Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! Chapter 178: 178-This Is The Last Time I’ll Try To Be Civil

Read chapter 178 of Reader Mage-Stubbing August 10! by A_Random_Turtle on NovelPedia.

Chima and Maya graced the arena, standing across from each other just like every contestant before them. There was a stifling tension in the air that found a way to make it past the TV screen and nestle upon Merlin, prompting his heartbeat to race and his palms to become clammy. Or perhaps it was just because he had begun to reconsider his earlier proposal. No one had said anything since Chima had left the waiting room, and most definitely not since Yuri had returned. Despite how torn Merlin was now, though, he still had no intention of advising anyone to ignore him. At the end of the day, just like Chima had said, it was up to them to decide if they would take the risk or not. He had been insensitive, but, goodness, he wanted to win so badly that he didn’t mind painting himself dark in the eyes of his mates. Instructor Park signalled for the duel to begin, and immediately, both contestants channeled their mana. However, they made no moves as their Grimoire hovered in the air. “I promised,” Chima began, “that I would win. I’m sure you did the same with your peers, Maya.” Maya frowned. “Don’t talk to me so casually. We’re not friends.” Chima raised his hands. “I apologize. Regardless, I’d love it if you went all out right from the get-go.” He lowered his hands and the mana spilling out of his body turned more intense. It was the most intense Chima had ever produced, and it bled out of him so much that the air warped from the stinging heat of the sparks of flames that began to dance around him. “Because I’ll be going all out myself, and right from the start.” Maya’s posture stiffened as Chima’s mana exploded, turning from the calm blue it initially was into a fiery red. His eyes glowed the same color in that instant, and as he brought his hands together, the mana he had produced began to condense right in front of him. Thick beads of sweat rolled down Maya’s face, and she began to gulp excessively. Her demeanor worsened by the second as her battle wear became soaked with her sweat. Hesitating any longer would be a problem. Just like Chima had said, he really was going all out. So Maya attempted to do the same. Mana spilled out of her, initially blue, but as it moved and nestled upon her back, its color turned into something iridescent. Maya groaned as she leaned over and her scapula shifted, like it was constantly being dislocated and repositioned. Her battle wear tore apart, revealing the gory sight of two straight lines being carved into her skin. Everyone spectating frowned out that, but instead of a fountain of blood pouring out of the gashes, a pair of four, thin and delicate membranes sprouted, each supported by a rigid vein-like network. As Maya straightened on her feet, the wings shimmered like stained glass bathed in the light of summer. They flapped, and she rose from the ground, drawing everyone’s attention to her. She was almost like an angel. But that mirage was quickly broken, when the wings refracted the light from the surroundings, condensed them into tiny, countless thin beams of light, and fired them all at Chima. However, unlike the crowd, Chima had not once lost his focus—not on his spell, and most definitely not regarding his defense. The chunks of mana he had left around his body split apart. They each sparked to life, and took the shapes of shields of fire, hovering in the air. Maya’s beams of light slammed into them, but was unable to break them apart. At least, at first. She kept her barrage going, which seemed to be no problem for her at all, considering light was an endless source present to her at this very point in time. And then her persistence paid off. Several of her attacks made it through Chima’s defenses, striking him at his shoulders, arms, and thighs. He managed to keep himself from being hit in any critical spot, but Maya had succeeded in wearing him down. “What’s he doing?” Hakyun voiced, frustrated as he noticed Chima’s expression turn pale. “Whatever spell he’s casting, he should have bee