**40th Floor**
All I ever wanted was to live a normal life… A male with buzzed blue hair pondered to himself as he beheld the one-on-one battle between Pyronis and this other man who—quite literally—just dropped in.
Find a humble home to call my own—maybe out in the outskirts of the Ocean jurisdiction, near a body of water—close but not so close like a beach home. Find a nice girl who's not too ugly or too pretty, kind and gentle. Perhaps a child or two, one boy, one girl… Or perhaps a girl first and then a boy? Ah, whichever…
"Do you understand the plan, Clyde?" another man next to him said, completely unrelated to the pleasant thought he was having. "Clyde."
"Okay… I get it," he responded at last, not knowing the full details of what he had said, but understood well enough to get the gist.
The other man had medium-length gray hair, green eyes that seemed to glow no matter the lighting, and was tall and lanky as he crouched atop some metal pipes between them.
Though in ragged, white prisoners clothes, he seemed to have some other kind of demeanor about him. Like someone who wasn't fully a prisoner like the world had casted him—all of them out to be.
Or at least, that's what he liked to tell himself.
Clyde remembered just exactly when he got detained here in Tartarus, and was labeled a Grade 0 prisoner of all things.
Prior to this, he had massacred a whole army of W.M.A. officers outside the coast of the Ocean jurisdiction. He claims it was in self-defense—and he was somewhat right—but for the most part he believed that he was unjustly hunted down.
If only they never came after me, I wonder if they would have still met the same fate eventually… What's so special about my magic anyway? All I can do is convert mana into energy, how was that something anyone wanted? I mean, sure, the whole Island Kingdom shut down the minute I entered, and on top of that, I refused to join a Guild and refused to join the W.M.A., but shit man… is there no life for a man who just wants to exist and doesn't want any of those things?
Had this prison judged ones offence and their willingness to comply, solely, he might have landed a higher floor here. But because his magic ability was considered SS rank, it was the main reason he was detained at the lowest level along with the rest of them: Valkyrie, Hansel, Pyronis, and Scar.
Should have made like Scar and booked it… but no. I had to listen to this eterna-chasing-ex-mogul… He looked at the gray-haired man, Hansel, and began debating his life choices again. But what can you do once the decision has been made? Nothing but see it all the way through, I guess. Besides… He pointed a palm over to the two fighting distances away. I needed a job, anyway.
Nash had just pushed himself off from Pyronis's grasp as he flew backward, sensing an incoming attack from high above.
His eyes widened when he found the source, and Clyde's hand was pointed directly at him. He hasn't even unleashed his spell, but I felt the air shift… A powerful spell is coming!
Without the need for a chant or incantation, a glowing orb manifested, hovering just inches from his hand. His eyes glowed near white as he unleashed the ball of energy, and it engulfed the entire metal and stone platform Nash and Pyronis were occupying.
A beam of energy had violently collided with them and the surrounding magma, lingering for almost thirty seconds as it petered out. It left a cratered hole atop the lava like it was solid ground, staying open as if the lava itself was afraid to fill in the gaps after that attack.
Clyde's ability was Energy Conversion magic, or rather, that was the scientific term given to it after landing in Tartarus. For he called it something less technical. Blast magic.
Simply put, the ability allowed him to convert mana particles into energy, whether the mana came from him or not. For mana had naturally gravitated to him, no matter where he went, thus converting to his own in the process. This was why he was hunted by the W.M.A. due to accidentally draining the mana out of all the lesser Zion Orbs from an Ocean Sub-Kingdom by simply entering district walls. He was then sought out to be offered haven within the W.M.A. to be studied, but things went another way entirely as per his reminiscing…
Because he could never fully run out of mana, the only place for him to be detained in Tartarus was the lowest floor where all magic and Tantra were suppressed upon careful watch.
For had he been allowed to roam free, without any Guild or W.M.A. faction to call home, he was considered an unattended liability no matter where he went.
Next to Belle, who was known for being the highest mana output mage in the world, and Jo who was known for having the highest magical output to be recorded, Clyde was second in both categories. However, some would say he is in another category solely of his own, and sits as number one on that list.
Nash leaped down after an overexerted dodge, with a broken arm, and exposed ribcage atop a melting piece of debris amid the magma—large enough to hold him for now.
The clock gonged over his head, and his flesh and bones were mended back together.
Four left… He thought, considering how much of a disadvantage he was at now.
