close." He raised both hands, dark chains erupting from the ground and snaking toward Cassius. "[Dark Chains!]"

The chains glowed with malevolent energy, their jagged edges shimmering as they lunged for Cassius. He dodged the first two, but the third wrapped around his arm, locking him in place.

"Nice trick," Cassius said, unfazed. "But you'll need more than that." His free hand glowed with blue energy as he snapped his fingers, shattering the chains with a burst of raw mana.

Damian didn't wait for the counterattack. He slammed a hand to the ground, summoning a swirling void beneath Cassius' feet. "[Void Rift!]" he shouted.

The rift expanded, pulling at Cassius with an invisible force. The ground around him cracked as the void dragged at everything within its radius, its dark energy seeping into the air.

Cassius frowned, his composure slipping for the first time. "[Momentum Surge!]" he commanded, his body glowing with a brilliant light as he propelled himself out of the rift's pull and into the air.

"Damn it," Damian muttered, raising his hands again. "[Infernal Javelins!]"