Kapitel 32: Floating Ring

It had been days since Ryan and Wayde had entered the ancient maze, each step a perilous dance with danger. Battling golems and evading traps became their grim routine, their survival owed to sheer determination, coordination, and uncanny luck.

And, even after many hours spent recovering within the maze, exhaustion clung to them like a relentless shadow.

Despite that, they pressed on, both in a trance of sorts, in which they desperately clung to their goals.

They were too close to give up or slow down.

Then finally, after what felt like an eternity, they emerged victorious.

They faced four golems that were even larger than those that they had previously faced.

Each wielded a single form of magic, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water.

What made it so tough to take them down was that they synchronised their attacks and also couldn't be taken down by a signal Delayed Impact Strike, which Wayde could now also use. It wasn't too difficult for the skilled mage to replicate after some practice and explanation from Ryan.

'I guess he was also worthy of this trial,' was what Ryan thought to himself when Wayde first managed to do so.

Together, both having a strong grasp of their companion's abilities and having mastered the Delayed Impact Strike, they were an incredible duo.

Boom!

Striking the last golem in unison, a wave of euphoria washed over them as they watched it crumble into a pile of rocks.

However, it hadn't been easy making it that far and after all the golems and obstacles they had to overcome, Ryan and Wayde were left scorched, wounded and in tatters.

But they couldn't feel a thing, overcome by joy.

'It's finally over!'

Yet, their celebration was short-lived as the atmosphere shifted, curiosity replacing jubilation.

The ground trembled beneath them, and the maze's walls that had entrapped them receded, unveiling a grand spectacle at its heart. A floating ring hovered atop a magnificent altar, veins of pulsating mana snaking across the ground. The density of mana was suffocating, yet awe-inspiring, its power palpable.

Mesmerised, Ryan and Wayde felt drawn to the ring, its radiant presence captivating them. Not only was it an incredible treasure, it was their ticket to freedom.

With no visible escape route, the ring became their beacon of hope.

Their eyes met, and they understood - there was no room for compromise.

And so, in perfect unison, they raced towards the ring, driven by desire and propelled by strength. What was once partnership now became rivalry, their minds consumed by the promise of power and freedom.

As they closed in, the surrounding mana surged, crackling with electricity.

'Like hell I'm letting myself be stuck down here and lose my mind!' Ryan pushed himself to match Wayde's speed, drawing in mana with desperate fervor.

Blitzing through the air like a honing missile that was desperate to hit its target, Wayde was surprised to see Ryan manage to follow closely behind him.

'He can keep up with me at this speed. His growth is absurd...' Wayde was baffled by Ryan's progress, which was incredible in the few days he had been in the maze.

If he hadn't witnessed it for himself, Wayde wouldn't have believed developing so quickly was even humanly possible.

However, now that it no longer served his goals, it became more of a threat than an asset.

'I'll just have to nip the bud before it blooms,' he decided, as the evil smile that he had been suppressing for so long finally broke free...

Suddenly feeling danger, Ryan instinctively jumped to the side, but it was to no avail.

With a mere wave of his hand, Wayde seemed to conjure a giant invisible hand that would do his bidding, which swatted Ryan as if he were a mere fly, flinging him away.

Managing to regain his balance midair and displaying incredible physical abilities while using Combat Magic, Ryan landed on both feet. However, immediately after, he was greeted by unbelievable pressure, as if gravity were plotting against him.

Ryan's knees buckled, and he struggled to even breathe while in Wayde's Qidius Domain, which he channelled more mana into this time compared to when they had faced the golems.

'This bastard, he's really planning on killing me.' Ryan felt a chill run down his spine as he stared down the hovering ragged mage.

Picking himself up from the ground, a surge of adrenaline masked the pain coursing through his body. Every muscle screamed in protest, but Ryan refused to yield to the overwhelming force of Wayde's power.

With a fierce determination burning in his eyes, Ryan focused his thoughts, channelling even more mana into his limbs despite the strain. The dense energy crackled around him, a testament to his unwavering resolve.

"Come on, then!" Ryan challenged, his voice ringing out throughout the open underground area they were in, which used to be the giant ancient maze. With a primal roar, he launched himself towards Wayde once more, his movements fluid and precise.

But Wayde was ready, his senses honed to a razor's edge. With a casual flick of his wrist, he conjured a swirling vortex of telekinetic force, repelling Ryan's onslaught with contemptuous ease.

"You're helpless against me," laughed Wayde.

Ryan staggered backwards, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through his body. But he refused to let the pain deter him. With a defiant snarl, he summoned forth the dense surrounding mana once more, preparing to unleash his full power.

Meanwhile, Wayde's eyes glinted with a dangerous light, his lips curled into a mocking sneer. "Is Combat Magic all you can do, boy?" he taunted, his voice dripping with derision.

Ryan gritted his teeth, his fists clenched with determination. He refused to let Wayde's words undermine his resolve. He launched himself forward once more, his entire being consumed by a blazing fury.

This time, however, Wayde did something that baffled Ryan, who immediately activated his Mana Vision.

Wayde gracefully landed on the ground, before channelling his mana around his body in the same way that Ryan did.

One would have thought that Wayde was allergic to the ground and physical contact, avoiding doing so apart from during their first encounter. But now revelling in his entrapment in the trial being over and Ryan's desperate attempts at taking him on, he didn't seem to care.

Bursting towards him, Ryan found himself navigating a narrow spectrum of options. His Combat Magic compelled him to close the distance, employing physicality for every strike. Yet, this approach felt inadequate against Wayde's calibre and hadn't worked so far.

"Combat Magic and Mana Beams. Is that the extent of your repertoire?" Wayde's mocking voice echoed as he also rushed towards Ryan.

"This showcases but the rudimentary use of mana. Your Combat Magic, unlike the Urius fools, is merely elementary. Even I can overpower you with it," Wayde taunted, his fist colliding with Ryan's in a fierce clash that sent him skidding back across the ground.

Ryan keenly observed Wayde's mana manipulation. Wayde encased his entire body in a protective barrier, fortifying his arm and upper body. The impact of the blow was absorbed, demonstrating an unconventional yet effective manifestation of Combat Magic.

"Do you see, Ryan? It's a simple matter. You're but an ant, a minor entity in the grand scheme of existence. To believe you could challenge me was audacious and simply stupid," Wayde proclaimed.

Wayde's words bore the stamp of fractured sanity, coupled with arrogance, but Ryan couldn't dismiss Wayde's power.

Although he was far from being skilled in close combat, his control over his mana and his surroundings was awe-inspiring. It was as if he was using his body as a puppet, relying solely on his control over his mana.

Wayde also simultaneously used his Qidius Domain and telekinetic abilities to hinder Ryan's movements, allowing him to even the playing grounds in close combat.

But there was something even more unnerving.

It was the fact that Wayde was enjoying himself and toying with him, going as far as to handicap himself and match Ryan's fighting style.

'How am I supposed to defeat this guy?!'

Ryan couldn't see any feasible way to win if he couldn't handle Wayde while he was still holding back and not taking him seriously.

However, he had no choice but to keep trying...

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