Not only was he facing three Grade 0 criminals all at once, he also was not at full Lives.
Since the start of their trip, he was due for a recovery period of another two weeks, however, he only received a week's worth, resulting in only six available Lives to adapt with upon entering Tartarus. Seven if he included when Jo froze him at Tahoe Lake.
At least he wouldn't be as susceptible to freeze attacks… if there seemed any possibility of that in this fight… All he saw around him was lava, metal, stone, and more lava.
On top of that, his opponent, the Berserker—Pyronis—seemed to have abilities revolving around lava itself.
He sighed deeply, resting his hands on his waist as he stood casually.
Across him, Pyronis was mending himself back together atop the lava, and the other, Clyde had joined another distance away, standing on higher ground, hands in his prisoner pants pockets.
When Nash looked upward, further atop some metal pipes, the third remained. The one named Hansel watched them all with glowing green eyes.
Wonder what his deal is…
Pyronis rushed him while Clyde stayed back, positioning one hand over the other, charging another energy ball.
Nash leaned forward, crouching himself atop his debris platform, and bolted. He blasted through the Berserker running over the lava, disintegrated him, and continued on flying, clearing the distance to where Clyde was with a reeled back fist.
Feet away, Clyde repositioned his hands to face forward, and unleashed another blast, engulfing Nash and Pyronis once again.
This second beam was larger than the last as it blasted through the place, creating a massive hole that led to another world of metal pipes and labyrinths beyond.
When the beam petered out, Clyde looked unimpressed as he led his arms back down.
However, there was something amiss that forbade him to relax.
He then heard the ground beneath him crack, and his eyes darted downward. His instincts told him to leap, and he listened, jumping away before he was crushed from what emerged underneath.
A large man protruded out from the lava and rock, eyes white, and smile engraved on his face. He reached outward into a clasp just as Clyde had gotten away.
Clyde issued small energy blasts to act like boosters from his palms and bottom of his feet as he hovered away, observing the one who came at him.
What the hell? He thought as Nash emerged from the lava like it was mere water. How is he treating it like he went for a swim?
Nash shook himself like a dog as he found footing on more stable, igneous ground. Magma and molten rock flew off him like splashes as he wiped the rest of it off his large, toned arms.
He originally had six Lives upon entering this zone. However, when he did, he had collided with Pyronis upon his arrival. Because Pyronis had equal mana composition to the lava in this area, he was able to adapt fully to the terrain as a whole along with Pyronis' magic himself. It was the same as landing in the lava directly, and since this lava was magically created, and by no means a natural element, it was well within Nash's adaptation conditions.
Though, the real problem was not the lava itself, rather, the beast that now occupied this place.
Pyronis mended himself back together, globs of lava layering upon layers until he became a massive, molten beast.
Nash rose to a stand as he faced it, Clyde hovering nearby it—like a fly in comparison to the monstrosity that emerged.
Pyronis was a Primal magic user, and his Primal typing was the rare monster class—Berserker. Since Berserkers varied in ability, it was only natural for him to receive a secondary magic ability that was unlike any other. Lava Creation magic.
Elemental Creation users were on another class compared to its relatable counterparts: Elemental Manipulation, Full-Body Elementals, Elementalshifting, and Elemental Summon. Though normally classified as a branch of Elemental Summon subtypes, because Elemental Creation users weren't limited to their specific typing and class, the designated users had affinity for nearly every Elemental category. And if they were awakened, they even resembled Grand magic users as well. Like a nondominant arm next to its dominant counterpart. An example of such a user was Rok of the Desert Kingdom, with his Sand Creation magic; one whom Nash fought in the Valley Tournament, and lost against. Pyronis was another such Elemental Creation type user; however, because he was originally a Primal type user first, the awakening bled into the proficiency of his secondary magic ability.
"I'm always so lucky with the type of opponents I face off with…" Nash uttered gutturally, wicked smile still etched on his face like a curse. "That must be proof of how manly I am!"
Hansel studied him from above without any expression, green eyes still glowing through his gray locks.
"Fine! Come forth! See what it's like to face a true man!" said Nash, inviting his foes.
The molten beast, Pyronis, roared and raised an ungodly arm, swinging it forward as Nash dodged swiftly, and bolted toward it.
He arrived in a blink, with two boots seconds from plastering the beast's eye. He perforated it, bathing in a sea of molten mass just before he emerged from the other side of it.
