Death's Disciple [Sys Apoc, OP Villain MC, LitRPG] Chapter 48: 1.48 Head to Head

Read chapter 48 of Death's Disciple [Sys Apoc, OP Villain MC, LitRPG] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

1.48 Head to Head Chapter 48 My free hand rose in front of me and I quickly shaped a mana barrier to block the lightning Gerard had thrown at me. His spell crashed against my protection, cracking the construct and forcing me to hastily create a second layer behind the first. He’s stronger than I expected. As the lightning dissipated, I lunged forward and sprinted at him. I swung my staff down toward his head, and he parried the blow with the top of his own staff before slamming the bottom end into my stomach. I reset my footing and attacked again, faster this time, but once more he parried and countered with speed and efficiency that I didn’t predict. How? I knew I was faster than him, there was no way he had a higher dexterity stat than I did. Must be a skill he has. Something related to melee combat. No matter, I’ll just have to step up the pressure. [Aura Mastery] activated as I sent a concentrated pulse at him. He tried fighting back as he activated the same skill in response. Our two auras clashed together for a moment, but my skill level was higher, let alone my spiritual presence. My aura overwhelmed him and slammed through his defenses. He froze in place, stunned from the backlash, and I brought my staff down once more, mana blade aimed at his neck. A sudden movement in my periphery forced me to abandon the attack and retreat. Nieve was no longer wearing his prim and proper military uniform. He was now bare-chested, wearing leather gloves with steel plating what was covering his knuckles. A tattered-looking battle skirt covered his lower half, a tassel made from various fabrics and in many different colors hung from his waist. Metal greaves and boots covered him from knee to foot. His appearance was strange, but still ferocious. It was the General that I had seen moving, and he brought his fist down into the floor where I had been standing a moment before. The ground shook and cracked from his punch, and he turned to look at me as I retreated further. His eyes contained a subtle red glow that made him look monstrous. My [Aura mastery] showed me his spiritual presence was growing, the flames of his aura growing brighter and larger even as I watched. Okay, don’t get hit with a direct punch from the half-naked guy. I looked to Barry, who hadn’t moved yet. The paladin was in his full armor with shield and sword in hand, but he was still in the same spot he had teleported in at. Through my [Aura Mastery] I could see his immense power had stirred inside him. He was waiting on something, perhaps for Noah to prove he was irredeemable, to show he had to be stopped at all costs. Barry looked for the good in people, almost to a detriment. I refocused on Nieve, who was now standing upright again. I flexed my aura, tapping deeper into my mana, but the man’s aura responded instantly, flaring bright as well. I pushed a bit more, and so did his. Again. And again. Nieve smiled at me. “My class is Forgeborn Titan,” he said. “Just as it sounds, my class is about being tempered by battle and strengthened by fighting powerful foes. I get stronger as my opponent gets stronger.” I raised a brow at that. It was quite a strong ability. If he simply got stronger and stronger the more powerful his chosen enemy, could he simply be more powerful than anyone else? I doubted that. There had to be an upper limit on the ability. Or a point at which his body just couldn’t handle the power it was trying to generate. The thought of him standing against my sponsor came to mind. His aura swelling brighter and larger until his body simply melted, or exploded. That was probably the most likely outcome. “My class is only about one thing, death,” I replied. “It doesn’t matter how strong you think you may be. Death will claim you.” “We don’t need to kill anyone. I think I understand what you are trying to do, Noah. But this isn’t the answer,” Barry finally spoke up now. He stepped forward for the first time, but kept his sword down. “If you join us, we can make