Lightning struck him, fire curled around him, shadows clawed at him but the pickaxe move swiftly deflecting each one.
BAM!
The pickaxe collided with one of the flaming shadow constructs, shattering it in a burst of black flame and mana sparks.
Ben kept moving, step after step, carving a path through the elemental chaos.
The Magus reappeared behind him with a spinning kick, lightning surging from his leg.
Ben ducked.
Their weapons clashed, shovel against lightning cloaked gauntlet sending shockwaves through the cavern.
"Better," Ben said with a wild grin. "Now we're talking."
The Magus smirked. "You're right," he said, voice low and calm. "But playtime's over."
All this time the Magus has been learning. Every clash, every dodge, every counter had been part of the process.
But he wasn't learning Ben, he was learning how to wield the relic, how to wield its power to its limit.
His mana surged. Sparks crackle across his body, converging on the ring embedded in the relic.
