The Genesis Of A Necromancer

Chapter 43 Tournament III

James closed his eyes, blocking out the roar of the crowd, and fell into a state of deep concentration. Jack, watching from the sidelines, clenched his fists in exasperation.

'What's he doing? This isn't some superhero show! Move or you're dead, typical idiot,' he thought, watching fights like these irritated him. A part of him wanted to jump in and finish the fight himself.

Why would someone be in the middle of a fight and start harnessing strange powers? Worse of it all, his opponent stares at him like an idiot

But James stood motionless, as if entirely detached from the looming danger. 'Is he actually confident in his power, or is he just plain reckless?' Jack wondered, tension simmering inside him.

Meanwhile, Kurt had no patience for theatrics. Without hesitation, he pulled back the string of his bow, releasing a set of three spike arrows in rapid succession. They whizzed through the air, precise and deadly, each aimed directly at James. The crowd gasped as the arrows sliced through the air, bound to strike at any moment.

But then, just as they neared him, a strange force seemed to grip the arrows, halting their deadly path midair. They hovered, suspended as though captured by an unseen hand. All around James, a warm glow of energy began to radiate, enveloping him in a faint white aura. His lips moved silently, chanting words that even the most seasoned spectators couldn't comprehend.

Kurt's expression morphed from disdain to bewilderment, and a flicker of fear sparked in his eyes. "What is this sorcery?" he muttered, anger mingling with disbelief. In a final attempt to break James's concentration, he shot another arrow, this one glowing with a malevolent red aura that cut through the air like a streak of fire. It struck James's shield of light and pushed forward with greater force, causing a shimmer across the glowing barrier, but even it succumbed, joining the other arrows in frozen suspension.

At last, James's voice rose, his words clear and full of power. "... Vanquish my enemies, and reveal to them the true power of light!"

A surge of brilliant energy burst forth from within him. Around him, apparitions of armored angels materialized, each one radiating a silver light as they seemed to sing in praise. The faint sound of their celestial voices sent chills down Kurt's spine, his instincts screaming for him to retreat.

"You think this is divine power?" Kurt sneered, trying to mask his fear with bravado. "It's nothing but a trick—a pathetic imitation!" With renewed resolve, he aimed his bow again, drawing on a fierce, crackling red aura that wrapped itself around the next arrow, practically throbbing with deadly energy.

From the stands, Luther leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Aura manipulation," he murmured with admiration. "For one so young, Kurt's skill is remarkable. This fight is turning into something special."

Lilith scoffed, her gaze steady on the platform. "Remarkable or not, they're fighting to kill. If we're not careful, one of them will push too far." She cast a pointed glance at the other leaders, as though reminding them of the consequences.

Luther waved her concern aside with a chuckle. "Relax, Lilith. Fred knows what he's doing; he wouldn't let them get out of control. They're only prodigies—talented, yes, but still beginners in the grand scheme. If one of them steps over the line, Fred will intervene."

Ivan raised an eyebrow, his tone casual but laced with an edge. "You're too quick to dismiss the danger. If this escalates, it won't be easy to rein them back. You may like a spectacle, but remember that our factions aren't so forgiving."

"Enough bickering," Luther interrupted, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "This is about to get interesting."

On the platform, Kurt and James were reaching the climax of their deadly dance. Kurt's aura flared as he drew the bowstring to its limit, preparing his most powerful shot yet. A trail of red energy spiraled around the arrow, crackling with a fierce intensity that filled the air with heat. Meanwhile, James's focus deepened, a calm determination hardening his features as he raised his sword and drew on a wellspring of power within.

"This is it," Jack whispered, clenching his fists. He watched intently, attempting to decipher the source of their energy. 'This doesn't feel like mana,' he realized, his mind racing. 'They're using something else, something… beyond the usual magic.'

The air grew thick with tension as the two forces converged. With a final pull, Kurt released his arrow, which rocketed toward James with a burning red aura in its wake. At the same moment, James swung his sword, unleashing a radiant arc of white light that expanded in size and brightness as it cut through the air.

The two attacks collided in the center of the platform with explosive force, creating a shockwave so powerful it caused the very ground to tremble. Chunks of earth flew outward, dust and debris filling the air, making it difficult for the audience to see. For a moment, everyone held their breath, waiting to see the outcome.

"They're equally matched," someone in the stands murmured in awe.

"No… look again," Ivan replied, his voice a low rumble.

As the dust began to settle, it became clear that one attack had prevailed. Kurt's crimson energy had been dissipated, scattered into the air, while the arc of white light continued forward, slicing through the last remnants of resistance. It hurtled toward Kurt, unstoppable, and he barely had time to widen his eyes before it struck.

But just as the beam reached him, it faded, dissipating like mist before a morning sun. Kurt staggered back, clutching his chest as if to confirm he was still in one piece, and let out a shaky laugh.

"What… a close call," he muttered, struggling to mask his relief.

James lowered his sword, his breathing heavy, but his eyes burning with resolve. He had not merely fought; he had stood his ground against Kurt's most powerful attack and emerged victorious in spirit, if not by final blow.

Jack watched them both, his gaze full of calculations and hidden curiosity. 'This fight confirmed it,' he thought. 'They're not using mana. This world has an energy source far more potent, something that seems to draw from a spiritual plane rather than the physical one. The church's power— What could it be?'

As the crowd began to murmur in admiration, awe, and disbelief, Luther finally broke the silence. "Well done, young ones," he said with a slight smile. "That was… beyond impressive."

But within the core group of spectators, the feeling was far from settled. This demonstration of power had raised more questions than it answered, each faction leader now keenly aware that the balance of power could shift in unexpected ways.

Lilith turned her gaze back to the platform. "The children's game has ended, but I wonder… what are we truly on the brink of?"

As the applause and cheers filled the arena, Jack's thoughts drifted back to what he had seen. 'If this is the strength they can wield, I've got to step up my game. I need to uncover every secret about this world's power—and fast. Because if I don't… I'll be toast.'