As he exited, Clyde was there with a palm near to his face, ready to unleash a devastating blast.
The beam released, surging and wiping away another section of this hell of a place.
The lava swished like waves in the ocean as the metal and stone constructs that were decorated around slowly crumbled, falling into the melting sea.
When Clyde's blast ceased, he gasped as he beheld Nash, still intact; that and his devious smile that clawed over Clyde's skin like a nasty wince.
Is this guy… The reflection of Nash appeared upon his purple eyes. Is he even human?
Nash threw a punch that plastered on Clyde's cheek, cracking it before he sent him flying across the area.
He flew through metal and stone pipes and bridges, ricocheting off the last one before he crashed into an earth wall, temporarily finding rest there.
Behind Nash, who was still suspended in air, Pyronis molded himself back together, facing him as two walls of molten palms crashed into him.
The monster held his place as lava fell from him like slabs. And then quicker than he could realize, Nash had found himself atop the beast's head.
Pyronis' molten eyes shifted upward, finding him there with two hands interlocked with each other, already mid-swing. He smashed down upon him, morphing his head as the rest of his monstrous body blew out upon the lava.
Nash remained atop him, like he was able to stand above it as well, and used the warping of the molten waves to jet himself upward. Toward the third.
He flew up at a staggering speed, reaching the thick pipes Hansel was crouched atop, swinging himself from them until he was level and on a direct path.
Now only a few steps away, Nash didn't delay, he was over in a few short paces, punch reeled in as he marked his strike right down the side of this man's face.
He arrived, fist ready to do its damage, and he unleashed it before him.
Only for it to stop mid-swing. Or rather it hit a wall that was unseen to the eye.
What?
Hansel didn't so much as move from his crouched position on the other side. He only glared sidelong with those haunting green eyes of his through his gray, wavy bangs.
"A barrier?" Nash uttered.
"Not quite," Hansel replied.
Nash flexed his muscles preparing to adapt, but Hansel stopped him with his next set of words. "I wouldn't waste a Life if I were you…"
Nash flinched at his familiarity. "How do you know my magic?" he asked.
"Adaptation, correct? I've only ever heard the stories of such an ability… Passed down through generations of magicless mages…"
Nash only listened as his fist remained plastered against the hard air. His family's history wasn't exactly a secret; however, he was still surprised that there was someone—here of all places—that knew of it at all.
"No need to be flustered. It's not like I have any personal history with you. When you're down here for so long, soon you start to become a bookworm with all the tomes you request to read—and reread. I suppose old habits don't leave you, even in a place like this…"
Hansel raised his hand and placed it atop the hardened air, inches away from Nash's fist.
"Put simply, if you use a Life to adapt to this, nothing will come of it. You still won't be able to pass. The reason is because this is not a barrier or any kind of repellent spell, rather, it's something like a contract; meaning neither you nor I can come in contact with each other until certain conditions are met."
I see… No wonder he's been hanging back here instead of fighting. But still… What kind of magic is this? And what kind of conditions is he referring to—in order to fight me? Nash thought, but before he could process any more, a rising tide of lava surged from below.
His eyes darted toward it, and then away, backflipping—hands; boots; hands; boots until he was clear from the wave, but he had reached the edge of the pipes.
Hansel didn't move to that either; the glops of lava fell over and around him as if it truly were some hardened air-shield. But Nash knew better now. He would come back to him later once he found a way to bypass his contract…
Then, from an angle below, from a cratered wall of earth where he had sent Clyde, he saw him charging another power blast with his palms. His eye had been damaged and was bleeding on that side, but he gritted his teeth, and sent the energy wave pulsing toward him.
There was nowhere to go except back down.
Nash looked back to Hansel yards away, and only stared with a glower that said I'll be back for you.
When he stepped off the piped ledge, he rushed down, boots first, and hair fluttering as the beam eradicated the entire section of pipes near the ceiling.
Hansel leaped off, heading elsewhere to watch as the battle between the Berserker, the Energy mage, and the Adaptation mage continued into their second round.
Nash dove into the lava in one quick motion, swimming in a swirl of yellow, orange, and heated red.
From atop the surface, the face of a beast formed, growing larger and more warped than it was before.
Nash surfaced, taking a breath, and swam across in butterfly strokes atop the shifting lava. For some reason, the lava no longer felt tolerable like it had from earlier in the fight when he had adjusted to it. It had begun to burn…
Pyronis raised an enormous arm, grabbing the side of a metallic construct that still held together, and pulled it apart, shattering it in a rain of large, falling debris.
As hard as it was to swim in such an element, Nash pressed through, changing into a front crawl, allowing him quicker maneuvering over these thick molten waters.
The monster bellowed as Nash dodged the falling debris left and right, but in the air amidst it all, Clyde had flown in like a wingless eaglehawk.
His palms were out, fingers stretched wide in Nash's direction as he let out a series of finger beams that curved and arched in all directions.
They followed and blasted atop the lava as Nash continued to swim forth.
Nash dove, then shot out, grabbing a falling piece of large rubble with his hands, and tossed it into a twirl behind him. The beams that followed crashed into the hunk of debris in volleys as he dove back into the lava, having temporarily evaded the barrage of light beams.
But more came, spearing into the lava as he continued to swim onward.
Finally, he reached a curved earth wall. He leaped out, and clung to a rock, using his sheer grip strength to pull him up.
A massive wave pooled in, as high as where he had leaped. He observed Clyde on the other side, and made his decision.
Just before it reached him, he swung his feet back and onto the wall, propelling himself back to counter the wave. It burst, and he landed, sliding atop the lava for but a moment as Clyde had found him from above; his hands positioned behind him as he charged another double handed energy beam to throw.
Nash stayed, his boots taking their time to submerge him as he let the beam roar over.
The last thing Clyde saw was that eerie smile etched across his face as he received the powerful blast. Burning, warping sound as it struck.
The waves parted, and debris changed course, scattering in all directions as the gray-haired male continued to watch with an uninterested expression about him.
And as the beam once again simmered down, Nash was found, discombobulated atop the lava.
"Hansel!" Clyde shouted. "This guy's got to be dead now, right?"
Hansel merely shook his head slowly as Clyde felt a sinister presence from below.
The sound of a large clock gonged, and there, standing atop the lava—no longer sinking into it, Nash rose completely put back together like a corpse rising from the dead.
When he had finally pieced himself together, he only locked his light blue eyes onto Clyde. Three left… Worth it.
Clyde began to charge another double-handed energy beam. And Nash didn't so much as flinch as he let him assimilate.
Then with one quick motion, Clyde sent down another devastating blast atop Nash.
The place rumbled, crumbling had begun to be an understatement; even with them being underground, this entire floor was nearing collapse.
This time, when the beam dispersed, Nash remained intact. Pristine like some world-sent god, here to show these mere mortals what true power looked like.
How the hell do we kill this guy? Clyde panicked as Pyronis surged around him, becoming a molten whirlpool beneath Nash's feet.
Nash stayed above the surface as Pyronis continued his rush, and Clyde was readying his hands into a hand sign.
"I see," Nash said, calm unlike the area, and the two Grade 0 criminals above and below him. "That's how this guy has constantly become larger the more I see him…" He pointed at the swirling magma at is feet—Pyronis, then pointed at Clyde and he winced. "Your energy blasts also distribute energy into the lava, allowing him to also use that as his own. That's why I was burning the second time I dove in. Because it was no longer the same property."
Clyde interwove his fingers, at last chanting a heavy spell. And Pyronis did as well, as they both chanted together—as above, so below.
"Blast Magic—"
"Primal Magic: Lava Creation—"
Amidst it all. Nash only smiled.
He raised three fingers in the air ahead of himself: his pinky, ring, and middle finger, letting the middle fall to join his index and thumb.
Though Nash didn't need a hand sign or incantation for what he was about to do, he often liked to think it. For it was still a spell regardless, and depending on how much he had adapted to prior, proved to be the most broken spell in his arsenal.
"Energy Bomb!"
"Magma Vortex!"
"Self-Adaptation!"
As their attacks unleashed onto him: a massive energy ball the size of the zone, and a swirling lava tornado from below, Nash remained. Only the silhouette of his physique, the glow of his eyes, and glimmer of his smile showed.
The enormous room eradicated.
And because they were deep underground, the place caved in from all directions.
In that moment, two massive output magic spells, and one overdrive auto-cast collided.
However…
There was a fourth in the space that had finally met the conditions cast upon him.
And before the place eradicated, a black orb the size of the room formed over them all, slowing everything within it to a halt.
Clyde, Pyronis, and Nash remained within the black orb, colors inverted to black, their outlines white, and amidst them all, the fourth.
"I think it's about time… for us to face off, Black Wolf," said Hansel.